TWI576676B - Nozzle receiver, powder container, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Nozzle receiver, powder container, and image forming apparatus

The present invention relates to a powder container for storing a developer which is used in an image forming apparatus such as a printer, a facsimile machine, a photocopier, or a multifunction having a printer, a facsimile machine, and a photocopier A powder in the functional peripheral device, a nozzle insertion member attached to the powder container, and an image forming device including the powder container.

In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a powder filling device supplies (fills) toner to a developing device, wherein the carbon powder is a developer from a toner container used as a powder container, and the powder container contains a developer of powder. The toner container described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-133349 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-276659 includes: a rotatable columnar powder reservoir; a nozzle receiver attached thereto a powder reservoir; an opening on the nozzle receiver; and an opening/closing member that moves to a closed position and an open position as the delivery nozzle inserted into the powder filling device, wherein the opening is closed at the closed position In the open position, the opening is open. The opening/closing member moves the toner located near the opening when the opening/closing member is moved to the open position with the toner nozzle being attached to the powder filling device by the delivery nozzle inserted into the toner container.

In the above configuration, if there is no overflow of the toner moving with the movement of the opening/closing member, the toner is compressed and agglomerated, and the opening/closing member is prevented from moving to, for example, when the toner container is separated from the powder container. Closed position.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

According to an embodiment, a nozzle receiver is located in an image forming apparatus Placed in a powder container. The nozzle receiver includes: a nozzle receiving opening in which a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container is inserted into the nozzle receiving opening; and an opening/closing member for opening and closing the nozzle a nozzle receiving opening; and a support for supporting the opening/closing member. The opening/closing member includes a seal portion for sealing the nozzle insertion opening. The holder includes an end face that is perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing member. The projection area of the end face in the moving direction of the opening/closing member is smaller than the projection area of the seal portion in the moving direction of the opening/closing member.

26‧‧‧Paper tray

27‧‧‧Supply roller

28‧‧‧positioning roller pair

29‧‧‧Discharge roller pair

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

33‧‧‧Container body (powder storage)

33a‧‧‧ Opening (container opening)

33b‧‧‧The outer surface of the container opening

33c‧‧‧ front end of the container opening

33 (Y, M, C, K) ‧ ‧ container body

34 (Y, M, C, K) ‧ ‧ container front end cover

34a‧‧‧ Gear exposure opening

34b‧‧‧ outer surface of the container lid

34c‧‧‧ front surface

34d‧‧‧ holes (through holes)

34e‧‧‧dotted circle

41 (Y, M, C, K) ‧ ‧ light conductor (image carrier)

42 (Y, M, C, K) ‧‧‧ cleaning device (photoconductor cleaning device)

42a‧‧‧cleaning scraper

44 (Y, M, C, K) ‧ ‧ charging roller (charging device)

46 (Y, M, C, K) ‧ ‧ image forming unit (image forming unit)

47‧‧‧Exposure device

48‧‧‧Intermediate transfer belt

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

50Y‧‧‧Developing device

51 (Y, M, C, K) ‧‧‧developing roller (developer carrier)

52 (Y, M, C, K) ‧ ‧ scraper (developer adjustment plate)

53 (Y, M, C, K) ‧ ‧ first developer storage unit

54 (Y, M, C, K) ‧‧‧Second developer storage unit

55 (Y, M, C, K) ‧ ‧ developer conveying screw

56 (Y, M, C, K) ‧‧‧ toner concentration sensor

60 (Y, M, C, K) ‧‧‧Carbon filling device (powder filling device)

64 (Y, M, C, K) ‧‧‧carbon powder drop channel

70‧‧‧Toner container storage unit (container storage unit)

71b‧‧‧ inserted into the bottom of the hole

71‧‧‧Insert hole

72‧‧‧ Container Receiving Department

73‧‧‧ Container Cover Receiving Department

74‧‧‧ trench

74a, 74b‧‧‧ side of the groove

75‧‧‧rails

78‧‧‧Filling device joint parts

82‧‧‧Sub-transfer backup support roller

85‧‧‧Intermediate transfer device

86‧‧‧Fixing device

89‧‧‧Sub-transfer roller

91, 91Y‧‧‧ drive parts

100‧‧‧Printer (photocopying machine main body, image forming apparatus main body)

200‧‧‧paper feeder (paper feeder)

301, 301Y‧‧‧ container gear (container side gear)

302, 302Y‧‧‧ spiral ribs (rotary conveyor)

303 (Y, M, C, K) ‧ ‧ fixture

304‧‧‧ shovel

304a‧‧‧Spiral ribs of the shovel

304f‧‧‧Shovel wall

305‧‧‧ front opening

306‧‧‧ Cover hook (flow restrictor)

306a‧‧‧End face in the attachment direction

306b‧‧‧End face in the direction of separation

330, 330'‧‧‧Nozzle Receiver (Nozzle Insertion Parts)

331‧‧‧ receiving opening (nozzle insertion opening)

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

332a‧‧‧Door hook

332c‧‧‧ front column (closed)

332d‧‧‧Sliding area (sliding part, sealing part)

332da‧‧‧ rear end face of the sliding area (rear end face of the sliding part, edge of the sealing part)

332e‧‧‧ Guide rod (extension)

332g‧‧‧guide rod sliding part

332h‧‧‧End face of the front column (end face of the container door)

333‧‧‧Container seal (sealing)

333a‧‧‧ nozzle insertion into the inner surface of the opening

334, 334' ‧ ‧ container door support (support)

335, 335' ‧ ‧ door rear end support (rear door)

335a‧‧ ‧ door side support (side)

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

335c‧‧‧end face of the support

335ca‧‧‧ inner wall (upstream surface)

335cb‧‧‧ downstream surface in the direction of movement

335cc‧‧ ‧ prominence

335d‧‧‧Back opening (through hole)

335da‧‧‧Conical surface

335e‧‧‧Connected to the side of the door side support

335f‧‧‧Steps

336‧‧‧Container door spring (biasing part)

337‧‧‧Nozzle Receiver Attachment

337a‧‧‧Nozzle door positioning rib

337b‧‧‧ Sealing card to prevent gaps

339‧‧‧Container joints

339a‧‧‧ guidance projection

339b‧‧‧Guide groove

339c‧‧‧Bumps

339d‧‧‧ joint opening (axial restrictor)

340, 3401~3404‧‧‧ hooks (protrusions)

340a‧‧‧Protruding slope

340b, 3401b, 3402b, 3403b, 3404b‧‧‧ the bottom surface of the cover hook (the second surface of the protrusion)

340c, 3401c, 3402c, 3403c, 3404c‧‧ ‧ upper surface of the hook (the first surface of the protrusion)

340A‧‧‧ front end (inside)

341b‧‧‧ rib

361‧‧‧Sliding rail

400‧‧‧Scanner (Scanning Department)

500‧‧‧Photocopier (image forming device)

601, 601Y‧‧‧ container drive gear (device body gear)

602‧‧‧Installation framework

603‧‧‧Drive motor

604‧‧‧ Gears

605, 605Y‧‧‧ conveying screw gear

608, 608Y‧‧‧Set cover

608c‧‧‧Set the inner surface of the cover

608d‧‧‧ hole

610, 610Y‧‧‧ nozzle hole (powder receiving hole)

611, 611Y‧‧‧ conveying nozzle

611a‧‧‧ front end (end face) of the conveying nozzle

612‧‧‧Nozzle stop (nozzle opening/closing part)

612a‧‧‧Nozzle door flange

613‧‧‧Nozzle door spring (biasing part)

614, 614Y‧‧‧ conveying screw (main conveyor)

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

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

615b‧‧‧End face of container setting

615c‧‧ ‧ spring fixed part

615d‧‧‧ contact surface

782‧‧‧Torque coil spring

1001‧‧‧Frame (first part)

1001a, 1001b‧‧‧ surface

1033‧‧‧Axis

1034‧‧‧through holes

1035‧‧‧ second part

1061‧‧‧ openings

1301‧‧‧ Gears

1305‧‧‧ Bearing

1306‧‧‧ hook

1340‧‧‧ Protrusion

2000‧‧‧Support device

3061~3064‧‧‧ openings (notches, slits)

3061a, 3062a, 3063a, 3064a‧‧‧ opening slope

3061b, 3062b, 3063b, 3064b‧‧‧ opposite surfaces facing the inclined portion of the opening

3061c, 3062c, 3063c, 3064c‧‧‧ first opening of the opening (discharge port, downstream port, discharge port, or the first part of the opening)

3061d, 3062d, 3063d, 3064d‧‧‧ second opening of the opening End, entrance, or the second part of the opening)

3401a~3404a‧‧‧Protruding slope

3401d~3404d‧‧‧ side surface

3405~3414‧‧‧ Identifying trenches

4063, 4064‧‧‧ Guides (recesses, depressions, depressions)

4063a, 4064a, 4402a, 4403a, 4404a‧‧‧ first surface

4063b, 4064b, 4402b, 4403b, 4404b‧‧‧ second surface

4403c‧‧‧ third surface

G‧‧‧Development

Q‧‧‧ Attachment direction

Q1‧‧‧Separation direction

L‧‧‧Laser light

1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a filling device and a powder container of a powder before attaching 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 the present embodiment; FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state in which the powder container is attached to the container accommodating portion; FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the attachment of the powder container to the state in which the image forming apparatus is attached to the container accommodating portion; Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing the state of the powder filling device of the image forming apparatus shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is an explanatory perspective view of the powder filling device and the powder container attached to the powder container; and Fig. 7 is a view showing the powder according to the present embodiment. An explanatory perspective view of the structure of the container; Fig. 8 is an explanatory sectional view of the powder filling device and the powder container attached to the powder container; and Fig. 9 is an explanatory partial enlarged view of the container accommodating portion according to the present embodiment Figure 10 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the container accommodating portion attached to the powder container; Figure 11A is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a procedure of attaching the container front end cover to the container body (powder reservoir) according to the present embodiment; Fig. 11B is a front view showing a state in which the projection of the container front end cap is inserted into the restrictor from the state shown in Fig. 11A; and Fig. 11C is a view showing the projection of the front end cover of the container shown in Fig. 17A inserted in the restriction current Fig. 12 is an enlarged perspective view showing the structure of the projection of the front end cover of the container and the structure of the opening on the restrictor and the container main body side; Fig. 13 is a view for explaining the powder container according to the present embodiment. A perspective view of the appearance; Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the DD area shown in Fig. 13; Fig. 15 is a perspective view for explaining a state in which the cap according to the present embodiment is attached to the powder container; Fig. 16 is a view from Fig. 17A is a plan view showing the structure of the powder container according to the present embodiment; Fig. 17B is a bottom view of the powder container; Fig. 17C is a powder The right side view of the container; the 17D is a left side view of the powder container; the 18A is a rear view illustrating the structure of the powder container according to the present embodiment; the 18B is a front view of the powder container; and the 19th is for the front view of the powder container; An enlarged perspective view explaining the structure of the container body of the powder container according to the present embodiment; Fig. 20 is an explanatory perspective view of the nozzle receiver when viewed from the front side of the container; and Fig. 21 is an illustration of the nozzle receiver when viewed from the inside of the container Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the structure of the nozzle receiver; Fig. 23 is an explanatory sectional view of the powder container to which the nozzle receiver is attached to the container body; 24A to 24D are top plan views for explaining states of the opening/closing member and the conveying nozzle in the attaching operation; Fig. 25 is an explanatory perspective view illustrating the structure of the conventional nozzle receiver; Fig. 26 is an explanatory view A cross-sectional view of the structure of a conventional nozzle receiver; FIGS. 27A to 27D are bottom plan views for explaining a state of a conventional opening/closing member and a conventional conveying nozzle in an attaching operation; FIG. 28A is a view illustrating insertion from a conveying nozzle A perspective view of the structure of the container door support according to the present embodiment when viewed from the side; FIG. 28B is a perspective view of the container door support when viewed from the side opposite to the insertion side of the delivery nozzle; FIG. 29A is a view illustrating the conventional container door support The relationship between the projection area of the device and the projection area of the conventional opening/closing member is used to compare the view of the conventional container door support with the container door support according to the present embodiment; FIG. 29B is a view of the container door support Relationship between the projected area and the projection area of the opening/closing member according to the present embodiment for comparing a conventional container door support with the present embodiment according to the present embodiment View of the door stopper support; Fig. 30A is a plan view for explaining the structure of the container door supporter according to the first example of the first embodiment; Fig. 30B is a container door supporter shown in Fig. 30A FIG. 30C is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the end face; FIG. 31 is a perspective view illustrating another mode of the container door support; FIG. 32A is a view illustrating compression when the second example according to the first embodiment is applied. View of the state before compressing the opening/closing member in the structure; FIG. 32B is a view illustrating a state after compressing the opening/closing member when the compression structure according to the second example is applied; FIG. 33A is a diagram illustrating A view of a state in which the compression structure of the embodiment is applied to a conventional nozzle receiver and a conventional container stopper before the opening/closing member is compressed; and FIG. 33B is a view illustrating the application of the compression structure according to the present embodiment to a conventional nozzle receiver and the conventional The state of the state after the container is blocked by the opening/closing member Fig. 34A and Fig. 34B are views for explaining the structure according to the third example; Fig. 35 is a view for explaining the structure of the protrusion of the front end cover of the container and the structure of the restrictor and the opening of the container body according to the comparative example. Fig. 36 is an enlarged perspective view showing the structure of the protrusion of the front end cover of the container and the structure of the restrictor and the opening of the container body according to the second embodiment; Fig. 37A is a view for explaining the second embodiment according to the second embodiment An enlarged view of the structure of the protrusions in the four examples and the structure of the vicinity of the opening; FIG. 37B is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the opening; FIG. 37C is a view for explaining the structure of the protrusion; FIGS. 38A to 38G The figure is a view for explaining the operation of the opening and the protrusion in the fourth example according to the second embodiment; FIG. 39A is a view for explaining the structure of the protrusion and the structure of the adjacent area of the opening in the fifth example according to the second embodiment. Magnified view; Fig. 39B is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the opening; Fig. 39C is a view for explaining the structure of the protrusion; Figs. 40A to 40G are for explaining the second embodiment according to the second embodiment A view of the operation of the opening and the protrusion in the fifth example; FIG. 41A is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the protrusion and the adjacent region of the opening in the sixth example according to the second embodiment; FIG. 41B is for An enlarged view of the structure of the opening is explained; FIG. 41C is a view for explaining the structure of the protrusion; and FIGS. 42A to 42I are views for explaining an operation of the opening and the protrusion in the sixth example according to the second embodiment; 43A is an enlarged view for explaining a structure of a protrusion and an adjacent region of an opening in the seventh example according to the second embodiment; FIG. 43B is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the opening; FIG. 43C is a view A view for explaining the structure of the protrusion; FIGS. 44A to 44G are views for explaining an operation of the opening and the protrusion in the seventh example according to the second embodiment; 45A to 45C are views for explaining modifications of the fourth to seventh examples of the second embodiment; FIG. 46A is a view for explaining the structure of the protrusion and the adjacent region of the opening in the eighth example according to the second embodiment. A magnified view of the structure; Fig. 46B is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the opening; Fig. 46C is a view for explaining the structure of the protrusion; Figs. 47A to 47H are for explaining the second embodiment according to the second embodiment. A view of the operation of the opening and the protrusion in the eighth example; FIG. 48A is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the protrusion and the adjacent region of the opening in the ninth example according to the second embodiment; FIG. 48B is for explanation An enlarged view of the structure of the opening; FIG. 48C is a view for explaining the structure of the protrusion; FIGS. 49A to 49H are views for explaining an operation of the opening and the protrusion in the ninth example according to the second embodiment; 50A is an enlarged view for explaining a structure of a protrusion and an adjacent region of an opening in the tenth example according to the second embodiment; FIG. 50B is an enlarged view for explaining a structure of the opening; FIG. 50C is for Interpretation View of the structure; FIGS. 51A to 51H are views for explaining the operation of the opening and the protrusion in the tenth example according to the second embodiment; FIG. 52A is for explaining the eleventh according to the second embodiment An enlarged view of the structure of the protrusion and the structure of the adjacent region of the opening in the example; FIG. 52B is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the opening; FIG. 52C is a view for explaining the structure of the protrusion; FIGS. 53A to 53G It is a view for explaining the operation of the opening and the protrusion in the eleventh example according to the second embodiment; FIG. 54A is a structure for explaining the structure of the protrusion and the vicinity of the opening in another example according to the second embodiment. Magnified view; Fig. 54B is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the opening; Fig. 54C is a view for explaining the structure of the protrusion; 55 is an enlarged perspective view for explaining a structure of a protrusion of a container front end cover and a structure of a restrictor and an opening of a container body according to another example of the second embodiment; FIG. 56A is a view for explaining the second embodiment An exploded perspective view of the mode in which the technique is applied to the bearing attachment structure; and FIG. 56B is a side view illustrating the assembled state.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description of the present embodiment and the conventional structure, the same elements or elements having the same functions are basically denoted by the same reference numerals, and the same description will not be repeated in the subsequent embodiments and the conventional structures. The following description is merely exemplary and does not limit the scope of the appended claims. In addition, other embodiments may be readily conceived by those skilled in the art in the <RTIgt; However, such modifications and changes are apparently within 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.

First embodiment

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The first embodiment includes the techniques according to the first to third examples described below.

Fig. 2 is a view showing the overall configuration of an electrophotographic tandem color photocopier (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 may be a printer, a facsimile machine, or a plurality of functions having at least two functions of a photocopier, a printer, a facsimile, and a scanner instead of 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 scanning portion (hereinafter referred to as "scanner 400") ), mounted on the printer 100.

The four toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K as powder containers corresponding to different colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) are detachably (may be more The floor change is attached to the toner container accommodator 70 as a container accommodating portion provided in the upper portion of the printer 100. The intermediate transfer device 85 is located below the toner container holder 70.

The intermediate transfer device 85 includes: an intermediate transfer belt 48 as an intermediate transfer medium; four primary transfer bias rollers 49Y, 49M, 49C, 49K; a secondary transfer backup support roller 82; a plurality of tension rollers; And an intermediate transfer cleaning device and the like. The intermediate transfer belt 48 is stretched and supported by a plurality of rollers, and the rotation of the secondary transfer backup backup roller 82, which is one of the rollers, is permanently reversed in the second figure in FIG.

In the printer 100, four image forming portions 46 (Y, M, C, K) as image forming units corresponding to respective colors are arranged in a tandem type so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 48. The four toner filling devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, 60K as powder supply (filling) devices corresponding to the four toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K of the four colors are respectively located in the toner containers 32Y, 32M, and 32C. Under 32K. The toner filling devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K respectively supply (fill) toner to the developing devices for the image forming portions 46Y, 46M, 46C, and 46K of the respective colors, wherein the toner is contained in the toner container 32Y. , powder developer in 32M, 32C, 32K. In the present embodiment, the four image forming portions 46Y, 46M, 46C, and 46K constitute an image forming unit.

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

In the present embodiment, a laser beam scanning system using a laser diode is used as the exposure device 47. However, other structures, such as a structure including an LED array, can be used as the exposure device.

Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing 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, and a neutralization device, etc., all of which are located in the photoconductor 41Y. around. An image forming program (a charging program, an exposure program, a developing program, a transfer program, and a cleaning program) is performed on the photoconductor 41Y to form a yellow toner image on the photoconductor 41Y.

The other three image forming portions 46M, 46C, and 46K have almost the same configuration as the image forming portion 46Y for yellow, except that the colors of the toners used and the toner images corresponding to the respective toner colors are formed on the photoconductor 41M. Outside, 41C, 41K. In the following description, only the image forming unit 46Y for yellow will be described, and the description of the other three image forming units 46 (M, C, K) will be omitted as appropriate.

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

The primary transfer bias roller 49Y of the intermediate transfer device 85 and the photoconductor 41Y sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 48 to form a primary transfer nip for yellow. A transfer bias having a polarity opposite to the polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer bias roller 49Y.

The surface of the photoconductor 41Y reaches the main transfer nip portion facing the main transfer bias roller 49Y of the intermediate transfer belt 48, on which the toner image is formed by the developing process, the toner on the photoconductor 41Y The image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 48 (primary transfer program) at the primary transfer nip. At this time, a small amount of non-transfer toner remains on the photoconductor 41Y. The surface of the photoconductor 41Y reaches a position facing the cleaning device 42Y in which the toner image has been transferred from the surface of the photoconductor 41Y to the intermediate transfer belt 48 at the main transfer nip. At this position, the non-transfer toner remaining on the photoconductor 41Y is mechanically collected by the cleaning blade 42a included in the cleaning device 42Y (cleaning procedure). The surface of the photoconductor 41Y eventually reaches a position facing the neutralization device, wherein The residual potential on the photoconductor 41Y is removed at this position. In this way, a series of image forming programs executed on the photoconductor 41Y are completed.

The image forming program described above is also executed on the other image forming portions 46M, 46C, and 46K in the same manner as the yellow image forming portion 46Y. Specifically, the exposure device 47 located under the image forming portions 46M, 46C, and 46K emits the laser light L toward the photoconductors 41M, 41C, and 41K of the image forming portions 46M, 46C, and 46K based on the image information. More specifically, the exposure device 47 emits the laser light L from the light source, and irradiates each of the photoconductors 41M, 41C, 41K with the laser light L via a plurality of optical elements while performing scanning using the laser light L by the rotating polygon mirror.

Subsequently, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photoconductors 41M, 41C, 41K by the developing process are applied to the transfer biases of the respective main transfer bias rollers at the main transfer nips of the four colors. The action is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 48, wherein the primary transfer nip portions of the four colors are sandwiched between the primary transfer bias rollers 49M, 49C, 49K and the photoconductors 41M, 41C, 41K. The intermediate transfer belt 48 is formed.

At this time, the intermediate transfer belt 48 moves in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2, and sequentially passes through the main transfer nip portions of the main transfer bias rollers 49Y, 49M, 49C, and 49K. Therefore, the toner images of the respective colors on the photoconductors 41Y, 41M, 41C, and 41K are mainly transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 48 in an overlapping manner so that the color toner images are formed on the intermediate transfer belt 48.

The intermediate transfer belt 48 reaches a position facing the sub-transfer roller 89, which is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 48 by the overlapping toner images of the respective colors. 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. The color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 48 is transferred to the recording medium P conveyed to the position of the sub-transfer nip by, for example, the action of the transfer bias applied to the sub-transfer backup support roller 82. Paper. At this time, the non-transfer toner that has not been transferred to the recording medium P remains on the intermediate transfer belt 48. The position of the intermediate transfer cleaning device has been reached by the intermediate transfer belt 48 of the sub-transfer nip, at which the non-transfer 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 transported from the paper feed tray 26 provided in the paper feeder 200 located under the printer 100 to the sub-transfer nip via the supply roller 27, the registration roller pair 28, and the like. Specifically, a plurality of recording media P are stacked in the paper feed tray 26. When the supply roller 27 is rotated counterclockwise 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 is temporarily stopped at the position of the nip portion between the rollers of the registration roller pair 28, and the rotation thereof is stopped. The registration roller pair 28 is rotated to convey the recording medium P toward the sub-transfer nip according to the time when the color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 48 reaches the sub-transfer nip. Therefore, the desired color image is formed on the recording medium P.

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

The structure and operation of the developing device 50 in the image forming portion 46 will be explained in more detail below. Hereinafter, the image forming portion 46Y for yellow will be explained by way of example. However, the image forming portions 46M, 46C, 46K for 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 powder scraper 52Y as a developer regulating plate; two developer conveying screws 55Y; and a toner concentration sensor 56Y and so on. The developing roller 51Y faces the photoconductor 41Y. The toner scraper 52Y faces the developing roller 51Y. The two developer conveying screws 55Y are located inside the two developer accommodating portions, that is, the first and second developer accommodating portions 53Y and 54Y. The developing roller 51Y includes: a magnetic roller located inside thereof; a sleeve or the like that rotates around the magnetic 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. Second display The toner accommodating portion 54Y communicates with the toner dropping passage 64Y via an opening provided at the upper side thereof. The toner concentration sensor 56Y detects the toner concentration in the developer G stored in the second developer accommodating portion 54Y.

The developer G in the developing device 50 is transported between the first developer accommodating portion 53Y and the second developer accommodating portion 54Y while being agitated by the two developer conveying screws 55Y. The developer G in the first developer accommodating portion 53Y is supplied to and carried on the surface of the sleeve of the developing roller 51Y by the magnetic field generated by the magnetic roller in the developing roller 51Y, while the developer G is fed by the developer conveying screw 55Y One of them is delivered. The sleeve of the developing roller 51Y rotates counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow in Fig. 3, and the developer G carried on the developing roller 51Y moves on the developing roller 51Y as the sleeve rotates. At this time, the carbon powder in the developer G is electrostatically adhered to the carrier by charging to a potential opposite to the polarity of the carrier by frictional charging with the carrier in the developer G, and is attracted to the magnetic field generated by 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 in which the toner scraper 52Y and the developing roller 51Y face each other. The amount of the developer G on the developing roller 51Y is adjusted, and when the developer G passes through the toner blade portion, it is 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 toner in the developer G adheres 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 this 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 concentration falls within a predetermined range. Specifically, the toner contained in the toner container 32Y is passed through the toner filling device 60Y of the toner dropping passage 64Y according to the consumption of the toner of the developer G in the developing device 50Y (which will be described below) The second developer accommodating portion 54Y is filled. The toner filled in the second developer accommodating portion 54Y flows between the first developer accommodating portion 53Y and the second developer accommodating portion 54Y, and is mixed with the developer G by the two developer conveying screws 55Y and stirred.

Next, the toner filling devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, 60K will be described.

Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the four toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K are attached to the toner container accommodating portion 70. Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing a state in which the toner container 32Y is attached to the toner filling device 60Y. The toner filling devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, 60K for the respective colors have the same structure except that the toner colors are different. Therefore, in Fig. 5, descriptions of the toner filling device 60Y and the toner container 32Y for yellow only will be proposed, and the toner filling devices 60M, 60C, 60K and toner for the other three colors are appropriately omitted as appropriate. Description of containers 32M, 32C, 32K. When the structure changes according to color, a symbol Y, M, C or K representing a specific color is used. When the structure is not changed according to color or common to all colors, the symbols Y, M, C or K may be used or all symbols may be omitted as appropriate. In Fig. 4, an arrow Q indicates that the toner containers 32 of the respective colors are attached 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.

Incidentally, the toner container 32K containing black toner in the four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) may have a diameter relative to carbon containing yellow toner, magenta toner, and cyan toner. The diameter of the powder container 32 (Y, M, C) increases. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the frequency of replacing the toner container 32K containing black toner frequently used. Even in this case, the toner filling device 60 has approximately the same structure except that the color of the toner used in the image forming program and the diameter of the toner container 32 are different from each other. Therefore, the toner container 32Y will be mainly described below.

The toner container accommodator 70 attached to the printer 100 shown in Fig. 4 is used for the yellow toner system contained in the toner container 32Y among the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K of the respective colors. The developing device is appropriately filled according to the consumption of the toner in the developing device 50 as shown in Fig. 5. At this time, the toner in the toner container 32Y is filled with the toner filling device 60Y. The toner filling device 60Y includes a toner container accommodator 70, a conveying nozzle 611Y, as a conveying pipe, a conveying screw 614Y, as a main body conveyor, a toner dropping passage 64Y, and a driving member 91Y as a container rotating member. and many more. The toner filling device for other colors has the same structure. When the user performs an attachment operation to push the toner capacity in the attachment direction Q in FIG. When the toner container 32Y is moved to the inside of the toner container accommodator 70 of the printer 100 in the attachment direction Q, the conveying nozzle 611Y of the toner filling device 60Y is in the attachment operation from the toner container 32Y. The front side is inserted. Therefore, the toner container 32Y and the conveying nozzle 611Y communicate with each other. A configuration connected to the attachment operation will be described in detail below.

The toner container 32Y may be referred to as a toner bottle. The toner container 32Y mainly includes a container front end cover 34Y as a container lid or a storage portion that is non-rotatably accommodated by the toner container holder 70, and includes an approximate columnar container body 33Y as a powder reservoir, which is The container gear 301Y as a container side gear is integrated. The container body 33Y is rotatably housed by the container front end cover 34Y. In Fig. 5, a setting cover 608Y is a part of the container lid receiving portion 73 of the toner container container 70.

As shown in FIG. 4, the toner container container 70 mainly includes a container lid receiving portion 73, a container receiving portion 72, and an insertion hole portion 71. The container lid receiving portion 73 is a portion for accommodating the container front end caps 34Y, 34M, 34C, and 34K and the container bodies 33Y, 33M, 33C, and 33K for the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K of the respective colors. The container receiving portion 72 is a portion for supporting the container bodies 33Y, 33M, 33C, and 33K of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K. The insertion hole 71a as an insertion opening used in the attaching operation of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K is defined by the insertion hole portion 71. When the main body cover located 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 accommodator 70 is exposed. Then, the attachment/separation operation of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K is performed with the front side of the photocopier 500 (the attachment/separation operation using the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 as the attachment/separation direction, in which each color The toner container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60 and separated from the toner filling device 60, while the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K are oriented such that their longitudinal directions are parallel to the horizontal direction.

The container receiving portion 72 is disposed such that its longitudinal length becomes approximately the same as the longitudinal length of the container bodies 33Y, 33M, 33C, 33K of the respective colors. The container lid receiving portion 73 is located at the container front side (the side of the attachment direction Q) of the container receiving portion 72 in the longitudinal direction (attachment/separation direction), and the insertion hole portion 71 is in the longitudinal direction It is located on one end side (the side of the separation direction Q1) of the container receiving portion 72. The four toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K are slidable on the container receiving portion 72. Therefore, with the attachment operation of the toner container, the container front end covers 34Y, 34M, 34C, 34K are first slid on the container receiving portion 72 for a while by the insertion hole portion 71, and finally attached to the container cover receiving portion 73.

When the container front end cover 34Y is attached to the container lid receiving portion 73, a driving member (container rotating member) 91Y including a driving motor, a driving gear, and the like as shown in FIG. 5 is rotationally driven via a container driving gear 601Y as a device main body gear. The container gear 301Y to the gear located in the container body 33Y. Therefore, the container main body 33Y rotates in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 5 . With the rotation of the container main body 33Y, the spiral rib 302Y formed in a spiral shape on the inner surface of the container main body 33Y conveys the toner in the container main body 33Y from the one end on the right side in Fig. 5 in the longitudinal direction of the container main body to the fifth The other end of the left side of the figure. That is, in the present embodiment, the spiral rib 302Y serves as a rotary conveyor. Therefore, the toner is supplied to the inside of the conveying nozzle 611Y via the nozzle hole 610Y which is the powder receiving hole provided on the conveying nozzle 611Y, and is supplied from the other side of the toner container 32Y of the attached container front end cover 34Y. At an inner position with respect to the position of the container gear 301Y in the longitudinal direction of the container main body 33Y, the nozzle hole 610Y communicates with the opening of the shutter support portion 335b which is a door side opening (to be described later). Specifically, the container gear 301Y meshes with the container drive gear 601Y on the container opening 33a side in the longitudinal direction of the toner container, with respect to the position where the nozzle hole 610 and the opening of the shutter support portion 335b communicate with each other.

The conveying screw 614Y is located in the conveying nozzle 611Y. When the driving member (container rotating member) 91Y is rotationally driven to the conveying screw gear 605Y, the conveying screw 614Y rotates to convey the toner supplied in the conveying nozzle 611Y. The downstream end of the conveying nozzle 611Y in the conveying direction is connected to the toner dropping passage 64Y. The toner conveyed by the conveying screw 614Y falls by the gravity along the toner dropping passage 64Y, and is filled to the developing device 50Y (second developer accommodating portion 54Y).

The toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K are replaced with a new toner container at the end of their use period (when the container becomes an empty bottle due to almost all of the contained toner being consumed). Fixtures 303Y, 303M, 303C, 303K in Figure 4 In the longitudinal direction, that is, one end of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K opposed to the container front end covers 34Y, 34M, 34C, 34K on the separation direction Q1 side. When the toner container is replaced, the operator can grip the jigs 303Y, 303M, 303C, 303K to pull out and separate the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K attached to the toner container accommodator 70.

The structure of the driving member 91 will be further described below with reference to Fig. 6. In Fig. 6, the symbol indicating the color is omitted. The drive member 91 includes a container drive gear 601 and a conveying screw gear 605. When the drive motor 603 fixed to the mounting frame 602 is driven and the output gear is rotated, the container drive gear 601 is rotated. The conveying screw gear 605 is rotated via the connected gear 604 by receiving the rotation of the output gear.

As shown in Fig. 4, the toner filling device 60Y controls the amount of toner supplied to the developing device 50Y in accordance with the rotation frequency of the conveying screw 614Y. Therefore, the toner passing through the conveying nozzle 611Y is directly conveyed to the developing device 50Y through the toner dropping passage 64Y without controlling the amount of toner supplied to the developing device 50Y. Even in the toner filling device 60Y configured to be inserted into the conveying nozzle 611Y to the toner container 32Y as described in the present embodiment, a temporary toner storage such as toner can be placed. In the toner filling devices 60M, 60C, 60K of other colors, the supply amount of the toner is controlled in the same manner as the toner filling device 60Y.

The toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K and the toner filling devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, 60K according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below. As described above, the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K and the toner filling devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, 60K have almost the same structure except that the colors of the used toner are different. Therefore, in the following description, the symbols Y, M, C, and K indicating the toner color will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the front end of the toner filling device 60 and the toner container 32 before the toner container 32 is attached. Fig. 7 is an explanatory perspective view of the toner container 32 viewed from the upper surface of the container front end cover 34. Fig. 8 is an explanatory sectional view showing the front end of the toner filling device 60 and the toner container 32 to which the toner container 32 is attached. Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the container lid receiving portion 73 of the toner container container 70.

The toner filling device 60 includes a conveying nozzle 611 in which a conveying screw 614 is placed, and a nozzle blocking door 612. The nozzle stopper 612 is slidably mounted on the outer surface of the conveying nozzle 611 to approach the nozzle hole 610 at the time of separation, which is before the toner container 32 is attached (in the state of FIG. 1), and is attached The nozzle hole 610 is opened at the time of attachment (in the state of Fig. 8) when the toner container 32 is attached. The nozzle stopper door 612 includes a nozzle shutter flange 612a as a downstream side in an attachment direction with respect to an end surface of the nozzle receiver 330 as a nozzle insertion member (which will be described later) which is in contact with the conveying nozzle 611. The flange.

As shown in Fig. 7, a receiving opening 331 is provided at the center of the front end of the toner container 32, wherein the receiving opening 331 serves as a nozzle insertion opening into which the conveying nozzle 611 is inserted at the time of attachment, and a container shutter 332 is placed. As an opening/closing member that approaches the receiving opening 331 at the time of separation.

As shown in Fig. 4, the container receiving portion 72 located in the toner container container 70 is divided into four portions in the width direction W perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (attachment/separation direction) of the toner container 32, and as The groove 74 as the container mounting portion shown in Fig. 9 is provided to extend from the insertion hole portion 71 to the container lid receiving portion 73 along the longitudinal direction of the container body 33 (Y, M, C, K). The toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) for the respective colors can be moved on the grooves 74 in a sliding manner in the longitudinal direction.

As shown in Fig. 9, on the side faces 74a and 74b of the grooves 74 on the opposite faces in the width direction W, the guide rails 75 are arranged to face each other. The guide rails 75 project from the width direction W of the respective side faces 74a and 74b, extend in the longitudinal direction, and are disposed at the front of the container cover receiving portion 73. The guide rail 75 has a toner container 32 attached to the printer 100 (toner container holder 70 and toner) by being fitted to the slide rail 361 as a guide on the toner container 32 side shown in FIG. The filling device 60) functions to guide the container opening 33a as an opening to the container setting portion 615 as a container receiving portion. Each of the guide rails 75 is provided to be parallel to the rotation axis of the container body 33 when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60.

As shown in Fig. 9, the setting cover 608 for each color is located on the container cover receiving portion 73. The conveying nozzle 611 is located at the center of the setting cover 608. Conveying nozzle 611 is provided to protrude from the end surface 615b of the container setting portion 615 toward the upstream side of the attachment direction inside the container cover receiving portion 73, wherein the end surface 615b is located inside the attachment direction, and the container setting portion 615 is located at the attachment of the toner container 32 The downstream side of the direction. The container setting portion 615 as the container receiving portion is located in the protruding direction of the conveying nozzle 611, that is, toward the upstream side of the attachment direction of the toner container 32 to surround the conveying nozzle 611. Specifically, the container setting portion 615 is located at the bottom of the conveying nozzle 611, and serves as a positioner to determine the position of the container opening 33a with respect to the toner container accommodator 70, wherein when the rotary conveyor inside the toner container 32 is rotated to convey In the case of the toner contained in the toner container 32, the container opening 33a serves as a rotating shaft. That is, when the container opening 33a is inserted into the container setting portion 615 and matched 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, the outer surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 is slidably matched to the container setting portion 615. On the inner surface 615a of the container setting portion 615, the contact surface 615d is provided at four equally spaced positions, wherein the contact surface 615d is a portion of the inner surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 and radially from the container setting portion 615 The inner surface 615a protrudes inward. The contact surface 615d and the outer surface 33b slide each other with the rotation of the toner container 32.

By the matching of the inner surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 with the outer surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32, the toner container 32 is in the radial direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (attachment/separation direction) of the toner container 32. The position 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 acts as a rotating shaft, and the inner surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 functions as a bearing. In Fig. 8, α denotes that the outer surface 33b of the container opening 33a is in sliding contact with the contact surface 615d which is a part of the inner surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 and the radial position of the toner container 32 with respect to the toner filling device 60 The location is also determined at the same time.

In the following description, it is repeatedly explained that the outer surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 and the container setting portion 615 are slidably matched to each other. In a precise sense, the mating state is the outer surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32. A state in contact with the contact surface 615d provided on the inner surface 615a of the container setting portion 615. Hereinafter, for simplification of the description, the matching will be referred to as the outer surface 33b of the matching container opening 33a and the inner surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 by omitting the contact surface 615d.

As shown in FIG. 9, the holes 608d are provided to face each other in the width direction W of the setting cover 608. On the setting cover 608, a filling device engaging member 78 (which will be described below) is placed to be reciprocally movable from the outer surface to the inner surface 608c side of the setting cover 608 via the hole 608d. The filling device engaging member 78 is biased from the outside of the setting cover 608 to the inner side by a biasing means such as a torsion coil spring 782.

The toner container 32 will be described below. As shown in Fig. 7, the toner container 32 mainly includes a container main body 33 containing toner, and includes a container front end cover 34. The container body 33 is in the form of an approximately columnar shape and rotates around the central axis of the column as a rotation axis. Hereinafter, the receiving opening 331 is disposed on one side of the toner container 32 in the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 (where the container front end cover 34 is arranged on the side) may be referred to as a "container front end". The jig 303 is disposed on the other side of the toner container 32 (the side opposite to the front end of the container) may be referred to as a "container rear end". When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60, the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 is the rotation axis direction, and corresponds to the horizontal direction. The container body 33 has an outer diameter larger than the container rear end with respect to the container gear 301, and the spiral ribs 302 are provided on the inner surface of the container body 33. When the container main body 33 is rotated in the direction of the arrow A in the drawing, the conveying force for moving the toner from one end (the rear end of the container) to the other end (the front end of the container) in the direction of the rotation axis is applied to the screw rib 302 by the action of the spiral rib 302 The toner in the container body 33.

As shown in Fig. 8, the shovel portion 304 is provided on the inner wall of the container front end of the container body 33, wherein the shovel portion 304 is picked up by the spiral rib 302 as the container body 33 rotates in the direction of the arrow A in the drawing. The toner delivered to the front of the container. Each of the shovel portions 304 scoops up the toner that has been transported by the conveying force of the spiral ribs 302 by the rotation of the container body 33 by using the shovel wall surface 304f. Therefore, the toner can be scooped up to be placed over the inserted delivery nozzle 611. As shown in Figures 1 and 8, for example, Similar to the spiral rib 302, the spiral rib 304a of the shovel portion is formed in a spiral shape on the inner surface of each of the shovel portions 304 to convey the toner located inside.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the container gear 301 is disposed on the front side of the container with respect to the shovel portion 304 on the container body 33. The gear exposed opening 34a is located on the container front end cover 34 such that when the container front end cover 34 is attached to the container body 33, a portion of the container gear 301 can be exposed. When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60, the container gear 301 exposed from 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 on the container opening 33a side (close to the container opening 33a) with respect to the nozzle hole 610 in the longitudinal direction of the container main body 33, so that the container gear 301 can be engaged with the container driving gear 601. The container gear 301 meshes with the container drive gear 601 to rotate the rotary conveyor.

The container opening 33a in the form of a column is disposed on the front side of the container with respect to the container gear 301 of the container body 33 to be coaxial with the container gear 301. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 of the nozzle receiver 330 is press-fitted to the container opening 33a to be coaxial with the container opening 33a to fix the nozzle receiver 330 to the container body 33. The toner container 32 is configured to fill the toner from the container opening 33a as an opening provided on one end of the container body 33, after which the nozzle receiver 330 is attached to the container opening 33a of the container body 33.

As shown in Fig. 7, a cover hook 306 as a restrictor is provided between the container opening 33a of the container body 33 and the container gear 301. The cover hook 306 has an annular shape extending in the rotational direction (circumferential direction) on the front end of the container front end cover 34 in the attachment direction. At least a portion of the cover hook 306 is provided with an opening 3061 (which will be described below with reference to FIGS. 11A to 11C and 12), each of which serves as a notch or slit of the passage in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction. That is, the cover hook 306 is disposed to surround the outer surface of the container opening 33a. In the present embodiment, the direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction is the longitudinal direction (attach/separation direction).

The container front end cover 34 is attached 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 body 33 passes through the container front end cover 34 in the longitudinal direction, and serves as a protruding cover hook 340 and as a restrictor. The cover hooks 306 are engaged. The container body 33 and the container front end cover 34 are attached to rotate relative to each other when the cover hook 340 is engaged with the cover hook 306. The cover hook 340 is made of a resin material.

The structure of the cover hook 306 and the cover hook 340 will be described with reference to Figs. 11A to 11C and Fig. 12. As described above, the cover hook 306 as the restrictor provided on the container main body 33 includes an opening 3061 in which the container front end cover 34 is located in the attachment/detachment direction of the container main body 33 perpendicular to the rotational direction. A cover hook 340 passes through the opening 3061.

On the front surface 34c of the container front end cover 34 in the attachment direction Q, a hole 34d as a through hole is provided which passes through the attachment/detachment direction of the container main body 33 and into which the container opening 33a is inserted. A cover hook 340 is provided to protrude the front end 340A toward the center of the hole 34d. As indicated by the broken line circle 34e of Fig. 11B, the tip end of the front end 340A protrudes inward with respect to the outer circumference of the hole 34d.

The opening 3061 is an opening through which the cover hook 340 passes in the attaching/detaching direction when the container body 33 is rotated relative to the container front end cover 34. In the first embodiment, three openings 3061 are provided on the cover hook 306 in the rotational direction. The openings 3061 are arranged such that the gap between the openings 3061 in the circumferential direction coincides with the gap between the cover hooks 340 in the circumferential direction. In the first embodiment, three cover hooks 340 and three openings 3061 are provided in the rotational direction. However, it is sufficient to provide at least one cover hook 340 and one opening 3061. Fig. 11C shows a state in which the cover hook 340 is not inserted into the cover hook 306 as shown in Fig. 11A, and the cover hook 340 is inserted into the cover hook 306. As shown in FIG. 11C, the center side surface of the front surface 34c and the side surface of the cover hook 306 face each other. The cover hook 340 is thinner than the front surface 34c (in the FIG. 11B, recessed toward the rear side with respect to the front surface 34c), and the cover hook 340 and the cover hook 306 face each other in the attachment direction Q. Therefore, the movement of the container front end cover 34 with respect to the container main body 33 in the attachment direction Q and the separation direction Q1 is restricted. This limitation includes allowing the cover hook 340 to move between the cover hook 306 and the container gear 301 in the attachment direction Q and the separation direction Q1 in FIG. 11C. Therefore, the container body 33 becomes rotatable relative to the container front end cover 34.

In the first embodiment, the "rotation direction A" is the container front end cover 34 with respect to attachment to the photocopier 500 (toner filling device 60 and toner container holder 70). In the direction in which the container body 33 is rotated in the toner container 32, the "attachment rotation direction R" is a direction in which the container front end cover 34 (cover hook 340) is rotated with respect to the container body 33 when the container front end cover 34 is attached to the container body 33. The three cover hooks 340 and the three openings 3061 have the same structure, respectively. Therefore, the structure and operation of the single cover hook 340 and the single opening 3061 will be described below as representative examples. The outer diameter of the cover hook 306 is larger than the inner diameter of the hole 34d at the center.

The container body 33 and the container gear 301 may be integrally formed. Alternatively, the container body 33 and the container gear 301 may be independently formed depending on the resin material used in the container body 33. In this case, as shown in Fig. 12, a cover hook 306 is formed on the container gear 301, an opening 3061 is formed on the cover hook 306 on the container gear 301, and the container gear 301 is attached to the container in an integrally formed manner. Main body 33.

As shown in Fig. 7, on the container front end cover 34 of the toner container 32, a slide rail 361 as a guide portion is provided at a lower portion in the width direction W, wherein the slide rail 361 restricts the attached toner container 32, The movement is in a direction other than the attachment direction, thereby guiding the container opening 33a to the container setting portion 615 when the toner container 32 is attached to the printer 100. In Fig. 7, only one of the slide rails 361 is explained. Each of the slide rails 361 includes a groove extending in the longitudinal direction of the container body 33. The slide rails 361 are configured such that the guide rails 75 provided in pairs on the grooves 74 of the container receiving portion 72 as shown in Fig. 9 are inserted into the respective grooves and sandwiched in the vertical direction. Therefore, when the toner container 32 is attached to the printer 100 (the toner filling device 60 and the toner container accommodator 70), the slide rail 361 functions as the sliding guide 361 in the width direction W and the separation direction Q1 perpendicular to the vertical direction Z. The locator of the front end cover 34 of the container.

As shown in Fig. 7, the container joint portion 339 is provided on the surface of the container front end cover 34 in the width direction W to determine the toner container 32 with respect to the toner filling device 60 in the longitudinal direction (attachment/separation direction). s position. In Fig. 7, only one of the container joints 339 is illustrated. When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60, the filling device engaging member 78 (refer to FIGS. 9 and 10) located on the setting cover 608 is engaged with the container engaging portion 339.

As shown in Fig. 7, each of the container engaging portions 339 includes: a guiding protrusion 339a; a guiding groove 339b; a projection 339c; and an engaging opening 339d as an axial restrictor. A pair of container joints 339 are placed such that they are located on the left and right sides of the container front end cover 34. That is, the joint opening 339d is located on the left and right sides across the center of the container opening 33a. Each of the guide protrusions 339a is provided on the container front end of the container front end cover 34, and is located in a vertical plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 and a horizontal plane passing through the rotation axis of the container body 33. Each of the guiding protrusions 339a includes an inclined surface adjacent to each of the guiding grooves 339b to be brought into contact with the filling device engaging member 78 to guide the filling device engaging member when the toner container 32 is attached 78 to the guiding groove 339b. The guide groove 339b is a groove recessed from the side surface of the container front end cover 34.

The container rear end of the guide groove 339b is not directly connected to the respective engagement opening 339d, but is terminated, and is located at the same height as the side surface of the container front end cover 34. That is, the outer surface of the container front end cover 34 having a width of about 1 mm is exposed between each of the guide grooves 339b and each of the quadrangular joint openings 339d, and this portion serves as the bump 339c. The filling device engagement member 78 passes over the projection 339c and falls into the engagement opening 339d to engage the toner container 32 and the toner filling device 60 with each other. This state is the set position (set state) of the toner container 32. In the present embodiment, the filling device engagement member 78 is configured to fall into the engagement opening 339d of the container engagement portion 339. However, as the shape of the container joint portion 339, in which the filling device engaging member 78 is dropped in the container joint portion 339 by a hole like the joint opening 339d or in a recessed shape such as a closed non-penetrating joint portion to enable carbon The powder container 32 is joined to the toner filling device 60.

As shown in Fig. 10, the driving member (container rotating member) 91 is input to the container gear 301 that is rotationally driven to the toner container 32 via the container driving gear 601. When the drive is input to the container gear 301, the outer surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the container body 33 is used as a rotating shaft, and the inner surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 is used as a bearing to attach or integrally form the container gear The container body 33 of 301 is rotated. In the first embodiment, the center of rotation of the container gear 301 is positioned such that it is coaxial with the axis of the container opening 33a.

In the state (installation state) in which the toner container 32 is stored by the toner container container 70, the outer surface 33b of the container opening 33a which is the container front end of the toner container 32 is used as a rotating shaft, and is used by the toner container 32. The inner surface 615a of the container setting portion 615 is supported, and the joint opening 339d of the container joint portion 339 is engaged with the filling device engagement member 78. The container gear 301 is located between the container joint 339 and the container opening 33a.

The appearance of the toner container 32 will be described below with reference to Fig. 7 and Figs. 13 to 19.

When the toner container 32 is transported, a cap 307 as a seal to seal the container opening 33a as shown in Fig. 15 is attached to the container opening 33a on the front end of the container as shown in Figs. 13 and 14. Therefore, undesired communication between the outside and the inside of the toner container 32 can be prevented, thereby preventing toner leakage, deterioration of toner due to entry of moisture absorbed from the air into the toner, and the like.

When the toner container 32 is used for the first time, the cap 307 as described above is first removed. Fig. 7, Fig. 13, and Fig. 14 illustrate a state in which the cap 307 is removed and the container opening 33a is exposed.

Fig. 13 is an explanatory perspective view of the toner container 32 viewed from obliquely below. Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the D-D area shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is an explanatory perspective view showing a state in which the cap 307 is attached to the toner container 32 shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 16 is a view from the side of the front end cover 34 of the container. Fig. 17A is a plan view of the toner container 32 shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 17B is a bottom view of the toner container 32 shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 17C is a right side view of the toner container 32 shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 17D is a left side view of the toner container 32 shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 18A is a rear view of the toner container 32 shown in Fig. 13. Fig. 18B is a front view of the toner container 32 shown in Fig. 13.

On the container front end cover 34 of the toner container 32, as shown in Figs. 13 to 16, a plurality of identification grooves 3405 to 3414 are arranged in addition to the above components. In the identification grooves 3411 to 3414, as shown in Fig. 16, the identification grooves 3411 to 3414 are provided on the container front end cover 34 with respect to the broken line E passing through the center of rotation of the toner container 32 and the rib 341b of the cover hook 340. On the right side of the outer surface. Rib 341b has When the toner container 32 is attached to the photocopier 500 (the toner filling device 60 and the toner container accommodator 70), it is in sliding contact with the upper portion (upper surface) of the toner container accommodator 70 and stably holds the toner container 32. The function of the posture. Further, in the identification grooves 3405 to 3414, the identification grooves 3405 to 3410 are located on the left side of the outer surface of the container front end cover 34 with respect to the broken line E in Fig. 16. In Figs. 13, 14, and 15, the reference numerals identifying the grooves 3411 to 3414 are not shown because they are located on the rear side in the direction perpendicular to the sheet of the drawing.

In the identification grooves 3405 to 3414, the identification grooves 3407, 3409, 3410, 3411, 3412, 3414 linearly extend from the front surface 34c of the container front end cover 34 in the longitudinal direction (separation direction Q1) of the toner container 32. The groove is provided on the outer surface 34b of the container front end cover 34. Further, the identification grooves 3405, 3406, 3408, and 3413 viewed from the front are recesses that are shallowly recessed from the front surface 34c toward the rear side in the drawing with respect to the identification grooves 3407, 3409, 3410, 3411, 3412, and 3414. Grid ribs having approximately the same height as the perimeter of the outer surface 34b are located in each of the identification grooves. Therefore, the height of the periphery of the outer surface 34b of the container front end cover 34 varies in the circumferential direction due to the identification grooves 3405 to 3414 and the lattice ribs located in the identification groove. The lattice ribs in the identification groove are located at a position corresponding to the type of toner or the model of the attachment device. Therefore, by the combination of the positions in which the lattice ribs located in the identification grooves 3405 to 3414 are provided in the circumferential direction, an irregular shape corresponding to the type of the toner or the model of the device to be attached is formed, and the lattice is formed The ribs are used to provide information such as the type of toner container 32 to the photocopier 500 (toner filling device 60 and toner container holder 70).

As shown in Fig. 16, the container joint portion 339 is located at a symmetrical position, which is separated by 180 degrees with respect to the broken line E, and has a toner container 32 attached to the photocopier 500 (toner filling device 60 and toner container holder 70). The function of the photocopier container 500 (the toner filling device 60 and the toner container container 70) and the toner container 32 is joined. The container gear 301 has a photocopier container 32 attached to the photocopier 500 (toner filling device 60 and toner container accommodator 70) and the photocopier 500 (toner filling device 60 and toner container accommodator 70). The gear 601 meshes and appropriately and automatically rotates the function of the cylindrical container body 33 of the toner container 32.

17A to 17D and 18A and 18B are six side views of the toner container 32. However, the outer shape of the container front end cover 34 varies depending on the color of the toner or the means for attaching the toner container 32. Therefore, the six-sided view is different for all toner containers 32.

Fig. 19 is an explanatory perspective view of the container body 33 separated from the container front end cover 34 on the front end of the toner container 32. As shown in Fig. 19, similar to the spiral rib 302, a spiral-shaped spiral rib 304a is provided on the inner circumference of the shovel portion 304 to convey the toner located inside.

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

As shown in Figs. 20 to 22, the nozzle receiver 330 is located on the toner container 32, and includes a receiving opening 331 as a nozzle insertion opening. A conveying nozzle 611 for conveying the toner supplied from the toner container 32 in the image forming apparatus is inserted in the receiving opening 331. The nozzle receiver 330 includes: a container shutter 332 as an opening/closing member; a container seal 333 as a seal; a container shutter support 334 as a support; and a container shutter spring 336 as a biasing member And a nozzle receiver attachment portion 337. The container shutter 332 is inserted into the container shutter support 334 in a reciprocating manner and supported by the container shutter support 334 to be moved to the open position to open the receiving opening 331 by pressing the inserted delivery nozzle 611, and moved to The closed position is to close the receiving opening 331 by removing the delivery nozzle 611. That is, the container door support 334 supports the container door 332 to guide movement to the open position and the closed position. The container door spring 336 is a coil spring that is located inside the container door support 334 and biases the container door 332 toward the closed position.

The container door supporter 334 includes: a door rear end support portion 335 as a door rear portion; a pair of door side support portions 335a as a door side portion; an opening of the door door support portion 335b as a side opening; And a nozzle receiver attachment portion 337. The door side support portions 335a are arranged to face each other and extend in the moving direction of the container shutter 332. One end of the door side support portion 335a is connected by the door rear end support portion 335, and the other end is connected to the columnar nozzle receiver attachment portion 337. The openings of the shutter side support portion 335a and the shutter support portion 335b are arranged adjacent to each other in the rotation direction of the toner container. That is, the container shutter support 334 has a self-nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 The columnar portion corresponding to the door side support portion 335a of the side door rear end support portion 335 is vertically cut in the moving direction of the container shutter 332 and the opening of the door support portion 335b is provided in the shape of the cut portion. The container shutter support 334 is configured such that the container shutter 332 can move in the insertion direction of the conveying nozzle 611 in the gap S1. The gap S1 is surrounded by the door side support portion 335a, the door rear end support portion 335, and the nozzle receiver attachment portion 337. In other words, the container door support 334 is configured to be able to guide the movement of the container door 332 to the open position to open the receiving opening 331 and to the closed position to close the receiving opening 331.

As shown in Fig. 23, when the container body 33 is rotated, the nozzle receiver 330 attached to the container body 33 rotates with the container body 33. 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, the shutter side support portion 335a that is rotating alternately passes through the gap just above the nozzle hole 610 provided in the upper side of the conveying nozzle 611. Therefore, even if the toner is instantaneously accumulated above the nozzle hole 610, since the door side support portion 335a traverses the accumulated toner and alleviates the accumulation, it becomes possible to prevent the aggregation of the toner accumulated and the prevention when the device is not used. The toner delivery failed when the device was reused. Conversely, when the door side support portion 335a is located at one side of the conveying nozzle 611, the openings of the nozzle hole 610 and the door supporting portion 335b face each other, and the toner in the container main body 33 is as indicated by an arrow β in Fig. 8. It is supplied to the conveying nozzle 611.

As shown in Fig. 22, the container shutter 332 includes a front cylindrical portion 332c for closing, a sliding portion 332d, a guiding rod 332e as an elongated portion, and a shutter hook 332a. The front columnar portion 332c is a container front end portion that is tightly attached to the columnar opening (receiving opening 331) of the container seal 333. The sliding region 332d is a columnar portion as a sliding portion or a sealing portion that is provided at the rear end of the container with respect to the front cylindrical portion 332c. The sliding region 332d has an outer diameter slightly larger than the front cylindrical portion 332c, slides on the inner surface of the pair of door side supporting portions 335a, and seals the receiving opening 331.

The guide rod 332e is a columnar shape that is erected from the columnar inner side of the front columnar portion 332c toward the rear end of the container, and provides a rod portion that prevents the guide rod 332e from being inserted into the inside of the coil of the container shutter spring 336 The container door spring 336 is deformed. The guide bar sliding portion 332g, as a flat guiding portion, includes a pair of flat surfaces provided at both sides of the central axis of the self-guide bar 332e across the central axis of the columnar guide bar 332e. The rear end of the container of the guide bar sliding portion 332g is divided into a pair of cantilevers as shown in Figs. 21 and 23. The door hook 332a is provided at the end of the cantilever opposite the bottom where the guide bar 332e is upright, and forms a joint hooked on the container door support 334. The door hook 332a and the guide bar sliding portion 332g are inserted in the rear end opening 335d as a through hole provided in the door rear end support portion 335, and the door hook 332a is hooked at the rear end opening 335d, The shutter hook 332a and the guide bar sliding portion 332g are used as a pair of hooks to prevent the container shutter 332 from coming off the container shutter support 334.

The front end of the container door spring 336 abuts against the inner wall surface of the front columnar portion 332c, and the rear end of the container door spring 336 abuts against the inner wall surface 335ca, which is the opposite surface of the door rear end support portion 335. At this time, the container shutter spring 336 is in a compressed state to receive the biasing force in the container shutter 332 in a direction away from the door rear end support portion 335 (in the 22nd to the right or toward the container front end). However, the door hook 332a provided on the container rear end of the container shutter 332 is hooked on the rear end opening 335d 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 in the state shown in FIG.

The position of the container shutter 332 is determined due to the hooking state between the door hook 332a and the door rear end support portion 335 and the biasing force of the container door spring 336. Specifically, the position of the front pillar portion 332c and the container seal 333 in the axial direction is determined with respect to the container shutter support 334, both of which have the toner leakage preventing function of the container shutter 332. Therefore, the positions of the front columnar portion 332c and the container seal 333 can be determined so that they can match each other, and toner leakage can be prevented.

As shown in Fig. 22, the nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 is in the form of a column whose outer diameter and inner diameter are lowered in a stepwise manner toward the rear end of the container. This diameter is gradually reduced from the front end of the container to the rear end of the container. As shown in Fig. 22, two outer diameter portions (outer surfaces AA and BB positioned in this order from the front end of the container) are provided on the outer surface, and five inner diameter portions (the inner surface CC positioned in this order from the front end of the container) , DD, EE, FF, and GG) are provided on the inner surface. The outer surfaces AA and BB on the outer surface pass The tapered surface on the boundary is connected. Similarly, the fourth inner diameter portion FF and the fifth inner diameter portion GG on the inner surface are joined by a tapered surface on the boundary thereof. The inner diameter portion FF and the connected tapered surface on the inner surface correspond to the seal card preventing gap 337b described below, and the ridge lines of these surfaces correspond to the pentagonal cross-sectional side described below.

As shown in Fig. 22, the pair of door side support portions 335a protrude from the nozzle receiver attachment portion 337, which face each other and have a sheet shape obtained by cutting a columnar shape in the axial direction. The ends of the two door side support portions 335a on the rear side of the container are connected by the door rear end support portion 335. The nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 includes an inner diameter portion GG which is a fifth portion from the front end as a cylindrical inner surface having the same inner diameter as the diameter of the sliding portion 332d of the container shutter 332. The third inner surface EE of the nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 is a virtual perimeter that positions the longitudinal tip of the rib 337a by a nozzle door that is equally spaced at 45[deg.]. A container seal 333 having a quadrangular columnar (columnar tubular) cross section (a cross section of the cross-sectional view in Fig. 22) is arranged to correspond to the inner surface EE. The container seal 333 is fixed to a vertical surface connecting the third inner surface EE and the fourth inner surface FF using an adhesive, a double-sided tape or the like. The exposed surface of the container seal 333 opposite to the attachment surface (the right side in Fig. 22) serves as the inner bottom of the columnar opening (container opening) of the cylindrical nozzle receiver attachment portion 337.

Further, as shown in Fig. 22, the seal card preventing gap 337b (card preventing gap) is provided to correspond to the inner surface FF of the nozzle receiver attaching portion 337 and the connected tapered surface. The seal prevents the gap 337b from being an annular seal gap surrounded by three different portions. Specifically, the seal card preventing gap 337b is the inner surface (the fourth inner surface FF and the connected tapered surface) of the nozzle receiver attachment portion 337, the vertical surface on the attachment side of the container seal 333, and the front portion The cylindrical portion 332c is an annular gap surrounded by the outer surface of the sliding region 332d of the container shutter 332. The cross section of the annular gap is in the form of a pentagon. The angle between the inner surface of the nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 and the end surface of the container seal 333 and the angle between the outer surface of the container shutter 332 and the end surface of the container seal 333 are 90°.

The function of the seal card preventing gap 337b will be described below. When the container shutter 332 moves toward the rear end of the container from the state in which the receiving opening 331 is closed by the container shutter 332, the inner surface of the container seal 333 slides against the front column of the container shutter 332. Part 332c. Therefore, the inner surface of the container seal 333 is pulled by the container shutter 332 and elastically deformed to move toward the rear end of the container. At this time, if the seal card preventing gap 337b is not provided and the vertical surface (attachment surface of the container seal 333) continuing from the third inner surface is connected to the fifth inner surface GG so as to be perpendicular to each other, the following may occur. Specifically, the elastic deformation portion of the container seal 333 may be caught between the inner surface of the nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 of the sliding abutment container shutter 332 and the outer surface of the container shutter 332, thereby causing a paper jam. . If the container seal 333 is caught in a portion where the nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 and the container shutter 332 slide against each other, that is, between the front columnar portion 332c and the inner surface GG, the container shutter 332 is securely Attached to the nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 such that the receiving opening 331 may not be opened and closed.

In contrast, the nozzle receiver 330 according to the first embodiment is provided with a seal card preventing gap 337b in its inner region. The seal prevents the inner diameter of the gap 337b (the inner diameter of each of the inner surface EE and the connected tapered surface) from being smaller than the outer diameter of the container seal 333. Therefore, the entire container seal 333 may hardly enter the seal card preventing gap 337b. Furthermore, the area of the elastically deformed container seal 333 that is pulled by the container door 332 is limited, and the container seal 333 can be restored by its own elasticity before the container seal 333 reaches the inner surface GG and is caught on the inner surface GG. With such an effect, it is possible to prevent the receiving opening 331 from being opened and closed due to the attached state between the container shutter 332 and the nozzle receiver attaching portion 337.

As shown in FIGS. 20 and 22, a plurality of nozzle door positioning ribs 337a are provided to extend radially on the inner surface of the nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 that is in contact with the periphery of the container seal 333. When the container seal 333 is attached to the nozzle receiver attachment portion 337, the vertical surface of the container seal 333 on the front side of the container in the direction of the rotation axis slightly protrudes with respect to the front end of the nozzle door positioning rib 337a.

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 stopper spring 613 to be pressed. The protrusion of the container seal 333 is deformed. The nozzle door flange 612a moves further inwardly and abuts the nozzle door positioning The front end of the container of the rib 337a covers and seals the front end face of the container seal 333 from the outside of the container. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the sealing performance of the periphery of the conveying nozzle 611 at the receiving opening 331 in the attached state, and it is possible to prevent toner from leaking.

The back surface of the biasing surface 612f of the nozzle door flange 612a biased by the nozzle door spring 613 abuts against the nozzle door positioning rib 337a to determine the position of the nozzle door 612 with respect to the toner container 32 in the direction of the rotation axis . Therefore, the front end face of the container seal 333, the front end face of the front end opening 305 in the direction of the rotation axis (the inner space of the cylindrical nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 of the container opening 33a to be described below), and the nozzle are determined. The positional relationship of the door 612.

The operation of the container shutter 332 and the conveying nozzle 611 will be described below with reference to Figs. 1, 8 and 24A to 24D. Before the toner container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60, as shown in Fig. 1, the container shutter 332 is biased toward the closed position by the container shutter spring 336 to approach the receiving opening 331. Fig. 24A illustrates the appearance of the container shutter 332 and the conveying nozzle 611 at this time. When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60, as shown in Fig. 24B, 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, the end surface 332h of the front columnar portion 332c serves as an end surface of the container shutter 332 (hereinafter referred to as "the end surface 332h of the container door") and at the conveying nozzle 611. The end faces 611a (hereinafter referred to as "the leading end (end face) 611a" of the conveying nozzle) in the insertion direction are in contact with each other. When the toner container 32 is further advanced from the above state, the container shutter 332 is pushed as shown in Fig. 24C. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 24D, the conveying nozzle 611 is inserted into the door rear end supporting portion 335 from the receiving opening 331. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 8, the conveying nozzle 611 is inserted into the container main body 33 and is located at the set position. At this time, as shown in Fig. 24D, the nozzle hole 610 is located at a position overlapping the opening of the shutter support portion 335b.

Subsequently, when the container body 33 is rotated, the toner of the above-described conveying nozzle 611 scooped up by the shovel portion 304 is dropped and introduced into the conveying nozzle 611 via the nozzle hole 610. The toner introduced into the conveying nozzle 611 is conveyed toward the toner dropping passage 64 inside the conveying nozzle 611 as the conveying screw 614 rotates. Subsequently, the toner falls and is supplied to the developing device 50 through the toner dropping passage 64.

The structure of the conventional nozzle receiver 330' will be described below with reference to Figs. 25, 26, 27A to 27D. The same elements as the nozzle receiver 330 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The toner stored in the toner container 32 as a toner bottle contains air, and has a predetermined fluidity just after the toner is sealed to the toner container 32. However, during transportation or storage, the toner in the toner container 32 is gradually removed from the air, and the fluidity is lowered. Therefore, it is preferable to shake the toner container 32 just before the toner container 32 is attached to the photocopier 500 to mix the internal toner and the air, thereby obtaining a predetermined fluidity.

However, in some cases, just before the toner container 32 is attached to the photocopier 500, the toner container 32 may be inserted without shaking. In this case, as shown in Figs. 27A to 27D, when the conveying nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle receiver 330', the container shutter 332 starts moving. At this time, the toner having the reduced fluidity remains in the gap S1 which is composed of the two shutter side support portions 335a and the container shutter support 334' of the container shutter support 334' of the guide container shutter 332. The door rear end support portion 335' is defined and in which the container door spring 336 is housed. Further, in the conventional structure, as shown in FIG. 29A, the door rear end support portion 335' is formed in a columnar shape, and the projection area of the door rear end support portion 335' is larger than the sliding area 332d of the container shutter 332. The projection area of the end face 332da. Therefore, toner may be accumulated in the columnar portion. Further, as shown in FIG. 29A, the projection area indicated by the shaded area of the end surface portion 335c of the holder which is connected to the portion 335e of the two door side support portions 335a is made to be almost equal to or slightly larger than the container shutter. A projection area indicated by a hatched area in the same direction of the rear end surface 332da of the sliding area 332d of 332. Therefore, the toner is pressed between the rear end surface 332da of the sliding portion 332d of the container shutter 332 and the opposite surface of the nozzle receiver 330' facing the door rear end supporting portion 335'.

At this time, if the toner has a predetermined fluidity, the toner can move away from the opening of the shutter support portion 335b'. Conversely, when the fluidity is low, such as when the toner container 32 is inserted without shaking, the toner is pressed and compressed at the rear end surface 332da of the sliding region 332d of the container shutter 332 and facing upward as described above. The door rear end support portion 335' is between the opposite surfaces of the container door support 334' (nozzle receiver 330'). When the toner container 32 is further pushed, the compressed toner enters between the sliding area 332d of the container shutter 332 and the two door side supporting portions 335a of the container shutter holder 334' (nozzle receiver 330'). If the compressed and condensed toner as described above enters between the sliding area 332d of the container shutter 332 and the two door side supporting portions 335a of the container door holder 334' (nozzle receiver 330'), the toner is prevented from being formed. The container shutter 332 returns to the closed position when the container 32 is separated from the photocopier 500. Therefore, the toner container 32 can be separated while the receiving opening 331 remains open, causing toner to leak.

First example

In the first example of the first embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 28A, 28B, and 29B, the container shutter support 334 of the nozzle receiver 330 is configured as follows. Specifically, the end surface portion 335c, which is an end surface portion of the holder, is provided on the door rear end support portion 335 of the container door holder 334. At the end face portion 335c, a portion other than the portion 335e connected to the two door side support portions 335a is opened. That is, when the portion 335e is located on both sides of the end surface portion 335c in the horizontal direction, a portion other than the portion 335e is opened in the vertical direction. The end surface portion 335c is an opposite portion facing the rear end surface 332da of the sliding region 332d.

Specifically, the container shutter 332 includes a guide rod 332e as an elongated portion that extends toward the end surface portion 335c which is an end surface portion of the holder.

The door rear end support portion 335 includes an end surface portion 335c which is a portion facing the rear end surface 332da of the sliding portion 332d, and includes a rear end opening 335d provided on the end surface portion 335c. The end surface portion 335c is integrally formed with the two door side support portions 335a, and opens a portion other than the portion 335e connected to the shutter side support portion 335a. As shown in FIG. 29B, the door rear end support portion 335 is disposed in the projection area in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the container door 332 of the door rear end support portion 335, excluding the connection to the two door sides. The projection area indicated by the gray shaded area of the end surface portion 335c of the holder of the portion 335e of the support portion 335a is smaller than the projection area in the same direction indicated by the shaded area of the rear end surface 332da of the sliding area 332d of the container shutter 332.

If the door rear end support portion 335 of the container shutter support 334 of the nozzle receiver 330 is configured as described above, the following advantages are achieved. Even when the container is blocking the door 332 As the insertion movement of the conveying nozzle 611 moves, and then the toner is moved by the rear end surface 332da of the sliding region 332d of the container shutter 332, the first portion of the toner moves to the inside of the toner container 32 without being compressed. The first partial toner is toner that moves through the region of the rear end surface 332da of the sliding region 332d of the container shutter 332 and does not overlap the end surface portion 335c in the moving direction of the container shutter 332. Further, the second portion of the toner can be easily moved away from the opening of the shutter support portion 335b because the first portion of the toner located nearby is moved. The second portion of the toner is toner that is moved by the region of the rear end surface 332da of the sliding region 332d of the container shutter 332 and overlaps the end surface portion 335c in the moving direction of the container shutter 332.

If the area of the door rear end support portion 335 facing the rear end surface 332da of the sliding portion 332d of the container shutter 332 is lowered, even when the toner container 32 is attached to the photocopier 500 while the fluidity of the toner is low, that is, Even when the toner container 32 is attached without shaking, the toner can be pressed against the rear end surface 332da of the sliding region 332d of the container shutter 332 and the container shutter support 334 of the nozzle receiver 330. The possibility between the end face portion 335c of the door rear end support portion 335.

At the same time, the end face portion 335c of the door rear end support portion 335 is used as the bottom of the receiver as the container door spring 336 that biases the container door 332 toward the closed position. As shown in Figs. 24B to 24D, in the procedure of attaching the toner container 32, in which the container shutter 332 moves with the insertion of the conveying nozzle 611 and the container shutter spring 336 is compressed, the end surface portion 335c receives the container stopper. The restoring force of the door spring 336. Therefore, if the area of the end surface portion 335c of the door rear end support portion 335 is extremely lowered, the strength of the container shutter support 334 is lowered. If the strength is lowered, the assembly may be broken during the procedure of attaching the toner container 32.

Therefore, as shown in Figs. 30B and 30C, the tapered surface 335da as the inclined surface is provided along the open edge of the rear end opening 335d of the inner wall surface 335ca, wherein the end surface portion 335c of the rear end support portion 335 is blocked The container door spring 336 is in contact with the inner wall surface 335ca. Figure 30A illustrates the appearance of the container door support 334. Fig. 30B is a cross-sectional view taken along line h-h in Fig. 30A. Fig. 30C is an end view taken along the line J-J in Fig. 30B. The tapered surface 335da is provided along the entire open edge of the rear end opening 335d with its opening from the end face 335c toward the rear end The interior of the 335d is tapered. In other words, on the end surface portion 335c of the door rear end support portion 335, the tapered surface 335da is provided in the upstream surface 335ca in the moving direction, wherein the container shutter 322 is moved along the entire circumference of the opening edge of the rear end opening 335d to Open position.

The tapered surface 335da allows the toner to be pressed between the rear end surface 332da of the sliding region 332d of the container shutter 332 and the surface 335ca of the end surface portion 335c of the shutter rear end support portion 335 to be easily moved, as compared with the flat surface. To the circumference. Therefore, if the tapered surface 335da is held, even if the area of the end surface portion 335c (surface 335ca) which is the flat surface portion of the door rear end support portion 335 and which is the bottom of the container shutter spring 336 is minimized, the toner can be made Come out while maintaining strength.

Further, in the first embodiment, as shown in Figs. 28B, 30B, and 30C, the container shutter support includes: a projection 335cc protruding from the end surface portion 335c in the longitudinal direction of the container shutter support . In other words, in the opening direction of the opening/closing member, the protrusion 335cc protrudes from the end surface portion 335c. The protrusion 335cc extends in a direction parallel to the moving direction of the container shutter 322, and along the downstream surface 335cb of the moving direction in which the container shutter 332 of the door rear end support portion 335 moves toward the open position (when the nozzle receiver 330 is attached) The outer edges of the rear end faces of the containers to the toner container 32 are arranged.

The tapered surface 335da and the protrusion 335cc having the above structure can maintain sufficient strength to prevent recovery when the projection area of the shutter rear end support portion 335 is smaller than the projection area of the rear end surface 332da of the sliding portion 332d of the container shutter 332. The force is damaged when compression of the container door spring 336 is applied to the container door support 334.

As shown in Fig. 22, the flat guide portion 332g of the container shutter 332 is provided to face the door side support portion 335a (vertical arrangement). The sliding area 332d of the container shutter 332 is slid by being guided by the two door side supporting portions 335a of the nozzle receiver 330, and the strength in the non-guide direction (the strength parallel to the door side supporting portion 335a) is low. The strength on the guiding side. However, the flat guide portion 332g of the container shutter 332 is aligned with the flat guide portion 332g of the container shutter 332 in comparison with the structure (horizontal arrangement) facing the opening of the door support portion 335b. It faces the door side support portion 335a (vertical arrangement), and the strength of the force parallel to the door side support portion 335a is increased. Therefore, since the deformation caused by the toner pressed between the rear end surface 332da of the sliding portion 332d of the container shutter 332 and the end surface portion 335c of the shutter rear end supporting portion 335 of the nozzle receiver 330 is not easy to occur, it is advantageous. of.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 28A and 28B, on the pair of door side supporting portions 335a facing each other in the container shutter holder 334, the step portion 335f is provided in the moving direction of the container shutter 322. They have different widths from each other. The shutter side support portion 335a is divided into a first region Y1 and a second region Y2 by the step portion 335f, wherein the second region Y2 has a smaller width than the first region Y1. The second region Y2 is located on the side of the door rear end support portion 335 and has a width corresponding to the diameter of the container door spring 336 disposed by the coil spring. Therefore, one end of the container door spring 336 can be stably accommodated in the gap S1.

The structure of the container door supporter 334 is not limited to the structure in which the step portion 335f is arranged on the door side support portion 335a. For example, as shown in Fig. 31, a structure that does not include the step portion 335f on the door side support portion 335a and does not include the regions Y1 and Y2 may be employed.

Second example

A second example of the first embodiment will be described below. In the second example, the description of the same structure as the first example will be omitted as appropriate, and the same elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the first example, as described above, if the compressed and condensed toner enters between the sliding region 332d of the container shutter 332 and the two door side supporting portions 335a of the nozzle receiver 330, the toner container 32 can be prevented from being prevented. The container shutter 332 is returned to the closed position when separated from the photocopier 500, and the toner container 32 can be detached while the receiving opening 331 remains open, causing toner to leak.

Therefore, the inventors of the present invention have studied a state of compression caused by the container shutter 332. The state of compression caused by the container door 332 will be described by the concept of compression ratio. Fig. 32A illustrates the state before being compressed by the container shutter 332. Figure 32B illustrates the state after compression. As shown in Figure 32A, in the closed state The distance between the rear end surface 332da of the sliding region 332d of the container shutter 332 and the surface 335ca of the shutter rear end supporting portion 335 is assumed to be the pre-compression distance L1. As shown in Fig. 32B, the distance between the rear end surface 332da of the sliding region 332d of the container shutter 332 and the surface 335ca of the rear end support portion of the shutter is assumed to be the compressed distance L2 in the open state. The compression ratio is simply assumed to be L1/L2.

Specifically, assuming that the distance between the rear end surface 332da and the end surface portion 335c of the sliding region 332d opposite to the end surface portion 335c, L1 represents the distance in the case where the container shutter 332 is in the closed position, and L2 represents the container door The distance in the case where 332 is in the open position, L1/L2 is set to be greater than 1 but not greater than 2.

An experiment was conducted on the state of toner agglomeration, in which the compression ratio (L1/L2) was changed by changing the distance L1 before compression and the distance L2 after compression. The results are shown in Table 1 below. In Table 1, the stroke indicates the stroke (L1-L2) of the container shutter 332. The evaluation of the experiment is indicated by ○, Δ, and ×, and ○ indicates a state in which toner aggregation and toner leakage do not occur. Δ indicates a state in which toner agglomeration occurs but no toner leakage occurs. × indicates a state in which toner agglomeration and toner leakage occur.

Through experiments conducted by the inventors of the present invention, it has been found that when L1/L2 (compression ratio) is set to be larger than 1 but not larger than 2, it can be prevented that the compressed and condensed carbon powder prevents the container shutter 332 from being The toner container 32 returns to the closed position when separated from the photocopier 500, and prevents the toner container 32 from remaining open when separated from the receiving opening 331 to cause toner to leak.

The beneficial effects of the change in the compression ratio are not limited to the combination of the container door holder 334 and the container door 332 of the present embodiment. For example, as shown in Figures 33A and 33B, even when applied equally to conventional container door support 334' and container block When the door 332 is combined, if L1/L2 (compression ratio) is set to be larger than 1 but not larger than 2, it can be prevented from preventing a case where the compressed and condensed toner prevents the container shutter 332 from being in the toner container 32. The photocopier 500 returns to the closed position when separated, and prevents the toner container 32 from remaining open when separated from the receiving opening 331 to cause toner to leak. In Fig. 33A, the distance L1 before compression is the distance from the rear end surface 332da of the sliding region 332d of the container shutter 332 to the surface 335'ca of the door rear end supporting portion 335' in the closed state. As shown in Fig. 33B, the compressed distance L2 is the distance from the rear end surface 332da of the sliding region 332d of the container shutter 332 to the surface 335'ca of the shutter rear end supporting portion 335' in the open state.

Third example

A third example of the first embodiment will be described below. In the third example, the description of the same structures as the first example and the second example will be omitted as appropriate, and the same elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals. The technique according to the third example can be preferably implemented using the techniques described in the first example and the second example. However, even when independently implemented according to the technique in the third example, the same advantageous effects described below can be achieved.

In each of the examples, for ease of assembly, as shown in Figs. 20 and 21, the container shutter 332 and the container shutter spring 336 are fitted with the container shutter support 334 to manufacture the nozzle receiver 330, thereafter The nozzle receiver 330 is equipped with a container body 33 to manufacture the toner container 32.

The door hook 332a of the container door 332 is hooked to the rear end opening 335d of the container door holder 334 to prevent the container door 332 from coming off the container door support 334. However, during the manufacture of the toner container 32 as described above, when the door hook 332a may hit something or may be erroneously touched and the door hook 332a may be elastically deformed, external stress may be applied to the door hook 332a, The container door 332 is caused to fall off from the container door support 334.

Further, in the process of manufacturing the toner container 32, the nozzle receiver 330 may be manufactured at different positions and then conveyed or transported to assemble the nozzle receiver 330 with the container body 33 to manufacture the toner container 32. In this case, when the nozzle receiver 330 is transported or transported, the packaging material for packaging the nozzle receiver 330 may The nozzle receivers that can interfere with the door hook 332a or the package may interfere with each other. If the stress is applied to the door hook 332a due to the above disturbance, the door hook 332a may be elastically deformed or broken, thereby causing the container door 332 to fall off from the container door holder 334.

Therefore, in the third example, as shown in FIGS. 34A and 34B, the protrusion amount 335cc protruding from the surface 335cb of the door rear end support portion 335 is set to be equal to or larger than the protrusion amount (height) th1 from the surface 335cb. The amount of protrusion (height) th2 from the surface 335cb in a state where the shutter hook 332a is hooked at the rear end opening 335d. That is, in the opening direction of the opening/closing member, the protrusion 335cc protrudes more than the door hook 332a.

The protrusion 335cc is provided to be moved to the downstream side in the moving direction from the closed position to the open position of the container shutter 332 toward the container shutter 332 when the container shutter 332 as the opening/closing member is in the closed position. protruding.

As described above, when the projection amount (height) th1 of the projection 335cc from the surface 335cb is set to be equal to or larger than the projection amount (height) th2 protruding from the surface 335cb when the shutter hook 332a is hooked at the rear end opening 335d, the shutter is The periphery of the hook 332a is covered. Therefore, external stress is not easily applied to the door hook 332a so that the container door 332 can be prevented from coming off the container door holder 334.

Further, even when the nozzle receiver 330 is transported or transported, the packaging material for packaging the nozzle receiver 330 is less likely to interfere with the door hook 332a or the packaged nozzle receiver 330 is less likely to interfere with each other, so that it can prevent the container from blocking the door. 332 is detached from the container door support 334.

Second embodiment

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the same structures as those of the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate, and the same elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals. The technique according to the second embodiment can be preferably implemented using the technique described in the first embodiment. However, even when the technique according to the second embodiment is independently implemented, the same advantageous effects described below can be achieved. Further, the second embodiment includes the following techniques according to the fourth to eleventh examples.

First, the problem will be described.

In the comparative example shown in Fig. 35, when the container front end cover 34 and the container main body 33 are assembled by being attached to each other, the container main body 33 is inserted into the container front end cover 34 in the direction Q, and the container main body 33 is attached. The direction Q is moved from the hole 34d at the center of the front surface 34c of the container front end cover 34. In this case, the tongue-shaped cover hook 340 is elastically deformed to be unfolded from the cover hook 306 in the radial direction, and then passed over the cover hook 306 such that the front end of the cover hook 340 is hooked on the cover hook 306 and the container gear 301. Between the grooves. The cover hooks 306 are arranged along the entire circumference, and the outer diameter of the cover hooks 306 is larger than the inner diameter of the holes 34d. Therefore, the container front end cover 34 is restricted from moving in the direction Q, but is accommodated to rotate relative to the container main body 33. As described above, when the toner container 32 is housed by the toner container holder 70, the stress (restoring force) for compressing the container door spring 336 and the stress caused by the compression nozzle door spring 613 are applied to the toner. Container 32 (container front end cover 34). Therefore, if the cover hook 340 is configured to be easily attached (elastically deformed) to the cover hook 306, and when the thrust is applied to the separation direction Q1, the container body 33 is easily separated from the container front end cover 34. Conversely, if the cover hook 340 is configured to be difficult to separate (not easily deformed) to prevent the container body 33 from being easily separated from the container front end cover 34, the cover hook 340 is not easily attached to the cover hook 306.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11A to 11C and 12, the cover hook 306 provided on the container main body 33 includes: an opening 3061 in which the container main body 33 is perpendicular to the rotational direction. In the attachment/separation direction, a cover hook 340 on the front end cover 34 of the container passes through the opening 3061, respectively. The cover hook 306 serves as a flow restrictor and the opening 3061 serves as a notch or slit.

Here, the attachment/detachment direction of the container main body 33 is a direction in which the toner container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60 and separated from the toner filling device 60. However, the attachment/detachment direction in which the container front end cover 34 is attached to the toner container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 separated from the toner container main body 33 is attached to the toner filling device 60 and the carbon with the toner container 32. The powder filling device 60 is separated in the same/opposite direction. Therefore, the term "attachment direction" used in the second embodiment has two meanings: "the attachment direction of the container body 33" and "the separation direction of the container front end cover 34". Also, the term "separation direction" used in the second embodiment has two meanings: "the separation direction of the container body 33" and "the attachment direction of the container front end cover 34". Similarly, the term "attach direction Q" used in the second embodiment has two meanings: "attachment direction of the container body 33" and "separation direction of the container front end cover 34"; used in the second embodiment The term "separation direction Q1" has two meanings: "the separation direction of the container body 33" and "the attachment direction of the container front end cover 34".

On the front surface 34c of the container front end cover 34 in the attachment direction Q, a hole 34d as a through hole is provided which passes through the attachment/detachment direction of the container main body 33 and into which the container opening 33a is inserted. A cover hook 340 is provided to protrude the inner end 340A toward the center of the hole 34d. As indicated by the dotted circle 34e in Fig. 11B, the tip end of the inner end 340A projects inwardly with respect to the periphery of the hole 34d. When the container body 33 is rotated relative to the container front end cover 34, the cover hook 340 passes through the opening 3061 in the attachment/detachment direction, respectively. In the second embodiment, three openings 3061 are provided on the cover hook 306 in the rotational direction. The openings 3061 are arranged such that the interval between the openings 3061 in the circumferential direction is the same as the interval between the cover hooks 340 in the circumferential direction. In the second embodiment, three cover hooks 340 and three openings 3061 are provided in the rotational direction. However, it is sufficient to provide at least one cover hook 340 and one opening 3061. Fig. 11C is a view showing a state in which the cover hook 340 is inserted into the cover hook 306 from the state shown in Fig. 11A. As shown in FIG. 11C, the center side portion of the front surface 34c and the outer side surface of the cover hook 306 face each other. The cover hook 340 is thinner than the front surface 34c (in FIG. 11B, recessed toward the rear side with respect to the front surface 34c), and the cover hook 340 and the cover hook 306 face each other in the attachment direction Q. Therefore, the movement of the container front end cover 34 with respect to the container main body 33 in the attachment direction Q and the separation direction Q1 is restricted. This limitation includes allowing the cover hook 340 to move between the cover hook 306 and the container gear 301 in the attachment direction Q and the separation direction Q1 in FIG. 11C. Therefore, the container body 33 becomes rotated with respect to the container front end cover 34.

That is, in the structure of the powder container described using the comparative example, the protrusion provided on the container is elastically deformed in the radial direction to be hooked on the restrictor of the powder reservoir. Therefore, if the protrusion is configured to be easily separated or difficult to separate, it is difficult to hook the restrictor on the protrusion, resulting in reduced operability.

Therefore, the powder container according to the second embodiment includes: a columnar powder reservoir for accommodating the powder; a container attached to the powder reservoir and The powder reservoir is separated; a protrusion on one of the powder reservoir and the container; and a flow restrictor located on the other of the powder reservoir and the container and restricting the protrusion in the longitudinal direction of the powder reservoir Movement in the direction. The powder reservoir rotates relative to the container. The flow restrictor includes an opening through which the protrusion passes in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation when the container is attached to the powder reservoir.

According to the second embodiment, the protrusions are provided on one of the powder reservoir and the accommodator that are rotated with respect to each other, and the restrictor that is hooked and extended in the rotational direction is provided in the powder reservoir and the accommodator Another one. Further, the flow restrictor includes an opening through which the protrusion protrudes in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation. Therefore, the hooked state between the opening and the projection is maintained after the projection has passed through the opening. Therefore, the protrusion can be attached to the restrictor without lowering the operability as compared with the conventional structure, and the protrusion can be prevented from falling off easily.

The specific structure of the cover hook 340 and the opening 3061 will be described below in each of the examples. In this example, the "rotation direction A" is a direction in which the container front end cover 34 is rotated relative to the container main body 33 in the toner container attached to the image forming apparatus, and the "attachment rotation direction R" is attached to the container front end cover 34. The container front end cover 34 (cover hook 340) is rotated in the direction in which the container body 33 is rotated when it is attached to the container body 33. The three cover hooks 340 and the three openings 3061 have the same structure, respectively. Therefore, the structure and operation of the single cover hook 340 and the single opening 3061 will be described as a typical example. The outer diameter of the cover hook 306 is equal to or larger than the inner diameter of the hole 34d at the center.

Fourth example

FIGS. 37A and 37B illustrate the cover hook and the opening according to the fourth example. Fig. 37A is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the structure of the opening 3061 provided on the container main body 33 and the cover hook 340 provided on the container front end cover 34. Fig. 37B is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the opening 3061. 37C is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the cover hook 340.

In the cover hook 306 having a thickness in the attachment/detachment direction, the end surface 306a in the attachment direction Q serves as a guide surface toward the opening 3061 when the container front end cover 34 is attached to the container main body 33, and is located in the separation direction The end surface 306b in Q1 serves as a guide surface toward the opening 3061 at the time of separation.

The cover hook 340 as a protrusion includes an inclined portion 340a of the protrusion on the one end surface which is one end located on the downstream side in the attachment rotation direction R. The inclined portion 340a of the protrusion is inclined upward from the downstream side to the upstream side of the attachment rotation direction R. The inclined portion 340a of the protrusion is an inclined surface having a flat top surface. The surface of the cover hook 340 that continues from the inclined portion 340a is referred to as the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340, which is used as the second surface of the protrusion. The bottom surface 340b faces the end surface 306a in the attachment operation of the container lid 34 and the container body 33. The surface of the cover hook 340 continuing from the inclined portion 340a and located on the side opposite to the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 is referred to as the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340, which is used as the first surface of the protrusion.

In the cover hook 340, the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 and the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340 serve as parallel planes parallel to each other. Preferably, the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 and the end surface 306a of the cover hook 306 are parallel to each other in a state before the container front end cover 34 is attached to the container main body 33, as shown in Fig. 37A. Further, preferably, the upper surface 340c and the end surface 306b of the cover hook 340 are parallel to each other in a state where the container front end cover 34 is attached to the container main body 33. As shown in Fig. 37B, the width (length) of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 in the attachment rotational direction R is indicated by "c", and the width (length) of the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340 in the attachment rotational direction R is shown. The thickness between the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 and the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340 in the attachment/detachment direction is indicated by "e" as the thickness of the cover hook 340, which is indicated by "d". In the cover hook 340, as shown in Fig. 37B, the width "c" of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 (i.e., the length of the bottom surface 340b in the rotational direction R) is larger than the width "e" of the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340. . The cover hook 340 has a trapezoidal cross section in which the inclined portion 340a is an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340 to the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 with respect to the rotational direction. In the following description, it is assumed that the structure of the cover hook 340 is the same in the fourth to seventh examples.

The surface on the downstream side of the opening 3061 in the attachment rotational direction R serves as an opening inclined portion 3061a that is inclined in the same direction as the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion. The opening 3061 includes an opposite surface 3061b facing the opening inclined portion 3061a. The opposing surface 3061b is an inclined surface. In the fourth example, the opening inclined portion 3061a and the opposite surface 3061b are parallel planes parallel to each other.

As shown in Fig. 37B, in the opening 3061, the interval between the opening inclined portion 3061a and the opposite surface 3061b is indicated by "t", and the opening on the side of the first side 3061c on the side of the end surface 306b in the attachment rotational direction R is attached. The width (length) of 3061 is indicated by "a", and the width (length) of the opening 3061 on the side of the second turn 3061d in the attachment rotational direction R is indicated by "b". The first turn 3061c is used as a discharge port (a downstream end port, a discharge port, or a first portion of the opening 3061). The second turn 3061d is used as an entry 埠 (upstream end 埠, access port, or second portion of the opening). The second turn 3061d of the opening 3061 is one end of the opening 3061 opened on the end face 306a, and is located in a direction in which the protrusion 340 passes through the opening 3061 when the container front end cover 34 as a container is attached to the container body 33 as a powder reservoir Upstream side. The first turn 3061c of the opening 3061 is the other end of the opening 3061 opened on the end face 306b, and is located on the downstream side of the direction in which the protrusion 340 passes through the opening 3061 when the container front end cover 34 is attached to the container body 33. In the fourth example, it is satisfied (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 340) (The relationship of the interval "t" of the opening 3061) and the relationship (the width "a" of the first 埠 3061c of the opening 3061) < (the width "e" of the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340).

The entry operation of the cover hook 340 disposed at the opening 3061 as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 38A to 38G. As shown in Fig. 38A, when the container front end cover 34 is rotated in the attachment rotational direction R, the cover hook 340 is moved from the right side to the left side of the end surface 306a in Fig. 38A. When the inclined portion 340a of the cover hook 340 is located on the second turn 3061d of the opening 3061, the cover hook 340 is pressed toward the opening 3061 (from the upstream side to the downstream side of the separation direction Q1) as shown in Fig. 38B. Therefore, the cover hook 340 is slightly deformed in the counterclockwise direction in the drawing by using the end portion S1 of the second weir 3061d on the upstream side of the attachment rotational direction R as a pivot toward the inside of the opening 3061, and enters as shown in FIG. 38C. The illustrated lead has an opening 3061 of a raised inclined portion 340a. Subsequently, as shown in Fig. 38D, the end portion S2 defined by the inclined portion 340a of the cover hook 340 and the upper surface 340c passes through the end portion S3 of the second turn 3061d of the opening 3061 on the downstream side of the attachment rotational direction R. At this time, because it is satisfied (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 340) (The relationship of the interval "t" of the opening 3061), the cover hook 340 passes through the opening 3061 as shown in Figs. 38E and 38F. When the upstream end S4 of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 in the attachment rotational direction R passes through the end S5 of the first bore 3061c on the upstream side of the attachment rotational direction R, the cover hook 340 is positioned such that the upper surface 340c and The end faces 306b face each other as shown in Fig. 38G. At this time, if the length of the interval SP1 between the end surface 306b and the element of the container body 33 on the downstream side of the separation direction Q1 of the container body 33 is set so that the cover hook 340 can be sufficiently rotated and the end portion S4 can pass the first One turn 3061c, the rotational displacement of the cover hook 340 in the opening 3061 is smoothly performed, which is preferable.

That is, the opening 3061 is configured to pass the cover hook 340 through the opening 3061 when the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion comes into contact with the opening inclined portion 3061a.

As described above, when the cover hook 340 passes through the opening 3061 provided obliquely on the cover hook 306, the engaged state is obtained in which the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340 and the end surface 306b of the cover hook 306 face each other while maintaining The state of hooking each other. Therefore, the attachment state between the container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 can be ensured, and assembly and attachment are simplified.

Further, the width "a" of the first turn 3061c of the opening 3061 is smaller than the width "e" of the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340 so as to facilitate the opening 3061 and the cover hook 340 even after the container front end cover 34 is attached to the container body 33. When facing each other, the cover hook 340 does not easily pass through the opening 3061. Therefore, for example, when the toner container 32 is attached to and separated from the toner filling device 60, even the stress (restoring force) for compressing the container door spring 336 and the shutter spring 613 passing through the compression nozzle The induced stress is applied to the toner container 32, and the container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 are not separated from each other. Therefore, operability when the toner container 32 is attached and separated can be improved.

Fifth example

39A to 39C illustrate the cover hook and the opening according to the fifth example. Fig. 39A is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the structure of an opening 3062 which is provided as a notch or a slit and which is provided on the container main body 33, and a cover hook 340 which is provided on the container front end cover 34. Fig. 39B is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the opening 3062. 39C is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the cover hook 340.

The opening 3062 provided on the cover hook 306 according to the fifth example is different from the opening 3061 according to the fourth embodiment. The opening 3062 includes an opening inclined portion 3062a and an opposite surface 3062b inclined in the same direction as the opening inclined portion 3062a. In the fifth example, the opposite surface 3062b is a surface that is moderately inclined by an acute angle from the downstream side to the upstream side of the attachment rotational direction R, wherein the acute angle is smaller than the acute angle of the opening inclined portion 3062a. Therefore, in the fifth example, in the opening 3062, the width "b" of the second turn 3062d of the opening 3062 on the side of the end face 306a and the width "a" of the first turn 3062c side on the side of the end face 306b are different from each other. The first crucible 3062c is used as a discharge crucible (a downstream end port, a discharge port, or a first portion of the opening). Therefore, in the fifth example, the interval "t" between the opening inclined portion 3062a and the opposite surface 3062b corresponds to the minimum interval between the opening inclined portion 3062a and the opposite surface 3062b, and the size thereof corresponds to the extension of the opening inclined portion 3062a. The line and the dimension extending from the opposite surface 3062b to a line parallel to the extension line. That is, the opening 3062 includes the opposite surface 3062b as a guide portion that is inclined from the upstream side to the downstream side of the separation direction Q on the second turn on the opening side.

The width of the opening 3062 on the side of the first turn 3062c in the attachment rotation direction R is denoted by "a", and the width of the opening 3062 on the side of the second turn 3062d in the attachment rotational direction R is denoted by "b", wherein The second turn 3062d serves as a second portion of the entrance pupil, the upstream port, the access port, or the opening. The second turn 3062d of the opening 3062 corresponds to the width of one end of the opening 3062 that is open on the end face 306a, and the first turn 3062c corresponds to the width of the other end of the opening 3062 that is open on the end face 306b. Even in the fifth example, it is satisfied (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 340) (The relationship of the interval "t" of the opening 3062) and the relationship (the width "a" of the first 埠 3062c of the opening 3062) < (the width "e" of the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340). Further, the relationship (the width "c" of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340) < (the width "b" of the second turn 3062d of the opening 3062) is satisfied.

The entry operation of the cover hook 340 disposed at the opening 3062 as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 40A to 40G. As shown in Fig. 40A, when the container front end cover 34 is rotated in the attachment rotational direction R, the cover hook 340 is moved from the right side to the left side of the end surface 306a in Fig. 40A. When the cover hook 340 is located at the second opening 3062d of the opening 3062 In the upper case, the cover hook 340 is pressed toward the opening 3062 as shown in Fig. 40B. Therefore, since the relationship (the width "c" of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340) < (the width "b" of the second turn 3062d of the opening 3062) is satisfied, the cover hook 340 enters the second turn 3062d of the opening 3062 while remaining the same posture. This posture is maintained until the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion comes into contact with the opening inclined portion 3062a as shown in Fig. 40C.

When the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion comes into contact with the opening inclined portion 3062a, the cover hook 340 passes the end portion S4 of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 on the upstream side of the attachment rotational direction R as a pivot on the opposite surface 3062b. Rotate counterclockwise as shown in Figure 40D. Subsequently, as shown in Fig. 40E, the end portion S2 defined by the inclined portion 340a and the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340 passes through the end portion S13 of the second turn 3062d of the opening 3062 on the downstream side of the attachment rotational direction R. At this time, because it is satisfied (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 340) (The relationship of the interval "t" of the opening 3062), the cover hook 340 passes through the opening 3062 as shown in Figs. 40E and 40F. When the upstream end S4 of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 in the attachment rotational direction R passes through the end S15 of the first jaw 3062c on the upstream side of the attachment rotational direction R, the cover hook 340 is positioned such that the upper surface 340c and The end faces 306b face each other as shown in Fig. 40G. At this time, if the length of the interval SP1 between the end surface 306b and the element of the container body 33 on the downstream side in the separation direction Q1 is set so that the cover hook 340 can be sufficiently rotated and the end portion S4 can pass through the first weir 3062c, the opening The rotational displacement of the cover hook 340 of the 3062 is smoothly performed, which is preferable.

That is, the opening 3062 is configured to pass the cover hook 340 through the opening 3062 when the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion comes into contact with the opening inclined portion 3062a.

When the cover hook 340 passes through the opening 3062 provided in an inclined manner on the cover hook 306 as described above, an engaged state is obtained in which the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340 and the end surface 306b of the cover hook 3062 face each other while maintaining each other Hooked state. Therefore, the attachment state between the container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 can be ensured, and assembly and attachment are simplified.

Further, the width "a" of the first turn 3062c of the opening 3062 is smaller than the width "e" of the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340, so that the cover hook 340 does not easily pass through the opening 3062 even when the opening 3062 and the cover hook 340 face each other. . So, for example, when carbon When the powder container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60 and separated from the toner filling device 60, even the stress (recovery force) for compressing the container door spring 336 and the stress caused by the compression nozzle door spring 613 are applied to The toner container 32, the container main body 33, and the container front end cover 34 are not separated from each other. Therefore, the operability at the time of attachment and separation of the toner container 32 can be improved.

Further, in the fifth example, since the relationship (the width "c" of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340) < (the width "b" of the second turn 3062d of the opening 3062) is satisfied, the cover hook 340 passes through the opening with respect to the rotational direction. The angle of 3062 is smaller than the fourth example. Therefore, the interval SP1 can be lowered as compared with the fourth example.

Sixth example

41A to 41C illustrate the cover hook and the opening according to the sixth example. Fig. 41A is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the structure of an opening 3063 which is provided as a notch or a slit and which is provided on the container main body 33, and a cover hook 340 which is provided on the container front end cover 34. Fig. 41B is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the opening 3063. 41C is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the cover hook 340.

The opening 3063 provided on the cover hook 306 according to the sixth example is different from the opening according to the above example. The opening 3063 includes: an opening inclined portion 3063a; and an opposite surface 3063b which is inclined in the same direction as and parallel to the opening inclined portion 3063a. The opening 3063 includes a recess 4063 as a guide, a recess or a recess and is provided in the second turn 3063d of the opening 3063 on the side of the end face 306a to be recessed in the separation direction Q1. The recess 4063 includes a first surface 4063a that is parallel to the end surface 306a and continues to the opposing surface 3063b and includes a second surface 4063b that is coupled to the first surface 4063a and the end surface 306a. The second surface 4063b is a surface that is inclined downward from the upstream side to the downstream side of the separation direction Q1 from the end surface 306a.

In the sixth example, in the opening 3063, the interval between the opening inclined portion 3063a and the opposite surface 3063b is represented by "t", and the width of the opening 3063 on the side of the end face 306b on the side of the end face 306b in the attachment rotational direction R is used. "a" indicates that the width of the opening 3061 in the attachment rotation direction R is represented by "b". The first crucible 3063c is used as the discharge crucible. The second turn 3063d is used as an entry 埠 (upstream end 埠, access port, or second portion of the opening). The second turn 3063d of the opening 3063 corresponds to the attachment rotation The width between the end portion S23 defined by the opening inclined portion 3063a and the end surface 306a in the rotation direction R and the end portion S34 defined by the second surface 4063b and the end surface 306a, the width being assumed as the width of the guide portion in the rotation direction" b".

In addition, it is satisfied (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 340) (the relationship of the interval "t" of the opening 3063), the relationship (the width "a" of the first 埠 3063c of the opening 3063) < (the width "e" of the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340), and (the cover hook 340) The relationship of the width "c" of the bottom surface 340b < (the width "b" of the guide portion 4063).

The entry operation of the cover hook 340 disposed at the opening 3063 as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 42A to 42I. As shown in Fig. 42A, when the container front end cover 34 is rotated in the attachment rotational direction R, the cover hook 340 is moved from the right side to the left side of the end surface 306a in Fig. 42A. When the cover hook 340 is positioned over the guide portion 4063 of the second turn 3063d of the opening 3063, the cover hook 340 is pressed toward the opening 3063 as shown in Fig. 42B. Therefore, since the relationship (the width "c" of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340) < (the width "b" of the guide portion) is satisfied, the cover hook 340 continuously moves while maintaining the same posture until the inclined portion 340a and the opening of the protrusion The inclined portion 3063a is in contact as shown in Fig. 42C.

When the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion comes into contact with the opening inclined portion 3063a, the cover hook 340 passes through the end portion S4 of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 attached to the upstream side of the rotational direction R as a pivot in the drawing at the second surface 4063b Rotate counterclockwise as shown in Figure 42D. Subsequently, during the rotation, as shown in Fig. 42E, the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 comes into contact with the end portion S25 of the second weir 3063d, and the cover hook 340 further rotates counterclockwise.

As shown in Fig. 42F, the end portion S2 defined by the inclined portion 340a of the cover hook 340 and the upper surface 340c passes through the end portion S23 defined by the opening inclined portion 3063a and the end surface 306a on the downstream side in the attachment rotational direction R. At this time, because (the thickness of the cover hook 340 is "d") (The relationship of the interval "t" of the opening 3063), the cover hook 340 passes through the opening 3063 as shown in Fig. 42G and Fig. 42H. When the upstream end S4 of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 in the attachment rotational direction R passes through the end S25 of the first bore 3063c of the opening 3063, the upper surface 340c and the end surface 306b of the cover hook 340 face each other as shown in Fig. 42I. Show. At this time, if the length of the interval SP1 between the end surface 306b and the element of the container body 33 on the downstream side of the separation direction Q1 is set so that the cover hook 340 can be sufficiently rotated and the end portion S4 can pass the first 埠 3063c, The rotational displacement of the cover hook 340 in the opening 3062 is smoothly performed, which is preferable.

That is, the opening 3063 is configured to pass the cover hook 340 through the opening 3063 when the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion comes into contact with the opening inclined portion 3063a.

When the cover hook 340 passes through the opening 3063 provided in an inclined manner on the cover hook 306 as described above, the engaged state is obtained in which the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340 and the end surface 306b of the cover hook 3063 face each other while maintaining each other Hooked state. Therefore, the attachment state between the container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 can be ensured, and assembly and attachment are simplified.

Further, the width "a" of the guiding portion 4063 of the opening 3063 is smaller than the width "e" of the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340, so that the cover hook 340 does not easily pass through the opening 3063 even when the opening 3063 and the cover hook 340 face each other. . Therefore, for example, when the toner container 32 is attached to and separated from the toner filling device 60, even the stress (restoring force) for compressing the container door spring 336 and the shutter spring 613 passing through the compression nozzle The induced stress is applied to the toner container 32, and the container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 are not separated from each other. Therefore, operability when the toner container 32 is attached and separated can be improved.

Seventh example

43A to 43C illustrate the cover hook and the opening according to the seventh example. Fig. 43A is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the structure of the opening 3064 as a notch or slit and provided on the container main body 33 and the cover hook 340 provided on the container front end cover 34. Fig. 43B is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the opening 3064. Fig. 43C is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the cover hook 340.

The opening 3064 provided on the cover hook 306 according to the seventh example is different from the opening according to the above example. The opening 3064 includes: an opening inclined portion 3064a; and an opposite surface 3064b that is inclined in the same direction as and parallel to the opening inclined portion 3064a. The opening 3064 includes a recess 4064 as a guide, a recess or a recess and is provided in the second turn 3064d of the opening 3064 on the side of the end face 306a to be recessed in the separating direction Q1. The recess 4064 includes: a first surface 4064a, It is parallel to end face 306a and continues to opposing surface 3064b and includes a second surface 4064b that is coupled to first surface 4064a and end face 306a.

In the seventh example, in the opening 3064, the interval between the opening inclined portion 3064a and the opposite surface 3064b is indicated by "t", and the width of the opening 3064 on the side of the end surface 306b in the attachment rotational direction R is indicated by "a", The width of the opening 3064 on the side of the second turn 3064d in the attachment rotational direction R is indicated by "b". The first jaw 3064c is used as a discharge port (a downstream end port, a discharge port, or a first portion of the opening). The second jaw 3064d is used as an entry 埠 (upstream end 埠, access port, or second portion of the opening). The second weir 3064d of the opening 3064 corresponds to a width between the end portion S33 provided by the opening inclined portion 3064a and the end surface 306a and the second surface 4064b in the attachment rotational direction R, which width is assumed to be the guide portion in the rotational direction R The width "b". The end S35 defined by the opposing surface 3064b and the first surface 4064a and the end S34 defined by the second surface 4064b and the end surface 306a are chamfered.

In addition, it is satisfied (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 340) (relationship of the interval "t" of the opening 3063), (the width "a" of the first opening 3064c of the opening 3064) < (the width "e" of the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340), and (the cover hook 340) The width "c" of the bottom surface 340b is < (the width "b" of the guide portion (recess) 4064).

The entry operation of the cover hook 340 disposed at the opening 3064 as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 44A to 44G. As shown in Fig. 44A, when the container front end cover 34 is rotated in the attachment rotational direction R, the cover hook 340 is moved from the right side to the left side of the end surface 306a in Fig. 44A. When the cover hook 340 is positioned over the guide portion 4064 of the second turn 3064d of the opening 3064, the cover hook 340 is pressed toward the opening 3064 as shown in FIG. 44B. Therefore, since the relationship (the width "c" of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340) < (the width "b" of the guide portion) is satisfied, the cover hook 340 is dropped by gravity and continuously moves while maintaining the same posture up to the inclined portion. 340a is in contact with the opening inclined portion 3064a as shown in Fig. 44C.

When the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion comes into contact with the opening inclined portion 3064a, as shown in Fig. 44D, the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 comes into contact with the end portion S41 of the first weir 3064c, and the cover hook 340 rotates counterclockwise in the drawing. . At this time, because it is satisfied (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 340) (The relationship of the interval "t" of the opening 3064), the end portion S2 defined by the inclined portion 340a of the cover hook 340 and the upper surface 340c is defined by the opening inclined portion 3064a and the end surface 306a on the downstream side of the attachment rotational direction R End S33. Further, as shown in FIG. 44E, the cover hook 340 passes through the opening 3064, and the upstream end S4 of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 attached in the rotational direction R passes through the end of the first weir 3064c on the upstream side of the attachment rotational direction R. The portion S35 is as shown in Fig. 44F. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 44G, the upper surface 340c and the end surface 306b of the cover hook 340 face each other. At this time, if the length of the interval SP1 between the end surface 306b and the element of the container body 33 on the downstream side of the separation direction Q1 is set so that the cover hook 340 can be sufficiently rotated and the end portion S4 can pass the first jaw 3064c, The rotational displacement of the cover hook 340 in the opening 3062 is smoothly performed, which is preferable.

That is, the opening 3064 is configured to pass the cover hook 340 through the opening 3064 when the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion comes into contact with the opening inclined portion 3064a.

When the cover hook 340 passes through the opening 3064 provided in an inclined manner on the cover hook 306 as described above, the engaged state is obtained in which the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340 and the end surface 306b of the cover hook 306 face each other while maintaining each other Hooked state. Therefore, the attachment state between the container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 can be ensured, and assembly and attachment are simplified.

Further, the width "a" of the first turn 3064c of the opening 3064 is smaller than the width "e" of the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340, so that the cover hook 340 does not easily pass through the opening 3064 even when the opening 3064 and the cover hook 340 face each other. .

Therefore, for example, when the toner container 32 is attached to and separated from the toner filling device 60, even the stress (restoring force) for compressing the container door spring 336 and the shutter spring 613 passing through the compression nozzle The induced stress is applied to the toner container 32, and the container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 are not separated from each other. Therefore, operability when the toner container 32 is attached and separated can be improved.

Similar to the fourth example, in the fifth to seventh examples, the cover hook 340 is pressed and enters the opening. However, the invention is not limited thereto. As shown in FIGS. 45A to 45C, the cover hook 340 may enter the opening when the container front end cover 34 is rotated in the attachment rotational direction R while the container front end cover 34 is in contact with the cover hook 306. E.g, As shown in Fig. 45A, the bottom surface 340b protrudes downward downward with respect to the end surface 306b. When the container body 33 is inserted into the container front end cover 34 and abuts against the cover hook 306, the cover hook 340 is elastically deformed in the Q direction (Fig. 45B). Since the width "e" of the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340 is set to be smaller than the width "b" of the second turn of each opening, when the container front end cover 34 is in the attached rotational direction R from the state shown in Fig. 45B When the cover hook 340 is rotated and the cover hook 340 is located on the second side of each opening, the cover hook 340 starts to fall as it moves in the attachment rotational direction R (Fig. 45C). Therefore, the cover hook 340 and the cover hook 306 can be easily engaged by merely rotating the container front end cover 34 instead of pressing the container front end cover 34 including the cover hook 340 in the separation direction Q1 as in the fourth example. Therefore, attachment operability can be improved. 45A to 45C are applied to the opening of the sixth example, however, it is applicable to the openings of the fifth and seventh examples.

The eighth to tenth examples will be described below. In the eighth to tenth examples, the opening provided on the cover hook 306 is the same as the opening 3061 of the fourth example, and the shape of the cover hook as the protrusion and provided on the container front end cover 34 side is different. In the following description, it is assumed that the relationship between the cover hook and the front surface 34c is the same as that shown in Figs. 45A to 45C, however, the relationships described in the fourth to seventh examples are applicable.

Eighth example

46A to 46C illustrate the cover hook and the opening according to the eighth example. Fig. 46A is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the structure of the opening 3061 provided on the container main body 33 and the cover hook 3401 provided on the container front end cover 34. Fig. 46B is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the opening 3061. Fig. 46C is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the cover hook 3401.

In the eighth example, the cover hook 3401 includes a protruding inclined portion 3401a that is inclined in the attachment rotational direction R on the end surface as the end portion in the attachment rotational direction R. The inclined portion 3401a of the protrusion is an inclined surface having a flat top surface. The surface of the cover hook 3401 is referred to as a bottom surface 3401b of the cover hook 3401, wherein the surface of the cover hook 3401 continues from the inclined portion 3401a and faces the end surface 306a. The bottom surface 3401b serves as a second surface of the protrusion. The surface of the cover hook 340 is referred to as the upper surface 3401c of the cover hook 3401, wherein the surface of the cover hook 340 continues from the inclined portion 3401a and is located at the bottom of the cover hook 3401

On the opposite side of the face 3401b. The upper surface 3401c serves as a first surface of the protrusion. A surface located opposite to the inclined portion 3401a of the protrusion is referred to as a side surface 3401d of the cover hook 3401.

The inclined portion 3401a of the protrusion is an inclined surface parallel to the opening inclined portion 3061a, and the side surface 3401d of the cover hook 3401 is provided to be inclined at an acute angle with respect to the attachment rotation direction R instead of the inclined surface parallel to the opening inclined portion 3061a. Further, the width of the bottom surface 3401b of the cover hook 3401 in the attachment rotation direction R is indicated by "c", and the width of the upper surface 3401c of the cover hook 3401 is indicated by "e" in the attachment rotation direction R, in attachment/detachment The thickness between the bottom surface 3401b and the upper surface 3401c of the direction cover hook 3401 is indicated by "d", which is the thickness of the cover hook 3401. In the cover hook 3401, the width "e" of the upper surface 3401c of the cover hook 3401 is larger than the width "c" of the bottom surface 3401b of the cover hook 3401. The cover hook 3401 has a trapezoidal cross section in which the inclined portion 3401a of the protrusion is an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the upper surface 3401c of the cover hook 3401 to the bottom surface 3401b of the cover hook 3401 in the separation direction Q1 with respect to the attachment rotational direction R.

In the eighth example, it is satisfied (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 3401) Relationship between (the interval "t" of the opening 3061), (the width "a" of the first 埠 3061c of the opening 3061) < (the width "e" of the upper surface 3401c of the cover hook 3401), and (the cover hook 3401) The width "c" of the bottom surface 3401b is < (the width "b" of the second turn 3061d of the opening 3061).

The entry operation of the cover hook 3401 disposed at the opening 3061 as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 47A to 47H. As shown in Fig. 47A, when the container front end cover 34 is rotated in the attachment rotational direction R, the cover hook 3401 is moved from the right side to the left side of the end surface 306a in Fig. 47A. As shown in FIGS. 47B and 47C, when the cover hook 3401 is positioned above the second turn 3061d of the opening 3061, it satisfies (the width "c" of the bottom surface 3401b of the cover hook 3401) < (the second turn of the opening 3061) The relationship of the width "b" of 3061d, the cover hook 340 is dropped while being elastically deformed, and then restored. Therefore, the side surface 3401d of the cover hook 3401 is in contact with the end portion S1 as shown in Fig. 44D.

When the side surface 3401d of the cover hook 3401 is in contact with the end portion S1, the cover hook 3401 is rotated counterclockwise by using the contact point as shown in Fig. 46E. Then, the end portion S42 defined by the inclined portion 3401a of the protrusion and the upper surface 3401c of the cover hook 3401 passes through the end portion S3 on the insertion side defined by the opening inclined portion 3061a and the end surface 306a on the downstream side of the attachment rotational direction R. At this time, because it is satisfied (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 3401) (The relationship of the interval "t" of the opening 3061), the side surface 3401d of the cover hook 3401 is guided by the opposite surface 3061b, and passes through the opening 3061 as shown in Figs. 46F and 46G. When the upstream end S45 of the upper surface 3401c of the cover hook 3401 in the attachment rotational direction R passes through the end S5 of the first jaw 3061c of the opening 3061 on the upstream side of the attachment rotational direction R, the upper surface of the cover hook 3401 The 3401c and the end surface 306b face each other as shown in Fig. 47H. At this time, if the length of the interval SP1 between the end surface 306b and the element of the container body 33 on the downstream side of the separation direction Q1 is set so that the cover hook 340 can be sufficiently rotated and the end portion S4 can pass the first 埠 3061c, The rotational displacement of the cover hook 340 in the opening 3061 is smoothly performed, which is preferable.

That is, the opening 3061 is configured to pass the cover hook 3401 through the opening 3061 when the inclined portion 3401a of the protrusion comes into contact with the opening inclined portion 3061a.

When the cover hook 3401 passes through the opening 3061 provided in an inclined manner on the cover hook 306 as described above, the engaged state is obtained in which the upper surface 3401c of the cover hook 3401 and the end surface 306b of the cover hook 3061 face each other while maintaining each other Hooked state. Therefore, the attachment state between the container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 can be ensured, and assembly and attachment are simplified.

Further, the width "a" of the first turn 3061c of the opening 3061 is smaller than the width "e" of the upper surface 3401c of the cover hook 3401, so that the cover hook 3401 does not easily pass through the opening 3061 even when the opening 3061 and the cover hook 3401 face each other. .

Therefore, for example, when the toner container 32 is attached to and separated from the toner filling device 60, even the stress (restoring force) for compressing the container door spring 336 and the shutter spring 613 passing through the compression nozzle The induced stress is applied to the toner container 32, and the container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 are not separated from each other. Therefore, operability when the toner container 32 is attached and separated can be improved.

Ninth example

48A to 48C illustrate the cover hook and the opening according to the ninth example. Fig. 48A is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the structure of the opening 3061 provided on the container main body 33 and the cover hook 3402 as a projection and provided on the container front end cover 34. Fig. 48B is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the opening 3061. Fig. 48C is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the cover hook 3402.

In the ninth example, the shape of the upstream portion of the cover hook 3402 in the attachment rotation direction R is different from that of the eighth example.

The inclined portion 3402a of the protrusion is an inclined surface parallel to the opening inclined portion 3061a. The side surface 3402d of the cover hook 3402 is provided to be recessed in the attachment rotational direction R instead of being parallel to the opening inclined portion 3061a. The recess includes a first surface 4402a extending from the side surface 3402d and parallel to the end surface 306a, and a second surface 4402b connecting the first surface 4402a with the bottom surface 3402b of the cover hook 3402 as the second surface of the protrusion.

In the cover hook 3402, the width of the bottom surface 3402b of the cover hook 3402 in the attachment rotational direction R is indicated by "c", and the width of the upper surface 3402c of the cover hook 3402 as the first surface of the protrusion in the attachment rotational direction R is used. "e" indicates that the thickness between the bottom surface 3402b and the upper surface 3402c of the cover hook 3402 in the attachment/separation direction is represented by "d", which is the thickness of the cover hook 3402. In the cover hook 3402, the width "e" of the upper surface 3402c of the cover hook 3402 is larger than the width "c" of the bottom surface 3402b of the cover hook 3402. The inclined portion 3402a of the protrusion is provided as an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the upper surface 3402c of the cover hook 3402 to the lower surface 3402b of the cover hook 3402 in the separation direction Q1.

In the ninth example, it is satisfied (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 3402) (relationship of the interval "t" of the opening 3061), (the width "a" of the first 埠 3061c of the opening 3061) < relationship (the width "e" of the upper surface 3402c of the cover hook 3402), and (the cover hook 3402) The width "c" of the bottom surface 3402b is < (the width "b" of the second turn 3061d of the opening 3061).

The entry operation of the cover hook 3402 disposed at the opening 3061 as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 49A to 49H. As shown in Fig. 49A, when the container front end cover 34 is rotated in the attachment rotational direction R, the cover hook 3402 is from the end face of Fig. 49A. Move the right side of 306a to the left. As shown in FIGS. 49B and 49C, when the cover hook 3402 is positioned above the second turn 3061d of the opening 3061, it is satisfied (the width "c" of the bottom surface 3402b of the cover hook 3402) < (the second turn of the opening 3061) The relationship of the width "b" of 3061d, the cover hook 3402 falls, is elastically deformed, and then recovers. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 49D, the end portion S54 defined by the bottom surface 3402b of the cover hook and the second surface 4402b is in contact with the opposite surface 3061b.

When the end portion S54 is in contact with the opposite surface 3061b, the cover hook 3402 is rotated counterclockwise by using the contact point as shown in Fig. 49E. Then, the end portion S52 defined by the inclined portion 3402a and the upper surface 3402c of the cover hook 3402 passes through the end portion S3 on the insertion side defined by the opening inclined portion 3061a and the end surface 306a on the downstream side of the attachment rotational direction R. When the cover hook 3402 is further rotated in the counterclockwise direction, the end portion S56 defined by the side surface 3402d of the cover hook and the first surface 4402a is in contact with the end S1 of the second turn 3061d of the opening 3061 as shown in Fig. 49E. Then, the cover hook 3402 is rotated counterclockwise by using the contact portion as a pivot. At this time, because it is satisfied (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 3402) (The relationship of the interval "t" of the opening 3061), the end portion S56 of the cover hook 3402 is guided by the opposite surface 3061b, and passes through the opening 3061 as shown in Figs. 49F and 49G. When the end portion S56 of the cover hook 3402 passes through the end portion S5 of the first opening 3061c of the opening 3061 on the upstream side of the attachment rotation direction R, the upper surface 3402c and the end surface 306b of the cover hook 3402 face each other, as in the 49H The figure shows. At this time, if the length of the interval SP1 between the end surface 306b and the element of the container main body 33 on the downstream side in the separation direction Q1 is set so that the cover hook 3402 can be sufficiently rotated and the end portion S55 can pass the first 埠 3061c, The rotational displacement of the cover hook 3402 in the opening 3061 is smoothly performed, which is preferable.

That is, the opening 3061 is configured to pass the cover hook 3402 through the opening 3061 when the inclined portion 3402a of the protrusion comes into contact with the opening inclined portion 3061a.

When the cover hook 3402 passes through the opening 3061 provided in an inclined manner on the cover hook 306 as described above, an engaged state is obtained in which the upper surface 3402c of the cover hook 3402 and the end surface 306b of the cover hook 3061 face each other while maintaining each other Hooked state. Therefore, the attachment state between the container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 can be ensured, and assembly and attachment are simplified.

Further, the width "a" of the first turn 3061c of the opening 3061 is smaller than the width "e" of the upper surface 3402c of the cover hook 3402, so that the cover hook 3402 does not easily pass through the opening 3061 even when the opening 3061 and the cover hook 3402 face each other. . Therefore, for example, when the toner container 32 is attached to and separated from the toner filling device 60, even if it is used to compress the stress (recovery force) of the container door spring 336 or by compressing the nozzle door spring 613 The induced stress is applied to the toner container 32, and the container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 are not separated from each other. Therefore, operability when the toner container 32 is attached and separated can be improved.

Tenth example

Fig. 50A to Fig. 50C illustrate the cover hook and the opening according to the tenth example. Fig. 50A is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the structure of the opening 3061 provided on the container main body 33 and the cover hook 3403 which is provided as a projection and provided on the container front end cover 34. Fig. 50B is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the opening 3061. Fig. 50C is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the cover hook 3403.

In the tenth example, the shape of the depressed portion of the cover hook 3403 is different from that of the ninth example. Other structures are the same as those of the ninth example, and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The recess includes a first surface 4403a extending from the side surface 3403d and parallel to the end surface 306a, a second surface 4403b continuing to the bottom surface 3403b, and a third surface 4403c connecting the first surface 4403a and the second surface 4403b. The third surface 4403c has a curved shape.

FIGS. 51A through 51H illustrate the entry operation of the cover hook 3403 at the opening 3061. The entry operation shown in Figs. 51A to 51H is the same as the entry operation shown in Figs. 49A to 49H. Therefore, the description thereof will be omitted.

Eleventh example

52A to 52C illustrate the cover hook and the opening according to the eleventh example. Fig. 52A is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the structure of the opening 3062 provided on the container main body 33 and the cover hook 3404 which is provided as a projection and provided on the container front end cover 34. Fig. 52B is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the opening 3062. Fig. 52C is an enlarged view for explaining the structure of the cover hook 3404. The shape of the opening 3062 is the same as that of the fifth example.

In the eleventh example, the cover hook 3404 includes a protruding inclined portion 3404a which is inclined in the attachment rotational direction R on the end face which is the end on the downstream side of the attachment rotational direction R. The inclined portion 3404a of the protrusion is an inclined surface having a flat top surface. The first surface 4404a is provided to be coupled to one end of the inclined portion 3404a. The first surface 4404a includes an upright surface that stands up in a direction perpendicular to the attachment rotational direction R. The bottom surface 3404b of the cover hook 3404 as the second surface of the protrusion faces the end surface 306a. The surface continuing from the raised inclined portion 3404a and located opposite the bottom surface 3404b of the cover hook 3404 is referred to as the upper surface 3404c of the cover hook 3404. The upper surface 3404c serves as a first surface of the protrusion. An inclined surface opposed to the inclined portion 3404a of the protrusion is used as the side surface 3404d of the cover hook 3404. A second surface 4404b parallel to the first surface 4404a is provided between the side surface 3404d and the upper surface 3404c of the cover hook 3404.

In the cover hook 3404, the width of the bottom surface 3404b of the cover hook 3404 in the attachment rotation direction R is indicated by "c", and the width of the upper surface 3404c of the cover hook 3404 is indicated by "e" in the attachment rotation direction R, The thickness between the bottom surface 3404b and the upper surface 3404c of the cover hook 3404 in the pick-and-detach direction is indicated by "d", which is the thickness of the cover hook 3404. In the cover hook 3404, the width "e" of the upper surface 3404c of the cover hook 3404 is the same as the width "c" of the bottom surface 3404b of the cover hook 3404.

In the eleventh example, it is satisfied (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 3404) (relationship of the interval "t" of the opening 3062), (the width "a" of the first 埠 3062c of the opening 3062), < (the width "e" of the upper surface 3404c of the cover hook 3404), and (the cover hook 3403) The relationship of the width "c" of the bottom surface 3403b < (the width "b" of the second turn 3062d of the opening 3062).

The entry operation of the cover hook 3404 disposed at the opening 3062 as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. 53A to 53G. As shown in Fig. 53A, when the container front end cover 34 is rotated in the attachment rotational direction R, the cover hook 3404 is moved from the right side of the end surface 306a in Fig. 53A to the left side. As shown in Fig. 53B, when the cover hook 3404 is positioned above the second turn 3062d of the opening 3062, it is satisfied (the width "c" of the bottom face 3404b of the cover hook 3404) < (the width of the second turn 3062d of the opening 3062" b"), the cover hook 3404 falls in the second jaw 3062d of the opening 3062, and is simultaneously bombed Sexual deformation and then recovery. This drop continues until the inclined portion 3404a of the protrusion comes into contact with the opening inclined portion 3062a as shown in Fig. 53C.

When the inclined portion 3404a of the protrusion comes into contact with the opening inclined portion 3062a, the cover hook 3404 passes through the end portion S74 of the bottom surface 3404b of the cover hook 3404 on the upstream side of the attachment rotational direction R as a pivot on the opposite surface 3062b. Rotate counterclockwise in the formula. Subsequently, as shown in Fig. 53D, the end portion S72 defined by the inclined portion 3404a and the upper surface 3404c of the cover hook 3404 passes through the end portion S13 of the second turn 3062d of the opening 3062 on the downstream side of the attachment rotational direction R. At this time, because it is satisfied (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 3404) (The relationship of the interval "t" of the opening 3062), the end portion S72 of the cover hook 3404 is in contact with the opening inclined portion 3062a, and the cover hook 3404 is passed through the opening 3062 as shown in Fig. 53E. At this time, the cover hook 3404 is rotated in the clockwise direction by using the contact portion between the opening inclined portion 3062a and the end portion S72. As shown in Fig. 53F, the end portion S74 of the bottom surface 3404b of the cover hook passes through the end portion S15 of the first weir 3062c on the upstream side of the attachment rotational direction R. Therefore, the side surface 3404d of the cover hook 3404 that rotates clockwise passes through the first weir 3062c, and the upper surface 3404c and the end surface 306b of the cap hook 3404 face each other as shown in Fig. 53G. At this time, if the length of the interval SP1 between the end surface 306b and the element of the container body 33 on the downstream side of the separation direction Q1 is set so that the cover hook 3404 can be sufficiently rotated, and the end portion S74 can pass the first 埠 3062c The rotational displacement of the cover hook 3404 in the opening 3062 is smoothly performed, which is preferable.

That is, the opening 3062 is configured such that the inclined portion 3404a of the protrusion comes into contact with the opening inclined portion 3062a, and the cover hook 3404 passes through the opening 3062.

When the cover hook 3404 passes through the opening 3062 provided in an inclined manner on the cover hook 306 as described above, an engaged state is obtained in which the upper surface 3404c of the cover hook 3404 and the end surface 306b of the cover hook 3062 face each other while maintaining each other Hooked state. Therefore, the attachment state between the container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 can be ensured, and assembly and attachment are simplified.

Further, the width "a" of the first weft 3062c of the opening 3062 is smaller than the width "e" of the upper surface 3404c of the cover hook 3404, so that the cover hook 3404 does not easily pass through the opening 3062 even when the opening 3062 and the cover hook 3404 face each other. . So, for example, When the toner container 32 is attached to and detached from the toner filling device 60, even the stress (restoring force) for compressing the container door spring 336 and the stress caused by the compression nozzle door spring 613 are Applied to the toner container 32, the container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 are not separated from each other. Therefore, operability when the toner container 32 is attached and separated can be improved.

Further, in the eleventh example, since the relationship (the width "c" of the bottom surface 3404b of the cover hook 3404) < (the width "b" of the second turn 3062d of the opening 3062) is satisfied, the cover hook 3404 is passed with respect to the rotational direction. The angle of the opening 3062 is smaller than the angle of the fourth example. Therefore, the interval SP1 can be lowered as compared with the fourth example.

In the fourth to eleventh examples, the attachment rotation direction R of the container front end cover 34 with respect to the container main body 33 and the rotation of the container main body 33 with respect to the container front end cover 34 in the toner container 32 attached to the image forming apparatus The directions A are opposite each other. Therefore, even when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner filling device 60 and the container main body 33 is rotated, if each of the cover hooks has passed through each opening in the separation direction Q1 and is kept in the engaged state, each of the cover hooks is prevented. The cover hook 306 is detached. For example, referring to Fig. 38G, if the container body 33 is rotated relative to the container front end cover 34 in the rotational direction A, the cover hook 306 is moved from the left side to the right side in the drawing. In this case, even if the bottom end of the opening inclined portion 3061a comes into contact with the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion, the cover hook plug 306 moves upward with the help of the inclined surface of the opening inclined portion 3061a. Therefore, the rotation of the container body 33 with respect to the container front end cover 34 is not limited.

Further, when the container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 are rotated in a direction opposite to the fitting direction, if the container main body 33 is rotated in the rotational direction while being pressed toward the attachment direction Q, it can be easily guided from the end surface 306b. Introduce each cover hook to the inside of each opening. Therefore, the container body 33 and the container front end cover 34 can be easily separated when they are separated from each other. Therefore, the recyclability can be improved.

In the fourth to eleventh examples, the end faces 306a of the cover hook 306 are assumed to be the same plane except for the openings. However, a portion of the end surface 306a on the upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the opening inclined portion may be provided to have a lower height than an end of the opening side upper opening inclined portion in the separating direction. In other words, when the cover hook 306 is viewed using the second turn of the upwardly facing opening, relative to the direction of rotation of the opening A portion of the cover hook 306 on the swim side is lower in height than the end of the open upper inclined portion on the second side. In FIGS. 54A to 54C, in the structure of the fourth example, the end surface 306a1 located on the upstream side with respect to the attachment rotational direction R of the opening 3061 is provided such that its height in the separation direction Q1 is lower than The height of the side of the opening inclined portion 3061a.

As described above, if the end surface 306a1 located on the upstream side with respect to the attachment rotational direction R of the opening 3061 is provided such that its height in the separation direction Q1 is lower than the height of the opening inclined portion 3061a side, when the container front end cover 34 is provided When rotated, the inclined portion 340a of the cover hook 340 and the opening inclined portion 3061a face each other. Therefore, when the container main body 33 and the container front end cover 34 are assembled, it is not necessary to press the cover hook 340 in the separation direction Q1, and operability can be improved.

The cover hooks 340, 3401 to 3404 and the openings 3061 to 3064 described in the above examples can be used in various combinations. For example, the combination of the opening 3064 shown in Fig. 43B and the cover hook 3404 shown in Fig. 52C can be used.

In the above example, the container body 33 and the container gear 301 are integrally formed. However, the container body 33 and the container gear 301 may be independently formed according to the resin material for the container body 33. In this case, as shown in Figs. 12A to 12C, a cover hook 306 is provided on the container gear 301, and any one of the above openings is provided on the cover hook 306 on the container gear 301, and the container gear The 301 is attached to the container body 33 in an integrally formed manner.

In the above example, the restrictor and the opening are provided on the container body 33, and the cover hook is provided on the container front end cover 34. However, the arrangement opposite to the above example can be used by providing a flow restrictor and opening on the container front end cover 34 and providing a cover hook on the container main body 33. In Fig. 55, a single opening 3061 is provided on the front surface 34c in the attachment direction to face the hole 34d of the container front end cover 34, and the cover hook 306 is provided in the container main body 33 in the rotational direction (circumferential direction). On the outer surface 33b of the container opening 33a, a single cover hook 340 is provided on the cover hook 306.

In the above example, the powder container of the image forming apparatus has been explained to include the protrusion of the present embodiment, the current limit extending in the rotational direction and being hooked on the protrusion. An application example of the structure of the device, and the opening provided on the flow restrictor, wherein the protrusion can pass through the opening in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation.

However, the present invention is not limited to the image forming apparatus and the powder container used in the image forming apparatus. For example, in the support device 2000 as shown in Fig. 56A, the through hole 1034 is provided on the plate-like frame 1001 as a first member, and the restrictor 1306 is provided on the bearing 1035 as a second member, which is detachably The through hole 1034 of the frame 1001 is attached and rotatably supports the shaft 1033 on which the gear 1301 is mounted. The flow restrictor 1306 is also used as a mounting flange for the bearing 1305. A hook 1340 as a protrusion is provided on the restrictor 1306, and an opening 1061 is provided on the through hole 1034 through which the hook 1340 can pass in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation.

With this configuration, as shown in Fig. 56B, the restrictor 1306 of the bearing 1035 is inserted into the through hole 1034 from the surface 1001a on one side of the frame 1001, and then rotated. Thus, the hook 1340 passes from the surface 1001a on the other side of the frame 1001 through the opening 1061 to the surface 1001b, and the hook 1340 is engaged and attached to the other surface 1001b of the frame 1001 to maintain the hooked state. Therefore, the attachment state of the frame 1001 and the bearing 1035 can be ensured.

When the preferred embodiment of the invention is described as described above, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment. Various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The advantageous effects described in this embodiment are the best effects that can be obtained by the present invention, but are not limited to the embodiments described herein.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the frequency at which the powder is compressed and agglomerated can be reduced, so that the powder can be prevented from moving the opening/closing member to the closed position, wherein the opening/closing member opens and closes the opening of the nozzle receiver of the powder container.

While the present invention has been described with respect to the specific embodiments, the embodiments of the invention are not intended to be It should fall into the basic teachings set forth here.

The invention further includes the following aspects.

Aspect A

A nozzle inserting member for use in a powder container for use in an image forming apparatus, the nozzle inserting member comprising: a nozzle insertion opening, a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container in the image forming apparatus Inserted into and removed from the opening; an opening/closing member for moving to an open position to open the nozzle insertion opening by pressing the inserted delivery nozzle, and moving to a closed position to remove the opening a nozzle is provided to close the nozzle insertion opening; a support for supporting the opening/closing member to guide the opening/closing member to move to the open position and the closed position; and a biasing member located at the support Up to bias the opening/closing member to the closed position, wherein the opening/closing member includes: a sealing portion for sealing the nozzle insertion opening; the holder comprising: an end surface portion, and the opening/closing member The moving direction is vertical, and the projection area of the end face in the moving direction of the opening/closing member is smaller than the opening/closing The moving direction of the projection area of the member seal portion.

Aspect B

A nozzle receiver for use in a powder container for use in an image forming apparatus, the nozzle receiver comprising: a nozzle receiving opening, a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container in the image forming apparatus Inserting into the nozzle receiving opening; an opening/closing member for opening and closing the nozzle receiving opening; and a support for supporting the opening/closing member; wherein the opening/closing member comprises: a sealing portion To seal the nozzle receiving opening; the holder includes: an end face perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing member; and a direction of the end face is smaller than a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing member The area of the seal.

Aspect C

A nozzle receiver located in a powder volume used in an image forming apparatus The nozzle receiver includes: a nozzle receiving opening, wherein a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container in the image forming apparatus is inserted into the nozzle receiving opening; and an opening/closing member is used for Opening and closing the nozzle receiving opening; and a support for supporting the opening/closing member; wherein the opening/closing member comprises: a sealing portion for sealing the nozzle receiving opening; the support comprises: one end face a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing member; and the sealing portion includes: a region overlapping the end face in the moving direction and another region not overlapping the end face in the moving direction.

Aspect D

A powder container attached to an image forming apparatus, the powder container comprising: a powder reservoir for accommodating powder; a container for attaching to the powder reservoir; and a protrusion located at the powder reservoir And one of the receptacles; and a flow restrictor located on the other of the powder reservoir and the receptacle for restricting movement of the protrusion in a longitudinal direction of the powder reservoir; wherein The powder reservoir is rotated relative to the container, the flow restrictor comprising: an opening through which the protrusion passes when the container is attached to the powder reservoir; and satisfies d t and a < e relationship, wherein t is an interval of an opening between the opening inclined portion and an opposite surface facing the opening inclined portion, and a is a length of the first turn of the opening in the rotating direction, the first turn a downstream side of the direction in which the protrusion passes through the opening when the container is attached to the powder reservoir; d is in an attachment/separation direction in which the powder container is attached to the powder filling device and separate from the powder filling device a thickness of the protrusion; and e is a length of the first surface of the protrusion in the direction of rotation, the first surface being a surface facing the first file after the protrusion passes through the opening.

Aspect E

According to the powder container of the aspect D, wherein the relationship of c < b is satisfied, wherein b is the length of the second turn of the opening in the direction of rotation, the second turn being located when the container is attached to the powder reservoir The protrusion passes through the upstream side of the direction of the opening; and c is the length of the second surface of the protrusion in the direction of rotation, the second surface being the surface opposite the first surface of the protrusion.

Aspect F

According to the powder container of the aspect D, wherein the opening comprises: a guiding portion on the second side, the guiding portion is recessed or separated in a separating direction in which the powder container is separated from the powder filling device Tilting in the direction; and satisfying the relationship of c<b, where b is the length of the second turn including the opening of the guide in the direction of rotation, and c is the length of the second surface of the protrusion in the direction of rotation, The second surface is a surface opposite the first surface of the protrusion.

Aspect G

A supporting device comprising: a first member comprising a through hole; a second member detachably attached to the through hole; a protrusion located on one of the first member and the second member; And a restrictor located on the other of the first component and the second component, and the protrusion is hooked on the restrictor; wherein the first component and the second component are rotated relative to each other, The flow restrictor extends in the direction of rotation and includes: an opening through which the protrusion passes in a direction perpendicular to the direction of rotation.

Aspect A1

A nozzle receiver for using a powder capacity in an image forming apparatus The nozzle receiver includes: a nozzle receiving opening, wherein a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container in the image forming apparatus is inserted into the nozzle receiving opening; a shutter for opening and And/or closing the nozzle receiving opening; and a support for supporting the blocking door; wherein the blocking door comprises: a sealing portion for sealing the nozzle receiving opening, the sealing portion having a moving direction with the blocking door The vertical outer surface, the support includes: an end face that is perpendicular to the moving direction of the shutter, and an end face of the support has an area smaller than an outer surface of the shutter.

Aspect A2

According to the nozzle receiver of the aspect A1, further comprising: a biasing member located on the support to bias the shutter to the closed position, wherein the shutter is moved to the open position to be inserted by pressing The delivery nozzle opens the nozzle receiving opening.

Aspect A3

According to the nozzle receiver of the aspect A1, wherein the shutter includes: an elongated portion extending toward an end surface portion of the support; and the end surface portion includes: a through hole, wherein the elongated portion is inserted into the through hole; A tapered surface is located in the through hole.

Aspect A4

According to the nozzle receiver of the aspect A2, wherein the holder comprises: a protrusion protruding from the end face.

Aspect A5

According to the nozzle receiver in the aspect A4, the protrusion protrudes from the end face in the opening direction of the shutter.

Aspect A6

According to the nozzle insertion member in the aspect A4, the shutter includes: a hook on the end face; and the protrusion protrudes more than the hook in the opening direction of the door.

Aspect A7

A nozzle receiver according to any one of the aspects A1 to A6, wherein 1<L1/L2 is satisfied a relationship of 2, wherein L1 is a distance between the end face and a rear end face of the sealing portion facing the end face when the shutter is in the closed position to close the nozzle receiving opening, and L2 is when the blocking door is in the open position to open The nozzle receives the distance between the end face portion and the rear end face of the sealing portion when the opening is received.

Aspect A8

A powder container comprising the nozzle receiver according to any one of the aspects A1 to A7.

Aspect A9

According to the powder container of the aspect A8, further comprising: a portion accommodating the powder, wherein the powder comprises carbon powder.

Aspect B1

A nozzle receiver for use in a powder container for use in an image forming apparatus, the nozzle receiver comprising: a nozzle receiving opening, a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container in the image forming apparatus Inserting into the nozzle receiving opening; an opening/closing member for opening and closing the nozzle receiving opening; and a support for supporting the opening/closing member; wherein the opening/closing member comprises: a sealing portion To seal the nozzle receiving opening; the holder includes: an end face perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing member; and a projection area of the end face in the moving direction of the opening/closing member is smaller than the opening/closing member The projected area of the seal in the direction of movement.

Aspect B2

According to the nozzle receiver of the aspect B1, further comprising: a biasing member on the support to bias the opening/closing member to the closed position; wherein the opening/closing member is moved to the open position by Press the inserted spray The mouth opens the nozzle receiving opening.

Aspect B3

A nozzle receiver according to aspect B1 or B2, wherein the opening/closing member includes: an elongated portion extending toward an end surface portion of the support; and the end surface portion including: a through hole, wherein the elongated portion is Inserted in the through hole; and a tapered surface in the through hole.

Aspect B4

A nozzle receiver according to any one of the aspects B1 to B3, wherein the holder comprises: a protrusion protruding from the end face.

Aspect B5

A nozzle receiver according to the aspect of the invention, wherein the protrusion protrudes from the end face in an opening direction of the opening/closing member.

Aspect B6

A nozzle receiver according to aspect B4 or B5, wherein the opening/closing member comprises: a hook on the end face; and in the opening direction of the opening/closing member, the protrusion protrudes more than the hook.

Aspect B7

A nozzle receiver according to any one of aspects B1 to B6, wherein 1<L1/L2 is satisfied a relationship of 2, wherein L1 is a distance between an end face and a rear end face of the seal facing end face when the open/close member is in the closed position to close the nozzle receiving opening, L2 is when the open/close member is located The open position is to open the distance between the end face and the rear end face of the seal when the nozzle receives the opening.

Aspect B8

A powder container comprising the nozzle receiver according to any one of the aspects B1 to B7.

Aspect B9

The powder container according to aspect B8, further comprising: a portion accommodating the powder; wherein the powder comprises carbon powder.

Aspect B10

A powder container according to aspect B9, wherein the powder comprises carrier particles.

Aspect B11

An image forming apparatus comprising the powder container according to any one of the aspects B8 to B10.

Aspect B12

A powder container attached to an image forming apparatus, the powder container comprising: a powder reservoir for accommodating the powder; a container for attaching to the powder reservoir; a protrusion located in the powder reservoir and One of the receptacles; and a restrictor located on the other of the powder reservoir and the receptacle and for restricting movement of the protrusion in the longitudinal direction of the powder reservoir; wherein the powder The reservoir rotates relative to the receptacle; and the flow restrictor includes an opening through which the projection passes when the receptacle is attached to the powder reservoir.

Aspect B13

The powder container according to aspect B12, wherein the protrusion comprises: an inclined portion inclined in a rotating direction; the opening comprising: an opening inclined portion inclined in the same direction as the inclined portion of the protrusion; When the inclined portion of the protrusion comes into contact with the inclined portion of the opening, the protrusion passes through the opening.

Aspect B14

The powder container according to aspect B12 or B13, wherein the powder reservoir comprises: a detachable container side gear, wherein a driving force is transmitted to the gear; and the protrusion is located on the gear.

Aspect B15

The powder container according to aspect B14, wherein the powder reservoir comprises a powder; and the powder comprises carbon powder.

Aspect B16

A powder container according to aspect B15, wherein the powder comprises carrier particles.

Aspect B17

An image forming apparatus comprising the powder container according to any one of the aspects B12 to B16.

330‧‧‧Nozzle Receiver (Nozzle Insertion Parts)

331‧‧‧ receiving opening (nozzle insertion opening)

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

332h‧‧‧End face of the front column (end face of the container door)

333‧‧‧Container seal (sealing)

334‧‧‧Container door support (support)

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)

335c‧‧‧end face of the support

335f‧‧‧Steps

336‧‧‧Container door spring (biasing part)

337‧‧‧Nozzle Receiver Attachment

337a‧‧‧Nozzle door positioning rib

Claims (17)

A nozzle receiver for use in a powder container for use in an image forming apparatus, the nozzle receiver comprising: a nozzle receiving opening, a conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder container in the image forming apparatus Inserting into the nozzle receiving opening; an opening/closing member for opening and closing the nozzle receiving opening; and a support for supporting the opening/closing member; wherein the opening/closing member comprises: a sealing portion And sealing the nozzle receiving opening; the support comprises: an end face perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing member; and a projection area of the end face in the moving direction of the opening/closing member is smaller than the opening/ A projection area of the sealing portion in the moving direction of the closing member. The nozzle receiver of claim 1, further comprising: a biasing member located on the support to bias the opening/closing member to the closed position; wherein the opening/closing The component is moved to the open position to open the nozzle receiving opening by pressing the insertion of the delivery nozzle. The nozzle receiver according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening/closing member comprises: an elongated portion extending toward the end surface portion of the support; and the end surface portion includes: a through hole, The elongated portion is inserted into the through hole and a tapered surface in the through hole. The nozzle receiver of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises: a protrusion that protrudes from the end surface portion. A nozzle receiver according to the invention of claim 4, wherein the protrusion protrudes from the end surface in an opening direction of the opening/closing member. The nozzle receiver of claim 4, wherein the opening/closing member comprises: a hook hooked on the end face; and the protrusion protrudes beyond the opening/closing The hook in the opening direction of the component. According to the nozzle receiver of claim 1, wherein 1<L1/L2 is satisfied a relationship of 2, wherein L1 is a distance between the end face of the sealing portion and a rear end surface facing the end face when the opening/closing member is in the closed position to close the nozzle receiving opening, and L2 is when The distance between the end face and the rear end face of the sealing portion when the opening/closing member is in the open position to open the nozzle receiving opening. A powder container comprising the nozzle receiver according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The powder container according to claim 8, further comprising: a portion accommodating the powder, wherein the powder comprises carbon powder. The powder container according to claim 9, wherein the powder comprises carrier particles. An image forming apparatus comprising the powder container according to any one of claims 8 to 10. a powder container attached to an image forming apparatus, the powder container package Included: a powder reservoir for containing the powder; a container attached to the powder reservoir; a protrusion on one of the powder reservoir and the container; and a flow restrictor On the other of the powder reservoir and the container, and for limiting movement of the protrusion in the longitudinal direction of the powder reservoir, wherein the powder reservoir is rotated relative to the container, and the current limit The device includes an opening through which the protrusion passes when the container is attached to the powder reservoir. The powder container according to claim 12, wherein the protrusion comprises: an inclined portion that is inclined in a rotation direction; the opening includes: an opening inclined portion, the opening inclined portion being in contact with the protrusion The inclined portion is inclined in the same direction; and when the inclined portion of the protrusion comes into contact with the inclined portion of the opening, the protrusion passes through the opening. The powder container according to claim 12, wherein the powder reservoir comprises: a detachable container side gear, wherein a driving force is transmitted to the gear; and the protrusion is located on the gear . The powder container of claim 14, wherein the powder reservoir comprises a powder; and the powder comprises carbon powder. The powder container of claim 15, wherein the powder comprises carrier particles. An image forming apparatus comprising the powder container according to any one of claims 12 to 16.