JP7749331B2 - Toner container and image forming system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a toner container and an image forming system that forms an image on a recording material.

Generally, electrophotographic image forming devices form images by transferring a toner image formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum onto a transfer material, which serves as a transfer medium. Known methods for replenishing developer include the process cartridge method and the toner replenishing method. The process cartridge method integrates the photosensitive drum and developer container into a process cartridge, and when the developer runs out, the process cartridge is replaced with a new one.

On the other hand, the toner replenishment method involves replenishing the developer container with new toner when the toner runs out. Conventionally, a single-component developing device using the toner replenishment method has been proposed, in which a toner supply box capable of replenishing toner is connected to a toner transport path through which the toner is transported (see Patent Document 1). The toner stored in the toner supply box is transported to the toner transport path by a transport screw.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 08-30084

In recent years, users have been demanding a variety of ways to use image forming devices, such as the process cartridge method and toner replenishment method mentioned above. Users are also demanding a variety of types of toner containers that are attached to image forming devices to replenish toner.

Therefore, the present invention aims to provide one embodiment of a toner container and an image forming system.

The present invention provides a toner container detachable from an image forming apparatus having an engagement portion, the toner container comprising: a toner storage portion for storing toner; a container base portion provided with a discharge port that communicates with the interior of the toner storage portion and through which toner discharged to the exterior of the toner storage portion passes; and a container shutter configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in a first direction relative to the container base portion between a shielding position that shields the discharge port and an opening position that opens the discharge port , the container shutter being provided outside the container base portion in a radial direction of an imaginary circle centered on the rotation axis , the container shutter having a cylindrical shape and a circumferential surface extending in the first direction that closes the discharge port to the exterior of the toner container when the container shutter is positioned at the opening position. and a container shutter having a peripheral surface with a shutter opening that exposes the toner container to the outside, wherein the toner storage section and the container base section are aligned in the first direction, the discharge outlet is provided on the outer surface of the container base section extending in the first direction, the container base section has an engaging section that is configured to engage with the engaged section of the image forming device when the toner container is attached to the image forming device, thereby restricting rotation of the container base section about the rotation axis relative to the image forming device, and at least a portion of the engaging section of the container base section is exposed from the shutter opening of the container shutter when the container shutter is in the shielding position.

The present invention also provides an image forming system having an apparatus main body and a toner container attachable to the apparatus main body, wherein the toner container comprises: a first toner storage section that stores toner; a container base section that has an outlet for discharging the toner stored in the first toner storage section to the outside of the toner container; and a first shutter that is configured to rotate about a rotation axis relative to the container base section between a first open position that opens the outlet and a first closed position that closes the outlet, the first shutter having a first engaging section and a first engaged section; and the apparatus main body is configured so that the toner container is detachably attached to the apparatus main body, and comprises: a main body base section that has an inlet for receiving toner from the toner container; a second toner storage section that stores the toner received from the inlet; The toner container has a second shutter configured to rotate around the rotation axis relative to the main body base between a second open position that opens the receiving port and a second blocking position that blocks the receiving port, and has a second engaged portion; and an operating lever configured to be rotatable around the rotation axis relative to the main body base and to be rotatable and have a second engaging portion, wherein when the toner container is attached to the main body base, the second engaging portion of the operating lever engages with the first engaged portion of the first shutter so that the first shutter rotates together with the operating lever, and the first engaging portion of the first shutter engages with the second engaged portion of the second shutter so that the second shutter rotates together with the first shutter .

The present invention provides one embodiment of a toner container and an image forming system.

1A is a cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus with the reading device in an open state. FIG. 2A is a perspective view showing a toner pack, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing a toner pack. FIG. FIG. FIG. FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a rotary container unit of a toner pack, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the rotary container unit. 4A is an exploded perspective view showing a shutter member and a sealing member, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the shutter member and the sealing member. 1A is a cross-sectional view showing the toner pack in a closed state, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view showing the toner pack in an open state. 1A is a perspective view showing the toner pack in a closed state, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the toner pack in an open state. 1A is a perspective view showing the toner receiving portion in a closed state, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the toner receiving portion in an open state. 1A is a perspective view showing the toner receiving portion in a closed state, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the toner receiving portion in an open state. FIG. FIG. FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view showing a cylindrical portion and a base seal, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the cylindrical portion and the base seal. FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view showing a shutter member and a shutter sheet, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing the shutter member and the shutter sheet. FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view showing the toner receiving portion in a closed state, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view showing the toner receiving portion in an open state. 1A is a perspective view showing the toner receiving section and the toner pack in a closed state, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the toner receiving section and the toner pack in an open state. 21(a) is a cross-sectional view showing the state before the developing container and the toner pack are attached, (b) is a cross-sectional view showing the state after the toner pack is attached to the developing container, and (c) is a cross-sectional view showing the state after the supply base has rotated a predetermined angle from the state shown in FIG. 21(b). 22A is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the toner supply port and the toner discharge port are open, and FIG. 22B is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the supply base has been rotated a predetermined angle from the state shown in FIG. 22A. 22(a) is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the replenishing base has rotated a predetermined angle from the state shown in FIG. 22(b), and FIG. 22(b) is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the toner supply port and the toner discharge port are blocked. 10A is an exploded perspective view showing a shutter member and a toner pack according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing the shutter member and the toner pack according to the second embodiment. FIG. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an image forming apparatus. 10A is an exploded perspective view showing a shutter member and a toner pack according to a third embodiment, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing the shutter member and the toner pack according to the third embodiment. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the peripheral configuration of the shutter member. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an image forming apparatus. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the peripheral configuration of the shutter member. 10A is a perspective view showing a toner pack in a closed state according to a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 10B is a perspective view showing a toner pack in an open state. FIG. FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the toner pack in a closed state, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the toner pack in an open state. 10A is an exploded view of a toner pack according to a fifth embodiment, and FIG. 10B is an exploded view of the toner pack according to the fifth embodiment, seen from a different viewpoint than that of FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the toner pack in a shielded state, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the toner pack in a shielded state as viewed from a different viewpoint than that in FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a toner pack in an open state, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the toner pack in an open state as viewed from a different viewpoint than that shown in FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a shutter member, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the shutter member as viewed from a different viewpoint than that shown in FIG. 1A. 1A is an exploded view of the toner receiving section, and FIG. 1B is an exploded view of the toner receiving section seen from a different viewpoint than that of FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the toner receiving portion in a shielded state, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the toner receiving portion in a shielded state, as viewed from a different viewpoint than that in FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the toner receiving portion in an open state, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the toner receiving portion in an open state, as viewed from a different viewpoint than that in FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a state immediately before the toner pack is attached to the toner receiving section, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a state after the toner pack has been attached to the toner receiving section. 1A is a perspective view showing the operating lever and the shutter member when the toner pack and the toner receiving portion are in a shielded state, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the shutter member and the container inlet when the toner pack and the toner receiving portion are in a shielded state, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the operating lever and the shutter member when the toner pack and the toner receiving portion are in an open state, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the shutter member and the container inlet when the toner pack and the toner receiving portion are in an open state, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing a state in which a part of FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration in which a toner pack does not come off from a toner receiving portion when toner is replenished. FIG. 1A is a front view showing the toner pack when the pack-side shutter is in the closed position, and FIG. 1B is a front view showing the toner pack when the pack-side shutter is in the open position. FIG. 1A is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of the nozzle when the pack-side shutter is in the blocking position, and FIG. 1B is a view of the toner pack as viewed in the direction of the arrow U in FIG. 1A is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of the nozzle when the pack-side shutter is in the open position, and FIG. 1B is a view of the toner pack as viewed in the direction of the arrow U in FIG. FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view showing the mounting portion, and FIG. 4B is an exploded perspective view of the mounting portion seen from a different direction from that shown in FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the appearance of the mounting portion when the lever is in a closed position, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the appearance of the mounting portion when the lever is in an open position. 1A is a view of the mounting portion seen from the mounting direction when the lever is in the closed position, and FIG. 1B is a view of the mounting portion seen from the mounting direction when the lever is in the open position. 1A is a perspective view showing the device-side shutter, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the device-side shutter when viewed from a different direction from that shown in FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the cover and the shutter sheet, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the cover and the shutter sheet when viewed from a different direction from that in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the toner pack being mounted in the mounting portion, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the toner pack being mounted in the mounting portion when viewed from a different direction than FIG. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the toner pack is attached to the attachment portion. 60A is a cross-sectional view taken along line 61A-61A in FIG. 60, and FIG. 60B is a cross-sectional view taken along line 61B-61B in FIG. 10A to 10C are diagrams showing the shutter sheet periphery in time series when the device-side shutter is rotated from the open position to the closed position.

Below, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment
1A is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to a first embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 is a monochrome printer that forms an image on a recording material based on image information input from an external device. The recording material includes various sheet materials of different materials, such as paper such as plain paper and cardboard, plastic film such as sheets for overhead projectors, sheets of special shapes such as envelopes and index paper, and cloth.

[Overall configuration]
1A and 1B, the image forming apparatus 1 has a printer main body 100 as the device main body, a reading device 200 supported by the printer main body 100 so as to be openable and closable, and an operation unit 300 attached to the exterior surface of the printer main body 100. The printer main body 100 has an image forming unit 10 that forms a toner image on a recording material, a feeding unit 60 that feeds the recording material to the image forming unit 10, a fixing unit 70 that fixes the toner image formed by the image forming unit 10 to the recording material, and a pair of discharge rollers 80.

The image forming unit 10 has a scanner unit 11, an electrophotographic process cartridge 20, and a transfer roller 12 that transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 21 of the process cartridge 20 to a recording material. The process cartridge 20 has the photosensitive drum 21, a charging roller 22 arranged around the photosensitive drum 21, a pre-exposure device 23, and a developing device 30 including a developing roller 31.

The photosensitive drum 21 is a cylindrically shaped photosensitive element. In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 21 has a photosensitive layer formed of a negatively charged organic photosensitive element on a drum-shaped substrate made of aluminum. Furthermore, the photosensitive drum 21, which serves as an image carrier, is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction (clockwise in the figure) at a predetermined process speed by a motor.

The charging roller 22 contacts the photosensitive drum 21 with a predetermined pressure, forming a charging section. A desired charging voltage is applied to the charging roller 22 by a high-voltage charging power supply, uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 to a predetermined potential. In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 21 is negatively charged by the charging roller 22. The pre-exposure device 23 neutralizes the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 21 before it enters the charging section, in order to generate a stable discharge in the charging section.

The scanner unit 11, which serves as an exposure means, scans and exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 by irradiating the photosensitive drum 21 with laser light corresponding to image information input from an external device or the reading device 200 using a polygon mirror. This exposure forms an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21. Note that the scanner unit 11 is not limited to a laser scanner device, and may, for example, be an LED exposure device having an LED array in which multiple LEDs are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 21.

The developing device 30 comprises a developing roller 31 as a developer carrier that carries developer, a developing container 32 that forms the frame of the developing device 30, and a supply roller 33 that can supply developer to the developing roller 31. The developing roller 31 and supply roller 33 are rotatably supported by the developing container 32. The developing roller 31 is disposed at the opening of the developing container 32 so as to face the photosensitive drum 21. The supply roller 33 rotatably abuts the developing roller 31, and the toner contained in the developing container 32 as developer is applied to the surface of the developing roller 31 by the supply roller 33. Note that the supply roller 33 is not necessarily required as long as the configuration can supply a sufficient amount of toner to the developing roller 31.

The developing device 30 of this embodiment uses a contact development method. That is, the toner layer carried by the developing roller 31 comes into contact with the photosensitive drum 21 in the development section (development area) where the photosensitive drum 21 and developing roller 31 face each other. A development voltage is applied to the developing roller 31 by a high-voltage development power supply. Under the development voltage, the toner carried by the developing roller 31 is transferred from the developing roller 31 to the drum surface in accordance with the potential distribution on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21, thereby developing the electrostatic latent image into a toner image. Note that this embodiment employs a reversal development method. That is, the toner image is formed when the toner adheres to the surface area of the photosensitive drum 21, which has been charged in the charging process and then exposed in the exposure process, where the charge amount has attenuated.

In this embodiment, a toner with a particle size of 6 μm and a normal negative charge polarity is used. As an example, the toner used in this embodiment is a polymerized toner produced by a polymerization method. The toner used in this embodiment does not contain a magnetic component, and is a so-called non-magnetic single-component developer in which the toner is carried on the developing roller 31 primarily by intermolecular forces and electrostatic forces (image forces). However, a single-component developer containing a magnetic component may also be used. In addition to toner particles, a single-component developer may also contain additives (e.g., wax or silica particles) to adjust the fluidity and charging performance of the toner. A two-component developer composed of non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier may also be used. When a magnetic developer is used, a cylindrical developing sleeve with a magnet disposed inside is used as the developer carrier.

The developing container 32 is provided with a storage section 36 serving as a second toner storage section for storing toner, and an agitating member 34 serving as agitation means disposed inside the storage section 36. The agitating member 34 is driven to rotate by a motor (not shown), thereby agitating the toner in the developing container 32 and sending the toner toward the developing roller 31 and the supply roller 33. The agitating member 34 also circulates toner that is not used in development and has been scraped off from the developing roller 31 within the developing container, thereby homogenizing the toner within the developing container. Note that the agitating member 34 is not limited to a rotating type. For example, an oscillating type agitating member may also be used.

In addition, a development blade 35 is located at the opening of the developer container 32 in which the development roller 31 is placed, and regulates the amount of toner carried by the development roller 31. As the development roller 31 rotates, the toner supplied to the surface of the development roller 31 passes through the area facing the development blade 35, where it is uniformly thinned into a thin layer and negatively charged by friction.

As shown in Figures 1(a) and 1(b), the feeding unit 60 has a front door 61 supported on the printer main body 100 so as to be able to open and close, a tray unit 62, a middle plate 63, a tray spring 64, and a pickup roller 65. The tray unit 62 forms the bottom of the recording material storage space that appears when the front door 61 is opened, and the middle plate 63 is supported on the tray unit 62 so that it can be raised and lowered. The tray spring 64 urges the middle plate 63 upward, pressing the recording material P loaded on the middle plate 63 against the pickup roller 65. Note that when the front door 61 is closed relative to the printer main body 100, it closes off the recording material storage space, and when it is open relative to the printer main body 100, it supports the recording material P together with the tray unit 62 and middle plate 63.

The fixing unit 70 is a thermal fixing unit that fixes images by heating and melting the toner on the recording material. The fixing unit 70 includes a fixing film 71, a fixing heater such as a ceramic heater that heats the fixing film 71, a thermistor that measures the temperature of the fixing heater, and a pressure roller 72 that presses against the fixing film 71.

Next, the image formation operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. When an image formation command is input to the image forming apparatus 1, the image forming process is initiated by the image forming unit 10 based on image information input from an external computer or reading device 200 connected to the image forming apparatus 1. The scanner unit 11 irradiates the photosensitive drum 21 with laser light based on the input image information. At this time, the photosensitive drum 21 is pre-charged by the charging roller 22, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 21 by irradiating it with laser light. This electrostatic latent image is then developed by the developing roller 31, forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum 21.

In parallel with the image formation process described above, the pickup roller 65 of the feeding unit 60 feeds out the recording material P supported by the front door 61, tray unit 62, and middle plate 63. The recording material P is fed by the pickup roller 65 to the registration roller pair 15, and any skew is corrected when it hits the nip of the registration roller pair 15. The registration roller pair 15 is then driven in accordance with the transfer timing of the toner image, transporting the recording material P toward the transfer nip formed by the transfer roller 12 and photosensitive drum 21.

A transfer voltage is applied to the transfer roller 12, which serves as a transfer means, from a transfer high-voltage power supply, and the toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred to the recording material P being transported by the registration roller pair 15. The recording material P with the transferred toner image is transported to the fixing unit 70, where the toner image is heated and pressurized as it passes through the nip between the fixing film 71 and pressure roller 72 of the fixing unit 70. This melts the toner particles and then solidifies them, fixing the toner image to the recording material P. After passing through the fixing unit 70, the recording material P is discharged outside the image forming apparatus 1 (outside the machine) by the discharge roller pair 80, which serves as a discharge means, and is stacked on the discharge tray 81, which serves as a stacking unit formed at the top of the printer main body 100.

The discharge tray 81 is inclined upward toward the downstream side in the discharge direction of the recording material, and the recording material discharged onto the discharge tray 81 slides down the discharge tray 81, with its trailing edge being aligned by the regulating surface 84.

The reading device 200 has a reading unit 201 that incorporates a reading section (not shown) inside, and a pressure plate 202 that is supported by the reading unit 201 so that it can be opened and closed. On the top surface of the reading unit 201, there is a platen glass 203 that transmits light emitted from the reading section and on which a document is placed.

When a user wants to have the image of a document read by the reading device 200, the user places the document on the platen glass 203 with the pressure plate 202 open. Then, by closing the pressure plate 202, the document on the platen glass 203 is prevented from shifting position, and a reading command is output to the image forming device 1 by operating the operation unit 300, for example. When the reading operation begins, the reading section within the reading unit 201 moves back and forth in the sub-scanning direction, i.e., left and right with the operation unit 300 of the image forming device 1 facing forward. The reading section emits light toward the document from the light-emitting section, receives light reflected by the document with the light-receiving section, and reads the image of the document by photoelectrically converting it. Note that, below, the front-to-back, left-to-right, and up-to-down directions are defined based on the state in which the operation unit 300 is facing forward.

A top cover 82 serving as a loading tray is provided on the top of the printer main body 100, and a discharge tray 81 serving as a loading surface is formed on the upper surface of the top cover 82. As shown in Figures 1(b) and 2, an opening/closing member 83 is supported on the top cover 82 so that it can be opened and closed around a pivot shaft 83a extending in the front-to-rear direction. An opening 82a that opens upward is formed in the discharge tray 81 of the top cover 82.

The opening/closing member 83 is configured to be movable between a closed position where it covers the supply port 32a to prevent the toner pack 40 from being attached to the developing container 32, and an open position where it exposes the supply port 32a so that the toner pack 40 can be attached to the developing container 32. In the closed position, the opening/closing member 83 functions as part of the discharge tray 81. The opening/closing member 83 and opening 82a are formed on the left side of the discharge tray 81. The opening/closing member 83 can be opened to the left by placing a finger in a groove 82b provided in the top cover 82. The opening/closing member 83 is formed in a roughly L-shape to match the shape of the top cover 82.

The opening 82a of the discharge tray 81 is open so as to expose the toner supply port 32a formed at the top of the developing container 32, and the user can access the supply port 32a by opening the opening/closing member 83. Note that this embodiment employs a system (direct supply system) in which the user supplies toner from a toner pack 40 (see Figures 1(a) and 1(b)) filled with replenishment toner to the developing device 30 while the developing device 30 remains attached to the image forming device 1. At least a portion of the toner pack 40 is exposed to the outside when attached to the image forming device 1.

As a result, when the toner remaining in the process cartridge 20 becomes low, there is no need to remove the process cartridge 20 from the printer main body 100 and replace it with a new process cartridge, thereby improving usability. Furthermore, toner can be replenished to the developer container 32 more cheaply than if the entire process cartridge 20 were replaced. Furthermore, the direct replenishment method reduces costs compared to replacing only the developing device 30 of the process cartridge 20, as there is no need to replace various rollers, gears, etc. The image forming apparatus 1 and toner pack 40 constitute the image forming system 1000.

[Recovery of Transfer Residual Toner]
This embodiment employs a cleanerless configuration in which residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 without being transferred to the recording material P is collected in the developing device 30 and reused. The residual toner is removed through the following process. The residual toner includes a mixture of positively charged toner and negatively charged toner that does not have a sufficient charge. The pre-exposure device 23 neutralizes the photosensitive drum 21 after transfer, and the charging roller 22 uniformly discharges the toner, thereby re-charging the residual toner to a negative polarity. The residual toner, re-charged to a negative polarity in the charging section, reaches the developing section as the photosensitive drum 21 rotates. The surface area of the photosensitive drum 21 that has passed through the charging section is then exposed by the scanner unit 11, with the residual toner still adhering to the surface, and an electrostatic latent image is written onto the surface.

Here, the behavior of transfer residual toner that reaches the development unit will be explained separately for the exposed and non-exposed areas of the photosensitive drum 21. Transfer residual toner adhering to the non-exposed area of the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred to the development roller 31 in the development unit due to the potential difference between the potential of the non-exposed area of the photosensitive drum 21 (dark area potential) and the development voltage, and is then collected in the development container 32. This is because the normal charging polarity of the toner is negative, and the development voltage applied to the development roller 31 is positive relative to the potential of the non-exposed area. The toner collected in the development container 32 is agitated and dispersed with the toner in the development container by the agitator 34, and is then carried by the development roller 31 for reuse in the development process.

On the other hand, residual toner adhering to the exposed area of the photosensitive drum 21 does not transfer from the photosensitive drum 21 to the developing roller 31 at the development section, but remains on the drum surface. This is because the normal charge polarity of the toner is negative, and the development voltage applied to the developing roller 31 is more negative than the potential of the exposed area (bright area potential). The residual toner remaining on the drum surface is carried by the photosensitive drum 21 along with the other toner that transfers from the developing roller 31 to the exposed area, and moves to the transfer section where it is transferred to the recording material S.

As described above, this embodiment employs a cleanerless configuration in which residual transfer toner is collected in the developing device 30 and reused, but a conventionally known configuration may also be used in which residual transfer toner is collected using a cleaning blade that contacts the photosensitive drum 21. In this case, the residual transfer toner collected by the cleaning blade is collected in a collection container installed separately from the developing device 30. However, a cleanerless configuration eliminates the need for installation space for a collection container to collect residual transfer toner, etc., allowing for further miniaturization of the image forming apparatus 1, and also reduces printing costs by reusing residual transfer toner.

[Toner pack configuration]
Next, the configuration of the toner pack 40, which is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus 1 and serves as a toner container for storing toner, will be described. As shown in Figures 3(a) to 5, the toner pack 40 includes a shutter member 41, a seal member 504, a supply base 501, an outer ring member 510, an inner ring member 511, and a pouch 503, and these components are assembled together. The pouch 503, which serves as a toner storage section and a first toner storage section, is a flexible container for storing toner. The rotation axis z shown by the dashed line in Figures 3(a) to 5 is the rotation center line of the toner pack 40.

The replenishing base 501, which serves as the container base, has a peripheral portion 501b as its outer surface and side extending along the axial direction D1, which serves as a first direction parallel to the rotation axis z, and a toner discharge port 501r formed in the peripheral portion 501b. The replenishing base 501 also has a recess 501f recessed radially inward relative to the peripheral portion 501b, and protrusions 501y, 501y protruding radially outward from the peripheral portion 501b. The toner discharge port 501r, which serves as the discharge port and first opening, is a through-hole that leads to the pouch 503. The protrusions 501y, 501y are positioned 180 degrees out of phase with each other.

As shown in Figures 4 to 7, the outer ring member 510 is a resin member with an outer peripheral surface formed into a generally hexagonal shape, and is formed with engagement portions 510y, 510y that can engage with the protrusions 501y, 501y of the supply base 501. The outer ring member 510 is positioned to cover the inner ring member 511, and forms the outermost shape of the toner pack 40 so as to function as a handle when gripping the toner pack 40. In other words, because the outer ring member 510 is operated at a position radially farther from the rotation axis z, the force required by the user to operate the outer ring member 510 is reduced, improving usability.

The inner ring member 511, which serves as a support member, is a resin member with an approximately hexagonal outer periphery, similar to the outer ring member 510, and is attached to the opening 503a of the pouch 503 (see FIG. 10(a)). This allows the inner ring member 511 to support the opening 503a of the pouch 503 so that it remains open. As described below, the inner ring member 511 is fixed to the supply base 501 so that the opening 503a and the toner discharge port 501r are in communication. The inner ring member 511 and the pouch 503 can be attached by any method, including, for example, using various adhesives such as hot melt, or by thermally welding the pouch 503 to the inner ring member 511. It is preferable that the outer ring member 510 have a polygonal or other shape that is less slippery when gripped and rotated by a user.

The inner ring member 511 is also formed with recesses 511y, 511y that can engage with the protrusions 501y, 501y. The recesses 511y, 511y have a groove shape that allows the protrusions 501y, 501y to pass through, and the engagement portions 510y, 510y have a rib shape that surrounds the protrusions 501y, 501y.

As shown in Figure 6, the inner ring member 511 is assembled to the supply base 501 so that the convex portion 501y engages with the concave portion 511y. Then, as shown in Figure 7, the outer ring member 510 is assembled so that the convex portion 501y engages with the engaging portion 510y. As a result, the outer ring member 510 and the inner ring member 511 are supported by the supply base 501 so that relative rotation with respect to the supply base 501 is restricted.

Furthermore, the convex portion 501y is connected to the concave portion 511y and the engaging portion 510y in the axial direction D1 of the rotation axis z and in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction D1. For example, the convex portion 501y may be press-fitted into the concave portion 511y and the engaging portion 510y, or may be connected using welding or an adhesive. As a result, the supply base 501, outer ring member 510, inner ring member 511, and pouch 503 are integrally connected as shown in Figures 8(a) and (b). The outer ring member 510 is a cylindrical member having an outer peripheral surface 510d located farther from the rotation axis z than the supply base 501 in the radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction D1. The inner ring member 511 is fixed to the supply base 501 inside the outer ring member 510.

Hereinafter, the integrally joined replenishing base 501, outer ring member 510, inner ring member 511, and pouch 503 will be referred to as the rotating container unit 401, and the integrally joined shutter member 41 and seal member 504, as described below, will be referred to as the container shutter unit 402. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the toner pack 40 includes the container shutter unit 402 and the rotating container unit 401 that is rotatable relative to the container shutter unit 402. As shown in FIG. 8(a), the rotating container unit 401 is rotatable around the rotation axis z relative to the container shutter unit 402 in the z1 direction and the z2 direction opposite to the z1 direction.

As shown in Figures 9(a) and (b), the shutter member 41 serving as a container shutter is made of a substantially cylindrical resin member, and has a notch 41f and grooves 41g and 41h formed therein. The notch 41f and groove 41g are formed on the outer periphery of the shutter member 41, and the groove 41h is formed on the bottom surface of the shutter member 41. The notch 41f is substantially rectangular, and the groove 41g is formed to extend circumferentially over a partial range (approximately 90°) in the circumferential direction of the shutter member 41. The groove 41h is formed on the bottom surface of the shutter member 41 so as to extend circumferentially over a partial range (approximately 90°) in the circumferential direction of the shutter member 41.

The sealing member 504 is made of an elastically deformable material such as urethane foam or nonwoven fabric, and is fixed to the inner surface of the shutter member 41 with double-sided tape or the like. More specifically, the sealing member 504 is positioned at a different position from the notch 41f of the shutter member 41. In other words, the sealing member 504 and the shutter member 41 are integrally joined to each other to form the container shutter unit 402. This allows the container shutter unit 402 to prevent toner leakage at the interface between the sealing member 504 and the shutter member 41.

As shown in Figures 8(a) to 10(b), when assembling the rotating container unit 401 to the container shutter unit 402, the rib 501x protruding from the outer periphery 501b of the supply base 501 is aligned with the recess 41x formed in the shutter member 41. The assembled state, with the rib 501x penetrating the recess 41x, is shown in Figure 10(a). At this time, the cylindrical portion 41c of the shutter member 41 is inserted into the groove-shaped inner diameter portion 501e formed at the end of the supply base 501. The inner diameter portion 501e and cylindrical portion 41c are, respectively, a cylindrical groove and a protrusion concentric with the rotation axis z. Therefore, by inserting the cylindrical portion 41c (annular rib) into the inner diameter portion 501e (annular groove), the supply base 501 is guided to rotate around the rotation axis z relative to the shutter member 41.

Furthermore, the supply base 501 has a hole 501k located radially inward of the inner diameter portion 501e (see FIG. 6). The shutter member 41 has a mounting portion 41d (see FIG. 9(a)) that is inserted into the hole 501k. The mounting portion 41d has an engaged portion 41k that opens toward the tip of the toner pack 40, and the engaged portion 41k defines a hole with two chamfered edges. Therefore, the mounting portion 41d has a two-chamfered convex shape to match the shape of the engaged portion 41k. The outermost diameter of the mounting portion 41d is set to be smaller than the inner diameter of the hole 501k, allowing the mounting portion 41d to rotate freely within the hole 501k.

Furthermore, the end surface 510x of the outer ring member 510 facing the shutter member 41 is formed with multiple (four in this embodiment) ribs 510b extending in the axial direction D1. As shown in FIG. 10(b), the base end 41b of the shutter member 41 is surrounded by the end surface 510x and the ribs 501x, restricting movement in the axial direction D1 and in the radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction D1. As a result, the rotating container unit 401 including the supply base 501 is attached to the container shutter unit 402 including the shutter member 41 so that it can rotate relatively about the rotation axis z and so that movement in the axial direction D1 and the radial direction is restricted.

The seal member 504, which is fixed to the shutter member 41, has a sliding surface 504b that slides against the outer periphery 501b of the supply base 501. The seal member 504 is pressed by the outer periphery 501b in a direction approaching the shutter member 41, i.e., outward in the radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and deforms, generating surface pressure between the outer periphery 501b and the sliding surface 504b. This makes it possible to prevent toner leakage at the interface between the seal member 504 and the supply base 501.

More specifically, when viewed in the axial direction D1 of the rotation axis z, the supply base 501 and the shutter member 41 are cylindrical members. The supply base 501 is configured to rotate inside the shutter member 41, around the rotation axis z, along the inner circumferential surface 41j of the shutter member 41.

Figures 10(a) and 11(a) show the toner discharge port 501r formed in the supply base 501 blocked by the shutter member 41 and seal member 504. At this time, toner contained in the pouch 503 can pass through the opening 503a of the pouch 503, the inner space of the inner ring member 511, the opening 501a of the supply base 501, and the inner space of the supply base 501 to reach the toner discharge port 501r. However, because the toner discharge port 501r is blocked by the shutter member 41 and seal member 504, the toner contained in the pouch 503 is sealed so that it does not leak out when the toner pack 40 is in a standalone state. The opening 503a of the pouch 503 is located at one end of the pouch 503 in the axial direction D1.

Figures 10(b) and 11(b) show the toner discharge port 501r formed in the supply base 501 in an open state without being blocked by the shutter member 41 and the seal member 504. At this time, the toner discharge port 501r is positioned facing the notch 41f of the shutter member 41, and the toner contained in the pouch 503 can be discharged to the outside of the toner pack 40 through the toner discharge port 501r and the notch 41f.

For example, the state of the toner pack 40 shown in Figure 11(a) is the closed state, and the state of the toner pack 40 shown in Figure 11(b) is the open state. In this case, the toner pack 40 changes from the closed state to the open state when the rotating container unit 401 is rotated approximately 90 degrees in the direction of arrow z1 around the rotation axis z. Also, the toner pack 40 changes from the open state to the closed state when the rotating container unit 401 is rotated approximately 90 degrees in the direction of arrow z2 around the rotation axis z. Note that the amount of rotation of the rotating container unit 401 required to transition the toner pack 40 between the open state and the closed state can be freely set.

As shown in Figure 11(a), the positions of the supply base 501 when the toner pack 40 is in the closed state are the closed position and the first closed position, and as shown in Figure 11(b), the positions of the supply base 501 when the toner pack 40 is in the open state are the open position and the first open position.

When the supply base 501 is in the closed position, the toner discharge port 501r is blocked by the shutter member 41. When the supply base 501 is in the open position, the toner discharge port 501r is opened by the shutter member 41 so that the toner in the pouch 503 can be discharged outside the toner pack 40 through the toner discharge port 501r.

After installing the toner pack 40 in the developing container 32, the user grasps the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring member 510 and rotates the outer ring member 510 in the direction of arrow z1 around the rotation axis z. This causes the supply base 501 to also rotate in the direction of arrow z1 around the rotation axis z, exposing the toner discharge port 501r of the supply base 501 through the cutout 41f. As a result, the toner pack 40 changes from a closed state to an open state, allowing the toner in the pouch 503 to be discharged to the outside of the toner pack 40. Here, the axial direction D1 parallel to the rotation axis z is a direction along the vertical direction, and the installation direction of the toner pack 40 relative to the image forming apparatus 1 is a direction along the axial direction D1. In other words, the toner pack 40 is configured to be installed in the image forming apparatus 1 so that the axial direction D, which is the direction of the rotation axis z, is a direction along the vertical direction.

The pouch 503 is made of a material such as a resin sheet made of PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), or PET (polyethylene terephthalate), a composite of these materials, or a composite of nonwoven fabric, paper, and these materials with resin. If the pouch 503 is made of a material that can be elastically deformed by the user, the user can easily expel the toner inside the pouch 503 by pressing or squeezing the pouch 503 with their fingers.

When the user has finished discharging the toner in the pouch 503 into the developing container 32, they grasp the outer peripheral surface 510d of the outer ring member 510 and rotate the outer ring member 510 in the direction of arrow z2 around the rotation axis z. This causes the supply base 501 to also rotate in the direction of arrow z2 around the rotation axis z, and the toner discharge port 501r of the supply base 501 is blocked by the shutter member 41 and seal member 504. As a result, the toner pack 40 changes from an open state to a blocked state, making it possible to remove the toner pack 40 from the developing container 32.

[Toner receiving section of developing container]
Next, we will explain the toner receiving section 600 provided in the developing container 32. As shown in Figures 12(a) to 15, the toner receiving section 600 has a receiving base unit 602 and a receiving shutter unit 601 that is supported rotatably around the rotation axis z relative to the receiving base unit 602.

Figures 12(a) and 13(a) show the toner supply port 32r, which serves as the second opening leading to the storage section 36, in a blocked state, while Figures 12(b) and 13(b) show the toner supply port 32r in an open state. Hereinafter, the state of the toner receiving section 600 in which the toner supply port 32r is blocked, as shown in Figures 12(a) and 13(a), will be referred to as the blocked state, and the state of the toner receiving section 600 in which the toner supply port 32r is open, as shown in Figures 12(b) and 13(b), will be referred to as the open state.

The receiving base unit 602 has a cylindrical portion 32g serving as a roughly cylindrical main body base, a base seal 506, and a shutter retainer 512. In this embodiment, the cylindrical portion 32g is integrally formed with the developing container 32 (see FIG. 1(a)), but this is not limiting. For example, the cylindrical portion 32g may be formed as a separate member from the developing container 32 and fixed to the developing container 32. Alternatively, the cylindrical portion 32g may be provided in a part of the printer main body 100 other than the developing container 32, and toner may be replenished to the developing container 32 via the cylindrical portion 32g.

The cylindrical portion 32g has a refill port 32a through which toner is replenished from the toner pack 40 to the storage portion 36 of the developing container 32 (see FIG. 1A), an outer peripheral portion 32b as a side surface extending along the axial direction D1, and a toner supply port 32r formed in the outer peripheral portion 32b. The cylindrical portion 32g also has an engaging portion 32e that protrudes upward in the axial direction D1 from its bottom surface 32h (see FIG. 19A). The engaging portion 32e engages with the engaged portion 41k of the shutter member 41, as described below. That is, the engaging portion 32e has a double-chamfered boss shape corresponding to the double-chamfered hole-shaped engaged portion 41k.

The engagement portion 32e is press-fitted into the hole 512e of the shutter retainer 512. For this reason, the hole 512e has a two-chamfered hole shape, similar to the engagement portion 32e. The shutter retainer 512 is attached to the engagement portion 32e of the cylindrical portion 32g after the shutter member 507 of the receiving shutter unit 601 is assembled to the cylindrical portion 32g. In this embodiment, the shutter retainer 512 is fixed by being press-fitted into the engagement portion 32e of the cylindrical portion 32g, but this is not limited to this. For example, the shutter retainer 512 may be fixed to the cylindrical portion 32g by welding, using an adhesive, or other methods.

As shown in Figures 16(a) and 16(b), the base seal 506 is made of an elastically deformable material such as urethane foam or nonwoven fabric, and is fixed to the cylindrical portion 32g with double-sided tape or the like. This allows the base seal 506 to prevent toner leakage at the interface between the base seal 506 and the cylindrical portion 32g. The base seal 506 also has an opening 506a at a position corresponding to the toner supply port 32r, and toner that passes through the opening 506a is supplied through the toner supply port 32r to the storage portion 36 of the developer container 32 (see Figure 1(a)).

As shown in Figures 12(a) to 15 and 17, the receiving shutter unit 601 has a shutter member 507 and a shutter sheet 505. The developing container 32 (see Figure 1(a)) includes the storage portion 36, the cylindrical portion 32g, and the shutter member 507, and rotatably supports the developing roller 31. The toner pack 40 is configured to be attachable to the developing container 32.

The shutter member 507 has an inner diameter portion 507h, an outer diameter portion 507k, and a protruding portion 507e connecting the inner diameter portion 507h and the outer diameter portion 507k. The protruding portion 507e protrudes radially inward from the outer diameter portion 507k, and as shown in FIG. 13, has a horizontal portion 507x that is approximately fan-shaped and a rising portion 507s that extends in the axial direction D1. The horizontal portion 507x is configured to be able to pass through the groove portion 41g (see 9(a)) of the shutter member 41 of the toner pack 40. The rising portion 507s is configured to be able to pass through the groove portion 41h (see 9(a)) of the shutter member 41.

As shown in Figures 17(a) and (b), a shutter sheet 505 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the rising portion 507s with double-sided tape or the like. The shutter sheet 505 is a film with a thickness of approximately 100 μm, and is positioned so that the tip portion 505a of the shutter sheet 505 extends beyond the edge portion 507a of the rising portion 507s. The sliding surface 505k of the shutter sheet 505 is configured to be able to slide against the sliding surface 506d of the base seal 506 (see Figure 16(a)).

Grooves 507p, 507p are formed on the outer diameter portion 507k of the shutter member 507, into which ribs 510b (see Figure 8(a)) formed on the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40 can engage. These grooves 507p, 507p are arranged radially opposite each other and are formed to extend circumferentially over a partial range (approximately 90°) in the circumferential direction of the outer diameter portion 507k. As a result, the grooves 507p, 507p divide the upper portion of the outer diameter portion 507k into four sections, and the four ribs 510b of the outer ring member 510 engage with these four sections. This allows the toner pack 40 to rotate only within a range of approximately 90° when attached to the toner receiving portion 600. Therefore, when replenishing toner from the toner pack 40 to the developing container 32, the range in which the rotating container unit 401 of the toner pack 40 can be rotated is clearly defined, improving usability.

As shown in Figure 18, a guide groove 507c is formed in the inner diameter portion 507h of the shutter member 507, and a guide rib 32k of the cylindrical portion 32g is inserted into the guide groove 507c. As shown in Figures 18 to 19(b), the guide groove 507c and the guide rib 32k are respectively a cylindrical groove and a protrusion that are concentric with the rotation axis z. Therefore, by inserting the guide rib 32k into the guide groove 507c, the shutter member 507 is guided to be rotatable about the rotation axis z relative to the cylindrical portion 32g.

Furthermore, the inner peripheral surface 507d of the shutter member 507 is provided so as to be able to slide against the rib 32m of the cylindrical portion 32g. In this way, the shutter member 507 is supported rotatably about the rotation axis z relative to the cylindrical portion 32g.

Furthermore, a hole 507q is formed in the inner diameter portion 507h of the shutter member 507, positioned radially inward of the guide groove portion 507c. The engagement portion 32e passes through the hole 507q, but the outer diameter of the hole 507q is set to be larger than the outermost diameter of the engagement portion 32e, allowing the shutter member 507 to rotate freely without interfering with the engagement portion 32e.

After the shutter member 507 is assembled to the cylindrical portion 32g, the shutter retainer member 512 is press-fit into the engagement portion 32e. As a result, the rib 507j of the shutter member 507 is sandwiched between the bottom surface 32h of the cylindrical portion 32g and the shutter retainer member 512 in the axial direction D1. As a result, movement of the shutter member 507 in the axial direction D1 is restricted. In other words, the receiving shutter unit 601 including the shutter member 507 is attached to the receiving base unit 602 including the cylindrical portion 32g and the shutter retainer member 512 so as to be rotatable relative to it about the rotation axis z but immovable in the axial direction D1 and radial directions.

The base seal 506, which is fixed to the cylindrical portion 32g, is pressed and deformed by the shutter sheet 505, which is fixed to the shutter member 507, in a direction approaching the cylindrical portion 32g, i.e., outward in the radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction D1. This generates surface pressure between the sliding surface 506d of the base seal 506 and the sliding surface 505k of the shutter sheet 505 (see Figure 17(a)). Therefore, even when the developer container 32 is in a standalone state and toner is contained in the developer container 32, toner leakage at the interface between the base seal 506 and the shutter sheet 505 can be suppressed.

[Connection between the toner pack and the cylindrical portion of the developing container]
Next, the coupling and detachment operations of the toner pack 40 and the developing container 32 and the opening and closing operations of the toner discharge port 501r and the toner supply port 32r will be described. Figures 3A and 11A show the toner pack 40 in a shielded state, where the toner discharge port 501r is shielded by a seal member 504 attached to the shutter member 41. Figures 12A and 13A show the toner receiving section 600 in a shielded state, where the toner supply port 32r is shielded by a shutter sheet 505 attached to the shutter member 507.

Normally, when toner replenishment to the developing container 32 begins, both the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving portion 600 are in a shielded state. In other words, when the replenishment base 501 is in the first shielded position, the toner discharge port 501r is in a position that does not overlap with the toner supply port 32r of the cylindrical portion 32g when viewed from a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction D1, and the shutter member 507 is in the second shielded position.

Then, as shown in Figure 20(a), the user fits the toner pack 40 into the toner receiving portion 600. At this time, the engaged portion 41k (see Figure 3(a)) formed on the shutter member 41 of the toner pack 40 engages with the engaging portion 32e formed on the cylindrical portion 32g of the toner receiving portion 600.

The engaged portion 41k and the engaging portion 32e each have a two-chamfered shape, and because they engage with each other, the shutter member 41 is attached to the cylindrical portion 32g so that it cannot rotate around the rotation axis z. In other words, when the toner pack 40 is attached to the image forming device 1, the engaged portion 41k engages with the engaging portion 32e of the image forming device 1, thereby restricting the rotation of the shutter member 41 around the rotation axis z.

In other words, the toner pack 40 is attached to the image forming device 1 so that rotation of the shutter member 507 around the rotation axis z relative to the cylindrical portion 32g is restricted, and so that the supply base 501 rotates together with the shutter member 507.

Furthermore, the convex portion 507e (see Figure 13(a)) formed on the shutter member 507 of the toner receiving portion 600 passes through the notch portion 41f of the shutter member 41 of the toner pack 40 and engages with the concave portion 501f (see Figure 8(a)) formed on the supply base 501. When both the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving portion 600 are in the closed state, when the toner pack 40 is fitted into the toner receiving portion 600, the engagement between the engaged portion 41k and the engaging portion 32e and the engagement between the convex portion 507e and the concave portion 501f can be performed simultaneously.

Now, consider the case where a user rotates the outer peripheral surface 510d of the outer ring member 510 in the direction of arrow z1 around the rotation axis z from the state shown in Figure 20(a) to replenish toner from the toner pack 40 into the developing container 32. When the outer ring member 510 is rotated in the direction of arrow z1, the supply base 501 also rotates in the direction of arrow z1 in conjunction. At this time, the step portion 501n of the recessed portion 501f of the supply base 501 (see Figure 8(a)) presses against the end surface 507f (see Figure 13(a)), which serves as the contact portion of the protruding portion 507e of the shutter member 507.

In other words, when the toner pack 40 is attached to the image forming device 1, the step 501n as an abutment portion abuts against the end surface 507f so that the shutter member 507 rotates together with the shutter member 42 around the rotation axis z. As a result, the shutter member 507 as a main body shutter rotates together with the supply base 501 in the direction of arrow z1 around the rotation axis z.

On the other hand, the cylindrical portion 32g of the toner receiving portion 600 and the shutter member 41 of the toner pack 40 do not rotate because their rotation is restricted as described above. Therefore, as shown in Figure 11(b), the supply base 501 of the toner pack 40 rotates relative to the shutter member 41 in the direction of arrow z1, and the toner discharge port 501r faces the notch 41f of the shutter member 41. In other words, the toner pack 40 is in an open state, allowing the toner contained within the toner pack 40 to be discharged.

13(b), the shutter member 507 of the toner receiving portion 600 rotates relative to the cylindrical portion 32g in the direction of arrow z1, and the shutter sheet 505 fixed to the shutter member 507 moves away from the toner supply port 32r. In other words, the toner receiving portion 600 is in an open state, allowing it to receive toner discharged from the toner pack 40. In other words, the shutter member 507 is in a second open position that opens the toner supply port 32r so that toner replenished from the toner pack 40 can be received into the storage portion 36 of the developing container 32 via the toner supply port 32r. Furthermore, when the supply base 501 is in the first open position, the toner discharge port 501r overlaps with the toner supply port 32r of the cylindrical portion 32g when viewed from a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction D1, and the shutter member 507 is in the second open position.

As a result, as shown in Figure 20(b), toner contained in the toner pack 40 is replenished to the developing container 32 through the toner supply port 32r and the toner discharge port 501r. The rotation angle of the outer ring member 510 is restricted to approximately 90° by the engagement between the convex portion 507e of the shutter member 507 and the grooves 41g and 41h of the shutter member 41, and the engagement between the rib 510b of the outer ring member 510 and the groove 507p of the shutter member 507. The rotation angle of the outer ring member 510 is not limited to approximately 90°, and may be less than 90° or greater than 90°.

Furthermore, by engaging the convex portion 507e of the shutter member 507 with the groove portion 41g of the shutter member 41, the toner pack 40 cannot move in the axial direction D1 relative to the toner receiving portion 600, and the toner pack 40 can be locked to the toner receiving portion 600. This reduces the risk of the toner pack 40 unintentionally coming off the toner receiving portion 600 during toner replenishment, causing toner to scatter inside the image forming device 1, improving the ease of toner replenishment work.

Next, consider the case where a user rotates the outer peripheral surface 510d of the outer ring member 510 in the direction of arrow z2 around the rotation axis z from the state shown in Figure 20(b) to remove the toner pack 40 from the cylindrical portion 32g of the developing container 32. When the outer ring member 510 is rotated in the direction of arrow z2, the supply base 501 also rotates in the direction of arrow z2 in conjunction. At this time, the step portion 501m of the recessed portion 501f of the supply base 501 (see Figure 8(a)) presses against the end surface 507g of the protruding portion 507e of the shutter member 507 (see Figure 13(b)). As a result, the shutter member 507 rotates in the direction of arrow z2 together with the supply base 501 around the rotation axis z.

On the other hand, the cylindrical portion 32g of the toner receiving portion 600 and the shutter member 41 of the toner pack 40 cannot rotate because their rotation is restricted as described above. Therefore, as shown in Figure 11(a), the supply base 501 of the toner pack 40 rotates relative to the shutter member 41 in the direction of arrow z2, and the toner discharge port 501r faces the seal member 504 (see Figure 10(a)) fixed to the shutter member 41. In other words, the toner pack 40 is in a sealed state, and the toner contained within the toner pack 40 cannot be discharged.

At the same time, as shown in Figure 13(a), the shutter member 507 of the toner receiving unit 600 rotates in the direction of arrow z2 relative to the cylindrical portion 32g, and the shutter sheet 505 fixed to the shutter member 507 covers the toner supply port 32r. In other words, the toner receiving unit 600 enters a shielding state and cannot receive toner discharged from the toner pack 40. At this time, the shutter member 507 is in the second shielding position, shielding the toner supply port 32r.

In this state, the convex portion 507e of the shutter member 507 disengages from the grooves 41g and 41h of the shutter member 41, allowing the toner pack 40 to be removed from the toner receiving portion 600. Furthermore, because both the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving portion 600 are in a shielded state, the toner pack 40 can be removed from the toner receiving portion 600 without toner scattering.

[Configuration for preventing toner leakage]
Next, a configuration for suppressing toner leakage between the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving portion 600 will be described with reference to Figures 21(a) to 23(b). Figures 21(a) to 23(b) are schematic cross-sectional views showing the relative positions of the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving portion 600 of the developing container 32. The seal member 504 and the base seal 506 are each disposed on a cylindrical curved surface, but are shown here as being flat.

Figures 21(a) to 23(b) show the toner pack 40 and toner receiving portion 600 viewed in the axial direction D1. Note that when the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40 (see Figure 20(a)) is rotated in the direction of arrow z1, the supply base 501 moves to the left on the paper in Figures 21(a) to 23(b).

Figure 21(a) shows the state before the developing container 32 and toner pack 40 are connected. Figure 21(b) shows the state after the toner pack 40 has been attached to the developing container 32 from the state shown in Figure 21(a), and is the state before the replenishing base 501 of the toner pack 40 and the shutter member 507 of the toner receiving portion 600 rotate. In the state shown in Figure 21(b), the toner supply port 32r and toner discharge port 501r are covered, and the toner contained in the pouch 503 (see Figure 3(a)) is not discharged to the outside of the toner pack 40.

Furthermore, Figure 21(c) shows a state in which the supply base 501 and shutter member 507 have rotated from the state shown in Figure 21(b) by an angle Θ1 (0°<Θ1<90°) in the direction of arrow z1 (see Figure 20(a)) around the rotation axis z. Figure 22(a) shows a state in which the supply base 501 and shutter member 507 have rotated by 90° in the direction of arrow z1 (see Figure 20a) from the state shown in Figure 21(b), with the toner supply port 32r and toner discharge port 501r open.

As shown in Figure 21(b), when the toner pack 40 in the shielded state is attached to the toner receiving portion 600 in the shielded state, the tip portion 505a of the shutter sheet 505 is positioned so as to contact the outer periphery 501b of the supply base 501. Furthermore, the step portion 501n of the supply base 501 is positioned with a gap δ1 relative to the end face 507f of the shutter member 507 in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis z. The step portion 501m of the supply base 501 is positioned with a gap δ2 relative to the end face 507g of the shutter member 507 in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis z.

These gaps δ1 and δ2 correspond to the gap (play) that the user has when attaching the toner pack 40 to the developing container 32. The presence of gaps δ1 and δ2 makes it easier to attach the toner pack 40 to the developing container 32, improving the ease of attachment of the toner pack 40.

After installing the toner pack 40 in the toner receiving portion 600 of the developing container 32, the user rotates the supply base 501 in the direction of arrow z1. As a result, as shown in Figure 21(c), the gap δ1 that existed in Figure 21(b) disappears, and the step 501n of the supply base 501 comes into contact with the end surface 507f of the shutter member 507. The end surface 507f is then pressed by the step 501n, and the supply base 501 and the shutter member 507 rotate together in the direction of arrow z1. At this time, the gap δ2 becomes wider than in the initial state. The tip 505a of the shutter sheet 505 is configured to abut against the outer periphery 501b of the supply base 501 without separating from the outer periphery 501b.

Furthermore, when the user rotates the supply base 501 in the direction of arrow z1, as shown in Figure 22(a), the toner discharge port 501r and toner supply port 32r are opened without being covered by the shutter sheet 505 and shutter member 507. Then, the toner contained in the toner pack 40 is supplied into the developing container 32 through the toner discharge port 501r and toner supply port 32r. During this toner supply, the base seal 506 prevents toner from entering the interface with the supply base 501.

Next, when the user has finished discharging toner from the toner pack 40 and wishes to remove it, as shown in Figure 22(b), the user rotates the supply base 501 from the position shown in Figure 22(a) in the direction of arrow z2 (to the right on the page) by an angle Θ3 (0° < Θ3 < 90°). This causes the step 501m of the supply base 501 to contact the end face 507g of the shutter member 507, eliminating the gap δ2 that existed in Figure 22(a). The end face 507g is then pressed by the step 501m, and the supply base 501 and the shutter member 507 rotate together in the direction of arrow z2. At this point, the gap δ1 becomes wider than it was in the initial state.

Furthermore, when the user rotates the supply base 501 in the direction of arrow z2, as shown in Figure 23(a), the gap δ1 formed between the step 501n of the supply base 501 and the end face 507f of the shutter member 507 is positioned above the toner supply port 32r. At this time, the tip 505a of the shutter sheet 505 abuts against the outer periphery 501b of the supply base 501, preventing toner from entering the gap δ1.

When the user further rotates the supply base 501 in the direction of arrow z2, as shown in Figure 23(b), the toner discharge port 501r is blocked by the seal member 504, and the toner supply port 32r is blocked by the shutter sheet 505 and shutter member 507. In this state, the toner pack 40 can be removed from the cylindrical portion 32g of the developing container 32, and when the toner pack 40 is removed from the cylindrical portion 32g, it returns to the state shown in Figure 21(a). As described above, one embodiment of a toner container and image forming system can be provided.

In this embodiment, when the toner pack 40 is changed from a closed state to an open state, the toner discharge port 501r is reliably blocked by the seal member 504 and the tip 505a of the shutter sheet 505. This prevents toner inside the toner pack 40 from leaking out of the toner discharge port 501r, improving usability.

In addition, when the toner pack 40 is changed from the open state to the closed state, the space between the step 501n and the end surface 507f, which corresponds to the gap δ1 shown in Figure 23(a), is reliably blocked by the tip 505a of the shutter sheet 505. This prevents toner from entering the gap δ1 and scattering within the gap δ1 when the toner pack 40 is removed, improving usability.

Furthermore, the toner discharge port 501r of the toner pack 40 is formed on the outer peripheral portion 501b extending in the axial direction D1 of the supply base 501. Therefore, compared to, for example, when the toner discharge port 501r is formed on the end portion in the axial direction D1 of the toner pack 40 (for example, an end surface perpendicular to the axial direction D1), the opening area of the toner discharge port 501r can be made larger, improving toner supply efficiency. Furthermore, the outer diameters of the supply base 501 and the cylindrical portion 32g can be made smaller.

In addition, in this embodiment, a supply base 501 is disposed on the inner peripheral surface of the shutter member 41. For example, if the toner contained in the developer container 32 becomes full during toner replenishment and only a portion of the toner in the toner pack 40 can be replenished, toner (leveled toner) will accumulate in the toner discharge port 501r of the supply base 501. Before being removed from the developer container 32, the toner pack 40 is rotated while attached to the developer container 32, changing from an open state to a closed state. At this time, the toner discharge port 501r is blocked from its outer peripheral surface by the shutter member 41. Therefore, the toner pack 40 is removed from the developer container 32 with the leveled toner accumulated in the toner discharge port 501r securely sealed by the shutter member 41, reducing the risk of leveled toner scattering outside the developer container 32.

In this embodiment, the engaged portion 41k formed on the shutter member 41 of the toner pack 40 engages with the engaging portion 32e of the cylindrical portion 32g, but this is not limited to this. The engaged portion 41k and the engaging portion 32e each have a two-chamfered shape, but this is not limited to this. For example, the engaged portion 41k may be configured as a two-chamfered boss shape, and the engaging portion 32e may be configured as a two-chamfered hole shape. Furthermore, regardless of the shape of the engaged portion 41k and the engaging portion 32e, they may be press-fitted into each other or engaged using a snap fit.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described, in which the shutter member 507 of the toner receiving unit 600 of the first embodiment is replaced with a shutter member 507B. Therefore, the same components as those of the first embodiment will not be shown in the drawings or will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

The shutter member 507 according to the second embodiment, like the first embodiment, has an inner diameter portion 507h, an outer diameter portion 507k, and a convex portion 507e, as shown in FIG. 15. That is, the shutter member 507B differs from the shutter member 507 of the first embodiment only in that it is provided with an engaging portion 513 in addition to the shutter member 507 of the first embodiment.

As shown in Figures 24(a) to 25, the fitting portion 513 of the shutter member 507B has a substantially hexagonal opening 513a into which the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40 engages, and a lever portion 513b that can be rotated by the user.

Figure 26 is a perspective view showing image forming apparatus 1B according to the second embodiment, and Figure 27 is a plan view showing image forming apparatus 1B according to the second embodiment. Image forming apparatus 1B has basically the same configuration and functions as image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figures 26 and 27, an opening 82a is formed in the discharge tray 81 of image forming apparatus 1B, and opening 82a is located on the right side of the apparatus.

The fitting portion 513 of the shutter member 507B is exposed to the outside through the opening 82a, and when refilling toner into the developing container 32 (see Figure 1(a)), the user fits the toner pack 40 into the fitting portion 513. More specifically, the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40 is fitted into the fitting portion 513.

The user then operates the lever portion 513b exposed from the opening 82a to rotate the lever portion 513b around the rotation axis z (see Figure 24(b)). This rotates the shutter member 507B and the rotating container unit 401 (see Figure 5) of the toner pack 40, causing the toner pack 40 and toner receiving portion 600B to change from a closed state to an open state. As a result, the toner in the toner pack 40 can be replenished to the developing container 32.

As described above, in this embodiment, the toner pack 40 and toner receiving portion 600B can be changed from a closed state to an open state by operating the lever portion 513b of the shutter member 507B, rather than operating the outer ring member 510 as in the first embodiment.

The space required to grip the lever portion 513b is smaller than the space required to grip the outer ring member 510, so even if the opening 82a is small, the lever portion 513b is easy to operate, improving usability. It is advantageous for the opening 82a to be small in order to maintain the strength of the housing of the image forming device 1B and to prevent foreign matter from entering the interior of the image forming device 1B.

Furthermore, since the lever portion 513b is positioned radially farther from the rotation axis z than the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40, the force required for the user to operate the lever portion 513b is reduced, improving usability.

In this embodiment, the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40 is fitted into the fitting portion 513 of the shutter member 507B, but this is not limited to this. For example, instead of the outer ring member 510, at least one of the supply base 501, inner ring member 511, and pouch 503 may be fixed to the shutter member 507B.

Third Embodiment
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described, in which the shutter member 507B of the first embodiment is replaced with a shutter member 507C. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment will not be shown in the drawings or will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

The shutter member 507C has a fitting portion 515, which, as shown in Figures 28(a) to 29, has a substantially hexagonal opening 515a with which the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40 engages, and a gear portion 515b. The gear portion 515b is formed on the outer periphery of the fitting portion 515, and has multiple teeth arranged in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis z.

A guide member 516 is fixed to the internal frame (not shown) of the image forming apparatus 1C (see Figure 30) or to the developing container 32 (see Figure 1(a)). A lever member 514 is supported on the guide member 516 so that it can slide in the w1 and w2 directions. The lever member 514 has a lever portion 514a that can be gripped by the user and a rack portion 514b that meshes with a gear portion 515b.

Figure 30 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus 1C according to the third embodiment, and Figure 31 is a plan view showing the image forming apparatus 1C according to the third embodiment. Figure 32 is an enlarged plan view showing the surrounding configuration of the toner pack 40 and the shutter member 507C. The image forming apparatus 1C has basically the same configuration and functions as the image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Figures 30 and 31, an opening 82a is formed in the discharge tray 81 of the image forming apparatus 1C, and the opening 82a is located on the right side of the apparatus.

The fitting portion 515 of the shutter member 507C is exposed to the outside through the opening 82a, and when refilling toner into the developing container 32 (see Figure 1(a)), the user fits the toner pack 40 into the fitting portion 515. More specifically, the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40 is fitted into the fitting portion 515.

The user then operates the lever portion 514a exposed from the opening 82a, sliding the lever member 514, for example, in the w2 direction, as shown in Figures 30 to 32. As the lever member 514 slides in the w2 direction, the gear portion 515b that meshes with the rack portion 514b of the lever member 514 is driven to rotate. This rotates the shutter member 507C and the rotating container unit 401 of the toner pack 40 (see Figure 5), causing the toner pack 40 and toner receiving portion 600C to change from a closed state to an open state. As a result, the toner in the toner pack 40 can be replenished to the developing container 32.

As described above, in this embodiment, the toner pack 40 and toner receiving section 600C can be changed from a closed state to an open state by operating the lever portion 514a of the lever member 514, rather than operating the outer ring member 510 as in the first embodiment.

The space required to grip the lever portion 514a is smaller than the space required to grip the outer ring member 510, so even if the opening 82a is small, the lever portion 514a is easy to operate, improving usability. It is advantageous for the opening 82a to be small in order to maintain the strength of the housing of the image forming apparatus 1C and to prevent foreign matter from entering the interior of the image forming apparatus 1C.

Furthermore, the lever portion 514a is positioned radially farther from the rotation axis z than the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40, thereby reducing the force required for the user to operate the lever portion 514a and improving usability.

In this embodiment, the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40 is fitted into the fitting portion 515 of the shutter member 507C, but this is not limited to this. For example, instead of the outer ring member 510, at least one of the supply base 501, inner ring member 511, and pouch 503 may be fixed to the shutter member 507C.

<Fourth embodiment>
Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described, which is a modification of the first embodiment of the toner pack 40. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment will not be shown in the drawings or will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

The following describes the configuration of toner pack 40, which is detachably attached to image forming apparatus 1 (see Figure 1(a)) and serves as a toner container for storing toner. As shown in Figures 33(a) to 36(b), toner pack 40D as a toner container has a shutter member 41D, a sealing member 504D, a supply base 501D, an inner ring member 511, and a pouch 503, and is configured by assembling these components.

An inner ring member 511 is attached to the supply base 501D, and a pouch 503 is attached to the inner ring member 511. Toner is stored inside the pouch 503. As shown in Figures 34 and 35, the supply base 501D has a toner discharge port 501r formed on the fixed surface 501s.

A sealing member 504D is fixed to the fixing surface 501s with double-sided tape or the like, and an opening 504h is formed in the sealing member 504D at a position corresponding to the toner discharge port 501r. The sealing member 504D is made of an elastically deformable material such as urethane foam or nonwoven fabric.

The supply base 501D is formed with a sliding surface 501t that is flush with the sliding surface 504t of the seal member 504D fixed to the fixed surface 501s. In other words, a step is provided between the sliding surface 501t and the fixed surface 501s.

Figure 36(a) shows the state in which the toner discharge port 501r and opening 504h are covered by the shutter member 41D, while Figure 36(b) shows the state in which the toner discharge port 501r and opening 504h are open. The toner pack 40D is attached to the developing container 32 in a direction along the movement direction MD (described below). The toner discharge port 501r is formed on a fixed surface 501s extending along the movement direction MD. As shown in Figures 36(a) and 36(b), the shutter member 41D is supported on the supply base 501D so that it can slide in the movement direction MD. The shutter member 41D is configured to slide along the sliding surfaces 501t and 504t and is biased to the position shown in Figure 36(a) by a spring (not shown). This reduces toner leakage from the toner discharge port 501r. A protrusion 41w protrudes from the side surface 41v of the shutter member 41D.

As shown in Figure 33(a), when replenishing toner in the developer container 32, the user attaches the toner pack 40D to the developer container 32. At this time, the protrusion 41w of the shutter member 41D engages with a regulating member 901 provided on the image forming apparatus 1 (see Figure 1(a)), and the movement of the shutter member 41D is regulated by the regulating member 901 in the attachment direction of the toner pack 40D, i.e., in the movement direction MD.

When the user further grasps the inner ring member 511 and moves the toner pack 40D in the installation direction parallel to the movement direction MD, the shutter member 41D is stopped by the regulating member 901, and the supply base 501D and pouch 503 move downward together with the inner ring member 511. This exposes the opening 504h and toner discharge port 501r from the shutter member 41D, and the toner contained in the toner pack 40D is replenished to the developer container 32 through the opening 504h and toner discharge port 501r.

As described above, in this embodiment, simply by moving the toner pack 40D in the installation direction relative to the developing container 32, the opening 504h and the toner discharge port 501r are opened, allowing toner to be replenished. This makes the replenishment process easier and improves usability.

Fifth Embodiment
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described, which is a modification of the first embodiment of the toner pack 40. Therefore, the same components as those in the first embodiment will not be illustrated or described, or will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[Toner pack configuration]
The following describes the configuration of the toner pack 400, which is a toner container that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus 1 (the apparatus main body) and that stores toner. As shown in Figures 37(a) to 40(b), the toner pack 400 is composed of a shutter member 410, a seal member 5040, a supply base 5010, an outer ring member 5020, and a pouch 5030. The views of Figures 37(a) to 40(b) are different. The axis of rotation z, indicated by the dashed-dotted line, is the center line of rotation of the toner pack 400.

First, the shape of each component of the toner pack 400 and the relationship between the components will be described using Figures 37(a) and (b). The pouch 5030, which serves as the toner storage section and first toner storage section, is a flexible container that stores toner, as in the first embodiment, as shown in Figures 37(a) and (b). The pouch 5030 has an opening 5030a.

The outer ring member 5020 has an engagement surface 5020a that engages with the pouch 5030, a hole 5020b, and a pair of recesses 5020c. The opening 5030a of the pouch 5030 and the engagement surface 5020a of the outer ring member 5020 are joined, but any joining method is acceptable. For example, joining methods include using various adhesives such as hot melt, or heat welding the pouch 5030 to the outer periphery of the outer ring member 5020.

The replenishing base 5010, which serves as the container base, has an outer peripheral portion 5010b as a side and outer surface extending along the axial direction D1 parallel to the rotation axis z, and a toner discharge port 5010r formed in the outer peripheral portion 5010b. The replenishing base 5010 also has a shaft portion 5010a that engages with the hole 5020b of the outer ring member 5020, a pair of protrusions 5010m, protrusions 5010x and 5010y, a shaft portion 5010d, and a recessed portion 5010f. The recessed portion 5010f is recessed radially inward from the outer peripheral portion 5010b, and has side end surfaces 5010s and 5010t that serve as third engagement portions. The recessed portion 5010f is located at a different position from the toner discharge port 5010r in the rotation direction of the shutter member 410.

The supply base 5010 is supported by the outer ring member 5020 such that movement in the axial direction D1 relative to the outer ring member 5020 and in the radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction D1 is restricted by the engagement of the hole 5020b and the shaft 5010a. Furthermore, the supply base 5010 is supported by the outer ring member 5020 such that relative rotation about the rotation axis z relative to the outer ring member 5020 is restricted by the engagement of a pair of recesses 5020c and a pair of protrusions 5010m. The toner discharge port 5010r serving as a discharge port is a through-hole that leads to the interior of the pouch 5030. The protrusions 5010x and 5010y are arranged out of phase with each other.

As shown in Figures 37(a) and 37(b) and 40(a) and 40(b), the shutter member 410 serving as the first shutter is made of a substantially cylindrical resin member. The shutter member 410 also has cutouts 410f and 410g, holes 410b and 410d that rotatably engage with the shaft 5010d of the supply base 5010, recesses 410x and 410y, a groove 410z1, and a surface 410z2. The recess 410x and the groove 410z1 form a continuous groove. The cutout 410f is substantially rectangular, and the cutout 410g is formed to extend circumferentially within a partial range (approximately 90°) of the shutter member 410 in the circumferential direction. Additionally, a notch 410h is formed on the bottom surface of the shutter member 410, extending circumferentially over a portion of the circumferential range of the shutter member 410. As shown in Figures 38(b) and 40(a) and (b), when the shutter member 410 is in the blocking position, at least a portion of the recess 5010f of the supply base 5010 is exposed from the shutter member 410 via the notch 410f.

The sealing member 5040 has a fixed surface 5040a and a sliding surface 5040b, and is made of an elastically deformable material such as urethane foam or nonwoven fabric. The fixed surface 5040a of the sealing member 5040 is fixed to the inner surface 410j of the shutter member 410 with double-sided tape or the like. This prevents toner leakage at the interface between the sealing member 5040 and the shutter member 410.

Hereinafter, the integrally joined replenishment base 5010, outer ring member 5020, and pouch 5030 will be referred to as the container unit 4010, and the integrally joined shutter member 410 and seal member 5040 will be referred to as the shutter unit 4020. When assembling the shutter unit 4020 to the container unit 4010, the outer periphery 5010b of the replenishment base 5010 fits into the hole 410b of the shutter member 410, and the convex portions 5010x, 5010y of the replenishment base 5010 fit into the concave portions 410x, 410y.

This allows the convex portions 5010x and 5010y of the supply base 5010 to rotate along the groove portion 410z1 and surface 410z2. In other words, as shown in Figures 38(a) to 39(b), the toner pack 400 is configured so that the container unit 4010 and the shutter unit 4020 can rotate relative to each other. The shutter unit 4020 is rotatable relative to the container unit 4010 around the rotation axis z in the direction of arrow z1 and in the direction of arrow z2, which is opposite to the direction of arrow z1.

Hereinafter, the state of the toner pack 400 shown in Figures 38(a) and (b) will be referred to as the closed state, and the state of the toner pack 400 shown in Figures 39(a) and (b) will be referred to as the open state. Furthermore, the positions of the supply base 5010 when the toner pack 400 is in the closed state will be referred to as the closed position and the first closed position, and the positions of the supply base 5010 when the toner pack 400 is in the open state will be referred to as the open position and the first open position. In this case, the toner pack 400 enters the open state by rotating the shutter unit 4020 90 degrees in the direction of arrow z1 from the closed state. Furthermore, the toner pack 400 enters the closed state by rotating the shutter unit 4020 90 degrees in the direction of arrow z2 from the open state. Note that the degree to which the shutter unit 4020 must be rotated to transition the toner pack 400 between the open state and the closed state can be freely set.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 38(a) and (b), the hole 410m of the shutter member 410 can engage with a flexible claw 5010p provided on the supply base 5010. The engagement between the hole 410m and the claw 5010p restricts the shutter member 410 from rotating about the rotation axis z relative to the supply base 5010. In other words, this restricts the user from changing the toner pack 400 from the closed state to the open state when the toner pack 400 is in a standalone state before being inserted into the image forming apparatus main body. When actually inserting the toner pack 400 into the image forming apparatus main body to replenish toner, the claw 5010p comes into contact with the pressing portion 320f (see Figure 42(b)) of the toner receiving portion 6000, which will be described later. Then, by retracting the claw portion 5010p radially inward, the shutter unit 4020 becomes rotatable, allowing the user to easily transition the toner pack 400 from the closed state to the open state.

The seal member 5040, which is fixed to the shutter member 410, has a sliding surface 5040b that slides against the outer periphery 5010b of the supply base 5010. The seal member 5040 is pressed by the outer periphery 5010b in a direction approaching the shutter member 410, i.e., outward in the radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction D1, and deforms, generating surface pressure between the outer periphery 5010b and the sliding surface 5040b. This makes it possible to prevent toner leakage at the interface between the seal member 5040 and the supply base 5010.

Furthermore, when the toner pack 400 is in the closed state, as shown in Figures 38(a) and (b), the toner contained in the pouch 5030 can move as follows. That is, the toner can pass through the opening 5030a of the pouch 5030, the inner space of the inner ring member 511, the shaft portion 5010a of the supply base 5010, and the inner space of the supply base 5010, and move to the toner discharge port 5010r. However, because the toner discharge port 5010r is blocked by the shutter member 410 and the seal member 5040, the toner contained in the pouch 5030 is sealed so that it does not leak out when the toner pack 400 is in a stand-alone state. The opening 5030a of the pouch 5030 is located at one end of the pouch 5030 in the axial direction D1.

Furthermore, when the toner pack 400 is in the open state, as shown in Figures 39(a) and (b), the toner discharge port 5010r formed in the supply base 5010 is open and not blocked by the shutter member 410 and the seal member 5040. At this time, the toner discharge port 5010r is positioned facing the cutout portion 410f of the shutter member 410, and the toner contained in the pouch 5030 can be discharged to the outside of the toner pack 400 through the toner discharge port 5010r and the cutout portion 410f.

[Toner receiving section of developing container]
Next, the toner receiving portion 6000 as an attachment portion provided in the developing container 32 will be described using Figures 41(a) to 43(b). As shown in Figures 41(a) to 43(b), the toner receiving portion 6000 includes an operating lever 310, an inlet 5070, an inflow prevention seal 5100, and an inlet member 5080. The toner receiving portion 6000 also includes a shutter sheet 5050, an inlet seal 5060, a container inlet 320, a container bottom 5090, and a bottom seal 5110. The views of Figures 41(a) to 43(b) are different. The axis of rotation z indicated by the dashed-dotted line is the axis of rotation of rotatable components described below. This axis of rotation z coincides with the axis of rotation of the toner pack 400.

The operating lever 310 has a grip portion 310a operated by the user, a cylindrical portion 310b that engages with the inlet 5070, a hole portion 310c, and a groove portion 310d. The inlet 5070 has a protrusion 5070b and a receiving port 5070c, and the protrusion 5070b passes through the hole portion 310c of the operating lever 310 and engages with the groove portion 310d. This allows the operating lever 310 and the inlet 5070 to rotate relative to one another. The receiving port 5070c receives toner flowing in from the toner pack 400. The toner received through the receiving port 5070c is stored in the developing container 32, which serves as the second toner storage unit.

Furthermore, surface 5070a of inlet 5070 contacts surface 5100a of inlet prevention seal 5100, and surface 5100b of inlet prevention seal 5100 contacts surface 5090b of container bottom 5090. When inlet 5070 and container bottom 5090 are fastened together with screws, inlet prevention seal 5100 is sandwiched between inlet 5070 and container bottom 5090, preventing toner from leaking out.

The entrance member 5080 has a protrusion 5080m at its upper end, which engages with a hole 5070m formed at the upper end of the inlet 5070. This allows the entrance member 5080 to be assembled integrally with the inlet 5070. The entrance member 5080 is also configured to engage with a recess 5010f (see Figure 38(b)) of the supply base 5010. The entrance member 5080 has side end surfaces 5080c and 5080d as third engaged portions that can engage with the side end surfaces 5010s and 5010t of the recess 5010f, respectively.

The shutter sheet 5050 is a film approximately 100 μm thick, and the fixing surface 5050a of the shutter sheet 5050 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface 5080a of the entrance member 5080 with double-sided tape or the like. Similarly, the fixing surface 5060b of the entrance seal 5060 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface 320a of the container entrance 320 with double-sided tape or the like. The bottom seal 5110 has a fixing surface 5110a, which is fixed to the surface 5090a of the container bottom 5090 with double-sided tape or the like.

The container inlet 320, which serves as the second shutter, has a surface 320b that contacts a surface 5090c of the container bottom 5090. The container inlet 320 is sandwiched between the inlet 5070 and the container bottom 5090, as described above, and is configured to be rotatable only about the rotation axis z relative to the inlet 5070. The toner receiver 6000 is configured so that the operating lever 310 and the container inlet 320, to which the inlet seal 5060 is attached, are each rotatable about the rotation axis z relative to the inlet 5070. The inlet 5070, the inlet seal 5100, the inlet member 5080, and the inlet seal 5060 form the main body base 5300 to which the toner pack 400 is detachably attached. The operating lever 310 is configured to be rotatable independently of the container inlet 320.

As the container inlet 320 rotates relative to the inlet 5070, the toner receiving unit 6000 transitions between a closed state in which the toner receiving port 320c of the container inlet 320 is closed by the shutter sheet 5050, and an open state in which the toner receiving port 320c is open. The position of the container inlet 320 when the toner receiving unit 6000 is in the closed state is referred to as the second closed position, and the position of the container inlet 320 when the toner receiving unit 6000 is in the open state is referred to as the second open position.

[Toner pack and toner receiving unit connection]
Next, the operation when the toner pack 400 and the toner receiving portion 6000 are connected and the user replenishes the toner in the toner pack 400 to the developing container 32 will be described with reference to Figures 44(a) to 49.

Figures 44(a) and (b) are perspective views showing how the toner pack 400 is attached to the toner receiving section 6000. Figure 45(a) is a perspective view showing the relationship between the operating lever 310 and the shutter member 410 when the toner pack 400 transitions from the closed state to the open state, and Figure 45(b) is a perspective view taken at a specified cross section of Figure 45(a). Figure 46(a) is a perspective view showing the relationship between the shutter member 410 and the container inlet 320 when the toner pack 400 transitions from the closed state to the open state, and Figure 46(b) is a perspective view taken at a specified cross section of Figure 46(a).

Figure 47(a) is a perspective view showing the relationship between the operating lever 310 and the shutter member 410 when the toner pack 400 transitions from the open state to the closed state, and Figure 47(b) is a perspective view taken at a specified cross section of Figure 47(a). Figure 48(a) is a diagram showing the relationship between the shutter member 410 and the container inlet 320 when the toner pack 400 transitions from the open state to the closed state, and Figure 48(b) is a perspective view taken at a specified cross section of Figure 48(a). Figure 49 is a perspective view showing the state of the shutter member 410 when the toner pack 400 is attached to the toner receiving section 6000 and is in the open state.

When replenishing the toner in the toner pack 400 to the developing container 32, the user first installs the toner pack 400 in the toner receiving portion 6000 in the installation direction F1 along the rotation axis z, as shown in Figures 44(a) and (b). When installing the toner pack 400 in the toner receiving portion 6000, the user installs the toner pack 400 while aligning the recess 5010f of the supply base 5010 of the toner pack 400 so that it engages with the inlet member 5080 of the toner receiving portion 6000. This ensures that the rotational phase of the toner pack 400 and the toner receiving portion 6000 is appropriately positioned. Furthermore, because the side end surfaces 5010s and 5010t of the recess 5010f of the supply base 5010 engage with the side end surfaces 5080c and 5080d of the inlet member 5080, respectively, the supply base 5010 of the toner pack 400 does not rotate relative to the main body base portion 5300. In other words, when the toner pack 400 is attached to the image forming device 1, the recess 5010f as an engaging portion engages with the inlet member 5080 as an engaged portion of the image forming device 1, thereby restricting rotation of the supply base 5010 relative to the image forming device 1.

At this time, the hole 410d (see Figure 37(b)) of the shutter member 410 engages with the cylindrical portion 320e (see Figure 42(a)) of the container inlet 320. The user then grasps the grip portion 310a of the operating lever 310 and rotates the operating lever 310 in the direction of arrow z1 around the rotation axis z.

As a result, as shown in Figures 45(a) and (b), surface 310m1, which serves as the second engaging portion of the operating lever 310, engages with surface 410m1, which serves as the first engaged portion of the shutter member 410 on the toner pack 400 side. Furthermore, surface 310n1 of the operating lever 310 engages with surface 410n1 of the shutter member 410 on the toner pack 400 side. Due to the engagement of these surfaces, as the operating lever 310 rotates in the direction of arrow z1, the shutter member 410 also rotates in the direction of arrow z1.

At the same time, as shown in Figures 46(a) and (b), surface 410p1, which serves as the first engaging portion of shutter member 410, engages with surface 320p1, which serves as the second engaged portion of container inlet 320 on the toner receiving portion 6000 side. Furthermore, surface 410q1 of shutter member 410 engages with surface 320q1 of container inlet 320 on the toner receiving portion 6000 side. Due to the engagement of these surfaces, as shutter member 410 rotates in the direction of arrow z1, container inlet 320 also rotates in the direction of arrow z1. As a result, when toner pack 400 changes from a closed state to an open state, toner receiving portion 6000 also changes from a closed state to an open state, making it possible to replenish toner into developing container 32.

Conversely, when the user transitions the toner pack 400 from the closed state to the open state, the user rotates the operating lever 310 in the direction of arrow z2 around the rotation axis z. As a result, as shown in Figures 47(a) and (b), surface 310m2, serving as the second engaging portion of the operating lever 310, engages with the first engaged portion surface 410m2 of the shutter member 410 on the toner pack 400 side. In addition, surface 310n2 of the operating lever 310 engages with surface 410n2 of the shutter member 410 on the toner pack 400 side. Due to the engagement of these surfaces, the shutter member 410 also rotates in the direction of arrow z2 as the operating lever 310 rotates in the direction of arrow z2.

At the same time, as shown in Figures 48(a) and (b), surface 410p2, which serves as the first engagement portion of shutter member 410, engages with second engaged portion surface 320p2 of container inlet 320 on the toner receiving portion 6000 side. Furthermore, surface 410q2 of shutter member 410 engages with surface 320q2 of container inlet 320 on the toner receiving portion 6000 side. Due to the engagement of these surfaces, as shutter member 410 rotates in the direction of arrow z2, container inlet 320 also rotates in the direction of arrow z2. As a result, when toner pack 400 changes from an open state to a closed state, toner receiving portion 6000 also changes from an open state to a closed state.

To prevent the toner pack 400 from accidentally falling out of the toner receiving section 6000 when transitioning from the closed state to the open state, the groove 410g of the shutter member 410 fits into the surface 5070x of the inlet 5070 as shown in Figure 49. Therefore, when the toner pack 400 begins to transition to the open state, the toner pack 400 is prevented from moving out of the toner receiving section 6000 in the direction opposite to the mounting direction F1. In other words, the toner pack 400 is configured to not fall out of the toner receiving section 6000.

As described above, in this embodiment, the toner pack 400 is attached to the toner receiving unit 6000, and the operating lever 310 on the toner receiving unit 6000 side is rotated. The rotation of the operating lever 310 causes the shutter member 410 on the toner pack 400 side to rotate (turn), and the rotation of the shutter member 410 causes the container entrance 320 on the toner receiving unit 6000 side to rotate. This causes the toner pack 400 and the toner receiving unit 6000 to transition between a closed state and an open state, making it easy to attach and detach the toner pack 400 and replenish toner.

In addition, because the user operates the operating lever 310 on the toner receiving section 6000 side, the container unit 4010, including the pouch 5030 of the toner pack 400, does not rotate. As a result, the pouch 5030 does not need to be very rigid, and can be made from a highly flexible material, making it easy to remove all of the toner from the pouch 5030. In particular, because the pouch 5030 is not operated in a twisting direction around the rotation axis z, no large shear forces are applied to the pouch 5030.

In addition, in the configuration of this embodiment, the user replenishes toner by operating the operating lever 310, which is part of the developing container 32 attached to the image forming device 1, so the lever ratio of the grip portion 310a of the operating lever can be increased. This reduces the operational burden on the user, making it possible to achieve a replenishment configuration with good usability.

In addition, usability can be improved by providing a clicking sensation when inserting the toner pack 400 into the toner receiving section 6000, or by providing a clicking sensation when the toner pack 400 transitions between the closed state and the open state.

The colors of the outer ring member 5020, replenishment base 5010, and shutter member 410 of the toner pack 400 may also be matched with the operating lever 310 and inlet port 5070. This makes it easier for the user to recognize the replenishment location, improving usability.

Furthermore, the configuration for preventing toner leakage between the toner pack 400 and the toner receiving section 6000 is the same as in the first embodiment, so a description thereof will be omitted here.

In addition, in this embodiment, the operating lever 310, shutter member 410, and container inlet 320 are each configured to engage with two surfaces and move in conjunction, but this is not limited to this. For example, the operating lever 310, shutter member 410, and container inlet 320 may be configured to engage with one surface or three or more surfaces and move in conjunction.

Sixth Embodiment
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described, which is a modification of the fifth embodiment in terms of the configuration of the toner pack 460. Therefore, the same components as those in the fifth embodiment will not be illustrated or described, or will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

[Toner pack configuration]
First, using Figures 50(a) to 53(b), the basic configuration of the toner pack 460, which is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus 1 (the apparatus main body) and contains toner, will be described. More specifically, the toner pack 460 as a toner container is attached to the attachment portion 606, which will be described later. Figure 50(a) is a front view of the toner pack 460 when the pack-side shutter 603 is in the closed position. Figure 50(b) is a front view of the toner pack 460 when the pack-side shutter 603 is in the open position. Figure 51 is an exploded perspective view of the toner pack 460. Figure 52(a) is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the nozzle 6502 when the pack-side shutter 603 is in the closed position. Figure 52(b) is a view of the toner pack 460 as viewed in the direction of arrow U in Figure 52(a). Figure 53(a) is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the nozzle 6502 when the pack-side shutter 603 is in the open position. FIG. 53(b) is a view of the toner pack 460 viewed in the direction of the arrow U in FIG. 53(a).

The toner pack 460 includes a pouch 6503 as a first toner storage section for storing toner, an outer ring member 620 coupled to the pouch 6503, a nozzle 6502, and a pack-side shutter 603. The outer ring member 620 and the nozzle 6502 form a container base 6010 connected to the pouch 6503. As shown in Figures 50(a) and 50(b), the pouch 6503 is provided at one end of the toner pack 460 in the axial direction D1, which is the first direction and the direction of the rotation axis. The outer ring member 620, the nozzle 6502, and the pack-side shutter 603 are provided at the other end of the toner pack 460 in the axial direction D1. The pouch 6503 is formed, for example, from a flexible polypropylene sheet and has a bag shape with one end open. Note that the pouch 6503 is not limited to a pouch and may be a resin bottle or a container made of paper, vinyl, or the like.

As shown in Figure 51, the outer ring member 620 has a connecting surface 620a that is connected (fixed) to one end of the pouch 6503, and a connecting portion 620c that is connected to the nozzle 6502. The opening 601a of the pouch 6503 and the connecting surface 620a of the outer ring member 620 are connected, but any connecting method may be used. For example, connecting methods include using various adhesives such as hot melt, or heat welding the pouch 6503 to the outer periphery of the outer ring member 620.

The nozzle 6502, which serves as a base member, is detachably connected to the connecting portion 620c of the outer ring member 620, which serves as a cylindrical member. In other words, the outer ring member 620 and the nozzle 6502 are configured to be separable from each other. The connecting portion 620c has a hole 620b through which toner can pass. This allows toner to be easily filled into the pouch 6503 via the hole 620b and the connecting surface 620a of the outer ring member 620. For example, the pouch 6503 can be connected below the outer ring member 620, and the pouch 6503 can be filled with toner. Then, the nozzle 6502 can be connected to the outer ring member 620. This configuration allows for a larger amount of toner to be filled in a shorter time without the use of complex equipment. This is because the hole 620b of the outer ring member 620 has a larger area than the outlet 602a of the nozzle 6502, making toner filling easier and simplifying the toner flow path.

The side surface 602c of the nozzle 6502, which extends in the axial direction D1, is provided with a discharge port 602a configured to communicate with the interior of the pouch 6503, and a recess 602e. The recess 602e is located at a different position from the discharge port 602a in the rotation direction of the pack-side shutter 603. The toner contained in the pouch 6503 is configured to be discharged to the outside of the toner pack 460 through the discharge port 602a. The nozzle 6502 may be configured integrally with the outer ring member 620 and the pouch 6503.

A pack-side shutter 603 serving as a container shutter and a first shutter is disposed outside the side surface 602c of the nozzle 6502. The pack-side shutter 603 is rotatable about a rotation axis z extending in the axial direction D1, and is disposed outside the side surface 602c in the radial direction r of an imaginary circle VC centered on the rotation axis z. The side surface 602c of the nozzle 6502 is a curved surface that convexly extends outward in the radial direction r of the imaginary circle VC centered on the rotation axis z. The inner surface of the pack-side shutter 603, i.e., the surface facing the side surface 602c, is a curved surface that conforms to the side surface 602c of the nozzle 6502, and is fitted with a pack-side seal 605 serving as a substantially rectangular first sealing member. As shown in Figures 52(a) and 52(b), the end face 603g forming the opening 603a of the pack-side shutter 603 and the end face 605a of the pack-side seal 605 are inclined with respect to the rotation axis z. The end face 605a of the pack-side seal 605 is attached at a position that protrudes further toward the opening 603a than the end face 603g of the pack-side shutter 603.

The pack-side shutter 603 is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis z between a blocking position, which is a first blocking position in which the pack-side seal 605 blocks the discharge port 602a of the nozzle 6502, and an open position, which is a first open position in which the discharge port 602a is open. When the pack-side shutter 603 is in the open position, the discharge port 602a of the nozzle 6502 is exposed through the opening 603a. Also, as shown in Figure 52(a), when the pack-side shutter 603 is in the blocking position, at least a portion of the recess 602e of the nozzle 6502 is exposed from the pack-side shutter 603 through the opening 603a.

Figures 50(a) and 52(a) show the pack-side shutter 603 in the closed position. Figures 50(b) and 53(a) show the pack-side shutter 603 in the open position. As shown in Figures 50(a) and 52(a), when the pack-side shutter 603 in the closed position is rotated in the direction of arrow K around the rotation axis z, the pack-side shutter 603 reaches the open position shown in Figures 50(b) and 53(a). Conversely, when the pack-side shutter 603 in the open position is rotated in the direction of arrow L, the pack-side shutter 603 reaches the closed position. During the rotation of the pack-side shutter 603, the pack-side shutter 603 rubs against the side surface 602c of the nozzle 6502 via the pack-side seal 605.

[Attachment part]
Next, the configuration of the mounting portion 606 into which the toner pack 460 is mounted will be described using Figures 54(a) to 58(b). In this embodiment, the mounting portion 606 is a unit for mounting the toner pack 460 and is provided in the image forming apparatus 1 (see Figure 2). Figure 54(a) is an exploded perspective view of the mounting portion 606. Figure 54(b) is an exploded perspective view of the mounting portion 606 seen from a different direction than Figure 54(a). Figures 55(a) and 56(a) are, respectively, a perspective view showing the appearance of the mounting portion 606 when the lever 608 is in the closed position and a view of the mounting portion 606 seen from the mounting direction M. Figures 55(b) and 56(b) are, respectively, a perspective view showing the appearance of the mounting portion 606 when the lever 608 is in the open position and a view of the mounting portion 606 seen from the mounting direction M.

Figure 57(a) is a perspective view of the device-side shutter 609 as seen from the upstream side in the mounting direction M. Figure 57(b) is a perspective view of the device-side shutter 609 from a different perspective than Figure 57(a). Figure 58(a) is a perspective view of the cover 610 and shutter sheet 621 as seen from the downstream side in the mounting direction M. Figure 58(b) is a perspective view of the cover 610 as seen from the upstream side in the mounting direction M.

As shown in Figures 54(a) to 55(b), the mounting portion 606 has a main body base portion 2, which includes a first frame 607, a second frame 617, a cover 610, and a shutter sheet 621. The cover 610 and the second frame 617 are fixed to the first frame 607. As shown in Figures 58(a) and 58(b), the cover 610 has an engaged portion 610h that engages with the positioning portion 607a (see Figure 54(a)) of the first frame 607 to prevent rotation around the rotation axis z relative to the first frame 607. Note that the first frame 607, the cover 610, and the second frame 617 may be integrally formed rather than being separate members. As shown in Figures 54(a) and 54(b), the second frame 617 has an apparatus-side opening 617a as a receiving port, which communicates with the storage portion 36 of the developing container 32 (see Figure 1(a)).

The lever 608 and device-side shutter 609 are each attached to the main body base 2 so as to be rotatable around the rotation axis z. The first frame 607 is provided with a positioning portion 607a. The positioning portion 607a protrudes inward from the inner circumferential surface of the first frame 607, which is centered on the rotation axis z, in the radial direction r of an imaginary circle VC centered on the rotation axis z.

The lever 608 is also provided with a drive transmission unit 608a and an operating unit 608b. By operating the operating unit 608b, the user can rotate the lever 608 around the rotation axis z relative to the main body base unit 2. As shown in Figure 54(a), the drive transmission unit 608a of the lever 608 is a convex portion that protrudes inward from the inner circumferential surface of the lever 608 that is centered on the rotation axis z, in the radial direction r of an imaginary circle VC that is centered on the rotation axis z.

As shown in Figures 57(a) and 57(b), the device-side shutter 609, which serves as the main body shutter and second shutter, has an inner circumferential surface 609h, a communication opening 609a formed in the inner circumferential surface 609h for receiving toner from the toner pack 460, and a bottom surface 609b. The device-side shutter 609 also has a center boss 609d, a drive-receiving portion 609e, and a pack contact surface 609g. As shown in Figure 57(a), the drive-receiving portion 609e is a convex portion that protrudes inward in the radial direction r of an imaginary circle VC centered on the rotation axis z. A device-side seal 611, which serves as a second seal member, is affixed to the inner circumferential surface 609h, surrounding the periphery of the communication opening 609a (see Figure 55(b)).

The device-side shutter 609 is configured to take a shielded position, which serves as the second shielded position, and an open position, which serves as the second open position, relative to the main body base 2. More specifically, as shown in Figures 57(a) and (b), the device-side shutter 609 rotates in the direction of arrow K from the shielded position to the open position, and rotates in the direction of arrow L from the open position to the shielded position. Note that these arrow K and arrow L directions are the same as the arrow K and arrow L directions of the pack-side shutter 603 shown in Figure 52(a). In the shielded position, the device-side shutter 609 has the communication opening 609a uncovered by the device-side seal 611 and cover 610, and in the open position, the communication opening 609a is open and not covered by the cover 610. In other words, when the device-side shutter 609 is in the blocking position, the communication port 609a does not communicate with the device-side opening 617a of the second frame 617, but when the device-side shutter 609 is in the blocking position, the communication port 609a communicates with the device-side opening 617a of the second frame 617.

As shown in Figure 55(b), the end face 611a of the device-side seal 611 is positioned to protrude circumferentially beyond the end face 609i (see Figure 57(b)) surrounding the communication port 609a, which serves as the attachment seat. Furthermore, the end face 611a is an inclined surface.

The apparatus-side shutter 609 is in the closed position in Figures 55(a) and 56(a), and at this time, the communication port 609a of the apparatus-side shutter 609 is not in communication with the apparatus-side opening 617a of the second frame 617. The apparatus-side shutter 609 is in the open position in Figures 55(b) and 56(b), and at this time, the communication port 609a of the apparatus-side shutter 609 is in communication with the apparatus-side opening 617a of the second frame 617. By moving the apparatus-side shutter 609 to the open position, toner can be replenished (supplied) from the toner pack 460 to the storage compartment 36 of the developing container 32 through the communication port 609a.

Note that the lever 608 and the device-side shutter 609 are not connected by a drive force, so even if the lever 608 is operated without the toner pack 460 attached, the device-side shutter 609 will not rotate.

[Shutter sheet]
Next, the shutter sheet 621 will be described using Figures 55(a) and (b), Figures 58(a) and (b), and Figure 62. Figure 62 is a time-series diagram showing the area around the shutter sheet 621 when the apparatus-side shutter 609 (not shown in Figure 62) is rotated from the open position to the closed position. The shutter sheet 621 as a sheet member is a film with a thickness of about 100 [µm], and is fixed to the cover 610 with double-sided tape or the like. When the apparatus-side shutter 609 rotates between the closed position and the open position, the shutter sheet 621 rubs against the apparatus-side seal 611 attached to the apparatus-side shutter 609.

Furthermore, the shutter sheet 621 has a tip 621a, which is the end portion in the circumferential direction about the rotation axis z, i.e., in the rotation direction of the device-side shutter 609 (for example, the direction of arrow K in Figures 57(a) and 57(b)), protruding circumferentially beyond the end surface 610g of the cover 610a. The tip 621a of the shutter sheet 621 has a slope 621b and a vertical surface 621c. The slope 621b is inclined with respect to the circumferential direction (the direction of arrows K and L) and the axial direction D1, which is parallel to the rotation axis z. In other words, the slope 621b extends toward the rotation direction of the device-side shutter 609 (the direction of arrows K and L) as it moves toward the direction of the rotation axis z (axial direction D1). Furthermore, the vertical surface 621c extends along the installation direction M and the axial direction D1, preferably parallel to the installation direction M and the axial direction D1.

As shown in Figure 62, when the device-side shutter 609 (see Figures 55(b) and (a)) is rotated from the open position to the closed position, the device-side seal 611 moves in the direction of arrow Q. Next, the tip 621a of the shutter sheet 621 comes into contact with the edge of the device-side seal 611, for example, the edge of the opening of the device-side seal 611. If the tip 621a of the shutter sheet 621 gets caught on the edge of the device-side seal 611 at this time, the shutter sheet 621 or device-side seal 611 may bend and deform, which may impair sealing properties.

For this reason, by forming a slope 621b on the tip 621a, it is possible to prevent the shutter sheet 621 from getting caught on the device-side seal 611. Furthermore, even if a force from the device-side seal 611 acts on the shutter sheet 621, a force is generated in the direction that pushes the shutter sheet 621 outward (in the direction of arrow T). This prevents deformation of the shutter sheet 621 and maintains sealing performance.

Furthermore, a vertical surface 621c is formed on the tip 621a, continuing from the slope 621b. Therefore, even if toner is caught on the slope 621b when the device-side shutter 609 rotates from the open position to the closed position, the toner moves along the slope 621b and is scraped off at the vertical surface 621c. This prevents toner from adhering to the tip 621a of the shutter sheet 621, and prevents toner from falling when the toner pack 460 is removed. Furthermore, because the slope 621b receives a force obliquely relative to the rotation direction (direction of arrow Q) of the device-side seal 611, resistance when operating the lever 608 (described below) can be reduced, improving operability.

[Installing the toner pack into the installation compartment]
Next, the state when the toner pack 460 is mounted in the mounting portion 606 will be described using Figures 59(a) to 61(b). Figures 59(a) and 59(b) are perspective views of the toner pack 460 being mounted in the mounting portion 606, viewed from different angles. Figure 60 is a cross-sectional view parallel to the rotation axis z in a state in which the toner pack 460 has been further moved in the mounting direction from the state shown in Figures 59(a) and 59(b). Figure 61(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line 61A-61A in Figure 60. Figure 61(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line 61B-61B in Figure 60. Note that for ease of viewing, the cross-sections of the pack-side shutter 603 and the cover 610 are shaded in Figures 60 to 61(b).

In the following explanation, as shown in Figures 59(a) and (b), the user moves the toner pack 460 with the pack-side shutter 603 in the blocking position in the mounting direction M to mount the toner pack 460 into the mounting portion 606 with the device-side shutter 609 in the blocking position. At this time, the end face 611a of the device-side seal 611 and the end face 605a of the pack-side seal 605 come into contact while overlapping in the circumferential direction, and slide while being deformed in the mounting direction M. In other words, when the toner pack 460 is mounted on the main body base portion 2, the end face 605a of the pack-side seal 605 comes into contact with the end face 611a of the device-side seal 611.

The end face 605a of the pack-side seal 605 protrudes into the opening 603a of the pack-side shutter 603, so when the toner pack 460 is attached to the main body base 2, the end faces 605a and 611a are pressed against each other. This ensures close contact between the pack-side seal 605 and the device-side seal 611, improving sealing and reducing toner leakage. Furthermore, the end faces 605a and 611a extend in the direction of rotation of the pack-side shutter 603 (indicated by arrows K and L) as they move toward the rotation axis z (axial direction D1), reducing resistance when attaching the toner pack 460 to the attachment portion 606. This allows the toner pack 460 to be attached smoothly to the attachment portion 606, improving operability.

The user aligns the recess 602e of the nozzle 6502 and the opening 603a of the pack-side shutter 603 with the positioning portion 607a of the first frame 607. At the same time, the user also aligns the driven transmission portion 603b of the pack-side shutter 603 with the drive transmission portion 608a of the lever 608.

After aligning the toner pack 460 with the mounting portion 606 in this way, the user moves the toner pack 460 in the mounting direction M to mount it in the mounting portion 606. Then, as shown in Figure 60, the inner surface 602b1 of the protruding portion 602b of the nozzle 6502 engages with the small diameter portion 609d2 of the center boss 609d of the device-side shutter 609. This determines the position of the nozzle 6502 in the radial direction relative to the device-side shutter 609. Furthermore, the tip of the protruding portion 602b of the nozzle 6502 abuts against the pack abutment surface 609g of the device-side shutter 609, thereby determining the position of the toner pack 460 in the mounting direction M.

At this time, as shown in Figure 61(b), end surfaces 610f and 610g of the cover 610 approach or engage with surfaces 602e1 and 602e2 that form the recess 602e of the nozzle 6502. Also, as shown in Figures 61(a) and 61(b), the drive-receiving portion 603b of the pack-side shutter 603 engages with the drive-receiving portion 609e of the device-side shutter 609 and the drive-receiving portion 608a of the lever 608. This makes the rotation axis z of the pack-side shutter 603 and the rotation axis z of the device-side shutter 609 approximately coaxial. Furthermore, because surfaces 602e1 and 602e2 of the recess 602e of the nozzle 6502 engage with end surfaces 610f and 610g of the cover 610, respectively, the nozzle 6502 of the toner pack 460 does not rotate relative to the main body base 2, which includes the cover 610. In other words, when the toner pack 460 is attached to the image forming device 1, the recess 602e as an engaging portion engages with the cover 610 as an engaged portion of the image forming device 1, thereby restricting the rotation of the nozzle 6502 relative to the image forming device 1.

The lever 608, pack-side shutter 603, and device-side shutter 609 are rotatable approximately integrally with the main body base 2 and nozzle 6502 around the rotation axis z.

For example, when the lever 608 is rotated from the closed position to the open position, the drive transmission part 608a serving as the second engaging part of the lever 608 presses the surface 603b1 serving as the first engaged part of the pack-side shutter 603. As a result, the pack-side shutter 603 rotates together with the lever 608 from the closed position to the open position. In addition, the surface 603b2 serving as the first engaging part of the pack-side shutter 603 rotated from the closed position to the open position presses the surface 609e2 serving as the second engaged part of the device-side shutter 609. As a result, the device-side shutter 609 rotates together with the pack-side shutter 603 from the closed position to the open position.

Conversely, when the lever 608 is rotated from the open position to the closed position, the drive transmission part 608a of the lever 608 presses the surface 603b2 of the pack-side shutter 603. As a result, the pack-side shutter 603 rotates together with the lever 608 from the open position to the closed position. In addition, the surface 603b1 of the pack-side shutter 603, which is rotated from the open position to the closed position, presses the surface 609e1 of the drive transmission part 609e of the device-side shutter 609. As a result, the device-side shutter 609 rotates together with the pack-side shutter 603 from the open position to the closed position.

In this way, by operating the lever 608, the pack-side shutter 603 and the device-side shutter 609 can be rotated between the closed position and the open position, allowing toner to be replenished from the toner pack 460 to the developing container 32. When the user has completed replenishment of toner from the toner pack 460 to the developing container 32, they rotate the lever 608 from the open position to the closed position and pull out the toner pack 460 from the mounting portion 606.

When the pack-side shutter 603 and device-side shutter 609 rotate, the end face 611a of the device-side seal 611 and the end face 605a of the pack-side seal 605 are in close contact with each other, preventing any gaps from forming and preventing toner from entering.

[Groove on pack side shutter]
As shown in FIG. 53( a), the pack-side shutter 603 is formed with a groove 603h that extends in the circumferential direction, i.e., in the rotation direction of the pack-side shutter 603 (the direction of arrows K and L (see FIG. 52( a))). As described above, when the toner pack 460 is attached to the attachment portion 606 and the lever 608 is rotated from the closed position shown in FIG. 55( a) to the open position shown in FIG. 55( b), the drive transmission portion 608a of the lever 608 enters the groove 603h of the pack-side shutter 603. With the drive transmission portion 608a in the groove 603h, the drive transmission portion 608a gets caught on the toner pack 460, preventing the toner pack 460 from being pulled out of the attachment portion 606.

As a result, when toner replenishment from the toner pack 460 to the developing container 32 begins, the toner pack 460 is prevented from moving from the mounting portion 606 in the direction opposite to the mounting direction M, preventing toner from leaking outside the image forming apparatus 1.

As shown in Figure 53(a), a tapered portion 603i is formed at the entrance of the groove 603h, with a tapered shape that is inclined with respect to the circumferential direction and the axial direction D1. In other words, the tapered portion 603i extends toward the rotational direction of the pack-side shutter 603 (the direction of arrows K and L) as it moves toward the direction of rotation axis z (axial direction D1). The tapered portion 603i allows the drive transmission portion 608a to easily fit into the groove 603h even if the toner pack 460 is slightly misaligned in the mounting direction M when the toner pack 460 is mounted in the mounting portion 606. Furthermore, if the lever 608 is not sufficiently rotated to the closed position when the toner pack 460 is removed from the mounting portion 606, the drive transmission portion 608a of the lever 608 will abut against the tapered portion 603i. When the toner pack 460 is removed from the mounting portion 606 in this state, the drive transmission portion 608a is pressed against the tapered portion 603i, causing the lever 608 to rotate to the closed position, returning the lever 608 to the correct position.

In this way, by providing the groove portion 603h and tapered portion 603i on the pack-side shutter 603, it is possible to prevent the toner pack 460 from coming loose, to facilitate the rotation of the lever 608, and to return the lever 608 to the correct shielding position. Furthermore, when re-inserting the toner pack 460 into the mounting portion 606, interference between parts is prevented, improving operability.

The first to sixth embodiments described above may be combined in any manner.

1, 1B, 1C: Image forming apparatus, apparatus main body / 2: Main body base portion / 31: Developing roller / 32: Developing container (second toner storage portion) / 32b: Side surface (outer periphery) / 32e: Engagement portion / 32g: Main body base portion (cylindrical portion) / 32r: Second opening (toner supply port) / 36: Second toner storage portion (storage portion) / 40, 40D, 400, 460: Toner container (toner pack) / 41, 410, 603: Container shutter, first shutter (shutter member, pack-side shutter) / 41j: Inner surface / 41k: Engaged portion / 310: Lever (operating lever) / 310m1 , 310m2, 608a: second engaging portion (surface, drive transmission portion) / 320, 609: main body shutter, second shutter (container inlet, device side shutter) / 320p1, 320p2, 609e2: second engaged portion (surface) / 410m1, 410m2, 603b1: first engaged portion (surface) / 410p1, 410p2, 603b2: first engaging portion (surface) / 501, 5010, 6010: container base portion (supply base) / 501b, 602c, 5010b: side surface, outer surface (outer periphery) / 501n: abutment portion (step portion) / 501r, 602a, 5010r: discharge outlet, First opening (toner discharge port) / 503, 6503: toner storage section, flexible container, first toner storage section (pouch) / 503a: opening / 507: main body shutter (shutter member) / 507f: contact portion (end surface) / 510: cylindrical member (outer ring member) / 510d: outer peripheral surface / 511: support member (inner ring member) / 603h: groove portion / 603i: tapered portion / 605: first seal member (pack side seal) / 605a: end surface / 609a: communication port / 611: second seal member (device side seal) / 611a: end surface / 620: cylindrical member (outer ring member) / 620b: hole /621: Sheet member (shutter sheet) /621a: End (tip) /621b: Sloped surface /621c: Surface (vertical surface) /1000: Image forming system /602e, 5010f: Engagement portion, recess /5010s, 5010t: Third engagement portion (side end surface) /5070c, 617a: Receiving port (apparatus-side opening) /610, 5080: Engaged portion (cover, entrance member) /5080c, 5080d: Third engaged portion (side end surface) /5300: Main body base /6502: Base member (nozzle) /D1: Direction of rotation axis, first direction (axial direction) /z: Rotation axis

Claims (20)

A toner container detachably attached to an image forming apparatus having an engaged portion,
a toner storage unit that stores toner;
a container base portion having a discharge port communicating with the inside of the toner storage portion and through which the toner discharged to the outside of the toner storage portion passes;
a container shutter configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis extending in a first direction relative to the container base between a blocking position where the discharge outlet is blocked and an opening position where the discharge outlet is open, the container shutter being disposed outside the container base in a radial direction of an imaginary circle centered on the rotation axis , the container shutter having a cylindrical shape and a peripheral surface extending in the first direction, the peripheral surface having a shutter opening that exposes the discharge outlet to the outside of the toner container when the container shutter is positioned at the opening position;
the toner storage portion and the container base portion are aligned in the first direction;
the outlet is provided on an outer surface of the container base portion extending in the first direction,
the container base portion has an engaging portion configured to engage with the engaged portion of the image forming apparatus when the toner container is attached to the image forming apparatus, thereby restricting rotation of the container base portion about the rotation axis relative to the image forming apparatus,
At least a part of the engagement portion of the container base portion is exposed from the shutter opening of the container shutter when the container shutter is in the shielding position.
A toner container characterized by: the engaging portion of the container base portion is provided at a position different from the discharge port in the rotation direction of the container shutter and closer to the rotation axis in the radial direction than the outer surface of the container base portion;
2. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner container is a toner container. The rotation axis is configured to be attached to the image forming apparatus in a direction parallel to the direction of gravity.
3. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner container is a toner container having a toner container body. a seal member provided on the container shutter to seal between the container shutter and the container base when the container shutter is in the shielding position;
The sealing member is provided so that an end surface of the sealing member in the rotation direction of the container shutter is exposed from the shutter opening.
4. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner container is a toner container having a toner container body. the toner storage unit is a bag;
5. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner container is a toner container having a toner container body. An image forming system having an apparatus main body and a toner container attachable to the apparatus main body,
The toner container is
a first toner storage unit that stores toner;
a container base portion having a discharge port for discharging the toner contained in the first toner container portion to the outside of the toner container;
a first shutter configured to rotate about a rotation axis relative to the container base between a first open position that opens the discharge outlet and a first shielding position that shields the discharge outlet, the first shutter having a first engaging portion and a first engaged portion;
The device body includes:
a main body base portion configured to allow the toner container to be detachably attached and having a receiving port for receiving toner from the toner container;
a second toner storage section that stores the toner received through the receiving port;
a second shutter configured to rotate about the rotation axis relative to the main body base between a second open position that opens the receiving port and a second blocking position that blocks the receiving port, and having a second engaged portion;
an operating lever configured to be rotatable about the rotation axis relative to the main body base and to be rotatable, and having a second engaging portion;
When the toner container is attached to the main body base,
the second engaging portion of the operating lever engages with the first engaged portion of the first shutter so that the first shutter rotates together with the operating lever;
the first engaging portion of the first shutter engages with the second engaged portion of the second shutter so that the second shutter rotates together with the first shutter;
An image forming system comprising: the container base portion of the toner container has a third engagement portion,
the main body base portion has a third engaged portion that engages with the third engaging portion so as to restrict rotation of the container base portion relative to the main body base portion when the toner container is attached to the main body base portion.
7. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein: The outlet is provided on the outer surface of the container base and extends along the rotation axis.
8. The image forming system according to claim 7, the first shutter is provided on the outer side of the container base in a radial direction of an imaginary circle centered on the rotation axis,
the third engagement portion of the container base portion is provided at a position different from the discharge port in the rotation direction of the first shutter and closer to the discharge port in the radial direction than the rotation axis;
9. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein the image forming apparatus is a printer. the first shutter has a cylindrical shape and a peripheral surface extending in the direction of the rotation axis, the peripheral surface being provided with a shutter opening that exposes the discharge port to the outside of the toner container when the first shutter is positioned at the first open position;
At least a part of the third engagement portion of the container base portion is exposed from the shutter opening of the first shutter when the first shutter is in the first closing position.
10. The image forming system according to claim 7, wherein the image forming apparatus is a printer. the toner container has a first seal member provided on the first shutter, the first seal member sealing between the first shutter and the container base when the toner container is in the first closing position;
the second shutter has a communication port that does not communicate with the receiving port in the second blocking position and that communicates with the receiving port in the second opening position;
the device body has a second seal member that is provided on the second shutter so as to surround the periphery of the communication port and that seals between the second shutter and the body base when the device body is in the second open position;
an end surface of the first seal member in a rotation direction of the first shutter contacts an end surface of the second seal member in the rotation direction when the toner container is attached to the main body base portion;
11. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the image forming system includes: a first image forming unit; the first shutter has a cylindrical shape and a peripheral surface extending in the direction of the rotation axis, the peripheral surface being provided with a shutter opening that exposes the discharge port to the outside of the toner container so as to allow toner to be discharged from the toner container to the device main body when the first shutter is positioned at the first open position;
the first seal member is provided such that the end surface of the first seal member is exposed from the shutter opening;
12. The image forming system according to claim 11. the end surface of the first seal member and the end surface of the second seal member each extend in the direction of the rotation axis and in the direction of the rotation, and are in pressure contact with each other when the toner container is attached to the main body base portion;
13. The image forming system according to claim 11 or 12. the main body base portion further includes a sheet member that rubs against the second seal member when the second shutter rotates between the second open position and the second closed position,
the seat member has an inclined surface at an end in the rotation direction, the inclined surface extending in the rotation direction as it approaches the rotation axis;
14. The image forming system according to claim 11, wherein the image forming system is a printer. the end of the seat member has a surface formed to be continuous with the inclined surface and extending in the direction of the rotation axis;
15. The image forming system according to claim 14. the first shutter has a groove portion extending in a rotation direction of the first shutter,
When the toner container is attached to the main body base and the operation lever is rotated, the second engagement portion of the operation lever fits into the groove portion, thereby preventing the toner container from being pulled out from the main body base portion.
16. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the image forming system is a printer. the groove portion has a tapered portion that can come into contact with the second engaging portion when the toner container is pulled out from the main body base portion, and that extends in the rotation direction as it approaches the rotation axis.
17. The image forming system according to claim 16. the first toner storage section is a flexible bag with one end open,
the container base portion includes a cylindrical member fixed to the one end of the first toner storage portion and formed in a cylindrical shape, and a base member detachably connected to the cylindrical member and having the discharge port;
18. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the image forming system includes: a first image forming unit; a connecting portion of the cylindrical member connected to the base member having a hole with an area larger than that of the outlet;
20. The image forming system according to claim 18. The first shutter is configured to rotate from the first closing position to the first opening position, and the second shutter is configured to rotate from the second closing position to the second opening position, by rotation of the operating lever.
20. The image forming system according to claim 6, wherein the image forming system is a printer.