JP6835137B2 - Powder storage container and image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention includes a powder container for containing toner as a powder used in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, and a multifunction device having a plurality of functions thereof, and an image including the powder container. Regarding the forming device.

In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, toner is supplied (supplied) to the developing apparatus by a powder transporting apparatus from a toner container as a powder accommodating container containing toner which is a powder. The toner container described in Patent Document 1 accepts a container body in which toner is stored, an opening provided at one end of the container body, and a transport tube having a powder receiving port for receiving toner from the toner container. A transport pipe receiving member formed in the opening, a transport means that rotates to transport toner toward the powder receiving port, and a gear that meshes with the container drive gear on the main body side to transmit the driving force to the transport means. have. Then, with the toner container mounted on the powder transfer device, the gears are configured to mesh with the container drive gear on the opening side in the longitudinal direction of the toner container from the powder receiving port. With this configuration, when the toner is delivered to the powder receiving port of the transport pipe, the influence of the arrangement of the gears is small, and the toner can be delivered more smoothly than before.

However, when the gear on the container side is driven, the pressure generated at the meshing point between this gear and the container drive gear on the main body side is applied to the toner container and the transfer pipe, so that the mounting position of the toner container with respect to the powder transfer device If is not determined, the load on the transport pipe and the transport pipe receiving member will increase, and these members may be damaged, or there is a risk of toner leakage due to a gap between the transport pipe and the transport pipe receiving member. There is.
An object of the present invention is to provide a powder container and an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing a load due to driving transmitted from a container drive gear while improving the powder transfer performance of the powder transfer device from the powder container. And.

To achieve the above object, the present invention transmits the powder container the powder for image formation is accommodated is mounted a transport pipe to which the particles are transported, the driving force to the powder container body It is provided with a side gear, a container receiving portion arranged around the transport pipe and receiving the powder storage container, and a main body side lock member capable of holding the powder storage container with respect to the image forming apparatus main body . in the powder container attachable to an image forming apparatus, can be driven and an opening portion to be inserted into the container receiving unit, a conveying means for conveying the powder by rotating the conveying means in mesh with the side gears In a state where the container-side gear is provided and a set of container-side lock portions that engage with the main body-side lock member on the side of the powder storage container, and the powder storage container is attached to the image forming apparatus main body. , A set of container-side locks are positioned at an angle with respect to the horizontal direction while facing each other, and in the longitudinal direction of the powder container, the container-side gear is located between the opening and the container-side lock. it is located in and is characterized in Rukoto.

According to the present invention, when the powder storage container is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the gears are arranged so as to be meshable with the main body side gears on the opening side in the longitudinal direction of the container main body rather than the powder receiving port. By configuring the opening so that it can be fitted to the container receiving portion arranged around the transport pipe, the transport pipe and the transport pipe can be used while improving the powder transfer performance from the powder storage container to the powder transfer device. It is possible to suppress the load due to the drive transmitted from the gear to the transfer pipe receiving member.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a powder transfer device and a powder storage container before mounting the powder storage container according to the present invention. The whole block diagram which shows one form of the image forming apparatus which concerns on this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a configuration of an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a state in which a powder storage container is installed in a powder transfer device in the image forming device shown in FIG. The schematic perspective view which shows the state which the powder containing container is installed in the powder transport device. The perspective explanatory view which shows the structure of the powder containing container which concerns on this invention. The perspective explanatory view of the powder transporting apparatus and a powder containing container before mounting a powder containing container. The perspective explanatory view of the powder transfer apparatus and the powder containing container with the powder containing container attached. The cross-sectional explanatory view of the powder transporting apparatus and the powder containing container with the powder containing container attached. The perspective explanatory view of the powder containing container with the cover on the tip side removed. The perspective explanatory view of the powder containing container with the nozzle receiving member removed from the container body. The cross-sectional explanatory view of the powder containing container with the nozzle receiving member removed from the container body. The cross-sectional explanatory view of the powder containing container in the state which attached the nozzle receiving member to the container body from the state of FIG. The perspective explanatory view of the nozzle receiving member seen from the container tip side. The perspective explanatory view of the nozzle receiving member seen from the rear end side of a container. Top sectional view of the nozzle receiving member in the state shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle receiving member in the state shown in FIG. An exploded perspective view of the nozzle receiving member. (A) to (d) are plan views seen from above for explaining the state of the opening / closing member and the transport pipe during the mounting operation. The perspective explanatory view of the powder container storage part used in 1st to 3rd Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective explanatory view of the powder container storage portion for black used in the first to fifth embodiments. The perspective explanatory view of the upper structure of the powder container storage part and the upper structure of the powder storage container used in the 1st to 5th embodiments. The front explanatory view of the powder container storage part for black seen from the mounting direction side. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective explanatory view of a powder container storage portion for colors other than black used in the first to fifth embodiments. The front explanatory view of the powder container storage part for colors other than black seen from the mounting direction side. A partially enlarged perspective view illustrating the internal configuration of the powder container storage unit. The front explanatory view of the powder container storage part of a color other than black and black seen from the mounting direction side. The partial enlarged view which shows the engagement state between the guide part provided in the powder container storage part, and the guide part of the holding part of a powder container. (A) is a perspective explanatory view of the powder containing container according to the first embodiment, and (b) is a partially enlarged sectional view showing another form of the container lock portion. The front explanatory view of the powder containing container which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The partial enlarged view which shows the structure of the guide part provided in the holding part of a powder containing container. The perspective sectional view which shows the structure of the positioning means serving as a guide part. The enlarged view which shows the state of the powder storage container attached to the powder container storage part. An enlarged view of the reference line X1 portion of FIG. 33 as viewed from the mounting direction. An enlarged view of the reference line X2 in FIG. 33 as viewed from above. The enlarged view which shows the state of the powder storage container attached to the powder container storage part. An enlarged view of the reference line X1 portion of FIG. 36 as viewed from the mounting direction. It is a figure which shows typically the movement state and the regulation state of the powder storage container on the powder container storage part, (a) is the state at the start of movement, (b) is the 1st regulation by a vertical direction regulation part. The state, (c) shows the state where the transport nozzle and the container shutter are in contact with each other, and (d) shows the second regulation state by the radial regulation unit. The enlarged view which shows the state of the powder storage container attached to the powder container storage part. An enlarged view of the reference line X1 portion of FIG. 39 as viewed from the mounting direction. An enlarged view of the reference line X2 in FIG. 39 as viewed from above. The enlarged view which shows the state of the powder storage container attached to the powder container storage part. An enlarged view of the reference line X1 portion of FIG. 42 as viewed from the mounting direction. It is a figure which shows typically the movement state and the regulation state of the powder storage container on the powder container storage part, (a) is the state which the nozzle shutter collar part and the container seal are in contact, and (b) is the circumference. The third regulated state by the directional regulation groove, (c) is the fourth regulated state in which the regulation by the radial regulator is released, and (d) is the fifth regulated state in which the container opening enters the container set portion. (E) shows the sixth regulation state held in the final set position, respectively. The figure which shows the relationship between the state at the time of mounting operation of a transfer pipe and a transfer pipe receiving member (horizontal axis), and the regulation state (vertical axis) of a powder containing container. The enlarged view which shows the state of the powder storage container attached to the powder container storage part. An enlarged view of the reference line X1 portion of FIG. 45 as viewed from the mounting direction. An enlarged view of the reference line X3 in FIG. 45 as viewed from above. The enlarged view which shows the state of the powder storage container attached to the powder container storage part. An enlarged view of the reference line X3 in FIG. 48 as viewed from above. The perspective explanatory view of the powder containing container which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the structure which provided the pumping rib as a pumping part, (a) is the perspective explanatory view of the nozzle receiving member, (b) is the sectional explanation of the state in which the nozzle receiving member shown in (a) is assembled to the container body. (C) is a side sectional explanatory view of the entire toner container to which the nozzle receiving member shown in (a) is assembled, and (d) is a perspective view of a container shutter included in the powder container shown in (c). The perspective explanatory view of the tip side end portion and the container set portion of the powder containing container of the 2nd Embodiment. (A) is a perspective explanatory view of a front end side end portion of the powder storage container of the third embodiment, and (b) is a perspective explanatory view of a container set portion. Front view of the information storage device. An explanatory perspective view showing the configuration and contact state of the information storage device and the reading means. The perspective explanatory view which shows the structure of the powder container storage part which has another structure of a guide member. The cross-sectional explanatory view when the powder container is attached to the powder container storage part. (A) is a diagram showing a contact state between the cover claw portion of the container tip side cover and the cover claw hook portion of the container body, and (b) is a partial cross-sectional view of the JJ line of (a). The perspective explanatory view of the tip side end portion of the powder containing container of 4th Embodiment. The bottom view of the tip side end portion of the powder containing container of the 4th embodiment. The perspective explanatory view which shows the structure of the powder container storage part used in 4th Embodiment. The enlarged front view which shows the structure of the insertion port of the powder container storage part. The enlarged perspective explanatory view which shows the structure of the insertion port of the powder container storage part. An enlarged view showing a state in which the powder storage container is inserted into the insertion port of the powder container storage unit. It is an enlarged explanatory view which shows the structure of the engaged part and the engaged part in 4th Embodiment, (a) is the enlarged view explaining the engaged state, (b) is the enlarged view explaining the engaged state. , (C) is an enlarged view illustrating another form of the engaged state. The enlarged bottom view which shows the example 1 of the engaging part formed in the powder containing container. (A) is a front view of Example 1 of an engaging portion formed in a powder container, and (b) is a rear view. The enlarged bottom view which shows the example 2 of the engaging part formed in the powder containing container. (A) is a front view of Example 2 of an engaging portion formed in a powder container, and (b) is a rear view. The enlarged bottom view which shows the example 3 of the engaging part formed in the powder containing container. (A) is a front view of Example 3 of an engaging portion formed in a powder container, and (b) is a rear view. The enlarged bottom view which shows the example 4 of the engaging part formed in the powder containing container. (A) is a front view of Example 4 of an engaging portion formed in a powder container, and (b) is a rear view. (A) is an enlarged bottom view showing an example 5 of an engaging portion formed in the powder containing container, and (b) is an enlarged bottom view showing another example of the engaging portion formed in the powder containing container. (A) is a front view of Example 5 of an engaging portion formed in a powder container, and (b) is a rear view. An enlarged view showing the relationship and dimensions of the engaged portion between Examples 1 to 5 and the engaged portion of the engaging portion formed in the powder container. The figure which shows the relationship between the presence / absence of the engaging part formed in the powder containing container and the dimension in Example 1-Example 5. An enlarged bottom view showing another embodiment of Example 1 in the fifth embodiment. An enlarged bottom view showing another embodiment of Example 2 in the fifth embodiment. An enlarged bottom view showing another embodiment of Example 4 in the fifth embodiment. An enlarged bottom view showing another embodiment of Example 5 in the fifth embodiment. (A) is a side sectional view showing an engaged state of the engaged portion and the engaged portion in the fifth embodiment, and (b) is a regulation rib and a slide in the engaged state of the engaged portion and the engaged portion. Planar partial sectional view showing the relationship between guides. The figure which shows the structure of the structure of the set cover which formed the protrusion according to 6th Embodiment inside. The figure which shows the structure of the powder container storage part provided with the detent recess which concerns on 7th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows typically the movement state and the regulation state of the powder storage container on the powder container storage part, (a) is the state at the start of movement, (b) is the 1st regulation by a vertical direction regulation part. The state, (c) shows the state where the transport nozzle and the container shutter are in contact with each other, and (d) shows the second regulation state by the radial regulation unit. It is a figure which shows typically the movement state and the regulation state of the powder storage container on the powder container storage part, (a) is the state which the nozzle shutter collar part and the container seal are in contact, and (b) is the circumference. The third regulated state by the directional regulation groove, (c) is the fourth regulated state in which the regulation by the radial regulator is released, and (d) is the fifth regulated state in which the container opening enters the container set portion. (E) shows the sixth regulation state held in the final set position, respectively. It is a figure which shows the structure of the powder containing container provided with an IC chip, (a) is a right side view, (b) is a left side view, (c) is a front view, (d) is a rear view, (e). Is a plan view, and (f) is a bottom view. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment, (a) is the perspective view seen from the cover member side, (b) is the perspective view seen from the container main body side. The enlarged perspective view which shows the structure of the cover member of the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment, and the structure of the tip side of the container body. The front explanatory view of the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment. The configuration of the cover member of the powder containing container according to the eighth embodiment is shown, (a) is a front explanatory view, and (b) is a bottom view of (a). The perspective explanatory view of the powder container storage part used in 8th Embodiment. FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a configuration of a container cover receiving portion and a drive system of the powder container storage portion shown in FIG. 92. The front explanatory view of the powder container storage part shown in FIG. 92. The perspective view which shows the state which the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment is attached to the powder container containing part. A partially enlarged cross-sectional perspective view illustrating the configuration of the regulation portion provided on the set cover. The front view which shows the structure of the guide member provided in the powder container storage part which concerns on 8th Embodiment, and the engaged part. The partially enlarged view which shows the engagement state of the guide member and the engaged part provided in the powder container storage part, and the vertical direction regulation part and an incompatible part provided in a powder container. It is a figure which shows typically the movement state and the regulation state of the powder storage container on the powder container storage part, (a) is the state at the start of movement, (b) is the first regulation by the vertical direction regulation part. The state, (c) shows the state where the transport nozzle and the container shutter are in contact with each other, and (d) shows the second regulation state by the vertical direction regulation part and the circumferential direction regulation part. It is a figure which shows typically the movement state and the regulation state of the powder storage container on the powder container storage part, (a) is the state where the nozzle shutter collar part and the container seal are in contact, and (b) is vertical. The moving state in which the regulation by the direction regulation part and the circumferential regulation part is maintained, (c) is the third regulation state by the vertical regulation part and the circumferential regulation part, and (d) is the vertical regulation part and the circumferential regulation part. The fourth regulated state according to the above, (e) shows the fifth regulated state held at the final set position, respectively. It is a partially enlarged cross-sectional perspective view which saw the change of the regulation state by the circumferential direction regulation part from the powder containing container side, (a) is the state of the regulation part and the holding part in the second regulation state, (b). Indicates a state in which the regulation by the regulatory department is strengthened in the second regulation state, and (c) indicates a third regulation state. It is a partial enlarged cross-sectional perspective view which saw the change of the regulation state by the circumferential direction regulation part from the powder container storage part side, (a) is the state of the regulation part and the holding part at the time of the second regulation state, ( b) indicates the third regulatory state, respectively. It is a figure which shows the structure of the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment, (a) is a right side view, (b) is a left side view, (c) is a front view, (d) is a rear view, ( e) is a plan view, and (f) is a bottom view. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the powder containing container according to the eighth embodiment, which includes a container body without a spiral groove. It is a figure which shows the 1st form of the engaging part formed in the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment, (a) front view, (b) is the bottom view, and the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the form 2 of the engaging part formed in the above, (c) the front view, (d) is the bottom view, and shows the form 3 of the engaging part formed in the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment. It is a front view (e), (f) is a bottom view, is a view showing the form 4 of the engaging portion formed in the powder container according to the eighth embodiment, and (g) the front view, ( h) shows the bottom view respectively. It is a figure which shows the form 5 of the engaging part formed in the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment, (a) front view, (b) is the bottom view, and the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the form 6 of the engaging part formed in, (c) the front view, (d) is the bottom view, and shows the form 7 of the engaging part formed in the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment. It is a front view (e), (f) is a bottom view, is a view showing the form 8 of the engaging portion formed in the powder container according to the eighth embodiment, and (g) the front view, ( h) shows the bottom view respectively. It is a figure which shows the form 9 of the engaging part formed in the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment, (a) front view, (b) is the bottom view, and the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the form 10 of the engaging part formed in the above, (c) the front view, (d) is the bottom view, and shows the form 11 of the engaging part formed in the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment. It is a front view (e), (f) is a bottom view, is a view showing the form 12 of the engaging portion formed in the powder container according to the eighth embodiment, and (g) the front view, ( h) shows the bottom view respectively. It is a figure which shows the form 13 of the engaging part formed in the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment, (a) front view, (b) is the bottom view, and the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the form 14 of the engaging part formed in, (c) the front view, (d) is the bottom view, and shows the form 15 of the engaging part formed in the powder containing container which concerns on 8th Embodiment. It is a figure, (e) front view, (f) bottom view. The perspective explanatory view which shows the whole structure of the powder containing container which concerns on 9th Embodiment. The perspective view explaining the cross-sectional part in the longitudinal direction of the container body which concerns on 9th Embodiment. The side view which shows the structure of the powder accommodating part and the flow of toner which concerns on 9th Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional part of FIG. 110, (a) is the sectional view of the 1st cut portion, (b) is the sectional view of the 2nd cut portion, (c) is the sectional view of the 3rd cut portion, (d). Is a cross-sectional view of the 4th cut portion (A) is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the guide portion on one end side of the container body, and (b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the guide portion from the center portion to the other end of the container body. An enlarged cross-sectional view showing a state in which a transport pipe is inserted in the container body.

Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Members having the same or having the same function in each form are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted in the subsequent embodiments. The following description is an example and does not limit the scope of claims. Further, it is easy for a person skilled in the art to make changes / modifications within the scope of the claims of the present invention to form other embodiments, but these changes / modifications are naturally included in the claims. In the figure, Y, M, C, and K are subscripts attached to the constituent members corresponding to (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black), and are omitted as appropriate.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an electrophotographic tandem color copier (hereinafter referred to as “copier 500”) as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The copying machine 500 may be a monochrome copying machine. The copying machine 500 includes a copying machine apparatus main body (hereinafter referred to as “printer unit 100”), a paper feeding table (hereinafter referred to as “paper feeding unit 200”), and a document reading unit (hereinafter referred to as “scanner unit”) mounted on the printer unit 100. It is mainly composed of "400").

The toner container storage unit 70 as a powder container storage unit provided above the printer unit 100 has a toner container 32 (Y) as four powder container storage containers corresponding to each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, black). , M, C, K) are installed detachably (replaceable). An intermediate transfer unit 85 is arranged below the toner container storage unit 70.

The intermediate transfer unit 85 includes an intermediate transfer belt 48 as an intermediate transfer body, four primary transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K), a secondary transfer backup roller 82, a plurality of tension rollers, and an intermediate transfer cleaning. It is composed of devices and the like. The intermediate transfer belt 48 is stretched and supported by a plurality of roller members, and is endlessly moved in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 by the rotational drive of the secondary transfer backup roller 82, which is one of the plurality of roller members.

In the printer unit 100, four image forming units 46 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to each color are arranged side by side so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 48. Below the four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) are toner replenishment devices 60 (Y, M, C,) as four powder replenishment (supply) devices corresponding to the toner containers of each color. K) is arranged. Then, the toner, which is a powder developer contained in the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K), corresponds to each color by the corresponding toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K). It is supplied (supplied) into the developing apparatus of the image forming unit 46 (Y, M, C, K). In the present embodiment, the image forming unit is composed of four image forming units 46 (Y, M, C, K).

As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 100 includes an exposure device 47, which is a latent image forming means, below the four image forming units 46. The exposure apparatus 47 exposes and scans the surface of the photoconductor 41 (Y, M, C, K) as an image carrier, which will be described later, based on the image information of the original image read by the scanner unit 400, and exposes and scans the surface of each photoconductor. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface. The image information may not be read from the scanner unit 400, but may be image information input from an external device such as a personal computer connected to the copying machine 500.
In the present embodiment, the exposure device 47 uses a laser beam scanner method using a laser diode, but other configurations such as those using an LED array may be used as the exposure means.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a schematic configuration of an image forming unit 46Y corresponding to yellow.
The image forming unit 46Y includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 41Y. The image-creating unit 46Y has a configuration in which a charging roller 44Y as a charging means, a developing device 50Y as a developing means, a photoconductor cleaning device 42Y, a static elimination device, and the like are arranged around the photoconductor 41Y. Then, the image formation process (charging step, exposure step, developing step, transfer step, cleaning step) is performed on the photoconductor 41Y to form a yellow toner image on the photoconductor 41Y.

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

The photoconductor 41Y is rotationally driven by a drive motor in the clockwise direction in FIG. The surface of the photoconductor 41Y is uniformly charged at a position facing the charging roller 44Y (charging step). After that, the surface of the photoconductor 41Y reaches the irradiation position of the laser beam L emitted from the exposure apparatus 47, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to yellow is formed by exposure scanning at this position (exposure step). After that, the surface of the photoconductor 41Y reaches a position facing the developing device 50Y, and the electrostatic latent image is developed with yellow toner at this position to form a yellow toner image (development step).

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

The surface of the photoconductor 41Y on which the toner image was formed in the developing process reaches the primary transfer nip facing the primary transfer bias roller 49Y with the intermediate transfer belt 48 sandwiched between them, and the toner image on the photoconductor 41Y is reached by this primary transfer nip. Is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 48 (primary transfer step). At this time, a small amount of untransferred toner remains on the photoconductor 41Y. The surface of the photoconductor 41Y on which the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 48 by the primary transfer nip reaches a position facing the photoconductor cleaning device 42Y. The untransferred toner remaining on the photoconductor 41Y is mechanically recovered by the cleaning blade 42a provided in the photoconductor cleaning device 42Y at this facing position (cleaning step). Finally, the surface of the photoconductor 41Y reaches a position facing the static elimination device, and the residual potential on the photoconductor 41Y is removed at this position. In this way, a series of image forming processes performed on the photoconductor 41Y is completed.

Such an image forming process is performed in the other image forming section 46 (M, C, K) in the same manner as in the yellow image forming section 46Y. That is, the laser beam L based on the image information is emitted from the exposure device 47 arranged below the image forming unit 46 (M, C, K) to the photoconductor of each image forming unit 46 (M, C, K). It is irradiated toward 41 (M, C, K). Specifically, the exposure apparatus 47 emits a laser beam L from a light source, scans the laser beam L with a rotation-driven polygon mirror, and scans the laser beam L with each photoconductor 41 (M, C, K) via a plurality of optical elements. ) Irradiate on. Then, the toner images of each color formed on the photoconductors 41 (M, C, K) through the developing process are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 48.

At this time, the intermediate transfer belt 48 travels in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 and sequentially passes through the primary transfer nips of the primary transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K). As a result, the toner images of each color on each photoconductor 41 (Y, M, C, K) are overlaid on the intermediate transfer belt 48 and primary transferred, and the color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 48.

The intermediate transfer belt 48 on which the toner images of each color are superimposed and transferred to form the color toner image reaches a position facing the secondary transfer roller 89. At this position, the secondary transfer backup roller 82 sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 48 with the secondary transfer roller 89 to form a secondary transfer nip. Then, the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 48 is transferred on a recording medium P such as transfer paper conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer nip, for example, of the transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer backup roller 82. Transcribed by action. At this time, untransferred toner that has not been transferred to the recording medium P remains on the intermediate transfer belt 48. The intermediate transfer belt 48 that has passed through the secondary transfer nip reaches the position of the intermediate transfer cleaning device, the untransferred toner on the surface thereof is collected, and a series of transfer processes performed on the intermediate transfer belt 48 is completed.

Next, the movement of the recording medium P will be described.
The recording medium P conveyed to the secondary transfer nip described above is a paper feed roller 27, a resist roller pair 28, etc. from a paper feed tray 26 provided in the paper feed unit 200 arranged below the printer unit 100. It is transported via. Specifically, a plurality of recording media P are stacked and stored in the paper feed tray 26. Then, when the paper feed roller 27 is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2, the top recording medium P is conveyed toward the roller nip formed by the two rollers of the resist roller pair 28.

The recording medium P conveyed to the resist roller pair 28 temporarily stops at the position of the roller nip of the resist roller pair 28 that has stopped the rotational drive. Then, the resist roller pair 28 is rotationally driven in accordance with the timing when the color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 48 reaches the secondary transfer nip, so that the recording medium P is conveyed toward the secondary transfer nip. .. As a result, a desired color toner image is transferred onto the recording medium P.

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

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

As shown in FIG. 3, the developing apparatus 50Y includes a developing roller 51Y as a developing agent carrier, a doctor blade 52Y as a developing agent regulating plate, two developing agent conveying screws 55Y, a toner concentration detection sensor 56Y, and the like. Has been done. The developing roller 51Y faces the photoconductor 41Y, and the doctor blade 52Y faces the developing roller 51Y. The two developing agent transfer screws 55Y are arranged in the two developing agent accommodating portions (53Y, 54Y). The developing roller 51Y is composed of a magnet roller fixed inside, a sleeve rotating around the magnet roller, and the like. A two-component developer G composed of a carrier and toner is housed in the first developer housing unit 53Y and the second developer storage unit 54Y. The second developer accommodating portion 54Y communicates with the toner drop transport path 64Y through an opening formed above the second developer accommodating portion 54Y.
The toner concentration detection sensor 56Y detects the toner concentration in the developer G in the second developer housing unit 54Y.

The developer G in the developing apparatus 50Y circulates between the first developing agent accommodating portion 53Y and the second developing agent accommodating portion 54Y while being stirred by the two developing agent conveying screws 55Y. The developer G in the first developer housing portion 53Y is supplied and supported on the sleeve surface of the developing roller 51Y by the magnetic field formed by the magnet roller in the developing roller 51Y while being conveyed to one of the developing agent conveying screw 55Y. Will be done. The sleeve of the developing roller 51Y is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction as shown by an arrow in FIG. 3, and the developer G supported on the developing roller 51Y moves on the developing roller 51Y as the sleeve rotates. At this time, the toner in the developing agent G is charged to a potential opposite to that of the carrier by triboelectric charging with the carrier in the developing agent G and is electrostatically adsorbed on the carrier to be formed on the developing roller 51Y. It is carried on the developing roller 51Y together with the carriers attracted by the magnetic field.

The developer G supported on the developing roller 51Y is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 and reaches the doctor portion where the doctor blade 52Y and the developing roller 51Y face each other. The amount of the developer G on the developing roller 51Y is regulated and adjusted to an appropriate amount when passing through the doctor portion, and then is conveyed to the developing region which is a position facing the photoconductor 41Y. In the developing region, the toner in the developer G is adsorbed on the latent image formed on the photoconductor 41Y by the developing electric field formed between the developing roller 51Y and the photoconductor 41Y. The developer G remaining on the surface of the developing roller 51Y that has passed through the developing region reaches above the first developing agent accommodating portion 53Y as the sleeve rotates, and is separated from the developing roller 51Y at this position.

The developer G in the developing apparatus 50Y is adjusted so that the toner concentration is within a predetermined range. Specifically, the toner contained in the toner container 32Y is transferred to the second developer accommodating unit via the toner replenishing device 60Y, which will be described later, according to the amount of toner contained in the developing agent G in the developing apparatus 50Y due to development. It will be replenished within 54Y. The toner replenished in the second developing agent accommodating portion 54Y is mixed and stirred together with the developing agent G by the two developing agent conveying screws 55Y, while being mixed with the first developing agent accommodating portion 53Y and the second developing agent accommodating portion 54Y. Circulate between.

Next, the toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) will be described.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a state in which the toner container 32Y is mounted on the toner replenishing device 60Y, and FIG. 5 shows four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) mounted on the toner container storage unit 70. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the state which was done.

As shown in FIG. 4, the toner contained in the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) mounted in the toner container storage unit 70 of the printer unit 100 is a developing device 50 (Y, M, K) of each color. Depending on the toner consumption in C, K), the toner is appropriately replenished in each developing device 50 (Y, M, C, K). At this time, the toner in the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) is replenished by the toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) provided for each toner color.
As shown in FIG. 27, of the four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K), a toner container 32K containing black toner and a toner container 32 containing yellow, magenta, and cyan toners. The size is different from that of (Y, M, C), and the toner container 32K has a larger diameter. As a result, the frequency of replacement of the toner container 32K containing the frequently used black toner can be reduced.
The toner replenishment device 60 (Y, M, C, K) corresponds to the shape of the toner container 32, and includes a toner replenishment device 60K to which a toner container 32K containing black toner is mounted, and yellow, magenta, and cyan. The shape is different from that of the toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C) to which the toner container 32 (Y, M, C) containing the toner is mounted.
The structure is almost the same except that the color of the toner used in the image forming process and the diameter of the toner container 32 are different. Therefore, only the toner replenishing device 60Y and the toner container 32Y corresponding to yellow will be described below, and the toner replenishing device 60 (M, C, K) and the toner container 32 (M, C) corresponding to the other three colors will be described. , K) will be omitted as appropriate. If there is a different configuration for each color, the subscripts Y, M, C or K indicating a specific color are used as the code, but if the configuration is not different for each color or if the configuration is common. (Y, M, C, K) may be added or the subscript may be omitted as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 4, the toner replenishment device 60 (Y, M, C, K) includes a toner container storage unit 70, a transfer nozzle 611 (Y, M, C, K) as a transfer tube, and transfer as a transfer member. It is composed of screw 614 (Y, M, C, K), toner drop transport path 64 (Y, M, C, K), drive unit (container rotation drive unit) 91 (Y, M, C, K), etc. There is.
When the toner container 32Y is moved in the toner container storage portion 70 of the printer unit 100 by the mounting operation pushed by the user in the mounting direction indicated by the arrow Q in FIGS. 4 and 5, the toner container is linked to the mounting operation. The transport nozzle 611Y of the toner replenishing device 60Y is inserted from the container tip side in the mounting direction of 32Y. As a result, the inside of the toner container 32Y and the inside of the transport nozzle 611Y communicate with each other. Details of the configuration that communicates in conjunction with this mounting operation will be described later.

As a form of the toner container, the toner container 32Y is a substantially cylindrical toner bottle. The toner container 32Y is mainly a holding portion that is held in the toner container storage portion 70 in a non-rotating manner, and the container tip side cover 34Y as the container cover and the container gear 301Y as the container side gear are integrally formed. It is mainly composed of a container body 33Y as a powder container. The container body 33Y is rotatably held with respect to the container tip side cover 34Y. In other words, the container cover is a member that is rotatable relative to the container side gear.

As shown in FIG. 5, the toner container storage portion 70 is mainly composed of a container cover receiving portion 73, a container receiving portion 72, and an insertion port forming portion 71. The container cover receiving portion 73 is a portion that holds the container tip side cover 34Y and the container body 33 of the toner container 32Y. The container receiving portion 72 is a portion that supports the container body 33Y of the toner container 32Y. The insertion port forming portion 71 is a portion that forms the insertion port 71a during the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y. When the main body cover installed on the front side of the copying machine 500 (the front side in the vertical direction of the paper surface in FIG. 2) is opened, the insertion port forming portion 71 of the toner container storage portion 70 is exposed. Then, with the longitudinal direction of each toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) set to the horizontal direction, the operation of attaching / detaching each toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) from the front side of the copying machine 500 ( The attachment / detachment operation) is performed with the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 as the attachment / detachment direction. The set cover 608Y in FIG. 4 is a part of the container cover receiving unit 73 of the toner container storage unit 70.

The container receiving portion 72 is formed so that its length in the longitudinal direction is substantially equal to the length in the longitudinal direction of the container body 33Y. The container cover receiving portion 73 is provided on the container tip side in the longitudinal direction (detachable direction) of the container receiving portion 72, and the insertion port forming portion 71 is provided on one end side of the container receiving portion 72 in the longitudinal direction. Each of the four toner containers 32 is slidable and movable on the container receiving portion 72. Therefore, as the toner container 32Y is attached, the container tip side cover 34Y slides on the container receiving portion 72 for a while after passing through the insertion port forming portion 71, and then is attached to the container cover receiving portion 73. Toner.

With the container tip side cover 34Y attached to the container cover receiving portion 73, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 8, the drive unit (container rotation drive unit) 91Y composed of a drive motor, gears, etc. Rotational drive is input to the container gear 301Y (FIG. 10) as a gear provided in the container body 33Y via the container drive gear 601Y. As a result, the container body 33Y is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow A in FIG. As for the toner in the container body 33Y, the toner contained inside the container body 33Y is collected by the spiral protrusion 302Y formed spirally on the inner peripheral surface of the container body 33Y by rotating the container body 33Y itself. It is conveyed from one end located on the left side in FIG. 4 to the other end located on the right side along the longitudinal direction. That is, in the present embodiment, the transport means is the spiral protrusion 302Y. As a result, toner is supplied into the transport nozzle 611Y from the container tip side cover 34Y side provided at the other end via the nozzle opening 610 as a powder receiving inlet formed in the transport nozzle 611Y. The nozzle opening 610 communicates with the shutter support opening 335b at a position inside the container body 33 in the longitudinal direction beyond the position where the container gear 301Y is provided. That is, the container gear 301Y meshes with the container drive gear 601Y at the opening 33a side of the position where the nozzle opening 610 and the shutter support opening 335b communicate with each other.

A transfer screw 614Y is arranged in the transfer nozzle 611Y. The transfer screw 614Y rotates when a rotary drive is input from the drive unit (container rotation drive unit) 91Y to the transfer screw gear 605Y, and transfers the toner supplied into the transfer nozzle 611Y. The downstream end of the transport nozzle 611Y in the transport direction is connected to the toner drop transport path 64Y. The toner conveyed by the transfer screw 614Y drops by its own weight along the toner drop transfer path 64Y and is replenished in the developing apparatus 50Y (second developer accommodating portion 54Y).
Each of the toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) is replaced with a new one when it reaches the end of its life (when almost all the toner contained is consumed and emptied). A handle portion 303 is provided at the end of the toner container 32 in the longitudinal direction opposite to the container tip side cover 34, and when the container is replaced, the operator grips and pulls out the handle portion 303. The attached toner container 32 can be removed.
Here, the configuration of the drive unit 91Y will be supplemented. The drive unit 91Y includes a container drive gear 601Y and a transfer screw gear 605Y. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the container drive gear 601Y is rotationally driven by driving a drive motor 603 fixed to the mounting board 602 and rotating its output gear 603a, and the transport screw gear 605Y is the output gear 603a. The rotation is transmitted via the connecting gear 604 to drive the rotation.

In the toner replenishment device 60Y, the amount of toner supplied to the developing device 50Y is controlled by the rotation speed of the transfer screw 614Y. Therefore, the toner that has passed through the transfer nozzle 611Y is directly transported to the developing device 50Y via the toner drop transport path 64Y without controlling the supply amount to the developing device 50Y. As in the present embodiment, the toner replenishing device 60Y for inserting the transfer nozzle 611Y into the toner container 32Y may be provided, or a toner temporary storage unit such as a toner hopper may be provided.

Next, the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) and the toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) of the present embodiment will be described in more detail. As described above, the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) and the toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) have almost the same configuration except that the toner colors used are different. It has become. Therefore, the subscripts Y, M, C, and K indicating the color of the toner will be omitted below.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a toner replenishing device 60 before mounting the toner container 32 and an end portion of the toner container 32 on the tip side of the container, and FIG. 9 shows toner replenishment in a state where the toner container 32 is mounted. It is sectional drawing explanatory view of the apparatus 60 and the end portion of the toner container 32 on the tip side of a container. FIG. 6 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner container 32. FIG. 7 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner replenishing device 60 before mounting the toner container 32 and the tip end side end portion of the toner container 32, and FIG. 8 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner replenishing device 60 with the toner container 32 mounted. It is a perspective explanatory view with the end of the toner container 32 on the tip side of the container. FIG. 20 is a perspective explanatory view showing the configuration of the toner container storage portion 70 in the toner replenishing device 60, and FIG. 21 is a perspective explanatory view showing the configuration of the container cover receiving portion 73.

The toner replenishment device 60 includes a transfer nozzle 611 having a transfer screw 614 inside and a nozzle shutter 612. The nozzle shutter 612 closes the nozzle opening 610 when the toner container 32 is not mounted (states of FIGS. 1 and 7) before the toner container 32 is mounted, and when the toner container 32 is mounted (FIGS. 8 and 9). In the state), it is slidably mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the transport nozzle 611 so as to open the nozzle opening 610. The nozzle shutter 612 is provided with a nozzle shutter collar portion 612a as a flange portion on the downstream side in the mounting direction from the end surface of the nozzle receiving member 330 as a transport tube receiving member described later, which is in contact with the transport nozzle 611.
On the other hand, a nozzle receiving port 331 as a tube insertion port into which the transport nozzle 611 is inserted at the time of mounting is formed in the center of the tip surface of the toner container 32, and as an opening / closing member for closing the nozzle receiving port 331 when not mounted. The container shutter 332 of the above is provided.

The toner container storage unit 70 includes a container receiving unit 72 that slides and moves the toner container 32 when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishment device 60. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 20, the container receiving portion 72 is divided into four in the width direction W orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (detachment direction) of the toner container 32, and is divided into four along the longitudinal direction of the container body 33. , A groove 74 as a container mounting portion is formed, which extends from the insertion port forming portion 71 to the container cover receiving portion 73. The toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) of each color are configured to be slidable and movable in the longitudinal direction on the groove 74. As shown in FIG. 22, on the upper surface portion 76 facing the mounting surface 74c of the groove portion 74, two upper surface protruding portions 76a and 76a project from the ceiling surface of the upper surface portion 76 toward the groove portion 74, and the length of the groove portion is long. It is formed along the direction and is configured to be able to come into contact with the upper guide 35 on the upper part of the toner container 32 when the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) is slid and moved on the groove portion 74. ..

Guide rails 75 and 75 are provided on the side surfaces 74a and 74b of the groove 74 located in the width direction W so as to face each other. Each guide rail 75 projects in the width direction W from the side surfaces 74a and 74b, extends in the longitudinal direction, and is arranged in front of the container cover receiving portion 73. The guide rails 75, 75 engage with the slide guide 361 as a guide member when the toner container 32 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, and the container opening 33a as an opening is used as a container set as a container receiving portion. It has a function to guide the unit 615.
As shown in FIG. 56, each guide rail 75 may be arranged so as to extend in the longitudinal direction to the vicinity of the insertion opening forming portion 71. Each guide rail 75 is formed so as to be parallel to the rotation axis of the container body 33 when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishment device 60. As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, the guide rail 75 includes a guide rail 75K provided in the groove 74K in which the toner container 32K is mounted and a groove 74 (Y, M, C) in which the toner container 32 (Y, M, C) is mounted. The length in the height direction is different from the guide rail 75 (Y, M, C) provided on Y, M, C), and the guide rail 75K is longer than the guide rail 75 (Y, M, C). It is formed. Since the toner container 32 (Y, M, C) is formed to have a smaller diameter than the toner container 32K, even if the toner container 32 (Y, M, C) is accidentally inserted into the groove portion 74K, the insertion operation is performed. The load is small and it is easy to install in the wrong mounting location. However, since the guide rail 75K is formed longer in the height direction than the guide rail 75 (Y, M, C), when the toner container 32 (Y, M, C) is to be mounted in the groove portion 74K, the mounting is in progress. The slide guide 361 of the toner container 32 (Y, M, C), which will be described later, comes into contact with the guide rail 75K, and the movement in the mounting direction is restricted. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner container 32 (Y, M, C) from being erroneously attached. In addition, in FIGS. 20 and 56, only the guide rail 75 provided on one side surface 74a is shown.

As shown in FIG. 20, the container cover receiving portion 73 is provided with a set cover 608 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to each color. The set cover 608 is a set cover 608K corresponding to black shown in FIGS. 21 and 23 and a set cover 608 (Y, M, C) corresponding to yellow, magenta, and cyan shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 in the radial direction. The size of the set cover 608K is different, and the set cover 608K is formed larger than the set cover 608 (Y, M, C). The transfer nozzle 611 is arranged in the center of the set cover 608. As shown in FIG. 21, the transfer nozzle 611 is inside the container cover receiving portion 73 from the end surface 615b, which is the back side in the mounting direction, to the upstream side in the mounting direction in the container setting portion 615, which is on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the toner container 32. It is arranged so as to protrude into. The container setting portion 615 as the container receiving portion is erected so as to surround the periphery of the transport nozzle 611 in the projecting direction of the transport nozzle 611 and toward the upstream side in the mounting direction of the toner container 32. That is, the container set portion 615 is arranged at the base of the transport nozzle 611, and is a container opening that functions as a rotation axis when the transport means in the toner container 32 rotates to transport the toner in the toner container 32. It is a positioning portion for the toner container storage portion 70 of 33a. That is, the position of the container opening 33a in the radial direction is determined by inserting and fitting the container opening 33a into the container setting portion 615.

As shown in FIGS. 21 and 24, a part of the inner peripheral surface 608c (inner circumference of the first cover) of the set cover 608 is a toner container 32 from the end surface 608f on the upstream side in the mounting direction of the toner container 32 in the set cover 608. A groove portion 77a having a depth toward the mounting direction of the set cover 608 is formed by notching in the radial direction of the set cover 608. A container in which a container opening 33a, which will be described later, is fitted in a state where the toner container 32 is mounted on the toner replenishing device 60 at the base of the transport nozzle 611 located further downstream in the mounting direction than the groove 77a when viewed from the mounting direction. A set portion 615 is formed.
The container setting portion 615 is located at the base of the transport nozzle 611, and has an end surface 615a into which the container opening 33a is inserted and an end surface 615b located downstream of the end inner peripheral surface 615a in the mounting direction of the toner container 32. And. As shown in FIG. 26, eight spring restricting portions 615c protruding from the end surface 615b toward the upstream side in the mounting direction of the toner container 32 are formed on the end surface 615b at equal intervals along the outer circumference of the nozzle shutter spring 613. There is. In addition, in FIG. 23 and FIG. 25, in order to show the shape of the spring regulating portion 615c, the nozzle shutter spring 613 is excluded. By covering the outer periphery of the nozzle shutter spring 613 with the spring regulating portion 615c, the movement of the nozzle shutter spring 613 in the radial direction is restricted. As a result, the toner container 32 is set in a state where the nozzle shutter spring 613 is displaced in the radial direction, and the nozzle shutter spring 613 is sandwiched between the end face 615b and the tip end portion 33c of the container opening 33a. Can be prevented from being improperly attached to the toner replenishing device 60.

The toner container 32 is fitted to the toner replenishing device 60 in a state where the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 is slidable with the container setting portion 615. As shown in FIG. 26, the end inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 has a sliding protrusion formed as a part of the end inner peripheral surface 615a so as to project radially inward from the end inner peripheral surface 615a. Four 615ds are formed at equal intervals, and the sliding protrusions 615d and the outer peripheral surface 33b slide with the rotation of the toner container 32. In this embodiment, the sliding protrusions 615d have a width of about 4 mm in the circumferential direction and are formed at four locations at equal intervals. However, the sliding protrusions 615d have a width of about 6 mm in the circumferential direction, for example. The configuration may be such that three locations are formed at equal intervals. If the area of the sliding protrusion 615d that comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface 33b is too large, the sliding resistance with the outer peripheral surface 33b becomes large and a rotational load is generated. Conversely, if the area is too small, sliding with the outer peripheral surface 33b As a result, the sliding protrusion 615d is scraped and consumed over time, making accurate positioning difficult. Therefore, the width and number of the sliding protrusions 615d are adjusted so that the contact area does not cause these problems. Just do it.

By fitting the inner peripheral surface 615a at the end of the container setting portion 615 and the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32, the longitudinal direction (detachment direction) of the toner container 32 with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 of the toner container 32 Positioning in the radial direction orthogonal to is made. Further, when the toner container 32 is rotated, the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33a functions as a rotation shaft portion, and the end inner peripheral surface 615a of the container set portion 615 functions as a bearing. At this time, the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33a slidably contacts the sliding protrusion 615d as a part of the end inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion 615, and the diameter of the toner container 32 with respect to the toner replenishing device 60. The position where the direction is positioned is indicated by α in FIG.
In the following description, it is frequently described that the container opening 33b of the toner container 32 is fitted to the container setting portion 615 in a slidable state. Strictly speaking, such a fitting state is a state in which the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33b of the toner container 32 is in contact with the sliding protrusion 615d formed on the end inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion 615. Means. For the sake of readability, the sliding protrusion 615d will be omitted from this point onward, and the description will be limited to the explanation that the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33b fits into the end inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion 615.

As shown in FIG. 1, the container setting portion 615 includes an end inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion that fits with the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 when the toner container 32 is set. The inner diameter of this inner peripheral surface is D1. Then, the diameter of the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 is set to d1. In order to rotatably fit the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 and the inner peripheral surface 615a of the end portion of the container setting portion 615, the diameter d1 of the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 The inner diameter D1 of the inner peripheral surface 615a at the end of the container set portion is set to satisfy the relationship of "d1 <D1". Further, d1 and D1 are set to have a fitting tolerance of about "D1-d1 = 0.01 to 0.1 mm". By having the relationship of "d1 <D1" in this way, the toner container 32 is rotationally driven while being held by the toner set cover 608, specifically, the container body 33 is being held by the container set portion 615. Can be done.

As shown in FIGS. 21 and 24, openings 608d are formed so as to face each other in the width direction W of the set cover 608. The replenishment device side lock members 78, 78, which will be described later, are provided on the set cover 608 so as to be movable back and forth from the outer peripheral surface of the set cover 608 to the inner peripheral surface 608c side via the openings 608d and 608d. The replenishment device side lock members 78, 78 are urged from the outside to the inside of the set cover 608 by an urging means such as a torsion coil spring 782.
The shape of the set cover 608 is different between the set cover 608K on which the toner container 32K is mounted and the set cover 608 (Y, M, C) on which the toner container 32 (Y, M, C) is mounted. As shown in FIG. 23, the set cover 608K has three through holes 79a formed at equal intervals in the corners (bent portions) formed by the bottom surface 608a formed on the back side in the mounting direction and the inner peripheral surface 608c. ing. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 25, the set cover 608 (Y, M, C) is formed with an L-shaped recess 79b provided over a corner formed by the bottom surface 608a and the inner peripheral surface 608c. No hole shape is formed in the corner. The set cover 608K may have a recess, or the set cover (Y, M, C) may have a through hole. However, in the present embodiment, the set cover may have a through hole. The set cover 608 (Y, M, C) is formed in a concave shape in order to maintain the strength of the 608 (Y, M, C).

Next, the toner container 32 will be described.
As described above, the toner container 32 is mainly composed of a container main body 33 containing toner and a container tip side cover 34. FIG. 10 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner container 32 in a state where the container tip side cover 34 is removed from the state of FIG.
FIG. 11 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner container 32 in a state where the nozzle receiving member 330 as a transport tube receiving member is removed from the container body 33 from the state of FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner container 32 from the container body 33. It is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the toner container 32 in the state which removed. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of the toner container 32 in the state where the nozzle receiving member 330 is attached to the container body 33 from the state of FIG. 12 (the toner container 32 in the state where the container tip side cover 34 is removed as in FIG. 10). is there. FIG. 29A is a perspective explanatory view of the front end side end portion of the toner container 32, and FIG. 30 is a front view of the front end side end portion of the toner container 32.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the container body 33 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is configured to rotate around the central axis of the cylinder as a rotation axis. Hereinafter, in the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32, the side of the toner container 32 where the nozzle receiving port 331 is formed (the side where the container tip side cover 34 is arranged) will be referred to as the “container tip side”. Further, the side of the toner container 32 where the handle portion 303 is arranged (the side opposite to the container front end side) is referred to as the "container rear end side". The longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 is the rotation axis direction, and when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the longitudinal direction is the horizontal direction. The rear end side of the container of the container body 33 with respect to the container gear 301 has a larger outer diameter than the tip side of the container, and a spiral protrusion 302 is formed on the inner peripheral surface thereof. Then, when the container body 33 rotates in the direction of arrow A in the drawing, the toner in the container body 33 moves from one end side (rear end side of the container) to the other end side (tip side of the container) in the rotation axis direction by the action of the spiral protrusion 302. ) Is given a carrying force.

On the inner wall of the container body 33 on the container tip side, the toner transported to the container tip side by the spiral protrusion 302 when the container body 33 rotates in the direction of arrow A in the drawing is moved upward by the rotation of the container body 33. A pumping portion 304 to be pumped is formed. As shown in FIG. 13, the pumping portion 304 includes a convex portion 304h and a pumping wall surface 304f. The convex portion 304h is a portion that rises inside the container body 33 so as to form a mountain ridge toward the center of rotation of the container body 33 while forming a spiral. The pumped wall surface 304f is a wall surface of the abutting portion that connects the convex portion 304h (ridge line) to the inner wall of the peripheral surface of the container main body 33 and is on the downstream side when viewed from the container rotation direction. Then, when the pumping wall surface 304f is downward, the toner that has entered the internal space facing the pumping portion 304 due to the conveying force of the spiral protrusion 302 is pumped upward by the pumping wall surface 304f in accordance with the rotation of the container body 33. As a result, the toner can be pumped above the inserted transfer nozzle 611.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, the pumping portion spiral protrusion formed in a spiral shape also on the inner peripheral surface of the pumping portion 304 so as to convey the toner inside in the same manner as the spiral protrusion 302. 304a is formed.

A container gear 301 is formed on the tip side of the container further than the pumping portion 304 of the container body 33. The container tip side cover 34 is provided with a gear exposure opening 34a so that a part of the container gear 301 (the back side in FIG. 6) is exposed when attached to the container body 33. By mounting the toner container 32 on the toner replenishing device 60, the container gear 301 exposed from the gear exposure opening 34a meshes with the container drive gear 601 on the toner replenishing device 60 side.
The container gear 301 is provided on the container opening 33a side (near the container opening 33a) in the longitudinal direction of the container body 33 with respect to the nozzle opening 610, and is arranged so as to be meshable with the container drive gear 601. Then, the container gear 301 meshes with the container drive gear 601 to make the transport means rotatable.

A cylindrical container opening 33a is formed coaxially with the container gear 301 on the container tip side of the container body 33 on the container tip side. Then, the nozzle receiving member 330 can be fixed to the container body 33 by press-fitting the receiving member fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiving member 330 coaxially with the container opening 33a into the container opening 33a. The method of fixing the nozzle receiving member 330 is not limited to press-fitting, and fixing with an adhesive or screwing may be used. Further, a recess may be provided in the container body 33, and a protrusion provided in the nozzle receiving member fixing portion 337 may be inserted into the recess to hook and fix the container body 33.
The toner container 32 is filled with toner from the opening of the container opening 33a as an opening provided on one end side of the container body 33, and then the nozzle receiving member 330 is fixed to the container opening 33a of the container body 33. It is composed.

Further, a cover claw hooking portion 306 is formed at the end of the container opening 33a of the container body 33 on the container gear 301 side. The cover claw hooking portions 306 are provided at three locations at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, that is, at intervals of 120 degrees, at the tip portion of the container tip side cover 34 in the mounting direction. The container tip side cover 34 is attached to the toner container 32 (container body 33) in the state shown in FIG. 10 from the container tip side (lower left side in FIG. 10). As a result, the container body 33 penetrates the container tip side cover 34 in the longitudinal direction, and the cover claw hooking portions 306 are hooked on the cover claw portions 340 provided at three locations in the circumferential direction of the container tip side cover 34. The cover claw hooking portion 306 is formed so as to go around the outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33a, and when the cover claw portion 340 is hooked, the container body 33 and the container tip side cover 34 can rotate relatively. It will be installed properly.

When the toner container 32 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the container tip side cover 34 of the toner container 32 restricts the movement of the toner container 32 during mounting in a direction other than the mounting direction, thereby opening the opening 33a in the container setting portion 615. It is equipped with a guide unit that guides you to. From the function of this embodiment, the container tip side cover 34 can be said to be a portion exclusively for having a guide portion, and can also be called a container guide portion holding portion. As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 29 (a), and 30, a pair of toner container 32 on both side surfaces of the lower portion of the container tip side cover 34 restricts the vertical movement of the container tip side cover 34. The guide part of is formed. The pair of guide portions as the vertical direction regulating portions are hereinafter referred to as slide guides 361 and 361. In other words, the container cover is a support member of the vertical regulation section. The slide guides 361 and 361 are provided with an upper guide portion 361A and a lower guide portion 361B extending along the longitudinal direction of the container body 33, and the slide grooves 361a and 361a are provided between the upper guide portion 361A and the lower guide portion 361A. Are formed respectively. Each slide groove 361a is formed parallel to the rotation axis of the container body 33, and a pair of guide rails 75, 75 formed in the groove portion 74 of the container receiving portion 72 described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21 are formed from the vertical direction, respectively. It is configured to be sandwiched. That is, in the slide guides 361 and 361, the upper guide portion 361A and the lower guide portion 361B each sandwich the guide rail 75 from the vertical direction, so that when the toner container 32 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body, the container tip side cover 34 It functions as a positioning portion in the vertical direction Z and the width direction W perpendicular to the attachment / detachment direction, and regulates the movement of the toner container 32 in the vertical direction Z and the width direction W.
As shown in FIG. 31, the slide groove 361a is formed so that the distance between the lower surface of the upper guide portion 361A and the upper surface of the lower guide portion 361B facing each other in the height direction is stepwise different in the mounting direction. The distance between the upper surface and the lower surface is the distance H1 at the tip of the slide groove 361c on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the toner container 32, the distance H2 at the center of the slide groove 361d, and the distance H3 at the rear end of the slide groove 361e. It is formed so as to be wider in the order of H1 <interval H2 <interval H3. That is, the distance is the distance between the upper guide portion 361A and the lower guide portion 361B, so that the distance located on the downstream side of the toner container 32 in the mounting direction is narrower than the distance located on the upstream side in the mounting direction. It is formed. Further, the groove tip portion 361c and the groove center portion 361d are damaged by the slide guide 361 being broken at the groove portion 74 due to the extension of the groove inclined portion 361f formed so as to be inclined over the concave surface 361g of the slide groove 361a. It is preventing. Further, as shown in FIG. 30, the reinforcing portion 362 is integrally formed in the slide guide 361 by being connected to the inside thereof, and the slide guide 361 is prevented from being damaged when the toner container 32 is dropped. ..

A container lock portion 339, 339 for axially positioning the toner container 32 with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the container tip side cover 34. When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishment device 60, the replenishment device side lock members 78 and 78 provided on the set cover 608 engage with the container lock portions 339 and 339, respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 29 (a), each container lock portion 339 includes a guide protrusion 339a, a guide groove 339b, an overcoming portion 339c, and a locking hole 339d as an axial regulation portion as a set on the container tip side. A pair is arranged so as to form a pair on both the left and right sides of the cover 34. That is, each locking hole 339d is arranged on both the left and right sides with the center of the container opening 33a interposed therebetween. Each guide protrusion 339a is arranged on a vertical plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 on the container tip side of the container tip side cover 34, and on a horizontal plane passing through the rotation center axis of the container body 33. The guide protrusion 339a is provided with an inclined surface connected to the guide groove 339b so that the replenishment device side lock member 78 is brought into contact with the toner container 32 when the toner container 32 is attached and can be guided toward the guide groove 339b. The guide groove 339b is a groove that is one step lower than the side peripheral surface of the container tip side cover 34.

The width of the guide groove 339b is set to be slightly wider than the width of the replenishment device side lock member 78 so that the replenishment device side lock member 78 does not fall off from the guide groove 339b. The rear end side of the container of the guide groove 339b has a terminal rather than a shape directly connected to the locking hole 339d, and is at the height of the side peripheral surface of the container front end side cover 34. That is, between the guide groove 339b and the quadrangular locking hole 339d, there is an outer peripheral surface of the container tip side cover 34 having a width of about 1 [mm], which corresponds to the overcoming portion 339c. The replenishment device side lock member 78 gets over the overcoming portion 339c and falls into the locking hole 339d, and the coupling between the toner container 32 and the toner replenishment device 60 is achieved. This state is the set position (set state) of the toner container 32. In this embodiment, the replenishment device side lock member 78 is configured to drop into the locking hole 339d of the container lock portion 339. However, the shape of the container lock portion 339 in which the coupling between the toner container 32 and the toner replenishment device 60 is achieved by the depression of the replenishment device side lock member 78 is the shape of a through hole such as the locking hole 339d. Alternatively, it may have a recessed shape such as a bottomed locking portion 339 g that does not penetrate as shown in FIG. 29 (b).

In FIG. 30, the toner container 32 has a configuration in which the container shutter 332 is located at the center of the line segment LL connecting the two container lock portions 339 on a virtual plane orthogonal to the rotation axis thereof. If the container shutter 332 is not on the line segment LL connecting the two container lock portions 339, the following may occur. That is, due to the urging force of the container shutter spring 336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613, the moment of force that rotates the toner container 32 with the distance from the line segment LL to the container shutter 332 as the arm of the moment and the line segment LL as the rotation axis acts. .. Due to the action of this moment of force, the toner container 32 may tilt with respect to the toner replenishing device 60. In that case, the mounting load on the toner container 32 increases, and the load is applied to the nozzle receiving member 330 that holds and guides the container shutter 332. In particular, when the toner container 32 is a new product containing a sufficient amount of toner, the toner weight is also taken into consideration when the toner container 32 is pushed in from the rear end side so that the transport nozzle 611 protruding from the horizontal direction is inserted. A moment of force that rotates the toner container 32 acts. As a result, a load is applied to the nozzle receiving member 330 into which the transfer nozzle 611 is inserted, and the nozzle receiving member 330 may be deformed or damaged in the worst case. On the other hand, in the toner container 32 of the present embodiment, the container shutter 332 is located on the line segment LL connecting the two container lock portions 339. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner container 32 from tilting with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 by the urging force of the container shutter spring 336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 that act at the position of the container shutter 332.

Rotational drive is input to the container gear 301 of the toner container 32 from the drive unit (container rotation drive unit) 91 via the container drive gear 601. When the drive is input to the container gear 301, the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the container body 33 functions as a rotation shaft portion, and the end inner peripheral surface 615a of the container set portion 615 functions as a bearing, and the container gear The container body 33, in which the 301 is fixed or integrally configured, rotates. In the present embodiment, the rotation center of the container gear 301 is arranged so as to be concentric with the axis of the container opening 33a.
Further, when the drive is input to the container gear 301 by the engagement between the container drive gear 601 and the container gear 301, the radius line and the tooth profile at the pressure angle (JIS: one point (pitch point) of the tooth surface) of the container gear 301. A force is applied in the direction (angle formed by the tangent to) to rotate the container gear 301. The force applied in the direction of the pressure angle of the container gear 301 generates a component force in the direction toward the center of rotation of the container gear 301, so that the force is in the direction toward the central axis (rotation axis) of the container body 33 and is on the central axis. A force in the direction perpendicular to the direction is applied to the toner container 32 having the container body 33.
When a force is applied perpendicular to the central axis of the toner container 32 in this way, the longitudinal posture of the toner container 32 becomes unstable and the toner container 32 tilts with respect to the central axis, and the container drive gear 601 and the container gear 301 There is a risk that the meshing state with and will become unstable, abnormal noise due to unstable meshing, and poor toner transfer may occur.
As described above, the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33a on the container tip side of the toner container 32 is supported by the end inner peripheral surface 615a of the container set portion 615 as a rotation shaft portion, so that an unstable meshing state may occur. The accompanying abnormal noise and poor toner transfer are more likely to occur when the container gear 301 is arranged closer to the rear end of the container than the container lock portion 339. This is because the generation of the rotational moment as described below is predicted. First, consider the rotational moment generated in the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 when the toner container 32 is set in the replenishment device and the driving force is transmitted to the container gear 301. A rotational moment M1 generated by a force (driving force) applied perpendicularly to the rotation axis of the container gear 301 is generated in the container opening 33a of the toner container 32, and the container opening 33a and the container set portion 615 are fitted together. Makes it unstable. On the other hand, the locking hole 339d in the container locking portion 339 of the toner container 32 is held by the replenishing device side locking member 78. By holding the lock member, a rotational moment M2 in a direction that cancels the rotational moment caused by the driving force on the container gear 301 is generated in the container opening 33a.
When the container gear 301 is arranged closer to the rear end of the container than the container lock portion 339, the length of the arm of the rotational moment M1 (the distance from the container opening 33a in the rotation axis direction to the container gear 301) is the rotational moment M2. It is longer than the length of the arm (the distance from the container opening 33a in the rotation axis direction to the locking hole). That is, it is predicted that M1> M2, and the holding of the toner container 32 and the container tip side cover 34 by the toner container storage portion 70 becomes unstable.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 49 and 57, the container gear 301 is provided between the container lock portion 339 and the container opening 33a in the central axis direction (longitudinal direction) of the toner container 32. It was configured to be placed. Therefore, the length of the arm of the rotational moment M2 is longer than the length of the arm of the rotational moment M1, so that M2> M1. Therefore, the influence of the rotational moment M1 due to the force (driving force) applied in the direction perpendicular to the central axis of the toner container 32 is reduced, the holding of the toner container 32 and the container tip side cover 34 by the toner container storage portion 70 is stable, and the toner is stable. The longitudinal posture of the container 32 is stable.
Explain in another language. In a state where the toner container 32 is held in the toner container storage portion 70 (set state), the toner container 32 has a container set portion in which the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33a on the container tip side of the toner container 32 serves as a rotation shaft portion. While being supported by the inner peripheral surface 615a at the end of the 615, the locking hole 339d of the container locking portion 339 is engaged with the replenishing device side locking member 78. The container gear 301 is arranged between the container lock portion 339 and the container opening 33a.
Therefore, the length of the arm of the above-mentioned rotational moment M1 due to the force in the direction perpendicular to the central axis applied to the toner container 32 by the engagement between the above-mentioned container drive gear 601 and the container gear 301 is in the central axis direction. It is the length from the position where the outer peripheral surface 33b is supported by the end inner peripheral surface 615a in the (longitudinal direction) to the position where the container gear 301 is provided. Further, a force (called a holding force) in a direction perpendicular to the central axis applied to the toner container 32 by engaging the locking hole 339d of the container locking portion 339 with the replenishing device side locking member 78. The arm length M2 of the rotational moment due to () is provided with a locking hole 339d of the container locking portion 339 from a position where the outer peripheral surface 33b is supported by the end inner peripheral surface 615a in the central axial direction (longitudinal direction). It is the length to the position where it is.

Here, since the rotational moment can be obtained by the product of the arm length of the rotational moment and the magnitude of the force, the configuration in which the container gear 301 is arranged on the rear end side of the container with respect to the container lock portion 339 is a container lock. It can be said that a larger holding force is required than the configuration in which the container gear 301 is arranged between the portion 339 and the container opening 33a.
Therefore, assuming that the above-mentioned holding force is constant, the container is placed between the container lock portion 339 and the container opening 33a as compared with the configuration in which the container gear 301 is arranged on the rear end side of the container with respect to the container lock portion 339. The configuration in which the gear 301 is arranged can more efficiently affect the holding force of the toner container 32 and the container tip side cover 34 by the toner container storage portion 70. As a result, the posture of the toner container 32 in the longitudinal direction can be stabilized even in a state where the driving force is transmitted to the container gear 301.

In a state where the toner container 32 is held in the toner container storage portion 70, the toner container 32 has a reaction force of a force for compressing the container shutter spring 336 as shown in FIGS. 58 (b) and 58 (c). F (restoring force) and reaction force F1 generated by compressing the nozzle shutter spring 613 are applied. As shown in FIGS. 58 (a), 58 (b), and 58 (c), the container tip side cover 34 has three cover claws 340 provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the toner container. The above-mentioned component force of the reaction force F1 (1/3 of F1) is received from the toner container 32 through the surface of the cover claw hooking portion 306 of the cover 32 on the rear end side of the container. Since the above-mentioned resultant forces F and F1 are applied to the container tip side cover 34 equidistantly and evenly in the radial direction with respect to the central axis O (rotational axis) of the toner container 32, the central axis (rotational axis) is approximately Only the directional component will act. That is, the component that tilts the container tip side cover 34 with respect to the central axis O (rotational axis) hardly acts.
Further, as shown in FIG. 57, since the container lock portion 339 is also provided at a position symmetrical with respect to the central axis O (rotational axis) in the horizontal direction, it is perpendicular to the central axis O. Since the components in the above directions cancel each other out, only the components in the central axis direction act, and the components that tilt the container tip side cover 34 with respect to the central axis O do not act.

In the container tip side cover 34, the inner peripheral surface of the cover tip of the container tip side cover 34 is the outer peripheral edge portion 306a of the cover claw hooking portion 306 of the toner container 32 on the container tip side of the cover claw portion 340 with respect to the container tip surface. Contact with. As a result, the toner container 32 is positioned in the radial direction with respect to the container tip side cover 34.
That is, the toner container 32 as the powder storage container in the present embodiment is equipped with the toner container 32 in which the toner for image formation is stored, and is attached to the transfer nozzle 611 as the transfer tube to which the toner is transferred and the transfer nozzle. A nozzle shutter 612 as a powder receiving port opening / closing member for opening / closing the nozzle opening 610 as a powder receiving container provided, and a nozzle shutter as an urging member for urging the nozzle shutter 612 to close the nozzle opening 610. A spring 613, a replenishment device side lock member 78 capable of urging the toner container 32 from the side of the toner container 32 to hold the toner container 32 against the image forming apparatus main body, and a means for conveying the driving force in the toner container 32. A container drive gear 601 as a main body side gear to be transmitted to the container, and a container set unit 615 as a container receiving unit for receiving a toner container 32 arranged on a coaxial line with the transfer nozzle 611 and around the transfer nozzle 611. In the toner container that can be attached to the image forming apparatus, the container body 33 that houses the toner for image forming and the opening 33a provided at one end of the toner container 32 are rotated to move the powder in the container body. The transport means for transporting toner to the container opening 33a side, the container gear 301 as a gear that meshes with the container drive gear 601 to drive the transport means, and the container lock portion 339 that engages with the replenishment device side lock member 78. And a container tip side cover 34 as a container cover provided coaxially with the toner container 32 on the outer periphery of the toner container 32, and the center of the opening 33a and the rotation center of the container gear 301 are provided on the coaxial line. The container drive gear 601 is arranged between the container lock portion 339 and the container opening 33a in the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32, and the opening 33a can be fitted to the container setting portion 615. To do.

By providing the above configuration, the toner container 32 can be held in a stable posture in the radial direction and the axial direction with respect to the toner replenishing device 60. When the container gear 301 is arranged between the opening 33a and the container lock portion 339 in the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32, a stable state is maintained by the balance of forces in the central axis direction, so that the container drive gear The influence of the force generated at the meshing point between the 601 and the container gear 301 is reduced, and the toner container 32 can be suppressed from tilting with respect to the longitudinal direction (central axis direction). As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an unstable meshing state between the container drive gear 601Y and the container gear 301, the accompanying abnormal noise, and the occurrence of poor toner transfer.
From the function of this embodiment, the container tip side cover 34 can be said to be a portion exclusively for holding the container lock portion 339, and can also be called a container lock portion holding portion.

As shown in FIGS. 29A and 30A, three cover claws 340 are formed on the end surface of the container tip side cover 34 on the container tip side at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. A protrusion 341a that protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface 34b of the container tip side cover 34 is formed at each of the bent portions of the cover claw portion 340. These protrusions 341a are formed by bending along the bent portion of the container tip side cover 34, and are provided at three places at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the container tip side cover 34, that is, at intervals of 120 degrees. .. These protrusions 341a project at a height of 0.9 mm from the outer peripheral surface 34b of the container tip side cover 34, and extend to a length of 4 mm in each of the radial and longitudinal directions from the bent portion. As a guide portion, these protrusions 341a come into contact with the inner peripheral surface 608c of the set cover 608 when the container tip side cover 34 enters the container cover receiving portion 73, and the toner container 32 moves. It has a function to guide and position in the radial direction. These protrusions 341a are formed in a rounded shape so that the sliding resistance is reduced by making point contact with the inner peripheral surface 608c of the set cover 608. Each protrusion 341a is arranged so as to face the three through holes 79a (see FIGS. 23 and 24) formed in the set cover 608. These protrusions 341a are arranged so that the container opening 33a of the container body 33 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface 608c of the set cover 608a before the container opening 33a comes into contact with the nozzle shutter flange 612a. As a result, the protrusion 341a comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface 608c of the set cover 608a, and thus functions as a radial positioning portion of the toner container 32 with respect to the toner replenishment device 60. That is, the protrusion 341a functions as a guide portion, a radial regulation portion, and a radial positioning portion.

As shown in FIG. 30, a plate-shaped circumferential regulation protrusion serving as a guide portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface 34b of the container tip side cover 34. Hereinafter, this circumferential regulation protrusion will be referred to as a detent rib 342a. The detent rib 342a and the slide guide 361 are integrally formed with the container tip side cover 34. The detent rib 342a is arranged between two protrusions 341a located below, and is formed so as to project outward from the outer peripheral surface of the container tip side cover 34 in the radial direction. When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishment device 60, the detent rib 342a is arranged so as to enter the groove portion 77a (see FIG. 21) formed in the set cover 608 described above. The detent rib 342a protrudes from the end surface on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the slide guide 361 and is integrally formed with the slide guide 361. Since the detent rib 342a protrudes from the slide guide 361 and is arranged at substantially the same height as the slide groove 361a, the slide guide 361 guides the guide rail 75 when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60. Even if the anti-rotation rib 342a enters the groove 77a in a slightly deviated state, the influence of the change in the position of the anti-rotation rib 342a on the groove 77a becomes small, and the anti-rotation rib 342a easily enters the groove 77a. Can be positioned in the circumferential direction.
As shown in FIGS. 22, 33, and 34, the container tip side cover 34 is provided with an upper guide 35 that protrudes upward from the outer peripheral surface 34b in the mounted state. The upper guide 35 is formed with an upper guide top portion 35a, an upper guide side portion 35b, and an upper guide inclined surface 35c. The upper guide top 35a and the upper guide side 35b are formed so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32, and are located at positions shifted downward in the circumferential direction of the container tip side cover 34 from the upper guide top 35a. Upper guide side portions 35b are formed on both sides of the guide 35a. The upper guide inclined surface 35c is formed so as to be inclined so as to be lowered from the upper guide top portion 35a and the upper guide side portion 35b of the toner container 32 toward the rear end side of the container.

The container body 33 is molded by a biaxial stretching blow molding method. This biaxial stretch blow molding method generally comprises a two-step step of a preform molding step and a stretch blow molding step. In the preform molding step, a test tubular preform is molded by injection molding using a resin. By injection molding at this time, the container opening 33a, the cover claw hooking portion 306, and the container gear 301 are formed in the mouth portion of the test tubular. In the stretch blow molding step, the preform is cooled after the preform molding step, the preform removed from the mold is heated and softened, and then blow molded and stretched.

In the container body 33, the rear end side of the container with respect to the container gear 301 is formed by a stretch blow molding step. That is, the portion where the spiral protrusion 302 is formed and the handle portion 303 are formed by the stretch blow molding step.
In the container body 33, each part on the container tip side from the container gear 301 such as the container gear 301, the container opening 33a, and the cover claw hooking portion 306 has the shape of the injection-molded preform, and thus is molded with high accuracy. it can. On the other hand, since the portion where the spiral protrusion 302 is formed and the handle portion 303 are injection-molded and then stretched and molded in the stretch blow molding step, the molding accuracy is higher than that of the preform molded portion. Inferior.

Next, the nozzle receiving member 330 fixed to the container body 33 will be described.
FIG. 14 is a perspective explanatory view of the nozzle receiving member 330 seen from the front end side of the container, and FIG. 15 is a perspective explanatory view of the nozzle receiving member 330 seen from the rear end side of the container. 16 is an upper cross-sectional view of the nozzle receiving member 330 in the state shown in FIG. 13 as viewed from above, and FIG. 17 shows the nozzle receiving member 330 in the state shown in FIG. 13 laterally (back side in FIG. 13). ) Is a cross-sectional view. Further, FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the nozzle receiving member 330.

The nozzle receiving member 330 includes a container shutter supporting member 334 as a supporting member, a container shutter 332, a container seal 333 as a sealing member, a container shutter spring 336 as an urging means, and a receiving member fixing portion 337. Has been done. The container shutter support member 334 includes a shutter rear end support portion 335, a shutter side surface support portion 335a as a side surface portion, a shutter support opening 335b as a side surface opening, and a receiving member fixing portion 337, and the container shutter spring 336 is composed of a coil spring. ..
The shutter side support portion 335a and the shutter support opening 335b provided on the container shutter support member 334 are arranged adjacent to each other in the direction of rotation of the toner container, and the two opposing shutter side support portions 335a form a part of a cylindrical shape. It is formed and has a shape in which a large cylindrical shape is cut out at the portion (two places) of the shutter support opening 335b. With such a shape, the container shutter 332 can be guided to move in the longitudinal direction in the cylindrical space S1 (FIG. 16) formed inside the cylindrical shape.

The nozzle receiving member 330 fixed to the container body 33 rotates together with the container body 33 when the container body 33 rotates. At this time, the shutter side support portion 335a of the nozzle receiving member 330 is a transport nozzle on the toner replenishing device 60 side. Rotate around 611. Therefore, the rotating shutter side surface support portion 335a passes through the space immediately above the nozzle opening 610 formed in the upper part of the transport nozzle 611. As a result, even if toner is momentarily deposited above the nozzle opening 610, the deposited toner is broken across the shutter side support portion 335a, so that the deposited toner aggregates when left unattended, and the toner is transported when restarted. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of defects. On the other hand, at the timing when the shutter side support portion 335a is located on the side of the transport nozzle 611 and the nozzle opening 610 and the shutter support opening 335b face each other, the toner in the container body 33 is indicated by the arrow β in FIG. Is supplied into the transfer nozzle 611.
In a toner container in which the conventional container gear is arranged on the side opposite to the opening in the longitudinal direction of the toner container from the powder receiving inlet, the toner container is removed and the container gear is driven and connected to the container drive gear on the main body side. For convenience, the diameter of the position where the container gear is formed is inevitably narrower than the other parts of the container body. Therefore, a so-called shoulder portion is provided to overcome this small diameter portion, and the toner is provided from the inside of the container body to the opening. Was moving.
However, in the present embodiment, the container gear 301 is drive-connected to the container drive gear 601 at a position on the opening 33a side provided on one end side of the container body 33 in the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 with respect to the nozzle opening 610. Therefore, the transfer nozzle 611 can receive the toner on the inner side of the container body 33 rather than the position where the container gear 301 is formed (small diameter position), and the toner can be transferred more smoothly than before.

The container shutter 332 includes a tip cylindrical portion 332c, a sliding portion 332d, a guide rod 332e, and a shutter release prevention claw 332a as a closing member. The tip cylindrical portion 332c is a portion on the container tip side that is in close contact with the cylindrical opening (nozzle receiving port 331) of the container seal 333. The sliding portion 332d is a cylindrical portion formed on the rear end side of the container with respect to the tip cylindrical portion 332c, having a slightly larger outer diameter than the tip cylindrical portion 332c, and sliding on the inner peripheral surfaces of the pair of shutter side support portions 335a. is there.
The guide rod 332e is a cylinder that stands up from the inside of the cylinder of the tip cylindrical portion 332c toward the rear end side of the container, and is a rod that guides the container shutter spring 336 so as not to buckle by being inserted into the coil of the container shutter spring 336. It is a part.
The guide rod sliding portion 332g has a pair of flat surfaces formed on both sides of the cylindrical guide rod 332e with the central axis of the guide rod 332e interposed therebetween. Further, the rear end side of the container of the guide rod sliding portion 332b is split into two to form a pair of cantilever beams 332f.
The shutter release prevention claw 332a is provided at the end of the cantilever beam 332f at the end opposite to the upright root of the guide lot 332e, and is provided at the end of the cantilever beam 332f to prevent the container shutter 332 from falling off from the container shutter support member 334. It is the nail part of.

As shown in FIG. 16, the end end of the container shutter spring 336 abuts against the inner wall surface of the tip cylindrical portion 332c, and the rear end side end of the container shutter spring 336 abuts against the wall surface of the shutter rear end support portion 335. At this time, since the container shutter spring 336 is in a compressed state, the container shutter 332 receives an urging force in a direction away from the shutter rear end support portion 335 (right direction in FIG. 16, container tip direction). However, the shutter release prevention claw 332a formed at the end of the container shutter 332 on the rear end side of the container is caught on the outer wall surface of the shutter rear end support portion 335. As a result, the container shutter 332 is prevented from moving in a direction away from the shutter rear end support portion 335 as compared with the state shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.
Positioning is performed by the hook of the shutter release prevention claw 332a on the shutter rear end support portion 335 and the urging force of the container shutter spring 336. Specifically, the tip cylindrical portion 332c that exerts the toner leakage prevention function of the container shutter 332 and the container seal 333 are positioned with respect to the container shutter support member 334 in the longitudinal direction. Positioning is performed so that the two are in close contact with each other, and toner leakage can be prevented.

The receiving member fixing portion 337 has a tubular shape in which the diameters of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface gradually decrease toward the rear end side of the container. The diameter decreases in order from the front end side of the container to the rear end side of the container. As shown in FIG. 17, the outer peripheral surface has two outer diameter portions (outer peripheral surfaces AA and BB in order from the container tip), and the inner peripheral surface has five inner diameter portions (outer peripheral surfaces CC and DD in order from the container tip). , EE, FF, GG). The boundary between the outer peripheral surface AA and the outer peripheral surface BB is connected by a tapered surface. The boundary between the fourth inner diameter portion FF and the fifth inner diameter portion GG on the inner peripheral surface is also connected by a tapered surface. The inner diameter portion FF of the inner peripheral surface and the tapered surface connected to the inner diameter portion FF correspond to the seal member entrainment prevention space 337b described later, and the ridge lines of these surfaces correspond to the sides of the pentagonal cross section described later.

As shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, a pair of shutter side support portions 335a, which face each other from the receiving member fixing portion 337 to the rear end side of the container and have a cylindrical shape cut in the longitudinal direction, project. .. The ends of the two shutter side support portions 335a on the container rear end side are connected to the cup-shaped shutter rear end support portion 335 having a round hole in the center of the bottom. By facing each other, the two shutter side surface support portions 335a are formed with a cylindrical space S1 that can be recognized by their inner wall cylindrical surfaces and their extension virtual cylindrical surfaces. The receiving member fixing portion 337 has a fifth inner diameter portion GG from the tip as a cylindrical inner peripheral surface having an inner diameter of the same size as the diameter of the cylindrical space S1. The sliding portion 332d of the container shutter 332 slides on the cylindrical space S1 and the cylindrical inner peripheral surface GG. The third inner peripheral surface EE of the receiving member fixing portion 337 is a virtual circumferential surface passing through the longitudinal top of the nozzle shutter abutting ribs 337a arranged at equal intervals of 45 [°] distribution. A cylindrical (circular tubular) container seal 333 having a quadrangular cross section (cross section in the cross section of FIG. 18) is arranged corresponding to the inner peripheral surface EE. The container seal 333 is fixed to a vertical surface connected from the third inner peripheral surface EE to the fifth inner peripheral surface FF with an adhesive, double-sided tape, or the like. The exposed surface on the side opposite to the attachment of the container seal 333 (right side in FIGS. 16 and 17) forms the inner bottom of the cylindrical opening of the cylindrical receiving member fixing portion 337 (container opening).

Further, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, a seal member entrainment prevention space 337b (pinching prevention space) is formed corresponding to the inner peripheral surface FF of the receiving member fixing portion 337 and the tapered surface connected to the inner peripheral surface FF. The seal member entanglement prevention space 337b is a ring-shaped sealed space surrounded by three different members. That is, the inner peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 (the fourth inner peripheral surface FF and the tapered surface connected to it), the vertical surface on the sticking side of the container seal 333, and the sliding portion 332d from the tip cylindrical portion 332c of the container shutter 332. It is a ring-shaped space surrounded by the outer peripheral surface. The cross section of this ring-shaped space (cross section in the cross sections of FIGS. 16 and 17) has a pentagonal shape. The angle formed by the inner peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 and the end surface of the container seal 333 and the angle formed by the outer peripheral surface of the container shutter 332 and the end surface of the container seal 333 are both 90 [°].

The function of the seal member entrainment prevention space 337b will be described. When the container shutter 332 moves from the state of shielding the nozzle receiving port 331 toward the rear end of the container, the inner peripheral surface of the container seal 333 slides with the tip cylindrical portion 332c of the container shutter 332. Therefore, the inner peripheral surface of the container seal 333 is elastically deformed so as to be pulled by the container shutter 332 and move toward the rear end of the container.
At this time, if there is no seal member entrainment prevention space 337b and the vertical surface (attached surface of the container seal 333) connected from the third inner peripheral surface and the fifth inner peripheral surface GG are connected so as to be orthogonal to each other, the following There is a risk of a situation like this. That is, the elastically deformed portion of the container seal 333 may be sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 that slides on the container shutter 332 and the outer peripheral surface of the container shutter 332, resulting in a state of being caught. There is. When the container seal 333 is caught between the portion where the receiving member fixing portion 337 and the container shutter 332 slide, that is, between the tip cylindrical portion 332c and the inner peripheral surface GG, the container shutter 332 with respect to the receiving member fixing portion 337. Is locked, and the nozzle receiving port 331 cannot be opened or closed.

On the other hand, in the nozzle receiving member 330 of the present embodiment, a seal member entrainment prevention space 337b is formed in the inner peripheral portion thereof. Since the inner diameter of the seal member entanglement prevention space 337b (inner diameter of each of the inner peripheral surface FF and the tapered surface connected to the inner peripheral surface FF) is smaller than the outer diameter of the container seal 333, the entire container seal 333 enters the seal member entanglement prevention space 337b. It never comes. Further, there is a limit to the region of the container seal 333 that is elastically deformed by being pulled by the container shutter 332, and is restored by the elasticity of the container seal itself before being caught in the inner peripheral surface GG. By this action, it is possible to prevent the nozzle receiving inlet 331 from being unable to open and close due to the container shutter 332 being locked to the receiving member fixing portion 337.

As shown in FIGS. 16 to 18, a plurality of nozzle shutter abutting ribs 337a extend radially on the inner peripheral surface of the receiving member fixing portion 337 and adjacent to the outer periphery of the container seal 333. Is formed in. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, when the container seal 333 is fixed to the receiving member fixing portion 337, the vertical surface of the container seal 333 on the container tip side is the end portion of the nozzle shutter abutting rib 337a on the container tip side. It protrudes slightly in the longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishment device 60, the nozzle shutter collar 612a of the nozzle shutter 612 on the toner replenishment device 60 side is urged by the nozzle shutter spring 613 to form a container seal 333. Crush the protruding part. The nozzle shutter flange portion 612a further enters and abuts against the end of the nozzle shutter abutting rib 337a on the tip side of the container, covers the end surface of the container seal 333 on the tip side, and shuts off from the outside of the container. As a result, it is possible to secure the airtightness around the transport nozzle 611 at the nozzle receiving port 331 at the time of mounting and prevent toner leakage.

The back side of the nozzle shutter spring receiving surface 612f of the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a urged by the nozzle shutter spring 613 abuts against the nozzle shutter abutting rib 337a, whereby the position of the nozzle shutter 612 in the longitudinal direction with respect to the toner container 32 is determined. As a result, the end face of the container seal 333 on the container tip side and the end face of the tip opening 305 (internal space of the cylindrical receiving member fixing portion 337 arranged in the container opening 33a described later) on the container tip side The positional relationship with the nozzle shutter 612 in the longitudinal direction is determined.

Next, the operations of the container shutter 332 and the transfer nozzle 611 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 9, 19 (a) to 19 (d). Before mounting the toner container 32 on the toner replenishing device 60, as shown in FIG. 1, the container shutter 332 is urged by the container shutter spring 336 toward a closing position for closing the nozzle receiving port 331. The appearance of the container shutter 332 and the transfer nozzle 611 at this time is shown in FIG. 19A. Then, when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishment device 60, the transfer nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle receiving port 331 as shown in FIG. 19B. When the toner container 32 is further pushed into the toner replenishment device 60, it is located in the insertion direction of the end surface 332h (hereinafter, referred to as “end surface 332h of the container shutter”) of the tip cylindrical portion 332c which is the end surface of the container shutter 332 and the transfer nozzle 611. The end face 611a (hereinafter, referred to as "end face 611a of the transport nozzle") comes into contact with the end face 611a. When the toner container 32 is further pushed in from this state, the container shutter 332 is pushed in as shown in FIG. 19 (c), and the transfer nozzle 611 is after the shutter from the nozzle inlet 331 as shown in FIG. 19 (d). It is inserted into the end support portion 335. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the transport nozzle 611 is inserted into the container body 33 to reach the set position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 19D, the nozzle opening 610 is located at a position overlapping the shutter support opening 335b.

After that, when the container body 33 rotates, the toner pumped above the transfer nozzle 611 by the pumping unit 304 falls from the nozzle opening 610 into the transfer nozzle 611 and is introduced. The toner introduced into the transfer nozzle 611 is conveyed in the transfer nozzle 611 toward the toner drop transfer path 64 by the rotation of the transfer screw 614, and is dropped from the toner drop transfer path 64 to the developing device 50 and supplied. Will be done.

In the relationship between the toner container 32 and the toner replenishment device 60 according to the present embodiment, the transfer nozzle 611 is inserted to a position penetrating the inside of the container gear 301 in the longitudinal direction of the container body 33. That is, the container gear 301 meshes with the container drive gear 601 on the opening 33a side in the longitudinal direction of the container body 33 with respect to the nozzle opening 610. Therefore, when the rotational drive is input to the container gear 301 via the container drive gear 601 in the A direction shown in FIG. 4, the force generated at the meshing point between the container drive gear 601 and the container gear 301 is applied to the container body 33 or the container body 33. It joins the transport nozzle 611 and the nozzle receiving member 330 extending inside the container body 33. As a result, the transfer nozzle 611 and the nozzle receiving member 330 may be damaged, or a gap may be formed between the transfer nozzle 611 and the nozzle receiving member 330 to cause toner leakage.
Further, by sliding the toner container 32 in the mounting direction Q (pushing direction) on the toner container storage unit 70, the transport nozzle 611 of the toner replenishing device 60 moves the container shutter in the nozzle receiving port 331 of the toner container 32. Push 332 open to enter the container body 33. For this reason, if the positional relationship between the two is displaced during the movement, there is a concern that toner may leak or the transport nozzle 611, the container shutter 332, the nozzle receiving member 330, or the like may be damaged. Therefore, it is desirable to move the center positions of the transport nozzle 611, the container shutter 332, and the nozzle receiving port 331 on the same axis as much as possible.
Further, since the center of rotation of the container gear 301 is on the same line as the axis of the container opening 33a (container body 33), the engagement between the container gear 301 and the container drive gear 601 is not displaced and is performed at the correct position. It is important that the container opening 33a is fitted to the container setting portion 615 to determine the radial position of the toner container 32 with respect to the toner replenishing device 60.
For example, it is possible to uniformly regulate the positional relationship between the toner container 32 and the toner replenishing device 60 with a guide long in the axial direction of the toner container 32, but it is difficult to sufficiently regulate if the number of regulated directions is small. .. It is also conceivable to provide a plurality of regulating portions to define the positional relationship between the toner container 32 and the toner replenishing device 60 from the beginning of mounting. However, in this case, since positioning (movement regulation) is performed by a plurality of regulating portions from the initial stage of movement in the mounting direction Q (pushing direction), there is a concern that the pushing resistance will increase and a problem will remain in terms of operability. Will be done.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the container opening 33a is configured to be fitable to the container set portion 615 around the transfer nozzle 611, and the two are fitted to position the toner container 32 with respect to the toner replenishment device 60. It was configured to be. As a result, the positional relationship between the toner container 32 and the toner replenishing device 60 is stabilized, and the structure is less affected by the force generated at the meshing point between the container drive gear 601 and the container gear 301.
Further, as shown in FIG. 32, in the mounting direction Q of the toner container 32, the toner container 32 is provided with a positioning means (guide unit) 600 as a guide unit for stepwise engaging and disengaging with the toner replenishing device 60 side. It was. As a result, the toner container 32 can be moved toward the toner replenishment device 60 in the mounting direction Q with the center positions of the transfer nozzle 611 and the nozzle receiving member 330 aligned on the same axis as much as possible, resulting in toner leakage and transfer. Damage to the nozzle 611 and the nozzle receiving member 330 can be prevented. The positioning means 600 is composed of a plurality of positioning portions (regulating portions) arranged in the mounting direction Q. FIG. 32 is a perspective explanatory view showing the positional relationship between the plurality of positioning portions and the toner replenishment device 60, but in order to avoid complication, the configurations of the plurality of positioning portions are mainly described, and other configurations are omitted. Or it is simplified.

While the toner container 32 is moving in the mounting direction Q on the toner container storage portion 70, the positioning means 600 is positioned by using the container tip side cover 34 which is the outer shape of the toner container 32 (movement restriction in a predetermined direction). ), And when the toner replenishing device 60 occupies the set position, positioning is performed using the container opening 33a of the container body 33, which is the inner shape portion of the toner container 32. The guide unit as the positioning means 600 regulates the movement of the toner container 32 in any direction other than the mounting direction Q while the toner container 32 is moving in the mounting direction Q on the toner container storage unit 70. , The toner container 32 is guided to the toner replenishing device 60. Furthermore, when the toner container 32 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the guide portion restricts the movement of the toner container 32 being mounted in a direction other than the mounting direction, and guides the opening 33a to the container set portion 615.

The positioning means 600 as the guide portion includes the pair of slide guides 361 and 361 described above, the locking holes 339d of the container lock portions 339 and 339, the plurality of protrusions 341a (three), and the detent ribs. The 342a and the container opening 33a function as positioning members. Of these, when the slide guides 361 and 361, the locking holes 339d of the container lock portions 339 and 339, and the toner container 32 are attached to the toner replenishment device 60, the container tip side cover 34 is moved in the radial direction. A plurality of protrusions 341a (three) as a guide portion for regulation and as a radial regulation portion and a detent rib 342a as a circumferential regulation portion are integrally formed on a resin container tip side cover 34. Is arranged. The container opening 33a is integrally formed with the container body 33.

The order of engagement and disengagement between each positioning means and the toner replenishing device 60 is as follows. First, as shown in FIG. 38A, the toner container 32 is placed in the groove 74 of the container receiving portion 72 of the toner container storage portion 70, and when the user pushes it in the mounting direction Q (mounting operation), the toner container 32 Slides on the groove 74. At this time, as shown in FIG. 22, the toner while the upper guide side portions 35b, 35b of the upper guide 35 of the toner container 32 are in contact with the upper surface protruding portion 76a formed on the ceiling surface of the upper surface portion 76 facing the groove portion 74. Since the container 32 is slidably moved, it can be pushed in the mounting direction Q while restricting the movement in the vertical direction Z. Further, since the movement in the vertical direction is restricted by the upper guide side portions 35b and 35b formed on both sides of the upper guide top portion 35a of the upper portion of the upper guide 35, the toner container 32 moves in the left-right direction during the pushing operation. Even if it is displaced, it can be reliably brought into contact with the upper surface portion 76 side.

Then, on the toner replenishing device 60 side, as shown in FIG. 38B, the slide groove tip portion 361c as the first guide portion of the slide guides 361 and 361 is the most upstream in the mounting direction Q of the guide rails 75 and 75. Enter each side. When the slide groove tip portion 361c enters the guide rail 75, the slide guide 361 rides on the guide rail 75, and the toner container 32 that is in contact with the upper surface of the groove portion 74 is lifted upward. The guide rails 75, 75 are formed on the side surfaces 74a, 74b of the groove portion 74 at intervals from the mounting surface 74c of the groove portion 74. Therefore, when the slide groove tip portion 361c of the slide groove 361a enters the guide rail 75, rough positioning can be performed in the width direction W and the vertical direction Z orthogonal to the mounting direction Q. This state is referred to as the first regulated state. 33, 34, 35, and 38 (b) are diagrams showing the first regulation state. 33 is a side view showing the first regulation state, FIG. 34 is a view seen from the mounting direction side at the reference line X1 of FIG. 33, and FIG. 35 is a view seen from above the device at the reference line X2 of FIG. 33. The reference line X1 shown in FIG. 33 indicates the position of the end surface of the container tip side cover 34, and the same position is shown in the drawings described below.

When the toner container 32 is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the first regulated state, the end surface 332h of the container shutter and the end surface 611a of the transfer nozzle come into contact with each other, as shown in FIG. 38 (c). In the first regulation state, since the width direction W and the vertical direction Z are regulated by the slide guide 361 and the guide rail 75, the container shutter 332 faces the transfer nozzle 611 and faces the nozzle receiving inlet 331 as intended. The positional relationship with the transport nozzle 611 can be secured. By ensuring the positional relationship between the two, it is possible to prevent the container seal 333 from being peeled off or damaged when the container shutter 332 enters the transport nozzle 611 in a state of being displaced.

When the product is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from this state, the second regulated state shown in FIGS. 28, 29 (a), and 38 (d) is obtained. In this second regulated state, the container tip side of the container tip side cover 34 enters the container cover receiving portion 73. When the container tip side of the container tip side cover 34 enters the container cover receiving portion 73, three protrusions 341a formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the container tip side cover 34 mounting direction tip portion 34c are formed. It contacts the inner peripheral surface 608c of the set cover 608, which is a part of the container cover receiving portion 73, from the inside. The number of the protrusions 341a is not limited to three as long as at least three or more are formed.
The contact between the protrusions 341a and the inner peripheral surface 608c of the set cover 608 guides the movement of the toner container 32 and restricts the movement in the radial direction. Therefore, in the second regulated state, the radial movement of the container tip side cover 34 with respect to the container cover receiving portion 73 is restricted by the contact between the three protrusions 341a and the inner peripheral surface 608c. That is, the radial position of the container tip side cover 34 with respect to the container cover receiving portion 73 is restricted. Note that the position in the predetermined direction is restricted, that is, the movement of the toner container 32 in the predetermined direction is restricted.
When the toner container 32 is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the second restricted state, the container seal 333 and the nozzle shutter collar 612a come into contact with each other as shown in FIGS. 44A and 44A. In the second regulation state, in addition to the regulation of the width direction W and the vertical direction Z by the guide rail 75 and the slide groove 361, the radial regulation by the protrusion 341a and the inner peripheral surface 608c is added, so that the container shutter 332 and the container shutter 332 are conveyed. The center position with the nozzle 611 is aligned. Therefore, the toner container 32 is not mounted in a state of being tilted in the width direction W or the vertical direction Z with the contact surface between the end surface 332h of the container shutter and the end surface 611a of the transfer nozzle or the slide groove 361 as a fulcrum. It is possible to prevent the nozzle 611 and the container shutter 332 from being broken and the container seal 333 from being peeled off. Further, since the force applied to the slide groove 361 is dispersed and reduced in the protrusion 341a during the mounting operation, it is possible to prevent the slide groove 361 from being broken and damaged.

When the toner container 32 is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the state where the container seal 333 shown in FIGS. 44 (A) and (a) and the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a are in contact with each other, as shown in FIGS. 44 (A) and 44 (b). The tip portion 361c of the slide groove is separated from the guide rail 75, and the central portion 361d of the slide groove as the second guide portion regulates the vertical direction Z. When the toner container 32 is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from this state, the third regulated state shown in FIGS. 39 to 41 is reached. In the third regulated state, the detent rib 342a formed on the outer peripheral surface of the container tip side cover 34 on the tip side enters the groove portion 77a formed in the set cover 608 as shown in FIGS. 44A and 44B. To do. Therefore, the container tip side cover 34 and the set cover 608 (container cover receiving portion 73) are integrated, and a state of restricting movement in the circumferential direction by the container tip side cover 34 is added. At this time, since the vertical direction Z is regulated by the slide groove central portion 361d, which has a wider interval in the vertical direction Z than the slide groove tip portion 361c, the sliding resistance at the time of insertion is reduced, which is preferable in terms of operability. ..

When the toner container 32 is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the third regulated state, the fourth regulated state shown in FIGS. 42, 43, 44 (A) and 44 (c) is obtained. In the fourth regulated state, the three protrusions 341a of the container tip side cover 34 occupy positions facing the through holes 79a or the recesses 79b formed in the set cover 608, respectively. Therefore, since the upper protrusion 341a enters the through hole 79a or is located in the recess 79b, the radial restriction of the container tip side cover 34 by the protrusion 341a and the inner peripheral surface 608c is released. ..

When the toner container 32 is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the fourth regulated state, the fifth regulated state shown in FIGS. 45, 46, and 47 is obtained. In the fifth regulated state, the tip of the container opening 33a enters the inner peripheral surface 615a (set cover 608) of the end of the container setting portion 615 as shown in FIGS. 44 (A) and 44 (d). Therefore, the container body 33 is rotatably supported in the inner peripheral surface 615a of the end portion that serves as the positioning portion of the container set portion. At this time, since the position of the container tip side cover 34 in the circumferential direction is regulated by the detent rib 342a and the groove portion 77a, both of them are in a state where the center positions of the container opening 33a and the container set portion 615 are aligned. Fit. Therefore, it is possible to prevent toner leakage from the container shutter 332 caused by the container opening 33a entering the container setting portion 615 with the position shifted. Further, when the container opening 33a enters the inner peripheral surface 615a at the end of the container set portion, the radial regulation by the protrusion 341a is released, so that it interferes with the circumferential regulation by the detent rib 342a. There is nothing to do.

When the toner container 32 is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the fifth regulated state, the sixth regulated state shown in FIGS. 44 (A) (e), 48, and 49 is reached. In the sixth regulated state, the container opening 33a penetrates deeper into the inner peripheral surface 615a at the end of the container set portion, and the replenishment device side enters each locking hole 339d of the container lock portion 339 and 339 shown in FIG. Lock members 78, 78 enter and are locked. As a result, the toner container 32 is prevented from moving in the longitudinal direction (rotational axis direction) and is held at the set position.
It should be noted that the positions where the replenishment device side lock members 78 and 78 enter into the respective locking holes 339d of the container lock portions 339 and 339 should have some play in the longitudinal direction, so that the component accuracy varies and the mounting position Even if there is a variation in the above, the replenishment device side lock members 78, 78 can be reliably entered into the respective locking holes 339d of the container lock portion 339, 339 and held in the set position with respect to the toner replenishment device 60. It is preferable because it is possible to avoid an incompletely set state of the toner container 32.
FIG. 44B shows the relationship between the state of the transfer nozzle 611 and the nozzle receiving member 330 during mounting operation (horizontal axis) and the regulated state of the toner container 32 (vertical axis). The horizontal axis of FIG. 44 (B) shows the contact state of the nozzle receiving member 330 with the transfer nozzle 611, and (a) is at the start of movement and before the transfer nozzle 611 and the nozzle receiving member 330 come into contact with each other. (B) is a state in which the end face of the container shutter 332h and the end face of the transport nozzle 611a are in contact, (c) is a state in which the container seal 333 and the nozzle shutter flange 621a are in contact, and (d) is a container opening. Indicates a state in which 33a is fitted to the container set portion 615. The vertical axis of FIG. 44 (B) is a slide guide 361 that regulates vertical movement as a guide portion when reaching each of the states (a) to (d) on the horizontal axis, and regulates radial movement. It shows which guide portion of the protrusion 341a and the detent rib 342 that regulates the movement in the circumferential direction regulates the movement of the toner container 32. For example, it is shown that the vertical movement is restricted by the slide guide 361 when the end surface 332h of the container shutter and the transport nozzle 611a of (b) come into contact with each other.

As described above, as the toner container 32 moves to the mounting direction Q with respect to the toner replenishing device 60, the toner container 32 and the toner replenishing device 60 are gradually engaged and disengaged, and the toner container 32 and the toner replenishing device 60 are engaged with each other. By determining the positional relationship between the two, the central positions of the transfer nozzle 611, the container shutter 332, and the nozzle receiving port 331 can be stabilized. Therefore, it is possible to suppress damage to the transport nozzle 611, the container shutter 332, and the nozzle receiving port 331 and toner leakage while improving the operability at the time of mounting.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 50 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner container 1032 according to the second embodiment. The toner container 1032 is a substantially cylindrical toner bottle, and serves as a powder storage member in which a container tip side cover 34 held in the toner container storage portion 70 in a non-rotating manner and a container gear 1301 are integrally formed. It is mainly composed of the container body 1033. Similar to the first embodiment, the toner container 1032 is detachable from the toner replenishment device 60, and can be slidably moved in the longitudinal direction on the toner container storage portion 70 of the toner replenishment device 60 (FIG. 5). , See FIG. 20).
The toner container 1032 has a different configuration of the container main body 1033 from the toner container 32 described in the first embodiment, and the other configurations are the same as those of the toner container 32. Therefore, here, the container main body 1033 The configuration of is mainly explained.

The container body 1033 is a cylindrical member made of resin, and has a configuration in which toner as a powder developer is contained therein, and the transport means and a part of the transport means have a pumping function. .. Hereinafter, this configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 51. FIG. 51 (a) is a perspective view of the nozzle receiving member 330 in which the pumping rib 304g corresponding to the pumping wall surface 304f is integrated (hereinafter, referred to as the nozzle receiving member 1330). FIG. 51 (b) is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the nozzle receiving member 1330 of FIG. 51 (a) and the transport nozzle 611 arranged inside the container body 1033. 51 (c) is a side sectional explanatory view of the entire toner container 1032 on which the nozzle receiving member 1330 shown in FIG. 51 (a) is mounted, and FIG. 51 (d) is a part of the toner container 1032. It is a perspective view of the container shutter 1332.

The nozzle receiving member 1330 shown in FIG. 51 is provided with 304 g of pumping ribs as described above, and is a transport blade holding portion to which a transport blade 1302 as a transport means made of a flexible material such as a resin film is fixed. It is integrally configured with 1330b.
Further, the nozzle receiving member 1330 shown in FIG. 51 has a container seal 1333, a nozzle receiving inlet 1331, a container shutter 1332, and a container shutter spring 1336. The container seal 1333 is a seal member having a contact surface that faces and contacts the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a of the nozzle shutter 612 held by the transfer nozzle 611 when the toner container 1032 is attached to the main body of the copying machine 500. The nozzle receiving port 1331 is an opening into which the transport nozzle 611 is inserted, and the container shutter 1332 is a shutter member that opens and closes the nozzle receiving port 1331. The container shutter spring 1336 is an urging member that urges the container shutter 1332 toward a position where the nozzle receiving port 1331 is closed.

Further, in the configuration shown in FIG. 51, the nozzle receiving member 1330 has a nozzle receiving member outer peripheral surface 1330a that is slidably fitted to the end inner peripheral surface 615a of the container set portion on the copying machine 500 main body side shown in FIG. Be prepared. Further, as shown in FIG. 51 (d), the container shutter 1332 includes a contact portion 1332a that comes into contact with the transport nozzle 611 and a shutter support portion 1332b. The shutter support portion 1332b extends from the contact portion 1332a toward the longitudinal direction of the container body 1033, and hooks the container shutter 1332c so as not to fall off from the nozzle receiving member 1330 due to the urging of the container shutter spring 1336. Have. The toner container 1032 is fixed to the nozzle receiving member 1330 so that the container gear 1301 formed separately can be driven and transmitted.
In this way, the structure in which the toner up to the pumping inner wall surface, the bridging portion, and the shutter support opening 1335b is poured into the nozzle opening 610 can be integrated.

Next, the details of the toner container 1032 provided with 304 g of pumping ribs will be described.
As shown in FIG. 51 (c), the toner container 1032 is composed of a container tip side cover 34, a container main body 1033, a bottom lid 1035, a nozzle receiving member 1330, and the like. The container tip side cover 34 is provided on the tip side of the toner container 1032 in the mounting direction Q with respect to the copying machine 500 main body, and the container main body 1033 has a substantially cylindrical shape. The bottom lid 1035 is provided on the rear end side of the toner container 1032 in the mounting direction Q, and the nozzle receiving member 1330 is rotatably held by the container body 1033 having a substantially cylindrical shape described above.

The container tip side cover 34 is provided with an exposed opening 34a (see FIG. 48) for exposing the container gear 1301 fixed to the nozzle receiving member 1330. The container body 1033, which has a substantially cylindrical shape, rotatably holds the nozzle receiving member 1330, and is fixed (by a known method such as heat welding or adhesive) to the container tip side cover 34 and the bottom lid 1035. The bottom lid 1035 has a rear end side bearing 1035a that supports one end of the above-mentioned transport blade holding portion 1330b, and a handle portion 1303 for the user to grip when attaching / detaching the toner container 1032 to / from the copying machine 500 main body. Has.

Next, an assembling method for assembling the container tip side cover 34, the bottom lid 1035, and the nozzle receiving member 1330 to the container body 1033 will be described.
First, the nozzle receiving member 1330 is inserted into the container body 1033 from the rear end side of the container, and the nozzle receiving member 1330 is rotatably supported by the tip side bearing 1036 on the tip side of the container body 1033. .. Next, the rear end side bearing 1035a provided on the bottom lid 1035 is aligned so as to rotatably support one end of the transport blade holding portion 1330b of the nozzle receiving member 1330, and the bottom lid 1035 is fixed to the container body 1033. To do. After that, the container gear 1301 is fixed to the nozzle receiving member 1330 from the container tip side. After fixing the container gear 1301, the container tip side cover 34 is fixed to the container body 1033 so as to cover the container gear 1301 from the container tip side.
As for fixing the container body 1033 and the container tip side cover 34, fixing the container body 1033 and the bottom lid 1035, and fixing the nozzle receiving member 1330 and the container gear 1301, known methods (for example, heat welding, etc.) Adhesive etc.) can be used.

Next, a description of a configuration for transporting toner from the toner container 1032 to the nozzle opening 610 will be described.
The pumping rib 304g is projected from the rotation direction downstream end portion 1335c of the shutter side surface support portion 1335a to the vicinity of the inner peripheral surface of the container body 1033 so that the rib surface is connected. The rib surface is broken at one place to make it close to a curved surface, but this configuration is not always necessary depending on the compatibility with the toner, and a simple flat rib without breaking may be used. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to form a raised portion on the container body 1033. Further, since the pumping rib 304g is integrally erected from the shutter support opening 1335b, the effect of bridging can be exhibited in the same manner as when the shutter side surface support portion 335a and the convex portion 304h are brought into close contact with each other. That is, when the nozzle receiving member 1330 rotates when the toner container 1032 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the transport blades rotate, and the toner contained in the toner container 1032 is provided with the nozzle receiving member 1330 from the rear end side. It is transported toward the tip side. Then, the pumping rib 304g receives the toner transported by the transport blade 1302, pumps it from the lower side to the upper side by rotation, and the rib surface can be used as a slide to pour the toner to the nozzle opening 610.

Further, similarly to the first embodiment, the toner container 1032 according to the present embodiment is placed in the groove 74 of the container receiving portion 72 of the toner container storage portion 70, and when the user pushes it in the mounting direction Q, the toner container 32 Moves on the groove 74. Then, as the toner container 1032 moves, the container tip side cover 34 changes from the first regulated place state to the fifth regulated state, and the position of the toner container is determined stepwise according to each state. Then, when the container opening 1033a is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the fifth regulated state to reach the sixth regulated state, the container opening 1033a deeply enters the inner peripheral surface 615a at the end of the container setting portion 615 and becomes the set position. The replenishment device side lock members 78, 78 enter into the respective locking holes 339d of the container lock portion 339, 339 and are locked. This prevents the toner container 1032 from moving in the longitudinal direction.

In this way, as the toner container 1032 moves with respect to the toner replenishment device 60 in the mounting direction Q, the positional relationship between the toner container 1032 and the toner replenishment device 60 is defined stepwise and positioning is performed, so that the transfer nozzle The center positions of the 611, the container shutter 332, and the nozzle inlet 331 can be stabilized. Therefore, it is possible to suppress toner leakage while improving operability at the time of mounting.

(Third Embodiment)
In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 53 (a) and 53 (b), the toner container 1032 has an IC tag (IC chip, information storage medium) 700 as an information storage device and a holding mechanism 345 thereof as a container cover. In addition to being provided on the container tip side cover 34, the toner replenishing device 60 is provided with a connector 800 as a reading means that contacts the IC tag 700 and reads out information.
The communication method of the IC tag 700 is a contact type. Therefore, the connector 800 is arranged at a position facing the container tip side end surface of the container tip side cover 34 on the main body side of the toner replenishing device 60.

As shown in FIG. 54, the IC tag 700 has an IC tag hole 701 formed at a position vertically above the center of gravity of the substrate 702 in the vertical direction of the chip. A ground terminal 703 for grounding (earth) made of a metal terminal is installed between the inner diameter portion and the periphery of the IC tag hole portion 701. The ground terminal 703 formed on the surface of the substrate 702 is formed so that two ground terminal protrusions 705 extend in the left-right direction of the chip with respect to the annular portion. One rectangular metal pad 710 (first metal pad 710a) is installed at an upper position in the vertical direction of the chip with respect to the IC tag hole portion 701. Two metal pads 710 (second metal pad 710b and third metal pad 710c) are installed at a lower position in the vertical direction of the chip. On the back surface of the substrate 702, a protective member 720 made of a hemispherical resin material such as epoxy and covering and protecting an information storage portion (not shown) is provided.

As shown in FIG. 53A, the IC tag 700 having such a configuration is held by the holding mechanism 345 on the vertical surface 34d, which is the surface on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the container tip side cover 34. The holding mechanism 345 includes a holding portion 343 having a pedestal for holding the IC tag 700, and a holding member 344 as a cover member that holds the IC tag 700 and is detachably fitted to the holding portion 343. The IC tag 700 and its holding mechanism 345 are arranged in a space diagonally above the right side of the container tip side cover 34 when viewed from the container tip side along the rotation axis of the toner container 32. In this case, when the toner container 32 of another color is installed side by side, the holding mechanism 345 is arranged on the container tip side cover 34 by utilizing the space diagonally above the right side which is a dead space. This makes it possible to provide a compact toner replenishing device capable of arranging cylindrical toner containers 32 close to each other. The container gear 301 and the container drive gear 601 on the main body side are arranged in the space diagonally above the left side of the container tip side cover 34.

In the IC tag 700, the metal pads 710a to 710c and the ground terminal 703 are held toward the connector 800 by sandwiching the substrate 702 between the holding portion 343 and the holding member 344 of the holding mechanism 345 having such a configuration. To.

As shown in FIGS. 53 (b) and 55, the connector 800 includes a positioning pin 801, three main body side terminals 804, and a grounding main body side terminal 802. The three main body side terminals 804 are arranged so as to face the metal pads 710a to 710c, respectively, and when the toner container 1032 is moved on the groove 74 on the toner container storage portion 70 in the mounting direction Q, each pad Information is read from the IC tag 700 by contacting with. The positioning pin 801 is arranged so as to face the IC tag hole portion 701 for positioning, and the IC tag hole portion 701 is in the process of mounting the toner container 1032 on the toner replenishing device 60 and moving in the mounting direction Q. Will be inserted into. The IC tag 700 and the connector 800 are positioned by inserting the positioning pin 801 into the IC tag hole portion 701. The grounding main body side terminal 802 is configured such that the positioning pin 801 comes into contact with the ground terminal 703 inserted into the IC tag hole portion 701.

In the present embodiment, the positioning pin 801 is inserted into the IC tag hole portion 701 by moving the toner container 1032 in the mounting direction Q between the fifth regulated state and the sixth regulated state described above.
That is, before the positioning pin 801 is inserted into the IC tag hole portion 701, the toner container 1032 is roughly positioned in the vertical direction Z and the width direction W according to the first regulation state. In the second regulation state, the radial movement of the container tip side cover 34 with respect to the container cover receiving portion 73 is restricted by the contact between the three protrusions 341a and the inner peripheral surface 608c. That is, in the second regulated state, the toner container 32 is positioned in the width direction W, the vertical direction Z, and the radial direction. Further, in the third restricted state, the detent rib 342a enters the groove portion 77a formed in the set cover 608 to restrict the movement of the container tip side cover 34 in the circumferential direction R. Then, in the fourth regulated state, after the radial regulation is released, in the fifth regulated state, the container opening 1033a enters the inner peripheral surface 615a at the end of the container set portion, so that the container Positioning of the main body 1033 with respect to the toner replenishing device 60 is performed.

Therefore, when the positioning pin 801 is inserted into the IC tag hole portion 701, the positioning pin 801 and the IC tag hole portion are regulated in the vertical direction, the width direction, the circumferential direction, and the radial direction. The positional relationship of 701 is stable. Therefore, in the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress toner leakage while improving operability at the time of mounting, and it is possible to prevent poor contact between the IC tag 700 and the connector 800.

(Fourth Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the identification means for identifying the compatibility between each toner container side and the toner replenishment device side described above will be described.
Generally, in order to identify compatibility, different engaging portions and engaged portions are provided for each type as identification means on the toner container side and the toner container storage portion side of the toner replenishing device. When an attempt is made to attach a different type of toner container to the toner container storage portion, the engaged portion and the engaged portion do not face each other and collate, so that the toner container cannot be attached to the toner container storage portion and is incorrectly attached. Is being prevented.
A certain gap is provided between the toner container and the toner container storage portion in consideration of ease of mounting. Without this gap, the mounting posture when mounting the correct toner container becomes too severe, making it difficult to mount. However, if the gap is made too large, the toner container can be easily mounted, but the degree of freedom in the posture of the toner container is high, and even if the toner container is in the wrong posture, a force for mounting the toner container in the toner container storage portion may act. Therefore, when the toner container is mounted by applying a load exceeding a certain level, the toner container is mistakenly mounted in the toner container storage section even in the combination of the engaging portion and the engaged portion which should not be mounted inconsistently. There is.
The identification means provided in the toner container storage portion is provided on the front side in the mounting direction in order to identify compatibility at the initial stage of mounting. Therefore, the insertion port forming portion provided with the identification means is molded of a soft material such as resin so that the user does not touch and injure the toner container when it is attached. Therefore, the identification means provided in the insertion port forming portion is easily bent, and even when different types of toner containers are attached, the identification means may be overcome and attached to the toner container storage portion.

If such different types of toner containers are attached, there is a high possibility that the toner container cannot be removed or the engaging portion or engaged portion as the identification means is destroyed. Even if the types are different, when the same toner container is used and the types are classified by the engaging part and the engaged part of different combinations from the viewpoint of common parts, the wrong toner container is placed in the toner container storage part. If the toner is attached, different colors and types of toner are transferred depending on the toner replenishing device, which may interfere with the functions of various parts of the image forming apparatus such as the developing apparatus and the process cartridge.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a regulating means for restricting the movement of the engaging portion of the toner container so as to get over the engaged portion provided in the toner container storage portion is provided. By providing this regulating means, even if an incompatible toner container is attached to the toner container storage part and pushed in forcibly, the engaging part can overcome the bent engaged part and the toner replenishing device. Since it is not mounted on the side, it is possible to reliably prevent mounting of the wrong type of toner container and prevent damage to the engaged portion provided in the toner container storage portion.

Specifically, the incompatible relationship between the toner container and the toner container storage side will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 59 is a perspective explanatory view showing the tip end side of the toner container 32, and FIG. 60 is a bottom view showing the tip end side of the toner container 32. In the present embodiment, an engaging portion 92 is formed in the lower portion 34 g of the outer periphery of the container tip side cover 34 of the toner container 32. The engaging portion 92 is arranged between a pair of slide guides 361 and 361 located in the width direction W. The location of the engaging portion 92 may be the lower portion 34 g of the container tip side cover 34, and is not limited to the slide guides 361 and 361. In the present embodiment, the engaging portion 92 is a rib-to-rib groove 921 or a slide guide 361 formed between a pair of engaging ribs 920 and 920 as slide guide inter-projections protruding from the outer periphery of the container tip side cover 34. , A reinforcing portion groove 922 formed in the reinforcing portions 362 and 362 as a part of the 361 so as to be continuous in the mounting direction so that the lower portion has a concave shape. The widths W1 of the rib-to-rib grooves 921 and 921 and the presence / absence of the rib-to-rib grooves 921 and the reinforcing portion groove 922 are made different depending on the color and type of toner and the model. The engaging rib 920 is arranged on the upstream side in the mounting direction (closer to the rear end of the toner container) than the tips 361b and 361b of the slide guides 361 and 361. Further, each engaging rib 920 has its upper portion 920a connected to the container tip side cover 34 and integrated, and both side portions 920b and 920b serve as a part of the slide guides 361 and 361 integrated with the container tip side cover 34. It is connected to and integrated with the reinforcing portions 362 and 362. For this reason, the strength of the component is higher than that in which only the upper portion is integrated with the container tip side cover 34.

In the present embodiment, the toner container storage portion 70 to which the toner container 32 is attached / detached is composed of a container cover receiving portion 73, a container receiving portion 72, and an insertion port forming portion 71A, as shown in FIG. ..
The insertion port forming portion 71A is formed with an insertion port 71a (Y, M, C, K) through which the toner container 32 of each color passes when the toner container 32 is attached and detached. The shape of these insertion ports 71a is similar to the external shape of the container tip side cover 34 of each color, and as shown in FIGS. 62 and 63, the outer peripheral surface 34b of the container tip side cover 34 and the insertion port 71a ( It is formed so that a certain gap is formed between the inner surface of Y, M, C, and K) when the toner container is attached and detached.
At the inlet pedestal portion 71b forming the lower portion of each insertion port 71a, an engaged rib 90 as an engaged portion that engages with the engaging portion 92 of the toner container 32 to identify the type of the toner container is provided at each inlet. Each is formed so as to project upward from the pedestal portion 71b. Regulatory ribs 93 and 93 (Y, M, C, K) as regulating portions are provided on the lower side surfaces 71c and 71c of the insertion ports 71a located in the width direction W, respectively. The regulating ribs 93 and 93 (Y, M, C, K) are provided in the slide grooves 361a and 361a (see FIG. 59) of the slide guides 361 and 361 when the toner containers 32 of each color are inserted into the insertion ports 71a, respectively. The width and the amount of protrusion are set so that the slide guides 361 and 361 can be slidable. As a result, each of the engaging portions provided in the lower portion 34 g of each container tip side cover 34 in a state where each slide groove 361a enters each regulation rib 93 and the vertical movement of the container tip side cover 34 is restricted. 92 engages with each engaged rib 90, respectively. At this time, since the movement in the vertical direction is restricted, when each engaging portion 92 and each engaged rib 90 are engaged, each toner container 32 is prevented from being lifted upward, and each engaged portion 32 is prevented from being lifted upward. It is possible to prevent the insertion from being continued beyond the rib 90.

The length (groove depth) of the slide groove 361a of the slide guide 361 in the width direction W (see FIG. 31) is 2/3 or more of the length (rib height) of the regulation rib 93 in the width direction W. It is preferable that the length is set so that The length (groove depth) of the slide groove central portion 361d in the width direction W (see FIG. 31) is shorter than two-thirds of the length (rib height) of the regulation rib 93 in the width direction W, and is relative. When the groove inclined portion 361f is formed to be long, the strength of the slide guide 361 is improved, but only the tip of the regulation rib 93 is inserted into the slide groove 361a, and the regulation in the vertical direction is restricted. This is because the looseness causes the rear end side of the toner container 32 to be lifted with the regulation rib 93 as the base end, and even if it is erroneously inserted, it gets over the engaged rib 90 and is erroneously mounted.

The regulation rib 93 (Y, M, C) provided in the insertion port 71a (Y, M, C) into which the toner container 32 (Y, M, C) is inserted, which is shown in FIG. 62, is the container cover receiving portion 73. It is formed so as to protrude from the lower side surfaces 71c and 71c in the directions facing each other at the same height as the guide rails 75 (Y, M, C) formed on the side, respectively.
On the other hand, the regulation rib 93K provided in the insertion port 71aK into which the toner container 32K is inserted, which is shown in FIG. 63, has the same bottom surface as the guide rail 75 (K) (see FIG. 28) formed on the container cover receiving portion 73 side. Although it is formed so as to be in the height position, the length in the height direction differs between the regulation rib 93 (K) and the guide rail 75 (K), and the guide rail 75 (K) is formed longer. There is. As a result, the toner container 32 (Y, M, C) formed smaller than the toner container 32 (K) is erroneously inserted into the insertion port 71a (K) formed larger than the insertion port 71a (Y, M, C). The guide rail 75 (K) is the slide guide 361 (Y, M, C) of the toner container 32 (Y, M, C) even when the insertion is continued even if the insertion is continued over the engaged rib 90. ), Further insertion can be restricted, and erroneous mounting can be prevented. Further, the guide rail 75 (Y, M, C, K) and the regulation rib 93 (Y, M, C, K) may be integrated.

The regulation rib 93K is formed to have a smaller length in the height direction with respect to the slide groove 361a, and the toner container 32 is inserted into the base end of the protrusion position from the lower side surfaces 71c and 71c of the regulation rib 93K. It is formed so as to pass through a position closer to the lower inner surface than the upper inner surface of the groove portion 361a. As a result, the distance between the lower surface of the regulation rib 93 and the lower inner surface of the slide groove 361a becomes smaller while the regulation rib 93 has entered the slide groove 361a, so that even if the toner container 32 is erroneously inserted. , It is possible to prevent the toner container 32 from being lifted upward, and it is possible to further prevent the toner container 32 from getting over the engaged rib 90 and being continued to be inserted.

Further, as another regulating portion in the present embodiment, the upper guide top portion 35a of the upper guide 35 provided on the container tip side cover 34 of the toner container 32 is used. As shown in FIG. 64, the upper guide top 35a comes into contact with the upper surface 71e of the insertion port, which is the upper surface of the insertion port 71A and faces the engaged rib 90 in the vertical direction, thereby restricting the vertical movement of the toner container. Will be done. As a result, it is possible to prevent the toner container 32 from being lifted upward, and it is possible to further prevent the toner container 32 from getting over the engaged rib 90 and continuing the insertion. Since the upper guide 35 is formed with the upper guide inclined surface 35c (see FIG. 22), when the toner container 32 is removed from the toner container storage portion 70, the inclined surface of the upper guide inclined surface 35c is formed. Since the insertion port forming portion 71A moves in the outward direction along the inclination, the operability of the removal operation is good.

Next, the relationship between the engaged rib 90 and the engaging portion 92 will be described. In the present embodiment, in the case of a compatible toner container 32 that can be attached to the insertion port 71a, as an example, it is wider than the width W2 of the engaged rib 90 of the insertion port 71a as shown in FIG. 65 (b). In the case of an incompatible toner container 32 which has a width W1 of the groove between ribs 921 and cannot be inserted into the insertion port 71a, the width of the engaged rib 90 of the insertion port 71a as shown in FIG. 65 (a). The width W1 of the inter-rib groove 921 narrower than W2 is set.

Therefore, when the operator inserts the toner container 32 into the insertion port 71a, the regulation ribs 93 and 93 shown in FIGS. 61 to 63 are first formed in the slide grooves 361a and 361a of the slide guides 361 and 361 shown in FIGS. 59 and 60. enter in. Therefore, the movement of the toner container 32 (container tip side cover 34) in the vertical direction is restricted. At this time, the operator cannot move in the mounting direction Q direction unless the regulation ribs 93 and 93 enter the slide grooves 361a and 361a, so that the posture of the toner container 32 is maintained in the correct posture.

When the toner container 32 is pushed in the mounting direction Q in this regulated state, the engaging portion 92 approaches the engaged rib 90. At this time, in the case of the toner container 32 to which the attached toner container 32 can be attached, as shown in FIG. 65 (b), the width W1 of the rib-to-rib groove 921 of the engaging portion 92 is the engaged rib 90. It is formed wider than the width W2. Therefore, the movement of the toner container 32 in the mounting direction Q is not restricted, and the inter-rib groove 921 passes through the engaged rib 90 and moves on the container receiving portion 72 to the container cover receiving portion 73. The container tip side cover 34 is set.

On the other hand, in the case of the toner container 32 to which the attached toner container 32 cannot be attached, as shown in FIG. 65 (a), the width W1 of the inter-rib groove 921 of the engaging portion 92 is the width of the engaged rib 90. Since it is formed narrower than W2, the engaging rib 920 of the engaging portion 92 and the engaged rib 90 on the insertion port 71a side come into contact with each other. Therefore, the movement of the toner container 32 in the mounting direction Q is restricted, the inter-rib groove 921 cannot pass through the engaged rib 90, and the incompatible toner container 32 that cannot be mounted is prevented from being mounted. Can be done.

Even if the non-mountable toner container 32 is forcibly pushed in the mounting direction Q, the vertical movement of the toner container 32 (container tip side cover 34) is restricted by the slide grooves 361a and 361a and the regulating ribs 93 and 93. ing. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the engaging portion 92 from getting over the engaged rib 90, and it is possible to more reliably prevent the incompatible toner container 32 which cannot be mounted from being mounted.

Further, in the present embodiment, the engagement / disengagement relationship with the engaged rib 90 is regulated by the width W1 of the rib-to-rib groove 921 on the toner container 32 side and the presence / absence of the reinforcing portion groove 922. That is, since the presence or absence of compatibility can be determined by adjusting the width W1 with respect to the position and number of the engaged ribs 90 and the presence or absence of the reinforcing portion groove 922, the wearability is not adversely affected and the simple configuration is erroneous. It is possible to prevent the toner container from being attached to the toner replenishing device side (toner container storage unit 70).

The combination of the engaging portion 92 and the engaged rib 90 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 65A, a narrow groove W1 between the ribs of the engaging portion 92 cannot pass through the engaged portion formed by the two engaged ribs 90 (mounted). Not possible).
As shown in FIG. 65 (c), a narrow groove W1 between the ribs of the engaging portion 92 can pass through the engaged rib 90 formed by one engaged rib 90 ( Can be installed).
As shown in FIG. 65 (b), the wide W1 of the inter-rib groove 921 of the engaging portion 92 passes through the engaged rib 90 regardless of one or two engaged ribs 90. Can be installed (installable).

Next, the form and dimensions of the engaging portion 92 and the engaged rib 90 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 66 to 77. Here, the symbols of the inter-rib groove 921 and the reinforcing portion groove 922 are attached differently for each example. 66 to 75 are views showing the form of the inter-rib groove 921 formed in the container tip side cover 34. 66, 67 (a) and 67 (b) show Example 1 having an inter-rib groove 9211a having a width of 3 mm between the engaging ribs 9201a and 9201a provided in the lower portion 34 g of the container tip side cover 34.
68, 69 (a), and 69 (b) show Example 2 in which a rib groove 921 having a width of 7 mm is provided between the engaging ribs 9202a and 9202a provided in the lower portion 34 g of the container tip side cover 34.
70, 71 (a) and 71 (b) show the widths of the side surfaces 362a and 362a of the reinforcing portions 362 and 362 formed on the slide guides 361 and 361 and connected in the mounting direction without having the engaging ribs 920. An example 3 is shown in which the width is 11 mm and the groove 9213 is formed between the slide guides 361 and 361.
72, 73 (a), and 73 (b) show the reinforcing portion 362 formed on the slide guide 361 located on the right side in the mounting direction Q and connected to the mounting direction, and the lower portion 34 g of the container tip side cover 34. An example 4 in which a reinforcing portion groove 9224a of 3 mm is formed from a position offset by 9 mm from the center and an engaging rib 9204a is formed between the slide guides 361 and 361 is shown.
74 (a), 75 (a), and (b) show that the container tip side cover 34 is attached to the reinforcing portion 362 formed in the slide guide 361 located on the left side in the mounting direction Q and connected in the mounting direction. An example 5 is shown in which a reinforcing portion groove 9225a of 3 mm is formed from a position offset by 9 mm from the center of the lower portion 34 g, and an engaging rib 9205a is formed between the slide guides 361 and 361. The depth of each groove was 5 mm, and the height (protrusion amount) of the engaged rib 90 was 2.5 mm.
In FIGS. 72 and 74 (a), the reinforcing portion groove 9225a is formed in the reinforcing portion 362 of either one of the slide guides 361 located on the left side or the right side in the mounting direction Q, but the form of the reinforcing portion groove 9225a is , Not limited to this.
For example, as shown in FIG. 74 (b), the container tip side cover 34 is attached to the reinforcing portions 362 and 362 formed in the slide guides 361 and 361 located on the left and right in the mounting direction Q and connected to each other in the mounting direction. Reinforcing portion grooves 9225a and 9225a of 3 mm may be formed from a position 9 mm offset from the center of the lower portion 34 g, respectively. Then, the engaging rib 9205a may be formed between the slide guides 361 and 361 as shown in FIGS. 72 and 74 (a), or the ride guides 361 and 361 may be formed as shown in FIG. 74 (b). The form may be such that the engaging rib 9205a is not formed between the two.
FIG. 76 is an enlarged view showing the relationship between the rib-to-rib groove 921 and the reinforcing portion groove 922 and the engaged rib 90 having a width narrower than these grooves. The combination relationship between the groove width and Examples 1 to 5 is summarized in FIG. 77.

(Fifth Embodiment)
Next, another embodiment of the engaging portion 92 will be described with reference to FIGS. 78 to 81. This embodiment is the same as the fourth embodiment in terms of the width W1 of the inter-rib groove 921 and the presence / absence of the reinforcing portion groove 922, but the form of the engaging portion 92 viewed from the bottom is different. Therefore, FIGS. 78 to 81 show the bottom view of the present embodiment, and the front view and the rear view are omitted.
78 shows another form of Example 1, FIG. 79 shows another form of Example 2, FIG. 80 shows another form of Example 4, and FIG. 81 shows another form of Example 5.
In FIG. 78, 9201b and 9201b indicate inter-slide guide protrusions (engagement ribs) provided on the slide guides 361 and 361, and 9211b is an inter-projection groove formed between the slide guide inter-projections 9201b and 9201b. (Groove between ribs) is shown.
In FIG. 79, 9202b and 9202b indicate inter-projection protrusions (engagement ribs) provided on the slide guides 361 and 361, and 9212b is an inter-projection groove (rib) formed between the engagement ribs 9202b and 9202b. (Groove) is shown.
In FIG. 80, 9224b indicates a reinforcing portion groove formed in the reinforcing portion 362 formed in the slide guide 361 located on the right side in the mounting direction Q and connected to the mounting direction, and 9204b indicates the slide guides 361 and 361. The slide guide inter-projection portion (engagement rib) formed between the two is shown.
In FIG. 81, 9224b shows a reinforcing portion groove formed in the reinforcing portion 362 formed in the slide guide 361 located on the left side in the mounting direction Q and connected to the mounting direction, and 9204b indicates the slide guides 361 and 361. The slide guide inter-projection portion (engagement rib) formed between the two is shown.

In the fifth embodiment shown in FIGS. 78 to 81, the protrusions 9201b, 9212b, 9204b, 9205b of the slide guide inter-projections 9201b, 9212b, 9204b, 9205b are more than the longitudinal centers of the slide guides 361 and 361 with respect to the fourth embodiment. It extends to the position downstream of the mounting direction (closer to the tip of the toner container). That is, each of the slide guide inter-projection portions 9201b, 9212b, 9204b, 9205b is arranged so that one end thereof is located in the vicinity of the tips 361b, 361 of the slide guides 361 and 361. By arranging the ends of the inter-slide guide protrusions 9201b, 9212b, 9204b, 9205b near the tip 361b of the slide guide, the toner container 32 is inserted into the insertion port when the wrong toner container 32 is attached. Immediately after entering the insertion port 71a of the forming portion 71, the wall surface on the downstream side and the engaged rib 90 engage in the mounting direction of the protrusions 9201b, 9212b, 9204b, 9205b between the slide guides. Unlike the present embodiment, when the engaging rib is provided at a position closer to the rear end of the toner container of the slide guide 361 and the engaging rib is far from the tip 361b of the slide guide, the tip 361b of the slide guide exceeds the inlet pedestal portion 71b. The engaging portion 92 engages with the engaged rib 90 in a state of entering the groove portion 74. Since the insertion port forming portion 71 is easily touched by the operator's hand as described above, the insertion opening forming portion 71 is made of a material that is softer and more flexible than the container receiving portion 72 and the groove portion 74 on the rear end side in the mounting direction of the insertion opening forming portion 71. ing. Therefore, when the rear end side of the toner container 32 is pushed in the mounting direction while moving in the vertical direction, the contact point of the tip 361b of the slide guide with the non-flexible groove 74 becomes a fulcrum, and the inlet pedestal portion 71b or the like. The engaged rib 90 protruding from here bends. If the engaged rib 90 is bent, the engaging portion rib 92 easily gets over the engaged rib 90, and the toner container 32 may be mounted at an erroneous position.

On the other hand, in the case of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 82A, each slide guide is in a state where the tip 361b of the slide guide is located on the entrance pedestal portion 71b without entering the groove portion 74. Interstitial protrusions (engagement ribs) 9201b, 9212b, 9204b, 9205b engage with the engaged rib 90. Therefore, even when the toner container 32 is pushed in the mounting direction while moving the rear end side of the toner container 32 in the vertical direction during the mounting operation, the tip 361b of the slide guide and the inlet pedestal portion 71b are in contact with each other. Since the contact position serves as a fulcrum and is moved, the engaged rib 90 bends and follows the vertical movement of the toner container 32. Therefore, the protrusions 9201b, 9212b, 9204b, and 9205b between the slide guides are difficult to get over the engaged rib 90, and the toner container 32 can be reliably prevented from being mounted at an erroneous position.

Further, in the present embodiment, in the state of FIG. 82 (a), as shown in FIG. 82 (b), the tip of the slide groove provided in the slide groove 361a of the slide guide 361 with a narrow distance between the upper surface and the lower surface At the position where the 361c sandwiches the regulation rib 93, the protrusions 9201b, 9212b, 9204b, 9205b between the slide guides are arranged to engage with the engaged rib 90.
As a result, the inter-slide guide protrusions 9201b, 9212b, 9204b, 9205b and the engaged rib 90 are engaged with each other in a state where the vertical regulation between the slide guide 361 and the regulation rib 93 is stricter. Therefore, the inter-slide guide protrusions 9201b, 9212b, 9204b, 9205b and the engaged rib 90 engage with each other in a state where the vertical movement of the toner container 32 is restricted. It is possible to reliably prevent the 9212b, 9204b, and 9205b from getting over the engaged rib 90 and mounting the toner container 32 in the wrong position.

The location, dimensions, and presence / absence of the engagement rib 90 and the groove between the protrusions and the groove between the slide guides between the protrusions of each slide guide are set for each toner color, component, and model. By restricting in the vertical direction by the slide guides 361 and 361 and the regulation rib 93, it is possible to increase the variation of incompatibility while providing operability, not just incompatibility due to disengagement between protrusions. It is possible to reliably prevent the installation of a toner container that cannot be installed.
The configuration of the engaged rib 90, the engaging rib 92, and the regulating rib 93 is not applied only to the first embodiment, and the container tip side cover of the toner container described in the second and third embodiments. Even if it is applied to the relationship between 34 and the container mouth 71a, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained.

(Sixth Embodiment)
In this embodiment, another embodiment of the radial regulation unit for the toner replenishing device 60 of the toner container 32 according to the first to fifth embodiments will be described.
As shown in FIG. 83, the set cover 608 is formed with three protrusions 608e protruding inward from the inner peripheral surface 608c at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. When the container tip side cover 34 enters the container cover receiving portion 73, the outer peripheral surface of the container tip side cover 34 comes into contact with the protrusion 608e to guide the movement of the toner container 32 and perform radial positioning. Although not shown, the container tip side cover 34 is formed with a recess so as to face the protrusion 608e. When the toner container 32 is pushed into the toner replenishing device 60 to a predetermined position in the mounting direction Q, the recess faces the protrusion 608e. Occupy a position. As a result, the radial restriction of the container tip side cover 34 by the outer peripheral surface of the container tip side cover 34 and the protrusion 608e is released.
Although the toner container 32 has been described as an example in this embodiment, there is no spiral groove on the outer peripheral surface of the container main body 1033 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. The present embodiment may be applied to the toner container 1032 having a pumping function as a part of the means.

(7th Embodiment)
In this embodiment, another embodiment of the circumferential direction regulation unit for the toner replenishing device 60 of the toner container 32 described above will be described.
As shown in FIG. 84, a circumferential regulation groove portion serving as a circumferential regulation portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the container tip side cover 34. The circumferential regulation groove portion is formed inward from the outer peripheral surface 34b of the container tip side cover 34. Hereinafter, this circumferential regulation groove portion will be referred to as a detent recess 342b. When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishment device 60, the detent recess 342b is arranged so as to enter the plate-shaped protrusion 77b which is a protrusion on the main body side formed in the set cover 608 shown in FIG. 83. ..
Hereinafter, the order of engagement and disengagement of each positioning member and the toner replenishing device 60 in the sixth embodiment and the seventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 85 and 86, but the basic order is the protrusions. It is the same as that shown in FIGS. 38 and 44 (A) except that the configurations of the 608e, the detent recess 342b and the protrusion 77b are different. Therefore, the description here will be simplified as appropriate.
As shown in FIG. 85A, when the toner container 32 is placed in the groove 74 of the container receiving portion 72 of the toner container storage portion 70 and the user pushes it in the mounting direction Q (mounting operation), the toner container 32 is moved. It slides on the groove 74. At this time, as shown in FIG. 22, the toner container 32 is in contact with the upper surface protruding portion 76a formed on the upper surface portion 76 facing the groove portion 74 with the upper guide side portions 35b and 35b of the upper guide 35 of the toner container 32. Since it is slid, it can be pushed in the mounting direction Q while restricting the movement in the vertical direction Z. Further, since the movement in the vertical direction is restricted by the upper guide side portions 35b and 35b formed on both sides of the upper guide top portion 35a of the top portion of the upper guide 35, the toner container 32 moves in the left-right direction during the pushing operation. Even if it is displaced, it can be reliably brought into contact with the upper surface portion 76 side.

Then, on the toner replenishing device 60 side, as shown in FIG. 85B, the slide groove tip portion 361c as the first guide portion of the slide guides 361 and 361 is on the most upstream side in the mounting direction Q of the guide rails 75 and 75. Rough positioning can be performed in the width direction W and the vertical direction Z, which are orthogonal to the mounting direction Q, respectively (first regulated state).

When the toner container 32 is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the first regulated state, the end surface 332h of the container shutter and the end surface 611a of the transfer nozzle come into contact with each other, as shown in FIG. 85 (c). When the container is further pushed in the mounting direction Q, the second regulated state shown in FIG. 85 (d) is set, and the tip side of the container tip side cover 34 enters the container cover receiving portion 73. When the tip side of the container tip side cover 34 enters the container cover receiving portion 73, the outer peripheral surface 34b of the container tip side cover 34 in the mounting direction tip portion 34c becomes a protrusion 608e provided on the inner peripheral surface 608c of the set cover 608. Contact from the inside. The contact between the inner peripheral surface 608c of the set cover 608 and the protrusion 608e guides the movement of the toner container 32 and regulates the toner container 32 in the radial direction.

When the toner container 32 is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the second regulated state, the container seal 333 and the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a come into contact with each other as shown in FIG. 86A. When it is further pushed in the mounting direction Q, it becomes the third regulated state as shown in FIG. 86 (b). In the third regulation state, the tip portion 361c of the slide groove is separated from the guide rail 75, and the central portion 361d of the slide groove as the second guide portion regulates the vertical direction Z. Further, the detent recess 342b formed on the outer peripheral surface 34b on the tip side of the container tip side cover 34 enters the protrusion 77b formed on the set cover 608. As a result, the container tip side cover 34 and the set cover 608 (container cover receiving portion 73) are integrated, and the movement of the container tip side cover 34 in the circumferential direction R is restricted, so that the container body 33 rotates. It does not rotate integrally with.

When it is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the third regulated state, it becomes the fourth regulated state shown in FIG. 86 (c), and the recess formed in the container tip side cover 34 occupies the position facing the protrusion 608e. Therefore, the radial restriction on the container tip side cover 34 by the outer peripheral surface of the container tip side cover 34 and the protrusion 608e is released.

When the toner container 32 is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the fourth regulated state, the fifth regulated state is reached, and as shown in FIG. 86 (d), the container opening 33a is the end inner peripheral surface 615a of the container set portion 615. Entering the (set cover 608), the container body 33 is rotatably supported in the end inner peripheral surface 615a. At this time, since the position of the container tip side cover 34 in the circumferential direction is regulated by the detent recess 342b and the protrusion 77b, both are in a state where the center positions of the container opening 33a and the container set portion 615 are aligned. Fits. Therefore, it is possible to prevent toner leakage from the container shutter 332 caused by the container opening 33a entering the container setting portion 615 with the position shifted. Further, when the container opening 33a enters the inner peripheral surface 615a at the end of the container set portion, the radial regulation by the protrusion 341a is released, so that it interferes with the circumferential regulation by the detent rib 342a. There is nothing to do.

When the toner container 32 is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the fifth regulated state, the sixth regulated state shown in FIG. 86 (e) is reached. In the sixth regulated state, the container opening 33a penetrates deeper into the inner peripheral surface 615a at the end of the container set portion, and the replenishment device side lock member 78, enters each of the locking holes 339d of the container lock portion 339, 339. 78 enters and is locked (see FIG. 49). As a result, the toner container 32 is prevented from moving in the longitudinal direction (rotational axis direction) and is held at the set position.

In this way, when the detent of the container tip side cover 34 has a convex shape with respect to the outer peripheral surface 34b, if an impact or force is applied to the convex portion due to dropping or the like, the detent may be damaged due to stress concentration. .. However, by making the detent recess 342b concave with respect to the outer peripheral surface 34b of the container tip side cover 34 as in the present embodiment, for example, the detent does not come into contact with the floor when dropped. , It can be prevented from being damaged.

FIG. 87 is a six-view view for showing the overall configuration of the toner container as a powder container having the IC chip 700 to which the present invention is applied. The toner container 32 shown in FIG. 87 has a configuration in which a container main body 32 having a spiral groove and a container tip side cover 34 as a cover member having an IC chip 700 are provided. In FIG. 87, (a) is a right side view, (b) is a left side view, (c) is a front view, (d) is a rear view, (e) is a plan view, and (f) is a low view. Shown.

(8th Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the configuration of the cover member provided in the toner container as the powder container is different from that of the container tip side cover 34 as the cover member described above, and the configuration of the powder container storage portion for mounting the toner container is different. The configuration is different from the configuration of the toner container storage unit 70 as the powder container storage unit described above. Further, the configuration of the identification means for identifying the compatibility between the toner container side and the toner container storage unit (toner replenishment device 60) side is also different from the above. Therefore, the present embodiment will be described with a focus on the configuration of the cover member, the powder container storage portion, and the identification means. The same reference numerals are given to, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

As shown in FIGS. 88 (a), 88 (b), 89, 90, 91 (a), and 91 (b), the toner container 2032 as the powder container according to the present embodiment is It includes a container body 33 that stores toner as a powder for image formation, and a container tip side cover 2034 as a container cover that is attached to the outer periphery of the container body 33. The container body 33 is rotatably held with respect to the container tip side cover 2034.
The container tip side cover 2034 has a tubular shape, one of which is open, and the container opening 33a of the container body 33 protrudes from the mounting direction tip 2034c. A gear exposure opening 2034a is provided on the outer peripheral surface 2034b of the container tip side cover 2034 so that a part of the container gear 301 of the container body 33 is exposed when attached to the container body 33.
The tip portion 2034c in the mounting direction of the container tip side cover 2034 is provided with three cover claw portions 2340 in the circumferential direction that are hooked on the cover claw hook portion 306 of the container body 33. Therefore, the container body 33 and the container tip side cover 2034 are relatively rotatable.

On the container tip side cover 2034, container lock portions 2339 and 2339 for axially positioning the toner container 2032 shown in FIGS. 92 to 94 with respect to the toner container storage portion 2070 (toner replenishment device 60) are provided on the outer peripheral surface 2034b. Is formed in. When the toner container 2032 is attached to the toner container storage unit 2070 (toner replenishment device 60), the replenishment device side lock members 78 and 78 are engaged with the container lock portions 2339 and 2339, respectively.
Configuration of each container lock portion 2339, FIG. 7 above, the same function and configuration as the container locking portion 339 described in FIG. 29 (a). That is, as shown in FIG. 89, the container lock portion 2339 includes a guide protrusion 2339a, a guide groove 2339b, an overcoming portion 2339c, and a locking hole 2339d as an axial regulation portion, and the container tip is integrated into one. A pair is arranged so as to form a pair on both the left and right sides of the side cover 2034. Incidentally, the difference between the container locking portion 339, while the container locking portion 339,339 is provided substantially on the container distal end cover 34 so as to be positioned horizontally, the container locking portion 2339,2339 are opposed The container tip side cover 2034 is provided so as to be positioned at an angle with respect to a horizontal line passing through the center of the container opening 33a in this state. That is, each locking hole 2339d is arranged on both left and right sides with the center of the container opening 33a interposed therebetween, and one locking hole 2339d is above the gear exposed opening 2034a and the other locking hole. The 2339d is arranged below the gear exposure opening 2034a. Each guide protrusion 2339a is arranged on a vertical surface orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the toner container 2032 on the container tip side of the container tip side cover 2034, and is arranged on an inclined line passing through the rotation center axis of the container body 33. The guide protrusion 2339a is provided with an inclined surface connected to the guide groove 2339b so that the replenishment device side lock member 78 is brought into contact with the toner container 2032 and guided toward the guide groove 2339b. The guide groove 2339b is a groove that is one step lower than the side peripheral surface of the container tip side cover 2034.

The width of the groove of the guide groove 2339b is set to be slightly wider than the width of the replenishment device side lock member 78 so that the replenishment device side lock member 78 does not fall off from the guide groove 2339b. The rear end side of the guide groove 2339b has a terminal shape rather than a shape directly connected to the locking hole 2339d, and is at the height of the side peripheral surface of the container front end side cover 34. That is, between the guide groove 2339b and the quadrangular locking hole 2339d, there is an outer peripheral surface 2034b of the container tip side cover 2034 having a width of about 1 [mm], which corresponds to the overcoming portion 2339c. The replenishment device side lock member 78 gets over the overcoming portion 2339c and falls into the locking hole 2339d, and the coupling between the toner container 2032 and the toner container storage portion 2070 (toner replenishment device 60) is achieved. This state is the set position (set state) of the toner container 2032 shown in FIG. 95.

As shown in FIG. 90, the toner container 2032 has a configuration in which the container shutter 332 is located at the center of a line segment connecting the two container lock portions 2339 on a virtual plane orthogonal to the rotation axis thereof. If the container shutter 332 is not on the line segment connecting the two container lock portions 2339, the following may occur. That is, due to the urging force of the container shutter spring 336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613, the distance from the line segment to the container shutter 332 is set as the arm of the moment, and the moment of the force that rotates the toner container 32 around the line segment acts. Due to the action of this moment of force, the toner container 2032 may be tilted with respect to the toner container storage portion 2070 (toner replenishment device 60). In that case, the mounting load of the toner container 2032 increases, and the load is applied to the nozzle receiving member 330 that holds and guides the container shutter 332. In particular, when the toner container 2032 is a new product containing a sufficient amount of toner, the toner weight is also taken into consideration when the toner container 2032 is pushed in from the rear end side so that the transport nozzle 611 protruding from the horizontal direction is inserted. The moment of force that rotates the toner container 2032 acts. As a result, a load is applied to the nozzle receiving member 330 into which the transfer nozzle 611 is inserted, and the nozzle receiving member 330 may be deformed or damaged in the worst case. On the other hand, in the toner container 2032 of the present embodiment, the container shutter 332 is located on the line segment connecting the two container lock portions 2339. Therefore, the urging force of the container shutter spring 336 and the nozzle shutter spring 613 that act at the position of the container shutter 332 can prevent the toner container 2032 from tilting with respect to the toner container storage portion 2070 (toner replenishment device 60).

As shown in FIGS. 88, 89, 90, and 91 (a), the container tip side cover 2034 has an IC tag (IC chip, information storage medium) 2700 as an information storage device for the toner container 2032 and its holding. A portion 2343 is provided. The communication method of the IC tag 2700 is a contact type.
In the IC tag 2700, as shown in FIGS. 89, 90, and 91 (a), a plurality of rectangular first metal pads 2710a to fourth metal pads 2710d are installed in parallel on the surface of the rectangular substrate 2702. The fourth metal pad 2710d is a grounding terminal for grounding. An information storage unit (not shown) is provided on the back surface side of the substrate 2702.
In such an IC tag 2700, the first metal pads 2710a to the fourth metal pads 2710d are held by the holding portion 2343 on the container tip side cover 2034 so as to be located on the downstream side in the mounting direction. The holding portion 2343 is provided on the container tip side cover 2034 so as to project from the vertical surface 2034d in the mounting direction Q.

In the present embodiment, since the holding portion 2343 functions as a circumferential direction regulating portion of the toner container 2032, it is integrally molded with the container tip side cover 2034 in order to facilitate position management with the container tip side cover 2034. There is. However, if the position of the holding portion 2343 and the container tip side cover 2034 can be controlled, the holding portion 2343 is formed separately from the container tip side cover 2034, and using connecting means such as adhesion, welding, and fastening. It may be integrated. In this case, since the shape of the container tip side cover 2034 can be simplified, the processing cost can be reduced.
The holding portion 2343 is arranged on the container tip side cover 2034 that substantially divides the lock portions 2339 and 2339 facing each other so as to be substantially parallel to the inclined line segment connecting the lock portions 2339 and 2339. .. Therefore, the gear exposed opening 2034a is formed at a substantially horizontal position, and is set at a position different from the opening 34a formed in the container tip side cover 34. Both side surfaces 2343a and 2343b located in the longitudinal direction of the holding portion 2343 function as peripheral direction regulating portions.
The holding portion 2343 is arranged in a space diagonally above the left side of the container tip side cover 2034 when viewed from the container tip side along the rotation axis of the toner container 2032. In this case, the holding portion 2343 is arranged on the container tip side cover 2034 by utilizing the space diagonally above the left side, which is a dead space when the toner container of another color is installed side by side. This makes it possible to provide a compact toner replenishing device 60 capable of arranging cylindrical toner containers 2032 close to each other.

As shown mainly in FIG. 90, the container tip side cover 2034 restricts the movement of the toner container 2032 during mounting in a direction other than the mounting direction when the toner container 2032 is mounted on the printer unit 100 (image forming apparatus main body). Therefore, a guide portion for guiding the container opening 33a to the container set portion 615 shown in FIGS. 92 and 93 is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 90 and 91, the container tip side cover 2034 is a pair of guide portions for restricting the vertical movement of the container tip side cover 2034, and a pair of slide guides 2361 and 2361 as the vertical direction restricting portions. Is provided on both side surfaces of the lower portion 2034 g. The slide guides 2361 and 2361 are provided with an upper guide portion 2361A and a lower guide portion 2361B extending along the longitudinal direction of the container body 33, and the slide grooves 2361a and 2361a are provided between the upper guide portion 2361A and the lower guide portion 2361B. Are formed respectively. Each slide groove 2361a is formed parallel to the rotation axis of the container body 33, and is configured to sandwich the pair of guide rails 2075 and 2075 shown in FIGS. 92, 93, and 94 from the vertical direction, respectively.
That is, in the slide guides 2361 and 2361, when the upper guide portion 2361A and the lower guide portion 2361B each sandwich the guide rail 2075 from the vertical direction, the toner container 2032 is attached to the printer unit 100 (image forming apparatus main body). It functions as a positioning portion in the vertical direction Z and the width direction W perpendicular to the attachment / detachment direction in the container tip side cover 2034, and regulates the movement of the toner container 2032 in the vertical direction Z and the width direction W.
That is, the container tip side cover 2034 serves as a vertical direction regulating unit as a guide unit for guiding the container opening 33a to the container receiving unit 2073 when the toner container 2032 is attached to the printer unit 100 (image forming apparatus main body). It includes a pair of slide guides 2361 and 2361, both side surfaces 2343a and 2343b of the holding portion 2343 as the circumferential restricting portion, and a container lock portion 2339 having a locking hole 2339d as the axial restricting portion.

Next, the configuration of the toner container storage unit 2070 (toner replenishment device 60) will be described with reference to FIGS. 92, 93, and 94.
The toner container storage unit 2070 to which the toner container 2032 is mounted is arranged in the printer unit 100 (image forming apparatus main body) in place of the toner container storage unit 70 shown in FIG. In this actual embodiment, the toner container storage unit 2070 to which one toner container 2032 is mounted is shown. That is, in the case of a monochromatic image forming apparatus, one toner container accommodating portion 2070 is provided, and in the case of a multicolor image forming apparatus, the toner container accommodating portion 2070 corresponding to the number of colors is the printer unit 100 (image forming apparatus main body). ) Is placed. From the toner container 2032 set in the toner container storage unit 2070, toner is supplied to the developing device corresponding to the color of the toner inside the toner container at the replenishment time.

In the present embodiment, the toner replenishment device 60 includes a toner container storage unit 2070, a transfer nozzle 611 as a transfer tube, a transfer screw 614 as a transfer member arranged in the transfer nozzle 611, and a drive unit (container rotation drive unit). It is provided with 2091 and a toner drop transport path (not shown). Then, when the toner container 2032 is moved in the toner container storage unit 70 of the printer unit 100 (image forming apparatus main body) by the mounting operation pushed by the user in the mounting direction Q, the toner container 2032Y is interlocked with the mounting operation. The transport nozzle 611 of the toner replenishing device 60 is inserted from the container tip side in the mounting direction Q. As a result, the inside of the toner container 2032 and the inside of the transport nozzle 611 communicate with each other.

The toner container storage section 2070 is mainly composed of a container cover receiving section 2073, a container receiving section 2072, and an insertion port forming section 2071 shown in FIG. 97. The container cover receiving portion 2073 is a portion that holds the container tip side cover 2034 and the container body 33 of the toner container 2032. The container receiving portion 2072 is a portion that supports the container body 33 having a toner content of 2032. The insertion port forming portion 2071 is a portion in which the insertion opening 2071a is formed during the mounting operation of the toner container 2032 shown in FIG. 97. When the main body cover installed on the front side of the copying machine 500 (the front side in the vertical direction of the paper surface in FIG. 2) is opened, the insertion port forming portion 2071 of the toner container storage portion 2070 is exposed. Then, with the longitudinal direction of the toner container 2032 set to the horizontal direction, the toner container 2032 is attached / detached (attached / detached operation with the longitudinal direction of the toner container 2032 as the attachment / detachment direction) from the front side of the copying machine 500. The set cover 2608 is a part of the container cover receiving unit 2073 of the toner container storage unit 70.

The container receiving portion 2072 is formed so that its length in the longitudinal direction is substantially equal to the length in the longitudinal direction of the container body 33. The container cover receiving portion 2073 is provided on the container tip side in the longitudinal direction (detachable direction) of the container receiving portion 2072, and the insertion port forming portion 2071 is provided on one end side of the container receiving portion 2072 in the longitudinal direction. The toner container 2032 is slidable and movable on the container receiving portion 2072. Therefore, with the mounting operation of the toner container 2032, the container tip side cover 2034 slides on the container receiving portion 2072 for a while after passing through the insertion port forming portion 2071, and then is mounted on the container cover receiving portion 2073. To.

As shown in FIG. 95, with the container tip side cover 2034 mounted on the container cover receiving portion 2073, the container drive gear as the main body side gear from the drive unit 2091 composed of the drive motor 603 and a plurality of gears and the like. Rotational drive is input to the container gear 301 provided in the container body 33 via 601. As a result, the container body 33 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 95. As for the toner in the container body 33, the toner contained inside the container body 33 is collected by the spiral protrusion 302 formed spirally on the inner peripheral surface of the container body 33 by rotating the container body 33 itself. It moves along the longitudinal direction and is transported. The conveyed toner is supplied into the transfer nozzle 611 from the container tip side cover 2034 side provided at the other end of the toner container 2032 through the nozzle opening 610 as a powder receiving inlet formed in the transfer nozzle 611. Will be done. Then, the transfer screw 614 arranged in the nozzle 611 rotates when the rotation drive is input to the transfer screw gear 605 provided in the drive unit (container rotation drive unit) 2091, and the toner supplied in the transfer nozzle 611 is supplied. Transport. Then, the toner is replenished into the developing apparatus 50 (second developer accommodating portion 54) via a toner drop transport path (not shown) connected to the downstream end of the transport nozzle 611 in the transport direction.

Each toner container 2032 is replaced with a new one when it reaches the end of its life (when almost all the toner contained is consumed and emptied). When replacing the container, the operator grasps the handle portion 303 provided at the end of the toner container 2032 opposite to the container tip side cover 2034 in the longitudinal direction and pulls it out in the detaching direction to attach the toner container. 2032 can be removed.
Here, the configuration of the drive unit 2091 will be supplemented. Like the drive unit 92Y, the drive unit 2091 includes a container drive gear 601 and a transfer screw gear 605. As shown in FIGS. 92 and 95, the transport screw gear 605 is rotationally driven by driving a drive motor 603 fixed to the mounting substrate 602 and rotating the output gear 603a (see FIG. 95) to drive the container drive gear. The 601 is rotationally driven by transmitting the rotation of the output gear 603a from the transport screw gear 605 via a plurality of connecting gears 604.

As shown in FIGS. 92, 93, and 94, the container cover receiving portion 2073 is provided with a set cover 2608. The transfer nozzle 611 is arranged in the center of the set cover 2608. As shown in FIG. 94, the transfer nozzle 611 is arranged so as to protrude into the container cover receiving portion 2073 from the end surface 615b of the container set portion 615, which is on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the toner container 2032, toward the upstream side in the mounting direction. Has been done. The container setting portion 615 as the container receiving portion is erected so as to surround the periphery of the transport nozzle 611 in the projecting direction of the transport nozzle 611 and toward the upstream side in the mounting direction of the toner container 2032. That is, the container set portion 615 is a positioning portion of the container opening 33a at the base of the transport nozzle 611, and the container opening 33a is inserted into the container set portion 615 and fitted into the container opening 33a to fit the diameter of the container opening 33a. The position in the direction is fixed.

As shown in FIG. 94, the container opening 33a is fitted at the base of the transport nozzle 611 located on the downstream side in the mounting direction when viewed from the mounting direction, with the toner container 2032 mounted on the toner container storage section 2070. A container set portion 615 is formed. The container setting portion 615 includes an end surface 615b located at the root of the transport nozzle 611 and located on the downstream side in the mounting direction of the toner container 2032 from the end inner peripheral surface 615a into which the container opening 33a is inserted. On the end face 615b, eight spring restricting portions 615c protruding from the end face 615b toward the upstream side in the mounting direction of the toner container 2032 are formed at equal intervals along the outer circumference of the transport nozzle shutter spring 613. By covering the outer circumference of the nozzle shutter spring 613 with the spring regulating portion 615c, the movement of the nozzle shutter spring 613 in the radial direction is restricted. As a result, the toner container 2032 is set in a state where the nozzle shutter spring 613 is displaced in the radial direction, and the nozzle shutter spring 613 is sandwiched between the end face 615b and the tip end portion 33c of the container opening 33a. Can be prevented from being improperly attached to the toner replenishing device 60.

The toner container 2032 is fitted to the toner container storage portion 2070 in a state where the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the toner container 2032 is slidable with the end inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion 615. ..
By fitting the inner peripheral surface 615a at the end of the container setting portion 615 and the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32, the longitudinal direction (detachment direction) of the toner container 2032 with respect to the toner container storage portion 2070 of the toner container 2032. ) Is orthogonal to the radial position. Further, when the toner container 2032 is rotated, the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33a functions as a rotation shaft portion, and the end inner peripheral surface 615a of the container set portion 615 functions as a bearing. At this time, the outer peripheral surface 33b of the container opening 33a slidably contacts the sliding protrusion 615d as a part of the end inner peripheral surface 615a of the container setting portion 615, with respect to the toner container storage portion 2070 of the toner container 2032. Radial positioning is done.

As shown in FIG. 94, on the set cover 2608, the replenishment device side lock members 78, 78 can be moved back and forth from the outer peripheral surface of the set cover 2608 to the inner peripheral surface 2608c side so as to face each other in the width direction W. The openings 2608d and 2608d are formed, respectively. The openings 2608d and 2608d are arranged diagonally with respect to the horizontal direction so as to face the lock portions 2339 and 2339 when the toner container 2032 is attached. The replenishment device side lock members 78, 78 are urged from the outside to the inside of the set cover 2608 by an urging means such as a torsion coil spring 782.
The set cover 2608 is provided with a connector 2800 as a reading means for reading information from the IC tag 2700 by coming into contact with the IC tag 2700 when the toner container 2032 is attached, and a guide portion 2801 for accommodating the connector 2800. The guide portion 2801 is inflated so as to project in the radial direction from the surface of the set cover 2608, and is formed so as to extend in the insertion direction from the side of the container tip side cover 2034 facing the container tip side end surface. It is a rectangular space part. The size of the guide portion 2801 is set to a volume that can accommodate the holding portion 2343 of the connector 2800 and the IC tag 2700, and constitutes a circumferential direction regulating portion.

As shown in FIG. 94, the connector 2800 includes four main body side terminals 2804a to 2804d (first main body side terminals 2804a to) that can come into contact with the first metal pad 2710a to the fourth metal pad 2710d. The fourth main body side terminal 2804d is a grounding main body side terminal capable of contacting the fourth metal pad 2710d which is a ground terminal. The connector 2800 is arranged inside the back side located in the attachment / detachment direction Q of the guide portion 2801. When the connector 2800 moves the toner container 2032 on the groove portion 2074 on the toner container storage portion 2070 in the mounting direction Q, the connector 2800 reads information from the IC tag 2700 by contacting each pad of the IC tag 2700.
As shown in FIG. 96, the inner surfaces 2801c and 2801d of the wall portions 2801a and 2801b protruding from the surface of the set cover 2608 (container cover receiving portion 2073) located in the radial direction indicated by the arrow R have inner side surfaces 2801c and 2801d. The regulation parts 2802 and 2803 protruding from the space part are provided. The regulating portions 2802 and 2803 extend in the mounting direction Q so that one end 2802a and 2803a of the regulating portion are located on the upstream side in the mounting direction of the toner container 2032 and the other ends 2802b and 2803b of the regulating portion are located on the downstream side in the mounting direction. It is formed on the inner side surfaces 2801c and 2801d so as to be present. The regulating portions 2802 and 2803 may be integrally molded with the inner side surfaces 2801c and 2801d, or may be formed separately and integrated with the inner side surfaces 2801c and 2801d by adhesion or welding. When the IC chip 2700 enters the guide portion 2801 when the toner container 2032 is mounted, both side surfaces 2343a and 2343b of the holding portion 2343 are configured to come into contact with the above-mentioned regulation portions 2802 and 2803. In the present embodiment, the regulating portions 2802 and 2803 are formed so that the distance between the regulating portions 2802 and 2803 becomes narrower toward the mounting direction Q. Therefore, as the toner container 2032 advances in the mounting direction Q, the side surfaces 2343a and 2343b of the holding portion 2343 become stronger in contact with the regulating portions 2802 and 2803, and the holding portion 2343 between the regulating members 2802 and 2803 becomes stronger. Movement in the circumferential direction is more restricted. More specifically, from one ends 2802a and 2803a of the regulating portions 2802 and 2803 to the central portions 2802c and 2803c of the regulating portions are formed as an inclined flat surface in which the intervals between the regulating portions 2802 and 2803 are narrowed. The other ends 2802b and 2803b of 2802 and 2803 are semicircular in shape and are formed so as to be parallel to each other. The width W10 between one ends 2802a and 2803a is such that both side surfaces 2343a and 2343b of the holding portion 2343b. The width W11 between the other ends 2802b and 2803b is formed to be the same as or slightly narrower than the width W12 of both side surfaces 2343a and 2343b of the holding portion 2343.

As shown in FIG. 92, the container receiving portion 2072 is formed with a groove portion 2074 as a container mounting portion extending from the insertion port forming portion 71 to the container cover receiving portion 2073 along the longitudinal direction of the container body 33. .. The toner container 2032 is configured to be slidable and movable in the longitudinal direction (attachment / detachment direction) on the groove portion 2074.
Guide rails 2075 and 2075, which are guide members, are provided on the side surfaces 2074a and 2074b of the groove portions 2074 located in the width direction W so as to face each other. Each guide rail 2075 protrudes in the width direction W from the side surfaces 2074a and 7204b, extends in the longitudinal direction, and is arranged from one end 2072a of the container receiving portion 2072 to the front of the container cover receiving portion 2073. When the toner container 2032 is mounted on the printer unit 100 (image forming apparatus main body), the guide rails 2075 and 2075 engage with each slide guide 2361 as a guide member, and the container opening 33a serves as a container receiving unit. It has a function of guiding to the container set unit 615.
In the present embodiment, each guide rail 2075 is formed by being divided into four in the longitudinal direction, but it may have a single rail shape continuous in the longitudinal direction. Each guide rail 2075 is formed so as to be parallel to the rotation axis of the container body 33 when the toner container 2032 is mounted on the toner container storage portion 2070.

Next, the identification means will be described.
In the identification means of the present embodiment, the combination of the toner container and the toner container storage portion side is identified according to the color and type of toner, the printing speed, and the model.
As shown in FIGS. 91 (a) and 91 (b), an engaging portion 2092 as an incompatible portion constituting the identification means is provided on the lower portion 2034 g of the outer circumference 2034 b of the container tip side cover 2034, and the slide guide 2361, It is formed between 2361. Reinforcing portions 2362 are integrally formed in the slide guides 2361 and 2361 by being connected to the inside of both. The reinforcing portion 2362 is formed over the entire length of the slide guides 2361 and 2361 in the attachment / detachment direction to prevent the slide guide 2361 from being damaged when the toner container 2032 is dropped. An engaging portion 2092 is formed on the reinforcing portion 2362. In the present embodiment, the engaging portion 2092 has a groove shape extending in the attachment / detachment direction.
As shown in FIGS. 92, 94, and 97, on the groove portion 2074 located in the mounting direction Q with respect to the insertion port 2071a, the engagement portion engaged with the engaging portion 2092 of the toner container 2032 constituting the identification means is engaged. Two engaged ribs 2090 as joints are formed so as to protrude upward from the groove 2074 as a container mounting portion in the container receiving portion 2072. In the present embodiment, the engaged rib 2090 is formed as two protruding shapes, but the width and height of the engaged rib 2090 are determined according to the width, height, position, and number of the engaging portions 2092. The combination of the toner container and the toner container storage side is identified by different positions and numbers.

The engaged rib 2090 is arranged in the mounting direction Q from the starting ends 2075a and 2075a of the guide rails 2075 and 2075 located at one end 2072a of the container receiving portion 2072, and the guide rails 2075 and 2075 are arranged in the slide grooves 2361a and 2361a. It is arranged at a position where it engages with the engaging portion 2092 after being inserted. The arrangement of the engaged rib 2090 is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 92, and may be further from the mounting direction Q than the position shown in FIG. 92 or from the insertion port 2071a, but may be formed in the slide grooves 2361a and 2361a. A position where the guide rails 2075 and 2075 are inserted and then engaged with the engaging portion 2092 is preferable.
With such a configuration, when an erroneous toner container is attached, each guide rail 2075 and each slide guide 2361 are sufficiently engaged with each other before engaging with the engaging portion 2092 of the toner container 2032. Therefore, the engaging portion 2092 and the engaged rib 2090 engage with each other in a state where the toner container 2032 is positioned in the vertical direction (vertical direction) during the mounting operation, so that the engagement between the two is more accurate and stable. This is because it will be possible to do it.

Hereinafter, the order of engagement and disengagement of each positioning member and the toner container storage unit 2070 (toner replenishment device 60) in the eighth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 99 and 100 with reference to other drawings.
As shown in FIG. 99A, when the toner container 2032 is placed in the groove 2074 of the container receiving portion 2072 of the toner container storage portion 2070 and the user pushes it in the mounting direction Q (mounting operation), the toner container 2032 is moved. It slides on the groove 2074. Then, first, the guide rails 2075 and 2075 each enter into each slide groove 2361a of each slide guide 2361 of the toner container 2032, and rough positioning in the width direction W and the vertical direction Z perpendicular to the mounting direction Q is performed. It is done. (First regulatory status).

When the toner container 2032 is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the first regulated state, as shown in FIGS. 99 (b) and 98, when the wrong toner container is mounted, the engaging portion 2092 is engaged. It abuts and engages with the joint rib 2090. Here, when the shape of the engaging portion 2092 does not match the shape of the engaged rib 2090, the movement of the toner container 2032 in the mounting direction Q is hindered, and mounting of different types of toner containers 2032 can be prevented. Further, since the first regulated state is maintained in this state, even if a different type of toner container 2032 is forcibly pushed in, the engaging portion 2092 is engaged because it is roughly positioned in the vertical direction Z. It is possible to prevent the joint rib 2090 from being passed over, and it is possible to prevent the toner containers 2032 of different types from being mounted.

When the shapes of the engaging portion 2092 and the engaged rib 2090 match and the engaged rib 2090 allows the engaging portion 2092 to move, the toner container 2032 further moves in the mounting direction Q. Then, as shown in FIG. 99 (c), the end surface 332h of the container shutter and the end surface 611a of the transfer nozzle 611 come into contact with each other.
When it is further pushed in the mounting direction Q, the second regulated state shown in FIG. 99D is reached, and the holding portion 2343 located in the mounting direction Q with respect to the vertical surface 2034d of the container tip side cover 2034 is a guide portion having the connector 2800. Enter within 2801. Even during this approach, rough positioning in the vertical direction Z is performed by each slide groove 2361a of each slide guide 2361, so that the holding portion 2434 is roughly positioned in the vertical direction Z and the guide portion 2801. Enter inside. Details of this approach state are shown in FIGS. 101 (a) and 102 (a). Therefore, the movement of both sides 2434a and 2434b of the holding portion 2434 in the circumferential direction R is restricted in a rough state by the inner walls 2801c and 2801d of the guide portion 2801.

When the toner container 2032 is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the second regulated state, the container seal 333 and the nozzle shutter flange portion 612a come into contact with each other as shown in FIG. 100 (a), and as shown in FIG. 100 (b). The holding portion 2343 further moves in the guide portion 2801. This state is shown in FIG. 101 (b). At this time, both sides 2434a and 3243b of the holding portion 2434 are on the tapered flat surface formed from one ends 2802a and 2803a of the regulating portions 2802 and 2803 provided on the inner walls 2801c and 2801d of the guide portion 2801 to the central portions 2802c and 2803c. And gradually move in the mounting direction Q while being restricted from moving in the radial direction R.

When the toner container 2032 is further moved in the mounting direction, as shown in FIGS. 100 (c), 101 (c), and 102 (b), both sides 2434a and 2434b of the holding portion 2434 are the widest of the regulating portions 2082 and 2083. It is located between the narrow other ends of 2802b and 2803b (third regulated state). That is, in the third regulated state, the movement in the radial direction R is completely regulated by the holding portion 2434 and the guide portion 2801 while the regulation in the vertical direction Z by the slide groove 2361c and the guide rail 2075 is maintained. It becomes. Therefore, the container tip side cover 2034 and the set cover 2608 (container cover receiving portion 2073) are integrated, and the movement of the container tip side cover 2034 in the circumferential direction R is restricted, and is integrated with the rotation of the container body 33. It does not rotate.

When the container is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the third regulated state, the fourth regulated state shown in FIG. 100 (d) is set, and the container opening 33a is inside the end inner peripheral surface 615a (set cover 2608) of the container set portion 615. Upon entering, the container body 33 is rotatably supported within the end inner peripheral surface 615a. At this time, since the position of the container tip side cover 2034 in the circumferential direction R is regulated by the holding portion 2434 and the guide portion 2801, both of them are in a state where the center positions of the container opening 33a and the container setting portion 615 are aligned. Fit. Therefore, it is possible to prevent toner leakage from the container shutter 332 caused by the container opening 33a entering the container setting portion 615 with the position shifted. Further, in this state, each pad of the IC tag 2700 comes into contact with each main body side terminal of the connector 2800, and information is read from the IC tag 2700. That is, when the IC tag 2700 and the connector 2800 are in contact with each other, the positions in the vertical direction Z and the radial direction R are defined, so that there is little contact failure between the two, and stable communication can be performed.

When the toner container 2032 is further pushed in the mounting direction Q from the fourth regulated state, the fifth regulated state shown in FIG. 100 (e) is reached. In the fifth regulated state, the container opening 33a penetrates deeper into the inner peripheral surface 615a at the end of the container set portion, and the replenishment device side lock member 78, enters each of the locking holes 2339d of the container lock portions 2339 and 2339. 78 enters and is locked (see FIG. 49). As a result, the toner container 2032 is prevented from moving in the longitudinal direction (rotational axis direction) and is held at the set position. Although the locking hole 339d is shown in FIG. 49, since the locking hole 339d and the locking hole 2339d have the same dimensions and the same configuration, they are in the same state as the locking hole 339d.

As described above, when the detent of the container tip side cover 2034 is engaged with the guide portion 2801 containing the connector 2800 formed on the outer peripheral surface 2034b and the holding portion 2343 holding the IC chip 2700, the container opening 33a and the container set Since both are fitted in a state where the center positions of the portions 615 are aligned, it is possible to prevent toner leakage from the container shutter 332 caused by the container opening 33a entering the container setting portion 615 with the position shifted. it can. Further, since the positioning of the IC chip 2700 itself is not required, rough positioning is sufficient.

As in the present embodiment, the IC chip 2700 is arranged on the outer peripheral surface 2034b of the container tip side cover 2034 located substantially in the center of the arrangement of the pair of lock portions 2339, 2339 that engage with the replenishment device side lock members 78, 78. If so, it has the following advantages. That is, the movement of the IC chip 2700 is not preferable because the movement in the radial direction is permissible, but the movement in the circumferential direction R tends to cause poor contact. At this time, if the IC chip 2700 is arranged substantially in the center of the arrangement of the pair of replenishment device side lock members 78, 78, the same force is applied to the circumferential direction R from both sides, so that the movement in the circumferential direction R is performed. It is preferable because it can be suppressed and poor contact between the IC chip 2700 and the connector 2800 can be prevented.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the replenishment device side lock members 78 and 78 and the container lock portions 2339 and 2339 are arranged obliquely with respect to the horizontal direction, respectively, the container tip side cover 2034 is more than when provided in the horizontal direction. The amount of protrusion in the horizontal direction from the outer peripheral surface 2034b of the above can be suppressed, and the space of the powder container storage portion corresponding to each color can be saved. As a result, the space of the printer unit 100 (image forming apparatus main body) can be effectively utilized, and the image forming apparatus can be miniaturized. Further, when a plurality of toner containers are mounted as in the color image forming apparatus, the installation space in the horizontal direction can be reduced, which further contributes to the miniaturization of the apparatus.

Further, as in the present embodiment, an engaging portion 2092 formed in the lower portion 2034d of the container tip side cover 2034, which is the lower portion of the toner container 2032, and capable of passing through the engaged rib 2090, and an engaging portion 2092 are inserted into the insertion port. When passing through 2071a, it is erroneously provided with a pair of slide guides 2361 and 2361 as a vertical direction regulating unit that engages with the pair of guide rails 2075 and 2075 to regulate the movement of the toner container 2032 in the vertical direction Z. It is possible to reliably prevent the mounting of various types of toner containers 2032.

FIG. 103 is a six-view view for showing the overall configuration of the toner container 2032 as the powder storage container having the IC chip 2700 described in the eighth embodiment. The toner container 2032 shown in FIG. 103 has a configuration in which a container main body 33 having a spiral groove and a container tip side cover 2034 as a cover member having an IC chip 2700 are provided. In FIG. 103, (a) is a right side view, (b) is a left side view, (c) is a front view, (d) is a rear view, (e) is a plan view, and (f) is a low view. Shown.

In the eighth embodiment, the container body 33 having a spiral groove is used as the container body, but the container body 1033 without the spiral groove and the container tip side cover 2034 already described with reference to FIGS. 50 and 51 are used as the container body. The toner container 3032 shown in FIG. 104 may be provided.

The form of the engaging portion 2092 formed on the container tip side cover 2034 of the toner container 2032 is from Form 1 to Form 15 shown in FIGS. 105 (a) to (h) to 108 (a) to (g). May be. In FIGS. 105 to 108, (a), (c), (e) and (g) show a front view of the container tip side cover 2034, and in FIGS. 105 to 108, (b), (d), (F) and (h) are bottom views of the container tip side cover 2034, respectively.
In FIGS. 105 to 108, the reinforcing portions 2362 formed on the slide guides 2361 and 2361 and connected in the mounting direction are divided into six in the width direction W. For convenience, blocks 1 to 6 are designated from the left side in the mounting direction Q. Then, the reinforcing portion groove 9235a formed in each block is changed from the groove 1 to the groove 6. Table 1 below shows the formation state of the reinforcing portion groove 9235a in each block. In Table 1, "Yes" indicates a state in which the reinforcing portion groove 9235a is formed, and "No" indicates a state in which the reinforcing portion groove 9235a is not formed.

FIGS. 105 (a) and 105 (b) show Form 1.
105 (c) and 105 (d) show Form 2.
105 (e) and 105 (f) show Form 3.
FIG. 105 (g) and FIG. 105 (h) show the form 4.
FIG. 106 (a) and FIG. 106 (b) show the fifth form.
FIG. 106 (c) and FIG. 106 (d) show the form 6.
FIG. 106 (e) and FIG. 106 (f) show the form 7.
FIG. 106 (g) and FIG. 106 (h) show the form 8.
FIG. 107 (a) and FIG. 107 (b) show the form 9.
FIG. 107 (c) and FIG. 107 (d) show the form 10.
FIG. 107 (e) and FIG. 107 (f) show the form 11.
FIG. 107 (g) and FIG. 107 (h) show the form 12.
FIGS. 108 (a) and 108 (b) show the form 13.
FIG. 108 (c) and FIG. 108 (d) show the form 14.
FIGS. 108 (e) and 108 (f) show the form 15.

In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 105 (a) and 105 (b), reinforcing portion grooves 9235a are formed in the connecting blocks 1 and 2, respectively.
In the second form shown in FIGS. 105 (c) and 105 (d), the reinforcing portion grooves 9235a are formed in the blocks 1 and 3, respectively.
In the third form shown in FIGS. 105 (e) and 105 (f), the reinforcing portion grooves 9235a are formed in the blocks 1 and 4, respectively.
In the fourth form shown in FIGS. 105 (g) and 105 (h), the reinforcing portion grooves 9235a are formed in the blocks 1 and 5, respectively.
In the fifth form shown in FIGS. 106 (a) and 106 (b), reinforcing portion grooves 9235a are formed in the connecting blocks 1 and 6, respectively.
In the sixth form shown in FIGS. 106 (c) and 106 (d), the reinforcing portion grooves 9235a are formed in the blocks 2 and 3, respectively.
In the seventh embodiment shown in FIGS. 106 (e) and 106 (f), the reinforcing portion grooves 9235a are formed in the blocks 2 and 4, respectively.
In the form 8 shown in FIGS. 106 (g) and 106 (h), the reinforcing portion grooves 9235a are formed in the blocks 2 and 5, respectively.
In the form 9 shown in FIGS. 107 (a) and 107 (b), the reinforcing portion grooves 9235a are formed in the connecting blocks 2 and 6, respectively.
In the form 10 shown in FIGS. 107 (c) and 107 (d), the reinforcing portion grooves 9235a are formed in the blocks 3 and 4, respectively.
In the form 11 shown in FIGS. 107 (e) and 107 (f), the reinforcing portion grooves 9235a are formed in the blocks 3 and 5, respectively.
In the form 12 shown in FIGS. 107 (g) and 107 (h), the reinforcing portion grooves 9235a are formed in the blocks 3 and 6, respectively.
In the form 13 shown in FIGS. 108 (a) and 108 (b), reinforcing portion grooves 9235a are formed in the connecting blocks 4 and 5, respectively.
In the form 14 shown in FIGS. 108 (c) and 108 (d), the reinforcing portion grooves 9235a are formed in the blocks 4 and 6, respectively.
In the form 15 shown in FIGS. 108 (e) and 108 (f), the reinforcing portion grooves 9235a are formed in the blocks 5 and 6, respectively.
Even if they are formed as shown in the first to fifteenth forms, if the reinforcing portion groove 9235a of the engaging portion 2092 and the engaged rib 2090 formed in the groove portion 2074 do not correspond to each other, the engaging portion 2092 is engaged. It cannot pass through the go rib 2090, and it is possible to prevent the incompatible toner container 2032 from being attached.

Table 1 shows a list of the presence or absence of the reinforcing portion groove 9235a in the first to fifteenth forms.

(9th embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the configuration of the container body as the powder storage portion included in the toner container as the powder storage container is different from the container body 33, 1033 described above. Therefore, the present embodiment will be described focusing on the configuration of the container body, and the same reference numerals as those described above will be attached to the container tip side cover 34 having the same configuration as described above and other identical components, and the description thereof will be described. Is omitted as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 109, the toner container 4032 as the powder storage container according to the present embodiment includes a container body 4033 that stores toner as a powder for image formation and a container mounted on the outer periphery of the container body 4033. It is provided with a container tip side cover 34 as a cover. The container body 4033 is rotatably held with respect to the container tip side cover 34. When the toner container 4032 is also attached to the toner replenishment device 60 as described above, a transfer nozzle 611 as a transfer tube provided with a transfer screw 614 is inserted inside the toner container 4032, and toner can be replenished. The toner container 4032 is supported by the container tip side cover 34 so that the rotation axis of the container body 4033 is horizontal.

As shown in FIG. 110, the container body 4033 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is configured to rotate with the central axis of the cylinder as the rotation axis. A handle portion 4303 is formed on the rear end side of the toner container 4032 in the longitudinal direction (attachment / detachment direction), and an opening 4033a is formed on the front end side of the container to which the cover 34 on the tip end side of the container is mounted. A nozzle receiving member 330 as a transport pipe receiving member capable of receiving the transport nozzle 611 is inserted and arranged in the opening 4033a. A container gear 301 through which the driving force is transmitted is formed on the surface of the opening 4033a. In the present embodiment, when the toner container 4032 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60 and the container drive gear 601 meshes with the container gear 301 to transmit the rotational driving force, the container body 4033 moves in the direction of arrow A in the drawing. It is configured to rotate.

The container body 4033 is formed so that its outer shape differs at a plurality of locations from the rear end side of the container toward the front end side of the container. That is, the container body 4033 has a rear cylinder portion 4033A1 connected to the handle portion 4303 located on the rear end side of the container, a front cylinder portion 4033A2 connected to the opening 4033a on the container front end side, and a rear cylinder portion 4033A1 and a front cylinder portion 4033A2. It is provided with a central cylinder portion 4033A3 located between them. An inclined portion 4033A4 is formed between the rear cylinder portion 4033A1 and the rear end of the central cylinder portion 4033A3, and an inclined portion 4033A5 is formed between the front cylinder portion 4033A2 and the front end of the central cylinder portion 4033A3. The central tubular portion 4033A3 is formed so as to increase in diameter from the end portion on the inclined portion 4033A4 side toward the end portion on the inclined portion 4033A5 side. The inclined portion 4033A4 has a diameter reduced from the rear cylinder portion 4033A1 toward the central cylinder portion 4033A3, and the inclined portion 4033A5 has a diameter reduced from the central cylinder portion 4033A3 toward the inclined portion 4033A5. In FIG. 110, the first to fourth cutting portions indicate cutting points to be cut on a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis indicated by a one-point difference line. The first cut portion is a cross section of the rear cylinder portion 4033A1, the second cut portion is a cross section of the central cylinder portion 4033AC, the third cut portion is a cross section near the inclined portion 4033A5, and the fourth cut portion is a cross section of the front cylinder portion 4033A2. Are shown respectively.

As shown in FIG. 111, the outer diameter of the rear cylinder portion 4033A1 is d11, the outer diameter of the rear end of the central cylinder portion 4033A3 is d12, the outer diameter of the front end of the central cylinder portion 4033A3 is d13, and the outer diameter of the front cylinder portion 4033A2. When d14 is set, the container body 4033 is formed so that the outer diameter d11> the outer diameter d12 <outer diameter d13> outer diameter d14. The wall thickness of the container body 4033 is the same in each part, and the shape of the internal space of the container body 4033 is formed while maintaining the same magnitude relationship as the appearance.

A plurality of transport members are formed in the container body 4033 from the rear cylinder portion 4033A1 to the front cylinder portion 4033A. These transport members are formed by being recessed from the surface of the container body 4033 toward the inside of the container, and are formed as grooves from the surface of the container and protrusions from the inside of the container. Hereinafter, these transport members will be described as protrusions.

The rear cylinder portion 4033A1 is formed with first protrusions 4101a and 4101b as first transport members so as to extend toward the central cylinder portion 4033A3. As shown in FIG. 112 (a), the first protrusions 4101a and 4101b are formed in a phase of 180 degrees in the rotation direction (arrow A direction) of the container body 4033. As shown in FIG. 113 (a), the first protrusions 4101a and 4101b have a length of reaching the central tubular portion 4033A3 from the rear tubular portion 4033A1 via the inclined portion 4033A5. The first protrusions 4101a and 4101b are twisted so as to form a spiral in a clockwise winding direction opposite to the rotation direction of the container body 4033, and when the container body 4033 rotates in the arrow A direction, It is formed so as to apply a force in the direction of the arrow F1 shown in FIGS. 111 and 113 (a) to the internal toner. Note that FIG. 113A shows only the first protrusion 4101a.

As shown in FIG. 110, the central tubular portion 4033A3 is formed with second protrusions 4102a, 4102b, 4102c, and 4102d as a second transport member so as to extend over the entire area in the longitudinal direction thereof. As shown in FIG. 112 (b), the second protrusions 4102a, 4102b, 4102c, and 4102d are formed in a phase of 90 degrees in the rotation direction (arrow A direction) of the container body 4033. It may have three second protrusions in a phase of 120 degrees.
The second protrusions 4102a, 4102b, 4102c, and 4102d formed on the central tubular portion 4033A3 are formed so as to be inclined upward from the inclined portion 4033A4 toward the inclined portion 4033A5. Therefore, when the container body 4033 rotates in the direction of arrow A, as shown in FIGS. 113 (a) and 113 (b), a force toward the front cylinder portion 4033A2 (direction of arrow F2) is applied while stirring the toner inside. It is formed to give.

Third protrusions 4103a and 4103b as a third transport member are formed on the central tubular portion 4033A3 to the front tubular portion 4033A2. As shown in FIG. 112 (c), the third protrusions 4103a and 4103b are formed one by one in a phase of 180 degrees in the rotation direction (arrow A direction) of the container body 4033. As shown in FIGS. 112 (c) and 113 (b), the third protrusions 4103a and 4103b have large protrusions at the central tubular portion 4033A3, and the protrusions are larger toward the front tubular portion 4033A2, and FIG. 112 (d) ), The protrusions are formed to be small as shown in FIG. 113 (b). As shown in FIG. 112 (d), the first protrusions 4101a and 4101b have a length of reaching the central tubular portion 4033A3 from the rear tubular portion 4033A1 via the inclined portion 4033A5. The third protrusions 4103a and 4103b are twisted so as to form a spiral in a clockwise winding direction opposite to the rotation direction of the container body 4033, and when the container body 4033 rotates in the arrow A direction, It is formed so as to apply a force in the direction of arrow F3 to the internal toner. Note that FIG. 113B shows only the third protrusion 4103a.
The second protrusions 4102a, 4102b, 4102c, 4102d and the third protrusions 4103a, 4103b are arranged so that their ends overlap (overlap) each other in the attachment / detachment direction (longitudinal direction). Further, as shown in FIG. 114, the third protrusions 4103a and 4103b overlap with the nozzle opening 610 as the powder receiving port of the transport nozzle 611 when the transport nozzle 611 is inserted into the container body 4033. Is formed in.

A toner container 4032 provided with the container body 4033 having such a configuration is attached to the toner replenishment device 60, and the container body 4033 is indicated by an arrow while the transfer nozzle 611 is inserted into the container body 4033 as shown in FIG. 114. Rotate in the A direction. Then, the toner in the rear cylinder portion 4033A1 in the container body 4033 moves in the direction of the arrow F1 along the first protrusions 4101a and 4101b, and moves from the rear cylinder portion 4033A1 through the inclined portion 4033A4 into the central cylinder portion 4033A3. Be transported.

The conveyed toner and the toner originally located in the central cylinder portion 4403A3 are moved in the direction of arrow F2 by the second protrusions 4102a to 4102d, and are moved toward the front cylinder portion 4033A2 by the second protrusions 4102a to 4102d. Move along.
At this time, since the third protrusions 4103a and 4103b are arranged so as to overlap the second protrusions 4102a to 4102d in the central tubular portion 4033A2, the toner conveyed by the second protrusions 4102a to 4102d is surely Is delivered to the third protrusion 4103a. The third protrusion 4103b is omitted. The delivered toner is moved in the direction of arrow F3 by the third protrusions 4103a and 4103b, gets over the inclined portion 4033A5, and is conveyed to the front cylinder portion 4033A2. At this time, since the tips 4103a1 and 4103b1 (omitted in the drawing) of the third protrusions 4103a and 4103b overlap with the nozzle opening 610 of the transport nozzle 611, the third protrusions 4103a and 4103b move in the arrow F2 direction. The toner to be used can be reliably conveyed to the nozzle opening 610.
In the ninth embodiment, the first and third protrusions are formed by two, but at least one may be formed.
Although the first to ninth embodiments have been specifically shown above, they are merely examples of the present invention, and for example, all the configurations in which the respective embodiments are combined are also included in the present invention.

26 Paper tray 27 Paper feed roller 28 Resist roller vs. 29 Paper discharge roller vs. 30 Stack part 32 (Y, M, C, K), 1032, 2032, 3032, 4032 Toner container (powder container)
33, 1033, 4033 Container body (powder container)
33a opening (container opening)
33b Outer peripheral surface of the container opening 33c Tip of the container opening 34, 2034 Container tip side cover (container cover)
34a, 2034a Gear exposed openings 34b, 2034b Outer peripheral surface of container cover 34c, 2034c Mounting direction tip 34d, 2034d Vertical surface (downstream surface in mounting direction)
34g, 2034g lower part (lower part of the outer circumference of the container tip side cover)
35 Upper guide 35a Upper guide top 35b Upper guide side 35c Upper guide inclined surface 41 (Y, M, C, K) Photoreceptor (image carrier)
42 (Y, M, C, K) Cleaning device (photoreceptor cleaning device)
42a Cleaning blade 44 (Y, M, C, K) Charging roller (charging means)
46 (Y, M, C, K) Image forming part (image forming part)
47 Exposure device 48 Intermediate transfer belt 49 (Y, M, C, K) Primary transfer bias roller 50 (Y, M, C, K) Developer (development means)
51 (Y, M, C, K) Development roller (developer carrier)
52 (Y, M, C, K) Doctor blade (developer control plate)
53 (Y, M, C, K) First developer housing unit 54 (Y, M, C, K) Second developer storage unit 55 (Y, M, C, K) Developer transport screw 56 (Y, Y, K) M, C, K) Toner concentration sensor 60 (Y, M, C, K) Toner replenishment device (powder replenishment device)
64 (Y, M, C, K) Toner drop transport path 70, 2070 Toner container storage section (powder container storage section)
71, 71A, 2071 Insertion port forming part 71a, 2071a Insertion port 71b Entrance pedestal part 71c Lower side surface 71e Insertion port upper surface 72, 2072 Container receiving part 73, 2073 Container cover receiving part 74, 2074 Groove part (container mounting part)
74a, 74b, 2074a, 2074b Side surface 74c Mounting surface 75, 2075 Guide rail 76 Top surface 76a Top surface protrusion 77a Groove 77b Plate-shaped protrusion (main body side protrusion)
78 Lock member, replenisher side lock member 79a Through hole 79b Recess 82 Secondary transfer backup roller 85 Intermediate transfer unit 86 Fixing device 89 Secondary transfer roller 90, 2090 Engagement rib (engaged part)
91, 2091 Drive unit (container rotation drive unit)
92, 2092 Engagement part 93 Regulatory rib 100 Printer part (copier device body, image forming device body)
200 Paper feed section (paper feed table)
301, 1301 Container gear (container side gear)
302 Spiral protrusion (transportation means)
303 Handle part 304 Pumping part 304a Pumping part Spiral protrusion 304g Pumping rib 304f Pumping wall surface 304h Convex part 305 Tip opening 306 Cover claw hooking part 306a Outer peripheral edge of cover claw hooking part 330, 1330 Nozzle receiving member (conveying pipe receiving member) )
331, 1331 Nozzle inlet 332, 1332 Container shutter (container opening / closing member)
332a Shutter release prevention claw 332b Guide rod sliding part 332c Tip cylindrical part (closing member)
332d Sliding part 332e Guide rod 332g Guide rod sliding part 332f Cantilever beam 332h End face of container shutter (end face of tip cylindrical part)
333 Container seal (sealing member)
334 Container shutter support member (support member)
335 Shutter rear end support 335a Shutter side support (side surface)
335b, 1335b Shutter support opening (side opening)
336, 1336 Container shutter spring (urging member)
337 Receiving member fixing part 337a Nozzle shutter abutting rib 337b Seal member Entrainment prevention space 339, 2339 Container lock part 339a, 2339a Guide protrusion 339a1 Guide inclined surface 339b, 2339b Guide groove 339c, 2339c Overcoming part 339d, 2339d Locking hole Direction regulation department)
339e 1st contact surface 339f 2nd contact surface 340, 2340 Cover claw part 340b Inner peripheral surface of cover tip 341a Protrusion part (guide part, radial regulation part, radial positioning part)
342a Anti-rotation rib (guide, circumferential regulation, circumferential regulation protrusion)
342b Anti-rotation recess (guide, circumferential regulation groove)
343, 2343 Holding part 344 Holding member 345 Holding mechanism 361, 2361 Slide guide (guide part, vertical direction regulation part)
361A, 2361A Upper guide part 361B, 2361B Lower guide part 361a, 2361a Slide groove 361b Tip of slide guide 361c Tip of slide groove (first guide part)
361d center of slide groove (second guide)
361e Rear end of slide groove 361g Concave surface of slide groove 361f Groove inclination part 362, 2362 Reinforcement part 400 Scanner part (Original reading part)
500 copier (image forming device)
600 Positioning means (guide)
601 Container drive gear (main body side gear)
602 Mounting board 603 Drive motor 603a Output gear 604 Connecting gear 605 Conveying screw gear 608, 2608 Set cover 608a Bottom surface 608c Inner surface of set cover (inner peripheral surface of container cover receiving part)
608d, 2608d opening 608e protrusion 608f end face 610 nozzle opening (powder receiving port)
611 Conveying nozzle (conveying tube)
611a End face (end face) of the transport nozzle
612 Nozzle shutter (powder receiving / closing member)
612a collar (nozzle shutter collar)
612f Nozzle shutter spring receiving surface 613 Nozzle shutter spring (urging member)
614 Transport screw (conveyor member)
615 Container set part (container receiving part)
615a Inner peripheral surface of the end 615b End surface 615d Sliding protrusion 615c Spring regulation part 700, 2700 IC tag (information storage medium)
701 IC tag hole (hole)
702, 2702 Board 703 Ground terminal 705 Ground terminal protruding part 710, 710 Metal pad 710a, 2710a First metal pad 710b, 2710b Second metal pad 710c, 2710c Third metal pad 2710d Fourth metal pad 720 Holding member 781 Shaft 782 Twist Coil spring 783 pin 800, 2800 connector (reading means)
801 Positioning pin 802 Main body side terminal for grounding 804 Terminal 920, 9201a, 9202a, 9204a, 9205a Engagement rib 920a Upper part (upper part of engagement rib)
920b Both sides (both sides of engaging rib)
921, 9211a, 9211b, 9212a, 9212b Rib groove 922, 9224a, 9224b, 9225a, 9233a Reinforcement groove 9201b, 9202b, 9204b, 9205b Slide guide inter-protrusion 9213 Slide guide inter-groove 1035 Bottom lid 1035a Rear end side bearing 1036 Tip side bearing 1302 Conveying blade 1330a Nozzle receiving member outer peripheral surface 1330b Conveying blade holding part 1332a Contact part 1335c Rotational direction downstream end part 2075a Starting end 2343a, 2343b Both sides (both sides of circumferential direction regulating part and holding part)
2801 Guide section (circumferential direction regulation section)
2801a, 2801b Wall part 2801c, 2801d Inner side surface 2802, 2803 Control part 2802a, 2803a One end of the regulation part 2802b, 2803b The other end of the regulation part 2802c, 2803c Central part of the regulation part 2804a First body side terminal 2804b Second body side terminal 2804c Third main body side terminal 2804d Fourth main body side terminal 2805 Main body side terminal 4101a, 4101b First protrusion (transport means)
4102a-4102d Second protrusion (transport means)
4103a, 4103b Third protrusion (conveying means)
H1, H2, H3 Distance between the upper guide part and the lower guide part L Laser light P Recording medium Q Mounting direction G Developer

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-133349

Claims (13)

A powder storage container containing powder for image formation is attached.
A transport tube to which powder is transported and
The main body side gear that transmits the driving force to the powder container and
A container receiving portion arranged around the transport pipe and receiving the powder storage container,
A main body side lock member capable of holding the powder storage container with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus,
In a powder container that can be attached to an image forming apparatus equipped with
An opening to be inserted into the container receiving portion and
A transport means that transports powder by rotating,
A container-side gear that meshes with the main body-side gear to drive the transport means,
On the side of the powder storage container, a set of container-side lock portions that engage with the main body-side lock member is provided.
In a state where the powder storage container is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the set of container-side lock portions are in a position inclined with respect to the horizontal direction while facing each other.
A powder storage container characterized in that, in the longitudinal direction of the powder storage container, the container-side gear is arranged between the opening and the container-side lock portion. In a powder storage container that contains powder for image formation and can be attached to an image formation device.
An opening to be inserted into a container receiving portion arranged around a transport tube provided in the image forming apparatus main body, and an opening
A transport means for transporting the powder by rotating and
A container-side gear that can drive the transport means by meshing with a main-body-side gear provided on the main-body side of the image forming apparatus.
A pair of container-side lock portions capable of holding the powder storage container with respect to the image forming apparatus main body by engaging with the main body-side lock member on the side of the powder storage container are provided.
In a state where the powder storage container is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body, the pair of container-side lock portions are in a position inclined with respect to the horizontal direction while facing each other.
A powder storage container characterized in that, in the longitudinal direction of the powder storage container, the container-side gear is arranged between the opening and the container-side lock portion. The powder storage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the main body side lock member enters the container side lock portion to restrict the movement of the powder storage container in the longitudinal direction. The powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the container-side lock portion has a through-hole shape. A container cover that can rotate relative to the container side gear is provided.
The powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the container-side lock portion is provided on the container cover. The container cover comprises a gear exposure opening that exposes at least a portion of the container side gear.
In a state where the powder storage container is attached to the image forming apparatus main body,
The container-side lock portion is arranged on both the left and right sides with the center of the opening open, and one container-side lock portion is above the gear exposed opening, and the other container-side lock portion is The powder container according to claim 5 , wherein the powder container is arranged below the exposed gear opening. It has an information storage device connected to a connector provided in the image forming apparatus main body, and has an information storage device.
The powder storage container according to claim 2 , wherein the information storage device is arranged so as to be substantially parallel to a line segment connecting the pair of container-side lock portions. It has a holding unit that holds the information storage device, and has
The powder storage container according to claim 7, wherein the holding portion can regulate the movement of the powder storage container in the circumferential direction. An information storage device connected to a connector provided in the image forming apparatus main body, and
It has a holding unit that holds the information storage device, and has
The holding portion can regulate the movement of the powder containing container in the circumferential direction.
The holding portion is provided on the container cover, and when both side surfaces of the holding portion located in the longitudinal direction come into contact with the regulating wall portion provided on the image forming apparatus main body, the container cover can be moved in the circumferential direction. The powder storage container according to claim 6 , characterized in that it is regulated. The powder containing container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the opening can be fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the container receiving portion. The powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the container side gear is formed integrally with a container body for storing powder. The powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein toner is stored inside as the powder. An image forming apparatus comprising the powder container according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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