TWI564681B - Powder container and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Powder container and image forming device

The present invention relates to a powder container and an image forming apparatus.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus, such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a photocopying machine, or a multi-functional peripheral device having various functions of a printer, a facsimile machine, and a photocopier, using a toner filling device to remove powdered carbon powder from a toner containing toner The powder container is supplied (supplemented) to the developing device. The powder container includes a powder reservoir for storing toner, an opening, a one end of the powder reservoir, and a nozzle insertion member disposed on the opening of the receiving nozzle, the nozzle having a toner for receiving the powder from the powder container The powder receiving hole, the conveyor, conveys the toner to the open side of the powder reservoir, and the scooping portion, draws the toner on the opening side, and causes the carbon powder to fall with the rotation of the powder reservoir and is supplied to the powder receiving hole. An embodiment of such a powder container is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-133349.

In the system of picking up the toner and supplying the toner to the powder receiving hole of the nozzle inserted into the opening of the nozzle insertion member, it is difficult to efficiently supply the toner to the powder receiving hole due to the fluidity of the toner.

It is an object of the present invention to efficiently supply a developer into a powder receiving hole of a nozzle inserted into a powder container.

According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a powder container for use in an image forming apparatus. The powder container includes a rotatable powder reservoir in which is stored a powder for forming an image, the rotatable powder reservoir is rotated about a rotating shaft; an opening is located at one end of the powder reservoir for forming the image A nozzle of the device is inserted through the opening; and a dip portion for drawing the powder on the opening side and supplying the powder to a powder receiving hole of the nozzle when the powder reservoir is rotated. The scooping portion includes a scooping surface that extends inwardly from an inner wall of the powder reservoir. The inner end of the take-up surface extends toward the axis of rotation of the powder reservoir. The edge of the inner end is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation. In a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis, the drawing surface is inclined toward the upstream side of the direction in which the powder reservoir rotates with respect to a virtual line passing through the rotation axis and tangential to the edge of the inner end.

26‧‧‧Paper tray

27‧‧‧Supply roller

28‧‧‧positioning roller pair

29‧‧‧Discharge roller pair

30‧‧‧Stacking Department

32, 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K‧‧‧ toner containers (powder containers)

33‧‧‧Container body (powder storage)

33a‧‧‧ Opening (container opening)

33b‧‧‧ outer surface

33c‧‧‧ inner wall of the container body

33c’‧‧‧ prominent part

34‧‧‧ Container front end cover (container cover)

34a‧‧‧ Gear exposure opening

41Y, 41M, 41C, 41K‧‧‧Photoconductor (image carrier)

42a‧‧‧cleaning scraper

42Y‧‧‧ cleaning device

44Y‧‧‧Charging roller

46Y, 46M, 46C, 46K‧‧‧Image Formation Department

47‧‧‧Exposure device

48‧‧‧Intermediate transfer belt

49Y, 49M, 49C, 49K‧‧‧ primary transfer bias roller

50‧‧‧Developing device

50Y‧‧‧Developing device

51Y‧‧‧Developing roller

52Y‧‧・cloth powder scraper

53Y‧‧‧First developer storage unit

54Y‧‧‧Second developer storage unit

55Y‧‧·Developer conveying screw

56Y‧‧‧Toner Density Sensor

60‧‧‧Carbon filling device (toner replenishment (supply) device)

60Y, 60M, 60C, 60K‧‧‧ toner filling device

64‧‧‧Toner drop channel

70‧‧‧Powder container storage

71‧‧‧Insert hole

71a‧‧‧ insertion hole

72‧‧‧ Container Receiving Department

73‧‧‧ Container Cover Receiving Department

82‧‧‧Sub-transfer spare support roller

85‧‧‧Intermediate transfer device

89‧‧‧Sub-transfer roller

91‧‧‧Drive parts

100‧‧‧Printer (photocopying machine main body)

200‧‧‧paper feeder (paper feeder)

301‧‧‧Container gear

302‧‧‧Spiral ribs (rotary conveyor)

303, 303Y, 303M, 303C, 303K‧‧‧ gripper

304, 304B~304E‧‧‧Capture Department (Toner Extraction Department)

304a‧‧‧Spiral ribs in the picking section (conveying section)

304a1‧‧‧ at the first end of the helical rib of the extraction section (at the end of the extraction section)

304a2‧‧‧The second end of the spiral rib at the side of the opening away from the opening side

3040, 3040B~3040E‧‧‧ capture face

3040a, 3040Ba~3040Ea‧‧‧ internal end

3041‧‧‧ wall (container front wall)

3042, 3042B~3042E‧‧‧ edge (side)

3043‧‧‧ Surface

305‧‧‧ front opening

306‧‧‧ Cover hook

330‧‧‧Nozzle Receiver (Nozzle Insertion Parts)

331‧‧‧ receiving opening (nozzle insertion opening)

332‧‧‧Container door (open/closed parts)

332a‧‧‧Door hook

332c‧‧‧ front cylindrical part

332d‧‧‧Sliding area

332e‧‧‧guide rod

332h‧‧‧ end face

333‧‧‧Container seal

335‧‧‧The rear door support of the door (the rear of the door)

335a‧‧ ‧ door side support (side)

335b‧‧‧ Opening of the door support (opening on the door side)

336‧‧‧Container door spring

337‧‧‧Nozzle Receiver Connection

337a‧‧‧Nozzle door positioning rib

340‧‧‧Container door support (support)

341‧‧‧cover hook

400‧‧‧Scanner

500‧‧‧Photocopier (image forming device)

601‧‧‧Container drive gear

602‧‧‧Installation framework

603‧‧‧Drive motor

604‧‧‧Coupling gear

605‧‧‧ screw gear

608‧‧‧Set cover

610‧‧‧Nozzle hole (powder receiving hole)

610c, 610d‧‧‧ end

611‧‧‧ delivery nozzle

611a‧‧‧ front end

612‧‧‧Nozzle blocking door

612a‧‧‧Nozzle door flange

613‧‧‧Nozzle door spring

614‧‧‧Conveying screw

615‧‧‧Container setting section (container receiving section)

615a‧‧‧The inner surface of the container setting

615b‧‧‧ end face

A‧‧‧Rotation direction

Angle of inclination of the θ‧‧‧ extraction surface

θ 1‧‧‧An angle between the protrusion and the extraction surface

θ 2‧‧‧ an angle between the two surfaces forming the edge of the capture surface

O‧‧‧Rotary axis

H1‧‧‧ height of the capture surface

H2‧‧‧ height of protrusion

S‧‧‧ space (toner storage space)

S1, S2‧‧‧ width

S5‧‧‧ position

S7‧‧‧Starting position of toner conveying (starting point, connecting part)

T‧‧‧ toner (powder used to form images)

W‧‧‧Opening range of powder receiving holes in the direction of rotation

Opening range of the powder receiving hole in the axial direction of W1‧‧‧

W2, W3‧‧‧ opening range

X, X1, X2‧‧‧ virtual lines

P‧‧‧recording media

G‧‧‧Development

Q‧‧‧ Attachment direction

Q1‧‧‧Separation direction

L‧‧‧Laser light

1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a toner filling device and a powder container before connecting a powder container according to an embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an overall structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment; FIG. To exemplify the configuration of the image forming portion of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state in which the powder container is disposed in the container holding portion; FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the arrangement of the powder container in the powder container 2 is a schematic view showing a state in a toner filling device of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2; and FIG. 6 is an explanatory perspective view of the toner filling device and the powder container when the powder container is connected; Figure 7 is an explanatory perspective view illustrating a configuration of a powder container according to an embodiment; Figure 8 is an explanatory sectional view of a toner filling device and a powder container connected to the powder container; and Figure 9 is a view for explaining the embodiment according to the embodiment Schematic diagram of the configuration of the powder reservoir of the powder container and the state in which the nozzle receiver is disassembled; FIG. 10 is a schematic view for explaining the state in which the nozzle receiver is connected to the powder reservoir; FIG. 11 is for explaining the front end of the container A perspective view of the nozzle receiver is observed; FIGS. 12A to 12D are plan views for explaining the state of the opening/closing member and the nozzle in the joining operation; and FIG. 13 is a view for explaining the powder of the powder container according to the embodiment. An enlarged perspective view of the open side configuration of the reservoir; Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view for explaining the configuration of the opening side when the powder reservoir shown in Fig. 13 is rotated; Fig. 15 is a view illustrating the first embodiment according to the present invention An enlarged view of the take-up surface configuration of the picking portion (powder picking portion); Fig. 16 is an illustration of the remaining toner after the shovel portion is applied when the drawing surface is inclined in the opposite direction Diagram of the relationship with the replenishment amount; Figure 17 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the remaining amount of toner and the replenishment amount when the shovel is applied when the inclination angle of the plucking surface changes; Fig. 18 is an illustration of the main body of the container The relationship between the amount of toner remaining and the amount of replenishment after the shovel is changed when the rotation frequency is changed; the 19A and 19B are used to compare the shovel when the inclination angle of the extraction surface and the environmental condition of the toner change. a diagram showing the relationship between the remaining amount of toner and the amount of emissions after the action; Fig. 20A and Fig. 20B are graphs for comparing the residual amount of toner with the amount of discharge, showing that the rotation frequency of the container body changes with respect to Fig. 19, and the inclination angle of the extraction surface and the environmental conditions of the toner are both The shovel action when the change occurs; the 21A and 21B are graphs for comparing the residual amount of the toner with the discharge amount, showing the inclination angle of the take-up surface according to the embodiment and the mass production model The shovel function when the rotation frequency of the container body of the powder container changes; FIG. 22A and FIG. 22B are diagrams for comparing the remaining amount of the toner with the replenishing amount, showing the drawing surface according to the embodiment. The tilt angle and the shovel action when the toner environmental conditions of the container body of the powder container of the mass production model are changed; FIGS. 23A to 23C are diagrams illustrating the rotation of the scooping portion according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 24 is an enlarged schematic view showing the positional relationship between the connecting portion of the drawing portion and the conveying portion and the powder receiving hole of the conveying portion; Fig. 25 is a view showing the spatial shape of the capturing portion Large perspective view; Fig. 26A and Fig. 26B are enlarged schematic views showing the positional relationship between the wall near the powder receiving hole provided on the picking portion and the powder receiving hole; Figs. 27A to 27C are for explaining the drawing portion FIG. 28 is an enlarged perspective view for explaining an angle defined by the conveying portion and the drawing surface; FIG. 29A to FIG. 29C are diagrams for illustrating an example according to the relationship between the inner conveying portion and the drawing surface; A schematic diagram of the operation of the change caused by the rotation of the scooping portion of the third embodiment of the present invention; FIGS. 30A to 30C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the change caused by the rotation of the scooping portion according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; 31A and 31B are diagrams illustrating an arrangement according to a modification of the present invention and an operation of a change caused by the rotation of the scooping portion; and FIG. 32 is a positional relationship between the conveying portion and the scooping portion in the direction of the rotation axis FIG. 33A is a plan view illustrating a configuration of a container body according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 33B is a side view illustrating a configuration of a container body according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 35 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of the opening side of the container body according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 36 is a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 37A to FIG. 37C are diagrams showing the operation of the capturing portion in accordance with the fifth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 38A to FIG. 38C are diagrams of the drawing portion. Schematic diagram of the operation of the change resulting from the continuous rotation of Figure 37C; Figure 39A is a schematic diagram illustrating the toner diffusion when the internal space of the container body is small; 39B illustrates a schematic graph of the diffusion of the internal space of the toner container main body is increased according to the fifth embodiment when.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. In the description of the embodiments, the same elements or elements having the same function The components are denoted by the same reference symbols, and the same description will not be repeated in the subsequent embodiments. The following description is only an example, and does not limit the scope of the appended claims. Further, other embodiments may be readily conceived by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the appended claims. . In the drawings, Y, M, C, and K are symbols attached to elements corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, respectively, and will be omitted as appropriate.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the overall configuration of an electrophotographic tandem color photocopying machine (hereinafter referred to as "photocopying machine 500") as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment. The photocopier 500 can be a monochrome photocopier. The image forming apparatus can be a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction peripheral having a photocopier, a printer, a fax machine, and a scanner function, rather than a photocopier. The photocopier 500 mainly includes a photocopying machine main body (hereinafter referred to as "printer 100"), a paper feeding table (hereinafter referred to as "paper feeder 200"), and a scanner portion mounted on the printer 100 ( Hereinafter referred to as "scanner 400").

Four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to a plurality of colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) as a powder container, detachably (replaceably) connected to be set as a printer A powder container accommodator 70 of the container accommodating portion in the upper portion of the machine 100. The intermediate transfer device 85 is disposed below the powder container accommodator 70.

The intermediate transfer device 85 includes an intermediate transfer belt 48 as an intermediate transfer medium, four primary transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K), a secondary transfer backup support roller 82, and a plurality of tensions. Roller, an intermediate transfer cleaning device, and the like. The intermediate transfer belt 48 is stretched and supported by a plurality of rollers, and continuously moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 in accordance with the rotation of the sub-transfer backup backup roller 82, which is one of the rollers. .

In the printer 100, four image forming portions 46 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to respective colors are arranged in a tandem manner so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 48. Four toner filling devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) as toner supply (filling) devices corresponding to four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) of four colors are respectively placed Below the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K). The toner filling device 60 (Y, M, C, K) supplies (fills) the toner to the developing device of the image forming portion 46 (Y, M, C, K) of the respective colors, and the carbon powder is contained in the carbon. A powdery developer in the powder container 32 (Y, M, C, K). In this embodiment, the four image forming portions 46 (Y, M, C, K) constitute an image forming unit.

As shown in Fig. 2, the printer 100 includes an exposure device 47 as a latent image forming device below the four image forming portions 46. The exposure device 47 exposes and scans the surface of the photoconductor 41 (Y, M, C, K) as an image carrier (which will be described later) by light based on the image information of the original image read by the scanner 400, so that An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor. The image information can be input from an external device connected to the photocopier 500, such as a personal computer, rather than being read by the scanner 400.

In this embodiment, a laser beam scanning system using a laser diode is employed as the exposure means 47. However, other configurations may be employed as the exposure device, such as a configuration including an array of LEDs.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view exemplifying the overall configuration of the image forming portion 46Y corresponding to yellow.

The image forming portion 46Y includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 41Y. The image forming portion 46Y includes a charging roller 44Y as a charging device, a developing device 50Y as a developing device, a cleaning device 42Y as a photoconductor cleaning device, a neutralization device, and the like, all of which are disposed around the photoconductor 41Y. . Image forming processing (charging program, exposure program, developing program, transfer program, and cleaning program) is performed on the photoconductor 41Y to form a yellow toner image on the photoconductor 41Y.

The other three image forming portions 46 (M, C, K) have almost the same configuration as the yellow image forming portion 46Y except that the toner colors to be used are different and the respective conductors 41M, 41C, and 41K are formed to correspond to the respective carbons. Powder color toner image outside. Hereinafter, only the yellow image forming portion 46Y will be described, and the description of the other three image forming portions 46 (M, C, K) will be appropriately omitted.

The photoconductor 41Y is rotated in the clockwise direction in Fig. 3 by a drive motor. The surface of the photoconductor 41Y is uniformly charged at the position facing the charging roller 44Y (charging procedure). Next, the surface of the photoconductor 41Y reaches a position where the laser light L emitted from the exposure device 47 is irradiated, at which position a yellow electrostatic latent image is formed by exposure scanning (exposure program). The surface of the photoconductor 41Y then reaches a position facing the developing device 50Y at which the electrostatic latent image is developed with yellow toner to form a yellow toner image (developing).

The four primary transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K) of the intermediate transfer device 85 sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 48 with the photoconductors 41 (Y, M, C, K) to form respective mains. Transfer nip. A transfer bias is applied to each of the primary transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K) having a polarity opposite to that of the toner.

The surface of the photoconductor 41Y on which the toner image is formed by development processing reaches the main transfer nip portion which faces the intermediate transfer belt 48 across the intermediate transfer belt 48, and the toner on the photoconductor 41Y The image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 48 at the primary transfer nip (primary transfer process). At this time, a trace amount of untransferred toner remains on the photoconductor 41Y. The surface of the photoconductor 41Y from which the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 48 at the primary transfer nip is reached to a position facing the cleaning device 42Y. At this position, the untransferred toner remaining on the photoconductor 41Y is mechanically collected by a cleaning blade 42a contained in the cleaning device 42Y (cleaning procedure). The surface of the photoconductor 41Y finally reaches a position facing the neutralization device where the residual potential on the photoconductor 41Y is eliminated. In this way, a series of image forming processes performed on the photoconductor 41Y are completed.

The image forming program is also performed in the same manner as the yellow image forming portion 46Y on the other image forming portions 46 (M, C, K). Specifically, the exposure device 47 placed under the image forming portion 46 (M, C, K) emits laser light toward the photoconductor 41 (M, C, K) of the image forming portion 46 (M, C, K) based on the image information. L. More specifically, the exposure device 47 emits laser light L from a light source, and irradiates each of the photoconductors 41 (M, C, K) with laser light L via a plurality of optical elements, while using laser light L by a rotating polygon mirror Scan. Subsequently, formed by a developing process The toner images of the respective colors on the photoconductors 41 (M, C, K) are transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 48.

At this time, the intermediate transfer belt 48 travels in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2, and sequentially passes through the primary transfer nip portion of the primary transfer bias roller 49 (Y, M, C, K). Therefore, the toner images of the respective colors on the photoconductor 41 (Y, M, C, K) are primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 48 in an overlapping manner to form a color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 48.

The intermediate transfer belt 48 on which the color toner image is formed by the overlapping toner images of the respective colors reaches a position facing a pair of transfer rollers 89. At this position, the sub-transfer backup support roller 82 and the sub-transfer roller 89 sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 48 to form a sub-transfer nip. For example, the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 48 is transferred to a recording medium conveyed to the position of the sub-transfer nip portion due to the transfer bias applied to the sub-transfer backup backup roller 82. P, such as paper. At this time, the untransferred toner that has not been transferred to the recording medium P remains on the intermediate transfer belt 48. The intermediate transfer belt 48 having passed through the sub-transfer nip portion reaches the position of the intermediate transfer cleaning device, at which position the untransferred toner remaining on the surface is collected. In this way, a series of transfer procedures performed on the intermediate transfer belt 48 are completed.

The movement of the recording medium P will be explained below.

The recording medium P is conveyed from a paper feed tray 26 to a sub-transfer nip by a supply roller 27, a pair of registration rollers 28, and the like, and the paper feed tray 26 is disposed in the paper feeder 200 below the printer 100. Specifically, a plurality of recording media P are stacked in the paper feed tray 26. When the supply roller 27 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2, the uppermost recording medium P is supplied to the nip portion between the two rollers of the registration roller pair 28.

The recording medium P conveyed to the registration roller pair 28 temporarily stops at the position of the nip portion between the rollers of the registration roller pair 28 that is temporarily rotating. The registration roller pair 28 rotates in accordance with the time when the color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 48 reaches the sub-transfer nip to transport the recording medium P toward the sub-transfer nip. Therefore, a desired color image is formed on the recording medium P.

The recording medium P to which the color toner image of the sub-transfer nip is transferred is conveyed to a position of a fixing device 86. In the fixing device 86, the color toner image transferred to the surface of the recording medium P is image-fixed to the recording medium P by heat and pressure applied from the fixing belt and the pressure roller. The recording medium P that has passed through the fixing device 86 is discharged to the outside of the device via the nip portion between the rollers of the pair of discharge rollers 29. The recording medium P discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 29 is sequentially stacked as an output image on a stacking portion 30. In this way, a series of image forming programs are completed in the photocopier 500.

The structure and operation of the developing device 50 in the image forming portion 46 will be described in more detail below. Hereinafter, the yellow image forming portion 46Y will be described by way of example. However, the image forming portions 46 (M, C, K) of other colors have the same structure and perform the same operation.

As shown in Fig. 3, the developing device 50Y includes a developing roller 51Y as a developer carrier, a toner scraper 52Y as a developer regulating plate, two developer conveying screws 55Y, and a toner density sensor 56Y. Wait. The developing roller 51Y faces the photoconductor 41Y. The toner scraper 52Y faces the developing roller 51Y. The two developer conveying screws 55Y are placed inside the two developer accommodating portions, that is, the inner sides of the first developer accommodating portion 53Y and the second developer accommodating portion 54Y. The developing roller 51Y includes a magnet roller disposed inside thereof and a sleeve or the like that rotates around the magnet roller. The two-component developer G containing the carrier and the carbon powder is stored in the first developer accommodating portion 53Y and the second developer accommodating portion 54Y. The second developer accommodating portion 54Y communicates with a toner falling passage 64Y through an opening provided at an upper portion thereof. The toner density sensor 56Y detects the toner density in the developer G stored in the second developer accommodating portion 54Y.

The developer G in the developing device 50 is transferred between the first developer accommodating portion 53Y and the second developer accommodating portion 54Y while being agitated by the two developer conveying screws 55Y. When one of the developer conveying screw 55Y is conveying the developer G, the developer G in the first developer accommodating portion 53Y is supplied and carried to the developing roller 51Y due to the magnetic field generated by the magnetic roller in the developing roller 51Y. On the surface of the sleeve. The sleeve of the developing roller 51Y is rotated counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, and carried on the developing roller The developer G on 51Y moves on the developing roller 51Y as the sleeve rotates. At this time, the carbon powder in the developer G is charged to the potential opposite to the polarity of the carrier by frictional charge with the carrier in the developer G to electrostatically adhere to the carrier, and is attracted to the magnetic field generated on the developing roller 51Y. The carriers are carried together on the developing roller 51Y.

The developer G carried on the developing roller 51Y is conveyed in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 and reaches the toner scraper portion so that the toner scraper 52Y and the developing roller 51Y face each other. When the developer G passes through the toner scraper portion, the amount of the developer G on the developing roller 51Y is adjusted and adjusted to an appropriate amount, and then the developer G is conveyed to the developing region facing the photoconductor 41Y. In the developing region, the carbon powder in the developer G is adhered to the latent image formed on the photoconductor 41Y by the developing electric field generated between the developing roller 51Y and the photoconductor 41Y. The developer G remaining on the surface of the developing roller 51Y that has passed through the developing region reaches the upper side of the first developer accommodating portion 53Y as the sleeve rotates. At the position, the developer G is separated from the developing roller 51Y.

The developer G in the developing device 50Y is adjusted so that the toner density falls within a predetermined range. Specifically, the toner contained in the toner container 32Y is replenished to the toner drop passage 64Y by the toner filling device 60Y (described later) in accordance with the toner consumption of the developer G in the developing device 50Y at the time of development. The second developer accommodating portion 54Y. The toner added to the second developer accommodating portion 54Y flows between the first developer accommodating portion 53Y and the second developer accommodating portion 54Y while being mixed with the developer G by the two developer conveying screws 55Y and Stir.

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state in which four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) are connected to the toner container holder 70. Fig. 5 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which the toner container 32Y is connected to the toner filling device 60. The toner filling devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) of the respective colors have the same configuration except that the colors of the toners are different. Therefore, in Fig. 5, only the toner filling device 60 and the toner container 32Y will be described without being marked with symbols (Y, M, C, K). When the configuration is changed according to the color, the symbol Y, M, C or K representing a specific color is utilized. When the configuration is not based on a color change or a configuration common to all colors, symbols (Y, M, C, K) may be utilized or may be omitted as appropriate. In Figure 4, the arrow Q The toner containers 32 indicating the respective colors are connected to the attachment direction of the toner filling device 60, and Q1 indicates the detaching direction in which the toner containers 32 of the respective colors are separated from the toner filling device 60.

The toner contained in the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) connected to the toner container container 70 of the printer 100 shown in Fig. 4 is used in accordance with the toner consumption in the developing device 50. The developing device is appropriately added as shown in Fig. 5. At this time, the toner in each of the toner containers 32 is replenished by the toner filling device 60 of each color. The toner filling device 60 includes a toner container storage unit 70, a conveying nozzle 611 as a nozzle, a conveying screw 614 as a main body conveyor, a toner falling passage 64, a driving member 91 as a container rotating portion, and the like. When the user performs a connecting operation to push the toner container 32 along the attachment direction Q in FIG. 5, and the toner container 32 toner container 32 is moved to the toner container of the printer 100 in the attachment direction Q. When the inside of the container 70 is inside, the conveying nozzle 611 of the toner filling device 60 is inserted from the front side of the toner container 32 in the joining operation. Therefore, the toner container 32 and the conveying nozzle 611 communicate with each other. The connected configuration with the connection operation will be described in detail below.

The toner container 32 of each color may be referred to as a toner bottle. The toner container 32 mainly includes a container front end cover 34 as a container cover that is non-rotatably accommodated by the toner container holder 70, and includes an approximately cylindrical container body 33 as a toner reservoir, a toner storage device and A container gear 301 as a container side gear is integrated. Each of the container bodies 33 is rotatably received by the container front end cover 34. In Fig. 5, a setting cover 608 is a part of a container lid receiving portion 73 of the toner container container 70.

As shown in FIG. 4, the toner container container 70 mainly includes an insertion hole portion 71, a container receiving portion 72, and a container cover receiving portion 73.

An insertion hole 71a as an insertion opening used in the joining operation of the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) is defined by the insertion hole portion 71. When the main body cover placed on the front side of the photocopier 500 (the front side in the direction perpendicular to the paper of FIG. 2) is opened, the insertion hole portion 71 of the toner container container 70 is exposed. Before the photocopying machine 500 The side starts performing the joining/separating operation of the toner container 32 (the joining/separating operation in the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K), which is regarded as the toner container 32 of the respective color connected to The toner filling device 60 and the connection/separation direction separated from the toner filling device 60) while the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) is oriented with its longitudinal direction parallel to the horizontal direction.

The container receiving portion 72 is a portion for supporting the container body 33 (Y, M, C, K) of the toner container 32. The container receiving portion 72 is a portion that can slide and move the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) when the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) is connected to the toner filling device 60. The container receiving portion 72 is divided into four portions in the width direction W perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (connection/separation direction) of the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K). The container receiving portion 72 includes a plurality of grooves which serve as container mounting portions extending from the insertion hole portion 71 in the longitudinal direction of each of the container bodies 33 to the container lid receiving portion 73. The toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) of the respective colors are slidably movable in the longitudinal direction on the grooves. The container receiving portion 72 is disposed such that its longitudinal length is substantially the same as the longitudinal length of the container body 33 (Y, M, C, K) of the respective colors.

The container lid receiving portion 73 is a container front end cover 34 (Y, M, C, K) for holding the toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) of the respective colors, and the container main body 33 (Y, M, C, Part of K). The container lid receiving portion 73 is disposed in the longitudinal direction (connection/separation direction) of the container front side of the container receiving portion 72 (downstream of the attachment direction Q), and the insertion hole portion 71 is located at one end side of the container receiving portion 72 in the longitudinal direction (separation) Downstream of direction Q1).

The four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) are slidably movable on the container receiving portion 72. Therefore, with the connection operation of the toner containers (Y, M, C, K), the container front end cover 34 (Y, M, C, K) first passes through the insertion hole portion 71, and slides on the container receiving portion 72 for a while, Finally, it is connected to the container lid receiving portion 73.

As shown in Fig. 5, a container gear 301 as a gear is provided at each On the container body 33. In each of the container bodies 33, when the container front end cover 34 is attached to the container lid receiving portion 73, a driving member (container rotating portion) 91 including a driving motor, a driving gear, and the like is driven via a container as a device body gear. The gear 601 inputs a rotational drive to each of the container gears 301. Therefore, the container body 33 of each color rotates in the rotation direction indicated by the arrow A (hereinafter referred to as the rotation direction A) in Fig. 5 . With the rotation of each of the container bodies 33, the spiral ribs 302 formed in a spiral shape on the inner surface of the container body 33 transport the toner in the container body 33 from the one end on the right side in Fig. 5 along the longitudinal direction of the container body to The other end on the left side of Figure 5. That is, in this embodiment, the spiral rib 302Y serves as a rotary conveyor. Therefore, the toner of each color is supplied to the inside of the conveying nozzle 611 through the opening upward and as a nozzle hole 610 provided in the powder receiving hole of the conveying nozzle 611Y, and the other from the toner container 32 connecting the container front end cover 34 Available on one side. At an internal position with respect to a position where the container gear 301 is disposed in the longitudinal direction of each of the container bodies 33Y, each of the nozzle holes 610 communicates with an opening 335b of a door support portion (which will be described later) as a block The door is open on the side. Specifically, each of the container gears 301 is engaged with the container drive gear 601 at a position closer to the container opening 33a with respect to each of the nozzle holes 610 and the opening 335b of the door support portion.

A conveying screw 614Y is provided in each of the conveying nozzles 611. When the driving member (container rotating portion) 91 is rotationally driven to a conveying screw gear 605, each of the conveying screws 614Y is rotated to convey the toner supplied in the conveying nozzle 611. The conveying nozzle 611 is connected to the toner falling passage 64 at the downstream end in the conveying direction. The toner conveyed by each of the conveying screws 614 is dropped by the toner falling passage 64 by gravity, and is supplied to the developing device 50 (second developer accommodating portion 54).

The toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) is replaced with a new toner container at the end of its life (when the container becomes empty due to almost complete exhaustion of the contained toner). The holder 303 (Y, M, C, K) is disposed in the toner container 32 (Y, M, C) opposed to the container front end cover 34 (Y, M, C, K) in the longitudinal direction in Fig. 4 One end of K, K) is disposed downstream of the separation direction Q1. When the toner container is to be replaced, the operator can grasp the holder 303 (Y, M, C, K), then pull out and remove The toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) is connected to the toner container accommodator 70.

The configuration of the driving member 91 will be further described below with reference to Fig. 6. In Fig. 6, the symbol representing the color is omitted. The drive member 91 includes a container drive gear 601 of each color and a conveying screw gear 605. When a drive motor 603 mounted on each of the mounting frames 602 is driven and an output gear is rotated, the container drive gear 601 rotates. Each of the conveying screw gears 605 is rotated by receiving a rotation of the output gear by a coupling gear 604 of each color.

As shown in Fig. 5, the toner filling device 60 controls the amount of toner supplied to the developing device 50 in accordance with the rotational frequency of each of the conveying screws 614. Therefore, the toner that has passed through each of the conveying nozzles 611 is directly conveyed to the developing device 50 through the toner falling passage 64 without controlling the amount of toner supplied to the developing device 50. Even if it is configured to insert the delivery nozzle 611 into the toner filling device 60 in the toner container 32 as described in this embodiment, a temporary toner reservoir such as a toner hopper can be provided.

The toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) and the toner filling device 60 (Y, M, C, K) according to this embodiment will be described in detail below. As described above, the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) and the toner filling device 60 (Y, M, C, K) have almost the same configuration except for the color of the toner to be used. Therefore, in the following description, the symbols Y, M, C, and K representing the toner color will be omitted, and the configuration of the single toner container 32 and the single toner filling device 60 will be described.

1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the toner filling device 60 and the toner container 32 front end of the toner container 32 before the toner container 32 is connected to the toner container 32. FIG. 7 is an explanatory perspective view of the toner container 32. Fig. 8 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the toner filling device 60 connected to the toner container 32 and the front end of the toner container 32.

As shown in Fig. 1, the toner filling device 60 includes a conveying nozzle 611 in which a conveying screw 614 is disposed and a nozzle stopper 612 as a nozzle opening/closing member. The nozzle stopper door 612 is slidably mounted on the outer surface of the conveying nozzle 611 so as to be closed, that is, before the toner container 32 is connected (in the state in FIG. 1), The nozzle hole 610 is closed, and at the time of connection, that is, when the toner container 32 is connected (in the state of Fig. 8), the nozzle hole 610 is opened. The nozzle stopper door 612 includes a nozzle stopper flange 612a as a flange on the downstream side with respect to the end surface attachment direction of a nozzle receiver 330 as a nozzle insertion member ( As will be described later, it is in contact with the conveying nozzle 611.

A receiving opening 331 is provided as a nozzle insertion opening into which the conveying nozzle 611 is inserted at the time of connection, is disposed at the center of the front end of the toner container 32 (container main body), and is provided with a container stopper door 332 as the opening of the receiving opening 331 is closed at the time of separation/ Closed parts.

The conveying nozzle 611 is disposed at the center of the setting cover 608. The conveying nozzle 611 is disposed to protrude from the one end surface 615b of a container setting portion 615 toward the upstream side in the attachment direction within the container lid receiving portion 73, the end surface 615b is located inside the attachment direction, and the container setting portion 615 is located at the toner container 32. The attachment direction is on the downstream side of the Q. The container setting portion 615 as the container receiving portion is disposed in an upright manner in the protruding direction of the conveying nozzle 611, that is, is disposed toward the upstream side in the attachment direction of the toner container 32 so as to surround the conveying nozzle 611. Specifically, the container setting portion 615 is provided at the base of the conveying nozzle 611 and serves as a positioner to determine the position of the container opening 33a with respect to the powder container accommodator 70, in position, when the rotary conveyor in the toner container 32 is rotated to transport carbon In the case of the toner contained in the powder container 32, the container opening 33a functions as a rotating shaft portion. That is, when the container opening 33a is inserted into the container setting portion 615 and closely fitted with the container setting portion 615, the radial position of the container opening 33a is determined. When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60, an outer surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 is slidably fitted tightly with the container setting portion 615.

The toner container is in a radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (joining/separating direction) of the toner container 32 by an inner surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 closely fitting with the outer surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32. The position of 32 relative to the toner filling device 60 is determined. Further, when the toner container 32 is rotated, the outer surface 33b of the container opening 33a has a function as a rotating shaft portion, and the inner surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 has a function as a bearing. In Fig. 8, α indicates that the outer surface 33b of the container opening 33a is in sliding contact with the inner surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 and the toner container The position relative to the radial position of the toner filling device 60 is determined.

The toner container 32 will be described below.

As described above, the toner container 32 mainly includes the container body 33 containing toner, and includes the container front end cover 34. Fig. 9 is a side view showing the arrangement of the container main body 33 separated from the container front end cover 34 and the arrangement of the nozzle receiver 330 connected to the container main body 33. Fig. 10 is a schematic view for explaining a state in which the nozzle receiver 330 is connected to the container body 33.

As shown in Fig. 9, the container main body 33 is in the form of an approximately cylindrical shape and rotates around a central axis of a cylinder as a rotational axis O which is a central axis of the toner container 32 in the longitudinal direction. Hereinafter, the side of the toner container 32 that receives the opening 331 in the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 (the side on which the container front end cover 34 is provided) may be referred to as a "container front end". The other side (the side opposite to the front end of the container) of the toner container 32 provided with the holder 303 may be referred to as a "container rear end". The longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 is the rotation axis direction, and corresponds to the horizontal direction when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60. The outer diameter of the container rear end with respect to the container main body 33 of the container gear 301 is larger than the outer diameter of the front end of the container, and the spiral rib 302 is provided on the inner surface of the container main body 33. When the container body 33 is rotated in the rotation direction A in the drawing, the conveying force for moving the toner from one end (the container rear end) in the rotation axis direction to the other end (the container front end) is due to the spiral rib 302 The toner is applied to the container body 33 in effect.

As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, a scooping portion 304 as a toner take-up portion is provided on the inner wall of the container front end of the container body 33. The scooping portion picks up the toner conveyed to the front end of the container by the spiral ribs 302 as the container body 33 rotates in the direction of the arrow A in the drawing. The scooping portion 304 picks up the toner that has been transported by the conveying force of the spiral rib 302 upward by the drawing surface 3040 as the container body 33 rotates. Therefore, the toner can be drawn so as to be placed above the inserted conveying nozzle 611. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a spiral rib 304a located at the scooping portion is also provided on the inner surface of the scooping portion 304, similarly to the spiral rib 302. The spiral rib 304a located at the scooping portion has a spiral shape and serves as a conveying portion to convey the toner located inside to the scooping surface 3040. Details of the capturing section 304 will be described below.

The container gear 301 is disposed at the front end of the container with respect to the scooping portion 304 of the container body 33. A gear exposure opening 34a is provided on the container front end cover 34 to expose a portion of the container gear 301 (the distal side in Fig. 7) when the container front end cover 34 is coupled to the container body 33. When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60, the container gear 301 exposed by the gear exposure opening 34a is engaged with the container driving gear 601 of the toner filling device 60. The container gear 301 is disposed in the vicinity of the container opening 33a (near the container opening 33a) with respect to the nozzle hole 610 in the longitudinal direction of the container main body 33 so as to be engageable with the container driving gear 601. The container gear 301 is meshed with the container drive gear 601 so that the rotary conveyor can be rotated.

A cylindrical container opening 33a is provided at the front end of the container with respect to the container gear 301 of the container body 33 so as to be coaxial with the container gear 301. As shown in FIG. 10, a nozzle receiver connection portion 337 of the nozzle receiver 330 is press-fitted to the container opening 33a so as to be coaxial with the container opening 33a, thereby connecting the nozzle receiver 330 to the container body 33. The toner container 32 is configured to replenish toner from the container opening 33a which is an opening provided at one end of the container main body 33, after which the nozzle receiver 330 is inserted and connected to the container opening 33a of the container main body 33 as shown in FIG. . That is, the container opening 33a enables the delivery nozzle 611 to be inserted into the position as the center of rotation of the toner container 32.

As shown in Fig. 10, a cover hook 306 as a restrictor is disposed between the container opening 33a of the container body 33 and the container gear 301. The cover hook 306 has a ring shape extending in the rotational direction (circumferential direction) at the front end of the container front end cover 34 in the attachment direction.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 8, the container front end cover 34 is connected to the toner container 32 (container main body 33) from the front end of the container (from the lower left side in Fig. 8). Therefore, the container main body 33 penetrates the container front end cover 34 in the longitudinal direction, and a cover hook 341 is engaged with the cover hook 306 as a restrictor. The container body 33 is coupled to the container front end cover 34 so as to rotate relative to each other when the cover hook 341 is engaged with the cover hook 306.

When the toner container 32 is the powder container holder 70 shown in FIG. At the time of holding, the stress (recovery force) of compressing a container shutter spring 336 as a biasing member and the stress caused by the compression of a nozzle stopper spring 613 are applied to the toner container 32 as shown in Fig. 8.

The toner container 32 according to this embodiment can be connected to the photocopier 500, and the toner container 32 containing the toner for forming an image is attached to the photocopier 500. The photocopier 500 includes a conveying nozzle 611 for conveying toner, a nozzle blocking door 612 as a powder receiving hole opening/closing member, opening and closing a nozzle hole 610 as a powder receiving hole provided on the conveying nozzle; a nozzle stopper spring 613, as a biasing member, biasing the nozzle stopper 612 to close the nozzle hole 610; the container driving gear 601 as a device main body gear, transmitting a driving force to the rotary conveyor in the toner container 32; and a container setting portion 615, as a container receiving portion, is disposed around the conveying nozzle 611 to be coaxial with the conveying nozzle 611, and receives the toner container 32.

The nozzle receiver 330 connected to the container body 33 will be described below.

As shown in Fig. 11, the nozzle receiver 330 includes a container shutter support member 340 as a support member, a container shutter 332, a container sealing body 333 as a sealing body, and a container shutter spring 336 as a biasing means. And a nozzle receiver connection portion 337. The container door support 340 includes a door rear end support portion 335 as a rear portion of the door, a plurality of door side support portions 335a as side portions, an opening 335b as a door support opening for the door side opening, and nozzle receiving Connector connection portion 337. The container door spring 336 is configured by a coil spring. The door side support portion 335a and the opening 335b of the door support portion are disposed on the container door support 340, and are disposed adjacent to each other in the rotational direction of the powder container such that the two opposite door side support portions 335a constitute a part of the cylinder And the portion (both portions) corresponding to the opening 335b of the door support portion is mostly removed from the cylinder. With this shape, the container shutter 332 can be guided to move in the longitudinal direction in the cylindrical space within the cylinder.

The nozzle receiver 330 connected to the container body 33 rotates together with the container body 33 as the container body 33 rotates. At this time, the door side support portion 335a of the nozzle receiver 330 is rotated around the conveying nozzle 611 of the toner filling device 60. Therefore, pay The rotating door side support portion 335a passes through a space just above the nozzle hole 610 provided in the upper portion of the conveying nozzle 611. Therefore, even if the toner accumulates on the nozzle hole 610 for a while, since the door side supporting portion 335a intersects the accumulated toner and slows down the accumulation, the toner accumulated when the device is not used can be prevented from agglomerating and prevented from being re-run. The toner delivery failed during the installation. In contrast, when the door side support portion 335a is located on the side of the conveying nozzle 611 and the nozzle hole 610 and the opening 335b of the door supporting portion are opposed to each other, the toner in the container main body 33 is supplied to the conveying nozzle 611 as by the eighth The arrow β in the figure indicates.

As shown in Fig. 10, the container shutter 332 includes a front cylindrical portion 332c as a closing portion, a sliding portion 332d as a sliding portion or a sealing portion, a guiding rod 332e as an extending portion, and a plurality of blocking doors. Hook 332a. The front cylindrical portion 332c is a container front end portion to closely fit the cylindrical opening (receiving opening 331) of the container sealing body 333. The sliding area 332d is a cylindrical portion provided at the rear end of the container with respect to the front cylindrical portion 332c. The outer diameter of the sliding region 332d is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the front cylindrical portion 332c, and slides on the inner surface of the pair of door side supporting portions 335a.

The guide rod 332e is a cylinder that is erected from the inner side of the cylinder of the front cylindrical portion 332c toward the rear end of the container. The guide rod 332e acts as a rod portion, is inserted into the inside of the roll of the container door spring 336 and guides the container door spring 336 so that the container door spring 336 does not bend. The door hook 332a is disposed at an end opposite to the base from which the guide bar 332e is erected, and the door hook 332a serves as a pair of engaging portions that prevent the container door 332 from being detached from the container door support 340.

The front end of the container shutter spring 336 abuts the inner wall surface of the front cylindrical portion 332c, and the rear end of the container shutter spring 336 abuts the wall surface of the shutter rear end support portion 335. At this time, the container shutter spring 336 is in a compressed state so that the container shutter 332 receives a biasing force in a direction away from the door rear end support portion 335 (toward the container front end). However, the door hook 332a provided at the rear end of the container of the container shutter 332 is hooked on the outer wall of the door rear end support portion 335. Therefore, the container shutter 332 is prevented from further moving in the direction away from the door rear end support portion 335. Via the door hook 332a and the door behind the door The state of such hooking between the end support portions 335 and the biasing force of the container door spring 336 enable positioning.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60, the nozzle door flange 612a of the nozzle door 612 of the toner filling device 60 is biased by the nozzle door spring 613. The projection of the container sealing body 333 is pressed and deformed. The nozzle shutter flange 612a is further moved inwardly and abuts the container front end of the plurality of nozzle shutter positioning ribs 337a shown in Fig. 11, thereby covering and sealing the front end surface of the container sealing body 333 from the outside of the container. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the sealing property around the conveying nozzle 611 at the opening 331 in the connected state, and it is possible to prevent toner from leaking.

As shown in Fig. 8, the rear side of a biasing surface 612f of the nozzle door flange 612a biased by the nozzle door spring 613 abuts the nozzle door positioning rib 337a to determine the nozzle door 612 relative to the carbon The position of the powder container 32 in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the front end surface of the container sealing body 333, the front end surface of the front end opening 305 (the internal space of the cylindrical nozzle receiver connecting portion 337 provided in the container opening 33a as will be described later), and the nozzle stopper door 612 are determined. Positional relationship in the longitudinal direction.

The operation of the container shutter 332 and the conveying nozzle 611 will be described below with reference to Figs. 1, 8 and 12A to 12D. Before the toner container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60, as shown in Fig. 1, the container door spring 336 biases the container door 332 toward the closed position to close the receiving opening 331. The outer shape of the container shutter 332 and the transport nozzle 611 at this time is shown in Fig. 12A. When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60, as shown in FIG. 12B, the conveying nozzle 611 is inserted into the receiving opening 331. When the toner container 32 is further pushed into the toner filling device 60, an end surface 332h (hereinafter referred to as "the end surface 332h of the container door") which is the front cylindrical portion 332c of the end surface of the container shutter 332 is transported. The distal end 611a (hereinafter referred to as "the leading end (end surface) 611a" of the transport nozzle) which is the end surface of the transport nozzle 611 in the insertion direction of the nozzle 611 is in contact with each other. When the toner container 32 is further pushed from the above state, the container shutter 332 is pushed as shown in Fig. 12C. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 12D, the conveying nozzle 611 is inserted from the receiving opening 331 to the door rear end supporting portion 335. in. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 8, the conveying nozzle 611 is inserted into the container main body 33 and positioned at the set position. At this time, as shown in FIG. 12D, the nozzle hole 610 is located at a position overlapping the opening 335b of the door support portion.

Subsequently, when the container main body 33 is rotated, the toner sucked by the scooping portion 304 and located above the conveying nozzle 611 falls into the nozzle hole 610 which is opened upward and is guided into the conveying nozzle 611. As the conveying screw 614 rotates, the toner introduced into the conveying nozzle 611 is conveyed toward the toner falling passage 64 in the conveying nozzle 611. Subsequently, the toner falls through the toner falling passage 64 and is supplied into the developing device 50.

As described above, when the toner is taken up by the scooping portion 304 and supplied to the nozzle hole 610 of the conveying nozzle 611 inserted in the front end opening 305 of the opening of the nozzle receiver 330 of the container main body 33, in some cases, It may be difficult to effectively supply the toner T from the scooping portion 304 to the nozzle hole 610 depending on the fluidity of the toner, the rotational frequency of the container body 33, and the like. Therefore, the inventors have studied the configuration of the scooping portion 304 (container body 33) and found some effective configurations. These configurations will be described in detail below.

First embodiment

As shown in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, in the first embodiment, when the container main body 33 is rotated, the scooping portion 304 provided on the container opening 33a side of the container main body 33 is taken along with the container main body 33. The toner T delivered to the container opening 33a is rotated along the rotation direction A, and the toner T is supplied to the nozzle hole 610 (see Fig. 15). The nozzle receiver 330 is inserted into and connected to the container opening 33a; therefore, in the description of the lower scooping portion 304, the container opening 33a of the container body 33 is described as the receiving opening 331.

In the first embodiment, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the scooping portion 304 includes a scooping surface 3040 extending inward from an inner wall surface 33c of the container body 33. In the capturing surface 3040, an inner end portion 3040a of the drawing surface on the side of the rotating shaft O extends in a direction along the rotation axis direction of the container body 33. Specifically, an edge (side) 3042 on the inner end 3040a of the take-up surface closest to the rotation axis O side is substantially parallel The ridge line along the rotational axis O is formed between the portion 33c' that protrudes toward the rotational axis O of the inner wall surface 33c of the container body 33 and the scooping surface 3040. Further, as shown in Fig. 15, in the cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis, the drawing surface 3040 is inclined toward the virtual line X by an angle within a predetermined range toward the upstream side in the rotation direction A of the container body 33. In a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis, the imaginary line X passes through the rotation axis O and is tangent to the edge (side) 3042 of the inner end portion of the plucking face 3040. In the first embodiment, the predetermined range of the inclination angle θ is set to 25 ± 5 degrees. The edge (side) can be a sharp edge or a rounded edge.

In Fig. 15, a configuration including two capturing faces 3040 in the rotational direction is exemplified; however, the number of the capturing faces 3040 is not limited thereto. If a plurality of capture faces 3040 are provided, it is preferred that the capture faces are disposed at a plurality of edges (sides) 3042 that are point symmetric about the axis of rotation O and are equally spaced apart from one another in the direction of rotation (eg, interval 180) Degree).

As for the effective range of the tilt angle θ of the capture face 3040, it will be evaluated by the evaluation model. This will be described in detail below. As the evaluation method, a toner bottle manufactured (experimentally produced) as a plurality of evaluation models having the drawing faces having different inclination angles θ is attached to the photocopier 500 as an image forming apparatus for evaluation, and the container body 33 is fixed. The speed is rotated for a while and then the remaining amount of toner in the container is measured.

Table 1 is a list of evaluation results.

In Table 1, it is assumed that when the take-up surface 3040 is substantially parallel to the horizontal through When the virtual line X1 of the rotation axis O (see Fig. 15) has an inclination angle θ of 0 degrees, the positive sign (+) indicates that the extraction surface 3040 is located above the virtual line X1 (on the downstream side in the rotation direction A). A minus sign (-) indicates a case where the capturing surface 3040 is located below the virtual line X1 (on the upstream side in the rotational direction A).

In other words, in the positional relationship in which the virtual lines X and X1 overlap each other, that is, when the rotation axis O and the edge (side) 3042 are horizontally disposed, the plus sign (+) indicates the rotation direction A of the drawing surface 3040 toward the container body 33. In the case where the upstream side is inclined, the minus sign (-) indicates a case where the drawing surface 3040 is inclined toward the downstream side in the rotation direction A of the container body 33.

Further, the angle θ formed by the capture surface 3040 with respect to the imaginary line X is referred to as a tilt angle θ. The virtual line X is made by drawing a straight line passing through the rotation axis O and tangential to the edge (side) 3042 in a cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the toner container 32. When the toner container 32 includes two take-up faces 3040, the virtual line X can be made by drawing a straight line tangent to the two edges (sides) 3042.

The remaining amount of toner (g) represents the amount of the toner T remaining in the container main body 33.

The subsequent ability of the toner replenishment amount represents the difference between the actual replenishment amount (actual replenishment amount) and the previously determined set replenishment amount, and is represented by the ratio (%). The 100% follow-up ability indicates that the actual replenishment amount is equal to the set replenishment amount, and there is no shortage of toner replenishment. This is the optimum state in which a necessary and sufficient amount of toner T is replenished to the developing device 50 (see Fig. 4). As the subsequent ability value is decreased, the actual replenishment amount is decreased from the set replenishment amount so that the amount of toner supplied to the developing device 50 (see Fig. 4) is reduced. In the case where the inclination angle θ is negative (-), the evaluation of the subsequent ability is not performed because the remaining amount of the toner is not good (see Table 1).

For the container body 33 having the drawing faces 3040 having different inclination angles θ, carbon powder having the same apparent density (apparent bulk density or relaxed apparent density) (g/cm ³ ) is used. The apparent density (g/cm ³ ) is set in the range of 0.41 g/cm ³ to 0.48 g/cm ^{3 in consideration of the change} .

The amount of toner remaining in the container main body 33 (the amount of remaining toner) is preferably set to be equal to or smaller than a reference value, wherein the reference value can be set, for example, to 15 g. This reference value changes depending on the type of the container body 33, and is not limited to the above numerical values.

Fig. 16 exemplifies the relationship between the remaining amount of toner and the replenishing amount after the shovel portion is applied when the inclination angle θ of the drawing surface 3040 is set to be negative. As shown in Fig. 16, if the inclination angle θ is set to be negative, the remaining amount of toner is much larger than the reference value, and the remaining amount of toner does not reach the reference value.

Fig. 17 exemplifies the relationship between the remaining amount of toner after the action of the shovel portion when the inclination angle θ of the drawing surface 3040 changes, and the replenishment amount. The inclination angle θ is set to 0 degrees, 15 degrees, and 25 degrees. At all of these inclination angles θ, the remaining amount of toner reaches the reference value. For example, focusing on a certain area in which the remaining amount of toner falls into a predetermined area, for example, a region of a remaining amount of a smaller toner of 75 g or less. In this region, as the inclination angle θ increases by 0 degrees < 15 degrees < 25 degrees, the toner replenishment amount tends to reach the most stable state, and the subsequent ability tends to reach the highest value.

Therefore, if the remaining capacity (g) of the toner and the subsequent capacity (%) of the toner replenishing amount are taken into consideration, it is preferable to set the inclination angle θ of the drawing surface 3040 to 25 degrees. If the manufacturing error is again considered, it is preferable to set the inclination angle θ within the range of 25 ± 5 degrees.

Next, the inventors will evaluate an evaluation model of the relationship between the rotational frequency (rpm) of the container body 33 and the inclination angle θ of the capturing surface 3040. This will be described below.

Table 2 is a list of evaluation results when the toner T having the same apparent density (g/cm ³ ) was used and the rotation frequency (rpm) of the container body 33 was changed. As an evaluation method, a toner bottle manufactured (experimentally produced) as a plurality of evaluation models is attached to an image forming apparatus for evaluation, the rotation frequency of the container body 33 is changed, and toner emission is measured at each rotation frequency. the amount.

The toner discharge amount (g) represents the amount of discharge obtained when the container main body 33 is rotated at a predetermined rotation frequency. The value of this emission corresponds to the amount of toner replenishment.

The change in toner replenishment due to environmental changes indicates a change in toner discharge capacity due to changes in conditions.

Fig. 18 illustrates the relationship between the remaining amount (g) of toner from the container main body 33 and the discharge amount (g) when the rotation frequency (rpm) of the container main body 33 is changed. In the first embodiment, the rotation frequency (rpm) of the container main body 33 is set to three levels of 95 rpm, 110 rpm, and 130 rpm. As shown in Fig. 18, even when the rotation frequency (rpm) of the container main body 33 is changed, the discharge amount (g) as the toner replenishing amount is stable, and the replenishing amount (g) is 95 rpm with the rotation frequency. 110 rpm < 130 rpm is increased by this.

Figs. 19A and 19B are graphs for comparing the remaining amount of toner and the amount of discharged toner after the shovel portion is applied when the inclination angle θ of the extraction surface 3040 of the evaluation model and the environmental condition of the toner are both changed. The inclination angle θ of the capturing surface 3040 is set to three levels of 10 degrees, 15 degrees, and 20 degrees. Fig. 19A illustrates the relationship between the remaining amount of toner and the discharge amount when the container main body 33 is rotated at 130 rpm and the environmental condition is set to the N1 condition. Fig. 19B illustrates the relationship between the remaining amount of toner and the discharge amount when the container main body 33 is rotated at 130 rpm and the environmental condition is set to the N2 condition. The N1 condition is a condition in which the toner discharge ability is high, and is, for example, an LL (low temperature/low humidity) environment. The N2 condition is a condition in which the toner discharge ability is low, for example, an HH (high temperature/high humidity) environment. In Figs. 19A and 19B, the experiment was carried out under N1 conditions of a temperature of 10 ° C and a humidity of 15% and N2 at a temperature of 45 ° C and a humidity of 32%. Further, the standard conditions are, for example, an MM (intermediate temperature/intermediate humidity) environment or the like, and the experiment is conducted under the conditions of a temperature of 23 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 50%. From The environmental change from N1 condition to N2 condition is assumed to be the environmental change.

Figs. 20A and 20B are diagrams for comparing the relationship between the remaining amount of the toner and the amount of discharge, as the extraction characteristics when the inclination angle θ of the extraction surface 3040 of the evaluation model and the environmental conditions are changed. Fig. 20A illustrates the relationship between the remaining amount of toner and the discharge amount when the container main body 33 is rotated at 110 rpm and the environmental condition is set to the N1 condition. Fig. 20B illustrates the relationship between the remaining amount of toner and the discharge amount when the container main body 33 is rotated at 110 rpm and the environmental condition is set to the N2 condition. The conditions N1 and N2 are the same as those shown in Figs. 19A and 19B.

As shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, when the rotation frequency of the container main body 33 is 130 rpm, even if the inclination angle θ of the take-up surface 3040 becomes 10 degrees, 15 degrees, or 20 degrees, between the remaining amount of toner and the amount of discharge The change is often lower under N1 conditions than under N2 conditions.

As shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, when the rotation frequency of the container main body 33 is 110 rpm, similarly to the case of 130 rpm, even if the inclination angle θ of the take-up surface 3040 becomes 10 degrees, 15 degrees, or 20 degrees, the toner remains. The change between quantity and emissions is still lower under N1 conditions than under N2 conditions. However, if the 19A and 20A drawings are compared with each other, it is found that the change is often rotated at 130 rpm in the container main body 33 as shown in Fig. 19A at 110 rpm as shown in Fig. 20A. The situation is lower.

In view of the above, even when the inclination angle θ of the take-up surface 3040 is changed within a predetermined range, if the rotation frequency of the container main body 33 is about 110 rpm, the change between the remaining amount of the toner and the discharge amount is still low and stable. . Therefore, in the first embodiment, it is preferable to set the rotation frequency (rpm) of the container main body 33 to 110 rpm. Further, regarding the upper and lower limits of the rotational frequency (rpm), since the characteristics of the remaining amount and the amount of toner at 95 rpm and 130 rpm as shown in Fig. 18 are similar to those at 110 rpm, it is preferable that The lower limit was set to 95 rpm and the upper limit was set to 130 rpm. That is, in the first embodiment, it is preferable to rotate the container at a rotation frequency of a predetermined range of 110 ± 15 rpm in the rotational direction A. Main body 33.

In this manner, if the inclination angle θ of the take-up surface 3040 is set to 25 ± 5 degrees, the rotation frequency of the container body 33 along the rotational direction A is set to 110 ± 15 rpm, and the use has a range of 0.41 g/cm ³ to 0.48. an apparent density in the range of g / cm ³ of (g / cm ³⁾ of the toner T, is supplied to the delivery nozzle orifice 611 in the nozzle 610 before the toner, the toner does not overflow from the waste drawn surface 3040, and surface draw 3040 does not pass over the nozzle hole 610 while maintaining the toner T. Therefore, the drawing surface 3040 can take the toner T to an appropriate position, so that the toner flowing into the nozzle hole 610 can be reduced even in the case where the fluidity of the toner changes due to apparent density, environment, or the like. The change in quantity.

21A, 21B, 22A, and 22B illustrate the results of the evaluation, and the evaluation is performed such that the toner bottle 32 manufactured as a mass production model, instead of the powder of the above evaluation model (prototype model) The container is connected to and operated in a monomer tester (toner replenishment monomer tester) which can be produced in the same manner as a real machine.

21A and 21B are diagrams for comparing the amount of toner emission of each inclination angle θ of the take-up surface 3040 of the container main body 33 in the mass production model under the same conditions. Fig. 21A illustrates that the container main body 33 of the four mass production models in which the inclination angle θ of the drawing surface 3040 is set to 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 25 degrees, and 45 degrees, respectively, is connected to the real machine and rotated at a rotation frequency of 95 rpm. When the carbon emissions (g) are evaluated. Fig. 21B illustrates that the container main body 33 of the four mass production models in which the inclination angle θ of the drawing surface 3040 is set to 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 25 degrees, and 45 degrees, respectively, is connected to the real machine and rotated at a rotation frequency of 120 rpm. When the carbon emissions (g) are evaluated.

The evaluation is preferable when the toner discharge amount (g) is larger in the region of the remaining amount of the small carbon powder. As shown in Fig. 21A, at a low rotation frequency (95 rpm), the discharge amount at the inclination angle θ of 15 degrees and 30 degrees is substantially the same, and is at a peak. However, the discharge amount at the inclination angle θ of 0 degrees is very poor, and if the inclination angle θ is increased At 45 degrees, the emissions are reduced. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 21B, at a high rotation frequency (120 rpm), the inclination angle θ of 15 degrees is at a peak, the inclination angle θ of 30 degrees and 45 degrees is substantially the same, and is at the second peak, 0 degree. The inclination angle θ is the worst. The target value of the rotational frequency of the bottle of the real machine is set between the above two conditions; therefore, it is found that the optimum inclination angle θ is in the range of 15 to 30 degrees.

Further, in the case of printing by a real machine, a larger amount of toner discharge can cope with an image having a larger printing area; therefore, if the amount of toner remaining at a level larger than the remaining amount of toner is lower than A dotted line indicates the necessary emissions of emissions required by the machine, which can cause problems. When the patterns of the inclination angles θ are compared with each other with reference to the necessary discharge amount, the inclination angles θ of 15 degrees and 30 degrees are optimal, and the targets are met, so that the discharge amount is larger than necessary, until the remaining amount reaches about 5 grams. . The 45 degree inclination angle θ is second best and meets the target so that the discharge amount is greater than the necessary discharge amount until the remaining amount reaches about 15 to 25 grams. The inclination angle θ of 0 degrees is the worst, and does not completely meet the target, so that the discharge amount is larger than the necessary discharge amount, only until the remaining amount reaches about 60 to 90 grams. In view of the above, the optimum tilt angle θ was found to be in the range of 15 to 30 degrees.

22A and 22B are schematic views for comparing the range of variation of the toner replenishing amount caused by the environmental load at each inclination angle of the drawing surface 3040 of the container main body 33 in the mass production model. Fig. 22A exemplifies the toner replenishing amount (g/) when the container main body 33 of the mass production model in which the inclination angle θ of the drawing surface 3040 is set to 15 degrees is connected to the real machine and rotated at a predetermined rotation frequency while the environmental conditions are changed. Second) evaluation results. Fig. 22B exemplifies the toner replenishing amount (g/) when the container main body 33 of the mass production model in which the inclination angle θ of the drawing surface 3040 is set to 25 degrees is connected to the real machine and rotated at a predetermined rotation frequency while the environmental conditions are changed. Second) evaluation results.

It can be said that the smaller the change in the amount of supplement due to the environment or conditions, the more stable the supplement. Therefore, when such a supplement can be performed, the evaluation effect is good. As shown in FIGS. 22A and 22B, it is assumed that the N1 condition is set such that the factor affecting the replenishment amount (apparent density of toner, temperature and humidity, etc.) is set as the most favorable condition, and the N2 condition is set. In order for these factors to be set as the most unfavorable conditions, then When the rotation frequency of the bottle is in the range of 95 to 120 rpm and the inclination angle θ is in the range of 15 to 30 degrees, the advantages and disadvantages for the environment are compared, and the ranges of the above-mentioned rotation frequency and inclination angle are determined in FIGS. 21A and 21B. It is better. As a specific value, the container body having the inclination angle θ of 15 degrees and the inclination angle θ of 25 degrees was compared at a bottle rotation frequency of 110 rpm. The dotted line in the drawing indicates the target replenishment amount (target value) per unit time. The comparison result shows that in the container body in which the inclination angle θ of the extraction surface 3040 is 15 degrees and 25 degrees, the target replenishing amount (target value) is obtained in the region of the small toner remaining amount, and the replenishing amount is substantially the same. However, if the focus is on the magnitude relationship of the environmental variation range, that is, the difference between the N1 condition higher than the standard condition and the N2 condition lower than the standard condition, the environment where the inclination angle θ is 25 degrees is found. The range of variation is smaller than the range of environmental variation when the inclination angle θ is 15 degrees, and the inclination angle θ of 25 degrees is preferable. Incidentally, specific examples of the N1 condition, the N2 condition, and the standard condition are the same as the examples described above with reference to FIGS. 19A, 19B, 20A, and 20B.

In this manner, with respect to the inclination angle θ of the take-up surface 3040, it is preferable that the upstream side of the take-up surface 3040 toward the rotation direction A of the container body 33 with respect to the virtual axis O and the edge (side) 3042 Line X is tilted by 25 ± 5 degrees, regardless of whether it is an evaluation model or a mass production model. Further, it is preferable to set the rotation frequency of the toner container 32 within the range of 110 ± 15 rpm.

Second embodiment

In the second embodiment, the focus is focused on the position and height of the capturing face 3040 (i.e., the length in the direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation). As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the edge (side) 3042 of the inner end of the take-up surface 3040 extends substantially parallel to the rotation axis O. When connected to the toner filling device 60 and the container body 33 is rotated in the rotational direction A, the edge (side) 3042 of the inner end portion of the scooping face 3040 is rotated from the position shown in FIG. 23A to the position shown in FIG. 23C. The position (side) 3042 is located within the cross-sectional range W1 of the delivery nozzle 611, and more preferably within the opening range W2 of the nozzle aperture 610, and above the nozzle aperture 610, as shown in FIG. 23B. Shown. The cross-sectional range W1 serves as the opening range of the powder receiving hole in the axial direction.

In the second embodiment, the edge (side) 3042 of the inner end portion extends in the direction of the rotation axis to be at least a part of the nozzle hole 610 in the direction of the rotation axis when the container body 33 is connected to the toner filling device 60. The range of overlap. As shown in FIG. 23A, the capture face 3040 is located above the virtual line X1 in the horizontal state. In the second embodiment, the center of the nozzle hole 610 is disposed to coincide with the center of the rotation axis O. Therefore, the virtual line X1 passes over the nozzle hole 610 in the horizontal direction. In Fig. 23A, X2 denotes a virtual line which is an extension line of the upper surface of the nozzle hole 610. The virtual line X2 is a plane substantially parallel to the virtual line X1. That is, in the second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 23A, the take-up surface 3040 including the edge (side) 3042 of the inner end portion is located below the upper surface of the nozzle hole 610.

As shown in Figs. 13 and 14, there is a space S in the region facing the take-up surface 3040 in the scooping portion 304, and the space S serves as a toner holding space. The space S is surrounded by the drawing surface 3040 and the inner wall surface 33c of the container body 33. As shown in Fig. 24, the spiral rib 304a at the scooping portion serves as a conveying portion for conveying the toner toward the receiving opening 331 in the space S. A first end 304a1 of the spiral rib of the scooping portion is connected to the scooping surface 3040 as a distal end portion of the scooping portion. And a second end 304a2 of the spiral rib of the scooping portion on the side far from the opening is located downstream of the separating end Q1 with respect to the first end 304a1 of the spiral rib at the scooping portion. The second end 304a2 is shown in Fig. 32. When the transport nozzle 611 is inserted, the joint portion S70 between the take-up surface 3040 and the first end 304a1 of the spiral rib at the scooping portion is located within an opening range W3 in the direction of the rotation axis of the nozzle hole 610. The connecting portion S7 serves as a starting position or starting point of the conveying portion (that is, as a starting position of the spiral rib 304a at the scooping portion). In other words, the conveying portion is connected to the drawing surface 3040 at the connecting portion S7, and the connecting portion S7 is in the opening range W3 of the nozzle hole 610 in the rotation axis direction. The opening range W3 is the interval between the end portions 610c and 610d of the nozzle hole 610, and the end portions 610c and 610d are disposed opposite to each other in the rotation axis direction. That is, in the container main body 33, the connection portion S7 is located downstream of the attachment direction Q with respect to the position S5 of the end portion 610c of the nozzle hole 610 provided in the rotation axis direction. The wall 3041 is disposed on the scooping portion 304 and located in the region of the front end of the container of the space S. The wall 3041 functions as a front wall of the container connected to the take-up surface 3040 and the receiving opening 331 and extends in the direction of rotation. The wall 3041 defines a space S (toner holding space) in the direction of the rotation axis. Capture face 3040 limit The upstream side of the space S in the rotation direction is determined. The wall 3041 is located in an opening range W2 of the nozzle hole 610 in the axial direction. The opening range W2 will be described below. The toner T on the take-up surface 3040 is supplied from the space S to the receiving opening 331 through the wall 3041, that is, the nozzle hole 610.

In this manner, in the second embodiment, the drawing surface 3040 and the edge (side) 3042 of the inner end portion of the scooping portion 304 provided on the container body 33 are located within the opening range W2 of the nozzle hole 610, and Above the nozzle hole 610, as shown in Fig. 23B, the opening range W2 is the opening range of the powder receiving hole in the rotational direction. Therefore, when the take-up surface 3040 is inclined with the rotation of the container main body 33, and even if the toner having high fluidity at an advanced timing slides down the take-up surface 3040, the toner can be supplied to the nozzle hole 610. Therefore, the toner T can be efficiently supplied to the nozzle hole 610 of the conveying nozzle 611 inserted into the container body 33.

Further, when the capturing surface 3040 faces upward as shown in FIG. 23A, the capturing surface 3040 is located above the virtual line X1. Therefore, even when the capturing surface 3040 is oriented perpendicular to the rotation axis O due to the rotation of the container body 33 as shown in FIG. 23C, the capturing surface 3040 is located within the opening range W2. Therefore, even if the toner having low fluidity remains on the drawing surface 3040, the carbon powder can be supplied to the nozzle hole 610. Therefore, the toner T can be efficiently supplied to the nozzle hole 610 of the conveying nozzle 611 inserted into the container main body 33, and the toner remaining in the container main body 33 can be reduced.

When it is not provided in the spiral rib 304a of the scooping portion, and if the rotational speed of the container main body 33 is fast, the toner that has been drawn to the outer peripheral side of the container (the side of the inner wall surface 33c away from the rotating shaft O) of the scooping surface 3040 is slid downward. The nozzle hole 610 passes before the edge (side) 3042 side of the inner end of the drawing surface 3040.

However, in the second embodiment, the toner is conveyed to the space S facing the take-up surface 3040 at the spiral rib 304a of the scooping portion; therefore, even when the undulation of the container main body 33 occurs or the fluidity of the toner changes, A sufficient amount of toner can also be supplied to the take-up surface 3040. Therefore, the toner T can be supplied to the nozzle hole 610 stably and efficiently.

The capturing face 3040 and the first end 304a1 of the spiral rib 304a at the capturing portion The connection portion S7 is located within the opening range W3 in the direction of the rotation axis of the nozzle hole 610; therefore, the toner conveyed by the spiral rib 304a at the scooping portion is collected around the nozzle hole 610. Therefore, the amount of toner other than the sliding down to the nozzle hole 610 can be reduced, and the toner on the drawing surface 3040 can be more efficiently supplied to the nozzle hole 610.

In the second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 25, the space S has a shape that narrows toward the receiving opening 331 as an opening. That is, the width S2 of the wall 3041 which is the front wall of the container in the vicinity of the receiving opening 331 in the space S is smaller than the width S1 which is away from the side of the receiving opening 331. The widths S1 and S2 described herein correspond to directions perpendicular to the axis of rotation O and the capture face 3040.

In this manner, when the space S has a shape narrowed at the wall 3041 on the side of the receiving opening 331, the flow from the drawing surface 3040 through the wall 3041 to the receiving opening 331 can be adjusted by adjusting the width S2 of the wall 3041. The amount of toner. Therefore, a stable amount of toner can be supplied to the nozzle holes 610.

As shown in FIG. 26A, if the position S9 of the wall 3041 is located downstream of the attachment direction Q with respect to the position S8 of the end 610d of the nozzle hole 610, the toner that has passed through the wall 3041 is conveyed to the attachment direction Q. The area in front of the nozzle hole 610. The region S10 between the position S8 and the position S9 is deviated from the nozzle hole 610 in the direction of the rotation axis, and therefore, toner remains, and becomes the remaining toner which cannot be supplied to the nozzle hole 610.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 26B, the wall 3041 is disposed to be within the opening range W3 in the axial direction of the nozzle hole 610 when the conveying nozzle 611 is inserted into the receiving opening 331. That is, the position S9 of the wall 3041 is located downstream of the separation direction Q1 with respect to the position S8 of the end 610d of the nozzle hole 610. By defining the position of the wall 3041 as the toner supply portion as described above, the toner T on the take-up surface 3040 can be reliably supplied to the nozzle hole 610 through the wall 3041.

As shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B, if the protrusion h2 from the inner wall surface 33c toward the rotation axis O as the height of the spiral rib 304a at the scooping portion is smaller than the inner wall surface 33c to the scooping surface 3040 (the inner end portion) The height h1 of the edge (side edge) 3042), the carbon collected by the spiral rib 304a at the drawing portion when the container body 33 is rotated The powder may pass through the protrusion of the spiral rib 304a at the scooping portion. The toner that has passed through the spiral rib 304a at the scooping portion can be moved to a region that does not contribute to the toner conveyance, and it may be difficult to guide the toner to the receiving opening 331. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 27C, it is preferable that the projection amount (height) h2 of the spiral rib 304a at the scooping portion is equal to the height h1 of the scooping surface 3040. With this configuration, it is prevented that the toner enters the rear side of the spiral rib 304a of the scooping portion (the region that does not contribute to the toner transport) when the sucking surface 3040 is picking up the toner. Therefore, the toner can be supplied to the nozzle hole 610 more efficiently.

As shown in Fig. 28, the angle θ 1 between the spiral rib 304a of the scooping portion and the scooping surface 3040 can be set to be equal to or larger than the angle of repose of the toner T. In this example, the inclination angle of the capturing surface 3040 at the connecting portion S7 is set to an angle θ 1 . By setting the angle θ1 as described above, it is less likely that the toner will accumulate on the spiral rib 304a of the scooping portion. Therefore, the toner can be efficiently delivered to the take-up surface 3040. Therefore, the toner on the take-up surface 3040 can be more efficiently supplied to the nozzle holes 610.

Third embodiment

As shown in FIGS. 29A to 29C, in the third embodiment, the scooping portion 304B provided on the receiving opening 331 (container opening 33a) side of the container main body 33 is taken along the rotation direction A of the container main body 33. The toner T that is rotated to be conveyed to the receiving opening 331 is supplied to the nozzle hole 610.

The scooping portion 304B includes a scooping surface 3040B that extends from the inner wall surface 33c of the container body 33 toward the rotational axis O of the container body (however, the extension line of the scooping surface 3040B does not pass through the rotational axis O). An inner end portion 3040Ba of the drawing surface 3040B on the nozzle hole 610 side extends in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis O, and has an edge (side) 3042B. The edge (side) 3042B of the inner end portion 3040Ba is substantially parallel to the rotation axis O such that when rotated from the position shown in FIG. 29A to the position shown in FIG. 29C after being connected to the toner filling device 60, The edge (side) 3042B is located within the cross-sectional range W1 of the delivery nozzle 611, and more preferably within the opening extent W2 of the nozzle aperture 610 and above the nozzle aperture 610. In the third embodiment, in contrast to the configuration of the second embodiment, the take-up surface 3040B is inclined so as to be close to the inner wall surface. The take-up surface 3040B on the side of the 33c is lower than the edge (side) 3042B of the inner end portion 3040Ba.

In the third embodiment, when the container main body 33 is coupled to the toner filling device 60, the edge (side) 3042B of the inner end portion extends in the direction of the rotation axis direction and at least a portion of the nozzle hole 610 in the rotation axis direction. overlapping. As shown in FIG. 29A, the take-up surface 3040B is located above the virtual line X1 in the horizontal state, and the virtual line X1 extends in the horizontal direction while passing through the rotation axis O. In the third embodiment, the center of the nozzle hole 610 is disposed to coincide with the center of the rotation axis O. Therefore, the virtual line X1 passes over the nozzle hole 610 in the horizontal direction. The virtual line X2 which is an extension line of the upper surface of the nozzle hole 610 is a plane substantially parallel to the virtual line X1. That is, in the third embodiment, as shown in Fig. 29A, the take-up surface 3040B including the edge (side) 3042B of the inner end portion is located below the upper surface of the nozzle hole 610.

There is a space S in the region facing the capturing surface 3040B in the capturing portion 304B. The space S is surrounded by the scooping surface 3040B and the inner wall surface 33c of the container body 33. The spiral rib 304a at the scooping portion serves as a conveying portion for conveying the toner toward the receiving opening 331 (the container leading end) in the scooping portion including the space S. The first end 304a1 of the spiral rib of the scooping portion is connected to the scooping surface 3040B. On the scooping portion 304B, a wall 3041 (the front wall of the container, see Figs. 13 and 14) connected to the scooping surface 3040B and the receiving opening 331 is provided in the region of the front end of the container of the space S. The toner T on the take-up surface 3040B is supplied from the space S to the receiving opening 331 through the wall 3041, that is, the nozzle hole 610.

In this manner, the take-up surface 3040B and the edge (side) 3042B of the scooping portion 304B provided on the container body 33 are located within the opening range W2 in the rotational direction of the nozzle hole 610, and above the nozzle hole 610, Seen in Figure 29B. Therefore, when the take-up surface 3040B is inclined with the rotation of the container main body 33, and even if the toner having high fluidity at an advanced timing slides down the take-up surface 3040B, the toner can be supplied to the nozzle hole 610. Therefore, the toner T can be efficiently supplied to the nozzle hole 610 of the conveying nozzle 611 inserted into the container body 33.

Further, when the capturing surface 3040B faces upward as shown in FIG. 29A, the capturing surface 3040B is located above the virtual line X1. So even when the face 3040B is taken When the orientation of the container body 33 is perpendicular to the rotation axis O as shown in Fig. 29C, the drawing surface 3040B is also located within the opening range W2. Therefore, even if the toner having low fluidity remains on the drawing surface 3040B, the carbon powder can be supplied to the nozzle hole 610. Therefore, the toner T can be efficiently supplied to the nozzle holes 610 of the conveying nozzle 611 inserted into the container main body 33, and the toner remaining in the container main body 33 can be reduced.

When it is not provided in the spiral rib 304a of the scooping portion, and if the rotational speed of the container main body 33 is fast, the container main body 33 is before the toner T slides down to the edge (side) 3042B side of the inner end portion of the scooping surface 3040B. The toner T that has been drawn onto the outer peripheral side of the container (the side closer to the inner wall surface 33c of the rotating shaft O) of the scooping surface 3040B passes through the nozzle hole 610.

However, in the third embodiment, the toner is conveyed to the space S facing the take-up surface 3040B at the spiral rib 304a of the scooping portion; therefore, even when the undulation of the container main body 33 or the fluidity of the toner changes, A sufficient amount of toner can also be supplied to the take-up surface 3040B. Therefore, the toner T can be supplied to the nozzle hole 610 stably and efficiently.

Fourth embodiment

As shown in FIGS. 30A to 30C, in the fourth embodiment, the scooping portion 304C provided on the receiving opening 331 (container opening 33a) side of the container main body 33 is taken along the rotation direction A of the container main body 33. The toner T that is rotated to be conveyed to the receiving opening 331 is supplied to the nozzle hole 610.

The scooping portion 304C includes a scooping surface 3040C that extends from the inner wall surface 33c of the container body 33 toward the rotational axis O of the container body (however, the extension line of the scooping surface 3040C does not pass through the rotational axis O). An inner end portion 3040Ca of the drawing surface 3040C on the nozzle hole 610 side extends in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis O, and has an edge (side) 3042C. The edge (side) 3042C is substantially parallel to the rotation axis O such that when rotated from the position shown in FIG. 30A to the position shown in FIG. 30C after being connected to the toner filling device 60, the edge (side) The 3042C is located within the cross-sectional range W1 of the delivery nozzle 611, and more preferably within the opening extent W2 of the nozzle aperture 610 and above the nozzle aperture 610. In the fourth embodiment, the drawing surface 3040C is tilted The scooping surface 3040C on the side close to the inner wall surface 33c is inclined lower than the edge (side) 3042C of the inner end portion 3040Ca.

In the fourth embodiment, when the container main body 33 is coupled to the toner filling device 60, the edge (side) 3042C of the inner end portion extends in the direction of the rotation axis direction and at least a portion of the nozzle hole 610 in the rotation axis direction. overlapping. As shown in FIG. 30A, the capturing surface 3040C is located below the virtual line X1 in the horizontal state, and the virtual line X1 extends in the horizontal direction while passing through the rotating axis O. In the fourth embodiment, the center of the nozzle hole 610 is disposed to coincide with the center of the rotation axis O. Therefore, the virtual line X1 passes over the nozzle hole 610 in the horizontal direction. The virtual line X2 which is an extension line of the upper surface of the nozzle hole 610 is a plane substantially parallel to the virtual line X1. That is, in the fourth embodiment, as shown in Fig. 30A, the take-up surface 3040C including the edge (side) 3042C is located below the upper surface of the nozzle hole 610.

There is a space S in the region facing the capturing surface 3040C in the capturing portion 304C. This space S is surrounded by the scooping surface 3040C and the inner wall surface 33c of the container main body 33. The spiral rib 304a at the scooping portion serves as a conveying portion for conveying the toner toward the receiving opening 331 (the front end of the container) in the space S. The first end 304a1 of the spiral rib of the scooping portion is connected to the scooping surface 3040C. On the scooping portion 304C, a wall 3041 (the front wall of the container, see Figs. 13 and 14) connected to the capturing surface 3040C and the receiving opening 331 is provided in the region of the front end of the container of the space S. The toner T on the take-up surface 3040C is supplied from the space S to the receiving opening 331 through the wall 3041, that is, the nozzle hole 610.

In this manner, in the fourth embodiment, the take-up surface 3040C and the edge (side) 3042C of the inner end portion of the scooping portion 304C provided on the container main body 33 are located in the opening range W2 in the rotational direction of the nozzle hole 610. Inside, and above the nozzle hole 610, as shown in Fig. 30B. Therefore, when the take-up surface 3040C is inclined with the rotation of the container main body 33, and even if the toner having high fluidity at an advanced timing slides down the take-up surface 3040C, the toner can be supplied to the nozzle hole 610. Therefore, the toner T can be efficiently supplied to the nozzle hole 610 of the delivery nozzle 611 inserted into the container body 33.

Further, when the capturing surface 3040C faces upward as shown in FIG. 30A, the capturing surface 3040C is located below the virtual line X1. Therefore, even when the capturing surface 3040C is oriented perpendicular to the rotation axis O due to the rotation of the container body 33 as shown in FIG. 30C, the capturing surface 3040C is located within the opening range W2. Therefore, even if the toner having low fluidity remains on the drawing surface 3040C, the toner can be supplied to the nozzle hole 610. Therefore, the toner T can be efficiently supplied to the nozzle holes 610 of the conveying nozzle 611 inserted into the container main body 33, and the toner remaining in the container main body 33 can be reduced.

When it is not provided in the spiral rib 304a of the scooping portion, and if the rotational speed of the container main body 33 is fast, the container main body 33 is before the toner T slides down to the edge (side) 3042C side of the inner end portion of the scooping surface 3040C. The toner T that has been drawn onto the outer peripheral side of the container of the scooping surface 3040C (away from the inner wall surface 33c side of the rotating shaft O) passes through the nozzle hole 610.

However, in the fourth embodiment, the toner is conveyed to the space S facing the take-up surface 3040C at the spiral rib 304a of the scooping portion; therefore, even when the undulation of the container main body 33 or the fluidity of the toner changes, A sufficient amount of toner can also be supplied to the take-up surface 3040C. Therefore, the toner T can be supplied to the nozzle hole 610 stably and efficiently.

Each of the drawing faces 3040 to 3040C described above has a configuration in which each of the edges (sides) 3042 to 3042C is positioned below the virtual line X2 which is an extension line of the upper surface of the nozzle hole 610; however, the present invention is not limited to such Example. For example, as shown in FIG. 31A, the capturing face 3040D has a configuration in which the edge (side) 3042D is positioned above the virtual line X1 and the virtual line X2 which is an extension line of the upper surface of the nozzle hole 610.

In this configuration, as shown in FIG. 31B, the take-up surface 3040D and the edge (side) 3042D of the inner end portion of the scooping portion 304D provided on the container main body 33 are located in the opening range W2 in the rotational direction of the nozzle hole 610. Within, and above the nozzle hole 610. Therefore, when the take-up surface 3040D is inclined with the rotation of the container main body 33, and even if the toner having high fluidity at an advanced timing slides down the take-up surface 3040D, the toner can be supplied to the nozzle hole 610. Therefore, the toner T can be effectively A nozzle hole 610 is provided to the delivery nozzle 611 inserted into the container body 33.

Even in the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment, similar to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 25, the space S has a shape narrowed toward the receiving opening 331 as an opening, and is received in the space S The width S2 of the wall 3041 near the opening 331 is set to be smaller than the width S1 away from the side of the receiving opening 331.

In this manner, when the space S has a shape narrowed at the wall 3041 on the side of the receiving opening 331, the width S2 of the wall 3041 can be adjusted to adjust the flow from each of the drawing faces 3040 to 3040D through the wall 3041. The amount of toner of the opening 331 is received. Therefore, a stable amount of toner can be supplied to the nozzle holes 610.

In the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment, similar to the first embodiment shown in Fig. 26A, if the position S9 of the wall 3041 is in the attachment direction with respect to the position S8 of the end 610d of the nozzle hole 610 Downstream of Q, the toner that has passed through the wall 3041 is transported to a region in front of the nozzle hole 610 in the attachment direction Q. The region S10 between the position S8 and the position S9 is deviated from the nozzle hole 610 in the direction of the rotation axis, and therefore, toner remains, as the remaining toner which cannot be supplied to the nozzle hole 610.

Therefore, similarly to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 26B, when the conveying nozzle 611 is inserted into the receiving opening 331, the wall 3041 is located within the opening range W1 in the axial direction of the nozzle hole 610. That is, the position S9 of the wall 3041 is located downstream of the separation direction Q1 with respect to the position S8 of the end 610d of the nozzle hole 610. By defining the position of the wall 3041 as the toner supply portion as described above, the toner T on each of the drawing faces 3040 to 3040D can be reliably supplied to the nozzle hole 610 through the wall 3041.

In the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, as shown in Figs. 27A and 27B, if protruding from the inner wall surface 33c toward the rotation axis O as a spiral at the drawing portion The protruding amount h2 of the height of the rib 304a is smaller than the height h1 from the inner wall surface 33c to each of the drawing faces 3040 to 3040D (edges (sides) 3042 to 3042D), and when the container body 33 is rotated, the spiral rib 304a at the drawing portion is The collected toner may pass through the protrusion of the spiral rib 304a at the scooping portion. The toner that has passed through the spiral rib 304a at the scooping portion can be moved to an area that does not contribute to the toner conveyance, and It is difficult to guide the toner to the receiving opening 331. Hereinafter, similarly to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 27C, if the amount of protrusion (height) h2 of the spiral rib 304a at the scooping portion is equal to the height h1 of each of the scooping faces 3040 to 3040D, prevention is performed in each When the drawing faces 3040 to 3040D are drawing toner, the toner enters the rear side of the spiral rib 304a of the scooping portion (a region that does not contribute to the toner conveyance). Therefore, the toner can be supplied to the nozzle hole 610 more efficiently.

In the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, as shown in Fig. 28, the angle θ defined by the spiral rib 304a at the scooping portion and each of the scooping faces 3040 to 3040D is defined. 1 can be set to be equal to or greater than the angle of repose of the toner T. In this example, the inclination angle of each of the drawing faces 3040 to 3040D at the joint portion S7 is set to an angle θ 1 . By setting the angle θ1 as described above, it is less likely that the toner will accumulate on the spiral rib 304a of the scooping portion. Therefore, the toner can be efficiently delivered to each of the drawing faces 3040 to 3040D. Therefore, the toner on each of the take-up faces 3040 to 3040D can be more efficiently supplied to the nozzle holes 610.

As shown in FIG. 32, the scooping portions 304 to 304D may be disposed in the direction of the rotation axis near the receiving opening 331 with respect to the position S3 at the second end 304a2 of the spiral rib 304a at the side of the receiving portion 331 away from the receiving opening 331. The position of the (container opening 33a). In this configuration, the toner conveyed from the second end 304a2 of the spiral rib 304a of the scooping portion on the side far from the opening side is taken up with respect to each of the scooping portions of the receiving opening 331 located on the upstream side (front side) of the toner conveying direction. This configuration is preferable because the toner on the take-up faces 3040 to 3040D can be efficiently supplied to the nozzle holes 610.

In the above embodiment, it is explained that the capturing sections 304, 304B, and 304D are located above the virtual line X1, and the capturing section 304C is located below the virtual line X1. However, it is assumed that when each of the side faces or each of the take-up faces is located in the opening range W2 when the receiving opening 331 is rotated with the rotation of the container body 33, the scooping portion may be located at the same position as the virtual line X1 in the rotational direction A, That is, they are in the same plane.

In the first embodiment, the inclination angle θ of the drawing face 3040 in the predetermined range in the rotational direction A is defined as 25 ± 5 degrees, and the range of the predetermined rotation frequency (rpm) of the container body 33 is limited to 110 ± 15 rpm. And the range of the apparent density (g/cm ³ ) of the carbon powder is limited to 0.41 g/cm ³ to 0.48 g/cm ³ . However, the inclination angle θ within the predetermined range, the predetermined rotation frequency (rpm), and the apparent density (g/cm ³ ) are applicable to the second to fourth embodiments. In this case, the toner does not wastefully overflow from each of the drawing faces 3040 to 3040D before the toner flows into the nozzle holes 610 of the conveying nozzle 611, and each of the drawing faces 3040 to 3040D does not remain while holding the toner T. Passes over the nozzle hole 610. Therefore, each of the drawing faces 3040 to 3040D can take the toner T to an appropriate position, so that the flow into the nozzle hole 610 can be reduced even in the case where the fluidity of the toner changes due to the apparent density, the environment, or the like. The amount of toner changes.

Fifth embodiment

Next, the movement of the toner in the container main body 33 in the vicinity of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 as the powder container will be described below.

If the toner bottle 32 sealed as the powdery developer in the container main body 33 is kept in the same posture for a long time, the toner will aggregate. Therefore, in some cases, it may be necessary to shake the bottle up and down or left and right before use to perform preliminary operations to loosen the toner. Further, as a way of storing the toner container 32, it is generally recommended to horizontally place the toner bottle 32 in the same manner as the case of connecting to the toner filling device 60 (photocopying machine 500). However, in order to store the space, the toner bottle 32 can be stored in an upright manner while the container opening 33a faces downward.

In this case, when the inventors shake the toner bottles 32 of the first to fourth embodiments up and down or left and right a certain number of times, and then connect the toner bottle 32 to the toner filling device 60 (photocopying machine 500), there is It is difficult to completely insert the delivery nozzle 611 into the container opening 33a, which is determined as the number of reciprocations on the basis of the horizontal storage state. The inventors have found the root cause of the problem and found that the portion 33c' protruding toward the rotational axis O of the container body 33 connected to the edge 3042 (3042B to 3042D) of the capturing face 3040 (3040B to 3040D) is in the form of a concave toward the inside of the container Prominent, as shown in Fig. 39A, so even when the toner bottle 32 is shaken in the preliminary operation, the force is The concave surface is distributed, and the space in the container for the toner to flow out is limited; therefore, it is difficult to completely loosen the toner (it is difficult to apply a loose force to the toner). It can be said that the portion 33c' includes a circular arc-shaped concave surface along the rotational direction in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis.

Therefore, in the fifth embodiment, the shape of the portion 33c' of the container main body 33 which protrudes toward the inside of the container in a concave form, that is, the shape of the scooping portion, is changed to a convex shape so as to concentrate the force by means of the convex shape, Further, the space for discharging the toner in the container is increased, so that the space for the toner to flow out is not limited.

Referring to Figures 33A to 39B, the configuration of the powder container according to the fifth embodiment will be described below. The difference from the first to fourth embodiments is that the configuration of the toner scooping portion 304E provided on the container main body 33 is different from that of the scooping portions 304 (304B to 304D) of the other embodiments, but the basic configuration and the above embodiment are different. The configuration is the same. Therefore, the configuration of the capturing section 304E according to the fifth embodiment will be mainly described.

Fig. 33A is a plan view illustrating the arrangement of the container body 33 including the scooping portion 304E. Fig. 33B is a side view illustrating the arrangement of the container body 33 including the scooping portion 304E. Fig. 34 is an enlarged perspective view for explaining the arrangement of the opening side of the container body. Fig. 35 is an enlarged cross-sectional view for explaining the arrangement of the opening side of the container body. Fig. 36 is an enlarged view for explaining the arrangement of the take-up surface 3040E of the scooping portion 304E when viewed from the rear end of the container toward the front end of the container. FIGS. 37A to 37C are operational diagrams for schematically explaining changes in the scooping portion 304E as a function of rotation. Figs. 38A to 38C are operational diagrams for schematically explaining changes in the scooping portion 304E as a result of continuous rotation from the 37Cth chart. Figs. 37A to 37C and Figs. 38A to 38C are cross-sectional views when viewed from the rear end of the container toward the front end of the container, similarly to Fig. 36. Fig. 39A is a schematic view exemplifying the toner diffusibility when the internal space of the container main body 33 is small. Fig. 39B is a schematic view illustrating the toner diffusibility when the internal space of the container main body 33 including the scooping portion 304E according to the fifth embodiment is increased.

In the fifth embodiment, the scooping portion 304E provided on the container opening 33a side of the container body 33 is drawn as the container body 33 rotates in the rotational direction A. The toner T sent to the container opening 33a is supplied to the nozzle hole 610 (see Fig. 15). The nozzle receiver 330 is inserted into and connected to the container opening 33a; therefore, in the description of the lower scooping portion 304, the container opening 33a of the container body 33 is described as the receiving opening 331. That is, as shown in Figs. 34 and 36, the sucking portion 304E which draws the toner with the rotation of the container main body 33 is provided on the inner wall of the container front end of the container main body 33. The scooping portion 304E draws up the toner that has been transported by the conveying force of the spiral ribs 302 by the scooping surface 3040E as the container body 33 rotates. Therefore, the toner can be drawn so that the toner is positioned above the inserted conveying nozzle 611. In the fifth embodiment, the scooping portion 304E is disposed at two positions which are displaced by 180 degrees with respect to the rotational axis O as shown in Fig. 36.

Further, as shown in Figs. 34 and 35, the spiral ribs 304a at the scooping portion are provided on the inner surface of each of the scooping portions 304E, similar to the spiral ribs 302. The spiral rib 304a has a spiral shape and serves as a conveying portion for conveying the toner located inside to the take-up surface 3040E.

In the fifth embodiment, each of the scooping portions 304E includes a scooping surface 3040E that extends from the inner wall surface 33c of the container body 33 toward the rotational axis O (however, the extension line of the scooping surface 3040E does not pass through the rotational axis O) .

An inner end portion 3040Ea of each of the drawing faces 3040E on the side of the rotating shaft O extends in a direction along the direction of the rotation axis of the container body 33. Specifically, an edge (side) 3042E on the inner end portion 3040Ea of the take-up surface closest to the rotation axis O side extends substantially parallel to the rotation axis O, and protrudes toward the rotation axis O of the inner wall surface 33c of the container body 33. A ridge line along the rotation axis O is formed between the 33c' and the drawing surface 3040E. Further, as shown in Fig. 36, in the cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis, the drawing face 3040E is inclined toward the virtual line X by an angle within a predetermined range toward the upstream side of the rotation direction A of the container body 33. The imaginary line passes through the rotational axis O and is tangent to the edge (side) 3042E of the inner end of the scooping face 3040E. Even in the fifth embodiment, the predetermined range of the inclination angle θ is set to 25 ± 5 degrees (25 ° ± 5 °).

In the fifth embodiment, each of the scooping portions 304E includes the inner wall surface 33c A take-up surface 3040E that protrudes toward the inside of the bottle. The take-up surface 3040E includes an edge (side) 3042E disposed at the innermost side of the bottle. Each of the scooping portions 304E is shaped such that the scooping surface 3040E and a surface 3043 extending from the edge (side) 3042E constitute a triangular protrusion. In the cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis O, the edge (side) 3042E is a mountain-shaped apex of a triangular protrusion. The triangular protrusions inside the powder reservoir extend along a length of powder reservoir. And the angle between the capturing surface 3040E and the surface 3043 is set to θ 2 . θ 2 is an acute angle.

When the container main body 33 is blown, it is difficult to project only the scooping surface 3040E from the inner wall surface 33c of the scooping portion 304E into the form of a flat plate. Therefore, the scooping portion 304E is configured to have an approximate acute angle θ 2 at the edge 3042E as a vertex in the cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis (FIG. 36). This makes it possible to easily provide the container body 33 by blow molding and to secure the internal space indicated by the broken line in Fig. 39B.

As shown in Figures 33A, 33B, and 34, the first end 304a1 of the helical rib extends to connect with the capture face 3040E. In the fifth embodiment, the first end 304a1, which is a distal end portion of the spiral rib at the scooping portion, has a shape that is erected from the scooping surface 3040E so as to be substantially perpendicular to the scooping surface 3040E. In other words, the first end 304a1 as the end portion of the spiral rib at the scooping portion extends in the circumferential direction, and the scooping surface 3040E extends in the direction of the rotation axis. That is, the end portion of the spiral rib vertically intersects the drawing surface 3040E. Thus, a part of the take-up surface 3040E is recessed inward by being connected to the end portion. Therefore, the space surrounded by the first end 304a1 of the spiral rib of the scooping portion, the scooping surface 3040E, and the inner wall surface 33c of the toner container 32 can function as a storage portion capable of storing a large amount of toner.

Further, when the toner container 32 is attached to the image forming apparatus (toner filling device), it is closer to the toner container 32 with respect to the first end 304a1 which is the end portion of the spiral rib at the scooping portion in the rotation axis direction. The take-up surface 3040E on the side of the container opening 33a is positioned to face the nozzle hole 610.

In this configuration, the retaining portion formed by the first end 304a1 of the spiral rib and the scooping surface 3040E may face the nozzle hole 610 and be retained in the spiral rib of the scooping portion The toner conveyed by 304a; therefore, the scooping portion 304E can efficiently draw the carbon powder and cause the carbon powder to flow into the nozzle hole 610.

Further, the first end 304a1 of the spiral rib is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the nozzle hole 610 extends (the axial direction of the conveying nozzle 611); therefore, it is advantageous in that the flowing toner is not disturbed.

Of course, in the fifth embodiment, each of the edges (sides) 3042E of the inner end portions has a configuration such that when it is coupled to the toner filling device 60 and the container body 33 is rotated in the rotational direction A, it is rotated. By the position shown in Fig. 36, each edge (side) 3042E is located within the cross-sectional range W1 of the delivery nozzle 611, and more preferably within the opening range W2 of the nozzle aperture 610, and The upper surface of the nozzle hole 610.

The pickup operation by the capturing section 304E configured as described above will be described below with reference to Figs. 37A to 37C and Figs. 38A to 38C. Fig. 37A illustrates a state before the container main body 33 is attached to the toner filling device 60 (photocopying machine 500) and rotated. In the state of 0 degree, a pair of opposite door side supporting portions 335a of the nozzle receiver 330 are disposed such that one of them is located on the upper side of the nozzle hole 610 of the conveying nozzle 611 in the upper portion of the drawing, and the other is located in the conveying nozzle The lower side of the nozzle hole 610 of 611 is displaced by 180 degrees from the upper side door side support portion. Further, each of the drawing faces 3040E is inclined toward the upstream side of the rotation direction A of the container body 33 by a predetermined angle θ with respect to the imaginary line X1 passing through the rotation axis O and tangential to the edge 3042E. In this manner, the pair of opposing door side support portions 335a and the two drawing faces 3040E of the nozzle receiver 330 have an arrangement relationship in which the positions in the rotational direction A are substantially perpendicular to each other with respect to the rotational axis O.

More specifically, the door side support portion 335a is disposed at a position not facing the edge 3042E of the take-up surface, that is, a virtual line X that is tangential to the edge 3042E of the take-up surface and passes through the rotation axis O in the rotation direction. s position. In this configuration, the door side support portion 335a can be prevented from interfering with the toner falling from the take-up surface 3040E to the nozzle hole 610.

Further, more preferably, as shown in Figure 36, if the focus set In the door side support portion 335a on the upper side (the downstream side in the rotation direction A) of one of the drawing faces 3040E that has held the toner T, it is preferable that the door side support portion 335a is The interval D1 between the upstream end in the rotational direction A (on the right side of FIG. 36) and the edge 3042E of one of the scooping faces 3040E is greater than the downstream end of the shutter side support portion 335a in the rotational direction A (at the 36th) The space D2 between the left side of the figure and the other edge 3042E of the capture surface 3040E (on the left side with respect to the above-described door side support portion 335a in Fig. 36). In the above relative arrangement, the toner flow path can be easily ensured.

At the same time, in the 0 degree state, the toner T has been held by one of the take-up faces 3040E. From this state, when the container body 33 is rotated counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow A in the drawing, the toner T on the take-up surface 3040E is further moved upward while the toner T is still held, as shown in Fig. 37B. Shown in . Figure 37B illustrates a 30 degree state rotated 30 degrees counterclockwise from a 0 degree state. Further, when the container main body 33 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction indicated by the arrow A in the drawing, the pair of shutter side support portions 335a of the nozzle receiver 330 are integrally rotated so that the toner T on the take-up surface 3040E is further Move up while the toner T is still held, as shown in Figure 37C. Figure 37C illustrates a 60 degree state rotated 60 degrees counterclockwise from a 30 degree state. In this state, the door side support portion 335a is further moved from the nozzle hole 610 to open the nozzle hole 610. Further, the drawing surface 3040E is inclined downward with respect to the rotation axis O, so that the toner T on the drawing surface 3040E gradually slides downward by gravity and starts to fall into the nozzle hole 610.

As shown in Fig. 38A, when the container main body 33 is rotated from the 60-degree state to the 90-degree state, all of the toner T on the take-up surface 3040E is dropped by gravity and supplied to the nozzle hole 610. Further, in the 90 degree state, the other scooping portion 304E is located at the lower portion of the container main body 33, and the scooping surface 3040E grips the toner T accumulated in the lower portion.

When the container main body 33 is further rotated from the 90-degree state to the 120-degree state, as shown in FIG. 38B, the drawing face 3040E starts to recapture the toner T accumulated in the lower portion, and the other door side supporting portion 335a covers the nozzle. One of the upper sides of the hole 610 section.

Further, as shown in FIG. 38C, when the container body 33 is further rotated from the 120 degree state to the 150 degree state, the drawing face 3040E further draws the toner, and the other door side supporting portion 335a moves to the nozzle hole 610. Upper side to prevent toner replenishment.

In this manner, when the container main body 33 is rotated in the rotational direction A, the toner T drawn by the scooping surface 3040E can be supplied from the upper side of the nozzle hole 610 to the inside of the transport nozzle 611.

Further, in the fifth embodiment, each of the scooping portions 304E includes a scooping surface 3040E that protrudes from the inner wall surface 33c toward the inside of the bottle. The take-up surface 3040E includes an edge (side) 3042E disposed at the innermost side of the bottle. Each of the scooping portions 304E is shaped such that the scooping surface 3040E and a surface 3043 extending from the edge (side) 3042E constitute a triangular protrusion. In a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis O in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis O, the edge (side) 3042E is a mountain-shaped apex of the triangular protrusion. The triangular protrusions inside the powder reservoir extend along the length of the powder reservoir. And the angle between the capturing surface 3040E and the surface 3043 is set to θ 2 . θ 2 is an acute angle. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 39B, the internal space in the container main body 33 can be increased by the area corresponding to the dotted circle in Fig. 39A so that the space S2 defined by the container shutter 332 can be increased (see Fig. 36 and the 37A to 37C). Therefore, the space for the toner T to flow out during the preliminary operation can be increased, and the toner T can be easily loosened.

The configuration of the fifth embodiment as described above can be applied to the capturing sections 304 (304B to 304D) in the first to fourth embodiments.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the developer which is the carbon powder contained in the powder container can be efficiently supplied to the powder receiving hole of the nozzle inserted into the powder container.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments for the sake of complete clarity of the disclosure, the scope of the appended claims is not to be construed as limiting, Construction, such modifications and constructions clearly fall within the basic teachings set forth herein.

The invention further includes the following aspects.

Aspect A1

A powder container for use in an image forming apparatus, the powder container containing a powder for forming an image, detachably coupled to the image forming apparatus, the image forming apparatus including a nozzle having a powder receiving hole, the powder receiving The aperture opening is upwardly and receives powder from the powder container, and when the powder container is rotatably coupled, the image forming apparatus rotates the powder container at a rotational frequency within a predetermined range, the powder container comprising: a rotatable powder reservoir, Storing a powder for forming an image; an opening on one end of the powder reservoir and allowing the nozzle to be inserted into a position of a center of rotation of the powder container; a rotary conveyor in the powder reservoir The powder is delivered to an open side; and a picking portion that picks up the powder on the open side and supplies the powder to the powder receiving hole as the powder reservoir rotates, wherein the picking portion includes a take-up surface, the picking a face extending from an inner wall of the powder reservoir toward a side of the rotating shaft, and a side on the side of the rotating shaft An inner end of the face extends along a direction of the axis of rotation of the powder reservoir, an edge of the inner end being substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, and in a cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the facet An imaginary line passing through the rotating shaft and tangential to the edge of the inner end is inclined toward an upstream side of the direction in which the powder reservoir is rotated by a predetermined range.

Aspect A2

According to the powder container of the aspect A1, the inclination angle of the drawing surface is in the range of 25 ± 5 degrees.

Aspect A3

A powder container according to the aspect A1 or A2, wherein the predetermined range of the rotation frequency of the powder container is in the range of 110 ± 15 revolutions per minute.

Aspect A4

A powder container according to any one of the aspects A1 to A3, wherein the powder is a carbon powder having an apparent density of 0.41 g/cm ³ to 0.48 g/cm ³ .

Aspect A5

a powder container according to any one of the aspects A1 to A4, wherein an edge of the inner end of the drawing surface is located within an opening of the powder receiving hole in a rotation direction when the powder reservoir is rotated, And above the powder receiving hole.

Aspect A6

a powder container according to aspect A5, wherein an edge of the inner end overlaps at least a portion of the powder receiving hole in the direction of the rotation axis, and when the drawing face faces upward, the drawing surface is located at the same as a virtual line The position is either above the virtual line that passes through the axis of rotation and extends in a horizontal direction.

Aspect A7

The powder container according to the aspect A5 or A6 further includes a conveying portion that conveys the powder to the opening side of a space facing the drawing surface.

Aspect A8

According to the powder container of the aspect A7, wherein a starting position of the conveying portion in front of the drawing surface is within an opening of the powder receiving hole in an axial direction when the conveying nozzle is inserted into the opening.

Aspect A9

A powder container according to the aspect A7 or A8, wherein a downstream portion of the space in the direction of rotation narrows toward the opening.

Aspect A10

A powder container according to any one of the aspects A7 to A9, wherein the scooping portion includes a wall connected to the scooping surface and the opening in the downstream portion of the space in the rotational direction, and when the conveying nozzle When inserted into the opening, the wall is located within an opening of the powder receiving aperture in an axial direction.

Aspect A11

A powder container according to any one of the aspects A7 to A10, wherein the drawing portion is located on the opening side with respect to one end of the conveying portion on a side away from the opening in the direction of the rotation axis.

Aspect A12

a powder container according to any one of the aspects A7 to A11, wherein the conveying portion is a spiral protrusion that protrudes toward the inside of the powder reservoir, and the spiral protrusion extends in the direction of the rotation axis, and the A portion of the spiral protrusion is located in the space.

Aspect A13

A powder container according to aspect A12, wherein the height of the protrusion in the powder reservoir is the same as the height of the drawing surface.

Aspect A14

A powder container according to aspect A12, wherein an angle between the protrusion and the drawing surface is equal to or greater than an angle of repose of the powder.

Aspect A15

According to the powder container of the aspect A1, an inner wall mask of the powder container constituting the drawing surface has a mountain shape, and an edge of the drawing surface serves as a vertex in the mountain shape.

Aspect A16

According to the powder container of the aspect A15, the angle between the two surfaces forming a convex surface of the mountain shape is an approximate acute angle in which the end of the drawing surface serves as the apex.

Aspect A17

An image forming apparatus comprising: according to an aspect A powder container of any of the aspects A1 to A16; and an image forming unit that forms an image on an image carrier by using the toner conveyed from the powder container.

Aspect A18

The image forming apparatus according to aspect A17, wherein the predetermined range of the rotation frequency of the powder container is in a range of 110 ± 15 revolutions per minute.

Aspect B1

A powder container for use in an image forming apparatus, the powder container comprising: a rotatable powder reservoir in which a powder for forming an image is stored, the rotatable powder reservoir rotating about a rotating shaft; an opening located at the a nozzle of the image forming apparatus is inserted through the opening at one end of the powder reservoir; and a picking portion picks up the powder on the open side and supplies the powder to a powder receiving hole of the nozzle when the powder reservoir is rotated The picking portion includes a drawing surface extending inwardly from an inner wall surface of the powder reservoir, and an inner end portion of the drawing surface extends along a rotation axis direction of the powder reservoir, the inner end An edge of the portion is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, and in a cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the snap face is opposite a virtual line passing through the axis of rotation and tangential to the edge of the inner end The upstream side of the direction in which the powder reservoir is rotated is inclined.

Aspect B2

According to the powder container of the aspect B1, wherein the drawing surface is inclined by an inclination angle within a predetermined range, and the inclination angle of the drawing surface is in a range of 25 ± 5 degrees.

Aspect B3

A powder container according to aspect B1 or B2, wherein the powder container is rotated at a rotation frequency within a predetermined range, and the predetermined range of the rotation frequency of the powder container is in a range of 110 ± 15 rotations per minute.

Aspect B4

A powder container according to any one of the aspects B1 to B3, wherein the powder is a carbon powder having an apparent density of from 0.41 g/cm ³ to 0.48 g/cm ³ .

Aspect B5

a powder container according to any one of the aspects B1 to B4, wherein when the powder reservoir is rotated and the drawing surface is located above the powder receiving hole, an edge of the inner end of the drawing surface is located at the powder receiving hole Within an opening in a direction of rotation.

Aspect B6

A powder container according to aspect B5, wherein an edge of the inner end overlaps at least a portion of the powder receiving hole in the direction of the rotation axis when the powder reservoir is rotated and the drawing surface is located above the powder receiving hole.

Aspect B7

According to the powder container of the aspect B5 or B6, wherein the drawing surface is located above a virtual line, the virtual line passes through the rotating shaft and extends in the horizontal direction when the drawing surface faces upward.

Aspect B8

The powder container according to any one of the aspects B1 to B7, further comprising a rotary conveyor that conveys the toner in the powder reservoir to the open side.

Aspect B9

The powder container according to any one of the aspects B1 to B8, further comprising a conveying portion in which the conveying portion conveys the toner toward the opening side.

Aspect B10

According to the powder container of the aspect B9, wherein the conveying portion is connected to the drawing surface at a starting position together, and the starting position of the conveying portion is within an opening of the powder receiving hole in an axial direction.

Aspect B11

A powder container according to any one of the aspects B1 to B10, wherein the scooping portion includes a wall connected to the open side of the scooping surface and extending in a rotational direction, the wall defining the direction of the rotating axis a toner storage space defining an upstream side of the storage space in the rotational direction, and the wall is located within an opening of the powder receiving hole in an axial direction.

Aspect B12

According to the powder container of the aspect B11, the storage space is narrowed toward the opening in the direction of the rotation axis.

Aspect B13

A powder container according to any one of the aspects B9 to B12, wherein the drawing portion is located on the opening side with respect to one end of the conveying portion on a side away from the opening in the direction of the rotation axis.

Aspect B14

A powder container according to any one of the aspects B9 to B13, wherein the conveying portion is a spiral rib protruding toward the inside of the powder reservoir, and the spiral rib extends in the direction of the rotation axis, and a part of the spiral rib Located in the capture department.

Aspect B15

A powder container according to aspect B14, wherein the length of the spiral rib from the inner surface of the powder reservoir is the same as the length of the drawing surface in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation.

Aspect B16

A powder container according to aspect B14, wherein an angle between the spiral rib and the drawing surface is equal to or greater than an angle of repose of the powder.

Aspect B17

A powder container according to any one of the aspects B1 to B11, wherein the scooping portion includes a triangular protrusion extending in a direction of a rotation axis.

Aspect B18

According to the powder container of the aspect B17, the edge of the drawing surface serves as a vertex of the triangular protrusion.

Aspect B19

A powder container according to aspect B17 or B18, wherein an angle between the two surfaces of the triangular protrusion is an acute angle.

State B20

A powder container according to any one of the aspects B1 to B19, wherein the powder stored inside the powder reservoir comprises carbon powder.

Aspect B21

A powder container according to aspect B20, wherein the powder further comprises carrier particles.

Aspect B22

An image forming apparatus includes a powder container according to any one of the aspects B1 to B21.

33‧‧‧Container body (powder storage)

33c’‧‧‧ prominent part

304‧‧‧Capture Department (Toner Extraction Department)

3040‧‧‧汲取面

3040a‧‧‧Internal end

3042‧‧‧Edge (side)

332‧‧‧Container door (open/closed parts)

335a‧‧‧Baffle side support (side)

610‧‧‧Nozzle hole (powder receiving hole)

611‧‧‧ delivery nozzle

614‧‧‧Conveying screw

Angle of inclination of the θ‧‧‧ extraction surface

O‧‧‧Rotary axis

S2‧‧‧Width

Opening range of the powder receiving hole in the axial direction of W1‧‧‧

Opening range of the powder receiving hole in the axial direction of W2‧‧‧

X, X1‧‧‧ virtual line

Claims (31)

A powder container for use in an image forming apparatus, the powder container comprising: a rotatable powder reservoir in which a powder for forming an image is stored, the rotatable powder reservoir rotating about a rotating shaft; an opening located at the a nozzle for inserting a nozzle of the image forming apparatus from the opening; and a scooping portion for drawing the powder on the opening side, and supplying the powder to the powder reservoir when the powder reservoir is rotated a powder receiving hole of the nozzle, wherein the capturing portion includes a drawing surface extending inwardly from an inner wall surface of the powder reservoir, an inner end of the drawing surface facing the rotating axis of the powder reservoir Extending, an edge of the inner end portion is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, and in a cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the drawing face is tangent to the edge passing through the axis of rotation and the inner end a virtual line inclined toward an upstream side of the direction in which the powder reservoir rotates, wherein the scooping portion includes a wall connected to the open side of the scooping surface, and along the Extending in the direction of rotation, the wall forms a toner storage space in the direction of the rotation axis, the storage space in the rotation direction forms an upstream side, and the wall is located in the axial direction of the powder receiving hole Within an opening range. The powder container according to claim 1, wherein the drawing surface is inclined by an inclination angle within a predetermined range, and the predetermined range of the inclination angle is within 25 ± 5 degrees. The powder container according to the above aspect of the invention, wherein the powder container is rotated at a rotation frequency within a predetermined range, and the rotation frequency of the powder container is predetermined The range is 110 ± 15 revolutions per minute. The powder container according to claim 1, wherein the powder is a carbon powder having an apparent density of from 0.41 g/cm ³ to 0.48 g/cm ³ . The powder container according to claim 1, wherein the edge of the inner end of the drawing surface is located in the powder receiving hole when the powder reservoir is rotated and the drawing surface is located above the powder receiving hole Within an opening in a direction of rotation. The powder container of claim 5, wherein the edge of the inner end and the powder in the direction of the rotation axis are received when the powder reservoir is rotated and the drawing surface is located above the powder receiving hole At least a portion of the holes overlap. The powder container according to claim 5, wherein when the drawing surface is facing upward, the drawing surface is located above a virtual line, and the virtual line passes through the rotating shaft and extends in a horizontal direction. The powder container according to claim 1, further comprising a rotary conveyor that conveys the powder in the powder reservoir to the open side. The powder container according to claim 1, further comprising a conveying portion that conveys the powder toward the opening side in the drawing portion. The powder container according to claim 9, wherein the conveying portion is connected to the drawing surface at a starting position together, and the starting position of the conveying portion is at one of the powder receiving holes in an axial direction. Within the opening range. The powder container according to claim 1, wherein the storage space is narrowed toward the opening in the direction of the rotation axis. The powder container according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the scooping portion is located on the opening side, and is one end of the conveying portion on a side away from the opening in the direction of the rotation axis . The powder container according to any one of the items 9 to 11, wherein The conveying portion is a spiral rib protruding toward the inside of the powder reservoir, and the spiral rib extends in the direction of the rotation axis, and a part of the spiral rib is located in the drawing portion. The powder container according to claim 13, wherein the length of the spiral rib protruding from the inner surface of the powder reservoir is the same as the length of the drawing surface in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis. The powder container according to claim 13, wherein an angle between the spiral rib and the drawing surface is equal to or greater than an angle of repose of the powder. The powder container according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the scooping portion includes a triangular protrusion extending in a direction of a rotation axis. The powder container according to claim 16, wherein the edge of the drawing surface serves as a vertex of the triangular protrusion. The powder container according to claim 16, wherein an angle between the two surfaces of the triangular protrusion is an acute angle. The powder container according to claim 1, wherein the powder stored inside the powder reservoir comprises carbon powder. The powder container of claim 19, wherein the powder further comprises carrier particles. An image forming apparatus comprising the powder container according to any one of claims 1 to 20. A powder container for use in an image forming apparatus, the powder container comprising: a rotatable powder reservoir in which a powder for forming an image is stored, the rotatable powder reservoir rotating about a rotating shaft; an opening located at the One end of the powder reservoir for inserting a nozzle of the image forming apparatus from the opening; a picking portion for picking up the powder on the open side, and supplying the powder to a powder receiving hole of the nozzle when the powder reservoir is rotated, wherein the picking portion includes a drawing surface, and the drawing surface is stored from the powder An inner wall of the device extends inwardly, an inner end of the capturing surface extending toward the axis of rotation of the powder reservoir, an edge of the inner end being substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, and perpendicular to the rotation In a cross section of the shaft, the drawing surface is inclined with respect to an upstream line passing through the rotating shaft and tangential to the edge of the inner end toward the upstream side of the rotation direction of the powder reservoir; and a conveying portion, The conveying unit conveys the powder toward the opening side in the scooping portion, wherein the scooping portion is located on the opening side and is at one end of the conveying portion on a side away from the opening in the rotation axis direction. The powder container according to claim 22, wherein the powder stored inside the powder reservoir comprises carbon powder. A powder container for use in an image forming apparatus, the powder container comprising: a rotatable powder reservoir in which a powder for forming an image is stored, the rotatable powder reservoir rotating about a rotating shaft; an opening located at the a nozzle for inserting a nozzle of the image forming apparatus from the opening; a picking portion for drawing the powder on the opening side, and supplying the powder to the nozzle when the powder reservoir is rotated a powder receiving hole, wherein the picking portion includes a drawing surface extending inwardly from an inner wall surface of the powder reservoir, an inner end of the drawing surface extending toward the rotation axis of the powder reservoir An edge of the inner end portion is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, and In a cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the drawing surface is inclined toward an upstream side of the direction of rotation of the powder reservoir with respect to a virtual line passing through the axis of rotation and tangential to the edge of the inner end; a conveying portion that conveys the powder toward the opening side in the drawing portion, wherein the conveying portion is a spiral rib protruding toward the inside of the powder reservoir, and the spiral rib extends along the rotation axis direction, And a portion of the spiral rib is located in the scooping portion. The powder container according to claim 24, wherein the length of the spiral rib protruding from the inner surface of the powder reservoir is the same as the length of the drawing surface in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis. The powder container according to claim 24, wherein an angle between the spiral rib and the drawing surface is equal to or greater than an angle of repose of the powder. The powder container according to claim 24, wherein the powder stored inside the powder reservoir comprises carbon powder. A powder container for use in an image forming apparatus, the powder container comprising: a rotatable powder reservoir in which a powder for forming an image is stored, the rotatable powder reservoir rotating about a rotating shaft; an opening located at the a nozzle for inserting a nozzle of the image forming apparatus from the opening; and a scooping portion for drawing the powder on the opening side, and supplying the powder to the powder reservoir when the powder reservoir is rotated a powder receiving hole of the nozzle, wherein the capturing portion includes a drawing surface extending inwardly from an inner wall surface of the powder reservoir, an inner end of the drawing surface facing the rotating axis of the powder reservoir Extending, an edge of the inner end is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, and In a cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the drawing surface is inclined toward an upstream side of the direction of rotation of the powder reservoir with respect to a virtual line passing through the axis of rotation and tangential to the edge of the inner end portion, wherein The scooping portion includes a triangular protrusion extending along a direction of the rotation axis. The powder container according to claim 28, wherein the edge of the capturing surface serves as an apex of the triangular protrusion. The powder container according to claim 28, wherein the angle between the two surfaces of the triangular protrusion is an acute angle. The powder container according to claim 28, wherein the powder stored inside the powder reservoir comprises carbon powder.