JP6996171B2 - Image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including a developer container.

Conventionally, a technique as described in Patent Document 1 is known as an image forming apparatus including a developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer inside. In this technique, a developer container having a longitudinal shape extending in the first direction is attached to the developing device in the main body of the device along a second direction intersecting the first direction. After that, the developer container is rotated about an axis extending in the first direction. During this rotational operation, the developer discharge port opened in the developer container is opened from the container-side shutter. On the other hand, as the developer storage container rotates, the shutter on the main body side of the developing device is slid to move, and the developer supply port is opened. As a result, the developer supply port of the developing device and the developer discharge port of the developer storage container communicate with each other, and the replenishment developer can flow into the developing device.

The developer storage container includes a container-side sealing member that covers the periphery of the developer discharge port. By rotating the developer container in a state where the container-side sealing member is in contact with the main body-side shutter, leakage of the developing agent during rotation is suppressed.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-206522

In the technique described in Patent Document 1, in order to surely prevent the developer from leaking, it is necessary that the container-side sealing member and the main body-side shutter are in strong contact with each other. However, in this case, since a large load is generated in the rotational operation of the developer storage container, there is a problem that the developer storage container cannot be smoothly attached and detached.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to suppress leakage of the developer during attachment / detachment without deteriorating operability at the time of attachment / detachment of the developer storage container. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes a developer accommodating container for accommodating a developer and a mounting portion on which the developer accommodating container is mounted, and the developer can be removed from the developer accommodating container. It has a developing device to be replenished, and the developing agent storage container is provided in the container body so as to cover the container body, the developing agent discharge port opened in the container body, and the periphery of the developing agent discharging port. The developing apparatus comprises a fixed container-side sealing member and a container-side shutter that is supported by the container body so as to be slidable with respect to the developing agent discharging port and seals or opens the developing agent discharging port. Is a developer opening in the housing so as to face the developer storage container and communicates with the inside of the housing, and a developer supply port that is slidably supported by the housing and has the developer supply port. When the developer containing container is provided with a main body-side shutter to be sealed or opened and a fixing portion for fixing the container-side shutter, and the developer accommodating container is mounted on the mounting portion in a first posture along a first direction. The container-side shutter is fixed to the fixed portion, and the container body of the developer-containing container is further rotated in the first rotation direction around the axis along the second direction intersecting the first direction. When the developer discharge port is separated from the fixed container-side shutter, the developer storage container is in a second posture in which the opened developer discharge port communicates with the developer supply port. The modified container-side seal member has a seal tip having a free-end shape formed so as to extend toward the downstream side in the first rotation direction on the downstream side in the first rotation direction from the developer discharge port. The developer containing container has a notch portion formed at the base end portion of the seal tip portion and is arranged so as to extend along the second direction, and the developer accommodating container has a second portion. When mounted on the mounting portion in the first posture along one direction, the tip of the seal abuts on the shutter on the main body side, so that the tip of the seal abuts on the notch as a fulcrum of the developer accommodating container. Deforms inward in the radial direction in the rotation of.

According to this configuration, the developer container is mounted on the mounting portion of the developing apparatus along the first direction, and then rotated in the first rotation direction around the axis along the second direction. Then, as the developer storage container rotates, the opened developer discharge port communicates with the developer supply port. Therefore, the user can attach the developer storage container and open the developer discharge port by two continuous operations. Further, since the notch portion is formed in the container-side seal member, the stiffness of the seal tip portion is slightly reduced. Therefore, when the developer container is attached to the developing apparatus and the seal tip touches the shutter on the main body side, the seal tip can be slightly deformed inward in the radial direction of the developer container. Therefore, the tip of the seal is easily arranged inside the shutter on the main body side. Further, since the seal tip has a free end shape, the seal tip and the shutter on the main body side can be sufficiently overlapped along the first rotation direction. Therefore, when the developer container is rotated in the first rotation direction, it is prevented that the developer in the developer supply port is scraped out by the seal tip portion of the container-side seal member. Further, as the developer container is rotated, the developer that has fallen from the developer discharge port is prevented from leaking to the upper surface side of the shutter on the main body side from the gap between the tip of the seal and the shutter on the main body side. Further, since the tip of the seal does not enter or bite between the shutter on the main body side and the housing of the developing device, an increase in the rotational load of the developing agent container is suppressed.

In the above configuration, it is desirable that the cut portion is composed of a plurality of broken line cut portions formed at intervals along the second direction.

According to this configuration, the stiffness of the tip portion of the container-side sealing member can be easily weakened by a plurality of broken line-shaped cut portions such as perforations.

In the above configuration, it is desirable that the plurality of broken line notches are formed so as to penetrate the container-side sealing member in the thickness direction.

According to this configuration, the container-side sealing member can be easily manufactured as compared with the case where a plurality of broken-line notches are formed in a part of the container-side sealing member in the thickness direction.

In the above configuration, the cut portion may be continuously extended along the second direction, and may be formed by cutting a part of the container-side seal member in the thickness direction.

According to this configuration, a part of the container-side seal member in the thickness direction is continuously cut along the second direction, so that the container-side seal member can be easily manufactured and the container-side seal member can be easily manufactured. The stiffness of the tip of the member can be easily weakened.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing leakage of a developing agent at the time of attachment / detachment without deteriorating the operability at the time of attaching / detaching the developer containing container.

It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the developing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the developing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the container side shutter which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the container side shutter which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the state which the container side shutter was removed from the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the mode that the developer containing container is attached to the developing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the mode that the developer containing container is attached to the developing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the developer accommodating container was attached to the developing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged perspective view of the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged perspective view of the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is an enlarged perspective view of the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the mode that the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is rotated on the developing apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the mode that the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is rotated on the developing apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the state after the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is rotated on the developing apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the mode that the developer containing container compared with the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is rotated on a developing apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the mode that the developer containing container compared with the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is rotated on a developing apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the state after the developer containing container compared with the developer containing container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention after being rotated on the developing apparatus.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of a printer 100 (image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. B is a perspective view of the printer 100. The printer 100 as the image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is a so-called monochrome printer, but in another embodiment, the image forming apparatus includes a color printer, a facsimile machine, a multifunction device having these functions, and the like. It may be another device for forming a toner image on a sheet. The terms used in the following explanations to indicate the directions such as "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", and "right" are for the purpose of clarifying the explanation. There is no limitation on the principle of the image forming apparatus.

The printer 100 includes a housing 101 that houses various devices for forming an image on the sheet S. The housing 101 is a main body rear wall 105 erected between an upper wall 102 that defines the upper surface of the housing 101, a bottom wall 103 that defines the bottom surface of the housing 101, and the upper wall 102 and the bottom wall 103. And the main body front wall 104 located in front of the main body rear wall 105. The housing 101 includes a main body internal space 107 in which various devices are arranged. In the main body internal space 107 of the housing 101, a sheet transport path PP in which the seat S is transported in a predetermined transport direction is extended.

A paper ejection portion 102A is arranged at the center of the upper wall 102. The paper ejection portion 102A is composed of an inclined surface inclined downward from the front portion to the rear portion of the upper wall 102. The sheet S on which the image is formed is discharged to the paper discharge unit 102A in the image forming unit 120 described later. Further, a manual feed tray 104A is arranged on the front wall 104 of the main body. The manual feed tray 104A can rotate up and down with the lower end as a fulcrum (see arrow DT in FIG. 1A and arrow DT1 in FIG. 1B).

The printer 100 includes a cassette 110, a pickup roller 112, a first paper feed roller 113, a second paper feed roller 114, a transfer roller 115, a resist roller pair 116, an image forming unit 120, and a fixing device 130. To prepare for.

The cassette 110 houses the sheet S inside. The cassette 110 includes a lift plate 111. The lift plate 111 is inclined so as to push up the leading edge of the seat S. The cassette 110 can be pulled out forward with respect to the housing 101.

The pickup roller 112 is arranged on the leading edge of the seat S pushed up by the lift plate 111. When the pickup roller 112 rotates, the sheet S is pulled out from the cassette 110. The first paper feed roller 113 is arranged downstream of the pickup roller 112, and feeds the sheet S further downstream. The second paper feed roller 114 is arranged inside (rear side) of the fulcrum of the manual feed tray 104A, and pulls the sheet S on the manual feed tray 104A into the housing 101.

The transport roller 115 is arranged downstream of the sheet transport direction (hereinafter, simply referred to as the transport direction) of the first paper feed roller 113 and the second paper feed roller 114, and transports the sheet S further downstream. The resist roller pair 116 has a function of correcting the diagonal transfer of the sheet S. As a result, the position of the image formed on the sheet S is adjusted. The resist roller pair 116 supplies the sheet S to the image forming unit 120 at the timing of image formation by the image forming unit 120.

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

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

The exposure apparatus 123 irradiates the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 121 charged by the charger 122 with laser light. The laser beam is irradiated according to image data output from an external device (not shown) such as a personal computer communicably connected to the printer 100. As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 121.

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

The transfer roller 126 forms a transfer nip portion with the photoconductor drum 121, and transfers the toner image to the sheet S. The cleaning device 127 removes the toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the photoconductor drum 121 after the toner image is transferred to the sheet S.

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

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

<About the developer container and developing device>
Next, the toner container 30 and the developing device 20 according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2A to 6. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B are perspective views of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment. 2A and 3A show a state in which the toner discharge port 30P described later is closed by the container shutter 32, and FIGS. 2B and 3B show a state in which the toner discharge port 30P is opened. 4A and 4B are perspective views of the developing apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment. Note that FIG. 4A shows a state in which the toner supply port 204 described later is sealed by the main body shutter 22, and FIG. 4B shows a state in which the toner supply port 204 is opened. 5A and 5B are perspective views of the container shutter 32. Note that FIG. 5A corresponds to a view of the container shutter 32 viewed from the outside of the toner container 30, and FIG. 5B corresponds to a view of the container shutter 32 viewed from the inside of the toner container 30. Further, FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the container shutter 32 is removed from the toner container 30.

The toner container 30 contains toner (developer) inside. The toner container 30 has a longitudinal shape extending in one direction. When the toner container 30 is mounted on the developing device 20 in the housing 101, the toner container 30 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction of the toner container 30 is along the left-right direction. The toner container 30 includes a container body 31 (container body), a container shutter 32 (container side shutter), a container screw 33 (FIG. 2B), a container paddle 30K (see FIG. 8), and a container seal 34 (FIG. 2B). And.

The container body 31 is a body portion of the toner container 30. The container main body 31 includes a main body portion 31A and a lid portion 31B. The main body portion 31A is arranged in a lower portion of the container main body 31. The container main body 31 has a shape in which a part of the peripheral surface of the tubular shape is cut out, and has an opening along the longitudinal direction of the toner container 30. The lid portion 31B is attached to the opening of the main body portion 31A and forms an accommodating space between the lid portion 31B and the main body portion 31A in which toner is accommodated. As shown in FIG. 8, in a cross-sectional view intersecting the longitudinal direction of the toner container 30, the main body portion 31A has a substantially U-shape, and the lid portion 31B has a substantially trapezoidal shape. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 3B, the toner container 30 includes a container flange 31F at a joint portion between the main body portion 31A and the lid portion 31B. The container flange 31F is provided on each of the main body portion 31A and the lid portion 31B, and is used for fixing the lid portion 31B to the main body portion 31A. After the container screw 33 and the like described later are loaded into the main body 31A of the toner container 30, the lid 31B is welded to the main body 31A.

The toner container 30 further includes a toner discharge port 30P (developer discharge port), a left guide 301, a paddle bearing portion 302, a filling port cap 303, a screw bearing portion 304, and a container shutter pressing portion 305 (FIG. 2B). ), The elastic piece pressing portion 306 (FIG. 2B), the guide rib 307 (FIG. 2A), the discharge protrusion 308 (FIG. 6), the container shutter lock rib 309 (FIG. 8), and the transmission gear 310 (FIG. 2A, FIG. FIG. 3A), a right guide 311 (FIG. 3A), a lock pressing portion 312 (FIG. 3A), and a central guide piece 31P.

The toner discharge port 30P is an opening opened on the right end side of the lower surface of the main body 31A. Specifically, the toner discharge port 30P is opened in a substantially rectangular shape on the peripheral surface of the discharge protrusion 308 (FIG. 6) which is further projected from the lower surface portion of the main body portion 31A in an arc shape. The toner contained in the toner container 30 is discharged from the toner discharge port 30P and supplied to the developing device 20.

The left guide 301 is a protrusion formed in a longitudinal shape so as to extend in a predetermined direction on the left side surface of the main body portion 31A. The left guide 301 engages with and is guided by the left guide groove 201L of the developing apparatus 20 described later. As a result, the mounting direction of the toner container 30 with respect to the developing device 20 (first direction, arrow DA direction in FIG. 7A) is restricted. The inside of the left guide 301 is hollow. The paddle bearing portion 302 is a bearing portion arranged inside the left guide 301. The paddle bearing portion 302 pivotally supports the paddle shaft 30K1 described later for the container paddle 30K. The filling port cap 303 is a cap adjacent to the left guide 301 and seals a filling port (not shown) opened on the left side surface of the main body portion 31A. At the time of manufacturing the toner container 30, toner is filled into the inside of the container body 31 from the filling port. The screw bearing portion 304 is a bearing portion provided on the left side surface of the main body portion 31A so as to be adjacent to the left guide 301 on the side opposite to the filling port cap 303. The screw bearing portion 304 rotatably supports the container screw 33 described later.

The container shutter pressing portion 305 (FIGS. 2B, 3B, 6) is a pair of protrusions so as to sandwich the discharge protrusion 308 in which the toner discharge port 30P is formed in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction) of the toner container 30. It is a rib of. The container shutter pressing portion 305 is arranged downstream of the toner discharge port 30P in the rotation direction (first rotation direction, arrow DM in FIG. 2A) of the toner container 30 at the time of mounting. Each of the pair of container shutter pressing portions 305 extends along the rotation direction, and the tip portion (container shutter pressing piece 305S) is bent along the longitudinal direction of the toner container 30 (so as to spread in the left-right direction respectively). It has a shape. The container shutter pressing unit 305 has a function of pressing the main body shutter 22 described later and being pressed by the main body shutter 22.

The elastic piece pressing portion 306 (FIGS. 2B, 3B, 6) is a pair of protrusions projecting from the main body portion 31A adjacent to the container shutter pressing piece 305S of the container shutter pressing portion 305. The pair of elastic piece pressing portions 306 are arranged so as to sandwich the pair of container shutter pressing portions 305 in the left-right direction. The elastic piece pressing portion 306 is arranged so as to extend along the rotation direction of the toner container 30 described above, and has a stepped shape such that the protrusion height increases as the distance from the toner discharge port 30P increases. The elastic piece pressing portion 306 has a function of pressing the elastic piece 32B5 of the shutter stopper 32B described later.

The guide rib 307 (FIGS. 2A, 3A, 6) is a pair of arcuate rib members projecting from the main body 31A and connected to the container shutter pressing portion 305. The guide rib 307 is formed so as to extend along the rotation direction of the container body 31. The pair of guide ribs 307 are arranged so as to sandwich the toner discharge port 30P in the left-right direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the guide rib 307 extends from the toner discharge port 30P on the side opposite to the container shutter pressing piece 305S, and its tip portion is arranged in the vicinity of the container flange 31F. The outer peripheral portions of the pair of guide ribs 307 are each bent in the left-right direction and have a predetermined width. The guide rib 307 supports the container shutter 32 described later so as to be slidable around a predetermined axis.

The container shutter lock rib 309 (FIG. 6) is a pair of ribs extending from the left and right side edges of the discharge protrusion 308 along the rotation direction of the toner container 30 described above. More specifically, the pair of container shutter lock ribs 309 are side edges of the discharge protrusion 308 toward the rotation direction (second rotation direction, arrow DN in FIG. 2B) when the toner container 30 is removed from the developing device 20. Extends from. A claw-shaped step portion is formed at the tip of the container shutter lock rib 309 (container shutter engaging portion 309S) (FIG. 6). The stopper lock piece 32B4 of the shutter stopper 32B described later can be engaged with the container shutter engaging portion 309S.

The transmission gear 310 (FIG. 3A) is a rotary gear rotatably supported on the right side surface of the toner container 30. The transmission gear 310 has a function of transmitting a rotational driving force to the container paddle 30K. When the toner container 30 is mounted on the developing device 20, the developing gear group 20G of the developing device 20 described later is connected to the transmission gear 310, and the rotational driving force is input to the transmission gear 310.

The right guide 311 (FIG. 3A) is a protrusion formed on the right side surface of the main body portion 31A. The right guide 311 is projected so as to extend along the mounting direction (first direction, arrow DA direction in FIG. 7A) of the toner container 30 with respect to the developing device 20. The right guide 311 can be engaged with the right guide groove 201R of the developing apparatus 20 described later. A bearing portion similar to the paddle bearing portion 302 on the left guide 301 side is also arranged inside the right guide 311 to pivotally support the shaft portion of the container paddle 30K penetrating the transmission gear 310.

The lock pressing portion 312 is a protrusion on the right side surface of the main body portion 31A that protrudes from the main body portion 31A at a distance from the right guide 311. The lock pressing portion 312 has a substantially trapezoidal shape in a cross-sectional view intersecting the left-right direction. The lock pressing portion 312 can be engaged with the lock contact piece 202S (FIG. 4A) described later.

The central guide piece 31P is a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped protrusion projecting from a substantially central portion in the left-right direction on the bottom surface of the main body portion 31A of the toner container 30. The central guide piece 31P engages with the central support portion 209 (FIG. 4A) described later when the toner container 30 is mounted on the developing apparatus 20.

The container shutter 32 (FIG. 2A) is supported by the container body 31 so as to be slidable with respect to the toner discharge port 30P, and seals or opens the toner discharge port 30P. At this time, the container shutter 32 slides along the guide rib 307 (FIG. 3A) of the container body 31. The container shutter 32 includes a shutter main body 32A and a shutter stopper 32B. The shutter stopper 32B is mounted on the shutter body 32A.

With reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the shutter body 32A is a substantially rectangular member having a curved surface along the peripheral surface of the container body 31. The shutter body 32A includes a shutter plate portion 32A1, a pair of release piece support portions 32A2, a pair of stopper shaft support portions 32A3, a pair of elastic piece support portions 32A4, a pair of shutter hole portions 32A6 (FIG. 5B), and a shutter. It includes a contact portion 32A7, a shutter engaging piece 32A8, a container shutter sheet 320, a pair of guided surfaces 321 and a pair of guided pieces 322.

The shutter plate portion 32A1 is a main body portion of the shutter main body 32A, and is a plate-shaped member having a substantially rectangular shape. As shown in FIG. 5A, the pair of release piece support portions 32A2 are protrusions projecting from the central portion of the shutter plate portion 32A1 in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2A). The stopper release piece 32B2 of the shutter stopper 32B described later is arranged between the pair of release piece support portions 32A2. The pair of stopper shaft support portions 32A3 are bearing portions arranged on the outer side in the longitudinal direction of the pair of release piece support portions 32A2. The stopper shaft support portion 32A3 rotatably supports the stopper fulcrum portion 32B3 described later. The pair of elastic piece support portions 32A4 are groove portions arranged on the outer side in the longitudinal direction of the pair of stopper shaft support portions 32A3. Each elastic piece support portion 32A4 is formed by a shutter plate portion 32A1, a flush bottom surface, and a pair of side walls. Then, the elastic piece 32B5 described later is housed inside the elastic piece support portion 32A4.

With reference to FIG. 5B, the pair of shutter hole portions 32A6 is an elongated hole portion opened so as to penetrate the shutter plate portion 32A1. The shutter hole portion 32A6 is opened at the tip of the shutter plate portion 32A1 in the second rotation direction (direction of arrow DN in FIG. 5B). The shutter contact portion 32A7 is an elongated protrusion formed between a pair of shutter hole portions 32A6, and both ends in the longitudinal direction are bent downstream in the first rotation direction (arrow DM direction in FIG. 5B). ing. The shutter contact portion 32A7 has a function of restricting the movement of the container shutter 32 in the second rotation direction. The pair of shutter engaging pieces 32A8 are protrusions projecting from between the shutter plate portion 32A1 and the pair of elastic piece support portions 32A4 in the longitudinal direction. The shutter engaging piece 32A8 has a substantially triangular shape. The pair of shutter engaging pieces 32A8 can be engaged with the pair of container shutter fixing portions 207 described later of the developing device 20.

The container shutter sheet 320 is a sheet member attached to the surface of the shutter body 32A of the container shutter 32 that seals the toner discharge port 30P. In the present embodiment, the container shutter sheet 320 is made of a resin film member. As shown in FIG. 5B, the tip portion (container shutter sheet tip portion 320S) on the downstream side in the first rotation direction (arrow DM direction) of the container shutter sheet 320 slightly protrudes from the shutter plate portion 32A1 of the container shutter 32. And form a free end. Further, the upstream end portion of the container shutter sheet 320 in the first rotation direction is in contact with the shutter contact portion 32A7.

With reference to FIG. 5B, the pair of guided surfaces 321 are arranged low with respect to the shutter plate portion 32A1 and the elastic piece support portion 32A4 between the shutter plate portion 32A1 and the elastic piece support portion 32A4. Is. Further, the pair of guided pieces 322 are protrusions protruding from the bottom surface of the elastic piece support portion 32A4 on the upstream side and the downstream side of the guided surface 321 in the first rotation direction. A space portion extending along the first rotation direction is formed between the guided surface 321 and the guided piece 322. The container shutter 32 is attached to the container body 31 by inserting one end of the guide rib 307 of the toner container 30 into the space from the guide insertion port 32T of FIG. 5B. As a result, the container shutter 32 can be slidably moved in the container body 31.

The shutter stopper 32B is mounted on the surface of the shutter body 32A opposite to the surface that seals the toner discharge port 30P. The shutter stopper 32B has a function of restricting the slide movement of the container shutter 32. The shutter stopper 32B includes a stopper release piece 32B2, a pair of stopper fulcrum portions 32B3, a pair of stopper lock pieces 32B4, and a pair of elastic pieces 32B5. The stopper release piece 32B2 is a protrusion projecting from the central portion of the shutter stopper 32B in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in FIG. 2A). As shown in FIG. 5A, the stopper release piece 32B2 projects from the shutter stopper 32B to the downstream side in the first rotation direction. Then, as described above, the stopper release piece 32B2 is arranged between the pair of release piece support portions 32A2 of the shutter main body 32A. The pair of stopper fulcrum portions 32B3 is a pair of projecting pieces projecting from the vicinity of the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the stopper plate 32B1, and the tip portion thereof is provided with a slightly protruding shaft portion. The shaft portion of the pair of stopper fulcrum portions 32B3 is inserted into the pair of stopper shaft support portions 32A3 of the shutter main body 32A, respectively. As a result, the shutter stopper 32B can rotate with respect to the shutter main body 32A around the axis connecting the pair of stopper fulcrum portions 32B3.

The pair of stopper lock pieces 32B4 are claw-shaped protrusions protruding from the shutter stopper 32B, respectively. The pair of elastic pieces 32B5 are a pair of elongated protrusions provided at both ends of the shutter stopper 32B. The tip end side of the pair of elastic pieces 32B5 is a free end extending in the first rotation direction DM.

When the pair of stopper fulcrum portions 32B3 are inserted into the pair of stopper shaft support portions 32A3 and the shutter body 32A and the shutter stopper 32B are integrated, the pair of stopper lock pieces 32B4 are inserted into the pair of shutter hole portions 32A6, respectively. (Fig. 5B). Further, each of the pair of elastic pieces 32B5 is housed inside the pair of elastic piece support portions 32A4. At this time, as shown in FIG. 5B, the tip end portion of the elastic piece 32B5 is exposed on the back side of the container shutter 32.

The container screw 33 (FIG. 2B) is a screw member arranged so as to extend in the left-right direction inside the container main body 31. One end of the container screw 33 is supported by the screw bearing portion 304 described above. The container screw 33 conveys the toner in the container main body 31 from the left side to the right side, and further discharges the toner from the toner discharge port 30P.

The container paddle 30K (FIG. 8) is a paddle member rotatably arranged inside the container main body 31. The container paddle 30K has a function of stirring the toner in the container body 31. The container paddle 30K includes a paddle shaft 30K1. The paddle shaft 30K1 serves as a shaft portion in the rotation of the container paddle 30K. The paddle shaft 30K1 is arranged so as to extend in the left-right direction in the container main body 31, and is pivotally supported by the paddle bearing portion 302 (FIG. 2B) described above. Further, on the right end side of the toner container 30, the paddle shaft 30K1 is connected to the transmission gear 310 (FIG. 3B).

The container seal 34 (FIGS. 2B and 3B) is an elastic seal arranged in the discharge protrusion 308 so as to surround the periphery of the toner discharge port 30P. In this embodiment, the container seal 34 is made of a urethane sponge (elastic member). The container seal 34 is compressed by the container shutter sheet 320 (FIG. 5B) of the container shutter 32 to prevent toner from leaking from the toner discharge port 30P in the closed state of the container shutter 32.

The developing device 20 is replenished with replenishing toner from the toner container 30. The developing apparatus 20 includes a container mounting portion 20H (FIG. 4B) (mounting portion), a developing housing 200 (housing), a developing roller 21A (FIG. 1A), a first screw 21B, and a second screw 21C. ..

The developing housing 200 houses the developing agent inside. Further, a container mounting portion 20H on which the toner container 30 is mounted is formed on the upper surface portion of the developing housing 200 (FIG. 4B). The toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 20H. The developing roller 21A (FIG. 1A) is rotatably supported by the developing housing 200. The developing roller 21A carries a developing agent on its peripheral surface. Further, the developing roller 21A supplies toner to the photoconductor drum 121. The first screw 21B and the second screw 21C are screws rotatably supported by the developing housing 200. When the first screw 21B and the second screw 21C are rotationally driven, the developer is circulated and conveyed in the developing housing 200. As a result, the toner is charged to a predetermined polarity. Further, the developer is supplied from the first screw 21B to the developing roller 21A.

Further, the developing housing 200 includes a housing right wall 200R, a housing left wall 200L, a housing top plate 200U, a left guide groove 201L, a right guide groove 201R, a lock button 202, a main body shutter guide portion 203, and toner. Replenishment port 204 (developer supply port), main body seal 205 (main body side seal), stopper pressing portion 206, pair of container shutter fixing portions 207, pair of shutter springs 208, central support portion 209, and development. It is equipped with a gear group 20G.

The right wall 200R of the housing is a side wall erected at the right end of the developing housing 200. Similarly, the housing left wall 200L is a side wall erected at the left end of the developing housing 200. The container mounting portion 20H described above is formed between the housing right wall 200R and the housing left wall 200L. The housing top plate 200U is a top plate of the developing housing 200, and extends between the housing right wall 200R and the housing left wall 200L. The front end portion of the housing top plate 200U is formed of an arc surface along the outer peripheral surface of the toner container 30 (FIG. 4A).

The left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R are grooves formed in the housing left wall 200L and the housing right wall 200R, respectively. The left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R guide the mounting of the toner container 30 on the container mounting portion 20H. Therefore, the inlet side of the left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R is formed so as to extend along the mounting direction of the toner container 30 (first direction, arrow DA direction in FIG. 7A). On the other hand, the inner side of the left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R has a fan shape so as to allow the rotation of the left guide 301 and the right guide 311.

The lock button 202 is a pressing button supported so as to be slidable on the right wall 200R of the housing. The lock button 202 has a function of locking the posture of the toner container 30 mounted on the container mounting portion 20H, or a function of releasing the lock.

The main body shutter guide portion 203 is formed by raising a part of the housing top plate 200U with a slight height. The main body shutter guide portion 203 extends in the front-rear direction with a predetermined width in the left-right direction. The main body shutter guide unit 203 includes a left guide rail 203L and a right guide rail 203R. The left guide rail 203L and the right guide rail 203R are rails formed on the left and right side edges of the main body shutter guide portion 203. The left guide rail 203L and the right guide rail 203R have a function of guiding the slide movement of the main body shutter 22.

The toner supply port 204 is an opening opened in the shutter guide portion 203 of the main body with a substantially rectangular shape. The toner supply port 204 communicates with the inside of the developing housing 200. Further, the toner supply port 204 is arranged so as to face the toner container 30 mounted on the container mounting portion 20H. The toner discharged from the toner discharge port 30P of the toner container 30 flows into the inside of the developing housing 200 from the toner supply port 204.

The main body seal 205 (FIG. 4B) is an elastic seal arranged on the main body shutter guide portion 203 so as to surround the periphery of the toner supply port 204. In this embodiment, the main body seal 205 is made of a urethane sponge (elastic member). The main body seal 205 is compressed by the main body shutter 22 (FIG. 4A) described later to prevent toner (developer) from leaking from the toner supply port 204 in the closed state of the main body shutter 22.

The stopper pressing portion 206 is a protrusion adjacent to the rear of the toner supply port 204 and projecting from the housing top plate 200U of the developing housing 200. The stopper pressing portion 206 has a function of pressing the stopper release piece 32B2 of the container shutter 32 of the toner container 30 when the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 20H. In other words, the stopper pressing portion 206 allows the toner discharge port 30P to slide with respect to the container shutter 32.

The pair of container shutter fixing portions 207 are protrusions protruding from the housing top plate 200U so as to sandwich the stopper pressing portion 206 in the left-right direction. The container shutter fixing portion 207 has a substantially trapezoidal shape in a cross-sectional view intersecting the left-right direction. Further, a wedge-shaped notch is formed on the front side surface of the container shutter fixing portion 207. When the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 20H, the shutter engaging piece 32A8 (FIG. 5A) of the container shutter 32 of the toner container 30 engages with the notch. As a result, the container shutter fixing portion 207 fixes the container shutter 32 and restricts the movement of the container shutter 32.

The pair of shutter springs 208 are spring members arranged outside the pair of container shutter fixing portions 207 in the left-right direction. The shutter spring 208 is arranged so as to extend in the front-rear direction. One ends of the pair of shutter springs 208 are respectively locked to a pair of main body spring locking portions 200T (FIG. 4A) provided on the housing top plate 200U. Further, the other ends of the pair of shutter springs 208 are respectively locked to the pair of shutter spring locking portions 222 (FIG. 4A) of the main body shutter 22 described later.

The central support portion 209 is a projecting member projecting upward from a substantially central portion in the left-right direction of the housing top plate 200U. The upper end edge of the central support portion 209 has an arc shape along the outer peripheral edge of the toner container 30. Further, the inside of the central support portion 209 is hollow so that the central guide piece 31P (FIG. 3A) of the toner container 30 can be inserted. As will be described later, when the toner container 30 is rotated in the container mounting portion 20H, the toner discharge port 30P moves in the front-rear direction inside the central support portion 209. Further, the central support portion 209 has a function of supporting the central portion in the left-right direction of the toner container 30.

The developing gear group 20G is a plurality of gears rotatably supported by the developing housing 200 inside the right wall 200R of the housing. The developing gear group 20G transmits rotational driving force to the developing roller 21A (FIG. 1), the first screw 21B, the second screw 21B, the container screw 33 (FIG. 2B) of the toner container 30, and the container paddle 30K (FIG. 11B). ..

Further, the developing device 20 includes a main body shutter 22 (main body side shutter). The main body shutter 22 is supported by the developing housing 200 so as to be slidable with respect to the toner supply port 204. The main body shutter 22 seals or opens the toner supply port 204. The main body shutter 22 includes a pair of main body shutter pressing portions 223 in addition to the pair of shutter spring locking portions 222 described above.

The pair of main body shutter pressing portions 223 are pressing surfaces formed on both ends of the main body shutter 22. The main body shutter pressing portion 223 can be engaged with the container shutter pressing piece 305S of the toner container 30. The main body shutter pressing unit 223 has a function of pressing the container shutter pressing piece 305S and a function of being pressed by the container shutter pressing piece 305S.

The pair of shutter springs 208 described above urge the main body shutter 22 in a direction in which the main body shutter 22 seals the toner supply port 204 (FIG. 4B). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, in a state where the toner container 30 is removed from the developing device 20, the main body shutter 22 receives the urging force of the shutter spring 208 and seals the toner supply port 204. At this time, the position of the main body shutter 22 is restricted by the main body shutter pressing portion 223 of the main body shutter 22 coming into contact with the main body shutter restricting portion 203S (FIG. 4B) of the developing housing 200. The main body shutter 22 is guided by the left guide rail 203L and the right guide rail 203R (FIG. 4A) having an arc shape. Therefore, the pair of shutter springs 208 urge the main body shutter 22 in the second rotation direction (direction opposite to the arrow DM in FIG. 7B). The main body shutter 22 is slid around the axis formed on the paddle shaft 30K1 (FIG. 8) of the toner container 30 extending in the left-right direction.

Further, when the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 20H, the pair of main body shutter pressing portions 223 of the main body shutter 22 can press the container shutter pressing portion 305 (FIG. 8) of the toner container 30. Therefore, the pair of shutter springs 208 urge the toner container 30 mounted on the container mounting portion 20H around the axis in the second rotation direction via the main body shutter 22.

Next, mounting the toner container 30 on the developing device 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C. 7A to 7C are perspective views showing how the toner container 30 is mounted on the developing apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment. 7A and 7B show how the toner container 30 is rotated while the toner container 30 is being mounted, and FIG. 7C shows the developing device 20 after the toner container 30 is finally rotated. It shows the state of being attached to.

Until the toner container 30 is attached to the developing device 20, if the container shutter 32 is erroneously moved from a position that closes the toner discharge port 30P, toner leaks from the toner discharge port 30P. In the present embodiment, in the state of the toner container 30 alone, the container shutter 32 is prevented from sliding from the toner discharge port 30P. That is, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 3A, when the container shutter 32 closes the toner discharge port 30P, the stopper lock piece 32B4 (FIG. 5B) penetrating the shutter hole portion 32A6 is the container on the container body 31 side. It is engaged with the container shutter engaging portion 309S of the shutter lock rib 309. The tip of the elastic piece 32B5 (FIG. 5B) exposed from the elastic piece support portion 32A4 to the back side of the container shutter 32 is urged outward in the radial direction by the elastic piece pressing portion 306 (FIG. 6). Has been done. Since the tip of the elastic piece 32B5 is urged in this way, in the container shutter 32, the stopper lock piece 32B4 side is strongly against the container shutter engaging portion 309S (FIG. 6) with the pair of stopper fulcrum portions 32B3 as fulcrums. A moment in the engaging direction is applied to the shutter stopper 32B. Therefore, when the toner container 30 is stored and transported as a single unit, the container shutter 32 is prevented from sliding along the guide rib 307. As a result, the toner discharge port 30P is stably sealed by the container shutter 32 (FIG. 5B).

With reference to FIG. 7A, the toner container 30 is mounted on the developing device 20 by the user of the printer 100. At this time, the user hooks the index finger to the middle finger on the container flange 31F located on the upper side of the toner container 30 appearing in FIG. 7A, and the container flange 31F located on the lower side of the toner container 30 (appearing in FIG. 7B). The toner container 30 can be easily grasped by hooking the thumb on the toner container 30. The left guide 301 and the right guide 311 of the toner container 30 are inserted into the left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R by the user, so that the toner container 30 is in the first direction by the left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R (FIG. It is mounted at the first position of the container mounting portion 20H while being guided along the arrow DA direction of 7A (FIG. 7B). The posture of the toner container 30 shown in FIG. 7B is defined as the first posture.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 7B, the stopper pressing portion 206 of the developing housing 200 presses the stopper release piece 32B2 (FIG. 5A) arranged between the pair of release piece support portions 32A2. As a result, the shutter stopper 32B rotates with the pair of stopper fulcrum portions 32B3 as fulcrums, and the pair of stopper lock pieces 32B4 are detached from the container shutter engaging portion 309S (FIG. 6), respectively. As a result, the lock of the container shutter 32 by the shutter stopper 32B is released, and the toner discharge port 30P can be slid with respect to the container shutter 32.

On the other hand, when the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 20H with the first posture, the pair of shutter engaging pieces 32A8 (FIGS. 5A and 7B) of the container shutter 32 is cut in a wedge shape of the container shutter fixing portion 207. Engage in the notch. As a result, the container shutter 32 is fixed to the container shutter fixing portion 207. After that, the user causes the container body 31 of the toner container 30 to rotate in the first rotation direction (arrow DM in FIG. 7B) around the axis along the second direction (left-right direction) intersecting the first direction from the first position. (Direction) is rotated. At this time, the container main body 31 reaches the second position while being slid and moved with respect to the container shutter 32 to which the toner discharge port 30P is fixed (FIG. 7C). Then, at the second position, the opened toner discharge port 30P communicates with the toner supply port 204 of the developing device 20 (see FIG. 12C). In other words, the toner discharge port 30P moves in the first rotation direction together with the container body 31. As a result, the toner discharge port 30P comes out from the fixed container shutter 32, and the opened toner discharge port 30P is located above the toner supply port 204 and can communicate with the toner supply port 204. The posture of the toner container 30 shown in FIG. 7C is defined as the second posture. In this way, the user can attach the toner container 30 to the developing device 20 and open the toner discharge port 30P by two continuous operations.

Further, in a state where the toner container 30 is not mounted on the container mounting portion 20H, the main body shutter 22 seals the toner supply port 204. As shown in FIG. 7B, when the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 20H with the first posture, the container shutter pressing piece 305S (FIG. 6) of the toner container 30 becomes the main body shutter pressing portion 223 of the main body shutter 22. It is arranged to face (FIG. 4B). Then, when the toner container 30 is rotated in the first rotation direction as described above and the posture is changed from the first posture to the second posture, the toner container 30 resists the urging force of the pair of shutter springs 208 (FIG. 4A). Then, the container shutter pressing piece 305S presses the main body shutter pressing portion 223 in the first rotation direction. As a result, the main body shutter 22 slides in the first rotation direction together with the container main body 31 of the toner container 30, and the toner supply port 204 is opened as shown in FIG. 4B. Therefore, the toner discharge port 30P and the toner supply port 204 can communicate with each other in the vertical direction.

As described above, after the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 20H with the first posture (FIG. 7B), when the toner container 30 is rotated in the first rotation direction by the user (FIG. 7C), the toner container The lock pressing portion 312 (FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B) of 30 is engaged with the lock contact piece 202S (FIG. 4A) of the developing apparatus 20. As a result, the lock contact piece 202S locks the toner container 30 in the second posture. In this locked state, the lock contact piece 202S is located below the lock pressing portion 312. Therefore, even if the urging force of the shutter spring 208 (FIG. 4A) reaches the container shutter pressing portion 305 of the toner container 30 via the main body shutter 22, the toner container 30 rotates in the second rotation direction, that is, the toner. It is prevented that the container 30 changes its posture from the second posture to the first posture. As described above, in the present embodiment, the toner discharge port 30P is communicated with the toner supply port 204 by the user mounting the toner container 30 in the first direction and rotating the toner container 30 in the first rotation direction. , The toner container 30 can be locked in the second posture. Then, the toner can be stably supplied from the toner container 30 to the developing device 20 according to the image forming operation in the printer 100.

On the other hand, when it is detected by a sensor (not shown) that the toner in the toner container 30 is empty, the display unit (not shown) of the printer 100 is notified of the replacement display of the toner container 30. When the user presses the lock button 202, the lock contact piece 202S moves backward. As a result, the lock contact piece 202S is separated rearward from the lock pressing portion 312, and the engagement between the lock contact piece 202S and the lock pressing portion 312 is released. Therefore, the regulatory force that regulated the lock pressing portion 312 is lost, and the lock of the toner container 30 is released. Since the urging force of the pair of shutter springs 208 is applied to the main body shutter 22, the main body shutter pressing portion 223 of the main body shutter 22 causes the container shutter pressing portion 305 of the toner container 30 to rotate in the second rotation direction (arrow in FIG. 2B). While pressing along the DN), it moves in the second rotation direction. As a result, the toner container 30 rotates from the above-mentioned second position in the second rotation direction around the axis arranged coaxially with the paddle shaft 30K1 (FIG. 8). That is, the toner container 30 automatically changes its posture from the second posture to the first posture by the urging force of the pair of shutter springs 208, and reaches the first position again. When the toner container 30 rotates in the second rotation direction, the lock contact piece 202S is urged forward by the urging force of an urging member (not shown). Therefore, when the lock pressing portion 312 separates from the lock contact piece 202S as the toner container 30 rotates, the lock contact piece 202S returns to the position shown in FIG. 4A.

By changing the posture of the toner container 30 as described above, the toner discharge port 30P moves in the second rotation direction, and the toner discharge port 30P is sealed again by the container shutter 32 at the first position. Further, the main body shutter 22 slides and moves due to the urging force of the pair of shutter springs 208, so that the main body shutter 22 changes its state from the state shown in FIG. 4B to the state shown in FIG. 4A. As a result, the toner supply port 204 is resealed by the main body shutter 22.

The toner container 30 in the first posture is detached from the first position of the container mounting portion 20H along the second direction opposite to the first direction, so that the toner container 30 is removed from the developing device 20. Is done. As described above, in the present embodiment, the toner container 30 is unlocked and the toner container 30 is changed to the first posture which is easy to remove just by pressing the lock button 202 by the user. At this time, the toner discharge port 30P and the toner supply port 204 are sealed by the container shutter 32 and the main body shutter 22, respectively. Therefore, when the toner container 30 is removed by the user, the periphery of the developing device 20 and the toner container 30 is prevented from being contaminated with toner. Further, the toner discharge port 30P and the toner supply port 204 can be sealed by a simple operation of the user pressing the lock button 202, and the operability in the closing operation of the container shutter 32 and the main body shutter 22 is improved. Toner.

13A and 13B are cross-sectional views showing how the toner container 30Z compared with the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment is rotated on the developing device 20. FIG. 13C is a cross-sectional view showing a state after the toner container 30Z is rotated on the developing apparatus 20. The toner container 30Z differs in the shape of the container seal 34 as compared with the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment. Similar to the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment, the toner container 30Z is mounted on the developing device 20 along the first direction and then rotated in the first rotation direction. As a result, the toner discharge port 30P of the toner container 30Z communicates with the toner supply port 204 of the developing device 20 (FIG. 13C). The toner container 30Z includes a discharge protrusion 308 and a container seal 34Z. As shown in FIG. 13A, the container seal 34Z is adhesively fixed to the discharge protrusion 308. The tip portion 34AZ on the downstream side of the DM in the first rotation direction of the container seal 34Z forms a free end protruding from the discharge protrusion portion 308. As described above, when the tip portion 34AZ of the container seal 34Z forms a free end, the tip portion AZ and the tip portion 22A of the main body shutter 22 are likely to overlap, and a gap is unlikely to occur between the two. Therefore, it is suppressed to some extent that the toner is scattered around during the rotation of the toner container 30Z.

However, when the toner container 30Z is mounted by the user in the first direction, as shown in FIG. 13A, the tip portion 34AZ of the container seal 34Z may slip under the tip portion 22A of the main body shutter 22. In this case, when the toner container 30Z is rotated in the first rotation direction DM from the state shown in FIG. 13A to the state shown in FIG. 13B, the tip portion 34AZ of the container seal 34 scratches the toner around the toner supply port 204. However, the area around the toner supply port 204 was sometimes contaminated with toner. Further, as shown in FIGS. 13A to 13C, when the tip portion 34AZ of the container seal 34 enters the gap between the main body shutter 22 and the developing housing 200, the rotational load of the container seal 34Z increases, and the toner container by the user increases. The operability of 30Z deteriorates.

In order to solve the above problems, the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment is characterized by the shape of the container seal 34. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment. 9 to 11 are enlarged perspective views of the toner container 30, respectively. Further, FIGS. 12A and 12B are cross-sectional views showing how the toner container 30 is rotated on the developing device 20. FIG. 12C is a cross-sectional view showing a state after the toner container 30 is rotated on the developing device 20.

The container seal 34 has a container seal tip portion 34A and a container seal cut portion 34S. As described above, the container seal 34 is adhesively fixed to the discharge protrusion 308 so as to open the toner discharge port 30P. Then, the container seal tip portion 34A projects toward the downstream side in the first rotation direction from the end portion (projection end portion 308S, FIG. 8) on the downstream side of the first rotation direction DM among the discharge protrusions 308 to form a free end. is doing. The container seal cut portion 34S is a notch portion formed in the container seal 34 in the vicinity of the protrusion end portion 308S. In the present embodiment, the container seal cut portion 34S has perforations formed at predetermined intervals along the axial direction of the toner container 30 (second direction, the direction in which the axis of the paddle shaft 30K1 extends). It is a notch. The container seal cut portion 34S is formed so as to penetrate the container seal 34 in the thickness direction. Further, in the present embodiment, the container seal cut portion 34S is located slightly downstream of the protrusion end portion 308S in the first rotation direction.

According to such a configuration, the stiffness of the container seal tip portion 34A is slightly reduced by the container seal cut portion 34S. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, when the toner container 30 is mounted on the developing device 20, when the container seal tip 34A touches the tip 22A of the main body shutter 22, the container seal tip 34A is pressed. The toner container 30 is slightly bent (deformed) inward in the radial direction with the container seal cut portion 34S as a fulcrum. Therefore, the container seal tip 34A is easily arranged inside the tip 22A of the main body shutter 22 (FIG. 12A). Further, since the container seal tip 34A has a free end shape protruding from the discharge protrusion 308 (protrusion end 308S), the container seal tip 34A and the tip 22A of the main body shutter 22 are along the first rotation direction. Can be fully overlapped. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 12A to 12C, when the toner container 30 is rotated in the first rotation direction DM, the toner in the toner supply port 204 is scraped out by the container seal tip portion 34A of the container seal 34. Is suppressed. Further, as the toner container 30 rotates, the toner dropped from the toner discharge port 30P may leak to the upper surface side of the main body shutter 22 from the gap between the tip portion 34A of the container seal and the tip portion 22A of the main body shutter 22. It is deterred. Further, since the container seal tip 34A does not enter or bite into the gap between the tip 22A of the main body shutter 22 and the developing housing 200, an increase in the rotational load of the toner container 30 is suppressed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the container seal cut portion 34S is composed of a plurality of perforations (broken line cut portions) formed at intervals along the second direction. Therefore, the stiffness of the container seal tip portion 34A of the container seal 34 can be easily weakened. At this time, the plurality of perforations are formed so as to penetrate the container seal 34 in the thickness direction. Therefore, the container seal 34 can be easily manufactured as compared with the case where a plurality of perforations are formed in a part of the container seal 34 in the thickness direction.

The printer 100 provided with the toner container 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. According to such a configuration, there is provided an image forming apparatus capable of suppressing leakage of toner at the time of attachment / detachment without deteriorating the operability at the time of attachment / detachment of the toner container 30. The present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the following modified embodiments can be adopted.

(1) In the above embodiment, the monochrome printer is described as the printer 100, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In particular, when the printer 100 is a tandem color printer, after the cover 102B (FIG. 1B) of the printer 100 is opened, the toner containers 30 are adjacent to each other from above corresponding to the toners of a plurality of colors. It may be mounted on the housing 101.

(2) Further, in the above embodiment, the toner container 30 is mounted on the printer 100 so as to be along the longitudinal direction of the developing device 20, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The toner container 30 may be mounted along a direction intersecting the longitudinal direction of the developing device 20.

(3) Further, in the above embodiment, the embodiment in which the container screw 33 and the container paddle 30K are provided inside the toner container 30 has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Inside the toner container 30, a moving wall that moves while transporting toner toward the toner discharge port 30P may be arranged.

(4) Further, in the above embodiment, the lock button 202 has been described as the unlocking portion for unlocking the toner container 30 in the second posture, but the present invention is not limited thereto. A lever (not shown) may be rotatably provided in the developing housing 200, and the lever may be rotated to move the lock contact piece 202S and unlock the toner container 30.

(5) Further, in the above embodiment, the embodiment in which the container seal cut portion 34S is composed of a plurality of perforations arranged at intervals has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The cut portion according to the present invention may be continuously extended along the second direction and may be formed by cutting a part of the container seal 34 in the thickness direction. According to such a configuration, a part of the container seal 34 in the thickness direction is continuously cut along the second direction, so that the container seal 34 can be easily manufactured and the container seal 34 can be manufactured. The stiffness of the container seal tip portion 34A can be easily weakened. That is, the container seal cut portion 34S may be formed at least on the outer surface portion (the surface on the side facing the developing device 20) of the container seal 34.

(6) Further, if the container seal tip portion 34A is excessively bent by the container seal cut portion 34S, the sealing property between the container seal 34 and the main body shutter 22 may deteriorate. Therefore, another elastic member may be arranged between the slope of the discharge protrusion 308 shown in FIG. 9 and the back surface of the container seal tip 34A. The elastic member suppresses excessive bending of the container seal tip portion 34A.

100 Printer 101 Housing 20 Developing device 200 Developing housing (housing)
202 Lock button 202S Lock contact piece 204 Toner supply port (developer supply port)
205 Main body seal 206 Stopper pressing part 207 Container shutter fixing part (fixing part)
208 Shutter spring 20H Container mounting part 21A Developing roller 22 Main body shutter (container side shutter)
30 Toner container (developer container)
308 Discharge protrusion 30P Toner discharge port (developer discharge port)
31 Container body (container body)
32 Container shutter (container side shutter)
32A Shutter body 32B Shutter stopper 34 Container seal 34A Container seal tip (seal tip)
34S Container seal cut part (cut part)

Claims (4)

A developer storage container that stores the developer inside,
A developing device provided with a mounting portion to which the developer accommodating container is attached, and the developer is replenished from the developer accommodating container.
Have,
The developer storage container is
With the container body
A discharge protrusion projecting from the lower surface of the container body in an arc shape,
A developer discharge port opened on the peripheral surface of the discharge protrusion ,
A container-side sealing member fixed to the container body so as to cover the periphery of the developer discharge port,
A container-side shutter that is supported by the container body so as to be slidable with respect to the developer discharge port and seals or opens the developer discharge port.
Equipped with
The developing device
With the housing
A developer supply port that is opened in the housing so as to face the developer storage container and communicates with the inside of the housing.
A shutter on the main body side that is slidably supported by the housing and seals or opens the developer supply port.
A fixed portion for fixing the container-side shutter and
Equipped with
When the developer storage container is mounted on the mounting portion in the first posture along the first direction, the container-side shutter is fixed to the fixing portion, and further, the container main body of the developer storage container is further fixed. Was rotated in the first rotation direction around the axis along the second direction intersecting the first direction, and the developer discharge port was opened by being separated from the fixed container-side shutter. The posture of the developer storage container is changed to the second posture in which the developer discharge port communicates with the developer supply port.
The container-side sealing member is
A seal tip having a free end shape formed so as to extend toward the downstream side in the first rotation direction on the downstream side in the first rotation direction from the developer discharge port.
A cut portion formed at the base end portion of the seal tip portion, which is arranged so as to extend along the second direction, and a cut portion.
Have,
When the developer container is mounted on the mounting portion in the first posture along the first direction, the seal tip portion abuts on the main body side shutter, so that the seal tip portion becomes the notch portion. As a fulcrum, the developer container is deformed radially inward in the rotation of the developer container.
The discharge protrusion has a slope facing the seal tip, and has a slope facing the seal tip.
The developer container is an image forming apparatus further comprising an elastic member arranged between the slope and the back surface of the seal tip . The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cut portion is composed of a plurality of broken line-shaped cut portions formed at intervals along the second direction. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of broken line notches are formed so as to penetrate the container-side sealing member in the thickness direction. The image formation according to claim 1, wherein the cut portion extends continuously along the second direction and is formed by cutting a part of the container-side seal member in the thickness direction. Device.

Images