MXPA98004950A

MXPA98004950A - Pigment supply container and image formation device electrofotograf

Info

Publication number: MXPA98004950A
Application number: MXPA/A/1998/004950A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Murakami Ayumu; Murakami Katsuya; Tazawa Fumio; Miyazaki Kyota
Original assignee: Canon Inc
Priority date: 1997-07-31
Filing date: 1998-06-19
Publication date: 1999-06-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to a toner supply container, removably mountable to a main unit of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, comprising: (a) a toner housing portion for housing toner; a toner supply hole for discharging toner housed in the toner housing portion; (c) a toner feeder portion for feeding the toner housed in the toner housing portion, to the toner supplying hole; receiving portion of driving force for receiving a driving force to drive the toner feeder portion from the main unit of the apparatus; (e) a toner stirring portion for stirring the toner housed in the toner housing portion; (f) a second receiving portion of driving force to receive a driving force to drive the toner stirring portion from the main unit of the apparatus, wherein the toner supplying container and inserts unidirectionally into the main unit, for the first receiving portion of driving force and the second receiving portion of driving force, to engage with corresponding parts in the main unit, and wherein the first receiving portion of driving force and the second serving portion motor drive receiver are disposed outside the toner housing portion and at a front end portion with respect to the unidirectional mounting direction, and (g) a jaw provided at a front end portion with respect to the unidirectional mounting direction. , to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the ton supply container

Description

$ PIGMENT SUPPLY CONTAINER AND ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHIC IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED TECHNIQUE The present invention relates to a pigment supply container that can be removably mounted to a unit of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a photographic image forming apparatus to which the pigment supply container is attached. can be removably mounted. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image in a recording material using a process of electrophotographic image forming type. Examples of image forming devices Electrophotographs include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (laser beam printer, LED printers or the like), a facsimile machine and a word processor. So far, an image forming device electrophotographic, such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer uses fine pigment powder as a developer. When the developer is used in the main unit of the apparatus, the pigment is supplied to the main unit of the apparatus using a container supplier of the pigment.

• At this point, in a known system, since the pigment is very fine powder or particles, the pigment supply container is kept placed inside the main unit of the apparatus, and the pigment is discharged at a small speed through a small hole during the pigment supply operation, to avoid pigment dispersion. In this system it is difficult to allow the pigment to fall by gravity or similar and, therefore, some means of feeding is required. As an example of a pigment supply container provided with this pigment feeder is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. HEI-7-113796. The container supplying the pigment is generally cylindrical, and an extreme portion of This is provided with a relatively small hole to discharge the pigment. In the container, a helical member is provided for feeding the pigment that receives motive power from the outside, penetrating through a wall of the end of the container. 20 A bearing sealing mechanism is necessary to prevent the pigment from leaking through the hole in the end of the drive transmission. In general, the shutter mechanism includes an articulated member or gear provided at the end of the feeder member, and a The shutter is interposed between the gear member and the surface of the container wall. The obturator is in many cases an annular wool felt, an oil seal or the like. The pigment supply container is used while being held in the main unit of the apparatus, and the pigment is fed by rotation of the pigment feeder member driven from the main unit, and the pigment is discharged at a small speed through the hole. On the other hand, another pigment-supplying container having a pigment-supplying medium is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI-7-44000. The pigment supply container is in the form of a cylindrical bottle, and the inner surface thereof is provided with a helical rib, and a discharge outlet of the small pigment is provided adjacent the center at one end. The pigment supply container, contrary to the conventional example already described, has no internal feeder means, and is used while being maintained in the main unit of the apparatus, and the main body of the container itself is rotated by the main unit to feed the pigment. The pigment fed to the end adjacent to the discharge outlet is guided by an extended portion adjacent to the orifice to be raised towards the discharge outlet adjacent to the center of the container., and then download. Up to now, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a printer uses fine pigment powder as a developer. When the developer of the main unit of the image forming apparatus is consumed, the pigment is supplied to the image forming apparatus using a pigment supply vessel. Here, in a known system, since the pigment is very fine powder or particles, the pigment supply container is kept placed inside the main unit of the apparatus, and the pigment is discharged at a small speed through a small hole during pigment supply operation to avoid pigment dispersion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a main objective of the present invention is to provide a pigment supply container which is maintained in a main unit of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and which can supply the pigment to the main unit of the apparatus with high reliability.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a pigment supply container of the low manufacturing cost type. Another object of the present invention is to provide a pigment supply vessel capable of stirring and feeding the pigment with certainty. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a pigment supply container removably attachable to a main unit of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which consists of: (a) a housing portion of the pigment for housing the pigment; (b) a pigment supply hole for discharging the pigment lodged in the housing portion of the pigment; (c) a pigment feeder portion housed in the housing portion of the pigment to the pigment supply port; (d) a first driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force to drive the pigment feeder portion from the main unit of the apparatus; (e) a stirring portion of the pigment for stirring the pigment lodged in the housing portion of the pigment; (f) a second portion receiving the driving force to receive the driving force to drive the stirring portion of the pigment from the main unit of the apparatus; wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force and the second receiving portion of the driving force are arranged outside the housing portion of the pigment and at a free end portion in a mounting direction of the pigment supplying container to the main unit of the apparatus. Another objective of the present invention is to provide an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a pigment-supplying container can be detachably mounted. These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of an electrophotographic copying machine which is an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a pigment supply vessel can be mounted according to a first embodiment. Figure 2 is a side view of the pigment supply container. Figure 3 is a sectional side view of the pigment supply container. Figure 4 is a front view of the pigment supply container.

# Figure 5 is a sectional front view of the pigment supply container. Figure 6 illustrates a sealing member for the pigment-supplying container, where (A) is a view front of this, (B) is a view taken along a line A, (C) is a view taken along a line B in (A), (B) is a sectional view taken along an X-X line of (A), and (E) is a sectional view taken along a Y-Y line in (A). Figure 7 is a sectional side view of the pigment supply container that can be mounted on the main unit and that is not sealed. Figure 8 illustrates a first coupling member of an electrophotographic copying machine, cr. 15 where: (A) is a front view, (B) is a rear view and (C) is a sectional side view of this. Figure 9 illustrates a second coupling member of the electrophotographic copying machine, wherein: (A) is a front view of this, (B) is a top plan view of this, (C) is a view taken at along line A of (A), and (B) is a sectional view taken along a line XX of (C). Figure 10 is a sectional side view of a pigment supply container according to a second The method of the present invention, which can be mounted on the main unit of the electrophotographic copying machine and which is not sealed. Figure 11 is a perspective view of a machine for copying electrophotographic images. Figure 12 illustrates the pigment supply container that is mounted to the electrophotographic copying machine while the cover for exchange of the pigment supply container is open. Figure 13 shows a cover, for exchanging the pigment supply container, of the electrophotographic copying machine, where: (A) is a side view thereof, (B) is a front view thereof and (C) is a top view on the floor of this one. Figure 14 shows a pigment supply container according to a third embodiment, wherein: (A) is a perspective view seen from the side closest to a sealing member, and (B) is a perspective view seen from the side closest to a handle. Figure 15 shows a pigment supply container according to a third embodiment, wherein (A) is a front view of this, (B) is a sectional view of this, (C) is a left side view of this, (D) is a right side view of this, (E) is a sectional side view of this, and (F) is a top plan view of this.

Figure 16 is a sectional front view of a pigment supply container that is placed in the main unit of the apparatus and a supplying port of which is in the sealed state. Figure 17 is a sectional front view of a pigment supply container that is placed in the main unit of the apparatus and a supplying port which is in the non-sealed state. Figure 18 shows a pigment accommodating part according to the third embodiment, wherein (A) is a perspective view seen from one side near a complementary port, and (B) is a perspective view seen from a side near of a handle. Figure 19 shows a part that houses pigment, where (A) is a front view of this, (B) is a sectional view of this, (C) is a left side view of this, (D) is a side view right of this, (E) is a sectional side view of this and (F) is a top plan view of this. Figure 20 shows a sealing member, where: (A) is a front view of this, (B) is a view taken along line A, (C) is a view taken along line B , and (D) is a sectional front view of this.

Figure 21 shows an agitator member, where (A) is a front view of this, (B) is a left side view of this, and (C) is a right side view thereof. Figure 22 is an enlarged side view of a rigid blade portion. Figure 23 is an enlarged view of a flexible blade portion. Figure 24 shows a stirring member according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein: (A) is a front view of this, (B) is a left side view of this, and (C) is a right side view of this, and (D) is a bottom view of this. Figure 25 shows a pigment supply container that can be mounted on the main unit of the apparatus. Figure 26 is a detailed illustration of a second coupling member. Figure 27 is a detailed illustration of a gear portion. Figure 28 is a detailed illustration of a moving member. Figure 29 shows the detailed structure of the second coupling member.

Figure 30 shows an impulse transmission claw, where (A) is a sectional front view of this, (B) is a side view of this, (C) is a front view of this and (D) is a view superior on this floor. Figure 31 shows a transmitter member, where: (A) is a sectional front view of this, (B) and (C) are side views of this, and (D) is a front view of this. Figure 32 shows an example in which the sealing member and the feeding member are formed integrally.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a schematic section of an electrophotographic copying machine, that is, an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a pigment supply vessel according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be installable. In the drawing, a reference number 100 designates the main unit of an electrophotographic copying machine equipped with a printer 1000 and a scanner or scanner 2000, which will simply be referred to as a "main unit". An alphanumeric number lOOf designates a top cassette mounted on the printer 1000. The recording medium (hereinafter "sheets") in this upper cassette lOOf is separated one by one and guided to the registration roller 106, by the function of a claw separator (not illustrated) and a feeder roller 101. The cassette designated by a reference number 102 is a lower cassette. The sheets in the lower cassette 102 are separated one by one and are sent to the registration roller 106 by the function of a separating claw (not illustrated) and a feeder roller 103. As a recording medium, an ordinary sheet of paper, a OHP sheet, and the like can be used as an option. A reference number 111 designates a laser-based writing device; 112, a photo-sensitive electrophotographic drum, an optical system for writing image data; 114, a revealing section of the image; 115, a transfer charger; and a reference number 116 designates a separator magazine. These components constitute an image forming section. A reference numeral 117 designates a conveyor belt for transporting the sheets in which an image has been formed; 118, a fixing apparatus; and a reference number 119 designates a discharging roller. The sheet on which an image has been formed is discharged into a sorter 2 by the discharge roller 119. The container designated by a reference number 1 is a pigment supply container, which will be described later. Also in the same drawing, a reference number 201 designates a light source of the scanner 2000; 202, a glass plate; 203, a hinged or flexible plate to press an original; 204, a lenre; 205, a receiving element (photoelectric transducer); and a reference number 206 designates an image processing section. The image data of an original, which is read by the scanner 2000, is processed by the image processing section 206, converted into the electrical signals 207, and then transmitted to a laser-based writing device 111. Then, an optical image, according to the image data, is formed on the peripheral surface of the photo-responsive drum 112 by an image writing system 113. The transfer charger 115 is a charger for transferring an image of pigment formed on the photo sensitive drum 112 on a sheet. The separator magazine 116 is a magazine for separating a sheet, on which a pigment image has been transferred, from the photo-responsive drum 112. The fixing apparatus 118 is an apparatus for permanently fixing the image of the pigment on a sheet to the sheet , with the use of heat and pressure. In the main unit 100, structured as described above, the developing section of the image 114, a cleaning section 120, and a primary charger 121 are arranged in a shape surrounding the photo-responsive drum 112. The developing section of the 114 is a section for developing, with the use of pigment, an electrostatic latent image formed in the photo-responsive drum 112 according to the image data. The pigment supply container 1 for supplying the developing section 114 with pigment is installed removably in the main unit 100 by a user of the image forming apparatus. The developing section of the image 114 consists of a pigment hopper 114a and an image developing device 114b. The pigment hopper 114a has a stirring member 114c for stirring the pigment supplied from the pigment-supplying container 1. The pigment stirred by this stirring member 114c is sent to the image developing device 114b by a magnetic roller 114d. The developer device 114b comprises an image developing roller 114f and a pigmenting member 114e. The pigment supplied from the pigment hopper 114a by the magnetic roller 114d is sent to the image developing roller 114f by the pigment supplying member 114e, and then, the photo sensitive drum 112 is supplied by the image developing roller 114f. The cleaning section 120 is a section for removing the remaining pigment particles on the photo-responsive drum 112. The primary charger 121 is a charger for charging the photo-sensitive drum 112. The printer 1000 and the scanner 2000 can be separated from each other as shown in the drawing, or they can be integrated. When these are integrated, the combination of the two is known as "image forming apparatus". If the signals of the image data processing section are input to the writing device of laser-based images 111 of the printer 1000, which fc projects a laser beam modulated with the signals input, the printer 1000 acts as an output device for a copying machine, and the signals of a facsimile are inputted in the writing device 111, the printer 1000 acts as the output device for a facsimile machine. Also, if the output signals of a personal computer are input to the writing device 111 of the printer 1000, the printer 1000 acts as the call printer. On the other hand, the signals from the image data processing section 206 of the scanner 200 can be transmitted as fax or facsimile signals to a fax machine. In addition, the pressure plate 203 can be replaced with an automatic feeder apparatus of the original 205 delineated with the double-point chain line, so that a plurality of originals is read automatically. A cover 15 for the new placement of the pigment supply container which constitutes a part of the external wall that is illustrated in Figure 11, is opened by a user as illustrated in Figure 12, and a container assembly 50 it is extracted to a predetermined location by means of a drive system (not illustrated). The pigment supply container 1 is placed in this container assembly 50. In order for a user to remove the pigment supply container 1 from the main unit 100, the user opens the cover 15, removes the assembly from the container 50 and removes the container 1 of the container assembly 50. The cover 15 is dedicated to installing or removing the pigment supply container 1; it opens or closes only to install or remove the container 1. For the maintenance of the main unit 100 a front cover 100c is provided. It should be noted here that the assembly of the container 50 can be eliminated; the pigment supply container 1 can be mounted directly on or removed from the main unit. Next, the pigment supply container 1 will be described in this embodiment with reference to FIGS. 2-5. Figure 2 is a side view of the pigment supply container 1; Figure 3, a section of the pigment-supplying container 1, parallel to the side walls of the pigment-supplying container 1; Figure 4 is a front view of the The pigment supply vessel 1; and Figure 5 is a section of the pigment-supplying container 1, parallel to the front wall of the pigment-supplying container 1. The pigment is a substance for revealing the latent electrostatic image that is formed on the surface peripheral of the photo sensitive drum 112. There is pigment of a single component, two component pigment, and the like, which are used selectively. In the drawings, a reference code IA designates the main body of the pigment supply vessel 1 (hereinafter, "main body"); 2, pigment transporting member; 3, a sealing member; and a reference code 4 designates an agitator member. A reference numeral 10 designates the pigment receiving orifice of the pigment hopper 114a of the main unit 100. The pigment released from the pigment supply container 1 is guided to the pigment hopper 114a through this pigment receiving hole 10. However, an arrangement can be made so that the pigment released from the container Pigment provider 5 1 is guided directly, ie, without going through the pigment hopper 114a, to the image developing device 201b. The main body IA of the pigment supply container 1 consists of a curved wall section 1F, a straight wall section 1G and a semicircular wall section ÍH. The curved wall section becomes narrow towards the bottom. The straight wall section is directly below the curved wall section, and its amplitude is the same from the top to the bottom. The section of semicircular wall ÍH is located directly below the section of the straight wall. In this specification, the lower portions mean the portions that go to the lower side as the pigment supply container 1 is installed in the main unit 100. lower surfaces and the upper surfaces mean the surfaces that go towards the lower side and the upper side, respectively, as the pigment supply container 1 is installed in the main unit 100. The lateral surfaces mean the surfaces that are vertical when the pigment supply container 1 is in the main unit 100. The placement of the pigment supply container 1 in the main unit 100 is the same in all Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 15, 18, 19, and 32. In the first place, the main body of the container IA will be described. The main body IA is provided with a release portion of the pigment IA, which projects from the lower portion of the side wall 1A2, that is, the side wall located at one of the ends longitudinally of the main body IA, and through which the pigment stored in the storage portion of the pigment 1A3 is released to the main unit 100. This pigment-releasing portion is provided with a pigment-releasing orifice lg through which it is released. the pigment. Also, the main body of the container IA is provided with a bearing portion Ib, which projects outwardly from the lower portion of the side wall IB, i.e. the side wall located therein.

Another longitudinal end of the main body 1A and rotatably supports the pigment transporting member 2. In other words, the bearing portion Ib is located opposite the pigment-releasing portion. In addition, the main body of the container IA is provided with the portions bearing and Id, which are located on the pigment releasing portion # 1 and the bearing portion Ib, respectively, and rotatably supports the stirring member 4. The main body of the container 1A is desired to be formed of material plastic by injection molding. However, the plastic material and the production method for the main body of the container 1A may be different from the plastic material and the injection molding, respectively. The main body of the container IA can be constituted of two or more pieces, depending on the manufacturing situation, which are integrated by welding, gluing or a similar method. The manufacture of the main body of the container IA in this mode, the upper frame and the The lower frame is formed separately from high impact polystyrene by injection molding, and is welded together by vibration welding. Next, the pigment transporter member 2 will be described.

Pigment 2 is a member for moving the pigment stored in the pigment storage portion 1A3 to the pigment-releasing orifice Ig. It is constituted of a shaft portion 2A, and a spiral blade 2B, that is, a real pigment conveyor portion, which fits around of the axis portion 2A and moves the pigment in the predetermined direction as the axis portion 2A is rotated. The pigment transporting member 2 is attached to the main body of the container IA in such a way that the axial line of the axis portion 2A is approximately aligned with the center 5 of the pigment releasing hole lg, which is substantially circular. The configuration of the pigment transporter member 2 need not be limited to the type described above, that is, the type known as screw. For example, you can is constituted of a shaft portion 2A, and a flexible blade attached to the shaft portion 2A. The shaft portion 2A and the blade portion 2B may be formed integrally or may be formed separately. The shaft portion 2A and the blade portion 2B in this embodiment are formed integrally of plastic material. The pigment transporter member 2 also consists of a portion 2C which extends through the cylindrical portion of the pigment releasing portion. In this mode, this spreading portion 2C is projected outwardly beyond the pigment-releasing portion "la", and the force to rotationally drive the pigment-carrying member 2 is transmitted from the main unit 100 to the pigment-carrying member 2 through this extending portion 2C outward from the pigment releasing portion. Furthermore, in this embodiment, this extension portion 2C is adjusted with the sealing member 3, which becomes movable in the axial direction of the axis portion 2A. In this embodiment, the sealing member 3 has four functions: (1) to seal the releasing portion of the pigment; (2) receiving the rotary motive force transmitted from the main unit 100; (3) transmitting the rotary driving force to the pigment transporting member 2; and (4) the clutch with a coupling member 6 provided on the side of the main unit for opening or closing the pigment-releasing portion. In other words, the driving force received by the sealing member 3 from the main unit 100 is transmitted to the axis portion 2A through the spreading portion 2C to rotate the pigment transporting member 2. These functions will be described later in detail. The outward end portion 2a of the extension portion 2C is formed to receive the rotary drive force from the main unit 100, through the sealing member 3. More specifically, in this embodiment, this outward end portion 2a is cut in the The shape of a letter "H", so that the axis portion 2A is supported by the sealing member 3, by the portion 2a of the extension portion 2C, which extends towards the pigment-releasing portion. The other end of the shaft portion 2A is supported rotatably by the bearing portion Ib of the main body of the container IA. In this way, the pigment transporting member 2 can rotate freely as long as the pigment supply container 1 remains unclogged. The pigment transporting member 2 is supported by the sealing member 3 so that the pigment transporting blade 2B does not contact the inner surface of the pigment releasing portion 1, and also the shaft portion 2A becomes tantially parallel to the inner surface of the pigment-releasing portion. With the pigment carrying member 2 supported as described above, the pigment is conveyed to the pigment releasing port lg, tantially in the horizontal direction, as the pigment transporting member 2 is rotated and, also, it is possible to prevent microscopic particles of pigment are forced into the space between the blade 2B and the lal wall of the pigment-releasing portion, which are rubbed against the molten wall and form a solid adhered to the wall lal; the microscopic pigment particles are prevented from being added into tantially larger pigment particles. It is desirable that the pigment transporter member 2 is also formed integrally of plastic material by injection molding or the like method, since this material and method of manufacture are simple. However, other materials and methods of manufacture than those described may be used. For example, the pigment transporter member 2 may be constituted of an optional number of pieces, which are formed separately and then joined together. The bearing portion Ib is provided with a sealing member 11, which prevents the pigment from entering the bearing portion Ib. Next, the sealing member 3 will be described in relation to Figure 6. Figure 6, (A) is a plan view of the sealing member, as seen from the front side of the printer; (B) a plan view of the sealing member as seen from the direction of an arrow mark A in (A); (C) a plan view of the sealing member viewed from the direction of an arrow mark B in (A); (D), a section of the sealing member on an X-X line of (A); and Figure 6, (E) is a section of the sealing member on a Y-Y line in (A). In Figure 6, (A, B, C, D and E), a reference code 3b designates a real sealing portion of the sealing member 3, which is located on the side of the pigment-supplying container of the sealing member to open or closing the pigment-releasing hole lg of the pigment-supplying container 1. The external diameter of the sealing portion 3b becomes slightly larger, in a suitable quantity, than the diameter of the pigment-releasing hole lg, and the pigment-releasing orifice Ig the plug portion 3b1 of the sealing portion 3b is pushed into the pigment releasing hole lg of the pigment releasing portion l. A reference code 3c designates a coupling portion, which constitutes a transmitting portion by means of which the sealing member 3 receives the force to urge the pigment transporting member 2 from the main unit 100. The coupling portion 3c consists of an axis portion 3cl and 3d ribs. The shaft portion 3cl extends in the direction opposite to the main body of the container IA, and the axial lines of the shaft portion 2A and the shaft portion 3cl substantially coincide with each other. The 3d ribs are in the form of a groove, which constitute the real portions that receive the driving force. These are disposed on the peripheral surface of the shaft portion 3cl, extending in the longitudinal direction of the shaft portion 3cl and projecting radially from the peripheral surface of the shaft portion 3cl, and engaging a first coupling member 5. In this embodiment, there are 4 3d ribs evenly distributed around the peripheral surface of the 3cl axis portion.

* Furthermore, the sealing member 3 consists of a female coupling portion 3a constituting a portion that engages with the outward end portion 2a of the pigment transporting member 2 to transmit the driving force received from the main unit 100 towards the pigment transporting member 2. This female coupler portion 3a is constituted by a hole cut through the plug portion 3bl and the male coupler portion 3c. The cross section of the female coupler portion 3a is in the shape of a letter "D", which coincides with the shape of the cross section of the outward portion 2a of the pigment transporting member 2, which projects outward from the pigment releasing portion. The cross section of the female coupling portion 3a is becomes slightly larger than the outward portion 2a of the pigment conveyor member 2 so that the outward portion 2a fits loosely in the female coupling portion 3a. With the extreme outward portion 2a adjusted from In a loose manner in the female coupling portion 3a, ie, the coupling hole 3a, the pigment transporting member 2 and the sealing member 3 remain securely coupled in terms of the direction of rotation of the pigment transporting member 2 while it allows them the free sliding one relative to the other in the axial direction of the pigment transporting member 2. In this way, as the pigment supply container is installed in the main unit 100, the sealing member 3 and the main body of the container 1A can be separated 5 to separate the obturator (open) the pigment releasing hole lg, which will be described later. The length by which the coupling hole 3a and the outward end portion 2a engage each other is such that the coupling hole 3a and The outward end portion 2a does not uncouple from one another when the actual obturating portion 3b of the sealing member 3 separates from the main body of the container IA. With this arrangement, even when the actual obturating portion 3b of the sealing member 3 is not in contact with the body As the main vessel of the container IA, the pigment transporting member 2 is allowed to receive the driving force by the sealing member 3 (female coupling portion 3c). The sealing member 3 also consists of a flange portion 3f, which lies between the portion male coupler 3a and the actual sealing portion 3b, and comes into contact with the end portion of the pigment releasing portion when the actual sealing portion 3b is depressed in the pigment releasing portion la. The external diameter of the flange portion 3f is substantially the same as the pigment releasing portion. With the presence of the flange portion 3f, the actual sealing portion 3b is depressed in the pigment releasing portion by the exact length of the plug portion 3bl. A reference code 3e designates a projection, which is located at the tip of the male coupling portion 3c, and engages with a blocking member 6 on the side of the main unit as the pigment supply container 1 is installed in the main unit 100, as shown in Figure 7 and will be described later. With the projection 3e coupled with the blocking member 6, the sealing member 3 remains immobilized while opening the pigment releasing hole lg. It is desired that the sealing member 3 also be formed of plastic resin or the like by injection molding. However, other material than plastic resin, and different manufacturing method of injection molding can be employed. In addition, the sealing member 3 may be constituted of two or more pieces, which are formed separately and then joined together. The sealing member 3 needs to have an adequate amount of elasticity so as to adequately seal the pigment releasing portion IA when it is pressed into the pigment releasing portion. As material for the sealing member 3, low density polyethylene is more desirable, but it is also possible to use polypropylene, nylon, high density polyethylene or the like. Next, the agitator member 4 will be described. The agitator member 4 is a member for stirring the pigment powder stored in the pigment storage portion 1A3 to break up the aggregation of the pigment particles, and also to prevent the pigment from being distributed. unevenly in the 1A3 pigment storage portion; East • is a member to release the pigment powder from the serving pigment storage 1A3 without allowing any portion of it to remain in the storage portion 1A3. The stirring member 4 is constituted of a shaft portion 4A and a stirring blade portion 4B, which is attached to the shaft portion 4A, and breaks the aggregation of the particles of The pigment as it is rotated by rotating the shaft portion 4A. The agitator member 4 is supported rotationally by the bearing portions Ie and Id, by its longitudinal end portions 4a and 4b, respectively, of the axis portion 4a. The bearing portions Ie and Id are located on the pigment releasing portion la and the bearing portion Ib, respectively. The agitator member 4 also contains coupling claws 4c for receiving the rotational driving force of the main unit 100. The claw Coupling 4c is attached to a longitudinal end 4a, i.e., the longitudinal end of the agitator member 4 on the side of the pigment-releasing portion, which is supported by the bearing portion thereof. The agitator member 4 is also desired to be formed of plastic resin or the like by injection molding. However, another material and manufacturing method different from those described above can be employed. In addition, the agitator member 4 may be constituted of two or more pieces, which are formed separately and then joined together. The bearing portions Ie and Id are provided with the sealing member 12 and 13, respectively, which prevents the powdered pigment from entering the bearing portions Ie and Id. The method for assembling the pigment-supplying container will now be described. In the assembly of the pigment supply container 1, first, the pigment transporting member 2 and the stirring member 4 are attached to the lower frame 1K of the main body of the container IA. Then, the upper frame 1J of the main body of the container ÍA sticks to the lower frame 1K. For the gluing method, it is possible to use various known methods, but it is desirable to use ultrasonic welding since the ultrasonic welding is simple and is also better in terms of the air tightness of the pigment supply container.

Then, a predetermined amount of pigment is filled into the main body of the container IA, and then, ex-pigment-releasing port Ig is plugged with the sealing member 3 to complete the pigment-supplying container 1. As is clear from the description above, assembling the pigment supply container 1 is extremely simple, requiring only a number of extremely small steps. In general, the pigment is adjusted [sic] in the pigment supply vessel 1 through the pigment releasing hole lg. However, the pigment can be filled through the dedicated hole (not shown), which is made in the wall of the main body of the container 1A, in an optional location, and sealed with a lid or the like after filling the pigment. Furthermore, the pigment can be filled in the lower frame 1K of the main body of the container IA before the upper frame 1J is joined to the lower frame 1K, after the pigment transporting member 2, the stirring member 4 and the sealing member 3 they are assembled in the lower frame 1K. Next, in relation to Figure 7, it will be described how the pigment supply container 1 is installed in the main unit 100. For the replacement of the pigment supply container, first the cover 15 of the main unit 100 is opened and the container supplying the pigment 1 is opened. pigment 1 is inserted into the main unit 100. As the pigment supply container 1 is inserted, the male coupler portion 3c of the sealing member 3 engages with the locking member 6 on the side of the main unit. After, the cover for the replacement of the pigment supply container 15 is closed. When the cover 15 is closed, the pigment supply container 1 moves in the opposite direction to the direction in which the pigment supply container 1 is inserted into the main unit 100, by means of the opening-closing mechanism (not illustrated). ) on the side of the main unit 100. As a result, the sealing member 3 is separated from the pigment releasing hole lg. During and after this movement of the pigment supply container 1, the pigment transporting member 2 and the sealing member 3 remain coupled in terms of their rotational directions. Furthermore, during this movement of the pigment supply container 1, the sealing member 3 engages with the first coupling member 5 on the side of the main unit 100, by the portion of the male coupler 3c. The first coupling member 5 is a coupler for transmitting the driving force of the driving apparatus (not illustrated) in the main unit 100, towards the sealing member 3.

In this way, the pigment transporting member 2 is rotated by the rotational driving force received by the sealing member 3 from the main unit 100, and continuously releases the pigment towards the main unit 100 through the pigment releasing hole lg. In this embodiment, the pigment detector 114g is provided in the pigment hopper portion, and as the pigment detector 114g detects the absence of pigment, the sealing member 3 is rotated, while, as the pigment detector 114g detects the pigment detector 114g. presence of pigment, the rotation of the sealing member 3 is interrupted. In other words, the sealing member 3 is rotated intermittently in response to the pigment consumption on the side of the main unit 100, and therefore, the pigment is administered in a uniform but intermittent manner to the main unit 100. However, the entire amount of pigment in the pigment supply container 1 can be discharged all at once in the main unit 100 as the pigment supply container 1 is installed in the main unit 100. A method for replacing the pigment supply vessel 1. As substantially all of the amount of pigment in the pigment supply container 1 is consumed through the imaging process, it is detected in a pigment consumption detecting means (not illustrated), provided in the side of the main unit 100, that the entire amount of the pigment in pigment supply vessel 1 has been consumed, and the user is informed of the 5 pigment exhaustion in the pigment supply container 1 by means of presentation means 100b (Figure 11) such as a liquid crystal display. In this mode, the supplier container of # pigment 1 is replaced by the user. The steps for exchanging the pigment supply container 1 are as follows. First, the cover 15 for the replacement of the pigment supply vessel, which has remained closed as illustrated in Figure 11, and Figure 13 (A) and (B) is open; it is rotated about a hinge 18 tk to a position as indicated by the dotted line, as shown in Figure 12 and Figure 13, (C). Being linked to the opening movement of the cover 15 for the replacement of the supply container of The pigment, the sealing member 3, which has been separated from the main body of the container IA by the movement of the main body IA, and has been in the position to maintain the pigment-releasing orifice lg open, is pressed into the pigment-releasing portion. through a means (not illustrates) to open or close the pigment releasing portion la, and as a result the pigment-releasing orifice Ig is closed. Then, the user removes the pigment supply container 1, which has been installed in the main unit 100, and has exhausted the pigment, outside the main unit 100 by extracting the pigment supply container 1 in the opposite direction to the direction it is indicated by an arrow mark in Figure 13 (C). After this, the user inserts a new pigment supply container 1 into the main unit 100 in the direction of the arrow, and closes the cover 15 (Figure 13, (A) and (B)). Being linked to the closing movement of the cover 15, the sealing member 3 is separated from the main body of the container A by the means for opening / closing the pigment-releasing portion, and as a result, the pigment-releasing hole lg is not sealed . These are the steps for replacing the pigment supply container 1. Figure 8 is a drawing for representing the configuration of the first coupling member 5 in detail. Figure 8, (A) is a front view of the coupling portion 5; (B) a rear view of the coupling portion 5; and Figure 3, (C) is a section of the coupling portion 5, parallel to the axial direction thereof. In Figure 8, a reference code 5a designates a gear portion constituting the peripheral portion of the coupling member 5. The pigment supply vessel 1 receives the driving force from the main unit 100 by this gear portion 5a. A reference code 5b designates a coupling hole which engages with the sealing member 3. On the inner peripheral surface of the coupler hole 5b is provided with grooves 5c, which are coupled with one of the above-mentioned groove-like projections aforementioned 3d of the sealing member 3. One of the edges of the coupling hole 5b, that is, the edge facing the pigment supply container 1, is of decreasing cross-section, constitutes a guide portion 5b. In this mode, the sealing member 3 is provided with 4 projections similar to 3d grooves, and the first coupling member 5 is provided with 12 coupling grooves 5c. Since the number of coupling grooves 5c becomes larger than that of the groove-like projections 3c, and also, the side of the coupling hole inlet 5b is provided with the guide portion 5d, the sealing member 3 securely engages with the first coupling member 5 even if the spline-like projections 3d and the coupling slots 5d are misaligned in terms of the phase of rotation. It should be noted here that the number of projections # with 3d grooves appearance of the sealing member 3 need not be limited to 4; it's optional. In addition, the number of coupling slots 5c need not be limited to 12; It is also optional. The agitator member 4 engages a second coupling member 9, that is, a member provided in the main unit 100 for driving the agitator member by the coupling claw 4c, ie, a portion with which the longitudinal end 4a of the agitator member 4 is provided so that the agitator member 4 can be coupled with the second coupling member 9. The second coupling member 9 is a coupler for transmitting the driving force from the driving apparatus (not shown) on the side of the main unit 100, towards agitator member 4. Figure 9 is a drawing which depicts in detail the configuration of the second coupling member 9. Figure 9 (A) is a side view of the second coupling member 9; (B), a plan view of it, as seen from the upper or lower direction in (A); (C), a plan view of the latter as viewed from the direction of an arrow mark A in (A); and Figure 9 (B) is a section of this on a line X-X in (C). In the drawings, a reference code 9a designates an axis portion, which is the side of the main unit # of the coupling means 9, and through which the force for driving the agitator member 4 is transmitted from the main unit 100 to the agitator member 4. A code of reference 9b designates a coupling claw, which projects in the radial direction from the peripheral surface of the side of the pigment-supplying container 1 of the second coupling member 9, being slightly angled in relation to the axial line of the second coupling member 9, and transmits the driving force received from the main unit 100 by the shaft portion 9a towards the stirring member 4, the second coupling member 9 has two coupling claws 9b. As the shaft portion 9a is rotated by the driving force from the main unit 100, with the claw coupling 9b coupled with the coupling claw 4c of the agitator member 4, the second coupling member 9 is rotated, which in turn rotates the agitator member 4. The coupling claws 9b and 4c of the second coupling member 9 and agitator member 4, respectively, are structured so that even if the coupling claws 9b and 4c become misaligned in terms of the phase of rotation at the time the pigment supply container 1 is installed, these they line up automatically and dock securely.

As the pigment supply container 1 is installed in the main unit 100, the pigment releasing portion of the pigment supply container 1 is maintained in a carrier 6a of the main unit 100, and the space between the outer peripheral surface of the portion pigment liberator the and the inner peripheral surface of the carrier 6a is sealed by a circular sealing member 8. The release of the pigment will now be described. The first coupling member 5 receives the rotational motive power from a power source (not illustrated) such as an electric motor on the side of the main unit 100 via a power transmitting means (not illustrated) as it can be. be a gear. The driving force received by the first coupling member 5 is transmitted to the sealing member 3 by the coupling between the slot 5c and the spline-shaped projection 3d. The driving force transmitted to the sealing member 3 is further transmitted to the pigment transporting member 2 through the coupling between the coupling hole 3 with the "D" shaped cross section and the outward end 2a with the cross-section in "D" shape.

The second coupling member 9 receives the driving force also from the power source (not illustrated) such as an electric motor in the main unit 100 through a power transmitting means (not illustrated) such as a gear . Since the claws 9b and 4c engage with each other, the driving force that is transmitted to the second coupling member 9 is transmitted to the agitator member 4 and rotates the agitator member 4. As the agitator member 4 is rotated, the pigment particles that have been added due to the vibration that occurred during the transportation of the pigment supply vessel 1, or due to the escape of air from the pigment, which occurred while the pigment supply vessel 1 was stored for a prolonged period of time , it is dispersed to avoid problems like "bridging". In this embodiment, the numbers of the revolution for the pigment transporter member 2 and the stirring member 4 are set at approximately 37 / min and 8 / min, respectively. The pigment, the particles from which they have been separated by the agitator member 4, is transported towards the pigment releasing hole lg as the pigment transporter 2 is rotated. Then, this is released from the pigment releasing hole lg, drops to the pigment hopper 114a of the main unit 100 through the pigment receiving orifice 10 of the main unit 100. As previously described, the section between the pigment-releasing orifice Ig and the pigment-receiving orifice 10 are hermetically sealed against the air by the sealing member 8, and therefore, the pigment particles released from the pigment-releasing hole lg is prevented from leaking and dispersing in the internal space of the main unit 100. In this embodiment, the container supplying Pigment 1 is designed so that the sealing member 3 is kept immediately outside the pigment releasing hole lg. With this arrangement, a suitable distance necessary to prevent the sealing member 3 from preventing the pigment from being released from the pigment releasing hole lg in an amount according to the flocculence of the pigment can be maintained between the sealing member 3 and the releasing orifice. of pigment lg. As a result, the obstruction of the pigment-releasing portion adjacent to the pigment-releasing orifice lg, and various problems resulting from the obstruction can be avoided. In addition, the force for driving the agitator member 4 and the force for driving the pigment transporter member 2 are separated on the side of the main unit 100, and are transmitted independently to the agitator member 4 and the pigment transporting member 2. Therefore, an area in which the gears or the like are rubbed against each other, that is, the joints through which the driving force from the side of the main unit 5 100 is transmitted to the pigment supply vessel. 1, it is not in the space in which the pigment is stored. In this way, the pigment particles do not fuse into larger particles. In addition, the arrangement that separates, on the side of the main unit 100, the force to drive the stirring member 4, and the force to drive the pigment transporter member 2 can reduce the cost of the pigment supply container 1, and likewise, reduce the operating cost of the printer, in comparison with a arrangement that divides, within the main body of the container IA the driving force from the main unit 100. Next, the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Figure 10 is a vertical section of the container The pigment supplier, parallel to the longitudinal direction of the container, in the second embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, the container is located in the main unit of the electrophotographic copying machineand it is open. The reference codes in the drawing, which are the same as in Figure 7, designate corresponding components and sections. In Figure 10, a reference code 4 'designates a stirring member, which in this embodiment is driven from the longitudinal end portions 4a and 4b of its axis portion. The end portions 4A and 4B are provided with coupling claws 4c and 4d, respectively, for receiving the rotational driving force from the main unit 100, and are supported by the bearing portions le and le, respectively, of the pigment supply vessel 1. As the pigment supply container 1 is installed in the main unit 100, the coupling claws 4c in the longitudinal end portion 4a of the agitator member 4 engage with the coupling claw 9b of the second coupling member 9 on the side of the unit main 100, and the coupling claw 4d of the other longitudinal end 4b of the agitator member 4 engages the coupling claw 14a of a third coupling member 14, which is the same in configuration as the second coupling member 9 (Figure 9). ). Also in this embodiment, the pigment supply container 1 and the main unit 100 are designed so that even if the coupling claws 4c and 4d of the agitator member 4 ', and the coupling claws 9b and 14a of the second and third members of coupling 9 and 14, respectively, are misaligned in terms of the phase of rotation at the moment when the pigment supply container 1 is installed in the main unit 100, these automatically align to be securely cluttered, as shown in FIG. describes in the first modality. Also, in Figure 10, a reference code Ml designates a first motor, which is arranged in the main unit 100 to rotationally drive the pigment transporter member 2, and a code of Reference M2 designates a second motor, which is also disposed in the main unit 100 to rotationally drive the agitator member 4 'by transmitting the driving force to the agitator member 4' from both longitudinal ends of the agitator member 4 ' . Next, the release of the pigment will be described. The first coupling member 5 receives the rotational driving force from the first motor Ml on the side of the main unit 100 through a transmitting member energy (not illustrated) as can be a gear. The driving force received by the first coupling member d is transmitted to the sealing member 3 by the coupling between the slot 5c and the spline-shaped projection 3d. The driving force transmitted to the member The obturator 3 is also transmitted to the pigment transporting member 2 by the coupling between the coupling hole 3 with the "D" shaped cross section and the outward end 2a with the "D" shaped cross section. The second and third coupling members 9 and 14 receive the driving force from the second motor M2 on the side of the main unit 100 via a power transmitting means (not illustrated) such as a gear. The driving force received by the second and third coupling members 9 and 14 is transmitted to the agitator member 4 'through the coupling between the coupling claw 4c of the agitator member f and the coupling claw 4b of the second coupling member 9, and also through the coupling between the coupling claw 4d of the agitator member 4 'and the coupling claw 14a of the third coupling member 14. In this embodiment, as a signal is input to the printer to drive the pigment-supplying container 1 in the main unit 100, first, the agitator member 4 'is rotated for a predetermined time and then, the agitator member 4' and the pigment transporter member 2 are rotated together. Furthermore, according to a signal for interrupting the actuation of the pigment supply container 1 in the main unit 100 is inserted into the printer, the stirring member 4 'and the pigment transporting member 2 are stopped at the same time, or the stirring member 4' a predetermined period of time is stopped after stopping the pigment transporter member 2. 5 With this rotation arrangement the stirring member 4 'for a predetermined time duration before starting the rotation of the pigment transporter member 2 and after stopping the rotation of pigment transporter member 2, pigment particles 2, particles of pigment, which have been added, always disperse before, during and after the pigment is released. In this way, even if a pigment supply container is stored for a prolonged period of time, or subjected to vibration or undesirable environmental conditions (tempera high and high humidity) during its transportation, as a result, the air contained in the pigment escapes to allow the pigment particles to flocculate densely, the pigment can be released precisely from the pigment supplying container at a predetermined speed. 20. In this way, the same effects as those described in the first modality can be obtained in this modality. In addition, the agitator member 4 'in this embodiment is driven from both longitudinal ends and, therefore, the torsional force at which the agitator member 4' is subjected to no greater than the torsional force to which the agitator member 4 in the first embodiment is subjected. Therefore, the material for the agitator member 4 'may be less resistant in terms of rotational force than the material for the agitator member 4 of the first embodiment; in other words, it is possible to use a more economical material as material for the agitator member 4 '. further, the means for transmitting the driving force towards both longitudinal ends of the stirring member 4 'is placed on the side of the main unit 100 instead of being on the side of the pigment-supplying container 1, and therefore, the cost of the supplying container pigment 1 is low, which in turn reduces the operating cost of the printer. In addition, the number of revolutions of the stirring member 4 'and the pigment transporting member 2 become adjustable, so that they can be varied in response to the necessary density of the image. Therefore, the energy consumption of the energy sources (Ml and M2 motors) can be reduced to reduce the operating cost of the printer. A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In this embodiment a feeder member and an agitator member that is a member separate from the feeder member are provided.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a pigment supply container 301 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 15 (A) is a front view of the pigment supply container according to this embodiment and (B) is a sectional view. Figure 15 (C) is a left side view of the pigment-supplying container, (D) is a right-side view of the pigment-supplying container, (E) is a sectional side view of the pigment-supplying container, and (F) is a top plan view of the pigment supply container. Figure 16 is a sectional front view in which the pigment supply container is loaded in the main unit 100 of the apparatus, and the supply port is open. Figure 17 is a sectional front view in which the pigment supply container is loaded into the main unit 100 of the apparatus and the supply port is plugged. In Figures 14-17, designated by 301A is a main unit of the container, and 302 is a feeder member for feeding the pigment ed in the main body 301A of the container to the portion of the pigment supplying port 301a. Designated by 303 is an obturating member for sealing the pigment supplying port 301g, and 304 is a coupling member for transmitting the driving force to the sealing member 303 when the pigment-supplying container is mounted to the main unit 100 of the apparatus. Designated by 305 is an agitator member for stirring the pigment in the main body IA. Designated by 306 is a transmitting member engageable with the agitator member 305 for transmitting rotational force from the image forming apparatus to the agitator member. Designated by 307 is a second coupling member for transmitting the driving force to the transmitting member 306 when the pigment supply container is mounted to the main unit 100. Designated by 309 is an oil seal to prevent pigment leakage. With reference to Figure 18 and Figure 19, the portion of the pigment-supplying container 301A which is in a main unit of the pigment-supplying container will be described. Figure 18 is a perspective view of the main unit of the container. Figure 19, (A) is a front view of the main unit of the container, (B) is a sectional view, (C) is a left side view, (D) is a right side view, (E) is a view of a cross section, (F) is a top plan view. The main body IA of the pigment-supplying container includes a curved portion 301F having a decreasing amplitude towards the lower portion, a flat surface portion 301G having a substantially constant amplitude extended from the lower portion of the curved portion and a configuration portion. arched 301H extended from the lower portion of the flat surface portion. In a lower portion of a lateral surface 1A1 of the main body 301A of the container, a cylindrical member defining a portion of the pigment supply port 301A is projected and functioning to supply pigment ed in the pigment-receiving portion ln to the main unit of the device. A pigment supply port 301g is provided at an end portion of the pigment-supplying port portion 301a. In a portion corresponding to the portion of the pigment supply port 301a of the other side surface 301B, a first receiving portion 301b is formed to rotatably support the feeder member 2. Out of 301D, a clutch portion 301c is provided for the coupling with the opening and closing means of the pigment supply port provided in the main unit 100 to move the pigment supply container 301 in the direction of assembly and disassembly. In this embodiment the clutch portion 301C is in the form of a pin projecting outward from the bottom surface 301D. The upper surface 301E is provided with a handle 301E to facilitate mounting of the pigment supply container 391 to the main unit 100 and to remove it from the main unit 100. The sloping lower surface (curved portion) 301F of the front side and the rear side, Slots 301f are provided extended substantially parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the container to facilitate handling of the main body IA of the container when the pigment supply container 1 • Mounts to the main unit 100 of the apparatus. On first receiving portion 301bl of the other side surface 301B a second receiving portion 301b2 is provided to rotatably support the stirring member 305. Port portion supplying pigment 301a is disposed on a side surface 301A1 opposite from the side surface 301B having the handle 301e in the longitudinal direction of the main body 301A. By this arrangement, when the user assembles the pigment supply container 301 to the main unit 100, the The user avoids inadvertently touching the serving port portion of pigment 301a. The portion of the pigment supplying port 301a is located in the lower position of the lateral surface 301A1. Therefore, even if the amount of pigment lodged in the main body 301A becomes small, the pigment can be discharged efficiently. The portion of the pigment supply port is projected from the lateral surface 301A of 20 mm / 40 mm, preferably approximately 27.8 mm. The portion of the pigment supplying port 301a is cylindrical in shape and the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion is 20mm-30mm, preferably about 27.6mm. As described so far, a portion of clutch 301C is provided on the outside of the lower surface 301D. The clutch portion 301C is correctly positioned by a blocking portion 51C (Figure 8) provided in the ICO main unit of the apparatus when the pigment supply container is mounted to the unit main 100. Clutch portion 301C, as described above, is in the form of a column projection (pin) projecting to the exterior from the lower surface 301D. The circular column-shaped portion has an outer diameter 8 which is 5 mm-12 mm, preferably approximately 8mm. The positioning portion is disposed in a position 2 mm-6 m away from the lower surface 301D and the clutch portion 301C (positioning portion) is disposed in a position 60 mm- 80 mm, preferably approximately 71 mm away from the the extreme surface side 301B opposite the side of the portion of the pigment supply port 301a in the longitudinal direction of the bottom surface 301D. The side surface 301A1 and the other side surface 301B, each is provided with two projections 301k, 3011 for the positioning of the main unit of the container when the dimensions inspection for the main unit of the container is carried out before the container is carried out. be distributed from a plant. Designated by 301m is a rib to avoid wrong assembly. The user is prevented from mistakenly mounting the container by arranging the rib 301m in different positions for the pigment-supplying containers. The main body 301A is preferably manufactured by injection molding resin material such as plastic resin material, blow molding or injection blow molding, but other material and / or other manufacturing method is usable. The main body 301A of the container can be divided into two or more portions, which are unified by welding, adhesion or the like. In the modality, the upper frame and the lower frame of high impact polystyrene is unified by vibration welding. The feeder member 302, as shown in Figure 16, includes a shaft portion 302A and a helical rigid feeder blade 302B, at the shaft portion 302A, which functions as a feeder portion for feeding the powder pigment in a predetermined direction by the rotation of the shaft portion 302A. The feeder member 302 is mounted to the main body 301A the container with the axis of the shaft portion 302A substantially aligned with the center of the substantially circular pigment supplying port 301g. The feeder member 302 is not limited to the type of screw, as described above, but a flexible blade can be mounted to the shaft portion 302A, for example. The shaft portion and the blade can be molded in an integrated manner and can be separate members. In this embodiment, the shaft portion 302A and the blade 302B are made of plastic resin material molded in an integrated manner. In the embodiment, the feeder member 302 has an extension portion 302C that extends into the cylindrical portion of the portion of the pigment supplying port 301a. In this embodiment, the spreading portion 302C is further extended outwardly from the portion of the pigment supplying port 301a. A free end portion of the outwardly extending portion of the extension portion 302C receives rotational force from the main unit 100. Thus, in this embodiment, the sealing member 303 is movably mounted (in the axial direction). ) to the free end portion. An end portion 302a of the extension portion 302C has a configuration, such as polygonal, more specifically a rectangular configuration, to receive rotational force through the sealing member 303 from the main unit 100. This end portion of the shaft portion 302A it is supported on the sealing member 303 by an end portion 302a of the spreading portion 302C. The other end portion 302b of the shaft portion 302A is provided with a first bearing member 308. This is rotatably supported (when the obturator is separated) to the main body 301A by the first bearing member 308. The feeder member 302 is supported on the sealing member 303 so that the feeding blade 302B is out of contact with the inner wall surface 301a of the portion of the pigment supplying port 301a and this inner wall surface of the portion of the pigment supplying port 301a is substantially parallel with the shaft portion 302a. By supporting the feeder member 302 in this manner, the pigment may be fed in the substantially horizontal direction to the pigment supplying portion 301g by rotation of the feeder member 302. It is possible for fine pigment particles to enter in between the feeder blade 302B and the internal wall surface 301a of the portion of the pigment supply port 301a and are fused to the surface of the inner wall 301al by a strong rotation therebetween with the result of producing bulk pigment particles. However, this can be avoided by supporting the feeder member 302 in this manner. The feeder member 2 is also preferably manufactured by injection molding or the like of plastic resin material or the like, but another method and / or other material is usable. It can be of separate members that are connected. Referring to Figure 20, description will be made for an obturating member 303. In Figure 20 (A) is a front view of an obturating member. (B) is a view taken along a line A-A, (C) is a view taken along a line B-B, and (D) is a sectional front view. In (A) - (B) of Figure 20, designated by 303b, there is an obturating portion provided on an opposite side of the pigment-supplying container 301 of the sealing member 303 for sealing so as to be able to open the supplying port of the container. pigment 301g of the pigment supply container 301. The external diameter of the sealing portion 303b is larger than an internal diameter • of the pigment supplying port 301g in an adequate amount. The sealing member 303 tightly seals the pigment supply port 301g by press fitting the clutch portion 303bl of the sealing portion 303b in the portion of the pigment supply port 301a from the pigment supplying port 301g. Designated by 303c is a clutch portion that functions as a receiving portion of the driving force (impeller) for receiving the driving force for rotating the feeder member 302 of the main unit 100 of the apparatus when the pigment supply container 301 is mounted to the main unit 100. The clutch portion 303c is provided with a projected portion 303cl extended from the sealing portion 303b in the direction substantially coaxial with the axis of the axis portion 302A of the feeder member 302 in the opposite direction of the main body 301A of the pigment container (when the sealing member 303 is mounted to the main unit 301A of the container). The clutch portion 303C is provided on the curved surface of the projected portion 303cl, and is provided with elongated projections (ribs) 303d (grooved appearance), which functions as a receiving portion of the engagable drive force with the engaging member. coupling 304. In this modality, two 3d groove projections are provided in equal distances. More specifically, these are arranged at intervals of approximately 180 °. The rib 303d projects from the outer surface of the sealing member of 0.5mm-3mm, preferably about 1.8mm. REVISION The external diameter of the projected portion 303C1 is 10 mm - 14 mm, preferably approximately 12 mm. The sealing member 303 includes a clutch hole 303a as a driving force transmitting portion for transmitting the driving force received from the main unit 100 to the feeder member 302 by the clutch with an end portion 302a of the feeder member 302. clutch 303a is shaped like. one hole (hole) through the sealing portion 303b and the clutch portion 303c. At this point, the clutch orifice 303a has a rectangular portion corresponding to the rectangular configuration of the end 302a of the axis of the feeder member 302 projected from the powder pigment supplying portion 301a. This has a dimension slightly larger than that of the end 302a of the shaft, so that the end 302a fits loosely in the clutch hole 303a.

The feeder member 302 and the sealing member 303 are locked to each other in the direction of rotation by tightening without tightening between the end 302a and the clutch hole 303a. On the other hand, in the axial direction 5, the relative movement between these is allowed. By doing this, the sealing member 303 and the main body 301A of the container are separable from each other so that the pigment supplying port 301g can be opened with the • assembly of the pigment supply container. The clutch length between the clutch hole 303a and the end of the shaft 302a is large enough to prevent uncoupling between them when the sealing member 303 and the main body 301A of the container move away from each other. Therefore, even if the member obturator 303 moves away from the main body 3OYA, the feeder member 302 can receive the driving force through the sealing member 303 (clutch portion 303c). Between the clutch portion 303c and the sealing portion 303b, a flange portion 3f is provided which is spliced with the end of the powder pigment supplying portion 301a when the sealing portion 301b is press fit into the portion of the pigment supplying port 301a. The external diameter of the flange portion is substantially the same as the external diameter of the portion of the pigment supplying port 301a (preferably, it is smaller than the outer diameter of the portion of the pigment supplying port 301a). Through the flange portion 303f, the sealing portion 303b enters the portion of the pigment supplying port 301a through the length of the sealing portion 303b. On the other hand, designated by 303e is a locking projection 303e, formed at a free end of the clutch portion 303c, for the blocking clutch with the blocking member 6 provided in the main unit 100 of the apparatus. When blocking, the blocking member 6 with the blocking projection 303e, the sealing member 303 can be adjusted when the pigment supplying port 301g is open. The sealing member 303 is preferably manufactured by integrated injection molding of plastic resin material or similar resinous material, but other material, manufacturing method and / or non-integrated structure is used. The sealing member 303 is required to have adequate resilience to effect the pressure adjustment in the pigment supplying portion 301a to seal it. The material is polypropylene, Nylon, high density polyethylene or similar, but another preferable material is low density polyethylene. Designated by 303j is a locking slot for receiving a blocking member 6 provided in the main unit 100 of the apparatus. The amplitude of the locking groove 303j is 1.5 mm-5 mm, preferably about 3 mm. The depth of the locking groove is 0.5 mm - 5 mm, preferably approximately 2.5 mm. As described above, the sealing member 303 has a substantially cylindrical clutch portion 303bl engageable with the portion of the pigment supply port 303a. The flange portion 303f is substantially coaxial with the clutch portion 303bl. It further includes a projected portion 303cl projecting from the flange portion 303f substantially coaxial with the clutch portion 303bl on an opposite side from the side where the clutch portion 303bl is provided.; The free end portion adjacent to the projected portion 303cl is provided with a locking groove 303c, and a free end portion is formed in the blocking portion 303e. There is provided a hollow portion extending from the side of the clutch portion 303bl to the side of the locking portion 303e, and a transmitting portion of the driving force 303a is provided in the hollow portion. The locking portion 303e of the hollow portion does not open, and therefore, when the clutch portion 303bl engages with the portion of the pigment supply port 303a, the pigment does not leak from the hollow portion outwardly. In this way, the portion of the pigment supplying port 303a is blocked by the assembly of the sealing member 303. In the same way for the modes 1 and 2, the sealing member 303 has 4 functions. More specifically, the functions are: (1) sealing the portion of the pigment supplying port 301a, (2) receiving the transmission of rotational force from the main unit 100 of the apparatus, (3) transmitting the rotational force towards the member feeder 303 and (4) is engaged with the clutch member 6 provided in the main unit of the apparatus. In this manner, the sealing member 303 transmits the motive force received from the main unit 100 of the apparatus to the shaft portion 302A by the extension portion 302C to rotate the feeder member 302. The description will be made for the agitator member 305. Referring to Figure 21, (A) is a front view of agitator member 305, (B) is a left side view, and (C) is a right side view. As shown in Figure 21, agitator member 305 includes a shaft portion 305a, a rigid blade portion 305b and a flexible blade portion 305c. Figure 22 is an enlarged side view of a rigid blade portion 305, and Figure 23 is an enlarged view of the flexible blade portion 305c. The shaft portion 305a is made of a plastic resin material with relatively high stiffness and is manufactured by injection molding. The rigid blade portion 305b is made of material such as stainless steel or a highly rigid material, and the flexible blade portion 305c is of low stiffness material, such as a film or sheet of plastic resin material or elastomer sheet. In this mode, it is made of a polyester sheet. An end 305d of the agitator member 305 engages the above-described transmitting member 306 in the bearing portion 301h of the main body of the pigment-supplying vessel. The other end 305e is engaged with a retaining member (second bearing member) 310f in the second receiving portion 301b2 of the main body of the pigment-supplying container. The shaft portion 305a in this embodiment is made of plastic resin material with relatively high stiffness and is manufactured by injection molding, but may be of another material such as metal. The rigid blade portion portion 305b is preferably integrally molded using metal or the like, another material and / or method of manufacture is used, or it can be divided into two or more parts, which are joined by welding or adhesion or the like . In this embodiment, a pressed stainless steel plate having a thickness of approximately 0.8 mm is used. The clutch portion of the rigid blade portion 305b that are engageable with the shaft portion 305a has a configuration that conforms to the shaft portion 305a to receive the driving force from the blade portion 305a, and rotates with the rotational movement of the blade portion 305a. Shaft portion 305a to shake the pigment in the container. It is preferable to provide a removable portion 305h at one end as shown in Figure 21 since assembly is then simple. The entire length of the rigid blade portion 305b is in the form of a plate substantially parallel in relation to the direction of tangential rotation, and the downstream of the blade portion with respect to the direction of rotation is bent toward the surface of the wall internal of the pigment supply container. The length r of the bent portion 305bl shown in Figure 22 is approximately 2 mm-8 mm, and the flexure angle 6 is preferably approximately 30 ° -50 °. More preferably, the length r of the bent portion 305b is about 3mm-5mm, and the flexure angle is preferably about 45 °. In this embodiment, the length of the bent portion 305bl is approximately 5 mm, and the flexion angle is approximately 45 °. The distance from the center of the axis of rotation towards the free end of the rigid blade portion is suitably determined depending on the size of the main body of the container, and is about 70-95% of the internal radius of the main body of the container. In this embodiment, the internal diameter of the main body of the container is approximately 44.5 mm, and therefore, it is approximately 39.4 mm (89%). The flexible blade portion 305c is of material with little stiffness, such as a film or sheet of plastic resin material or elastomeric sheet. The thickness of this is preferably about 50 μm-500 μm and more preferably 100 μm 300 μm. In this embodiment, a polyester sheet having a thickness of approximately 100 μm was used. The flexible blade portion 305c is bent so that the free end contacts the surface of the inner wall of the main body over the entire length of the flexed portion 305bl of the rigid blade portion 305b. This rotates by scraping the pigment from the inner wall surface of the container with the rigid blade portion. The length, in the radial direction, the flexible blade portion 305c is preferably larger by approximately 0.5 mm-10 mm than the distance between the surface of the inner wall of the container and the free end of the rigid blade portion 305b since then the The above described effect can be improved. In this mode, it is greater than about 6 mm. The joint between the rigid blade portion 305b and the flexible blade portion 305c is made by a double layer tape 305i (DIC # 8800CH) as shown in Figure 23 in the bent portion 305b of the rigid blade portion 305b. Another method uses rivets or another means is usable The integrated molding with the rigid blade portion is known or is usable. As shown in Figure 24, the rigid blade portion 305b can be divided with a phase difference of 180 ° substantially - to the central portion in relationship with the direction of the axis, so that the divided parts are staggered. The number of divisions is suitably determined depending on the configuration and length of the main body of the container, and may be 3 or 4 or raas. The phase of the rigid blade portion 305b can change over its entire length to provide a spiral-like configuration. The clutch portion between the central portion of the shaft portion and the opposite ends of the rigid blade portion 305b is preferably provided with a releasable portion 305h as shown in the figure since the assembly property is then improved. The length of the bent portion of the rigid blade is approximately 3 mm to reduce the strength of the pigment and to decrease the projected area of the rigid blade portion in the direction of rotation. The The length and flexure angle of the bent portion is preferably 2-8 mm and 30-50 °, and more preferably about 3-5 mm and about 45 °. The rigid blade portion 305b and the flexible blade portion 305c may be corrugated by means of 5 aluminum rivets 4i. In this case, if the position of the rivet hole of the flexible blade portion 305c is still slightly deflected, ripple may result and, therefore, it is preferable to provide perforation or half cut # in a portion of the flexible blade portion 305c that makes contact with the bent portion C of the rigid blade portion 305b. The joining means may be a double-coated tape or other known means. The description will be made of the method for the method of assembling the pigment-supplying container 301. In the method of assembling the pigment-supplying container 301, the feeder member 302 is inserted into the lower portion of the lower frame 301K from the top. An oil seal 309 is inserted into the first receiving portion 301bl, and thereafter, a The bearing member 308 is engaged with the other end portion 302b of the feeder member 302. The pigment supplying port 301g is sealed by the sealing member 303. Then, the agitator member 305 is inserted from the top. An oil seal 309 is inserted into the body of the container, and thereafter, the second bearing member 310 and the transmitting member 306 engage the opposite ends of the stirring member 305. Then, the upper frame 301J is welded to the lower frame 301K by vibration molding, and a predetermined amount of pigment 5 is supplied to the main body 301A of the container through the filling port 301i of the main body of the pigment-supplying container 301, and the filling port 301i is sealed by the member # obturante 311, to complete the assembly. In this way, The assembling of the pigment supply container 301 is very simple, and the number of steps of the assembly is very small. The pigment filling can be done through the pigment supplying port 301g. In this embodiment, the exchange steps of the pigment supply container 301 are the same as with the first and second modes. When the portion of the pigment supply port 301a is opened through the opening and closing means of the pigment supply portion, the main body 301A of the container receives forces in the portion of the pigment supplying port 301a and the clutch portion 301c. At this time, as already described, the clutch portion 301c is disposed on an opposite side of the side having a portion of the pigment supplying port 301a in the longitudinal direction in the lower surface of the main body 301A of the container, the main body 301A is prevented from rising relative to the main unit 100. Even if the main body 3OYA is raised, the movement 5 of the main body 3OYA beyond a predetermined distance is limited by contact with the upper surface 301E to the upper surface portion 10000 (FIG. 25) of the main unit 100 of the apparatus. Clutch projection 301c and port The pigment supplier 301g of the pigment supply container 301 is preferably arranged in a line in the sliding direction of the container. By doing this, the production of the movement in any direction in Figure 25 in relation to the direction of the slip in the The pigment supply container 301 can be avoided. Even if movement occurs in either direction, the movement of the main body 301A beyond a predetermined distance can be avoided by the butt contact of the rib 301j as a holding portion. provided at 301B to the side wall portion 100a provided in the main unit 100. The height of the clutch projection 301c of the pigment supply container 301 is such that the superposition x between the clutch projection 301c and the member The container carrier 51 (Figure 25) is larger than the distance Y between the upper portion 301E of the container and the upper surface lOOd of the main unit of the apparatus (Figure 25) to prevent uncoupling upwardly of the pigment supply container 301 during the 5 sliding movement. The horizontal ribs 301j of the pigment-supplying container 301 in Figure 25 are preferably provided in the upper part of the pigment-supplying container 301 to prevent clogging, and in In this embodiment, these are disposed in an upper portion (higher than the central height) of the pigment supply container 1 with a suitable distance from the side wall portion lOOe. The description will be made for a drive mechanic for the container supplying the pigment 301 in this mode. When the pigment supply container 301 is to be assembled, the clutch portion 303c of the sealing member 303 is engaged with the first sealing member. coupling 304 of the main unit 100 of the apparatus, as shown in Figure 16. The first coupling member 304 functions to transmit the driving force of a driving device (not shown) provided in the main unit 100 for the sealing member. 303 # Figure 26 shows details of the first coupling member 304. Designated by 512 is a gear member having a gear portion on the outer surface 512a. The gear member 512 is constituted by two members, namely the gear portion 512A and the cover portion 512B, which are secured in an assured manner by snap-fit, adhesion or the like. The interior of the gear member 512 is provided with biasing means 512 and a movable member 513. The biasing means 514 abuts the portion 512b of the engagement member 512 and the portion 513b of the mobile member 513. Figure 27 is a detailed illustration of the gear portion 512, on dci.de (A) is a front view Sectional 15 and (B) and (C) are side views. Figure 28 is a detailed illustration of the movable member 513, wherein (A) is a sectional front view, and (B) and (C) are side views, and (D) is a front view. In Figure 27, the gear portion 512A is provided with 4 sliding guide ribs 512A1 arranged on the circumference. In Figure 28, the movable member 513 has 4 portions of sliding guide holes 513c arranged in the circumference, and engages with the sliding guide ribs 512A1 of the gear portion 512A1, by which the movable member 513 is slidable in the meshing member. 512. Designated by 513a is a transmitting portion of the impulse of the movable member 513. The transmitting portion 5 of the pulse 513a engages with an elongated projection 303d of the sealing member 303 to transmit the rotational force towards the sealing member when the supplying container of the pigment 1 is mounted to the main unit '100 of the apparatus. In Figure 27, designated by 517, 515 are the bearing members for the rotary support of the gear member 512, and 516 is an oil seal. By means of the oil seal 516, the pigment discharged through the pigment supplying port 301g is prevented from entering the bearing members 515, 517 resulting in the locking of the gear member 512. Designated by 519 is a joint member of the gear, and when the pigment supply container 301 is mounted to the main unit 100 of the apparatus, it contacts by pressure with the portion 303h (Figure 20) of the sealing member 303 to prevent the pigment discharged through the pigment supplying port 301g between the gear member 512. Designated by 511, 510 are the driving side plates for supporting the first coupling member 304. Designated by 518 is a bearing bracket that functions to support the bearing 515 and the oil seal 516 and which is securely fixed to the drive side plate 511 by screws or adhesion. Designated by 520 is a joint member of the support, 5 which prevents the pigment from leaking between the bearing support and the support 5 as shown in Figure 20. The joint member of the gear 519 and the joint member of the support 518 are fixed to gear member 512 and the # Bearing support 518, respectively, by a tape with double layer or similar, and the material of this is elastic material such as urethane foam. The description will be made for an operation of the first coupling member 304. The mobile member 513 of the coupling member is retractable in a direction A in the Figure 26 due to the structure described in the above. Normally, this is pushed into a position, which is shown in Figure 26 by the pushing means 514. When the pigment supply container 301 is mounted to the main unit 100 of the apparatus, the sealing member 303 enters the coupling member as shown in Figure 20. If the phases of the projections 303d of the sealing member 303 and the transmitting portions of the pulse 513a of the mobile member 513 are matched, in the gear member 512 and the mobile member 513 rotate by a driving mechanism the main unit not shown, so that the sealing member 303 is rotated through the transmitting portion of the pulse 513a. When the phases do not coincide, the mobile member 513 is pushed in the direction A in figure 32 by the projection 303d of the sealing member 3. When the gear member 512 and the mobile member 513 are rotated by the impeller of the main unit with In this state, the mobile member 513 rotates until the coupling phase between the projection 303d of the sealing member 303 and the transmitting portion of the pulse 513a of the mobile member 513 is reached. When the phases coincide, the mobile member 513 slides by the pushing means 514 to the position shown in Figure 26 wherein the pulse transmitting portion 513a and the elongated projection 303d of the sealing member 303 are engaged to transmit the pulse to the sealing member 303. Figure 29 shows the details of the second coupling member. Designated by 521 is an impulse transmitter claw. In Figure 30, (A) is a sectional front view of the transmitter claw of the pulse 521, (B) is a side view, (C) is a front view and (D) is a top surface. In Figure 30, designated by 521a is a claw portion, 521b is a slide guide portion, 521c is a parallel spline slot portion, and 521d is a spring receiving surface. Figure 31 is a detailed illustration of the transmitter member 306 shown in Figure 19, where (A) is a sectional front view, (B) and (C) are side views and (D) is a front view. In Figure 31, designated 307a, there is a transmission claw portion. In Figure 29, designated 522, there is an impeller shaft that is rotatably supported on the drive side plates 510 and 511 by the bearings 525, 526, and is provided with a unidirectional gear 527 that is provided with an integrated sense 527a which transmits the rotation only in one direction of rotation. The drive shaft claw 521 is slidable by the clutch between the sliding guide portion 521b and the drive shaft 522, and by coupling with the portion of the parallel spigot groove, the rotation of the drive shaft 522 is transmitted to the pulse drive pulley 521. Designated by 524 is the thrust means which is connected to the spring seat 528 and the receiving surface of the spring 521d of the impulse transmission claw 521. The description will be made for an operation of the second coupling member 307. The impulse transmission claw 521 of the second coupling member 307 is movable in the direction A in the Figure 32 due to the structure described in the above, and is normally pushed to a position as shown in Figure 29 by the pushing means 524. When the pigment supply container 301 is mounted to the main unit 100 of the apparatus, the transmitting means 306 enters the second coupling member 307. When the phase relationship in these portions of the transmitting claw 307a of the transmitting member 307 is encued In abutting contact with the jaw portions 521a of the impulse drive jaw 521, the jaw portions 521a of the impulse drive jaw 521 are rotated by the portions of the transmission jaw 307a of the extension member 307. At this time, the drive shaft 522 rotates with the rotation of the transmission member 306, but this rotates without benefit due to the unidirectional clutch portion 527a of the unidirectional gear 527, and therefore, when the pigment supply container 301 is assembled to the main unit 100 of the apparatus, the impulse transmitter claw 521 and the transmitter member 306 do not interfere. In the pigment supply container in the state as shown in Figure 16, for which it is moved from the position shown in Figure 17, the impulse transmission claw 521 moved by the thrust means 524 with the retraction of the transmitter member 306 to the left, so as to maintain the coupling between the transmitting portion 306a of the transmitter member 306 and the gripper portion 521a of the impulse transmitter claw 521. In this way, the transmitter member 3067 the rotational driving force is received by the unidirectional gear 527, the drive shaft 522 and the impulse drive claw 521 from the driving means of the main unit not shown, so that the stirring member 305 is rotated. The description of the pigment discharge will be made. When the pigment supply container 301 is mounted to the main unit 100 of the apparatus, the locking portion 303e at the end of the sealing member 303 is blocked with the blocking member 51C of the image forming apparatus, and is supported in a posicic.x position. away from the pigment supplying port 301g of the main body 301A of the container. At this time, the clutch ratio, in the direction of rotation, is maintained between the feeder member 302 and the sealing member 303. The sealing member 303 is engaged with a first coupling member 304 of the main unit of the apparatus by the portion of clutch (receiving portion of the driving force) 303C. The first coupling member 304 receives the rotation through the impulse transmission means (not shown) such as a gear or the like from the power source (not shown) such as a motor or the like of the main unit of the motor. apparatus, and is transmitted to the sealing member 303 by engagement with the groove-like projections 303d. In addition, it is transmitted to the feeder member 302 by engagement with the free end 302a of the feeder member 302 toward the non-circular or square hole 303a. In the same way, the transmitting member 306 engaged with the end 304d of the agitator member 304 engages a second coupling member 307 of the main unit of the apparatus. The second coupling member 307 of the main unit of the apparatus receives the rotational force by means of the pulse transmitting means. (not shown) as can be a gear from the power source (not shown) as can be a motor of the main unit of the apparatus, and is transmitted to the agitator member 304 through the coupling with the clutch claw 306a. The rotation frequencies of the feeder member 302 and the agitator member 304 are approximately 52 rotations / min. And approximately 10 rotations / min. In this modality. When the stirring member 304 rotates, the pigment that has formed cake by removing air due to lack of use for a long time or due to vibration during transportation, separates, and is fed to the portion of the pigment supplying port. 301a by rotation of the feeder member 302, and is discharged and falls through the pigment supplying port lg to be supplied to the pigment hopper 201a. The discharge experiments were carried out using the vessels of the structures. The main body of the container is filled with pigment, and the pigment is discharged by the agitator member rotating at a rate of about 10 rotations / min, and by the feeder member rotating at a speed of approximately 52 rotations / min. The sieve (holes of 75 μm, and made of SUS) was used to verify the existence of larger particles, and it was confirmed that no large particles existed. The amount of pigment remaining in the container was 20 g, and therefore, the reducing effect of the remaining amount of the pigment was also confirmed. In this embodiment, the sealing member 303 is movable in the axial direction relative to the feeding member 302, but the sealing member and the feeding member may be integrated. In Figure 32, the sealing member 320 includes the sealing portion 320a, the receiving portion of the driving force 320b and the sealing member 320. The sealing member 320 is movable in the direction A in Figure 32. The container of the pigment of the modalities is summarized as follows: The pigment-supplying container removably attachable to a main unit of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus consists of: (a) a pigment-receiving portion (eg, ln, 301n) for pigment pigment; (b) a pigment-supplying orifice (e.g., la, 301a) for discharging the pigment housed in the portion that houses the pigment; (c) a pigment feeder portion (eg, 2, 302) for feeding the pigment that is housed in the portion that houses the pigment to the pigment-supplying port; (d) a first receiving portion of the driving force (for example 3d, 303d) to receive the driving force to drive the pigment feeder portion from the main unit of the apparatus; (e) a pigment stirring portion (for example 4, 305) for stirring the pigment housed in the pigment-receiving portion; (f) a second receiving portion of the driving force (eg, 4c, 307a) to receive the driving force to drive the pigment stirring portion of the main unit of the apparatus; wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force and the second receiving portion of the driving force # are arranged outside the portion housing the pigment and at a free end portion in a mounting direction of the pigment supplying container to the main unit of the device. This first driving force receiving portion is located so that it is located below the second receiving portion of the driving force when the pigment supplying container is detachably installed to the main unit of the apparatus. The first receiving portion of the driving force is disposed downstream of the second receiving portion of the driving force with respect to the mounting direction. The first receiving portion of the driving force and The second receiving portion of the driving force is rotatable, and a rotation radius of the second receiving portion of the driving force is larger than that of the first receiving portion of the driving force. The first receiving portion of the driving force and The second receiving portion of the driving force receives the driving force on a downstream side with respect to a pigment feeding direction of the pigment feeder portion when the pigment supplying container is mounted to the main unit of the apparatus.

The first receiving portion of the driving force is in the form of a projection extending along an axial direction of the pigment feeder portion, and the second receiving portion of the driving force is in the form of a projection extended throughout of an axial direction of the pigment stirring portion, wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force receives the driving force by coupling with a slot (for example 5, 513c) provided in the main unit of the apparatus, and the second portion receiving the driving force receives the driving force by coupling with a projection (for example 9b, 521a) provided in the main unit of the apparatus when the pigment supply container is mounted to the main unit of the apparatus. Therein a fastening portion (301e) is provided to facilitate assembly of the pigment supply container to the main unit of the apparatus, wherein the fastening portion is provided on an opposite side from a side having the first force receiving portion. and the second portion receiving the driving force in a longitudinal direction of the pigment-supplying container. A distance between a center of rotation of the first receiving portion of the first driving force and a center of rotation of the second receiving portion of the driving force is 50 mm-60 mm, and a radius of rotation of the second receiving portion. of the driving force is 9 mm - 15 mm, and a radius of rotation of the first receiving portion of the driving force is 4 mm - 8 mm. The pigment supply vessel supplies the pigment housed in the portion that houses the pigment to the main unit of the apparatus through the pigment supplying port by rotating the feeder portion • of pigment according to the consumption of pigment in the main unit of the apparatus, when the pigment supply container is mounted to the main unit of the apparatus. The stirring portion of the pigment includes an axis and a blade having a rigid portion (G5b) and a flexible portion (305c) mounted to the rigid portion. As described above, according to the embodiments of the present invention, a pigment supply container is provided which is maintained in the main unit of an image forming apparatus. electrofotográficas and that can supply the pigment to the main unit of the device with high reliability. In addition, a pigment supply container of the low manufacturing cost type is provided. In addition, a supplier container is provided pigment capable of stirring and feeding the pigment with certainty.

In addition, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is provided to which a pigment supply container can be removably mounted. Although the invention has been described with reference to the structures described herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover these modifications or changes as may be ^^^ enter within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A pigment-supplying container removably attachable to a main unit of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which consists of: (a) a pigment-accommodating portion for pigment loking; (b) a pigment supply hole) for discharging the pigment lodged in the housing portion; (c) a pigment feeder portion for feeding the pigment that is housed in the pigment housing portion to the pigment supply port; (d) a first driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force to drive the pigment feeder portion from the main unit of the apparatus; (e) a pigment stirring portion for stirring the pigment housed in the pigment housing portion; (f) a second portion receiving the driving force to receive the driving force to drive the pigment stirring portion from the main unit of the apparatus; wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force and the second receiving portion of the driving force are disposed outside the portion housing the pigment and at a free end portion in a mounting direction of the pigment supplying container to the main unit of the apparatus.

The pigment supply container according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force is located to be disposed below the second receiving portion of the driving force when the pigment-supplying container is removably mounted. to the main unit of the device.

3. The pigment supply container according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force is disposed downstream of the second receiving portion of the driving force with respect to the mounting direction.

The pigment supply vessel according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force and the second receiving portion of the driving force are rotating, and a rotation radius of the second receiving portion of the driving force it is larger than the first receiving portion of the driving force.

5. The pigment supply container according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force and the second receiving portion of the driving force receives the driving force on a downstream side with respect to a feed direction of the pigment of the pigment feeder portion when the pigment supply container is mounted to the main unit of the apparatus.

6. The pigment supply vessel according to claim 1, wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force is in the form of a projection extending along an axial direction of the pigment feeder portion, and the second portion receiving the driving force is in the form of a projection extending along an axial direction of the pigment stirring portion, wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force receives the driving force by coupling with a slot provided in the the main unit of the apparatus, and the second receiving portion of the driving force receives the driving force by coupling with a projection provided in the main unit of the apparatus when the pigment-supplying container is mounted to the main unit of the apparatus.

7. The pigment supply container according to claim 1, further comprising a fastening portion for facilitating the mounting of the pigment supply container to the main unit of the apparatus, wherein the fastening portion is provided on an opposite side of a side having the first receiving portion of the driving force and the second receiving portion of the driving force in a longitudinal direction of the pigment supplying vessel.

The pigment supply vessel according to claim 1, wherein a distance between a center of rotation of the first receiving portion of the driving force and a center of rotation of the second receiving portion of the driving force is 50 mm - 60 mm, and a radius of rotation of the second receiving portion of the driving force is 9 mm - 15 mm, and a radius of rotation of the first receiving portion of the driving force is 4 mm - 8 mm.

9. The pigment supply container according to claim 1, wherein the pigment-supplying container supplies the pigment housed in the pigment housing portion to the main unit of the apparatus via the pigment-supplying port by rotating the feed portion of the pigment. pigment according to the consumption of pigment in the main unit of the apparatus, when the pigment supply container is installed to the main unit of the apparatus.

The pigment supply vessel according to claim 1, wherein the pigment stirring portion includes an axis and a blade having a rigid portion and a flexible portion mounted to the rigid portion.

11. The pigment-supplying container removably mountable to a main unit of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus consists of: (a) a portion that houses pigment for pigment pigment; (b) a pigment supply hole) for discharging the pigment lodged in the housing portion; (c) a pigment feeder portion for feeding the pigment that is housed in the pigment housing portion to the pigment supply port; (d) a first receiving portion of the driving force for receiving the driving force to drive the pigment feeder portion from the main unit of the apparatus; (e) a stirring portion of the pigment for stirring the pigment lodged in the housing portion of the pigment; (f) a second portion receiving the rotational driving force to receive the driving force to drive the pigment stirring portion from the main unit of the apparatus; wherein the second receiving portion of the driving force is located to be disposed above the first receiving portion of the driving force when the pigment-supplying container is mounted to the main unit of the apparatus, and wherein the second receiving portion of the driving force is disposed upstream of the first receiving portion of the driving force in a mounting direction of the pigment supplying vessel towards the unit • the main device and where a radius of rotation of the The second receiving portion of the driving force is larger than that of the first receiving portion of the driving force; wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force and the second receiving portion of the driving force are disposed outside the housing portion of the motor. 15 pigment and at a free end portion in a mounting direction of the pigment-supplying container to the main unit of the apparatus, and wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force and the second receiving portion of the driving force receive the driving force in a side 20 downstream with respect to a pigment feed direction of the pigment feeder portion when the pigment supply container is mounted to the main unit of the apparatus.

12. The pigment supply container according to 25 with claim 11, wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force is in the form of a projection extending along an axial direction of the pigment feeder portion, and the second receiving portion of the driving force is at the form of a projection extending along an axial direction of the pigment stirring portion, wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force receives the driving force by coupling with a slot provided in the main unit of the apparatus, and the second The receiving portion of the driving force receives the driving force by coupling with a projection provided in the main unit of the apparatus when the pigment supply container is mounted to the main unit of the apparatus.

13. The pigment supply container according to claim 11, further comprising a fastening portion for facilitating the mounting of the pigment supply vessel to the main unit of the apparatus., wherein the holding portion is provided on an opposite side of a side having the first receiving portion of the driving force and the second receiving portion of the driving force in a longitudinal direction of the pigment supplying container.

The pigment supply container according to claim 11, wherein a distance between a center of rotation of the first receiving portion of the driving force and a center of rotation of the second receiving portion of the driving force is 50 mm - 60 mm, and a radius of rotation of the second receiving portion of the driving force is 9 mm - 15 mm, and a radius of rotation of the first receiving portion of the driving force is 4 mm - 8 mm.

15. The pigment supply vessel according to claim 11, wherein the pigment-supplying vessel supplies the pigment housed in the pigment housing portion to the main unit of the apparatus via the pigment-supplying port by rotating the portion Pigment feeder according to the consumption of pigment in the main unit of the apparatus, when the pigment supply container is installed to the main unit of the apparatus.

16. The pigment supply vessel according to claim 1, wherein the pigment stirring portion includes an axis and a blade having a rigid portion and a flexible portion mounted to the rigid portion.

17. The pigment-supplying container removably mountable to a main unit of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus consists of: (a) a portion that houses pigment to loosen pigment; (b) a pigment supply hole) for discharging the pigment lodged in the housing portion; (c) a pigment feeder portion for feeding the pigment that is housed in the pigment housing portion to the pigment supply port; 5 (d) a first portion receiving the driving force, rotating to receive the driving force to drive the pigment feeder portion from the main unit of the apparatus, wherein first receiving portion of the driving force is in the form of a projection that it extends to what 10 along the axial direction of the pigment feeder portion, and wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force receives the driving force by coupling with a slot provided in the main unit when the supplying container of pigme.it "is assembled. to 15 main unit of the apparatus; (e) a stirring portion of the pigment for stirring the pigment lodged in the housing portion of the pigment; (f) a second portion receiving the rotating driving force to receive the driving force to drive the pigment stirring portion from the main unit of the apparatus, wherein the second receiving portion of the driving force is located to be disposed above the first receiving portion of the driving force when the pigment supplying container is mounted to the main unit of the apparatus, and wherein the second receiving portion of the driving force is disposed upstream of the first receiving portion of the driving force in a direction of mounting the pigment supply vessel to the main unit of the apparatus and wherein a radius of rotation of the second receiving portion of the driving force is larger than that of the first receiving portion of the driving force; wherein the second receiving portion of the driving force is in the form of a projection extending along an axial direction of the pigment stirring portion, and wherein the second receiving portion of the driving force receives the driving force by the coupling with a projection provided in the main unit of the apparatus when the pigment supply container is mounted to the main unit of the apparatus; (g) a fastening portion for facilitating the mounting of the pigment supply container to the main unit of the apparatus, wherein the fastening portion is provided on an opposite side of a side having the first receiving portion of the driving force and the second receiving portion of the driving force in a longitudinal direction of the pigment-supplying container; wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force and the second receiving portion of the driving force are disposed outside the housing portion of the pigment and at a free end portion in a mounting direction of the pigment supplying container to the main unit of the apparatus; wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force and the second receiving portion of the driving force receive the driving force on a downstream side with respect to a pigment feeding direction of the pigment feeder portion, when the pigment supplying container it is mounted to the main unit of the apparatus, and wherein the pigment supply vessel supplies the pigment housed in the pigment housing portion to the main unit of the apparatus through the pigment supplying port by rotating the pigment feeder portion according to the consumption of the pigment in the main unit of the apparatus, when the pigment supply container is mounted to the main unit of the apparatus.

18. The pigment supply container according to claim 17, wherein a distance between a center of rotation of the first receiving portion of the driving force and a center of rotation of the second receiving portion of the driving force is 50 mm - 60 mm, and a radius of rotation of the second receiving portion of the driving force is 9 mm - 15 mm, and a radius of rotation of the first receiving portion of the driving force is 4 mm - 8 mm.

19. The pigment supply container according to claim 17, wherein the pigment stirring portion includes an axis and a blade having a rigid portion and a flexible portion mounted to the rigid portion.

20. An electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording material consisting of: (a) the mounting means for detachably mounting a pigment-supplying container; the pigment supply container includes: a pigment housing portion for receiving pigment; a pigment supply hole for discharging the pigment lodged in the housing portion of the pigment; a pigment feeder portion for feeding the pigment housed in the pigment housing portion to the pigment supplying port; a first driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force to drive the pigment feeder portion from the main unit of the apparatus; an agitator portion of the pigment for stirring the pigment housed in the pigment housing portion; a second receiving portion of the driving force for receiving the driving force to drive the stirring portion of the pigment from the main unit of the apparatus; wherein the first receiving portion of the driving force and the second receiving portion of the driving force are disposed outside the housing portion of the pigment and at a free end portion in a mounting direction of the pigment supplying container to the main unit of the apparatus; (b) a first impeller for supplying the driving force to the first receiving portion of the driving force when the pigment supplying container is removably mounted to the main unit of the apparatus by the mounting means; (c) a second impeller for supplying the driving force to the second receiving portion of the driving force when the pigment supplying container is removably mounted to the main unit of the apparatus by the mounting means.

21. A pigment supply container removably attachable to a main unit of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which consists of: (a) a pigment housing portion for receiving pigment; (b) a first receiving portion of the driving force for receiving driving force to drive the pigment feeder portion from the main unit of the apparatus; (c) a second portion receiving the driving force to receive the driving force to drive the stirring portion of the pigment from the main unit of the apparatus.