WO2006132259A1 - トナー容器及び画像形成装置 - Google Patents
トナー容器及び画像形成装置 Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2006132259A1 WO2006132259A1 PCT/JP2006/311391 JP2006311391W WO2006132259A1 WO 2006132259 A1 WO2006132259 A1 WO 2006132259A1 JP 2006311391 W JP2006311391 W JP 2006311391W WO 2006132259 A1 WO2006132259 A1 WO 2006132259A1
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- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- toner
- toner container
- container
- held
- discharge port
- Prior art date
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
- G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
- G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
- G03G15/0877—Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit
- G03G15/0881—Sealing of developer cartridges
- G03G15/0886—Sealing of developer cartridges by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
- G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
- G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
- G03G15/0848—Arrangements for testing or measuring developer properties or quality, e.g. charge, size, flowability
- G03G15/0849—Detection or control means for the developer concentration
- G03G15/0855—Detection or control means for the developer concentration the concentration being measured by optical means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
- G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
- G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
- G03G15/0865—Arrangements for supplying new developer
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
- G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
- G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
- G03G15/0865—Arrangements for supplying new developer
- G03G15/0867—Arrangements for supplying new developer cylindrical developer cartridges, e.g. toner bottles for the developer replenishing opening
- G03G15/087—Developer cartridges having a longitudinal rotational axis, around which at least one part is rotated when mounting or using the cartridge
- G03G15/0872—Developer cartridges having a longitudinal rotational axis, around which at least one part is rotated when mounting or using the cartridge the developer cartridges being generally horizontally mounted parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
- G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
- G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
- G03G15/0877—Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
- G03G2215/06—Developing structures, details
- G03G2215/066—Toner cartridge or other attachable and detachable container for supplying developer material to replace the used material
- G03G2215/0663—Toner cartridge or other attachable and detachable container for supplying developer material to replace the used material having a longitudinal rotational axis, around which at least one part is rotated when mounting or using the cartridge
- G03G2215/0665—Generally horizontally mounting of said toner cartridge parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis
- G03G2215/0668—Toner discharging opening at one axial end
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G2215/00—Apparatus for electrophotographic processes
- G03G2215/06—Developing structures, details
- G03G2215/066—Toner cartridge or other attachable and detachable container for supplying developer material to replace the used material
- G03G2215/0663—Toner cartridge or other attachable and detachable container for supplying developer material to replace the used material having a longitudinal rotational axis, around which at least one part is rotated when mounting or using the cartridge
- G03G2215/0665—Generally horizontally mounting of said toner cartridge parallel to its longitudinal rotational axis
- G03G2215/067—Toner discharging opening covered by arcuate shutter
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10S222/00—Dispensing
- Y10S222/01—Xerography
Definitions
- Toner container and image forming apparatus Toner container and image forming apparatus
- the present invention relates to a toner container that is detachably installed in an image forming apparatus main body in order to replenish toner consumed in an image forming process, and an image forming apparatus including the toner container. is there.
- a toner container (toner bottle, agent storage container) that is replaceably installed in a toner container storage part (bottle container, mounting part) of the image forming apparatus main body is It is mainly composed of a container body and held parts (cap part, cap). A spiral protrusion is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the container body, and the toner contained in the container body is conveyed toward the opening when the container body is driven to rotate.
- the held portion communicates with the opening of the container body and is held non-rotatably in the toner container storage portion without being interlocked with the rotational drive of the container body.
- the toner discharged from the opening of the container main body is discharged from a toner discharge port provided in the held portion. Thereafter, the toner discharged from the held toner discharge roller is supplied to the developing device.
- the toner container configured as described above is not provided with a held portion, and is a toner container that supplies toner directly from the opening of the container body toward the developing device (for example, Patent Document 5, Patent Compared to Ref. 6.), the toner contamination when replacing the toner container can be reduced.
- Patent Document 5 Patent Compared to Ref. 6.
- the toner contamination when replacing the toner container can be reduced.
- the toner discharge port of the held part is opened and closed in conjunction with a part of the toner container attachment / detachment operation (rotation operation), the problem that the user touches the toner discharge port and becomes contaminated with toner is suppressed.
- the direction of the toner discharge port in the toner container is arranged downward in the vertical direction, the amount of toner in the vicinity of the toner discharge port at the end of the toner can be reduced due to the falling of the toner by its own weight. Toner contamination at the exit is reduced.
- Patent Document 1 when a toner container is mounted on the toner container housing portion of the apparatus main body, first, the main body cover (stack portion) is opened upward to expose the toner container housing portion. . Thereafter, the toner container is placed on the toner container housing portion with an upward force. Thereafter, the handle integrally installed on the held portion is gripped, and the held portion is rotated (rotated). As a result, the position of the toner container in the toner container housing portion is finally determined. Further, the toner discharge port provided in the held portion moves downward as the held portion rotates, and the shirter opens the toner discharge port downward so as to resist the urging force of the spring.
- Patent Document 4 a toner storage container composed of a bag container and a base member is used for the purpose of reducing the occurrence of toner contamination (toner scattering) due to attachment / detachment operation.
- a technique is disclosed in which the toner discharge port of the base member is opened and closed in conjunction with a part of the operation of attaching and detaching the storage container (rotating operation of the opening and closing folder).
- the opening / closing holder (opening / closing folder) is rotated around the hinge to expose the upper part of the opening / closing holder. Then, set the toner container in the open / close holder. Thereafter, the opening / closing holder in which the toner container is set is rotated (rotated) around the hinge. As a result, the position of the toner container in the apparatus main body is finally determined. Further, as the opening / closing holder rotates, the plug member (shutter member) is pushed by the nozzle (toner transport tube) and sealed with packing (G seal) against the urging force of the spring. Open the toner outlet.
- Patent Document 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-287404
- Patent Document 2 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-5286
- Patent Document 3 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-310901
- Patent Document 4 Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-161371
- Patent Document 5 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-338758
- Patent Document 6 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-233248
- Patent Documents 1 to 3 and the like described above are contaminated with toner by the user touching the toner discharge port with less toner contamination in the toner discharge port than those in Patent Documents 5 and 6 and the like. Expected to be effective in preventing defects.
- the toner containers disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3 have some disadvantages in terms of operability and workability during attachment / detachment (replacement).
- the first disadvantage is that the attaching / detaching operation with respect to the toner container housing portion involves a plurality of operations. That is, the toner container attaching / detaching operation includes a plurality of operations such as an operation of opening and closing the main body cover, an operation of placing and removing the toner container on the toner container housing portion, and a rotating operation of rotating the held portion. Met.
- the second disadvantage is that it is difficult to be sure that the user has not made an erroneous operation until just before the mounting operation is completed. That is, when the operation of opening the main body cover and the operation of placing the toner container on the toner container housing portion are completed, the user cannot be sure that no erroneous operation has been performed. After that, the held part is rotated to determine the position of the held part, so that the user can feel the click feeling of the held part and operate it confidently. It will be.
- a third demerit is that a layout restriction is provided above the toner container housing portion. That is, an operation of opening and closing the main body cover in the vertical direction is required in order to place the toner container on the toner container housing portion with an upward force. Therefore, it is necessary to secure a space on the layout above the toner container housing for opening and closing the main body cover and placing and taking out the toner container. As a result, when a scanner (document reading unit) or the like is disposed above the toner container storage unit, the operability and workability in attaching and detaching the toner container are lowered.
- the toner storage container disclosed in Patent Document 4 or the like is used in order to open the toner discharge port sealed by the packing by the plug member being pushed by the nozzle in conjunction with the opening operation of the open / close holder.
- the effect of reducing the occurrence of dirt can be expected.
- the toner storage container disclosed in Patent Document 4 also has some disadvantages in terms of operability when attaching and detaching.
- the first demerit is that the toner capacity of the toner storage container cannot be increased and the replacement frequency of the toner storage container increases. That is, the toner container is long in the vertical direction. Since the toner is stored in the hand-held bag container, if the toner capacity is increased, the height of the toner storage container will increase. As a result, the height of the open / close holder also increases, which affects the layout in the height direction of the entire image forming apparatus. Therefore, the toner capacity of the toner storage container cannot be increased so much, and the replacement frequency is higher than that of the toner container disclosed in Patent Document 1 (the horizontal direction is the longitudinal direction).
- a second disadvantage is that it is difficult to be sure that the user has not made an erroneous operation.
- the plug member opens and closes the toner discharge port in conjunction with the opening / closing operation of the open / close holder, it is difficult for the user to feel the opening / closing feeling of the toner discharge port by releasing his / her hand from the toner storage container. .
- the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has operability during replacement.
- the invention according to claim 1 is a toner container that is detachably installed in a toner container housing portion of an image forming apparatus main body.
- a container main body for discharging the toner accommodated in the opening, and a toner discharge port for discharging the toner discharged from the opening, and the toner discharged from the opening is discharged to the toner.
- a toner container comprising an opening / closing member that opens and closes.
- the invention according to claim 2 is the toner container according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing member is provided in the toner container housing portion in conjunction with an attaching operation to the toner container housing portion.
- a plug member that is pushed by a nozzle to open the toner discharge port and that is biased by a biasing member in conjunction with the releasing operation of the toner container housing portion force to close the toner discharge port; It is characterized by that.
- the invention according to claim 3 is the toner container according to claim 2, wherein the urging member is installed in the toner container housing portion, and is interlocked with a mounting operation of the toner container. After being retracted to a position that does not hinder the mounting of the held portion, it protrudes to a position where it engages with the plug member, and the plug member is urged in conjunction with the detachment operation of the toner container. It includes a claw member that retreats to a position that does not hinder the detachment of the part.
- the invention according to claim 4 is the toner container according to claim 3, wherein the claw member engages with the plug member and the toner of the plug member together with the nozzle.
- the position in the container housing portion is determined, and the held portion further moves in the attaching / detaching direction to open and close the toner discharge port in a state where the position of the plug member is fixed.
- the invention according to claim 5 is the toner container according to claim 3, wherein the claw member is urged from the retracted position to the engaged position by a second urging member,
- the second urging member is formed such that a force with which the claw member urges the plug member is larger than a sliding resistance of the plug member.
- the invention according to claim 6 is the toner container according to claim 2, wherein the stopper member has a stroke when the toner discharge port is opened and closed that is movable by a human motion. Also, it is configured to be long.
- the invention according to claim 7 is the toner container according to claim 2, wherein the toner container is connected to a pump for sending or sending gas to the inside, and the toner discharge roller is discharged. It is connected via a nozzle to a transport pipe that transports toner together with gas.
- the invention according to claim 8 is the toner container according to claim 1, wherein the held portion slides on the toner container accommodating portion in conjunction with an attaching / detaching operation with respect to the toner container accommodating portion.
- a sliding portion is provided, and the opening / closing member is disposed at a position surrounded by the sliding portion.
- the invention according to claim 9 is the toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner container is attached and detached along a longitudinal direction of the container body.
- the invention according to claim 10 is the toner container according to claim 9, wherein the toner container is mounted in the toner container housing portion with the longitudinal direction of the container body as a horizontal direction.
- the invention according to claim 11 is the toner container according to claim 9, wherein the held portion is attached to the toner container housing portion so as to be in front of the container body.
- the invention according to claim 12 is the toner container according to claim 1, wherein the container body is configured to be rotatable, and the toner accommodated therein in conjunction with the rotation is opened to the opening. It is transported toward the part.
- the invention according to claim 13 is the toner container according to claim 12, wherein the container main body transmits a rotational driving force to the container main body on the peripheral surface of the container main body. It is characterized by having a gear.
- the invention according to claim 14 is the toner container according to claim 12, characterized in that the container body includes a spiral protrusion on an inner peripheral surface thereof.
- the invention according to claim 15 is the toner container according to claim 12, wherein the container main body includes a conveying member that conveys the toner accommodated in the toner container toward the opening.
- the invention according to claim 16 is the toner container according to claim 15, wherein the transport member is a coil or a screw configured to be rotatable.
- the invention according to claim 17 is the toner container according to claim 1, wherein the held portion communicates with the container main body through the opening.
- the invention according to claim 18 is the toner container according to claim 1, wherein toner is contained in the container body.
- the invention according to claim 19 is the toner container according to claim 18, wherein a carrier is further accommodated in the container body.
- the invention according to claim 20 is characterized in that the toner container according to claim 1 is detachably installed in the toner container housing portion of the image forming apparatus main body. It is.
- the present invention optimizes the configuration of the toner container installed in the toner container housing portion, and therefore has high operability and workability at the time of replacement.
- a container and an image forming apparatus can be provided.
- FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a printer as an image forming apparatus.
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a toner replenishment path of the image forming apparatus.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of the toner container housing portion.
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a toner container.
- FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the head side of the toner container.
- FIG. 7 is a view of the toner container in FIG. 6 as viewed from the M viewing direction.
- FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing an example of a stirring member.
- FIG. 8B is a diagram showing an example of the stirring member as seen from the direction of the M visual point in FIG. 6.
- FIG. 8C is a side view showing an example of a stirring member.
- FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the head side of the toner container.
- FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a toner container housing unit.
- FIG. 11 is a view showing a nozzle.
- FIG. 12 is a schematic view of a state in which the yellow toner container is mounted in the toner container housing portion as viewed in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a state in which the toner container is advanced in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a state in which the toner container is mounted in the toner container housing portion as viewed in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 15 is a schematic view of a toner container in a state of being mounted in a toner container housing portion as viewed from a holder side force.
- FIG. 16 is a schematic view of the toner container mounted in the toner container housing portion as seen from the holder side.
- FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing the head side of the toner container in Example 2.
- FIG. 18A is a schematic view of a state in which the yellow toner container is mounted in the toner container housing portion when viewed in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 18B is a view showing a state where the yellow toner container is mounted in the toner container housing portion. It is sectional drawing which looked at the holder vicinity of the holding
- FIG. 19A is a schematic view of the state in which the toner container is mounted in the toner container housing portion as seen in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 19B is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the holder as viewed from above when the toner container is mounted in the toner container housing portion.
- FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a toner container in Example 3.
- FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing an arm pair installed in a toner container housing portion in Embodiment 4.
- FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view showing an arm pair.
- FIG. 23 is a schematic view showing the positional relationship between the arm pair and the held portion when the yellow toner container is mounted in the toner container housing portion.
- FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing an upward force of the positional relationship between the arm pair and the held portion when the toner container is advanced.
- FIG. 25 is a schematic diagram showing an upward force of the positional relationship between the arm pair and the held portion when the toner container is mounted in the toner container housing portion.
- FIG. 26 is a schematic view showing a state of an arm pair when the toner container in Example 5 is mounted in the toner container housing portion.
- FIG. 27A is a schematic view of the state in which the yellow toner container is mounted in the toner container housing portion as viewed in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 27B is a schematic view of the holder vicinity of the held portion when the yellow toner container is attached to the toner container housing portion, as viewed from above.
- FIG. 28A is a schematic view of the state in which the toner container is advanced in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 28B is a view of the holder near the holder when the toner container is advanced as viewed from above.
- FIG. 29A is a schematic view of the state in which the toner container is mounted in the toner container housing portion as seen in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 29B shows the vicinity of the holder when the toner container is mounted in the toner container housing. It is the schematic seen from the top.
- FIG. 30A is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the toner container in Example 7 is mounted in the toner container housing portion.
- FIG. 30B is a schematic view showing a state in which the toner container in Example 7 is mounted in the toner container housing portion.
- FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing a toner container in Example 8.
- FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner container in Example 9.
- FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner container in Example 10.
- FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a plate-like member.
- FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram showing a toner replenishment path of the image forming apparatus.
- FIG. 36 is a perspective view showing a toner container.
- FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view showing the head side of the toner container.
- FIG. 38 is a view of the toner container in FIG. 37 as viewed from the M viewing direction.
- FIG. 39 is a schematic view of a state in which a yellow toner container is mounted in a toner container housing portion as viewed in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 40 is a schematic view in the longitudinal direction of the state where the toner container is advanced.
- FIG. 41 is a schematic view of the state in which the toner container is mounted in the toner container housing portion as viewed in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 42 is a graph showing the relationship between the movement position of the held portion and the load that the held portion receives against the arm during the toner container mounting operation.
- FIG. 43 is a perspective view showing a toner container detachably installed in a toner container housing portion in Embodiment 12.
- FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner container in Example 12.
- FIG. 45 is a perspective view showing a base plate installed in the toner container housing portion.
- FIG. 46 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the base plate on which the toner container is installed.
- Nozzle toner transport tube, engaging member
- Toner supply port receiving port
- FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a printer as an image forming apparatus
- FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing an image forming unit thereof
- FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a toner supply path thereof
- FIG. 4 is a toner container. It is a perspective view which shows a part of accommodating part.
- four toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K corresponding to each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) are provided in the toner container accommodating portion 31 above the image forming apparatus main body 100. It is installed detachably (changeable).
- An intermediate transfer unit 15 is disposed below the toner container housing 31.
- Image forming portions 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K corresponding to the respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) are arranged in parallel so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 8 of the intermediate transfer unit 15.
- the image forming unit 6 ⁇ corresponding to yellow includes a photosensitive drum 1Y, a charging unit 4 ⁇ disposed around the photosensitive drum 1Y, a developing device 5 ⁇ (developing unit), It consists of a cleaning unit (2 mm), a static elimination unit (not shown), etc. Then, an image forming process (charging process, exposure process, developing process, transfer process, cleaning process) is performed on the photosensitive drum 1Y, and a yellow image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1Y.
- the other three image forming units 6M, 6C, and 6K have substantially the same configuration as the image forming unit 6 ⁇ corresponding to yellow except that the color of the toner used is different. An image corresponding to the toner color is formed.
- description of the other three image forming units 6M, 6C, and 6K will be omitted as appropriate, and only the image forming unit 6 ⁇ corresponding to yellow will be described.
- photosensitive drum 1Y is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. 2 by a drive motor (not shown). Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y is uniformly charged at the position of the charging unit 4 ⁇ (charging process).
- the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches the irradiation position of the laser beam L emitted from the exposure device 7 (see FIG. 1), and the electrostatic latent image corresponding to yellow is exposed by the exposure scanning at this position.
- An image is formed (exposure process) ⁇
- the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches a position facing the developing device 5B, and the electrostatic latent image is developed at this position to form a yellow toner image (development process).
- the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches the position facing the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the primary transfer bias roller 9 ⁇ , and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1Y is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 8 at this position. (This is the primary transfer process.) 0 At this time, a small amount of untransferred toner remains on the photosensitive drum 1Y.
- the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches a position facing a neutralization unit (not shown), and the residual potential on the photosensitive drum 1Y is removed at this position.
- the above-described image forming process is performed in the other image forming units 6M, 6C, and 6K in the same manner as the yellow image forming unit 6 ⁇ . That is, the laser beam L based on the image information is emitted from the exposure device 7 disposed below the image forming unit onto the photosensitive drums of the image forming units 6M, 6C, and 6K. Specifically, the exposure device 7 also emits laser light L as a light source, and irradiates the photosensitive drum via a plurality of optical elements while scanning the laser light L with a polygon mirror that is rotationally driven.
- the toner images of the respective colors formed on the respective photosensitive drums through the development process are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 in an overlapping manner. In this way, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8.
- the intermediate transfer unit 15 includes an intermediate transfer belt 8, four primary transfer bias rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K, a secondary transfer backup roller 12, and a cleaning backup roller. 13, tension roller 14, intermediate transfer cleaning unit 10, and the like.
- the intermediate transfer belt 8 is stretched and supported by three rollers 12 to 14, and is endlessly moved in the direction of the arrow (oc direction) in FIG.
- the four primary transfer bias rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K respectively sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 8 between the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IK to form a primary transfer belt. is doing. Then, a transfer bias reverse to the polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer bias rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K.
- the intermediate transfer belt 8 travels in the direction of the arrow) and sequentially passes through the primary transfer loops of the primary transfer bias rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K. In this way, the toner image forces of the respective colors on the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IK are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 in a primary transfer.
- the intermediate transfer belt 8 onto which the toner images of the respective colors are transferred in an overlapping manner is the secondary transfer roller 1 Reach the position opposite to 9.
- the secondary transfer backup roller 12 sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 8 between the secondary transfer roller 19 and forms a secondary transfer loop.
- the four color toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 are transferred onto a transfer material P such as transfer paper conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer tape.
- the untransferred toner that has not been transferred to the transfer material P remains on the intermediate transfer belt 8.
- the intermediate transfer belt 8 reaches the position of the intermediate transfer cleaning unit 10. At this position, the untransferred toner on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is collected.
- the transfer material P transported to the secondary transfer-up position is fed from the paper feed unit 26 disposed below the apparatus main body 100 to a paper feed roller 27, a registration roller pair 28, etc. It was transported via
- a plurality of transfer materials P such as transfer paper are stored in the paper supply unit 26 in a stacked manner.
- the paper feed roller 27 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 1, the uppermost transfer material P is fed toward the rollers of the registration roller pair 28.
- the transfer material P conveyed to the registration roller pair 28 is stopped at the position of the roller-up of the registration roller pair 28 whose rotation drive has been stopped. Then, the registration roller pair 28 is rotated in synchronization with the color image on the intermediate transfer belt 8, and the transfer material P is conveyed toward the secondary transfer tape. In this way, a desired color image is transferred onto the transfer material P.
- the transfer material P on which the color image is transferred at the position of the secondary transfer-up is conveyed to the position of the fixing unit 20.
- the color image transferred to the surface is fixed on the transfer material P by heat and pressure generated by the fixing roller and the pressure roller.
- the transfer material P is discharged out of the apparatus through a pair of paper discharge rollers 29.
- the transferred P discharged from the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 29 is sequentially stacked on the stack unit 30 as an output image.
- the developing device 5Y includes a developing roller 51 ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ facing the photosensitive drum 1 ⁇ , a doctor blade 52 ⁇ facing the developing roller 51Y, two conveying screws 55 ⁇ disposed in the developer containing portion 53 ⁇ , 54 ⁇ , and in the developer. Consists of a density detection sensor 56 ⁇ , etc. that detects the toner density.
- the developing roller 51Y is composed of a magnet fixed inside, a sleeve that rotates around the magnet, and the like.
- a two-component developer G composed of a carrier and a toner is accommodated in the developer accommodating portions 53 ⁇ and 54 ⁇ .
- the developer accommodating portion 54 ⁇ ⁇ communicates with the toner conveying pipe 43 ⁇ through an opening formed thereabove.
- the developing device 5 ⁇ configured as described above operates as follows.
- the sleeve of the developing roller 51Y rotates in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise) in FIG. Then, the developer G carried on the developing roller 51Y by the magnetic field formed by the magnet moves on the developing roller 51Y as the sleeve rotates.
- the developer G in the developing device 5 ⁇ ⁇ is adjusted so that the ratio of the toner in the developer (toner concentration) falls within a predetermined range.
- the toner contained in the toner container 32 ⁇ is replenished into the developer containing portion 54 ⁇ via the toner replenishing device 59 (see FIG. 3).
- the operation of the toner replenishing device 59 and the toner container 32 ⁇ will be described in detail later.
- the toner replenished in the developer accommodating portion 54 ⁇ is circulated through the two developer accommodating portions 53 ⁇ and 54 ⁇ while being mixed and stirred together with the developer G by the two conveying screws 55 ⁇ . (This is the movement in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2.) 0
- the toner in developer G is attracted to the carrier by frictional charging with the carrier, and developed together with the carrier by the magnetic force formed on developing roller 51Y. It is carried on the roller 51Y.
- the developer G carried on the developing roller 51Y is transported in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise) in FIG. 2 and reaches the position of the doctor blade 52mm.
- the developer G on the developing roller 51Y is conveyed to a position facing the photosensitive drum 1Y (development area) after the developer amount is made appropriate at this position.
- the toner is attracted to the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1Y by the electric field formed in the development area.
- the developer G remaining on the developing roller 51Y reaches above the developer containing portion 53 ⁇ as the sleeve rotates, and is detached from the developing roller 51 ⁇ at this position.
- the toner replenishing device 59 that guides the toner stored in the toner container 32Y (agent storage container) to the developing device 5Y will be described in detail.
- FIG. 3 shows toner container 32Y, toner supply path 43mm, 6
- the arrangement directions of 0, 70, 71, and developing device 5 are changed.
- the toner container 32 ⁇ and a part of the toner supply path are arranged so that the longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the paper surface (see FIG. 1).
- the toner (powder agent) in each toner container 3 2Y, 32M, 32C, 32K installed in the toner container container 31 of the apparatus main body 100 is consumed by the toner in each color developing device. Accordingly, the toner is appropriately supplied into each developing device through a toner supply path provided for each toner color.
- the four toner supply paths have almost the same structure except that the color of the toner used in the image forming process is different.
- the nozzle 70 (toner transfer pipe) of the toner container accommodating portion 31 is inserted into the held portion 34Y (cap) of the toner container 32Y. ) Is connected.
- the plug member 34d (opening / closing member) of the toner container 32Y opens the toner discharge port (supply port) of the held portion 34Y while being sandwiched between the nozzle 70 and the claw member 76.
- the toner accommodated in the container body 33Y of the toner container 32Y is conveyed into the nozzle 70 via the toner discharge port.
- the other end of the nozzle 70 is connected to one end of a tube 71 as a transport pipe.
- the tube 71 is a flexible material force with excellent toner resistance, and the other end is connected to a screw pump 60 (a Mono pump, a powder pump) of the toner supply device 59.
- the tube 71 as the transfer tube is formed to have an inner diameter force of 10 mm!
- rubber materials such as polyurethane, nitrile, EPDM, and silicon, and resin materials such as polyethylene and nylon can be used.
- the screw pump 60 is a suction type uniaxial eccentric screw pump, and includes a rotor 61, a stator 62, a suction port 63, a universal joint 64, a motor 66, and the like.
- Rotor 6 is a suction type uniaxial eccentric screw pump, and includes a rotor 61, a stator 62, a suction port 63, a universal joint 64, a motor 66, and the like.
- the stator 62, universal joint 64, etc. are housed in a case not shown.
- the stator 62 is a female thread-like member that also has an elastic material force such as rubber, and a double-pitch spiral groove is formed therein.
- the rotor 61 is a male screw-like member formed by spirally twisting a shaft made of a rigid material such as metal, and is rotatably fitted in the stator 62. One end of the rotor 61 is rotatably connected to the motor 66 via the universal joint 64 !.
- the helical direction (winding direction) and rotational direction force of the rotor 61 are set so as to coincide with the helical direction (winding direction) and rotational direction of the protrusion 33b formed on the container body 33Y of the toner container 32Y. It has been.
- the screw pump 60 configured in this manner is driven by the motor 66 by rotating the rotor 61 in the stator 62 in a predetermined direction (counterclockwise in the toner conveyance direction upstream).
- a suction force is generated in the port 63 (air in the tube 71 is sent out to generate a negative pressure in the tube 71.) 0
- the toner sucked up to the suction port 63 is fed into the gap between the stator 62 and the rotor 61, and sent to the other end side along the rotation of the rotor 61.
- Sent the toner is discharged from the outlet 67 of the screw pump 60, (which is a moving dashed arrow direction in FIG. 3.) Is the supplied to the developing device 5Y through the toner conveying pipe 43Y 0
- the rotor 61 of the screw pump 60 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction with reference to the upstream force in the toner conveyance direction. Further, the spiral direction (winding direction) of the rotor 61 is set to the right. As a result, a clockwise vortex is formed in the screw pump 60 by the rotation of the rotor 61.
- the toner container housing 31 is provided with four substantially cylindrical toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K (toner bottles) that are detachable.
- the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K are replaced with new ones when they reach the end of their lives (when the toner to be accommodated is almost completely consumed and emptied).
- the toner of each color stored in the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K passes through the toner replenishment path described with reference to FIG. 3, and the developing devices of the respective image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K. Is replenished as needed.
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the toner container 32Y.
- FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the head side of toner container 32Y (the side on which held portion 34Y is installed).
- FIG. 7 is a view of the toner container 32Y of FIG. 6 as viewed from the M viewing direction in FIG.
- FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing an example of the stirring member
- FIG. 8B is a view showing an example of the stirring member as viewed from the direction of M in FIG. 6,
- FIG. 8C is a side view showing an example of the stirring member.
- FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the head portion side of the toner container 32Y.
- the other three toner containers 32M, 32C, and 32K are substantially the same as the toner container 32 32 containing yellow toner except that the color of the contained toner is different and the positions of the concave portion 34m and the convex portion 34 ⁇ . It has a configuration.
- the description of the other three toner containers 32M, 32C, and 32K will be omitted as appropriate, and only the toner container 32Y containing the yellow toner will be described.
- the toner container 32Y is mainly composed of a container body 33Y and a held portion 34Y (bottle cap) provided on the head thereof.
- the head of the container body 33Y is provided with a gear 33c that rotates integrally with the container body 33Y and an opening A (see FIG. 6). 0
- the opening A is the head of the container body 33Y. This part is for discharging the toner stored in the container body 33Y toward the space (cavity) in the held part 34Y. is there.
- the gear 33c meshes with the drive gear 31g of the drive unit provided in the toner container housing unit 31 of the apparatus main body 100, so that the container main body 33Y is centered on the rotation axis (the one-dot chain line in FIG. 6). It is intended to be driven to rotate. Specifically, the gear 33c is exposed from the notch 34h formed in the held portion 34Y and meshes with the drive gear 31g of the apparatus main body 100 at the mating position D shown in FIGS. Then, the driving force is transmitted from the driving gear 31g to the gear 33c, and the container body 33Y rotates counterclockwise in FIG.
- the drive gear 3 lg and the gear 33 c are spur gears.
- the drive gear 31g when the drive gear 31g is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow (clockwise) in FIG. 7 (mainly during toner replenishment), the drive gear 31g to the gear 33c Received
- the toner container 32Y and the apparatus main body 100 are configured such that the held portion 34Y (or the container main body 33Y) is biased downward by the force applied.
- the engagement position D of the gear 33c and the drive gear 31g D force Range X from the uppermost part of the gear 33c to the 1Z4 rotation downstream side (not including the uppermost part and the 1Z4 rotation position) Is provided.
- grip portion 33d is provided at the rear end (bottom portion) of container main body 33Y for the user to grip when attaching / detaching toner container 32Y.
- a spiral projection 33b is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the container body 33Y (a spiral groove when viewed from the outer peripheral surface side). 33Y is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction to discharge toner from the opening A.
- the container body 33Y configured as described above can be manufactured by blow molding together with the gear 33c disposed on the peripheral surface thereof.
- an agitating member 33f that rotates together with the container body 33Y is installed in the opening A (see FIG. 6).
- the stirring member 33f has a bar-like shape in which the space force in the held portion 34Y is also extended toward the inside of the container main body 33Y, and is disposed obliquely with respect to the rotation axis (the one-dot chain line in FIG. 6). It is a member or a flat member.
- a stirring member 33g 2 in which a pair of flat plate members 33g 1 having gradients opposite to each other are arranged at point-symmetrical positions with respect to the rotation center is provided as an opening A.
- the toner can be continuously picked up and discharged by a rotating action, and the discharge performance is further improved.
- the stirring member is extended to the vertical toner discharge path formed in a mortar shape (stirring member 33h), the toner discharge performance is expected to be further improved.
- the container body 33Y of the toner container 32Y is disposed upstream of the toner conveyance direction.
- the force is also rotated counterclockwise.
- the spiral direction (winding direction) of the protrusion 33b in the container body 33Y is set to the right direction.
- the held portion 34Y includes a cap main portion 34a, a cap cover 34b, a holder 34c, a plug member 34d as an opening / closing member, a packing 34e, an ID chip 35, and the like. It is made. 5 and 7, engagement portions 34g (groove portions) with which the positioning members 31c of the toner container housing portion 31 are engaged are provided on both side surfaces of the held portion 34Y. Further, a recessed portion 34m into which the fitting member 31d of the toner container housing portion 31 is fitted is provided on the end surface of the held portion 34Y.
- a convex portion 34 ⁇ into which another fitting member (not shown) of the toner container housing portion 31 is fitted. Further, a notch 34h where a part of the gear 33c is exposed is provided above the held portion 34 ⁇ .
- the held portion 34Y communicates with the container main body 33Y through the opening A, and discharges the toner discharged from the opening A from the toner discharge port B (in the direction of the broken arrow in FIG. 6). It is a movement.)
- the cavity (space) force formed inside the held portion 34Y is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape.
- a toner discharge path (vertical path) from the substantially cylindrical cavity formed inside the held portion 34Y to the toner discharge port B is formed in a mortar shape.
- the held portion 34Y is not interlocked with the rotation of the container main body 33Y, and the holding portion 73 (see FIGS. 4 and 4) of the toner container housing portion 31 with the engaging portion 34g engaged with the positioning member 31c. 10) can be held in non-rotating state.
- the cap cover 34b of the held portion 34Y is bonded to the peripheral surface of the cap main portion 34a.
- a claw 34bl is provided at the tip of the cap cover 34b, and the claw 34bl engages with an engaging member formed on the head of the container body 33Y, so that the container body 33Y is attached to the held portion 34Y.
- it is held relatively rotatable.
- the claw 34bl of the held portion 34Y and the engaging member of the container main body 33Y Engage with proper clearance.
- a sealing material 37 is attached to an opposing surface that opposes the distal end surface 33a around the opening A of the container body 33Y.
- the sealing material 37 is for sealing the gap between the opposing surfaces of the container body 33Y and the held portion 34Y around the opening A, and is formed of an elastic material such as foamed polyurethane. .
- a holder 34c is provided below the held portion 34Y.
- the holder 34c is provided with a plug member 34d (shutter) as an opening / closing member that opens and closes the toner discharge port B in conjunction with the attachment / detachment operation of the toner container 32Y.
- the plug member 34d is provided in the holder 34c so as to be movable in the left-right direction in FIG. 6 so as to be surrounded by the sliding portions 34cl and 34c2.
- On the bottom surface of the holder 34c there is provided a space (recess) for the claw member 76 of the apparatus main body 100 to engage with the plug member 34d and to move the plug member 34d relatively.
- packing 34e such as a G seal is installed in order to suppress the leakage of toner with a force close to the plug member 34d.
- a packing such as an O-ring is installed at the engaging portion between the holder 34c and the cap main portion 34a in order to suppress the leakage of toner from the gap between the both.
- a claw member 76 as a biasing member for biasing the plug member 34d to the right end of the plug member 34d in a direction to close the toner discharge port B (FIG. 5, see Fig. 14 etc.) engages.
- the claw member 76 will be described in detail later.
- the ID chip 35 of the held portion 34Y is separated from the communication circuit 74 (terminal) of the toner container housing portion 31 by a predetermined distance in conjunction with the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y with respect to the toner container housing portion 31. And are configured to face each other. Specifically, the ID chip 35 is placed on the protrusion 34al of the held portion 34Y that protrudes in the mounting direction (13 directions in FIG. 5) to the toner container accommodating portion 31 and on the surface orthogonal to the mounting direction. It is arranged. The ID chip 35 performs non-contact communication (wireless communication) with the communication circuit 74 of the apparatus main body while the held portion 34Y is held in the toner container housing portion 31.
- the communication circuit 74 of the toner container housing unit 31 is configured such that the toner container 32Y is stored in the toner container. Information is exchanged wirelessly with the ID chip 35 while being set in the container 31. That is, the information stored in the ID chip 35 is transmitted to the control unit 75 (see FIG. 5) of the apparatus main body 100 via the communication circuit 74, or the information of the apparatus main body 100 acquired by the control unit 75. Is transmitted to and stored in the ID chip 35 via the communication circuit 74.
- the ID chip 35 includes toner information such as toner color, toner production number (manufacturing lot), toner production date, and the number of times of recycling, recycling date, recycling manufacturer, and other toners.
- Information related to recycling of container 32Y is stored.
- information stored in the ID chip 35 is transmitted to the control portion 75 of the apparatus main body 100 via the electronic circuit 74. Based on such information, the apparatus main body 100 is optimally controlled. For example, when the toner color is different from the toner color to be installed in the toner container housing portion, the operation of the toner replenishing device 59 can be stopped, or the image forming conditions can be changed according to the manufacturing number or the recycling manufacturer.
- the holder 34c of the held portion 34Y is provided with sliding portions 34cl and 34c2 for sliding the toner container housing portion 31 in conjunction with an attaching / detaching operation with respect to the toner container housing portion 31.
- the first sliding portion 34cl is against the sliding surface 31a of the toner container housing portion 31 (which is a surface having a flat surface facing upward, and can be referred to FIG. 10 and FIGS. 45 and 46 described later). It is a flat part formed so as to be parallel, and is disposed at the bottom of the held part 34Y where the attaching / detaching operation is performed.
- the second sliding portion 34c2 is a sliding surface 31b of the toner container housing portion 31 (a surface having a flat surface facing the side, and can be referred to FIG. 10 and FIGS. 45 and 46 described later). It is a flat part formed so as to be parallel to each other, and is arranged on the side part of the held part 34Y where the attaching / detaching operation is performed! /
- a recess 34m to be fitted to the fitting member 31d of the toner container accommodating portion 31 is provided on the end surface of the held portion 34Y and in the vicinity of the protruding portion 34al. It has been.
- the recess 34m is configured to fit into the corresponding fitting member 31d when the mounting operation to the toner container housing portion 31 is correct (when the toner container housing portion 31 is mounted at the normal position). Has been.
- the color of the toner stored in the toner container is changed.
- the position of the recess 34m is arranged at a different position.
- the concave portion 34m (C) of the toner container corresponding to cyan and the fitting member (not shown) of the toner container housing portion are arranged at the top, and the concave portion 34m (M) of the toner container corresponding to magenta.
- a toner container housing part fitting member (not shown) are arranged in the middle upper part, and the toner container concave part 34m (Y) corresponding to the yellow and the toner container housing part fitting member 31d are The concave portion 34m (K) of the toner container corresponding to black and the fitting member (not shown) of the toner container housing portion corresponding to black are disposed at the lowermost position.
- a different color toner container for example, a yellow toner container
- a toner container storage section for example, a cyan toner container storage section
- a convex portion 34 ⁇ into which another fitting member (not shown) is fitted is provided on the peripheral surface of held portion 34Y. Yes. Similar to the concave portion 34m described above, the convex portion 34 ⁇ is configured to be fitted into the corresponding fitting member when the mounting operation to the toner container housing portion 31 is correct. Although not shown, the toner container (container main body) is disposed at a position where the convex portion 34 ⁇ differs depending on the color of the toner to be stored. With this configuration, similarly to the above-described recess 34m, erroneous setting of the toner container in the toner container housing portion is suppressed.
- Example 1 when the toner contained in the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K, the volume average particle diameter is Dvm) and the number average particle diameter is Dnm) In addition,
- the one formed so that the relationship is established is used.
- the toner particles are selected according to the image pattern during the development process to maintain good image quality, and good developability is maintained even if the developing device is stirred for a long time. Furthermore, the toner that is not blocked by the toner supply path such as the tube 71 is transported efficiently and reliably.
- the volume average particle diameter and the number average particle diameter of the toner are typically measured by using a Cole force counter type particle size distribution analyzer “Coulter Counter TA-2” (manufactured by Beckman Coulter) or “ It can be measured using a Coulter Multisizer 1 "(manufactured by Coulter).
- the shape factor SF-1 is in the range of 100 to 180
- the shape factor SF-2 is A substantially spherical toner formed so as to be in the range of 100 to 180 is used.
- the shape factor SF-1 indicates the sphericity of the toner particles and is obtained by the following equation.
- ⁇ is the maximum particle size on the projection surface of the toner particles (the largest particle size among the sparse particle sizes), and S is the area of the projection surface of the toner particles. Therefore, toner particles having a shape factor SF-1 of 100 are true spheres, and the sphericity decreases as the value increases from 100.
- the shape factor SF-2 indicates the degree of unevenness of the toner particles, and is obtained by the following equation.
- ⁇ is the perimeter of the toner particle projection surface
- S is the area of the toner particle projection surface. Therefore, the toner particles having a shape factor SF-2 of 100 have no irregularities, and the irregularities increase as the value increases from 100.
- the shape factor SF-1 and the shape factor SF-2 were calculated based on the toner particle photograph taken with the scanning electron microscope “S-800” (manufactured by Hitachi, Ltd.) and the image analysis device “LUSEX3”. (Earth)
- FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the toner container housing portion.
- FIG. 11 shows the nozzle.
- the toner container housing 31 includes four toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and a sliding surface of the held part of 32C, 32K, and a holder 34c of the held part.
- the holding part 73 that determines the position of the nozzle, the nozzle 70, the drive part for transmitting the rotational driving force to the container body 33Y (the drive gear 31g is installed), the communication circuit 74, the mounting movement of the toner container 32Y
- the arm pair 90 biasing means that urges the held portion 34Y toward the holding portion 73 in conjunction with the operation, and a claw that urges the plug member 34d in a direction to close the toner discharge port B of the toner container 32Y.
- Member (biasing member) 76 etc. is installed.
- the holding unit 73 holds the held portions of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K in a non-rotating manner.
- the holding portion 73 includes a sliding surface that contacts the holder 34c, a contact surface that contacts a part of the cap cover 34b, and the like.
- the sliding surface (side surface) of the holding portion 73 is provided with a positioning member 31c that performs positioning in conjunction with the mounting operation of the held portion 34Y (see FIG. 5).
- the positioning member 31c is a toner. It is a convex portion extending along the attaching / detaching direction of the container 32Y.
- a biasing member that biases the plug member 34d in a direction to close the toner discharge port B in conjunction with the detachment operation of the held portion 34Y.
- the claw member 76 is centered on the rotation support shaft 76a in the double arrow direction (R direction) in FIG. It is rotatably held in the toner container housing 31.
- the pawl member 76 is retracted without obstructing the attachment / detachment of the held portion 34Y by the leaf spring 77 (second biasing member) fixed below the pawl member 76 shown in FIGS. is biased in a direction to protrude in a position to engage the located plugging member 34d (which is biased in the arrow R2 direction in FIG. 13.) 0
- a communication circuit 74 and a fitting member 3 Id are disposed on the inner surface of the holding portion 73.
- nozzles 70 shown in FIG. 11 are installed for each toner color.
- the nozzle 70 is provided with a toner supply port 70a that communicates with the toner discharge port B formed in the held portion 34Y of the toner container 32Y.
- FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the state in which the yellow toner container 32Y is mounted in the toner container housing 31 (moving in the direction of arrow Q) as viewed in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the state in which the toner container 32Y has been attached (the state where the toner discharge port B has been opened) as viewed in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 14 shows a state in which the toner container 32Y is mounted in the toner container housing 31.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the state (the state where the toner discharge port B is completely opened) as viewed in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 15 is a schematic view of the toner container 32Y in a state where it is mounted in the toner container housing part 31 with the holder 34c side force also seen.
- FIG. 16 is a schematic view of the toner container 32Y mounted in the toner container housing 31 as viewed from the holder 34c side.
- a main body cover (on the front side of the paper in FIG. 1) of the image forming apparatus main body 100 (Not shown) is opened to expose the toner container housing 31 to the front.
- the toner container 32Y is pushed into the toner container housing part 31 (the movement in the direction of arrow Q). That is, the held part 34Y is moved forward with respect to the container body 33Y. In this manner, the toner container 32Y is mounted in the toner container housing 31 along the longitudinal direction of the container body 33Y (or the toner container 32Y).
- the first sliding portion 34cl slides on the sliding surface 31a of the toner container housing portion 31 on the leading side of the toner container 32Y
- the second sliding portion 34c2 slides on the sliding surface of the toner container housing portion 31.
- the toner container 32Y is pushed into the toner container accommodating part 31 in a well-balanced manner by a user who grips the gripping part 33d on the rear end side of the toner container 32Y while sliding on the toner container 32Y.
- the positioning of the held part 34Y is started. Specifically, engagement between the engaging portion 34g of the held portion 34Y and the positioning member 31c of the toner container housing portion 31 is started. At this time, the held portion 34Y of the toner container 32Y is urged toward the holding portion 73 by the arm pair 90 (the urging in the arrow Q direction).
- the claw member 76 installed in the holding portion 73 of the toner container housing portion 31 retreats to a position without obstructing the mounting of the held portion 34Y (in the direction of the arrow R1 centering on the rotation support shaft 76a). O) That is, the claw member 76 is pushed down in the direction against the urging force of the leaf spring 77 as the second urging member by the sliding portion 34cl.
- the opening of the toner discharge port B by the plug member 34d is started in the state where the engaging portion 34g and the positioning member 31c are engaged (FIG. 13)) o That is, as the tip of the nozzle 70 is inserted into the hole of the holder 34c, it is pushed by the plug member 34d force slip 70.
- the claw member 76 projects from the retracted position in FIG. 12 to a position where it engages with the plug member 34d immediately before the tip of the nozzle 70 touches the plug member 34d (an arrow centered on the rotation support shaft 76a). Rotation in the direction of the mark R2.) 0, that is, the claw member 76 is released from the pushing by the sliding portion 34cl and is pushed up to the default position by the urging force of the leaf spring as the second urging member.
- the claw member 76 is on the container body 33Y side of the plug member 34d that is far from the nozzle 70, and the surface force of the plug member 34d protrudes on both sides in the horizontal direction (plug member It protrudes into the space between the engaging part (34d) and the container body 33Y side.
- the claw member 76 when the claw member 76 is pushed up, it is preferable that the claw member 76 is just engaged with the engaging portion of the plug member 34d, but the mechanical tolerance is maintained. In order to achieve this, it is preferable that the engagement surface force is configured to be pushed up to a position separated by about 0.5 to 3 mm. With this configuration, the claw member 76 can wait to engage with the engaging portion of the plug member 34d with a margin with respect to the pushing operation of the toner container by the user. .
- the plug member When the tip of the nozzle 70 touches the tip of the plug member 34d and the movement of the plug member 34d starts before the claw member 76 is pushed up to the default position, depending on the setting of the mechanical tolerance, the plug member When the claw member 76 is not engaged with the engaging part of 34d and the user feels a change in tactile force and then pulls out the toner container again, it is expected that the toner will leak from the toner discharge port.
- the state of FIG. 13 is a state in which the plug member 34d is sandwiched between the nozzle 70 and the claw member 76, and the position in the toner container housing part 31 (holding part 73) is fixed. Then, when the toner container 32Y is further moved in the mounting direction (arrow Q direction) from the state of FIG. 13, the toner discharge port B is opened while the position of the plug member 34d in the holding portion 73 is fixed. (The plug member 34d relatively moves.) 0
- the position of the held portion 34Y is determined at the position where the holder 34c abuts the holding portion 73 (the abutting reference position), and at the same time, the plug member 34d completely opens the toner discharge port B. And the toner in the drive gear 31g of the drive part of the toner container housing part 31 The gear 33c of the container 32Y is engaged. Further, the ID chip 35 as an electronic substrate faces the communication circuit 74 at a position where wireless communication is possible. Further, the concave portion 34m and the convex portion 34 ⁇ for ensuring incompatibility of the toner container are fitted with the fitting members 31d and 31e of the apparatus main body. Then, the toner discharge port B of the toner container 32Y communicates with the toner supply port 70a of the nozzle 70, and the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y is completed.
- the plug member 34d is moved in a state where the position of the plug member 34d in the holding portion 73 is fixed by the nozzle 70 and the claw member 76.
- the toner discharge port B is urged by the claw member 76 (the movement from the state of FIG. 14 to the state of FIG. 13).
- the end surface of the plug member 34d (the left end surface of FIG. 13) Is fitted into the fitting portion formed in the held portion 34Y, and the closing of the toner discharge port B by the plug member 34d is completed.
- the claw member 76 moves to a position that does not hinder the removal of the held portion 34Y. (This is the state of FIG. 12.) 0 After the held portion 34Y is completely detached, the claw member 76 is released from the pushing by the sliding portion 34cl, and the leaf spring as the second biasing member is released. Return to the default position by the biasing force.
- the plate spring 77 as the second urging member for urging the claw member 76 to the engagement position also has the force force that the claw member 76 urges the plug member 34d. It is formed so as to be larger than the sliding resistance of 34d (the sliding resistance that is also subjected to the knocking force of the O-ring with the opening / closing operation). As a result, it is possible to suppress a problem that the toner discharge port B is not completely closed because the claw member 76 is moved to the retracted position by the plug member 34d when the toner container 32Y is detached. Can do. That is, when the toner container 32Y is detached, the toner discharge port B is reliably closed by the plug member 34d.
- the position of the plug member 34d in the toner container housing 31 is sandwiched between the nozzle 70 and the claw member 76 and is securely fixed. Even when it is moving, it is possible to suppress the scattering of toner from the vicinity of the toner discharge port B without causing a positional shift in the plug member 34d.
- the stroke of the plug member 34d when the toner discharge port B is opened and closed is movable by human movement (for example, an operation of pushing the plug member with a finger). It is set to be longer than the stroke. That is, even if the user accidentally touches the plug member 34d of the toner container 32Y, the stroke of the plug member 34d is long enough so that the toner discharge port B is not opened. Is set. Specifically, the length of the plug member 34d (particularly, the length from the end surface position where the nozzle engages to the toner discharge port) is formed to be sufficiently long, and the plug member 34d. The aperture is formed to be sufficiently smaller than the size of a human finger.
- the urging member (claw member 76) for urging the plug member 34d in the direction of closing the toner discharge port B is not installed in the toner container 32Y as in the first embodiment. Therefore, toner scattering from the toner discharge port B due to a user's erroneous operation can be prevented.
- the urging member (claw member 76) for urging the plug member 34d is installed in the apparatus main body 100, the number of parts of the toner container 32Y is reduced, and the parts cost and Lower running costs.
- the plug member 34d is disposed at a position surrounded by the force sliding portions 34cl, 34c2. That is, the plug member 34d is provided in the held portion 34Y.
- the sliding operation (detaching operation) of the sliding portions 34c1 and 34c2 is performed without hindering the opening / closing operation of the toner discharge port B by the plug member 34d. That is, the sliding portions 34cl and 34c2 function as protective walls for the plug member 34d.
- the cylindrical portion of the plug member 34d is surrounded by the holder 34c of the held portion 34Y so that it is not exposed regardless of whether the stopper plug is opened or closed.
- the plug member 34d has two flat plates protruding symmetrically in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the cylindrical portion as an engaging portion with the claw member 76. Although these two flat plates are exposed to engage with the claw member 76, they are at a higher position by the thickness of the holder 34c. Therefore, when the toner container 32Y is attached to or detached from the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus. Also, the plug is inadvertently opened by rubbing against the sliding surface 31a of the toner container housing 31. It has a configuration that is resistant to toner scattering that is never released.
- the toner container 32Y of the first embodiment includes a held portion 34Y in which the toner discharge port B is disposed downward in the vertical direction, and the toner discharge port B is disposed in the vertical direction below the opening A.
- the toner discharge port B is opened by being pushed by the nozzle 70 and sealed with the nozzle / kin 34e. This prevents the user who has less toner from the outlet B from touching the toner outlet B and gets dirty by the toner.
- the toner container 32Y is mounted in such a manner that the sliding portion 34cl starts to slide while the user directly grips the gripping portion 33d, and then the holding portion 34Y is positioned along with the urging of the arm pair 90. After that, the insertion of the nozzle 70 is started, and the positioning of the held portion 34Y, the insertion of the nozzle 70, and the connection of the driving portion are completed with the end of the sliding. As a result, the user feels the click feeling due to the positioning of the held portion 34Y at the same time that the held portion 34Y slides (1 action mounting operation), and an erroneous operation occurs in the mounting operation. Will be convinced.
- the toner container 32Y is not mounted from above the toner container housing portion 31 (device main body 100), but the front force of the toner container housing portion 31 (device main body 100) is also attached and detached.
- the degree of freedom in the layout above the toner container housing portion 31 is increased. For example, even when a scanner (original reading unit) is disposed directly above the toner replenishing device 59, the operability and workability in attaching / detaching the toner container 32Y does not deteriorate.
- the degree of freedom in layout with respect to the meshing position D between the gear 33c of the toner container 32Y and the drive gear 31g of the apparatus main body 100 is increased.
- the toner container 32Y since the toner container 32Y is installed in the apparatus main body 100 with its longitudinal direction as the horizontal direction, the toner container 32Y has a large toner capacity without affecting the layout in the height direction of the entire image forming apparatus 100. Thus, the replacement frequency can be reduced.
- the toner container 32Y when the toner container 32Y is attached to or detached from the toner container accommodating portion 31, it is held in conjunction with the attachment / detachment operation of that one action. Since the toner outlet B is opened and closed by the plug member 34d of the portion 34Y, the toner outlet B is opened and closed reliably and smoothly. Therefore, the operability when replacing the toner container 32Y is improved, and the occurrence of toner contamination is reliably reduced.
- the toner is accommodated in the toner container 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K, but a two-component developer composed of the toner and the carrier is appropriately supplied to the developing device.
- the two-component developer can be accommodated in the toner container 32Y, 32M, 32C, or 32K. Even in this case, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.
- the protrusion 33b is integrally formed on the inner peripheral surface of the container body 33Y, and the container body 33Y is rotationally driven.
- the coil or screw can be rotatably held inside the container body 33Y, and the coil or screw can be driven to rotate by the gear 33c without rotating the container body 33Y. Even in this case, the same effect as that of the first embodiment described above can be obtained by opening and closing the toner discharge port B by the plug member 34d of the held portion 34Y in conjunction with the attachment / detachment operation of one action of the toner container 32Y. be able to.
- the toner replenishing device 59 is provided with the suction type screw pump 60 that sends out air to the inside of the tube 71.
- the toner replenishing device 59 may be provided with a discharge screw pump that feeds air into the tube 71.
- a diaphragm type air pump can be used as a pump connected to the tube 71. In these cases, the toner discharge port B is opened / closed by the plug member 34d of the held portion 34Y in conjunction with the one-action attachment / detachment operation of the toner container 32Y. The same effect as 1 can be obtained.
- FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the head side of the toner container according to the second embodiment and corresponds to FIG. 6 according to the first embodiment.
- the toner container 32Y in the second embodiment is different from that in the first embodiment in that a compression spring 34f is installed as a member that exerts an urging force on the held portion 34Y. Specifically, a compression spring 34f that urges the plug member 34d in a direction to close the toner discharge port B is installed at the right end of the plug member 34d.
- FIG. 18A is a schematic view of the state in which the yellow toner container 32Y is mounted in the toner container accommodating portion 31 (moving in the direction of the arrow) as viewed in the longitudinal direction, and FIG. 18B is a holding portion at that time. It is a sectional view of the vicinity of the holder 34c of 34Y as viewed from above.
- FIG. 19A is a schematic view of the state in which the toner container 32Y is installed in the container container 31 (the state where the installation has been completed) as viewed in the longitudinal direction, and FIG. 19B shows the vicinity of the holder 34c at that time.
- FIG. 19A is a schematic view of the state in which the toner container 32Y is installed in the container container 31 (the state where the installation has been completed) as viewed in the longitudinal direction
- FIG. 19B shows the vicinity of the holder 34c at that time.
- the toner container accommodating portion 31 is provided with four toner container accommodating portions corresponding to the four toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K.
- the four toner container housing portions are respectively provided with sliding surfaces 31a and 31b on which the sliding portions 34c 1 and 34c2 of the held portion 34Y slide, a holding portion 73 that determines the position of the holder 34c of the held portion 34Y, and a nozzle ( (Toner transport tube) 70, a drive unit (not shown) for transmitting rotational driving force to the container body 33Y, and the like are provided.
- the holding portion 73 includes sliding surfaces 31a and 31b that contact the holder 34c, contact surfaces (not shown) that contact a part of the cap cover 34b, and the like.
- the toner container 32Y is pushed into the toner container housing part 31 (the movement in the direction of the arrow). That is, the held part 34Y comes to the front with respect to the container body 33Y. In this manner, the toner container 32Y is mounted in the toner container housing 31 along the longitudinal direction of the container body 33Y (or the toner container 32Y). [0114] At this time, the first sliding portion 34cl slides on the sliding surface 31a of the toner container housing portion 31 on the leading side of the toner container 32Y, and the second sliding portion 34c2 slides on the sliding surface of the toner container housing portion 31.
- the toner container 32Y is pushed into the toner container accommodating part 31 in a well-balanced manner by a user who grips the gripping part 33d on the rear end side of the toner container 32Y while sliding on the toner container 32Y. Then, when the holder 34c of the toner container 32Y reaches the holding part 73 of the toner container accommodating part 31, the positioning of the held part 34Y is started.
- the plug member 34d is pushed by the nozzle 70 as the tip of the nozzle 70 is inserted into the hole of the holder 34c.
- the position of the held portion 34Y is determined at the position where the holder 34c hits the holding portion 73, and at the same time, the plug member 34d completely opens the toner discharge port B.
- the toner discharge port B of the toner container 32Y and the toner supply port 70a of the nozzle 70 communicate with each other, and the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y is completed.
- the movement of the nozzle 70 in and out of the holder 34c and the movement of the plug member 34d in and out of the holder 34c are both formed by the lip of the packing 34e of the holder 34c (the inner diameter of the O-ring in FIG. 17). This is performed in a state of sliding in contact with a tip of a pentagon like a baseball base as shown in the cross section of the O-ring in FIG. The problem of toner leakage from the toner is suppressed.
- the toner container 32Y is attached by one action (excluding the opening / closing operation of the main body door) in which the sliding portion 34cl of the toner container 32Y slides on the sliding surface 31a.
- the operation is complete. That is, while the sliding portion 34cl of the toner container 32Y is slid on the sliding surface 31a, the holding portion 34Y (toner container 32Y) positioning operation and the nozzle 70 insertion operation are sequentially performed in conjunction with the operation. It is carried out.
- the operation is performed in the reverse order of the above-described procedure for mounting.
- the nozzle 70 is also moved away from the holder 34c in conjunction with the movement of the toner container 32Y away from the holding portion 73, and the plug member 34d is closed to the toner discharge port B by the urging force of the compression spring 34f.
- the image forming apparatus for loading / unloading the toner container 32Y is the image of Example 11 described later.
- the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment including the claw member 76 as shown in FIG. 3 may be used.
- the action of the claw member 76 as described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14 can be superimposed on the action of the compression spring 34f described above, so that the seal plug of the toner discharge port B is improved.
- the sealability between the member 34d and the packing 34e can be further improved.
- the detaching operation of the toner container 32Y is completed by one action (excluding the opening / closing operation of the main body door) in which the sliding portion 34cl of the toner container 32Y slides on the sliding surface 31a.
- the toner container 32Y of the second embodiment includes the held portion 34Y in which the toner discharge port B is disposed below the gravitational direction, and the plug member 34d is pushed by the nozzle 70 in conjunction with the mounting operation. Since the toner outlet B sealed with the packing 34e is opened, a problem that a user who has little toner contamination in the toner outlet B touches the toner outlet B and is contaminated with toner is suppressed.
- the toner container 32Y is attached by starting the sliding of the sliding portion 34cl with the user directly gripping the gripping portion 33d, and then starting the positioning of the held portion 34Y along with the sliding.
- the insertion of the nozzle 70 is started, and the positioning of the held portion 34Y and the insertion of the nozzle 70 are completed with the end of sliding.
- the user feels the click feeling due to the positioning of the held portion 34Y at the same time that the held portion 34Y slides (attachment operation of one action), and an erroneous operation occurs in the mounting operation. You will be convinced.
- the toner container 32Y is not mounted from above the toner container housing portion 31 (device main body 100), but the front force of the toner container housing portion 31 (device main body 100) is also attached and detached.
- the degree of freedom in the layout above the toner container housing portion 31 is increased. For example, even when a scanner (original reading portion) is disposed directly above the toner container storage portion, the operability and workability in attaching and detaching the toner container 32Y do not deteriorate.
- the toner container 32Y since the toner container 32Y is installed in the apparatus main body 100 with its longitudinal direction as the horizontal direction, the toner container 32Y has a large toner capacity without affecting the layout in the height direction of the entire image forming apparatus 100. Thus, the replacement frequency can be reduced.
- the held portions 34Y are provided with the sliding portions 34cl and 34c2 that slide the toner container housing portion 31 in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation with respect to the toner container housing portion 31. Therefore, the operability and workability at the time of replacement can be improved, and the occurrence of toner contamination can be surely reduced.
- Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
- FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the toner container according to the third embodiment, which corresponds to FIG. 5 of the first embodiment.
- the shape of the sliding portion 34cl formed in the held portion 34Y is different from those of the respective embodiments.
- the first sliding portion 34c 1 of the held portion 34Y is different from the sliding portion constituted by the plane portion in each of the embodiments.
- the two convex portions 34cl as the sliding portions are each formed so as to have a height capable of contacting the sliding surface 31a (the heights in the vertical direction are equal to each other). ), Extending along the long direction (detachment direction).
- the toner container 32Y of the third embodiment also has one action (one of the main body doors) in which the sliding portion 34cl of the toner container 32Y slides on the sliding surface 31a in the same manner as in the previous embodiments. Except for opening and closing operations, the toner container 32Y mounting / removal operation is completed in step).
- the configuration of the toner container installed in the toner container housing portion is optimized with the longitudinal direction as the horizontal direction, similarly to each of the above embodiments. Therefore, the operability and workability at the time of replacement can be improved, and the occurrence of toner contamination can be surely reduced.
- the shape of the sliding portion 34cl in the toner container 32Y is slid on the sliding surface 31a while maintaining the posture of the held portion 34Y, which is not limited to that of the third embodiment or the respective embodiments. If it is a thing, there will exist an effect similar to each Example.
- FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the arm pair 90 installed in the toner container housing 31 in the fourth embodiment.
- FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view showing the arm pair 90.
- the toner container housing 31 includes a sliding surface 31a on which the sliding parts of the held parts of the four toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K slide.
- a holding part 73 for determining the position of the holder 34c, a nozzle 70, a driving part for transmitting rotational driving force to the container body 33Y, a communication circuit 74, an arm pair 90 functioning as an urging means, etc. are installed.
- Holding unit 73 holds the held portions of toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K in a non-rotating manner.
- the holding portion 73 includes a sliding surface that contacts the holder 34c, a contact surface that contacts a part of the cap cover 34b, and the like.
- the sliding surface (side surface) of the holding portion 73 is provided with a positioning member 31c that performs positioning in conjunction with the mounting operation of the held portion 34Y (see FIG. 5).
- the positioning member 31c is a toner. It is a convex portion extending along the attaching / detaching direction of the container 32Y.
- nozzles 70 shown in FIG. 11 are installed for each toner color.
- the nozzle 70 is provided with a toner supply port 70a that communicates with the toner discharge port B formed in the held portion 34Y of the toner container 32Y.
- arm pair 90 is installed for each toner color in holding portion 73 in toner container housing portion 31. As shown in FIG. 21, the arm pairs 90 are respectively installed at positions on both sides of the held portion of the toner container.
- the arm pair 90 includes a first arm 91 (second biasing tool) and a second arm 92 (biasing force). ), Support shaft 93, torsion spring 94, and the like.
- the arm pair 90 is integrally installed via a support shaft 93 and applies a force in both directions of rotation about the support shaft 93 by a torsion spring 94.
- the first arm 91 and the second arm 92 cause a force to act in both directions of rotation about the support shaft 93.
- the force increases as the angle between the first arm 91 and the second arm 92 increases.
- the arm pair 90 configured as described above urges the held portion 34Y toward the holding portion 73 in a state where the toner container 32Y is set in the toner container receiving portion 31 (in the direction of the arrow Q). It will function as a biasing means. Specifically, the arm pair 90 biases the flat portion 34k as the biased portion of the held portion 34Y in a state where the toner container 32Y is set in the toner container housing portion 31. Further, the arm pair 90 is linked to the attaching / detaching operation of the toner container 32Y, and the sliding portion 34c2 of the held portion 34Y (second sliding portions respectively disposed on the two separated side portions of the held portion 34Y). Are configured to slide in contact with each other.
- the flat portion 34k as the biased portion of the held portion 34Y biased by the arm pair 90 is the two side portions of the held portion 34Y in which the sliding portion 34c2 is formed. It is a plane that meets the side portion at the end of this (in Example 4, it is a plane that connects the ends of the two side portions and is orthogonal to the attachment / detachment direction).
- the toner container 32Y is set in the holding portion 73 while the two sliding portions 34c2 are slid between the two arm pairs 90 in a balanced and smooth manner, and the holding portions 73 are held by the arm pair 90.
- the posture of the held portion 34Y at 73 is maintained (it is urged toward the nozzle 70 side to determine its position). Therefore, the operability at the time of replacement of the toner container 32Y and the workability can be improved, and the occurrence of toner contamination associated with the replacement work can be surely reduced.
- FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the state in which the yellow toner container 32Y is mounted in the toner container housing 31 (moving in the direction of arrow Q) in the longitudinal direction, and FIG. 23 shows the arm pair 90 at that time. It is the schematic which also showed the upper relationship about the positional relationship with the to-be-held part 34Y (holder 34c).
- Figure 13 is a schematic view of the state in which the toner container 32Y has been attached (the state where the toner discharge port B has been opened) as viewed in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 24 shows the arm pair 90 and the object to be held at that time. It is the schematic which also showed the upward force about the positional relationship with the part 34Y (holder 34c).
- FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the state in which the yellow toner container 32Y is mounted in the toner container housing 31 (moving in the direction of arrow Q) in the longitudinal direction
- FIG. 23 shows the arm pair 90 at that time. It is the schematic which also showed the upper relationship about the positional relationship with
- FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the state in which the toner container 32Y is mounted in the toner container housing 31 (the state where the toner discharge port B has been completely opened) as viewed in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the positional relationship between the arm pair 90 and the held portion 34Y (holder 34c), including upward force.
- the toner container 32Y is pushed into the toner container housing part 31 (the movement in the direction of arrow Q). That is, the held part 34Y comes to the front with respect to the container body 33Y. In this manner, the toner container 32Y is mounted in the toner container housing 31 along the longitudinal direction of the container body 33Y (or the toner container 32Y).
- the sliding portion 34cl slides on the sliding surface 31a of the toner container housing portion 31 on the front side of the toner container 32Y, and the user grips the grip portion 33d on the rear end side of the toner container 32Y.
- the container 32Y is pushed into the toner container housing 31 in a well-balanced manner.
- the first arm 91 is moved to the holder 34c (held portion).
- Part 34Y) and the second arm 92 contacts the side surface (sliding part 34c2) of the holder 34c (held part 34Y), and the arm pair 90 is in the direction indicated by the black arrow ( ⁇ direction) in FIG. To be spread.
- the arm pair 90 is expanded in the black arrow direction ( ⁇ direction), so that the first arm 91 exerts a force in the arrow S1 direction by the spring force of the torsion spring 94, and the second arm 92 in the arrow S2 direction.
- the second arm 92 is opposed on both side surfaces of the holder 34c, and the forces in both directions in the direction of the arrow S2 are cancelled. Therefore, the force acting on the sliding portion 34c2 from the second arm 92 is about a slight frictional resistance between the greases, and the force in the arrow S1 direction by the first arm 91 mainly acts on the held portion 34Y. .
- This force is a force in a direction in which the toner container 32Y is detached from the holding portion 73.
- the toner container 32Y is pushed further into the force in the direction of detachment and the holder 34c of the toner container 32Y reaches the holding part 73 of the toner container accommodating part 31, and then the first sliding part In addition to the sliding of the sliding surface 31a of 34cl, the second sliding portion 34c2 does not slide the arm pair 90.
- the positioning of the held portion 34Y is started. Specifically, engagement between the engaging portion 34g of the held portion 34Y and the positioning member 31c of the toner container housing portion 31 is started.
- the opening of the toner discharge port B by the plug member 34d is started in the state where the engaging portion 34g and the positioning member 31c are engaged (FIG. 13))
- the plug member 34d is pushed relative to the nozzle 70 as the tip of the nozzle 70 is inserted into the hole of the holder 34c.
- the held portion 34Y is urged toward the holding portion 73 by the second arm 92 (in the direction of the arrow Q). It is energizing.
- first arm 91 is spread to the tip of holder 34c (held portion 34Y) and abuts on second sliding portion 34c2.
- the second arm 92 starts to come into contact with the rear end (flat portion 34k) of the holder 34c.
- the forces in both directions in the direction of the arrow S2 by the first arm 91 are canceled out. Therefore, the force acting on the sliding part 34c2 from the first arm 91 is about the same level of frictional resistance between the greases, and the force in the direction of arrow S3 by the second arm 92 mainly acts on the held part 34Y. become.
- This force is a force in the direction (arrow Q direction) for urging the toner container 32Y toward the holding portion 73.
- the position of the held portion 34Y is determined at the position where the holder 34c hits the holding portion 73 (butting reference position), and at the same time, the plug member 34d completely opens the toner discharge port B. And the gear 33c of the toner container 32Y is engaged with the drive gear of the drive unit of the toner container housing 31. Further, the ID chip 35 is set at a position where it can communicate with the communication circuit 74. Then, the toner discharge port B of the toner container 32Y communicates with the toner supply port 7 Oa of the nozzle 70, and the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y is completed.
- the first arm 91 is in contact with the second sliding portion 34c2, and the second arm 92 is placed on the flat portion 34k (the rear end of the holder 34c) as the biased portion. It is in contact.
- the second arm 92 is retained 3 Will act on 4Y.
- This force becomes a force (positioning force) for holding the held portion 34 ⁇ of the toner container 32 ⁇ on the holding portion 73.
- the two arm pairs 90 abut against the two portions (both ends) of the flat portion 34k, and the held portion 34Y is urged in the mounting direction in a balanced manner.
- the first is before and after the engagement between the engaging portion 34g of the held portion 34Y and the positioning member 31c of the toner container accommodating portion 31 is disengaged.
- the arm 91 and the second arm 92 are in the posture shown in FIG. At this time as well, the first arm 91 applies a force in the S1 direction that causes the toner container 32Y to be detached from the holding portion 73, so that this is a force that supports the user's drawing operation, and the separation becomes easy. Furthermore, the force that passes through the states shown in FIGS. 25 and 24 until the support force at the time of separation by the first arm 91 is generated.
- the second arm 92 has the arrows S3 and S4 described above.
- a force that urges the toner container 32Y toward the holding unit 73 is generated, and this causes the toner container 32 ⁇ to be pushed back to the holding unit 73 for a user's slow pull- out operation.
- the toner discharge port is closed to suppress the scattering of the toner, and since a force is required for pulling out, it is possible to produce an effect of prompting the user to perform a quick pulling out operation that is difficult for the toner to be scattered.
- Example 4 referring to FIG. 6, the height of the sliding portion 34c2 as the biased portion (the position in the lead direction) is equal to the toner discharge port B (or the plug member 34d). ) So that it is almost equal to the height of).
- the sliding portion 34c2 slides on the arm pair 90, even if a rotational moment (rattle) around the longitudinal central axis of the nozzle 70 acts on the held portion 34Y, the first arm The force acting on the sliding portion 34c2 from the 91 and the second arm 92 is prevented from becoming a force that promotes the rotational moment.
- the sliding of the sliding portion 34c2 with respect to the arm pair 90 is started and then the plug member 34d by the nozzle 70 is started.
- the flat part 34k (biased part) is biased (positioned) by the arm pair 90. is doing. That is, as shown in Fig. 6, the sliding direction of the sliding portion 34c2 Is set to be sufficiently long.
- the stopper member 34d is pushed by the nozzle 70, and the holding portion 34Y is positioned in the holding portion 73. This is a sure thing to be done.
- the moving distance force in the attaching / detaching direction of the plug member 34d accompanying the attaching / detaching operation of the toner container 32Y with respect to the toner container containing portion 31 is comprised so that it may become shorter than the distance of the attachment / detachment direction.
- the engaging portion 34g of the held portion 34Y includes a sliding portion 34c2 (second sliding portion), a toner discharge port B (or a plug). It is disposed vertically above the member 34d). As a result, even when toner leaks from the toner discharge port B, most of the leaked toner falls in the direction of gravity, so the toner adheres to the engaging portion 34g and engages with the positioning member 31c. Inconveniences that cause poor alignment are reduced.
- the configuration of the toner container installed in the toner container housing portion is optimized with the longitudinal direction as the horizontal direction, as in the above-described embodiments. Ease of operation at the time of replacement ⁇ Workability can be improved and the occurrence of toner contamination can be surely reduced.
- the toner container 32Y is set on the holding portion 73 while being smoothly slid between the two sliding portions 34c2 force S between the two arm pairs 90, and the biasing force of the arm pair 90
- the held portion 34Y is held by the holding portion 73.
- FIG. 26 is a schematic view showing a state of the arm pair 90 when the toner container 32Y in the fifth embodiment is mounted on the toner container housing portion 31, and corresponds to FIG. 25 in the fourth embodiment.
- the held portion 34Y of the toner container 32Y and the biased portion thus, the point force held portion 34Y in which the corner portion 340m is used is different from that in the fourth embodiment in which the flat portion 34k is used as the biased portion of the held portion 34Y.
- the arm pair 90 is configured so that the held portion 34Y faces the holding portion 73 in a state where the toner container 32Y is set in the toner container housing portion 31.
- Energizes Functions as an energizing means Specifically, the arm pair 90 biases the corner portion 340m (curved surface portion) as the biased portion of the held portion 34Y in a state where the toner container 32Y is set in the toner container housing portion 31. Further, the arm pair 90 is configured to slide in contact with the second sliding portion 34c2 of the held portion 34Y in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation of the toner container 32Y.
- the corner portion 340m as the biased portion of the held portion 34Y biased by the arm pair 90 is the corner portion at the end of the two side portions of the held portion 34Y in which the sliding portion 34c2 is formed. (Two corners).
- the toner container 32Y is set on the holding portion 73 while the two sliding portions 34c2 slide smoothly between the two arm pairs 90, and are held by the arm pairs 90.
- the posture of the held portion 34Y in the portion 73 is maintained.
- the two arm pairs 90 abut against the two corner portions 340m, so that the held portion 34Y is biased in the mounting direction with a good balance.
- the corners 340m of the held portion 34Y are rounded (rounded chamfers).
- the rounded corner 340m is formed to be smaller than the rounded corner of the arm pair 90 that is in contact with the corner 340m (the abutting portion 92a of the second arm 92).
- the transition from the operation in which the sliding portion 34c2 slides on the arm pair 90 to the operation in which the arm pair 90 biases the held portion 34Y (corner portion 340m) can be smoothly performed.
- Example 5 As described above, in Example 5 as well, the configuration of the toner container installed in the toner container accommodating portion with the longitudinal direction as the horizontal direction is optimized, as in the case of each of the above examples. Ease of operation at the time of replacement ⁇ Workability can be improved and the occurrence of toner contamination can be surely reduced.
- the toner container 32Y is set in the holding portion 73 while the two sliding portions 34c2 smoothly slide between the two arm pairs 90.
- the held portion 34Y is held by the holding portion 73 by the urging force of the arm pair 90.
- the holder 34c of the held portion 34Y is also provided with sliding portions 34c1 and 34c2 that slide on the toner container housing portion 31 in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation with respect to the toner container housing portion 31. .
- the first sliding portion 34cl is a flat surface portion formed so as to be parallel to the sliding surface 31a (the upper surface, see FIG. 27A) of the toner container housing portion 31. And, it is arranged at the bottom of the held portion 34Y where the attaching / detaching operation is performed.
- the second sliding portion 34 c2 is a flat portion formed so as to be parallel to the sliding surface 31 b (side surface, see FIG. 27B) of the toner container housing portion 31. It is arranged on the side of the held part 34Y where the attaching / detaching operation is performed.
- FIG. 27A is a schematic view of the state in which the yellow toner container 32Y is mounted in the toner container accommodating portion 31 (moving in the direction of the arrow) as viewed in the longitudinal direction, and FIG. 27B is a holding portion at that time. It is the schematic which looked at the holder 34c vicinity of 34Y from upper direction.
- FIG. 28A is a schematic view of the state in which the toner container 32Y is advanced (positioning of the held portion 34Y is started) in the longitudinal direction
- FIG. 28B is a view of the held portion 34Y at that time. It is the schematic which looked at the holder 34c vicinity from upper direction.
- FIG. 28A is a schematic view of the state in which the toner container 32Y is advanced (positioning of the held portion 34Y is started) in the longitudinal direction
- FIG. 28B is a view of the held portion 34Y at that time. It is the schematic which looked at the holder 34c vicinity from upper direction.
- FIG. 28A is a schematic view of the state in which
- FIG. 29A is a schematic view of the state in which the toner container 32Y is installed in the toner container accommodating portion 31 (the state where the installation is completed) as viewed in the longitudinal direction, and FIG. 29B shows the vicinity of the holder 34c at that time It is the schematic which also saw power.
- the toner container housing 31 is provided with four toner container housings corresponding to the four toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K.
- the four toner container housing parts include sliding surfaces 31a and 31b on which the sliding parts 34c 1 and 34c2 of the held part 34Y slide, and holding parts 73 and nozzles 70 for determining the positions of the holders 34c of the held part 34Y, respectively.
- Rotating drive force on the container body 33Y A drive unit (not shown) for transmission is provided.
- the holding portion 73 includes sliding surfaces 31a and 31b that contact the holder 34c, contact surfaces (not shown) that contact a part of the cap cover 34b, and the like.
- the sliding surface 31b (side surface) of the holding portion 73 is provided with a positioning member 31c that performs positioning in conjunction with the mounting operation of the held portion 34Y.
- the positioning member 31c is a convex portion extending along the attaching / detaching direction of the toner container 32Y.
- the toner container 32Y is pushed into the toner container accommodating portion 31 (the movement in the direction of the arrow). That is, the held portion 34Y comes to the top with respect to the container main body 33Y. In this manner, the toner container 32Y is mounted in the toner container housing 31 along the longitudinal direction of the container body 33Y (or the toner container 32Y).
- the first sliding part 34cl slides on the sliding surface 31a of the toner container housing part 31 on the leading side of the toner container 32Y, and the user grips the gripping part 33d on the rear end side of the toner container 32Y.
- the toner container 32Y is pushed into the toner container housing 31 in a well-balanced manner.
- the opening of the toner discharge port B by the plug member 34d is started in a state where the engaging portion 34g and the positioning member 31c are engaged. That is, the plug member 34d is pushed by the nozzle 70 as the tip of the nozzle 70 is inserted into the hole of the holder 34c. Then, as shown in FIG. 29A, the position of the held portion 34Y is determined at the position where the holder 34c abuts the holding portion 73 (the abutting reference position), and at the same time, the plug member 34d completely opens the toner discharge port B. To open. This makes the toner The toner discharge port B of the container 32Y communicates with the toner supply port 70a of the nozzle 70, and the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y is completed.
- the plug of the toner discharge port B by the plug member 34d is started.
- the opening is configured to start.
- the tip of the positioning member 31c is formed so that the tip of the positioning member 31c is closer to the portion to be held 34Y than the tip of the nozzle 70 with respect to the portion to be held 34Y that moves in the mounting direction (the arrow direction in FIG. 27A).
- positioning member 31c is formed to be longer than nozzle 70 by a predetermined length H on the left side of the abutting reference position force of holding portion 73.
- the toner container 32Y is mounted in one action (except for the opening and closing operation of the main body door) in which the sliding portion 34cl of the toner container 32Y slides on the sliding surface 31a. Will be completed. That is, while the sliding portion 34cl of the toner container 32Y is slid on the sliding surface 31a, the positioning operation of the held portion 34Y (toner container 32Y) is started in conjunction with the operation, and then the nozzle 70 Insertion operation is started.
- the nozzle 70 reliably comes into contact with the plug member 34d (hole) of the held portion 34Y accurately positioned by the positioning member 31c. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent damage to the nozzle 70 (or the held portion 34Y) due to coming off from the nozzle 70 force S plug member 34d and coming into contact with the held portion 34Y. That is, when the insertion operation of the nozzle 70 is started without the precise positioning of the held portion 34Y, the nozzle 70 comes off from the stopper member 34d and comes into contact with the held portion 34Y. The nozzle 70 (or the held portion 34Y) is deformed by a stress exceeding the allowable stress acting on the (or the held portion 34Y).
- the positioning member 31c has a taper 31cl (or chamfer) formed at the tip on the side where the held portion 34Y is mounted. Further, the engaging portion 34g of the held portion 34Y is also formed with a taper 34g 1 (or chamfer) at the tip on the side where the positioning member 31c is engaged. As a result, in the attaching / detaching operation of the toner container 32Y, the engaging part 34g of the held part 34Y and the positioning member 31c of the toner container accommodating part 31 are smoothly engaged.
- the movement of the nozzle 70 in and out of the holder 34c and the movement of the plug member 34d in and out of the holder 34c are performed in a state where both members are in sliding contact with the lip of the packing 34e of the holder 34c.
- the problem of toner leaking from the holder 34c due to the nozzle 70 being removed is prevented.
- the operation is performed in the reverse order of the above-described procedure for mounting.
- the nozzle 70 is also moved away from the holder 34c in conjunction with the movement of the toner container 32Y away from the holding portion 73, and the plug member 34d is closed to the toner discharge port B by the urging force of the compression spring 34f.
- the detaching operation of the toner container 32Y is completed by one action (excluding the opening / closing operation of the main body door) in which the sliding portion 34cl of the toner container 32Y slides on the sliding surface 31a.
- the toner container 32Y of Example 6 includes the held portion 34Y in which the toner discharge port B is disposed below in the direction of gravity, and the plug member 34d is reliably positioned in conjunction with the mounting operation.
- the plug member 34d is reliably positioned in conjunction with the mounting operation.
- the toner container 32Y is mounted in such a manner that the sliding portion 34cl starts to slide while the user directly grips the gripping portion 33d, and then the positioning of the held portion 34Y starts together with the sliding. At this time, the insertion of the nozzle 70 is started, and the positioning of the held portion 34Y and the insertion of the nozzle 70 are completed at the end of the sliding. As a result, the user feels the click feeling due to the positioning of the held portion 34Y as the sliding of the held portion 34Y (1 action mounting operation) proceeds, and an erroneous operation occurs in the mounting operation. Be sure to be confident.
- the toner container 32Y is not mounted from above the toner container housing portion 31 (device main body 100), but the front force of the toner container housing portion 31 (device main body 100) is also attached and detached.
- the degree of freedom in the layout above the toner container housing portion 31 is increased. For example, even when a scanner (original reading portion) is disposed directly above the toner container storage portion, the operability and workability in attaching and detaching the toner container 32Y do not deteriorate.
- the toner container 32Y since the toner container 32Y is installed in the apparatus main body 100 with its longitudinal direction as the horizontal direction, the toner container 32Y has a large toner capacity without affecting the layout in the height direction of the entire image forming apparatus 100. Thus, the replacement frequency can be reduced.
- Embodiment 7 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 30A and 30B.
- FIGS. 30A and 30B are schematic diagrams illustrating a state in which the toner container 32Y according to the seventh embodiment is mounted in the toner container housing portion 31, and are diagrams corresponding to FIGS. 27A and 27B according to the sixth embodiment. .
- the shape of the held portion 34Y of the toner container 32Y is mainly different from that of the sixth embodiment.
- the toner container 32Y in the seventh embodiment also includes a container body 33Y, a held portion 34 ⁇ (bottle cap), and the like, as in the sixth embodiment. Further, the holding member 34 34 of the toner container 32 ⁇ is provided with a plug member 34d as an opening / closing member, and an engaging portion 34g with which the positioning member 31c of the toner container housing portion 31 is engaged.
- the held portion 34Y in the seventh embodiment differs from that in the sixth embodiment in that it moves in the mounting direction (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 30A) with respect to the toner container housing portion 31.
- the tip of the engaging portion 34g that engages with the positioning member 31c is closer to the toner container housing portion 31 side (right side of the paper) than the tip of the stopper member 34d that is pushed by the nozzle 70.
- the engaging portion 34g has a predetermined length H closer to the holding portion 73 than the plug member 34d. It is formed to be long only.
- the toner container housing portion 31 is formed so as to have substantially the same length from the abutting reference position of the positioning member 31c, the nozzle 70, and the force holding portion 73.
- Example 7 As well as Example 6, after the positioning of the held portion 34Y is started in the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y to the toner container housing portion 31, Then, the opening of the toner discharge port B by the plug member 34d is started. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to the nozzle 70 (or the held portion 34Y) due to the nozzle 70 coming off the plug member 34d and coming into contact with the held portion 34Y.
- the held portion is interlocked with the mounting operation. Since the opening of the toner discharge port B by the plug member 34d is started after the positioning of 34Y is started, the toner discharge port B is reliably and smoothly opened. This enhances operability and workability when replacing the toner container 32Y, and can reliably reduce the occurrence of toner contamination.
- Embodiment 8 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
- FIG. 31 is a perspective view showing the toner container according to the eighth embodiment, which corresponds to FIG. 5 of the first embodiment.
- the shape of the positioning member 3 lc provided in the toner container housing portion is different from that of the first embodiment.
- the positioning member 31c provided in the toner container housing portion in the eighth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment formed integrally with the wall surface (side surface) of the toner container housing portion. Unlike the toner container, it protrudes with the nozzle 70 from the back side of the holding part of the toner container housing part to the held part 34Y side. As in the sixth embodiment, the positioning member 31c of the eighth embodiment is also formed so that the abutting reference position force of the holding portion is longer than the nozzle 70 by a predetermined length on the held portion 34Y side. RU
- Example 8 As well as Example 6, after the positioning of the held portion 34Y is started in the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y to the toner container housing portion 31, Then, the opening of the toner discharge port B by the plug member 34d is started. But Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage to the nozzle 70 (or the held portion 34Y) due to the nozzle 70 coming off from the plug member 34d and coming into contact with the held portion 34Y.
- the held portion is interlocked with the mounting operation. Since the opening of the toner discharge port B by the plug member 34d is started after the positioning of 34Y is started, the toner discharge port B is reliably and smoothly opened. This enhances operability and workability when replacing the toner container 32Y, and can reliably reduce the occurrence of toner contamination.
- Embodiment 9 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
- FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner container in Example 9.
- the toner container of the ninth embodiment is mainly configured such that the container main body 33Y is held in the toner container housing part 31 in a non-rotating manner together with the held part 34Y, and the coil 81Y is provided as a conveying member.
- the container body 33Y is different from those in the above embodiments in which the toner contained therein is conveyed to the opening A by the rotation of the container body 33Y.
- the toner container 32Y is mainly composed of a container body 33Y and a held portion 34Y.
- An opening A is provided in the head of the container body 33Y, and a gear 33c is rotatably installed on the outer periphery of the opening A.
- the gear 33c is coupled with the drive gear of the apparatus main body 100 to rotate the coil 81Y.
- the gear 33c is provided with a rotating shaft 80Y, and a helical coil 81Y is connected to the rotating shaft 80Y.
- One end of the rotating shaft 80Y is supported by the bearing portion 34a2 of the held portion 34Y.
- the coil 81Y extends from the opening A inside the container body 33Y to the rear end (bottom). Then, when the gear 33c rotates around the container body 33Y, the rotation shaft 80Y and the coil 81Y are also rotationally driven.
- the toner accommodated in the container main body 33Y is transported toward the opening A by the toner transport force of the coil 81Y.
- the outer diameter of the coil 81Y is smaller than the inner diameter of the container body 33Y, the container body 3 3Y inner surface force The toner conveying force can be exerted even on toner near the rotation center axis. Furthermore, since the shape of the coil 81Y is relatively flexible and is supported only at one end, the posture of the coil 81Y is swung during rotation. As a result, the entire toner conveying force can be exerted from the inner peripheral surface of the container main body 33 ⁇ to the rotation center axis.
- the cover is interlocked with the attachment / detachment operation of the one action.
- the toner discharge port ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ is opened and closed by the cap member 34d of the holding portion 34 ⁇ .
- the opening of the toner discharge port B by the plug member 34d is started.
- sliding portions 34cl and 34c2 are provided in the held portion 34Y to slide the toner container housing portion 31 in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation with respect to the toner container housing portion 31.
- the configuration of the toner container installed in the toner container housing portion with the longitudinal direction as the horizontal direction is optimized, as in each of the embodiments. Ease of operation at the time of replacement ⁇ Workability can be improved and the occurrence of toner contamination can be surely reduced.
- a screw can be used as the force conveying member using the coil 81 Y as the conveying member. In this case, the same effect as in the fourth embodiment can be obtained.
- FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the toner container according to the tenth embodiment and corresponds to FIG. 32 of the ninth embodiment.
- FIG. 34 is a view showing the plate-like member 84Y.
- the toner container of the tenth embodiment is different from that of the ninth embodiment in that a plate-like member 84Y is used as a conveying member.
- the toner container 32Y mainly includes a container body 33Y and a held portion 34Y. Consists of.
- An opening A is provided in the head of the container body 33Y, and a gear 33c is rotatably installed on the outer periphery of the opening A.
- the gear 33c is rotationally driven in mesh with the drive gear of the apparatus body 100, as in the ninth embodiment.
- a screw rod 83Y is physically provided on the gear 33c, and a plate-like member 84Y is provided on the screw rod 83Y. Specifically, the female threaded portion 84Ya of the plate member 84Y is screwed into the male threaded portion 83Ya of the threaded rod 83Y (see FIG. 34.) 0 Referring to FIG. A notch is formed, and this notch engages with a guide 85Y standing on the inner peripheral surface of the container body 33Y.
- one end of screw rod 83Y is supported by bearing 34a2 of held portion 34Y, and the other end is supported by a bearing provided at the rear end of container body 33Y. .
- the gear 33c rotates around the container body 33Y
- the screw rod 83Y is also rotationally driven integrally.
- the plate-like member 84Y screwed into the screw rod 83Y moves along the screw feed direction (to the opening A side) while being guided by the guide portion 85Y (without being accompanied by the screw rod 83Y).
- the speed of movement of the plate-like member 84Y is set relatively moderately according to the toner consumption speed of the container body 33Y.
- the toner accommodated in the container main body 33Y is conveyed to the opening A side by the toner conveying force of the plate-like member 84Y.
- the outer diameter of the plate-like member 84Y is formed to be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the container main body 33Y, and with respect to the toner near the rotation center axis A far from the inner peripheral surface of the container main body 33Y.
- a toner conveying force can be exerted. Therefore, even if toner aggregation occurs due to environmental changes or long-term storage in a state where a large amount of toner is contained in the container body 33Y, the aggregation is caused by the toner conveying force of the plate member 84Y.
- the condition can be weakened to prevent a decrease in the amount of discharged toner.
- Example 11 will be described in detail with reference to Figs.
- the conventional technology it can be expected that a user who has less toner contamination at the toner outlet in the toner container touches the toner outlet and is contaminated with toner. Since the position of the part is not fixed, there is a problem that the operability (setting property) at the time of replacement of the toner container is insufficient or the toner is scattered from the vicinity of the toner discharge port at the time of replacement of the toner container.
- FIG. 35 is a schematic diagram illustrating a toner supply path of the image forming apparatus according to the eleventh embodiment.
- the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the eleventh embodiment is the same as the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS.
- the toner replenishing device of the image forming apparatus of the eleventh embodiment is different from the toner replenishing device 59 of the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG.
- the claw member 76 is not provided, and the ID chip 35 of the toner container 32Y is not provided with the protruding portion 34a 1 at the top of the held portion 34Y, but is provided as it is at the flat portion of the tip.
- the configuration is the same as that of the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment.
- Example 11 as in Example 1 described above with reference to FIGS.
- four substantially cylindrical toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K toner bottles
- Each of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K is replaced with a new one when it reaches the end of its life, such as when almost all of the toner it contains is consumed and emptied.
- the toner of each color stored in the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K passes through the toner replenishment path shown in FIG. 35 to the developing devices of the image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K. Supplemented as appropriate.
- FIG. 36 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the toner container 32 ⁇ .
- FIG. 37 is a cross-sectional view of the head side of the toner container 32 ((the side where the held portion 34 ⁇ is installed).
- FIG. 38 is a schematic view of the toner container 32 ⁇ of FIG. 37 as viewed from the direction of the arrow ⁇ .
- the other three toner containers 32M, 32C, and 32K have substantially the same configuration as the toner container 32Y containing yellow toner, except that the color of the contained toner is different.
- description of the other three toner containers 32M, 32C, and 32K will be omitted as appropriate, and only the toner container 32Y containing the yellow toner will be described.
- the same parts as those of the toner container of Example 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIGS.
- the toner container of Example 11 does not include the stirring member 33f, the claw member 76, the rotation support shaft 76a, the protrusion 34al, the recess 34m, the fitting member 31d, and the protrusion 34 ⁇ in the toner container of Example 1. It is.
- the drive gear 31g in FIG. 5 is omitted.
- the toner container of Example 11 is configured to include a compression spring 34f as urging means.
- the compression spring 34f is installed at the right end of the plug member 34d in FIG. 37 so as to urge the plug member 34d in the direction in which the toner discharge port B is closed.
- the ID chip 35 of the eleventh embodiment is on the surface of the held portion 34Y perpendicular to the attaching / detaching direction (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 36) with respect to the toner container housing portion 31, and in the attaching / detaching operation, It is installed at a position facing 74.
- the holder 34c of the held portion 34Y is provided with sliding portions 34cl and 34c2 for sliding the toner container housing portion 31 in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation with respect to the toner container housing portion 31.
- the first sliding portion 34cl is a sliding surface (guide rail) 31a of the base plate 310a installed in the toner container accommodating portion 31 (a surface having a flat surface facing upward, see FIG. The ) And is arranged at the bottom of the held portion 34Y where the attaching / detaching operation is performed.
- the second sliding portion 34c2 is formed so as to be parallel to the sliding surface 31b (a surface having a flat surface facing the side, which can be referred to FIG. 10) of the toner container housing portion 31.
- the flat portion is disposed on the side portion of the held portion 34Y where the attaching / detaching operation is performed.
- the toner container 32Y is set in the toner container accommodating portion 31, and the toner discharge port B (or the plug member 34d) force is opened in the container body 33Y. Rather than vertically below (lower side in Fig. 37).
- the toner in the container main body 33Y moves in the direction of the broken line arrow in FIG. 37 and is discharged from the toner discharge port B that is opened in conjunction with the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y. That is, the toner in the container main body 33Y discharged from the opening A is discharged from the toner discharge port B at the lower side in the vertical direction.
- the toner discharge port B is disposed on the back side (the left side in Fig. 37) with respect to the mounting direction to the toner container housing portion 31 with respect to the container body 33Y (or the opening portion A).
- the toner discharge port B can be opened and closed smoothly and reliably in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation of the toner container 32Y in the longitudinal direction (axial direction). That is, when the toner container 32Y is mounted, the nozzle 70 and the plug member 34d are preferentially brought into contact with each other after the held portion 34Y starts to be positioned. Further, since the holding portion 73 of the toner container accommodating portion 31 including the nozzle 70 can be disposed on the back side in the mounting direction (left side in FIG. 37), the layout of the apparatus main body 100 is simplified.
- the toner discharge port B is located on the back side of the mounting direction to the toner container housing portion 31 with respect to the gear 33c installed on the peripheral surface of the container body 33Y and in the vicinity of the opening A ( It is arranged on the left side in Fig. 37.
- the toner discharge port B can be opened and closed smoothly and reliably in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation of the toner container 32Y in the longitudinal direction. That is, when the toner container 32Y is mounted, after the positioning of the held portion 34Y is started, the nozzle 70 and the plug member 34d are contacted preferentially, and then the gear 33c and the drive gear are Integration is performed. [0200] Next, the toner container housing portion 31 in Embodiment 11 will be described. The toner container housing portion 31 of the eleventh embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 in the first embodiment and FIGS. 21 and 22 in the fourth embodiment.
- the toner container housing 31 includes a sliding surface 3 la on which the sliding parts of the held parts of the four toner containers 32Y, 32 ⁇ , 32C, and 32K slide, and the holder 34c of the held part.
- a holding portion 73 that determines the position, a nozzle 70 as an engagement member, a drive portion for transmitting rotational driving force to the container body 33Y, a communication circuit 74, an urging member, and an arm pair that functions as a second urging member 90, etc. are installed.
- Holding unit 73 holds the held portions of toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K in a non-rotating manner.
- the holding portion 73 includes a sliding surface that contacts the holder 34c, a contact surface that contacts a part of the cap cover 34b, and the like.
- a slip fit surface of the holding portion 73 (side), the positioning member 31c for positioning in synchronization with the attachment operation of the held portion 34Y is that provided (can be referred to FIG. 36.)
- 0 positioning member 31c, the toner It is a convex portion extending along the attaching / detaching direction of the container 32Y.
- nozzles 70 shown in FIG. 11 are installed for each toner color.
- the nozzle 70 is provided with a toner supply port 70a that communicates with the toner discharge port B formed in the held portion 34Y of the toner container 32Y.
- the arm Pair 90 is installed for each toner color. As shown in FIG. 21, the arm pairs 90 are respectively installed at positions on both sides of the held portion of the toner container.
- the arm pair 90 includes a first arm 91, a second arm 92, a support shaft 93, a torsion spring 94, and the like.
- the arm pair 90 is integrally installed via a support shaft 93 and applies a force in both directions of rotation around the support shaft 93 by a torsion spring 94.
- the first arm 91 and the second arm 92 cause a force to act in both directions of rotation about the support shaft 93.
- the force increases as the angle between the first arm 91 and the second arm 92 increases.
- the arm pair 90 configured as described above is protected in conjunction with the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y.
- the holding portion 34Y (toner container 32Y) functions as an urging member that urges the holding portion 73 toward the holding portion 73 (the urging is in the direction of arrow Q in FIG. 4). Further, the arm pair 90 is biased in a direction (in the direction opposite to the arrow Q in FIG. 4) to detach the held portion 34Y (toner container 32Y) from the holding portion 73 in conjunction with the detaching operation of the toner container 32Y. It also functions as a second urging member.
- FIG. 39 is a schematic view of the state in which the yellow toner container 32Y is mounted in the toner container housing 31 (moving in the direction of arrow Q) in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 40 is a schematic view of the state in which the installation of the toner container 32Y is advanced (the state in which the opening of the toner discharge port B is started) is seen in the longitudinal direction.
- FIG. 41 is a schematic view of the state in which the toner container 32Y is mounted in the toner container housing part 31 (the state where the toner discharge port B has been opened) as viewed in the longitudinal direction.
- Toner to the toner container housing part 31 For the attaching / detaching operation (attaching / detaching operation) of the container 32Y, see Figure
- Example 11 the movement of the held portion 34Y to the holding portion 73 and the opening of the toner discharge port B of the toner container 32Y are performed by the urging force of the arm pair 90.
- FIG. 42 is a graph showing the relationship between the moving position of the held portion 34Y (toner container 32Y) and the load that the held portion 34Y receives from the arm pair 90 in the toner container mounting operation. .
- the position of the held portion 34Y is determined by the position of W3 in FIG. 42 (the positions of FIG. 41 and FIG. 25).
- Example 11 the speed at which the toner discharge port B of the toner container 32Y is opened is not determined by the user's operation speed (speed at which the toner container is pushed in). It will be mechanically determined by 90. Accordingly, the time during which the sealing performance of the held portion 34Y is lowered is always shortened to be almost constant without becoming extremely long, and toner scattering due to the force near the toner discharge port B is reduced.
- the arm pair 90Y is interlocked with one action (except for the opening and closing operation of the main body door) in which the sliding portion 34cl of the toner container 32Y slides on the sliding surface 31a.
- the urging operation and the positioning operation of the held portion 34Y are started, and then the insertion operation of the nozzle 70 is started, and finally the connection of the gear 33c to the drive gear is completed. This improves the operability of the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y.
- the operation is performed in the reverse order of the mounting procedure.
- the nozzle 70 also moves away from the holder 34c in conjunction with the movement of the toner container 32Y away from the holding portion 73! /, And the plug member 34d closes the toner discharge port B by the urging force of the compression spring 34f. Move to the desired position.
- the removal operation of the toner container 32Y is completed by one action (excluding the opening / closing operation of the main body door) in which the sliding portion 34cl of the toner container 32Y slides on the sliding surface 31a.
- the arm pair 90 acts as a second urging member that urges the held portion 34Y (toner container 32Y) in the direction of detachment from the holding portion 73 in conjunction with the detachment operation of the toner container 32Y.
- the speed at which the toner discharge port B of the toner container 32Y is closed is determined mechanically by the arm pair 90 which is not determined by the user's operation speed (the speed at which the toner container is pulled out). Become. Therefore, the retained part 34
- the time during which the sealing performance of Y decreases is almost constant and short without becoming extremely long, and toner scattering near the toner discharge port ⁇ is reduced.
- the toner container housing portion 31 is configured to urge the toner container 32Y toward the holding portion 73 of the toner container housing portion 31 in conjunction with the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y. ing. As a result, it is possible to reliably reduce the occurrence of toner scattering that is not related to the operation when the toner container 32Y is replaced by the user without reducing the toner discharge amount of the toner container 32Y or the operability when the toner container 32Y is replaced. .
- the toner container 32Y of the eleventh embodiment includes the held portion 34Y in which the toner discharge port B is disposed downward in the vertical direction, and the toner discharge port B is vertically lower than the opening A.
- the toner discharge port B In order to open the toner discharge port B that is sealed by the nozzle / kin 34e after being pushed by the nozzle 70 after the plug member 34d is positioned securely in conjunction with the mounting operation. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a problem that a user who has little toner contamination at toner outlet B touches toner outlet B and is stained with toner.
- the attaching / detaching operation of the toner container 32Y with respect to the toner container housing part 31 is one action accompanying the sliding of the sliding part 34cl, the operability when replacing the toner container 32Y is improved.
- the sliding portion 34cl slides on the sliding surface 31a while supporting the toner container 32Y.
- the toner container 32Y is mounted in such a manner that the sliding portion 34cl starts to slide while the user directly grips the gripping portion 33d, and then the holding portion 34Y is positioned along with the urging of the arm pair 90. After that, the insertion of the nozzle 70 is started, and the positioning of the held portion 34Y, the insertion of the nozzle 70, and the connection of the driving portion are completed with the end of the sliding. As a result, the user feels the click feeling due to the positioning of the held portion 34Y at the same time that the held portion 34Y slides (1 action mounting operation), and an erroneous operation occurs in the mounting operation. Will be convinced.
- the toner container 32Y is not mounted from above the toner container housing part 31 (device main body 100), but the front force of the toner container housing part 31 (device main body 100) is also attached and detached.
- the degree of freedom in the layout above the toner container housing portion 31 is increased. For example, even when a scanner (original reading unit) is disposed directly above the toner container storage unit 31, the toner The operability and workability in removing and installing the container 32Y are not reduced. Further, the degree of freedom in layout with respect to the engagement position D between the gear 33c of the toner container 32Y and the drive gear of the apparatus main body 100 is increased.
- the toner container 32Y since the toner container 32Y is installed in the apparatus main body 100 with its longitudinal direction as the horizontal direction, the toner container 32Y has a large toner capacity without affecting the layout in the height direction of the entire image forming apparatus 100. Thus, the replacement frequency can be reduced.
- Example 11 As described above, in Example 11, when the toner container 32Y is replaced, the operation is easy, and the occurrence of toner scattering can be reliably reduced.
- the toner container housing portion 31 is configured so as to bias the toner container 32Y toward the holding portion 73 of the toner container housing portion 31 in conjunction with the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y, the toner container It is possible to reliably reduce the occurrence of toner scattering that is not related to the operation when replacing the toner container 32Y by the user without reducing the toner discharge amount of 32Y and the operability during replacement.
- Example 11 only the toner was accommodated in the toner container 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K, but a two-component developer composed of toner and carrier was appropriately supplied to the developing device.
- toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K containers can contain a two-component developer. Even in such a case, toner scattering can be prevented by providing the arm pair 90 that urges the toner container 32Y toward the holding portion 73 of the toner container housing portion 31 in conjunction with the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y. It can be surely mitigated.
- Example 12 will be described in detail with reference to Figs.
- FIG. 43 is a perspective view illustrating a toner container 32Y that is detachably installed in the toner container housing 31 in the twelfth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 36 in the eleventh embodiment.
- FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the toner container 32Y in the twelfth embodiment.
- the toner container accommodating portion 31 in the present embodiment 12 is different from that in the above-mentioned embodiment 11 in that the positioning pin 70b that engages with the positioning hole 340k of the toner container 32Y is installed in the nozzle 70.
- the image forming apparatus 100 according to the twelfth embodiment is similar to the eleventh embodiment.
- a toner container accommodating portion (set portion) 31 is provided as a mounting portion to which 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K are detachably mounted.
- the toner container (toner bottle) 32Y set in the apparatus main body (printer) 100 is a cylindrical container main body (bottle bottle) with an opening A formed at one end.
- Body) 33Y and a held portion (cap) 34Y that can rotate relative to the container body 33Y at the opening A thereof.
- the container body 33Y is formed with a protrusion 33b (a spiral projecting toward the inside of the container) as a transport section for transporting the toner stored by rotation to the opening A side on the peripheral surface thereof.
- the opening A has a circular shape centering on the axis line (rotation axis) of the container main body 33Y, and is formed to have a smaller diameter than the diameter of the container main body 33Y.
- a second spiral (second protrusion) and a pumping unit for pumping the toner toward the second spiral are provided between the protrusion 33b and the opening A. (In either case, they are arranged in a position hidden behind the force holder 134m, which is not shown).
- the held portion (cap) 34Y is attached to the container body 33Y via the holder 134m.
- the held portion 34Y is provided with a claw (claw portion) 340bl on the outer diameter portion of its cylinder.
- a sealing material (seal) 37 is interposed at the joint between the container main body 33Y and the held portion 34Y to prevent toner leakage due to the strength of the joint.
- a gear (bottle gear) 33c used as an input part for rotating the container body 33Y is provided integrally with the container body 33Y! / RU
- a toner discharge port (replenishment port) B is formed at the lower part of the peripheral surface.
- the toner discharge port B is integrated with a funnel-shaped opening 340c2 provided in a holder (exit member) 340c.
- a nozzle 70 toner transport pipe
- the nozzle hole 340 ⁇ has a plug member (shutter) 34d
- the urging means for urging the plug member 34d in the direction against the direction pushed by the force nozzle 70 not shown is not the toner container 32Y side but the toner container. It is installed on the accommodating part 31 side.
- positioning pins 70b are arranged in parallel on the left and right sides of the nozzle body on the apparatus body 100 side where the nozzle 70 is provided.
- the positioning pin 70b is inserted into a positioning hole 340k provided in the held portion 34Y.
- the supply side of the nozzle 70 communicates with the suction port of the suction-type screw pump 60 in the same manner as in the eleventh embodiment.
- a uniaxial eccentric screw pump (Mono pump) capable of continuous quantitative transfer at a high solid-gas ratio can be used.
- the toner container 32Y configured as described above has a held portion 34Y attached with a holder (exit member) 340c protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface of the container body 33Y when viewed from the direction of arrow M in FIG. Yes.
- the holder 340c as an overhanging portion projected in the attaching / detaching direction does not overlap with the projection surface in the attaching / detaching direction of the container body 33Y (in the directions of arrows M and Q). Is formed!
- the positioning pin 70b is inserted into the positioning hole 340k and the nozzle 70 is inserted into the force hole 340 ⁇ . That is, the nozzle 70 is inserted into the nozzle hole 340 ⁇ by moving the toner container 32 ⁇ in the axial direction (longitudinal direction) with the held portion 34 ⁇ as the tip.
- the plug member 34d force S is pushed out from the nozzle hole 340 ⁇ to the back side, and the toner supply port (receiving port) 70a of the nozzle 70 and the toner discharge port B (opening 340c2)
- the toner can be replenished by communicating with each other.
- the toner supply operation is performed in the same manner as in the eleventh embodiment. That is, as the container body 33Y rotates, the stored toner is sent to the held portion 34Y side, and the toner discharge port B is filled with toner.
- the suction-type screw pump can reliably transport the toner if the toner discharge port B on the suction side is filled with toner, so that it is possible to replenish the developing device with an amount of toner corresponding to the operation time. .
- the power for replenishing toner in this way The toner container 32Y is set in the toner container housing 31 by the user. For this reason, if the toner container 32Y is not properly set and there is a setting failure, the toner cannot be replenished without being correctly inserted into the nozzle 70 force slew hole 340 ⁇ .
- FIG. 45 is a perspective view showing the base plate 310a installed in the toner container housing portion (set unit) 31.
- FIG. 46 is an enlarged view of a part of the base plate 310a on which the toner container 32Y is installed. It is sectional drawing.
- the base plate 310a provided in the toner container housing 31 has a space in which toner containers 32Y for four colors can be mounted. Sliding surfaces 31a and 31b are formed at the mounting positions of the toner containers 32Y.
- one base plate 310a is mounted with four toner containers 32Y, but the base plate 310a may be provided independently for each toner container 32Y according to the number of toner containers 32Y. I'll do it.
- a guide groove 31al l in which the held portion 34Y is accommodated is formed by the sliding surface 3 la and the sliding surface 3 lb formed on the base plate 310a.
- a guide edge (guide edge) 31al2 which is a bent portion formed by the sliding surface 3 lb of the guide groove 31a 11 and the upper surface of the base plate 310a is configured to support the container body 33Y.
- the guide groove 31al l is configured to guide the holder 340c (projected portion) that projects from the outer circumference of the container body 33Y when viewed in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG.
- the protruding portion 34c of the held portion 34Y is formed so as to fit in the guide groove 31all.
- the guide edge 31al2 is located at the start point and end point of the guide groove 31al shown in FIG. 46, and its corners are chamfered so as to make it easier to support the rotating container body 33Y.
- the toner container accommodating portion 31 configured in this manner is provided with the sliding surfaces 3la and 31b in which the guide groove 31al is formed, so that when the held portion 34Y is fitted in the guide groove 31al, Rotation around the axis of the held part 34Y is restricted. Therefore, if the toner container 32Y is placed on the sliding surface 31a and moved in the direction of the arrow Q with the held portion 34Y fitted in the guide groove 31all, the toner container 32Y can be easily and reliably set correctly. can do. In other words, the nozzle hole 340 ⁇ or positioning is achieved by fitting the held part 34Y into the guide groove 31al 1.
- the positioning pin 70b Since the position of the hole 340k does not fluctuate, when the toner container 32Y is mounted in the direction of the arrow Q, the positioning pin 70b is securely inserted into the positioning hole 340k and is also securely inserted into the nozzle 70 nozzle hole 340 ⁇ . .
- Example 12 the toner container 32 ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ ⁇ is slid and mounted on the sliding surface 3 la in parallel with its axis until the mounting operation is started and the force is completed.
- the toner container 32Y can be slid in the direction orthogonal to the arrow Q direction with the held portion 34Y at the beginning at the beginning of the mounting operation and mounted in the direction of the force arrow Q.
- the toner container 32Y can be dropped from the upper side onto the sliding surface 31a at the beginning of the mounting operation, and then slid in the direction of arrow Q for mounting.
- the image forming apparatus 100 there is a toner discharge mechanism on the back side as viewed from the operator (user), and the nozzle hole 340 ⁇ of the toner container 32Y and the nozzle 70 on the apparatus main body 100 side are It is configured to be docked on the back side of the main unit 100.
- the toner discharge mechanism docking structure
- the operator Compared with the case where the toner discharge mechanism (docking structure) is on the front side of the apparatus main body 100, the operator becomes dirty with toner.
- the docking structure since the docking structure is located on the back side of the main unit 100, it is rare for an operator to hold the holding part 34 ⁇ when installing it. It has been confirmed by experiments.
- the main body of the container When holding the 33 ⁇ and operating it, the held part 34 ⁇ side may rotate and the operability may deteriorate.In this example 12, the rotation of the held part 34 ⁇ is restricted by the sliding surface 31a. Improves. Therefore, even when the toner discharge mechanism (docking structure) is on the back side of the apparatus main body 100 as described above, the operability when replacing the toner container 32Y is improved.
- the main part of the discharge side held portion (cap) 34Y of the toner container 32Y is substantially cylindrical, but the holder 340c (protruding portion) protrudes in a space including the toner shatter mechanism in a part of the main portion. , Projecting part).
- the main unit 1 By mounting in the guide groove 3 lal 1 formed on the 00 side, the positional relationship with the nozzle 70 for sucking toner can be accurately determined.
- the toner discharge port B is engaged with the nozzle 70, and the toner container 32Y is prevented from being set incorrectly or incorrectly set.
- the toner container 32Y moves along the sliding surface 31a. The action of removing the toner container 32Y is completed with an action (except for the opening / closing operation of the main body door).
- the toner container 32Y after being mounted is securely supported in a freely rotatable manner.
- the toner container 32Y is not blurred when mounted, and the toner container 32Y is reliably prevented from being set incorrectly or erroneously set.
- the held portion 34Y will be rotatable if there is nothing to restrict the rotation. At that time, moment force is generated based on the rotation center of the held portion 34Y, and the holder (projecting portion) 340c faces downward. Therefore, in the twelfth embodiment, the guide groove 31all is arranged vertically downward. As a result, even when the user grips only the container body 33Y, the holder 340c naturally enters the guide groove 31all, and the erroneous setting prevention performance of the toner container 32Y is improved.
- Example 12 since the toner discharge port B that docks with the nozzle 70 (toner supply port 70a) is formed in the holder (overhanging portion) 340c, the toner discharge port B has a sliding surface 31a. Therefore, the rotational displacement of the toner discharge port B is suppressed. Therefore, the user can easily and reliably dock the toner discharge port B and the nozzle 70 without any special awareness. Further, unlike the collet chuck type toner discharge port opening operation in Patent Document 5, Patent Document 6, etc., in Example 12, the plug member 34d is connected to the nozzle 70 in conjunction with the mounting operation without using a lever or the like. This mechanism prevents the toner from scattering when the toner container 32Y is replaced.
- the toner container 32Y can be easily attached and detached by grasping only the container body 33Y. Therefore, a toner discharge mechanism (a docking portion between the nozzle 70 and the toner discharge port B) can be disposed on the back side of the apparatus main body 100.
- the toner container that can be used in other modes is the above-described toner container! After the positioning is started in the mounting operation to the toner container housing portion, the opening of the toner discharge port by the opening / closing member starts. It is characterized by being.
- the toner container that can be used in other embodiments is the above-described toner container.
- the toner container housing portion includes a nozzle that communicates with the toner discharge port, and the opening / closing member is connected to the toner container housing portion.
- the toner is pushed by the nozzle in conjunction with the mounting operation of the toner and starts to open the toner discharge port, and is also urged by the urging member in conjunction with the release operation of the toner container housing portion to start closing the toner discharge port. It is characterized by using a plug member.
- a toner container that can be used in another aspect is the above-described toner container, and the toner container housing portion includes a positioning member that engages with the held portion and positions the held portion.
- the toner container housing portion includes a positioning member that engages with the held portion and positions the held portion.
- the toner container that works in another aspect is such that the tip of the positioning member is closer to the held portion than the tip of the nozzle with respect to the held portion that moves in the mounting direction over the toner container. It is formed so that it becomes.
- the toner container that can be used in other aspects is the above-described toner container!
- the front end is formed so as to be closer to the toner container housing portion than the front end of the plug member pushed by the nozzle.
- a toner container that can be used in another aspect is positioned above the toner container described above, and the positioning unit.
- the material is characterized in that a taper or a chamfer is formed at the tip on the side where the held portion is mounted.
- a toner container that is useful in another aspect is characterized in that, in the above-described toner container, the held portion is tapered or chamfered at the tip on the side on which the positioning member is engaged.
- a toner container that can be used in other aspects is a toner container that is detachably installed in the toner container housing portion of the image forming apparatus main body, and is disposed inside the toner container.
- a container main body that discharges the stored toner to the opening force, and a held portion that discharges the toner discharged to the toner container and that is held non-rotatably in the toner container housing portion.
- the held portion includes a sliding portion that slides in contact with the toner container housing portion.
- the toner container that works in another aspect is characterized in that, in the toner container described above, the sliding portion slides on the toner container housing portion in conjunction with an attaching / detaching operation with respect to the toner container housing portion. To do.
- a toner container that works in another aspect is characterized in that the sliding portion is a flat surface portion in the toner container described above.
- the toner container that works in another aspect is formed so that the flat surface portion is parallel to the sliding surface of the toner container housing portion, compared to the toner container described above.
- the sliding portion is a plurality of convex portions formed to have a height capable of contacting a predetermined plane. It is characterized by.
- a toner container that can be used in another aspect is characterized in that a predetermined plane is used as a sliding surface of the toner container housing portion over the toner container described above.
- a toner container that can be used in another aspect is characterized in that, in the toner container described above, the sliding portion is disposed at the bottom of the held portion.
- a toner container that can be used in other embodiments is the above-described toner container! When the bottom portion of the held portion is attached to or detached from the toner container housing portion, the toner container housing portion is slipped. It is characterized by being placed on the mating surface and sliding on the mating surface. [0258] In addition, a toner container that can be used in another aspect is characterized in that, in the above-described toner container, the sliding portion is disposed on a side portion of the held portion.
- a toner container that can be used in another aspect is the above-described toner container!
- the toner container storage portion The sliding surface is slid on the sliding surface as a side surface.
- the toner container that works in another aspect is the above-described toner container, in which the held portion is
- a biased portion that is biased in the mounting direction by the biasing means of the toner container housing portion in a state of being installed in the toner container housing portion, and the sliding portion is interlocked with an attaching / detaching operation with respect to the toner container housing portion. It is characterized by sliding in contact with the urging means.
- the toner container that can be used in other embodiments is installed in the above-described toner container!
- the biasing means is integrally installed via a support shaft, and the support shaft is supported by a torsion spring. It is a pair of arms that applies force in both directions in the rotational direction centered.
- the sliding portion is disposed on each of two spaced apart side portions of the held portion, and the biased portion is disposed on the two side portions. It is characterized by each corner at the end of the part.
- the corner portion is smaller than the radius of the abutting portion of the urging means that abuts the corner portion. It is characterized by being formed.
- the sliding portion is provided on each of two spaced apart side portions of the held portion, and the biased portion is disposed on the two side portions. It is a plane that meets the side part at the end of the part.
- the sliding portion is formed so that the height thereof is equal to the height of the toner discharge port.
- a toner container that can be used in other embodiments includes the above-described toner container, the toner container housing portion includes a nozzle that communicates with the toner discharge port, and the held portion is connected to the toner container housing portion.
- a plug member that is pushed by the nozzle in conjunction with the mounting operation of the toner to release the toner discharge port and is biased by the biasing member in conjunction with the release operation from the toner container housing portion to close the toner discharge port.
- a biasing hand for the sliding part in the mounting operation to the toner container housing part. After the sliding on the step is started, the pushing of the plug member by the toner conveying tube is started.
- the biasing portion is biased by the biasing means as the sliding of the sliding portion with respect to the biasing means is completed.
- the toner container that can be used in other modes is the above-described toner container!
- the movement distance in the attaching / detaching direction of the plug member accompanying the attaching / detaching operation with respect to the toner container housing portion is also affected by the toner discharge roller. It is characterized by being configured to be shorter than the distance in the attaching / detaching direction to the urging portion.
- the held portion engages with the positioning member of the toner container housing portion in conjunction with the mounting operation to the toner container housing portion.
- the engaging portion is disposed above the sliding portion and the toner discharge port in the vertical direction.
- an image forming apparatus is an image forming apparatus in which a toner container is detachably installed in the image forming apparatus described above, and the toner container is housed inside.
- a holding part for holding the held part in a non-rotating manner comprising: a container body that discharges the toner with an opening force; and a held part that discharges the toner discharged with the opening force of the container body from the toner discharge port.
- a guide rail that guides the held portion toward the holding portion while restricting the rotation of the held portion when the toner container is mounted.
- an image forming apparatus is characterized in that, in addition to the above-described image forming apparatus, the guide rail includes a guide edge that supports the container body.
- An image forming apparatus is characterized in that, in the above-described image forming apparatus, the guide rail includes a guide groove that guides a part of the held portion.
- the held portion is projected in the attaching / detaching direction so as not to overlap the projection surface in the attaching / detaching direction of the container body.
- a protruding portion is provided, and the protruding portion is guided by a guide groove.
- an image forming apparatus is characterized in that, in the above-described image forming apparatus, the protruding portion is formed with a toner discharge port.
- an image forming apparatus is characterized in that the guide groove is disposed vertically downward with respect to the held portion in the image forming apparatus described above.
- an image forming apparatus is a toner replenishing device in which a toner container is detachably installed in the image forming apparatus described above, and the toner container is accommodated inside.
- a biasing tool that biases the toner container toward the holding portion in conjunction with the mounting operation of the toner container.
- the biasing tool biases the held portion toward the holding portion in conjunction with the mounting operation of the toner container.
- the toner container includes an opening / closing member that opens and closes the toner discharge port in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation, and the toner container mounting operation The opening of the toner discharge port by the opening / closing member is started after the biasing by the biasing tool is started.
- the holding unit force is released from the toner container before being urged toward the holding unit by the urging tool. It is configured to apply a directional force.
- the image forming apparatus urges the toner container in the direction of detaching from the holding portion in conjunction with the detaching operation of the toner container, in addition to the above-described image forming apparatus.
- a second biasing tool is provided.
- the second urging tool is configured to detach the held portion from the holding portion in conjunction with the detaching operation of the toner container. It is characterized by energizing.
- the toner container includes an opening / closing member that opens and closes the toner discharge port in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation, and the toner container removing operation is performed.
- the toner discharge port is closed by the opening / closing member after the biasing by the second biasing tool is started.
- the image forming apparatus is configured to contact the toner container before being biased in the direction away from the holding portion by the second biasing tool in the above-described image forming apparatus.
- a feature is that force is applied to the holding portion.
- an image forming apparatus is the above-described image forming apparatus, wherein the urging tool and the second urging tool are integrally installed via a support shaft and a torsion spring.
- the arm pair is configured to apply force in both directions of rotation about the support shaft.
- the guide rail is a sliding surface on which the sliding portion of the held portion slides in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation of the toner container.
- the guide rail is a sliding surface on which the sliding portion of the held portion slides in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation of the toner container.
- the guide rail has a sliding surface on which the sliding portion of the held portion slides in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation of the toner container. It is provided with.
- an image forming apparatus includes a sliding surface on which the sliding portion of the held portion slides in conjunction with the attaching / detaching operation of the toner container, in addition to the above-described image forming device. It is characterized by that.
- the image forming apparatus includes an urging force by the urging tool after the sliding portion starts to slide in the toner container mounting operation.
- the positioning of the held portion with respect to the holding portion is completed as the positioning of the held portion with respect to the holding portion is started and the sliding of the sliding portion is completed.
- the toner container further includes an opening / closing member that opens and closes the toner discharge port of the held portion.
- a toner conveying tube communicating with the toner discharge port is provided while opening and closing the toner discharge port by pushing the opening / closing member in conjunction with the attaching operation.
- the toner container urges the opening / closing member in a direction opposite to the direction pushed by the toner conveying tube. It is provided with a member that exerts a force to be applied.
- an image forming apparatus is different from the above-described image forming apparatus.
- One container is attached and detached along the longitudinal direction of the container body.
- An image forming apparatus is characterized in that, in the above-described image forming apparatus, the toner container is mounted with the longitudinal direction of the container body as the horizontal direction.
- an image forming apparatus is characterized in that, in the above-described image forming apparatus, the held portion is attached to the container main body at the top.
- the toner container includes a gear on the peripheral surface of the container main body and in the vicinity of the opening. And a drive gear that transmits the rotational driving force to the gear.
- the toner container is linked to the rotation of the container main body by the rotational driving force transmitted to the gear.
- the toner contained in the main body is transported toward the opening.
- an image forming apparatus is characterized in that, compared with the above-described image forming apparatus, the toner container includes a spiral protrusion on the inner peripheral surface of the container main body.
- an image forming apparatus is characterized in that, compared with the above-described image forming apparatus, the toner container contains toner in the container main body.
- an image forming apparatus is characterized in that, in addition to the above-described image forming apparatus, the toner container further accommodates a carrier in the container body.
- an image forming apparatus includes a container main body including a conveyance unit that conveys toner stored by rotation to the opening side, and the container main body attached to the opening of the container main body.
- the held portion is configured to store the toner stored inside the image forming device main body.
- the mounting portion has a toner discharge port that forms a part of a passage for replenishment, and the mounting portion engages with the toner discharge port by moving the toner container in the axial direction thereof, and at the time of the movement And a guide rail for restricting the rotation of the held portion.
- the guide rail includes a guide edge that supports the container body and a guide groove that guides the end surface of the held portion. It is characterized by having.
- the held portion is a protruding portion in which the toner container protrudes outside the outer diameter of the container main body in a cross section perpendicular to the axis. The overhanging portion is guided by the guide groove of the guide rail.
- an image forming apparatus is characterized in that the guide groove is formed below in the direction of gravity in addition to the above-described image forming apparatus.
- An image forming apparatus is characterized in that in the above-described image forming apparatus, a toner discharge port is formed in the protruding portion.
- an image forming apparatus is characterized in that, in the above-described image forming apparatus, the mounting portion is on the back side of the main body when viewed by the operator.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (10)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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DE202006020942U DE202006020942U1 (de) | 2005-06-07 | 2006-06-07 | Tonerbehälter und Bilderzeugungsvorrichtung |
ES06757098.6T ES2533553T3 (es) | 2005-06-07 | 2006-06-07 | Recipiente de tóner y aparato de formación de imagen |
EP14193122.0A EP2889696B1 (en) | 2005-06-07 | 2006-06-07 | Toner container and image forming apparatus |
EP06757098.6A EP1890201B1 (en) | 2005-06-07 | 2006-06-07 | Toner container and image forming device |
US11/566,882 US7826777B2 (en) | 2005-06-07 | 2006-12-05 | Toner container and image forming apparatus having first and second biasing elements that bias the toner container |
US11/566,897 US7835675B2 (en) | 2005-06-07 | 2006-12-05 | Toner container and image forming apparatus |
US11/566,828 US7720417B2 (en) | 2005-06-07 | 2006-12-05 | Toner container and image forming apparatus |
US11/566,852 US7853183B2 (en) | 2005-06-07 | 2006-12-05 | Toner container and image forming apparatus |
HK08106554.7A HK1112069A1 (en) | 2005-06-07 | 2008-06-13 | Toner container and image forming device |
US14/255,629 USRE47086E1 (en) | 2005-06-07 | 2014-04-17 | Toner container and image forming apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (16)
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JP2005-167298 | 2005-06-07 | ||
JP2005167298 | 2005-06-07 | ||
JP2005-198355 | 2005-07-07 | ||
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JP2005-223438 | 2005-08-01 | ||
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JP2006-013293 | 2006-01-23 | ||
JP2006013293A JP4396946B2 (ja) | 2005-01-26 | 2006-01-23 | トナー補給装置及び画像形成装置 |
JP2006029246A JP4408864B2 (ja) | 2005-06-07 | 2006-02-07 | トナー容器及び画像形成装置 |
JP2006-029246 | 2006-02-07 |
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US11/566,882 Continuation-In-Part US7826777B2 (en) | 2005-06-07 | 2006-12-05 | Toner container and image forming apparatus having first and second biasing elements that bias the toner container |
US11/566,828 Continuation-In-Part US7720417B2 (en) | 2005-06-07 | 2006-12-05 | Toner container and image forming apparatus |
US11/566,852 Continuation-In-Part US7853183B2 (en) | 2005-06-07 | 2006-12-05 | Toner container and image forming apparatus |
US11/566,897 Continuation-In-Part US7835675B2 (en) | 2005-06-07 | 2006-12-05 | Toner container and image forming apparatus |
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EP (4) | EP2741142A1 (ja) |
DE (1) | DE202006020942U1 (ja) |
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HK (2) | HK1112069A1 (ja) |
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- 2006-06-07 TW TW100137316A patent/TWI464545B/zh active
- 2006-06-07 TW TW103123785A patent/TWI550369B/zh active
- 2006-06-07 EP EP06757098.6A patent/EP1890201B1/en active Active
- 2006-06-07 ES ES14193122T patent/ES2701192T3/es active Active
- 2006-06-07 TW TW096104490A patent/TWI355570B/zh active
- 2006-06-07 TW TW095120259A patent/TWI332606B/zh active
- 2006-06-07 ES ES13170725.9T patent/ES2556542T3/es active Active
- 2006-06-07 ES ES06757098.6T patent/ES2533553T3/es active Active
- 2006-06-07 WO PCT/JP2006/311391 patent/WO2006132259A1/ja active Application Filing
- 2006-06-07 EP EP14193122.0A patent/EP2889696B1/en active Active
- 2006-06-07 EP EP13170725.9A patent/EP2755090B1/en active Active
- 2006-12-05 US US11/566,882 patent/US7826777B2/en active Active
- 2006-12-05 US US11/566,852 patent/US7853183B2/en active Active
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2008
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2014
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
TWI355570B (en) | 2012-01-01 |
ES2701192T3 (es) | 2019-02-21 |
US20070160393A1 (en) | 2007-07-12 |
HK1112069A1 (en) | 2008-08-22 |
TW201209529A (en) | 2012-03-01 |
USRE47086E1 (en) | 2018-10-16 |
US8160461B2 (en) | 2012-04-17 |
US20070147900A1 (en) | 2007-06-28 |
EP2889696B1 (en) | 2018-10-24 |
EP1890201A4 (en) | 2011-09-28 |
EP2755090B1 (en) | 2015-10-21 |
ES2533553T3 (es) | 2015-04-13 |
US20070122205A1 (en) | 2007-05-31 |
US7853183B2 (en) | 2010-12-14 |
US7826777B2 (en) | 2010-11-02 |
US20110008075A1 (en) | 2011-01-13 |
TWI464545B (zh) | 2014-12-11 |
TWI332606B (en) | 2010-11-01 |
TW200720865A (en) | 2007-06-01 |
US20070154243A1 (en) | 2007-07-05 |
DE202006020942U1 (de) | 2011-03-10 |
EP2889696A1 (en) | 2015-07-01 |
HK1140551A1 (en) | 2010-10-15 |
US7835675B2 (en) | 2010-11-16 |
ES2556542T3 (es) | 2016-01-18 |
TW201502727A (zh) | 2015-01-16 |
US7720417B2 (en) | 2010-05-18 |
EP1890201B1 (en) | 2014-12-31 |
EP2741142A1 (en) | 2014-06-11 |
TW200705140A (en) | 2007-02-01 |
EP1890201A1 (en) | 2008-02-20 |
TWI550369B (zh) | 2016-09-21 |
EP2755090A1 (en) | 2014-07-16 |
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