WO2014141448A1 - Developer cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a developer cartridge whereby conventional technology has been further developed. The developer cartridge (12) comprises: a case (16) housing a toner; and a launching unit (133) that launces a ball (71) to outside the developer cartridge (12).

Description

Developer cartridge

The present invention relates to a developer cartridge for use in an image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic system.

Conventionally, an electrophotographic printer in which a developing cartridge is detachably mounted is known. Such a printer is provided with a new article detection device for determining information on the mounted developing cartridge.

Patent Document 1 discloses a laser printer including a developing cartridge having a contact protrusion and a rotatable detection gear, and a main body casing having an actuator. The detection gear is driven to rotate when the developing cartridge is mounted on the main casing, and the actuator is rocked by the contact protrusion. The laser printer determines the information on the developing cartridge by detecting the swing of the actuator with an optical sensor.

JP 2006-267994 A

An object of the present invention is to provide a developer cartridge which is a further development of the conventional technology.

In order to achieve the above-described object, a developer cartridge according to the present invention includes a housing configured to contain a developer, and a firing device configured to eject an object to the outside of the developer cartridge. It has.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a developer cartridge that is a further development of the conventional technology.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a developer cartridge according to a first embodiment of the developer cartridge of the present invention as viewed from the left rear. 2A is a left side view of the developing cartridge shown in FIG. 2B is a central sectional view of the developing cartridge shown in FIG. 2A. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the gear cover and the firing unit shown in FIG. 2A as viewed from the left front. 4A is a left side view of the ball supply gear shown in FIG. FIG. 4B is a perspective view of the ball supply gear shown in FIG. 4A as viewed from the front upper side. FIG. 5A is a left side view of the guide frame shown in FIG. FIG. 5B is a perspective view of the advancing member shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the left rear. FIG. 6 is a left side view of the developing cartridge shown in FIG. 2A and shows a state where the gear cover and the guide cover are removed. FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit shown in FIG. 2A, and shows a state where the ball supply gear shown in FIG. 6 is in the initial position and the guide cover is removed from the developing cartridge. 7B is a side cross-sectional view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 7A for explaining the ball firing by the firing unit shown in FIG. 2A, and shows a meshed state between the chipped gear portion of the ball supply gear and the agitator gear. . FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram for explaining the launch of the ball by the launch unit following FIG. 7A, in which the protrusion of the projectile supply gear and the protrusion of the advance member abut, and the advance member is in the closed position and the open position. Indicates a state between the position. FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the launching unit following FIG. 8A, in which the advancing member is in the open position and the ball is being supplied from the ball receiving portion to the first guide portion. Shows the state. FIG. 9A is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit subsequent to FIG. 8B, and shows a state in which the advancing member is in the open position and the ball is in the force applying position. FIG. 9B is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit subsequent to FIG. 9A, and shows a state in which the advancing member is in the closed position and the ball is fired. FIG. 10A is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit subsequent to FIG. 9B, and shows a state in which all the balls have been fired. FIG. 10B is a side cross-sectional view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 10A and shows a state where the ball supply gear is in the end position. FIG. 11 is a front sectional view of the firing unit and the detection mechanism shown in FIG. 10A. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge according to the second embodiment of the present invention viewed from the left rear side. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the developing cartridge shown in FIG. 12 as viewed from the left front. FIG. 14 is a left side view of the developing cartridge shown in FIG. FIG. 15 is a left side view of the developing cartridge shown in FIG. 14 and shows a state where the gear cover is removed. 16A is a front view of the engagement gear shown in FIG. 16B is a perspective view of the engagement gear shown in FIG. 15 as viewed from the lower left. FIG. 17A is a left side view of the gear cover shown in FIG. FIG. 17B shows a perspective view of the gear cover shown in FIG. 18A is a front view of the guide frame shown in FIG. 18B is a bottom view of the guide frame shown in FIG. 18C is a perspective view of the guide frame and the guide cover shown in FIG. 15 as viewed from the upper left. FIG. 19A is a left side view of the ball transport unit shown in FIG. FIG. 19B is a plan view of the ball transport unit shown in FIG. FIG. 19C is a perspective view of the ball transport unit shown in FIG. 15 as viewed from the lower left. 20A is a rear view of the lever support frame shown in FIG. 20B is a left side view of the lever support frame shown in FIG. 20C is a perspective view of the lever support frame shown in FIG. 15 as viewed from the upper left. FIG. 21A is a left side view of the lever shown in FIG. FIG. 21B is a perspective view of the lever shown in FIG. 15 as viewed from the upper right. FIG. 22 is a left side sectional view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 15 and shows a state where the engagement gear is in the initial position. FIG. 23A is a side cross-sectional view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 22 and shows a meshed state of a chipped gear and a small-diameter gear of an idle gear. FIG. 23B is a perspective view of the idle gear, the agitator gear, and the engagement gear shown in FIG. 23A as viewed from the upper right. FIG. 23C is a perspective view of the chipped gear shown in FIG. 23B as viewed from the upper right. FIG. 24A is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit shown in FIG. 22, and shows a state where the ball transport unit is in the supply preparation position. FIG. 24B is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit following FIG. 24A, and shows a state where the ball transport unit is in the supply position. FIG. 25A is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit following FIG. 24B, and shows a state where the ball transport unit is in the supply position and the ball is in the force applying position. FIG. 25B is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit following FIG. 25A, and shows a state in which the ball transport unit is in the supply preparation position and the ball is in the force application position. FIG. 26A is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit, following FIG. 25B, and shows a state where the lever is in the striking position. FIG. 26B is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit, following FIG. 26A, and shows a state where the lever is in the retracted position. FIG. 27A is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit following FIG. 26B, and shows a state in which the lever is again arranged at the hitting position and the ball is fired. FIG. 27B is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit, following FIG. 27A, and shows a state in which all the balls have been fired. FIG. 28 is a left side sectional view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 24B and shows a state in which the engagement gear is in the end position. FIG. 29A is a perspective view of the firing unit according to the developing cartridge according to the third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the left front. FIG. 29B is a left side view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 29A and shows a state where the linear motion member is in the initial position. FIG. 30A is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit shown in FIG. 29B, and shows a state in which the foremost ball is fired. FIG. 30B is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit, following FIG. 30A, and shows a state in which all the balls have been fired. FIG. 30C is an explanatory diagram for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit, following FIG. 30B, and shows a state where the linear motion member is in the end position. FIG. 31A is a perspective view of the firing unit according to the developing cartridge according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention viewed from the left front. FIG. 31B is a front view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 31A. FIG. 32A is a right side view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 31A. FIG. 32B is a left side view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 31A and shows a state in which the guide frame is removed from the firing unit. FIG. 33A is a left side view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 31A. 33B is a cross-sectional view taken along 33A-33A shown in FIG. 33A. FIG. 34A is a perspective view of the firing unit according to the developing cartridge of the fifth embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the left front. 34B is a front view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 34A. FIG. 35A is a right side view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 34A. FIG. 35B is a left side view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 34A and shows a state in which the guide frame is removed from the firing unit. 36A is a left side view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 34A. 36B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 36B-36B shown in FIG. 36A. FIG. 37A is a perspective view of the firing unit according to the developing cartridge according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention viewed from the left front side. FIG. 37B is a front view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 37A. FIG. 38A is a left side view for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit shown in FIG. 37A, and shows a state before the blade comes into contact with the first guide part. FIG. 38B is a left side view for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit, following FIG. 38A, and shows a state where the blades are in contact with the first guide part and are in a curved state. FIG. 39A is a left side view for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit, following FIG. 38B, and shows a state where the blades are in contact with the ball. FIG. 39B is a left side view for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit, following FIG. 39A, and shows a state where the ball has been fired. FIG. 40A is a perspective view of the firing unit according to the developing cartridge according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention viewed from the left front side. 40B is a front view of the firing unit shown in FIG. 40A. FIG. 41A is a left side view for explaining firing of the ball by the firing unit shown in FIG. 40A and shows a state before the ball is supplied to the first guide portion. FIG. 41B is a left side view for explaining the firing of the ball by the firing unit, following FIG. 41A, and shows a state after the ball is supplied to the first guide portion. FIG. 42A is a perspective view of a firing unit according to a modification of the present invention as seen from the left front side, and shows a mode in which the second guide portion includes a guide plate. FIG. 42B is a perspective view of the firing unit according to the modification of the present invention as viewed from the left front side, and shows a mode in which the second guide portion includes a pair of pole members. FIG. 43A is a perspective view of a firing unit according to a modification of the present invention as viewed from the left front side, and shows a mode in which the second guide portion includes a first inclined portion and a second inclined portion. 43B is a front sectional view of the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion shown in FIG. 43A. FIG. 44 is a left side view of a main body portion and a resistance applying member according to a modification of the present invention. 45 is a central sectional view of a printer including the developing cartridge shown in FIG.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
1. Overall Configuration of Developing Cartridge The overall configuration of the developing cartridge 12 as an example of the developer cartridge will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B.

In the following description, the direction of the developing cartridge 12 is based on the arrow direction shown in each drawing. For example, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 2A, the right side of the paper is the front and the left side of the paper is the rear. Further, the left and right sides of the developing cartridge 12 are defined based on the time when the developing cartridge 12 is viewed from the front. That is, the up-down direction is the vertical direction, and the front-back, left-right direction is the horizontal direction.

2B, the developing cartridge 12 includes a housing 16, an agitator 19 as an example of a stirring member, a developing roller 22, a supply roller 23, and a layer thickness regulating blade 24.

The housing 16 has a toner storage chamber 17 and a development chamber 18 arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction. The toner storage chamber 17 stores toner as an example of a developer.

The agitator 19 is disposed at a substantially central portion in the front-rear and up-down directions of the toner storage chamber 17. The agitator 19 includes an agitator shaft 20 that extends in the left-right direction as an example of the third direction, and a stirring blade 21 that extends from the agitator shaft 20 to the outside in the radial direction of the agitator shaft 20. The agitator 19 is supported by the housing 16 by rotatably supporting both end portions of the agitator shaft 20 on both side walls 35 of the housing 16. Thereby, the agitator 19 is configured to be rotatable about the central axis A1 of the agitator shaft 20. One end of the agitator shaft 20 is exposed to the outside from the left side wall 35L as shown in FIG. The agitator 19 rotates to agitate the toner in the toner storage chamber 17 and supply the toner to the supply roller 23 in the developing chamber 18.

The developing roller 22 includes a developing roller shaft 25 extending in the left-right direction, and a rubber roller 26 that covers the developing roller shaft 25 so that both ends thereof are exposed. As shown in FIG. 1, the rubber roller 26 has a toner carrying region T for carrying toner on its peripheral surface. The developing roller 22 is disposed such that the rubber roller 26 is exposed from the rear of the housing 16. Both end portions of the developing roller shaft 25 are rotatably supported by both side walls 35, respectively. Thus, the developing roller 22 is configured to be rotatable about the central axis A2 of the developing roller shaft 25. Further, both end portions of the developing roller shaft 25 are exposed from the both side walls 35 of the housing 16 to the outside in the left-right direction as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the supply roller 23 includes a supply roller shaft 27 extending in the left-right direction and a sponge roller 28 that covers the supply roller shaft 27 so that both ends thereof are exposed. The supply roller 23 is disposed so that the sponge roller 28 is in pressure contact with the rubber roller 26 from the front lower side. Both ends of the supply roller shaft 27 are rotatably supported by both side walls 35 of the housing 16. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, both end portions of the supply roller shaft 27 are exposed to the outside in the left-right direction from both side walls 35 of the housing 16. The supply roller 23 rotates to supply the toner supplied to the supply roller 23 to the toner carrying region T of the developing roller 22. At this time, the supply roller 23 and the developing roller 22 frictionally charge the toner to positive polarity between the rollers.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the layer thickness regulating blade 24 is supported by the housing 16 so as to come into contact with the developing roller 22 from the front upper side. The layer thickness regulating blade 24 is configured to regulate the thickness of the toner. As a result, the developing roller 22 carries the toner in a thin layer having a constant thickness in the toner carrying region T.
2. Details of Developing Cartridge As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the developing cartridge 12 includes a gear cover 37, a gear train 38, and a firing unit 39 disposed on the left side of the housing 16.
(1) Housing As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 16 has a substantially box shape extending in the left-right direction, and includes a pair of side walls 35 facing each other in the left-right direction with a space therebetween. The left side wall 35 is an example of a first wall, and is referred to as a left side wall 35L in the following description. The right side wall 35 is an example of a second wall, and is referred to as a right side wall 35R in the following description. Further, the rear portion of the housing 16 is opened, and the developing roller 22 is exposed as described above.

Each of the left side wall 35L and the right side wall 35R has a substantially rectangular flat plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the left side wall 35 </ b> L is integrally provided with a support shaft 40 for supporting a ball supply gear 70 described later on the left side surface. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the support shaft 40 is disposed on the front upper side of the agitator shaft 20 exposed from the left side wall 35L, and has a substantially cylindrical shape protruding leftward from the left side wall 35L. .
(2) Gear Cover The gear cover 37 is disposed on the left side surface of the left side wall 35L of the housing 16 as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, the gear cover 37 has substantially the same shape and size as the left side wall 35L in a side view, and integrally includes a cover plate 41 and a peripheral wall 42. The cover plate 41 has a substantially plate shape and covers the gear train 38 and a ball supply gear 70 described later from the left. As shown in FIG. 1, the peripheral wall 42 protrudes rightward from the peripheral edge of the cover plate 41. That is, the gear cover 37 has a concave shape that is U-shaped in cross section when cut in the up-down direction and that is opened to the right.

The cover plate 41 includes a coupling insertion hole 43, an exposure hole 44, a coupling collar 45, a circumferential wall 46, a receiving portion 49, and a connecting portion 50, as shown in FIG. 7A.

The coupling insertion hole 43 has a substantially circular shape in side view, and penetrates the rear end portion of the cover plate 41 in the left-right direction.

The exposure hole 44 has a substantially circular shape when viewed from the side, and penetrates the front end of the cover plate 41 in the left-right direction. The inner diameter of the exposure hole 44 is substantially the same as the outer diameter of a disk portion 78 described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the coupling collar 45 has a substantially cylindrical shape and protrudes leftward from the periphery of the coupling insertion hole 43.

The circumferential wall 46 has a substantially cylindrical shape and protrudes leftward from the periphery of the exposure hole 44. The dimension of the circumferential wall 46 in the left-right direction is longer than the diameter of a ball 71 described later.

Further, as shown in FIG. 7A, the circumferential wall 46 has a discharge port 47 and a supply port 48 that allow passage of a ball 71 described later. The discharge port 47 penetrates the front end portion of the circumferential wall 46 in the front-rear direction. The supply port 48 penetrates the upper end portion of the circumferential wall 46 in the vertical direction.

Further, the receiving part 49 and the connecting part 50 are arranged in the circumferential wall 46. The receiving portion 49 is disposed at the approximate center of the circumferential wall 46. The receiving portion 49 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction and closed at the left end. The connecting portion 50 has a substantially plate shape, and connects the outer peripheral surface of the receiving portion 49 and the left portion of the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall 46 along the radial direction of the circumferential wall 46. Specifically, the connecting portion 50 extends from the front portion on the outer peripheral surface of the receiving portion 49 toward the front lower side, and is connected to the lower side of the discharge port 47 in the left portion of the inner peripheral surface of the circumferential wall 46.

As shown in FIG. 1, the gear cover 37 is attached to the left side wall 35L from the left side so as to cover the gear train 38 and a ball supply gear 70 described later. As a result, a coupling portion 62 of the input gear 55 described later is exposed from the left in a state where the coupling portion 62 is inserted into the coupling collar 45 via the coupling insertion hole 43. Further, a disc portion 78 of the ball supply gear 70 described later is disposed in the exposure hole 44 as shown in FIG. 7A.
(3) Gear Train The gear train 38 is disposed on the left side surface of the left side wall 35L of the housing 16 as shown in FIG. The gear train 38 includes an input gear 55, a developing gear 56, a supply gear 57, a first idle gear 58, a second idle gear 59, and an agitator gear 60 as an example of a drive input unit.

The input gear 55 is rotatably supported by the left side wall 35L at the rear end portion of the left side wall 35L. The input gear 55 includes a gear part 61 and a coupling part 62.

As shown in FIG. 3, the gear portion 61 is configured on the right portion of the input gear 55. As shown in FIG. 6, the gear portion 61 includes a two-stage gear including a large-diameter gear 63 and a small-diameter gear 64 disposed on the left side of the large-diameter gear 63. The large-diameter gear 63 and the small-diameter gear 64 have gear teeth over the entire circumference of their respective peripheral surfaces.

The coupling part 62 is located in the left part of the input gear 55, has a smaller diameter than the small diameter gear 64, and has a substantially cylindrical shape sharing the central axis with the gear part 61. The inner surface of the coupling part 62 has a coupling recess 65. The coupling recess 65 is configured to receive a main body coupling 110 described later so as not to rotate relative to the coupling recess 65.

The developing gear 56 is disposed below the input gear 55 and is attached to the left end portion of the developing roller shaft 25 so as not to be relatively rotatable. The developing gear 56 has gear teeth over the entire circumference. The developing gear 56 is meshed with the large-diameter gear 63 of the input gear 55 from the lower rear side.

The supply gear 57 is disposed below the input gear 55 and attached to the left end portion of the supply roller shaft 27 so as not to be relatively rotatable. The supply gear 57 has gear teeth over the entire circumference. The supply gear 57 is meshed with the small diameter gear 64 of the input gear 55 from below.

The first idle gear 58 is rotatably supported by the left side wall 35L in front of the input gear 55. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7B, the first idle gear 58 includes a two-stage gear including a small-diameter gear 66 and a large-diameter gear 67 disposed on the left side of the small-diameter gear 66.

The small diameter gear 66 and the large diameter gear 67 have gear teeth over the entire circumference of each peripheral surface. As shown in FIG. 6, the large-diameter gear 67 of the first idle gear 58 is meshed with the small-diameter gear 64 of the input gear 55 from the front.

The second idle gear 59 is rotatably supported by the left side wall 35L below the first idle gear 58. The second idle gear 59 has gear teeth over the entire circumference. The second idle gear 59 meshes with the small-diameter gear 66 of the first idle gear 58 from below as shown in FIG. 7B.

The agitator gear 60 is disposed on the front upper side of the second idle gear 59 and is attached to the left end portion of the agitator shaft 20 so as not to be relatively rotatable. The agitator gear 60 has gear teeth over the entire circumference. The agitator gear 60 is meshed with the second idle gear 59 from the front upper side.

Referring to FIG. 6, a description will be given when a driving force is input to the input gear 55 from the outside.

The developing gear 56 that meshes with the large-diameter gear 63 of the input gear 55 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the left side, and rotates the developing roller 22. Further, the supply gear 57 that meshes with the small-diameter gear 64 of the input gear 55 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the left side, and rotates the supply roller 23.

The large-diameter gear 67 of the first idle gear 58 that meshes with the small-diameter gear 64 of the input gear 55 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the left side, and meshes with the small-diameter gear 66 of the first idle gear 58. 59 rotates in the clockwise direction when viewed from the left side, and the agitator gear 60 meshing with the second idle gear 59 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the left side and rotates the agitator 19. (4) Launch Unit The launch unit 39 is disposed on the left side surface of the left side wall 35L of the housing 16 as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the launch unit 39 includes a ball supply gear 70 as an example of a movable member, a ball 71 as an example of an object, and an injection unit 72.
(4-1) Ball Supply Gear As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the ball supply gear 70 includes a chipped gear portion 73 and a ball housing portion 74.

The chipped gear portion 73 is disposed on the right portion of the ball supply gear 70 as shown in FIG. 4B. As shown in FIG. 7B, the chipped gear portion 73 has gear teeth at a portion having a central angle of about 315 ° on the peripheral surface thereof. That is, the peripheral surface of the missing tooth gear portion 73 has a tooth portion 75 having gear teeth and a missing tooth portion 76 not having gear teeth. Further, the chipped gear portion 73 has a first hole 77 configured to receive the support shaft 40 at the center portion thereof.

The ball housing portion 74 is disposed on the left portion of the ball supply gear 70 as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The ball accommodating portion 74 includes a disc portion 78, a cylindrical portion 79, a partition rib 83, and a protrusion 82.

The disc part 78 has a substantially disc shape having a thickness in the left-right direction and a larger diameter than the chipped gear part 73. The disc portion 78 is disposed adjacent to the left side of the ball supply gear 70 so as to share the center axis with the chipped gear portion 73. Further, the disc part 78 has a second hole 81 communicating with the first hole 77 in the left-right direction at the center part thereof.

The cylindrical portion 79 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and protrudes leftward from the peripheral edge of the second hole 81 on the left end surface of the disc portion 78. Thereby, the cylinder part 79 shares the center axis with the disk part 78.

The partition rib 83 protrudes leftward from the left surface of the disc part 78, and includes a first rib 84, a second rib 85, and a third rib 86. The first rib 84 extends from the cylindrical portion 79 in the radial direction. The second rib 85 and the third rib 86 are continuous from the first rib 84 and extend to the periphery of the disc portion 78.

A plurality of first ribs 84 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 79. Specifically, for example, the four first ribs 84 are arranged at an interval of approximately 90 ° from each other. The second rib 85 is continuous from the radially outer end of the corresponding first rib 84, and is substantially downstream of the rotation direction R of the ball supply gear 70 with respect to the direction in which the first rib 84 extends. After being bent by 45 °, it extends to the periphery of the disc portion 78. The third rib 86 is continuous from the radially outer end of the corresponding first rib 84, and is substantially upstream of the rotation direction R of the ball supply gear 70 with respect to the direction in which the first rib 84 extends. After being bent by 45 °, it extends to the periphery of the disc portion 78.

Accordingly, among the first ribs 84 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 79, the second rib 85 that is continuous from the first rib 84 on the upstream side in the rotation direction R and the first rib on the downstream side in the rotation direction R. The third ribs 86 continuing from 84 are arranged to face each other with an interval so as to be parallel to each other. The distance between the second rib 85 and the third rib 86 that face each other in this way is slightly wider than the diameter of the ball 71.

Furthermore, the ball supply gear 70 includes a ball receiving portion 80 as an example of a first receiving portion.

The ball receiving portion 80 includes first ribs 84 that are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 79, a second rib 85 and a third rib 86 that are respectively continuous from the first ribs 84 and arranged to face each other. Part of the peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 79 existing between the first ribs 84 and the disk portion 78 corresponding to the region defined by the pair of the first rib 84, the second rib 85, and the third rib 86. It is defined by the left side.

That is, the ball receiving portion 80 has a substantially U-shape that opens outward in the radial direction of the disc portion 78 when viewed from the left-right direction. A plurality of ball receivers 80 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the disk part 78, and are rotationally symmetric with respect to the central axis of the disk part 78. Specifically, the ball receiving portion 80 is spaced apart from each other by about 90 ° in the circumferential direction of the disc portion 78 so as to be 90 ° rotationally symmetric with respect to the central axis of the disc portion 78, for example. Four are arranged. Each ball receiving portion 80 is disposed in the circumferential wall 46 through the exposure hole 44.

The protrusion 82 protrudes outward in the circumferential direction of the disk part 78 from the peripheral surface of the disk part 78, and has a substantially rectangular shape in side view. Further, for example, four protrusions 82 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the disc part 78 at intervals of approximately 90 ° corresponding to the four ball receiving parts 80, respectively. Specifically, the protrusion 82 is disposed so as to be adjacent to the third rib 86 of each ball receiving portion 80 in the radial direction of the disc portion 78 in a side view.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7A, the ball supply gear 70 has a first hole 77 and a second hole 81 fitted from the outside in the radial direction to the support shaft 40 of the left side wall 35L in front of the agitator gear 60. At the same time, the left end portion of the cylindrical portion 79 is rotatably supported by the left side wall 35 </ b> L while being inserted into the receiving portion 49 of the gear cover 37 from the left side.

Further, in the ball supply gear 70, as shown in FIG. 6, the protrusion 82 and the protrusion 102 are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the disc portion 78, and as shown in FIG. The portion 75 is disposed at an initial position where the portion 75 meshes with the agitator gear 60 from the front.

Thus, when an external driving force is input to the ball supply gear 70 via the gear train 38, the ball supply gear 70 is indicated by an arrow about the central axis A3 extending in the left-right direction. Rotation direction R shown, that is, counterclockwise when viewed from the left side in FIG. 7B. That is, the ball supply gear 70 is connected to the input gear 55 through the first idle gear 58, the second idle gear 59, and the agitator gear 60 so that the driving force is transmitted from the input gear 55.
(4-2) Ball As shown in FIG. 6, the ball 71 is made of a resin material or the like and has a substantially spherical shape. A plurality of balls 71 are provided corresponding to each of the plurality of ball receiving portions 80. Since one ball 71 is accommodated in each ball receiving portion 80, for example, a total of four balls 71 are held in the ball accommodating portion 74. Note that the number of such balls 71 corresponds to information on the developing cartridge 12, for example, information on the toner capacity, toner color, and the like housed in the developing cartridge 12.
(4-3) Injection Unit As shown in FIG. 3, the injection unit 72 is disposed at the front end of the firing unit 39, and includes a guide frame 90, an urging unit 91 as an example of a force applying member, and a guide cover 92. And.

The guide frame 90 includes a guide portion 93 and a fixing portion 94.

The guide portion 93 is U-shaped with a cross-sectional shape opened leftward when cut in the left-right direction, and after extending in the up-down direction, it is bent and further extended to the upper left. Specifically, the guide portion 93 includes a first guide portion 95 as an example of a second receiving portion, and a second guide portion 96.

The first guide part 95 constitutes a lower part of the guide part 93. The first guide portion 95 has a concave shape, is open toward the left, and extends in the up-down direction. Further, the lower end portion of the first guide portion 95 is closed by the bottom wall.

Moreover, the 1st guide part 95 has the receiving port 97 and the insertion port 88, as shown to FIG. 5A. The receiving port 97 is configured to receive the ball 71. The insertion port 88 is configured such that the extension 101 of the advance member 98 is inserted.

The receiving port 97 penetrates the upper end portion of the rear wall of the first guide portion 95 in the front-rear direction. The receiving port 97 has a shape and a size that allow the ball 71 to pass therethrough.

The insertion opening 88 corresponds to the protrusion 102 of the advancing member 98 and penetrates the rear end portion of the right wall of the first guide portion 95 in the left-right direction. The insertion opening 88 has a substantially rectangular shape in a side view that is long in the vertical direction.

2nd guide part 96 comprises the upper part of the guide part 93, as shown in FIG. The second guide portion 96 has a concave shape and is open toward the lower left. Moreover, the 2nd guide part 96 is following the upper end part of the 1st guide part 95 as shown in FIG. 11, and inclines to the left as it goes upwards. With this configuration, the upper end portion of the second guide portion 96 is disposed so as to be farther from the left side wall 35L than the lower end portion of the first guide portion 95 in the left-right direction. Further, the upper end portion of the second guide portion 96 is disposed above the upper end of the housing 16.

Further, the angle θ formed by the first guide direction X (see FIG. 11) in which the first guide portion 95 extends and the second guide direction Y (see FIG. 11) in which the second guide portion 96 extends is, for example, 0 For example, the angle is set to 180 ° or less, preferably 90 ° or less, more preferably 45 °. The first guide direction X in which the first guide portion 95 extends is specifically the direction from the lower side to the upper side, and the second guide direction Y in which the second guide portion 96 extends is specifically the same. The direction from the lower right to the upper left.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the fixing portion 94 protrudes rearward from the left portion of the rear wall of the first guide portion 95, and has a substantially rectangular plate shape in side view.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the guide frame 90 is supported on the left side wall 35L via the gear cover 37 by fixing the fixing portion 94 to the gear cover 37. As a result, the guide portion 93 is disposed in front of the circumferential wall 46 of the gear cover 37, and the receiving port 97 of the first guide portion 95 communicates with the discharge port 47 of the circumferential wall 46 in the front-rear direction.

The urging unit 91 is disposed in the first guide portion 95 and includes an advancing member 98 as an example of a supply member and a spring member 99 as an example of an elastic member.

The advancing member 98 includes a pedestal part 100, an extension part 101 as an example of a supply regulation part, and a protrusion 102.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the pedestal portion 100 has a substantially U shape in a side view opened downward, and the upper surface extends in the left-right direction.

The extension portion 101 has a substantially plate shape that protrudes upward from the rear end portion of the upper surface of the pedestal portion 100 and extends in the left-right direction. Further, the right end portion of the extension portion 101 protrudes rightward from the right end edge of the pedestal portion 100.

The protrusion 102 protrudes rearward from the right end portion of the rear surface of the extension portion 101, and has a substantially rectangular shape in side view. That is, the protrusion 102 has a substantially prismatic shape extending in the left-right direction.

Further, the advancing member 98 has the pedestal portion 100 disposed in the first guide portion 95, the extension portion 101 inserted through the insertion opening 88, and the protrusion 102 located on the right side of the right wall of the first guide portion 95. It is accommodated in the 1st guide part 95 so that it may be arrange | positioned. As a result, the advancing member 98 is supported by the guide portion 93 so that it can advance and retract in the vertical direction.

The spring member 99 has an air-core coil shape that can extend in the vertical direction. The spring member 99 is accommodated in the first guide portion 95 in a state of being sandwiched between the upper wall of the advancing member 98 and the bottom wall of the first guide portion 95.

As a result, the advancing member 98 is always urged upward, and the upper end portion of the extension portion 101 comes into contact with the upper edge of the receiving port 97 from below and is disposed at a closed position where the receiving port 97 is closed. Has been. The spring member 99 is in an expanded state as an example of the second state in a state where the advancing member 98 is in the closed position.

The guide cover 92 is made of a transparent resin material. As shown in FIG. 2A, the guide cover 92 has a substantially plate shape in a side view and is configured to cover the circumferential wall 46 and the guide frame 90 from the left side.

Specifically, the guide cover 92 includes a first portion 103, a second portion 104, and a third portion 105 integrally. The first portion 103 is configured to cover the first guide portion 95 and the fixing portion 94. The second portion 104 is configured to cover the second guide portion 96. The third portion 105 is configured to cover the circumferential wall 46.

The first portion 103 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the side. As shown in FIG. 3, the second portion 104 is continuous from the upper end of the front portion of the first portion 103, and is inclined leftward as it goes upward so as to follow the inclination of the second guide portion 96. Yes. The second portion 104 has a substantially plate shape.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the third portion 105 bulges from the rear upper portion of the first portion 103 toward the rear upper portion, and has a substantially 3/4 arc shape in a side view. The substantially central portion of the third portion 105 has an insertion hole 106 into which the receiving portion 49 is inserted.

The guide cover 92 is screwed to the gear cover 37 via the fixing portion 94 of the guide frame 90 so that the receiving portion 49 is inserted into the insertion hole 106 and the circumferential wall 46 and the guide frame 90 are covered from the left side. Has been. Thereby, the upper end portion of the second guide portion 96 and the upper end portion of the second portion 104 define the firing opening 107.

As shown in FIG. 1, the firing opening 107 and the upper end portion of the second guide portion 96 are disposed on the outer side in the left-right direction with respect to the toner carrying region T of the developing roller 22. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2B, the launch opening 107 and the upper end portion of the second guide portion 96 are arranged outside the outer shape of the cut surface when the substantially central portion in the left-right direction of the housing 16 is cut in the up-down direction. Yes. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, the launch opening 107 and the upper end portion of the second guide portion 96 are arranged so as not to overlap the housing 16 when projected in the left-right direction.

Further, the ball receiving portion 80 of the ball supply gear 70, the circumferential wall 46 of the gear cover 37, and the third portion 105 of the guide cover 92 function as an accommodating portion that accommodates the plurality of balls 71.
(4-4) Ball Launching Operation by Launching Unit Next, the firing operation of the ball 71 by the launching unit 39 will be described.

When an external driving force is input to the input gear 55, the input gear 55 transmits the driving force to the developing gear 56, the supply gear 57, the first idle gear 58, and the agitator gear 60, as shown in FIG. . The developing roller 22 is rotated by the driving force transmitted to the developing gear 56. The supply roller 23 is rotated by the driving force transmitted to the supply gear 57. The agitator 19 is rotated by the driving force transmitted to the first idle gear 58, the second idle gear 59 and the agitator gear 60. At the same time, the ball supply gear 70 rotates in the rotation direction R from the initial position by the driving force input to the agitator gear 60.

Then, as shown in FIG. 8A, the protrusion 82 contacts the protrusion 102 from above as the ball supply gear 70 rotates, and presses the protrusion 102 downward. 7A to 10, the guide cover 92 is omitted for convenience of explanation.

8B and 9A, the advancing member 98 is moved downward from the closed position against the urging force of the spring member 99, and is positioned at the open position where the receiving port 97 is opened. . At this time, the spring member 99 is contracted downward from the extended state, and is elastically deformed into a contracted state as an example of a first state in which the largest amount of elastic energy is accumulated.

Thus, one of the plurality of ball receiving portions 80 is positioned so as to open toward the front lower side, and communicates with the inside of the first guide portion 95 via the discharge port 47 and the receiving port 97. Then, the ball 71 accommodated in the ball receiving portion 80 moves along the inclination of the third rib 86 in the supply direction S as an example of the second direction indicated by the arrow, that is, in the direction from the rear upper side to the front lower side. To do. At this time, the left end of the ball 71 abuts on the upper surface of the connecting portion 50. Accordingly, the connecting portion 50 guides the movement of the ball 71 toward the discharge port 47 along the supply direction S.

Then, the ball 71 is supplied into the first guide portion 95 through the discharge port 47 and the receiving port 97. That is, the discharge port 47 discharges one of the plurality of balls 71 toward the urging unit 91.

Then, as shown in FIG. 9A, the ball 71 is received in the first guide portion 95 and is placed on the upper surface of the pedestal portion 100. Thereby, the ball 71 is disposed at a force applying position where the spring member 99 applies the biasing force to the ball 71 via the pedestal portion 100. That is, the advancing member 98 moves the ball 71 accommodated in the ball receiving portion 80 from the ball receiving portion 80 to the first guide portion 95 by the driving force transmitted to the ball supply gear 70, and moves to the force applying position. Supply.

Then, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the ball supply gear 70 further rotates, the contact between the protrusion 82 and the protrusion 102 is released. Then, the spring member 99 expands upward from the contracted state so as to release the accumulated elastic energy, and is elastically deformed into an expanded state as an example of the second state. Thereby, the advancing member 98 moves from the open position to the closed position upward. That is, the extension portion 101 of the advance member 98 opens and closes the discharge port 47 as the ball 71 is supplied or the supply of the ball 71 is stopped.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 11, the ball 71 in the force applying position is biased by the spring member 99 via the pedestal portion 100 as an example of the first direction indicated by the arrow, that is, upward from below. Receives a force in the direction toward Thereby, the ball 71 is blown upward so as to be separated from the pedestal portion 100.

In other words, the urging unit 91 is for firing on the ball 71 located in the first guide portion 95 by elastically deforming the spring member 99 from the contracted state to the extended state by the driving force received by the input gear 55. It is configured to give power. Further, the urging direction B and the supply direction S are different directions.

Then, the ball 71 is guided along the first guide direction X by the first guide portion 95 and moves upward. In the present embodiment, the first guide direction X and the biasing direction B are the same direction. In other words, the first guide portion 95 guides the ball 71 so that the ball 71 struck by the urging unit 91 moves along the urging direction B.

Subsequently, the ball 71 reaches the connection portion between the first guide portion 95 and the second guide portion 96. Then, the ball 71 is guided by the connection portion between the first guide portion 95 and the second guide portion 96, and the moving direction of the ball 71 is changed from the direction along the urging direction B to the discharge direction D indicated by the arrow, that is, the right The direction is changed from lower to upper left. In the present embodiment, the second guide direction Y and the discharge direction D are the same direction.

Then, the ball 71 reaches the second guide portion 96, is guided along the second guide direction Y by the second guide portion 96, and moves toward the upper left so as to be separated from the left side wall 35L. That is, the second guide portion 96 guides the ball 71 so that the ball 71 moves in the discharge direction D different from the biasing direction B.

Then, the ball 71 guided by the second guide portion 96 reaches the launch opening 107 and is launched out of the launch unit 39 from the launch opening 107.

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 8A to 11, when the ball supply gear 70 further rotates, the remaining plurality of balls 71 are sequentially fired from the firing unit 39 in the same manner as described above.

When all the balls 71 are fired from the firing unit 39, the meshing between the tooth portion 75 of the chipped gear portion 73 and the gear teeth of the agitator gear 60 is released as shown in FIG. 70 is disposed at the terminal position where the chipped portion 76 of the chipped gear portion 73 faces the gear teeth of the agitator gear 60. Thereby, the rotation of the ball supply gear 70 is stopped.

That is, after all the balls 71 have been fired by the firing unit 39, the ball supply gear 70 is disconnected from the input gear 55, and the rotation of the ball supply gear 70 is stopped.

In the first embodiment, the developing cartridge 12 is an example of a developer cartridge, the agitator 19 is an example of a stirring member, and the developing roller 22 is an example of a developing roller. The housing 16 is an example of a housing, the left side wall 35L is an example of a first wall, the right side wall 35R is an example of a second wall, and the input gear 55 is an example of a drive input unit. The launch unit 39 is an example of a launch device, the ball supply gear 70 is an example of a movable member, the ball 71 is an example of an object, and the ball receiver 80 is an example of a first receiver. The urging unit 91 is an example of a force applying member, the guide portion 93 is an example of a guide portion, the first guide portion 95 is an example of a first guide portion and a second receiving portion, and the second guide portion. 96 is an example of the second guide portion, and the spring member 99 is an example of an elastic member. The advance member 98 is an example of a supply member, and the extension 101 is an example of a supply restriction unit. The central axis A1 of the agitator 19 is an example of the axis of the stirring member, the central axis A2 of the developing roller 22 is an example of the axis of the developing roller, and the central axis A3 of the ball supply gear 70 is an example of the axis of the movable member. It is. Further, the biasing direction B is an example of the first direction, the supply direction S is an example of the second direction, and the left-right direction is an example of the third direction. Further, the first guide direction X is an example of the direction in which the first guide portion extends, the second guide direction Y is an example of the direction in which the second guide portion extends, and the angle θ corresponds to the direction in which the first guide portion extends. 2 is an example of an angle formed by the extending direction of the guide portion. The toner carrying region T is an example of a region carrying a developer. Further, the circumferential wall 46, the ball receiving portion 80, and the third portion 105 are an example of the accommodating portion.
3. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

12 to 28, portions corresponding to the respective portions shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the respective portions, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the developing cartridge 12 includes a gear cover 131, a gear train 132, and a launch unit 133 as an example of a launch device, as shown in FIGS. These are arranged on the left side surface of the left side wall 35L of the developing cartridge 12.
(1) Gear Cover As shown in FIG. 14, the gear cover 131 includes a substantially plate-shaped cover body 134 that covers the gear train 132 from the left side, and an engagement gear cover portion 138 that houses an engagement gear 151 described later. ing.

The cover main body 134 has a coupling insertion hole 136 and a coupling collar 137.

The coupling insertion hole 136 penetrates in the left-right direction at the rear end portion of the cover main body 134 and has a substantially circular shape in side view. As shown in FIG. 12, the coupling collar 137 has a substantially cylindrical shape and protrudes leftward from the periphery of the coupling insertion hole 136.

As shown in FIG. 13, the engagement gear covering portion 138 has a substantially box shape in which the right side and the front side are opened, and has a size capable of accommodating an engagement gear 151 described later. As shown in FIG. 12, the engagement gear covering portion 138 is connected to the front end portion of the cover main body 134 at the right portion of the rear wall.

In addition, the left wall of the engagement gear covering portion 138 has an insertion hole 139. The insertion hole 139 has a substantially circular side surface, and penetrates in the left-right direction at a substantially central portion of the left wall of the engagement gear covering portion 138 in the up-down direction.

As will be described in detail later, the gear cover 131 has a ball housing portion 152 as an example of a housing portion.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the gear cover 131 is placed on the left side wall 35 </ b> L so that the cover body 134 covers the gear train 132 and the engagement gear cover 138 covers the engagement gear 151. It is attached from the direction. As a result, a coupling portion 62 of the input gear 55 described later is exposed from the left in a state where the coupling portion 62 is inserted through the coupling collar 137 via the coupling insertion hole 136. Further, a rotation shaft 154 of an engagement gear 151 described later is inserted through the insertion hole 139.
(2) Gear Train The gear train 132 includes an input gear 55, a developing gear 56, a supply gear 57, an idle gear 140, an agitator gear 141, and a chipped gear 142 as shown in FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 23B, the idle gear 140 includes a substantially cylindrical tubular portion 143 that extends in the left-right direction, a small-diameter gear 144, and a large-diameter gear 145. The small diameter gear 144 is attached to the right end portion of the cylindrical portion 143 so as not to be relatively rotatable. The large diameter gear 145 is attached to the left end portion of the cylindrical portion 143 so as not to be relatively rotatable.

The small-diameter gear 144 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction, and has gear teeth over the entire circumference. The left-right dimension of the small diameter gear 144 is longer than the left-right dimension of the gear portion 147 of the agitator gear 141. More specifically, the dimension in the left-right direction of the small-diameter gear 144 is substantially the same as the sum of the dimension in the left-right direction of the gear portion 147 and the dimension in half in the left-right direction of the chipped gear 142.

The large-diameter gear 145 has a substantially disc shape, and spreads outward in the radial direction from the tubular portion 143. The large diameter gear 145 has gear teeth over the entire circumference.

The idle gear 140 is rotatably supported on the left side wall 35L by inserting a shaft portion (not shown) of the left side wall 35L into the cylindrical portion 143 in a front portion of the input gear 55 so as to be relatively rotatable. . As a result, the large-diameter gear 145 of the idle gear 140 is meshed with the small-diameter gear 64 of the input gear 55 from the front as shown in FIG.

The agitator gear 141 is disposed on the front lower side of the idle gear 140 as shown in FIG. 23A. The agitator gear 141 is integrally provided with a substantially cylindrical tube portion 146 extending in the left-right direction and a gear portion 147. The gear portion 147 has a substantially disk shape, and spreads outward in the radial direction from the right end portion of the cylindrical portion 146. The gear part 147 has gear teeth over the entire circumference.

The agitator gear 141 is supported by the agitator shaft 20 by attaching the cylindrical portion 146 to the left end portion of the agitator shaft 20 so as not to be relatively rotatable. Further, the gear portion 147 of the agitator gear 141 is meshed with the small-diameter gear 144 of the idle gear 140 from the front lower side as shown in FIG. 23B.

As shown in FIG. 23C, the chipped gear 142 has a substantially disk shape in a side view. The chipped gear 142 has a chipped portion 149 having no gear teeth on its peripheral surface and a toothed portion 150 having gear teeth.

The chipped gear 142 has a chipped portion 149 only on the right side of the peripheral surface of the portion forming a central angle of about 60 °. Further, the missing tooth gear 142 has a tooth portion 150 in all parts except the missing tooth portion 149 on the peripheral surface of the missing tooth gear 142. That is, the missing tooth gear 142 has gear teeth over the entire circumference of the peripheral surface except for a part of the right side portion having the missing tooth portion 149.

Further, the chipped gear 142 has a hole 148. The hole 148 penetrates in the left-right direction at a substantially central portion of the chipped gear 142 and has a substantially circular shape in side view.

As shown in FIG. 23A, the chipped gear 142 is inserted into the hole 148 so that the cylindrical portion 146 of the agitator gear 141 is relatively rotatable on the left side of the gear portion 147 of the agitator gear 141. 141 is rotatably supported.

Further, the missing tooth gear 142 is a tooth portion 150 provided on the peripheral surface thereof, and the tooth portion 150 disposed on the upstream side in the rotation direction with respect to the missing tooth portion 149 is compared with the small diameter gear 144 of the idle gear 140. Thus, it is located at the initial position where it meshes from the front lower side.

In addition, the tooth part 150 provided in the left part of the missing tooth part 149 on the peripheral surface of the missing tooth gear 142 does not mesh with the small diameter gear 144 of the idle gear 140.

In the gear train 132, as shown in FIG. 15, when a driving force is input to the input gear 55 from the outside, the input gear 55 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction in the left side view. The large-diameter gear 145 of the idle gear 140 that meshes with the small-diameter gear 64 of the input gear 55 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the left side, and meshes with the small-diameter gear 144 of the idle gear 140, respectively. Both 147 and the chipped gear 142 rotate clockwise in the left side view.
(3) Launch Unit As shown in FIG. 22, the launch unit 133 includes an engagement gear 151 as an example of a movable member, a ball storage unit 152, a ball 71, and an injection unit 153.

In the following description of each part of the launch unit 133, specifically the engagement gear 151, the gear cover 131, the lever support frame 200, and the lever 201, their directions are shown in FIGS. 16 to 21. Based on the arrow direction.

That is, the up / down / front / rear direction related to the engaging gear 151, the gear cover 131, the lever support frame 200, and the lever 201 is different from the up / down / front / back direction related to the developing cartridge 12. Specifically, the engagement gear 151, the gear cover 131, the lever support frame 200, and the lever 201 are, as shown in FIG. These are arranged so that the rear side thereof is the rear lower side of the developing cartridge 12.
(3-1) Engagement Gear As shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the engagement gear 151 includes a rotation shaft 154 extending in the left-right direction, a gear portion 155, and an engagement portion 156. The gear portion 155 is attached to the right portion of the rotating shaft 154 so as not to be relatively rotatable. The engaging portion 156 is attached to the left portion of the rotating shaft 154 so as not to be relatively rotatable.

The gear portion 155 extends in the left-right direction and has a substantially cylindrical shape. The gear portion 155 has gear teeth over the entire circumference. Further, the gear portion 155 has a horizontal dimension that is substantially the same as the horizontal dimension of the chipped gear 142.

The engaging portion 156 includes a disc portion 157, a shaft fitting portion 158, a first engaging portion 159, and a second engaging portion 160.

The disc portion 157 has a substantially disc shape and is disposed adjacent to the left side of the gear portion 155 so as to share the central axis with the rotation shaft 154. The shaft fitting portion 158 has a substantially cylindrical shape and protrudes leftward from the left surface of the disc portion 157. Moreover, the shaft fitting part 158 is arrange | positioned so that the disc part 157 and a center axis line may be shared. Furthermore, the rotating shaft 154 is inserted into the shaft fitting portion 158 so as not to be relatively rotatable.

Each of the first engaging portion 159 and the second engaging portion 160 has a substantially block shape extending radially outward from the shaft fitting portion 158, and its right end is connected to the left surface of the disc portion 157. ing. Further, each of the first engaging portion 159 and the second engaging portion 160 is disposed at an interval of approximately 180 ° from each other in the circumferential direction of the shaft fitting portion 158.

Further, the first engagement portion 159 is longer than the second engagement portion 160 in the radial direction of the shaft fitting portion 158 and shorter than the second engagement portion 160 in the left-right direction.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the engagement gear 151 is supported at the front upper side of the agitator gear 141 and the chipped gear 142 so that the right end portion of the rotation shaft 154 can be relatively rotated by the left side wall 35L. The left end portion of the rotation shaft 154 is inserted into the insertion hole 139 of the engagement gear cover 138 so as to be relatively rotatable, and is supported by the left wall 35L and the engagement gear cover 138 so as to be relatively rotatable.

Further, as shown in FIG. 23A, the gear portion 155 of the engagement gear 151 is meshed from the front upper side over the entire region of the tooth portion 150 of the chipped gear 142 in the left-right direction.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 15, when an external driving force is input to the engagement gear 151 via the gear train 132, the engagement gear 151 has the center axis A4 of the rotation shaft 154 as the center of rotation. It is rotated in the rotation direction R indicated by the arrow, that is, counterclockwise as viewed from the left side. That is, the engagement gear 151 is connected to the input gear 55 via the gear train 132 so that the driving force is transmitted from the input gear 55.
(3-2) Ball Housing Unit The ball housing unit 152 includes a housing frame 163 and a housing cover 164 as shown in FIG.

The housing frame 163 is continuous from the front end of the gear cover 131, that is, the front end of the engagement gear cover 138, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B. The accommodating portion frame 163 includes a connecting portion 165, a cover supporting portion 166, a ball receiving portion 167 as an example of a first receiving portion, and a frame supporting portion 168.

The connecting portion 165 has a substantially plate shape, and extends forward from the right end portion of the upper wall of the engagement gear covering portion 138. Moreover, since the connection part 165 becomes wide as it goes ahead, it is a substantially trapezoid shape in side view.

The cover support part 166 is long in the direction connecting the rear upper part and the front lower part, and has a substantially plate shape having a substantially rectangular shape in a side view. And the upper part in the right surface of the cover support part 166 is connected to the front part in the left surface of the connection part 165.

The ball receiving portion 167 is continuous from the lower portion of the right surface of the cover support portion 166, extends toward the right, bends downward, and then extends toward the left. Thereby, the ball receiving portion 167 has a recess 183 that is recessed toward the right. The recess 183 is inclined downward as it goes rearward.

The frame support portion 168 protrudes downward from the rear portion on the lower surface of the ball receiving portion 167, and includes a first portion 220, a second portion 221, and a transport portion regulating portion 222.

The first portion 220 has a substantially prismatic shape and protrudes downward from the left rear end portion on the lower surface of the ball receiving portion 167. The second portion 221 has a substantially prismatic shape and protrudes downward from the right rear end portion on the lower surface of the ball receiving portion 167. As a result, the first portion 220 and the second portion 221 are opposed to each other with an interval in the left-right direction.

The transport unit regulating unit 222 is installed between the first part 220 and the second part 221. Further, as shown in FIG. 22, the transport unit regulating unit 222 has a bowl-shaped cross section, and extends downward from the lower surface of the ball receiving unit 167, and then its lower end is bent rearward. .

The housing cover 164 is made of a transparent resin material. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 14, the accommodating part cover 164 has a substantially plate shape that is long in the direction connecting the rear upper part and the front lower part and is substantially rectangular in a side view. The accommodating portion cover 164 is screwed to the cover supporting portion 166 so as to cover the concave portion 183 of the ball receiving portion 167 from the left side. As a result, the recess 183 and the storage cover 164 corresponding to the recess 183 define a ball storage chamber C for storing the ball 71 as shown in FIG. The rear end portion of the recess 183 and the rear end portion of the housing cover 164 define a discharge port 182 that allows the ball 71 to pass therethrough. A plurality of, for example, four balls 71 are accommodated in the ball accommodating chamber C.
(3-3) Injection Unit As shown in FIG. 14, the injection unit 153 includes a guide frame 170, a guide cover 172, a supply unit 179 as an example of a supply member, and an urging unit as an example of a force applying member. 171.

As shown in FIG. 18, the guide frame 170 includes a guide portion 173, a fixing portion 174, a spring engagement rib 186, and a wall portion 184.

The guide part 173 has a U-shaped cross-sectional shape that is opened frontward when cut in the front-rear direction. The guide part 173 extends in the up-down direction, then bends and extends to the upper left. Specifically, the guide part 173 includes a first guide part 175 as an example of a second receiving part, and a second guide part 176.

As shown in FIG. 18A, the first guide portion 175 is a lower portion of the guide portion 173, has a concave shape, is opened forward, and extends in the vertical direction. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 18B, the first guide portion 175 has a bottom wall 185 at the lower end thereof.

The bottom wall 185 of the first guide part 175 has a through hole 177 and a protrusion 178. The through-hole 177 penetrates substantially the center portion of the bottom wall 185 in the vertical direction and has a circular shape in a bottom view. Further, the hole diameter of the through hole 177 is smaller than the diameter of the ball 71.

The protrusion 178 protrudes from the periphery of the through-hole 177 toward the inside in the radial direction of the through-hole 177, and has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the bottom. A pair of protrusions 178 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the through-hole 177 with an interval of approximately 60 °.

As shown in FIG. 18A, the second guide part 176 is an upper part of the guide part 173, has a concave shape, and is open toward the front. The second guide portion 176 is continuous from the upper end portion of the first guide portion 175 and is inclined leftward as it goes upward.

Further, the angle θ formed by the first guide direction X in which the first guide portion 175 extends and the second guide direction Y in which the second guide portion 176 extends is, for example, greater than 0 °, for example, 180 ° or less. The angle is preferably set to 90 ° or less, more preferably 45 °.

As shown in FIGS. 18A to 18C, the fixing portion 174 has a substantially plate shape that is long in the front-rear direction and is substantially rectangular in plan view. A rear portion at the left end edge of the fixed portion 174 is connected to an upper end portion of the right wall of the first guide portion 175.

As shown in FIG. 18B, the spring engagement rib 186 has a substantially plate shape that is substantially L-shaped when viewed from the bottom. The spring engagement rib 186 is connected to the upper ends of the left wall and the rear wall of the first guide part 175 so as to surround the first guide part 175 from the rear left side.

As shown in FIG. 18C, the wall portion 184 continuously extends from the front end portion of the bottom wall 185 of the first guide portion 175 and extends downward, and has a substantially plate shape.

As shown in FIG. 12, the guide frame 170 is supported by the gear cover 131 by fixing the fixing portion 174 to the connecting portion 165 of the gear cover 131. Thus, as shown in FIG. 22, the first guide portion 175 is disposed between the shaft fitting portion 158 of the engagement gear 151 and the ball receiving portion 167 in the direction connecting the rear lower portion and the front upper portion. Yes. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the upper end portion of the second guide portion 176 is arranged so as to be farther from the left side wall 35L than the lower end portion of the first guide portion 175 in the left-right direction, and from the upper end portion of the housing 16. Is also arranged above.

The guide cover 172 is made of a transparent resin material or the like, and has a substantially plate shape as shown in FIG. 18C. The guide cover 172 integrally includes a first portion 188 and a second portion 189. The first portion 188 is configured to cover the upper portion of the first guide portion 175 from the front. The second portion 189 is configured to cover the second guide portion 176 from the front.

The first portion 188 has a substantially plate shape that is long in the vertical direction and is substantially rectangular in a front view. The first portion 188 has a vertical dimension that is shorter than the vertical dimension of the first guide portion 175.

The first portion 188 has a guide groove 187. The guide groove 187 extends upward from a substantially central portion in the left-right direction at the lower end edge of the first portion 188. For this reason, the lower end portion of the first portion 188 is substantially U-shaped in front view.

The second portion 189 continuously extends from the upper end of the first portion 188 toward the upper left, and has a substantially plate shape that is substantially rectangular when viewed from the front.

As shown in FIG. 13, the guide cover 172 is supported by the guide frame 170 by screwing the second portion 189 to the second guide portion 176 from the front. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 22, the front of the upper portion of the first guide portion 175 is covered from the front by the first portion 188, while the front of the lower portion of the first guide portion 175 is opened from the front. . That is, the lower end edge of the first portion 188, the front end edge of the bottom wall 185 of the first guide portion 175, and the left and right side walls of the corresponding first guide portion 175 define a receiving port 198 for receiving the ball 71. is doing.

Also, the upper end portion of the second guide portion 176 and the upper end portion of the second portion 189 define a launch opening 199 as shown in FIG. The firing opening 199 is disposed on the outer side in the left-right direction with respect to the toner carrying region T of the developing roller 22. Further, the launch opening 199 is disposed outside the cut surface when a substantially central portion in the left-right direction of the casing 16 is cut in the up-down direction. That is, the launch opening 199 is disposed so as not to overlap the housing 16 when projected in the left-right direction.

As shown in FIG. 14, the supply unit 179 includes a ball transport unit 181 and a coil spring 180.

The ball transport unit 181 includes a transport unit main body 192 and a frame fitting unit 193 as shown in FIG.

The transport unit main body 192 has a substantially plate shape that is long in the vertical direction and is substantially rectangular in a rear view. Further, the dimension in the front-rear direction of the transport unit body 192 is substantially the same as the dimension in the front-rear direction of the ball 71.

Further, the transport unit main body 192 includes a rib 195 and a holding unit 196.

The rib 195 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and protrudes rearward from a substantially central portion in the left-right direction of the rear surface of the transport unit main body 192 in the upper portion of the rear surface of the transport unit main body 192 and extends in the vertical direction.

The holding part 196 is an opening that penetrates the lower part of the transport part main body 192 in the front-rear direction, and has a substantially rectangular shape in front view. As will be described in detail later, a portion below the holding unit 196 on the front surface of the transport unit main body 192 is defined as a regulation surface 197 as an example of a supply regulation unit.

The frame fitting portion 193 is open toward the front and has a substantially U shape in plan view. The frame fitting portion 193 extends in the up-down direction. The frame fitting portion 193 has an inner dimension capable of receiving the first guide portion 175 on the inner side thereof. The frame fitting portion 193 is connected to each of the left and right end portions of the upper portion of the rear surface of the conveyance portion main body 192 so that the front end portions thereof straddle the ribs 195.

Further, the frame fitting portion 193 includes a protrusion 194. The protrusion 194 has a substantially prismatic shape, and protrudes rearward from the upper right end portion of the rear wall of the frame fitting portion 193.

Then, as shown in FIG. 22, the ball transport unit 181 has the first guide part 175 inserted through the frame fitting part 193 and the rib 195 inserted into the guide groove 187 of the guide cover 172. It is supported by the guide part 173. Thereby, the ball transport unit 181 is configured to move in the vertical direction.

The coil spring 180 has an air-core coil shape that can expand and contract in the vertical direction. The coil spring 180 is fitted to the upper portion of the first guide portion 175 from the outside while being sandwiched between the upper end portion of the ball transport portion 181 and the spring engagement rib 186 of the first guide portion 175. Has been.

Thereby, the ball transport unit 181 is always urged downward by the coil spring 180, and the lower end of the transport unit main body 192 is a position where the lower part of the transport unit body 192 comes into contact with the bowl-shaped part of the transport unit regulating unit 222 from above. Located in the supply preparation position.

In a state where the ball transport unit 181 is located at the supply preparation position, the holding unit 196 of the transport unit main body 192 is disposed below the discharge port 182 so as to communicate with the discharge port 182 of the ball storage unit 152, and The first guide portion 175 is disposed on the front upper side of the wall portion 184. In addition, the holding unit 196 of the ball transport unit 181 stores one of the balls 71 supplied from the ball storage chamber C. Further, the protrusion 194 is disposed to face the first engagement portion 159 of the engagement gear 151 with a space therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 14, the urging unit 171 includes a lever support frame 200, a lever 201, and a tension spring 202 as an example of an elastic member.

As shown in FIG. 20C, the lever support frame 200 includes a plate portion 204 having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, a pair of shaft support portions 206, a first spring locking portion 205, a first fixing portion 207, 2 fixing portion 208.

The pair of shaft support portions 206 protrude upward from both left and right end portions on the upper surface of the plate portion 204, have a substantially plate shape, and are opposed to each other with an interval in the left-right direction. As shown in FIG. 20B, each shaft support portion 206 has a shaft insertion hole 211 having a substantially circular shape in side view penetrating in the left-right direction at the rear portion thereof.

As shown in FIG. 20C, the first spring locking portion 205 has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and protrudes rearward from the left portion at the rear end portion of the plate portion 204. Further, the first spring locking part 205 has a hook-like part 210. The hook-like portion 210 has a substantially hook-like shape in plan view, protrudes from the substantially central portion in the front-rear direction at the right end portion of the first spring locking portion 205, and is bent rearward.

The first fixing portion 207 has a substantially L shape in side view as shown in FIGS. 20B and 20C. Specifically, the first fixing portion 207 extends in the front-rear direction and is further bent downward. Moreover, the 1st fixing | fixed part 207 is extended also in the left-right direction. The first fixed portion 207 has a rear end portion connected to the left surface of the left shaft support portion 206.

As shown in FIG. 20C, the second fixing portion 208 has a substantially box shape that is opened rearward and rightward, and its rear end portion is connected to the right surface of the right shaft support portion 206. Accordingly, the first fixing portion 207 and the second fixing portion 208 are disposed to face each other with a gap in the left-right direction.

As shown in FIG. 14, the lever support frame 200 is disposed below the frame support portion 168, and the first fixing portion 207 and the second fixing portion 208 respectively correspond to the corresponding first portion 220 and second portion. Each of the portions 221 is supported by the gear cover 131 by being screwed from the front. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 22, the lever support frame 200 is disposed in front of the shaft fitting portion 158 of the engagement gear 151 and below the bottom wall 185 of the first guide portion 175. Note that the lower end portion of the transport unit main body 192 of the ball transport unit 181 located at the supply preparation position is located between the first fixing unit 207 and the second fixing unit 208.

As shown in FIG. 21A, the lever 201 includes a striking portion 215, a second spring locking portion 216, and a pair of rotating shafts 217.

The striking part 215 has a substantially bowl shape extending in the front-rear direction.

The second spring locking portion 216 extends from the rear end portion of the striking portion 215 so as to incline upward toward the rear, and has a substantially bowl shape. The 2nd spring latching | locking part 216 has the protrusion 218 integrally, as shown to FIG. 21B. The protrusion 218 has a substantially rectangular shape in a side view, and protrudes from the substantially central portion in the front-rear direction on the upper surface of the second spring locking portion 216 toward the front upper side.

The pair of rotating shafts 217 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and protrudes outward in the left-right direction from both the left and right sides of the connection portion between the striking portion 215 and the second spring locking portion 216.

Then, as shown in FIG. 22, the lever 201 has the pivot shaft 217 as a fulcrum on the lever support frame 200 in a state where each of the pair of pivot shafts 217 is rotatably inserted into the corresponding shaft insertion holes 211. Is supported so as to be swingable. As a result, the striking portion 215 is disposed in front of and below the bottom wall 185 of the first guide portion 175. Further, the second spring locking portion 216 is disposed on the front lower side of the shaft fitting portion 158 and is opposed to the left side of the disc portion 157 with an interval. In addition, the space | interval of the left-right direction of the 2nd spring latching | locking part 216 and the disc part 157 is longer than the dimension of the left-right direction of the 1st engaging part 159. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 14, the tension spring 202 is disposed so as to expand and contract in a direction connecting the rear upper part and the front lower part, and its upper end is locked to the second spring locking part 216 of the lever 201. The lower end portion is locked to the first spring locking portion 205 of the lever support frame 200.

As a result, the second spring locking portion 216 is pulled forward and downward by the tensile force of the tension spring 202, and the lever 201 has the striking portion 215 lowered to the bottom wall 185 of the first guide portion 175. It is always located at the striking position, which is the position where it comes into contact. The tension spring 202 is in a contracted state as an example of the second state in a state where the lever 201 is located at the striking position.
(4) Ball Launching Operation by Launching Unit Next, the firing operation of the ball 71 by the launching unit 133 will be described.

When an external driving force is input to the input gear 55, the driving force is transmitted from the input gear 55 to the agitator gear 141 and the chipped gear 142 via the idle gear 140 as shown in FIGS. 23A and 23B. Is done. Then, the agitator 19 is rotated and a driving force is transmitted from the chipped gear 142 to the engagement gear 151, and the engagement gear 151 is rotated in the rotation direction R from the initial position.

Then, as shown in FIG. 24A, the first engaging portion 159 contacts the protrusion 194 from below as the engaging gear 151 rotates, and presses the protrusion 194 upward. Then, the ball transport unit 181 is moved upward from the supply preparation position against the urging force of the coil spring 180 with one ball 71 held in the holding unit 196.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 24B, the ball transport unit 181 is positioned at the supply position where the holding unit 196 and the receiving port 198 face each other and the holding unit 196 communicates with the inside of the first guide unit 175. Is done. At this time, the regulation surface 197 of the ball transport unit 181 is positioned behind the discharge port 182 of the ball storage unit 152 and closes the discharge port 182.

Further, the ball 71 disposed in the holding unit 196 moves along the lower end edge of the holding unit 196 in the supply direction S as an example of the second direction indicated by the arrow, that is, in the direction from the front upper side to the rear lower side. Then, it is supplied into the first guide part 175 through the receiving port 198.

Then, as shown in FIG. 25A, the ball 71 is received in the first guide portion 175 and fits into the through-hole 177 of the bottom wall 185 from above. At this time, the lower end portion of the ball 71 is located below the bottom wall 185 via the through hole 177.

Thereby, the ball 71 is positioned at a force applying position where the urging unit 171 applies a force for firing the ball 71. That is, the supply unit 179 is configured to move one of the balls 71 housed in the ball housing chamber C from the ball receiving portion 167 to the first guide portion 175 by the driving force received by the input gear 55. Has been.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B, when the engagement gear 151 further rotates, the contact between the first engagement portion 159 and the protrusion 194 is released. Then, the ball transport unit 181 is moved downward from the supply position by the biasing force of the coil spring 180, and is again positioned at the supply preparation position as shown in FIG. 25B. Thereby, the discharge port 182 is opened, and the discharge port 182 and the holding portion 196 communicate with each other.

Then, among the plurality of balls 71 in the ball storage chamber C, the rearmost ball 71 is moved rearward and downward due to the inclination of the recess 183, and the ball is conveyed from the ball storage chamber C through the discharge port 182. It is moved into the holding part 196 of the part 181. That is, the discharge port 182 discharges the ball 71 from the ball storage chamber C toward the biasing unit 171.

In addition, since the ball 71 in the holding part 196 is in contact with the wall part 184 from the rear side, the movement toward the rear lower side is restricted by the wall part 184.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 26A, when the engagement gear 151 further rotates, the second engagement portion 160 comes into contact with the rear end portion of the second spring locking portion 216 of the lever 201 from the lower rear side.

Then, with the rotation of the engagement gear 151, the second engagement portion 160 presses the rear end portion of the second spring locking portion 216 toward the front upper side. Then, the lever 201 oscillates clockwise from the striking position from the striking position with the rotation shaft 217 as a fulcrum against the urging force of the tension spring 202. Then, as shown in FIG. 26B, the lever 201 is positioned at a retracted position where the striking portion 215 and the bottom wall 185 are separated from each other in the circumferential direction of the rotation shaft 217. At this time, the tension spring 202 is stretched upward from the contracted state, and is elastically deformed to an expanded state as an example of a first state in which the largest amount of elastic energy is accumulated.

Then, as shown in FIG. 27A, when the engagement gear 151 further rotates, the contact between the second engagement portion 160 and the second spring locking portion 216 is released. Then, the tension spring 202 contracts toward the front and lower side so as to release the accumulated elastic energy from the stretched state, and is elastically deformed to the contracted state. As a result, the lever 201 swings counterclockwise as viewed from the left side from the retracted position toward the striking position with the rotation shaft 217 as a fulcrum. Then, the lower end portion of the ball 71 in the force applying position is struck vigorously by the striking portion 215 of the lever 201, and the urging direction B as an example of the first direction indicated by the arrow, that is, from the front lower side to the rear upper side Biased in the direction. As a result, the ball 71 is thrown backward and upward so as to be separated from the bottom wall 185.

That is, the urging unit 171 is used for firing the ball 71 positioned in the first guide portion 175 by elastically deforming the tension spring 202 from the stretched state to the contracted state by the driving force received by the input gear 55. It is configured to give power.

Then, the ball 71 is guided by the first guide portion 175 and moved rearward and upward. That is, the first guide unit 175 guides the ball 71 that has been thrown by the urging unit 171 so as to move along the urging direction B.

Subsequently, the ball 71 reaches a connection portion between the first guide part 175 and the second guide part 176. Then, the ball 71 is guided by the connection portion between the first guide portion 175 and the second guide portion 176, and the direction of movement is from the direction along the biasing direction B, as shown in FIG. D, that is, the direction is changed from the lower right to the upper left.

Then, the ball 71 is guided by the second guide portion 176, moves toward the upper left so as to be separated from the left side wall 35L, and is launched from the launch opening 199 to the outside of the launch unit 133.

That is, the second guide portion 176 guides the ball 71 so as to move in the discharge direction D different from the biasing direction B.

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 27A and 27B, when the engagement gear 151 further rotates, the second engagement portion 160 passes below the protrusion 194 without contacting the protrusion 194. In addition, the first engagement portion 159 passes between the left and right directions of the disc portion 157 and the second spring locking portion 216 as the engagement gear 151 rotates, as shown in FIG. Again, it contacts the protrusion 194 from below. Then, by the rotation of the engagement gear 151, the same firing operation as described above is repeated, and a plurality of balls 71 are sequentially fired from the firing unit 133.

When all the balls 71 are fired from the firing unit 133 as shown in FIG. 27B, the chipped gear 142 is moved to the left of the tooth portion 150 and the small-diameter gear 144 of the idle gear 140 as shown in FIG. The meshing with the side portion is released, and the missing tooth portion 149 is positioned at the terminal position facing the left side portion of the small-diameter gear 144. Thereby, the rotation of the chipped gear 142 is stopped, and accordingly, the rotation of the engagement gear 151 is stopped.

That is, the engagement gear 151 is disconnected from the input gear 55 via the idle gear 140 and the chipped gear 142 after the firing of the ball 71 by the firing unit 133 is finished, and the rotation is stopped. On the other hand, the gear portion 147 of the agitator gear 141 is maintained in mesh with the right portion of the small-diameter gear 144 of the idle gear 140. As a result, the driving force input to the input gear 55 is transmitted to the agitator gear 141 via the idle gear 140 even after the firing of the ball 71 by the firing unit 133 is completed.
4). Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In FIGS. 29A to 30C, parts corresponding to the parts shown in FIGS. 1 to 28B are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the parts, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the third embodiment of the present invention, the developing cartridge 12 includes a launch unit 230 as an example of a launch device, as shown in FIG. 29A.

The launch unit 230 is disposed on the left side surface of the left side wall 35L, and includes a guide frame 231, a linear motion member 232 as an example of a storage unit, a ball 71, and an agitator gear 233.

The guide frame 231 includes a guide portion 234, a first wall 235, and a second wall 241.

The guide part 234 has a U-shaped cross-sectional shape that is opened leftward when cut in the left-right direction, extends in the up-down direction, then bends and extends to the upper left. Specifically, the guide part 234 includes a first guide part 236 and a second guide part 237.

The 1st guide part 236 comprises the lower part of guide part 234, and has a concave shape. The first guide portion 236 is open toward the left and extends in the up-down direction. In addition, the lower end part of the 1st guide part 236 is open | released. The 2nd guide part 237 comprises the upper part of guide part 234, and has a concave shape. The second guide part 237 is open toward the lower left. The second guide portion 237 continuously extends from the upper end portion of the first guide portion 236, and is inclined leftward as it goes upward.

The first wall 235 has a substantially plate shape and continuously extends rearward from the lower end portion of the rear wall of the first guide portion 236. The second wall 241 has a substantially plate shape and continuously extends forward from the lower end of the front wall of the first guide portion 236.

The linear motion member 232 has a substantially rod shape extending in the front-rear direction, and includes a rack gear portion 239 and a ball housing groove 238.

The rack gear portion 239 is disposed on the lower surface of the linear motion member 232.

A plurality of, for example, four ball receiving grooves 238 are provided corresponding to the plurality of balls 71, and are arranged at equal intervals in the front-rear direction. The ball housing groove 238 is a concave portion that is recessed downward from the upper surface of the linear motion member 232, and has a substantially rectangular shape in side view.

Each ball accommodating groove 238 accommodates a compression spring 240 as an example of a force applying member and an elastic member, and a ball 71 in its internal space.

The compression spring 240 is composed of an air-core coil that can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction, and its lower end is fixed to the bottom wall of the ball housing groove 238. The balls 71 are housed in the ball housing grooves 238 in a state of being disposed above the compression spring 240. Thereby, the ball 71 is always urged upward by the corresponding compression spring 240.

Further, as shown in FIG. 29B, the linear motion member 232 is located below the first wall 235, and is positioned at an initial position where the front end portion of the rack gear portion 239 meshes with the small diameter gear 242 of the agitator gear 233.

Further, in a state where the linear motion member 232 is located at the initial position, the plurality of balls 71 are in contact with the lower surface of the first wall 235. Accordingly, the ball 71 is pressed downward against the urging force of the compression spring 240, and the compression spring 240 is elastically deformed into a contracted state as an example of a first state in which the largest amount of elastic energy is accumulated.

The agitator gear 233 is attached to the left end portion of the agitator shaft 20 so as not to be relatively rotatable. The agitator gear 233 is a two-stage gear that integrally includes a large-diameter gear 243 and a small-diameter gear 242 disposed on the left side of the large-diameter gear 243. The large-diameter gear 243 and the small-diameter gear 242 have gear teeth over their entire circumference. The large-diameter gear 243 of the agitator gear 233 is meshed with the second idle gear 59 from the front and upper side (not shown) (see FIG. 6). Further, the small diameter gear 242 of the agitator gear 233 is meshed with the front end portion of the rack gear portion 239 from below.

When an external driving force is input to the input gear 55, the driving force is transmitted to the large-diameter gear 243 of the agitator gear 233 via various gears. Then, the agitator gear 233 is rotated clockwise in the left side view with the center axis of the agitator shaft 20 as the rotation center.

Thereby, the linear motion member 232 is moved forward from the initial position as the agitator gear 233 rotates. As a result, the plurality of balls 71 are moved forward while being rubbed against the lower surface of the first wall 235.

Then, when the foremost ball 71 reaches the lower part of the first guide part 236 as shown in FIG. 30A, the contact between the first wall 235 and the ball 71 is released. At this time, the compression spring 240 expands upward from the contracted state so as to release the accumulated elastic energy, and is elastically deformed to the expanded state.

Then, the ball 71 is urged by the compression spring 240 and is blown upward. The skipped ball 71 is moved upward by being guided by the first guide part 236. Thereafter, the ball 71 reaches the second guide portion 237 and is guided by the second guide portion 237, whereby the moving direction thereof is changed and the ball 71 moves toward the upper left. Then, the ball 71 is fired out of the firing unit 230 from the upper end portion of the second guide portion 237.

Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 30B and 30C, when the agitator gear 233 further rotates and the linear motion member 232 is further moved forward, each of the plurality of balls 71 is sequentially transferred to the first guide portion 236. Reach down. Accordingly, the plurality of balls 71 are sequentially fired from the firing unit 230 by repeating the firing operation similar to the above.

Then, as shown in FIG. 30C, the linear motion member 232 is in the final position where the engagement between the rack gear portion 239 and the small-diameter gear 242 of the agitator gear 233 is released after all the balls 71 are fired from the firing unit 230. Be positioned. Thereby, the movement of the linear motion member 232 is completed.
5. Fourth Embodiment Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

31A to 33B, portions corresponding to the respective portions shown in FIGS. 1 to 30C are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the respective portions, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the developing cartridge 12 includes a launch unit 249 as an example of a launch device, as shown in FIG. 31A.

The launch unit 249 is disposed on the left side surface of the left side wall 35L, and includes a revolver unit 251, a ball 71, and an agitator gear 233.

The revolver unit 251 includes a guide frame 250 and a revolver unit 263.

The guide frame 250 includes a main body plate 252 and a guide portion 253.

The main body plate 252 has a substantially plate shape that is substantially rectangular when viewed from the side, and has a shaft support hole 254 and a ball passage opening 255 as shown in FIGS. 31A and 33B.

As shown in FIG. 33A, the shaft support hole 254 has a substantially circular shape when viewed from the side, and penetrates a substantially central portion of the main body plate 252 in the left-right direction. As shown in FIGS. 33A and 33B, the ball passage opening 255 penetrates the main body plate 252 in the left-right direction above the shaft support hole 254 in the main body plate 252. Further, as will be described in detail later, the ball passage opening 255 is disposed at a position facing a ball receiving recess 261 described later when the revolver portion 263 is rotated. Further, the ball passage opening 255 has a shape and a size that allow the ball 71 to pass therethrough.

The guide part 253 has a substantially rectangular tube shape as shown in FIG. 31A. The guide portion 253 extends in the left-right direction, then bends and further extends to the upper left. Specifically, the guide part 253 includes a first guide part 256 and a second guide part 257.

33B, the first guide portion 256 has a substantially rectangular tube shape, and protrudes leftward from the periphery of the ball passage opening 255 of the main body plate 252. The second guide portion 257 has a substantially rectangular tube shape, is continuous from the left end portion of the first guide portion 256, and is inclined upward toward the left.

The revolver portion 263 includes a substantially cylindrical shaft portion 258 extending in the left-right direction, a ball accommodating portion 259, and a gear portion 260, as shown in FIG. 31A.

The ball housing portion 259 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction. The ball housing portion 259 shares the central axis with the shaft portion 258 and is attached to the shaft portion 258 so as not to be relatively rotatable so that the left end portion of the shaft portion 258 is exposed.

The ball housing portion 259 has a ball housing recess 261 as shown in FIG. 32B. A plurality of, for example, four ball receiving recesses 261 are arranged corresponding to the plurality of balls 71, and are arranged at a substantially 90 ° interval in the circumferential direction of the ball receiving portion 259. As shown in FIG. 33B, the ball housing recess 261 is recessed from the left surface of the ball housing portion 259 toward the right, and has a substantially rectangular shape in side view.

Each ball accommodating recess 261 accommodates a compression spring 262 as an example of a force applying member and a ball 71 in its internal space.

The compression spring 262 is formed of an air-core coil that can expand and contract in the left-right direction, and the right end thereof is fixed to the right wall of the ball housing recess 261. The balls 71 are respectively accommodated in the corresponding ball accommodating recesses 261 so as to be arranged on the left side of the compression spring 262. Thereby, the ball 71 is always urged to the left by the corresponding compression spring 262.

As shown in FIG. 32A, the gear portion 260 has a substantially disk shape having a smaller diameter than the ball housing portion 259. The gear part 260 has gear teeth over the entire circumference. The gear portion 260 shares the central axis with the shaft portion 258 and is attached to the right end portion of the shaft portion 258 so as not to rotate relative to the right side of the ball housing portion 259.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 33A and 33B, the revolver portion 263 is arranged so that the left end portion of the shaft portion 258 is inserted into the shaft support hole 254 of the body plate 252 so as to be relatively rotatable from the right side. It is arranged on the right side.

Thereby, the ball 71 is in contact with the right surface of the main body plate 252. Accordingly, the ball 71 is pressed rightward against the urging force of the compression spring 262, and the compression spring 262 is elastically deformed into a contracted state as an example of a first state in which the largest amount of elastic energy is accumulated. ing.

Further, as shown in FIG. 31B, the revolver unit 251 is disposed on the front upper side of the agitator gear 233 so that the gear portion 260 is engaged with the small diameter gear 242 of the agitator gear 233 from the front upper side.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 32B, when an external driving force is input to the input gear 55 and the agitator gear 233 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 32B, the revolver unit 263 is rotated along with the rotation of the agitator gear 233. Thus, the rotation direction R indicated by the arrow, that is, the counterclockwise direction in FIG.

Then, as shown in FIG. 33B, one of the plurality of balls 71 reaches the right side of the ball passage opening 255 and faces the ball passage opening 255 in the left-right direction. Thereby, the contact between the main body plate 252 and the ball 71 is released.

At this time, the compression spring 262 extends from the contracted state toward the left so as to release the accumulated elastic energy, and is elastically deformed into the extended state.

Then, the ball 71 is pushed out by the compression spring 262 and is blown toward the left. Then, the ball 71 moves toward the left by being guided by the first guide portion 256, and then reaches the second guide portion 257. When the ball 71 reaches the second guide portion 257, the ball 71 is further guided by the second guide portion 257, so that the moving direction thereof is changed, and the ball 71 moves toward the upper left, and the upper end portion of the second guide portion 257 is moved. To the outside of the firing unit 249.

Subsequently, when the revolver unit 263 is further rotated by the rotation of the agitator gear 233, each of the plurality of balls 71 sequentially reaches the position of the ball passage opening 255. Thereby, the same launching operation as described above is repeated, and a plurality of balls 71 are sequentially fired from the firing unit 249.
6). Fifth Embodiment Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

34A to 36B, portions corresponding to the respective portions shown in FIGS. 1 to 33B are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the respective portions, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the fifth embodiment of the present invention, the developing cartridge 12 includes a firing unit 266 as an example of a launching device, as shown in FIG. 34A.

The launch unit 266 is disposed on the left side surface of the left side wall 35L, and includes a revolver unit 267, a ball 71, and an agitator gear 233.

The revolver unit 267 includes a guide frame 250 and a revolver unit 268.

The revolver portion 268 includes a shaft portion 258, a ball accommodating portion 259, a gear portion 269, and a spring unit 270 as an example of a force applying member, as shown in FIGS. 36A and 36B.

As shown in FIG. 36B, the ball housing portion 259 has a hole 271, a tapered surface 273, and a regulating surface 272.

As shown in FIG. 35A, four holes 271 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the ball housing portion 259 with an interval of about 90 ° therebetween, corresponding to each of the four ball housing recesses 261.

36B, the hole 271 has a substantially circular shape when viewed from the side, and penetrates the right wall of the ball receiving recess 261 in the left-right direction so as to communicate with the ball receiving recess 261.

The tapered surface 273 is provided corresponding to each of the four ball receiving recesses 261. The tapered surface 273 is recessed leftward from a portion corresponding to the ball housing recess 261 on the right surface of the ball housing portion 259, and has a curved shape in side view. As a result, as shown in FIG. 35A, four tapered surfaces 273 are arranged at a substantially 90 ° interval in the circumferential direction of the ball housing portion 259. Further, the hole 271 is disposed at a substantially central portion in the circumferential direction of the ball housing portion 259 on the tapered surface 273.

The regulating surface 272 is defined between the tapered surfaces 273 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the ball housing portion 259 on the right surface of the ball housing portion 259, and extends in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 36B.

As shown in FIG. 35A, the gear portion 269 protrudes from the right surface of the ball housing portion 259 toward the right, and has a substantially cylindrical shape that shares the central axis with the ball housing portion 259. Further, the outer diameter of the gear portion 269 is smaller than the outer diameter of the ball housing portion 259. Further, the inner diameter of the gear portion 269 has such a size that all the holes 271 can be arranged on the inner side in the radial direction in a side view. The gear portion 269 has gear teeth over the entire circumference.

The spring unit 270 is disposed at the upper part in the gear portion 269, and as shown in FIG. 36B, the spring unit 270 is spaced to the right of the ball passage opening 255 so as to overlap the ball passage opening 255 when projected in the left-right direction. They are spaced apart. The spring unit 270 includes a spring support frame 277, a tip portion 275, and a spring 276 as an example of an elastic member.

The spring support frame 277 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction and closed at the right end. The spring 276 is accommodated in the spring support frame 277 and is formed of an air core coil extending in the left-right direction. The right end portion of the spring 276 is fixed to the right end portion of the spring support frame 277.

The tip 275 extends in the left-right direction and has a substantially cylindrical shape. Further, the distal end portion 275 is fixed to the left end portion of the spring 276. As a result, the tip 275 is always urged to the left by the spring 276.

Further, as shown in FIG. 34B, the revolver unit 267 is disposed on the front upper side of the agitator gear 233 so that the gear portion 269 is engaged with the small diameter gear 242 of the agitator gear 233 from the front upper side.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 35B, when a driving force is input to the input gear 55 and the agitator gear 233 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 35B, the revolver 268 is rotated along with the rotation of the agitator gear 233. Rotation direction R indicated by an arrow, that is, counterclockwise in FIG. 35B.

At this time, the distal end portion 275 of the spring unit 270 is rubbed against the regulating surface 272 of the ball housing portion 259 as shown in FIG. 36B. Therefore, the distal end portion 275 is pressed to the right by the restriction surface 272 and is moved to the right against the urging force of the spring 276. As a result, the spring 276 is elastically deformed into a contracted state as an example of a first state in which the largest amount of elastic energy is accumulated.

Further, when the revolver portion 268 is further rotated, one of the plurality of ball receiving recesses 261 reaches the right side of the ball passage opening 255. As a result, the corresponding hole 271 reaches the left side of the distal end portion 275 of the spring unit 270. Then, the spring 276 extends from the contracted state toward the left so as to release the accumulated elastic energy, and is elastically deformed into the extended state.

Thereby, the tip 275 abuts from the right side vigorously with the ball 71 accommodated in the ball accommodating recess 261 through the hole 271. Then, the ball 71 is flipped out by the tip portion 275 and is blown toward the left. Then, the ball 71 moves toward the left by being guided by the first guide portion 256, and then reaches the second guide portion 257. Then, by being guided by the second guide portion 257, the movement direction of the ball 71 is changed, and the ball 71 moves toward the upper left. As a result, the ball 71 is fired out of the firing unit 266 from the upper end portion of the second guide portion 257.

Subsequently, when the revolver portion 268 is further rotated, the tip portion 275 of the spring unit 270 comes into contact with the tapered surface 273. Further, the distal end portion 275 of the spring unit 270 moves toward the right as the revolver portion 268 rotates, and then contacts the regulating surface 272. Thereby, the spring 276 is elastically deformed again into the contracted state.

When the revolver portion 268 is further rotated, each of the plurality of ball receiving recesses 261 sequentially reaches the right side of the ball passage opening 255 and the corresponding hole 271 reaches the left side of the tip end portion 275. .

Thereby, the launching operation similar to the above is repeated, and the balls 71 accommodated in the ball accommodating recess 261 are sequentially launched from the firing unit 266.
7). Sixth Embodiment Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described.

37A to 39B, portions corresponding to the respective portions shown in FIGS. 1 to 36B are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the respective portions, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the sixth embodiment of the present invention, the developing cartridge 12 includes a firing unit 280 as an example of a launching device, as shown in FIG. 37A.

The firing unit 280 is disposed on the left side surface of the left side wall 35L, and includes a guide portion 93, a ball 71, a blade holding gear 281 as an example of a force applying member, and an agitator gear 233.

The first guide portion 95 of the guide portion 93 has a pair of protrusions 282 as shown in FIG. 38A. The pair of protrusions 282 protrude so as to approach each other from the inner side surfaces of the front and rear side walls of the first guide portion 95, and are arranged to face each other with a gap in the front-rear direction.

Specifically, the rear protrusion 282 protrudes forward from the upper peripheral end of the receiving port 97 on the rear wall of the first guide part 95 and has a substantially rectangular shape in side view. The front protrusion 282 is disposed so as to oppose the rear protrusion 282 in the front-rear direction, protrudes rearward from the front wall of the first guide part 95, and has a substantially rectangular shape in side view. The distance between the pair of protrusions 282 in the front-rear direction is slightly shorter than the outer diameter of the ball 71.

Further, the first guide portion 95 accommodates a pressing member 283 as an example of a supply member and a plurality of balls 71 in the internal space. The pressing member 283 is disposed at a lower portion in the first guide portion 95 and includes a pressing portion 284 and a spring portion 285.

The pressing portion 284 has a substantially U shape in side view that opens downward. The spring portion 285 has an air-core coil shape that can expand and contract in the vertical direction, and is sandwiched between the upper wall of the pressing portion 284 and the bottom wall of the first guide portion 95.

A plurality of, for example, four balls 71 are accommodated in the first guide portion 95, and are arranged in the vertical direction above the pressing portion 284. Accordingly, the plurality of balls 71 are always urged upward by the spring portion 285 via the pressing portion 284. On the other hand, the uppermost ball 71 is sandwiched between a pair of protrusions 282 and is restricted from moving upward. Thus, the uppermost ball 71 is positioned at the force applying position.

In other words, in the sixth embodiment, the first guide portion 95 accommodates a plurality of balls 71 therein, and also functions as an example of the accommodating portion.

As shown in FIGS. 37A and 37B, the blade holding gear 281 is rotatably supported by the left side wall 35L, and includes a gear portion 286, a plate-like portion 287, a blade support shaft 288, and a blade 289. ing.

The gear portion 286 has a substantially disc shape having a thickness in the left-right direction, and has gear teeth over the entire circumference thereof. The plate-like portion 287 is disposed adjacent to the left side of the gear portion 286 and has a substantially disc shape sharing a central axis with the gear portion 286. Further, the plate-like portion 287 has a larger diameter than the gear portion 286.

As shown in FIG. 37A, the blade support shaft 288 protrudes leftward from the central portion of the left surface of the plate-like portion 287, and has a substantially cylindrical shape sharing the central axis with the plate-like portion 287.

The blade 289 is made of a flexible resin material, and has a substantially plate shape extending radially outward from the left portion of the peripheral surface of the blade support shaft 288. Further, the dimension of the blade 289 in the radial direction of the blade support shaft 288 is longer than the radius of the plate-like portion 287. Four blades 289 are arranged at an interval of approximately 90 ° from each other in the circumferential direction of the blade support shaft 288.

The blade holding gear 281 is disposed behind the guide portion 93 and in front of the agitator gear 233. Moreover, the gear part 286 of the blade | wing holding | maintenance gear 281 is meshed | engaged from the front upper direction with the small diameter gear 242 of the agitator gear 233, as shown to FIG. 37B.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 38A, when a driving force is input to the input gear 55 and the agitator gear 233 is rotated clockwise in FIG. It is rotated in the rotation direction R indicated by the arrow, that is, counterclockwise in FIG. 38A.

Then, as the blade holding gear 281 rotates, the free end portion of the blade 289 slides on the rear wall of the first guide portion 95 as shown in FIG. 38B. Accordingly, the blade 289 is elastically deformed by the frictional force with the rear wall of the first guide portion 95 and has a curved shape that warps in the reverse direction of the rotation direction R. At this time, the blade 289 is in a curved state as an example of a first state in which the largest elastic energy is accumulated.

Then, when the blade holding gear 281 further rotates, the free end portion of the blade 289 reaches the receiving port 97. Accordingly, the blade 289 is restored so as to release the accumulated elastic energy from the curved state by eliminating the sliding friction between the free end portion of the blade 289 and the rear wall of the first guide portion 95.

Then, the free end portion of the blade 289 comes into contact with the ball 71 at the force applying position vigorously from the rear lower side through the receiving port 97. Then, the ball 71 passes between the pair of protrusions 282 and is blown upward. That is, in the sixth embodiment, the biasing direction of the ball 71 by the blade holding gear 281 and the supply direction of the ball 71 by the pressing member 283 are substantially the same direction.

Then, the ball 71 is guided by the second guide portion 96 to move toward the upper left, and is launched from the upper end portion of the second guide portion 96 to the outside of the firing unit 280.

On the other hand, the ball 71 accommodated in the first guide portion 95 is moved upward by the pressing member 283 until the uppermost ball 71 is sandwiched between the pair of protrusions 282. As a result, the uppermost ball 71 is positioned at the force applying position.

Subsequently, when the blade holding gear 281 is further rotated, a firing operation similar to the above is repeated, and the balls 71 accommodated in the first guide portion 95 are sequentially fired from the firing unit 280.
9. Seventh Embodiment Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described.

40A to 41B, portions corresponding to the respective portions shown in FIGS. 1 to 39B are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the respective portions, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the seventh embodiment of the present invention, the developing cartridge 12 includes a firing unit 290 as an example of a launching device, as shown in FIG. 41A.

The firing unit 290 includes a guide frame 90, a ball supply gear 70, an intermediate gear 291 and a ball launching gear 292 as an example of a force applying member.

The first guide portion 95 of the guide frame 90 has a passage port 293 as shown in FIG. 40B. The passage port 293 is configured to allow passage of a blade portion 296 described later from the bottom wall to the front wall of the first guide portion 95.

The intermediate gear 291 includes a two-stage gear including a large-diameter gear 295 and a small-diameter gear 294 disposed on the left side of the large-diameter gear 295. The large-diameter gear 295 and the small-diameter gear 294 have gear teeth over the entire circumference of each peripheral surface.

The intermediate gear 291 is arranged in front of the ball supply gear 70 and on the right side of the guide frame 90 as shown in FIG. 41A. Further, the small-diameter gear 294 of the intermediate gear 291 is meshed with the chipped gear portion 73 of the ball supply gear 70 from the front as shown in FIG. 40B.

The ball launching gear 292 includes a gear portion 286, a plate-like portion 287, a blade support shaft 288, and a blade portion 296.

The blade portion 296 has a substantially flat plate shape extending radially outward from the left end portion of the peripheral surface of the blade support shaft 288, and has rigidity capable of launching the ball 71 as described later.

Also, the dimension of the blade part 296 in the radial direction of the blade support shaft 288 is longer than the radius of the plate-like part 287. Four blade portions 296 are arranged in the circumferential direction of the blade support shaft 288 at an interval of approximately 90 ° from each other.

The ball launching gear 292 is disposed in front of the ball supply gear 70 and the guide frame 90. Thus, when the ball launch gear 292 is rotated, the blade portion 296 is configured to pass through the first guide portion 95 via the passage port 293.

Further, as shown in FIG. 40A, the gear portion 286 of the ball launching gear 292 is meshed with the large-diameter gear 295 of the intermediate gear 291 from the front lower side.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 41A, when a driving force is input to the input gear 55 and the ball supply gear 70 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 41A, the driving force is applied to the ball via the intermediate gear 291. It is transmitted to the launch gear 292. Then, the ball launching gear 292 is rotated in the rotation direction R indicated by the arrow, that is, clockwise in FIG. 41A. That is, when a driving force is input to the input gear 55, each of the ball supply gear 70 and the ball launch gear 292 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 41A.

The balls 71 accommodated in the ball receiving portions 80 are sequentially supplied from the ball supply gear 70 into the first guide portion 95 through the discharge port 47 and the receiving port 97. Then, the blade 71 of the ball launch gear 292 comes into contact with the ball 71 supplied into the first guide portion 95 from below, and the ball 71 is launched.

Then, the ball 71 moves upward by being guided by the first guide portion 95, and then reaches the second guide portion 96. Then, the ball 71 is further guided toward the upper left by being guided by the second guide portion 96. As a result, the ball 71 is launched out of the firing unit 290 from the launch opening 107.

Subsequently, when the ball supply gear 70 and the ball launching gear 292 are further rotated, the firing operation similar to the above is repeated. Thereby, the balls 71 accommodated in the ball supply gear 70 are sequentially fired from the firing unit 290.
10. Next, a printer as an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using the developing cartridge 12 according to the first to seventh embodiments of the present invention will be described.

Specifically, the printer 1 including the developing cartridge 12 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The printer 1 can also include the developing cartridges 12 of the second to seventh embodiments instead of the developing cartridge 12 of the first embodiment.

The printer 1 includes a substantially box-shaped main body casing 2 as shown in FIG.

The main casing 2 has an opening 3 on one side wall. The main body casing 2 includes a front cover 4. The front cover 4 is configured to swing around its lower end as a fulcrum and open and close the opening 3.

In the following description, when referring to the direction of the printer 1, the state in which the printer 1 is placed horizontally is used as a reference. Specifically, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 45, one side on which the front cover 4 is provided, that is, the right side of the sheet is defined as the front side, and the opposite side, that is, the left side of the sheet is defined as the rear side. Also, the left and right are defined with reference to the printer 1 as viewed from the front. That is, the up-down direction is the vertical direction, and the front-rear, left-right direction is the horizontal direction. The printer 1 has a cartridge housing portion 10 configured to house the drum cartridge 11 and the developing cartridge 12.

The drum cartridge 11 includes a photosensitive drum 13, a scorotron charger 14, and a transfer roller 15. The scorotron charger 14 is opposed to the photosensitive drum 13 with a gap in the upper rear side of the photosensitive drum 13. The transfer roller 15 faces the photosensitive drum 13 and contacts the photosensitive drum 13 from below.

The developing cartridge 12 is configured to be detachably attached to the drum cartridge 11. The developing cartridge 12 attached to the drum cartridge 11 is configured to be detachably accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion 10 of the main body casing 2.
11. Details of Main Body Casing As shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, the main body casing 2 includes a main body coupling 110 and a detection mechanism 111 inside. The main body coupling 110 is configured to input a driving force to the input gear 55 of the developing cartridge 12 when the developing cartridge 12 is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion 10. The detection mechanism 111 is configured to detect the ball 71 fired from the firing unit 39 of the developing cartridge 12 when the developing cartridge 12 is housed in the cartridge housing portion 10.
(1) Main Body Coupling As shown in FIG. 1, the main body coupling 110 is configured to transmit a driving force supplied from a driving source such as a motor (not shown) provided in the main body casing 2. The main body coupling 110 has a substantially cylindrical shape extending in the left-right direction. The main body coupling 110 is disposed so as to face the coupling recess 65 of the input gear 55 from the left in a state where the developing cartridge 12 is accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion 10.

Further, the main body coupling 110 has a retracted position in which the main body coupling 110 and the coupling recess 65 are separated in the left-right direction by a known interlocking mechanism as the front cover 4 moves between the open position and the closed position. The right end portion of the main body coupling 110 is configured to move along the left-right direction between a protruding position where the right end portion is inserted into the coupling recess 65 so as not to be relatively rotatable.

Then, when the driving force supplied from the driving source is transmitted, the main body coupling 110 is rotated counterclockwise when viewed from the right side.
(2) Detection Mechanism As shown in FIG. 11, the detection mechanism 111 is provided on the left side wall 109 of the main casing 2 and is an optical type composed of a ball passage 112, an actuator 113, and a pair of a light emitting element and a light receiving element. Sensor 114.

The ball passage 112 includes an opening 116, a passage path 117, and a storage unit 115.

The opening 116 is spaced apart from the firing opening 107 of the developing cartridge 12 accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion 10 in the left side wall 109 of the main casing 2 in the second guide direction Y, specifically, from the lower right to the upper left. Are defined so as to face each other. The opening 116 has a shape and a size that allow the ball 71 to pass therethrough.

The passing path 117 includes a first path 118 that extends from the opening 116 to the upper left and a second path 119 that is bent from the left end of the first path 118 and extends downward.

The storage unit 115 has a substantially box shape and a space in which the ball 71 can be stored. The internal space of the reservoir 115 communicates with the lower end of the second path 119.

The actuator 113 is disposed at a substantially central portion in the vertical direction of the second path 119, and is configured to swing when contacted or released from the ball 71 passing through the second path 119.

The actuator 113 includes a swing shaft 120, a contact lever 121, and a light shielding lever 122. The swing shaft 120 extends in the front-rear direction and is rotatably supported by the left side wall 109 of the main body casing 2. The contact lever 121 extends rightward from the swing shaft 120. The light shielding lever 122 extends leftward from the swing shaft 120.

The actuator 113 is always located at the non-detection position by a spring (not shown). When the actuator 113 is located at the non-detection position, the contact lever 121 extends rightward from the swing shaft 120, and the light shielding lever 122 extends leftward from the swing shaft 120. Further, when the ball 71 contacts the contact lever 121 from above, the actuator 113 swings clockwise with the swing shaft 120 as a fulcrum and moves to the detection position. When the actuator 113 is located at the detection position, the contact lever 121 extends from the swing shaft 120 to the lower right and the light shielding lever 122 extends from the swing shaft 120 to the upper left. Further, the ball 71 is allowed to pass the second path 119 in a state where the actuator 113 is in the detection position. In FIG. 11, the actuator 113 at the non-detection position is indicated by a solid line, and the actuator 113 at the detection position is indicated by a virtual line.

The optical sensor 114 includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element that are disposed to face each other in the front-rear direction. The optical sensor 114 is configured such that when the actuator 113 is in the non-detection position, the optical path from the light emitting element to the light receiving element is blocked by the light shielding lever 122, and when the actuator 113 is in the detection position, The light shielding lever 122 is configured to retract. When the light shielding lever 122 is retracted from the optical path from the light emitting element to the light receiving element, an ON signal is output from the optical sensor 114. Note that a microcomputer (not shown) is electrically connected to the optical sensor 114.
12 Operation for attaching / detaching the developing cartridge to / from the main casing and detecting operation for the developing cartridge (1) Mounting operation of the developing cartridge to the main casing The case where the new developing cartridge 12 is mounted in the cartridge accommodating portion 10 of the main casing 2 is shown in FIG. As shown, the front cover 4 is first placed in the open position, and the main body opening 3 is opened. At this time, the main body coupling 110 is located at the retracted position as shown in FIG.

Then, the developing cartridge 12 is inserted from the front through the main body opening 3 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the mounting of the developing cartridge 12 to the cartridge housing portion 10 of the main casing 2 is completed.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 11, the launch opening 107 of the launch unit 39 and the opening 116 of the ball passage 112 face each other with an interval in the second guide direction Y. Further, the coupling recess 65 of the input gear 55 and the main body coupling 110 are opposed to each other with an interval in the left-right direction.
(2) New detection operation of developing cartridge Next, the front cover 4 is moved from the open position to the closed position, and the main body opening 3 is closed. Then, the main body coupling 110 is moved to the projecting position, and engages with the coupling recess 65 of the input gear 55 so as not to be relatively rotatable. As a result, the driving force supplied from the driving source can be transmitted to the input gear 55 via the main body coupling 110.

Thereafter, when the warm-up operation of the printer 1 is disclosed, the input gear 55 receives the driving force from the main body coupling 110. Then, as described above, the firing unit 39 of the developing cartridge 12 fires the ball 71. The fired ball 71 is received in the opening 116 of the left side wall 109 of the main casing 2 and enters the first path 118 of the passing path 117. When the ball 71 reaches the continuous portion of the first pass 118 and the second pass 119, the ball 71 is guided by the connecting portion, so that the traveling direction of the ball 71 is changed downward, and the ball 71 is moved into the second pass 119. Enter.

Then, the ball 71 comes into contact with the contact lever 121 of the actuator 113 from above. As a result, the actuator 113 swings clockwise from the non-detection position and is positioned at the detection position. Then, the optical sensor 114 detects the swing of the actuator 113 and outputs an ON signal. Thereby, the detection of the ball 71 by the optical sensor 114 is achieved.

Thereafter, after allowing the ball 71 to pass, the actuator 113 swings again from the detection position to the non-detection position by the biasing force of a spring (not shown). As a result, the optical path from the light emitting element to the light receiving element of the optical sensor 114 is blocked by the light shielding lever 122, and the optical sensor 114 stops outputting the ON signal.

That is, when the ball 71 is launched from the launch unit 39, the optical sensor 114 first detects the swing of the actuator 113 from the non-detection position to the detection position and outputs an ON signal. Thereafter, the optical sensor 114 stops outputting the ON signal due to the swing of the actuator 113 from the detection position to the non-detection position.

Further, after the ball 71 comes into contact with the actuator 113, the ball 71 reaches the storage unit 115 from the second path 119 and is stored in the storage unit 115. Therefore, the number of balls 71 in the storage unit 115 corresponds to information such as the number of replacements of the developing cartridge 12.

Subsequently, as described above, when the ball supply gear 70 further rotates, the firing unit 39 fires the second ball 71 continuously after firing the first ball 71. The launched second ball 71 is also detected by the optical sensor 114. Similarly, the third and fourth balls 71 sequentially fired from the firing unit 39 are also detected by the optical sensor 114.

As described above, when a new developing cartridge 12 is mounted in the cartridge housing portion 10, a plurality of balls 71 are fired from the firing unit 39, and the plurality of balls 71 are detected by the optical sensor 114. Thereby, the optical sensor 114 outputs and stops the output of the ON signal a predetermined number of times, specifically four times.

Accordingly, when the optical sensor 114 outputs and stops the output of the predetermined on signal after the developing cartridge 12 is mounted in the cartridge housing portion 10, it is determined by the microcomputer that the developing cartridge 12 is new. Determined.

The above-described ON signal pattern corresponds to information on the developing cartridge 12. Therefore, the microcomputer determines the toner capacity and the toner color of the developing cartridge 12 based on the ON signal pattern.

On the other hand, when the developer cartridge 12 (old developer cartridge 12) once determined to be new is remounted in the main body casing 2, the tooth portion 75 of the chipped gear portion 73 and the gear teeth of the agitator gear 60. Has already been released. Therefore, even when the warm-up operation of the printer 1 is started, the ball supply gear 70 does not rotate and the firing unit 39 does not fire the ball 71. Therefore, if the optical sensor 114 does not output an ON signal within a predetermined period after the developing cartridge 12 is mounted on the main casing 2, it is determined that the developing cartridge 12 is an old product. The old developing cartridge 12 refers to a developing cartridge 12 that has been mounted in the main casing 2 at least once and has been determined to be new.
13. Effects and Effects of First Embodiment (1) In such a developing cartridge 12, as shown in FIG. 1, a housing 16 that contains toner, and a launch unit 39 that is provided on the housing 16 and launches a ball 71 to the outside. It has. Therefore, it is possible to provide a developing cartridge 12 in which the conventional technique is further developed.

However, the detected member provided in the developing cartridge 12 swings by contacting the actuator provided in the main body casing 2, and the sensor provided in the main body casing 2 detects the swing of the actuator to detect the developing cartridge. When the information of 12 is discriminated, the detected member provided in a different member and the actuator come into contact with each other, so that the detection of the swing of the actuator by the sensor may become unstable.

In particular, when a driving force from a driving source (not shown) is transmitted to the developing roller 22, the supply roller 23, the agitator 19, and the like via the main body coupling 110 and the gear train 38, the driving force causes them to the developing cartridge 12. There may be rattling.

In such a case, the stable contact between the member to be detected and the actuator is hindered, and the detection of the swing of the actuator by the sensor may become unstable.

However, according to the above configuration, since the developing cartridge 12 includes the firing unit 39, the detection mechanism 111 provided in the main body casing 2 causes the ball 71 ejected from the firing unit 39 to move as shown in FIG. Can be detected. That is, the detection mechanism 111 can detect the ball 71 delivered from the developing cartridge 12 to the main casing 2.

Therefore, the detection mechanism 111 can reliably detect the ball 71, and the information of the developing cartridge 12 can be reliably determined based on the detection result of the detection mechanism 111.

Furthermore, since the launch unit 39 can launch the ball 71, the detection mechanism 111 can be arranged apart from the developing cartridge 12 mounted on the main body casing 2. Therefore, the detection mechanism 111 can be disposed away from the attachment / detachment locus of the developing cartridge 12. As a result, it is possible to prevent the developing cartridge 12 and the user from interfering with the detection mechanism 111 when the developing cartridge 12 is attached or detached. As a result, it is possible to suppress the detection mechanism 111 from being damaged.

(2) The developing cartridge 12 includes a ball 71 as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is not necessary to load the ball 71 into the firing unit 39 before mounting the developing cartridge 12 to the main casing 2. As a result, the attaching / detaching operation of the developing cartridge 12 can be facilitated.

(3) The developing cartridge 12 includes an input gear 55 configured to receive a driving force from the main body coupling 110 as shown in FIG. 7 to 11, the firing unit 39 sequentially fires the balls 71 by the driving force input from the main body coupling 110 to the input gear 55. Therefore, the firing unit 39 can reliably fire the ball 71.

(4) Moreover, the launch unit 39 includes an urging unit 91 configured to apply a force for launching the ball 71 to the ball 71 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the launch unit 39 launches the ball 71 by applying an upward force for launching the ball 71 to the ball 71 by the urging unit 91. As a result, the launch unit 39 can launch the ball 71 more reliably.

(5) Further, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the advance member 98 of the urging unit 91 is configured to apply an upward force to the ball 71 by moving. Therefore, the advancing member 98 can reliably apply a force for firing the ball 71, and the firing unit 39 can reliably fire the ball 71.

(6) Further, the urging unit 91 includes a spring member 99 as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, and the spring member 99 is elastically deformed to give a force for firing to the ball 71. It is configured as follows. Therefore, the force for firing can be more reliably applied to the ball 71 with a simple configuration.

(7) Further, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the spring member 99 is configured to be elastically deformed into a contracted state in which elastic energy is stored and an extended state in which the elastic energy stored in the contracted state is released. ing. The biasing unit 91 applies a force to the ball 71 via the advancing member 98 due to the elastic deformation of the spring member 99 from the contracted state to the extended state. Therefore, the force for firing can be more reliably applied to the ball 71.

(8) Also, as shown in FIGS. 7A to 9B, the spring member 99 in the contracted state is elastically deformed to the extended state by the driving force received by the input gear 55, so that the biasing unit 91 is The ball 71 is configured to apply a force for firing. That is, since the spring member 99 can be elastically deformed from the expanded / contracted state to the extended state by the driving force received by the input gear 55, the urging unit 91 can reliably apply the force for firing to the ball 71.

(9) Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the developing cartridge 12 includes a ball supply gear 70 configured to rotate by the driving force received by the input gear 55. As shown in FIG. 8A, the ball supply gear 70 is configured to engage with the urging unit 91 by rotation. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, the spring member 99 is elastically deformed from the expanded state to the contracted state as the ball supply gear 70 rotates.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, the ball supply gear 70 is configured to be disengaged from the urging unit 91 by further rotating. Thereby, the spring member 99 is elastically deformed from the contracted state to the extended state. That is, by rotating the ball supply gear 70 by the driving force received by the input gear 55, the spring member 99 can be reliably elastically deformed from the expanded / contracted state to the extended state.

(10) Further, as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the ball supply gear 70 is configured such that the rotation of the ball supply gear 70 is stopped after all the balls 71 have been fired by the firing unit 39. ing. Therefore, when the developing cartridge 12 is used, the ball supply gear 70 continues to rotate even after all the balls 71 have been fired, and the advancing member 98 is prevented from repeatedly moving between the closed position and the open position. it can. As a result, the generation of sound due to the rotation of the ball supply gear 70 and the advance / retreat movement of the advance member 98 can be suppressed.

(11) Also, as shown in FIG. 7B, the ball supply gear 70 is connected via the first idle gear 58, the second idle gear 59 and the agitator gear 60 so that the driving force is transmitted from the input gear 55. The input gear 55 is connected. Therefore, the driving force from the main body coupling 110 can be reliably transmitted to the ball supply gear 70 via the input gear 55, the first idle gear 58, the second idle gear 59 and the agitator gear 60.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10B, the ball supply gear 70 is configured so that the connection with the input gear 55 is released after the firing of all the balls 71 by the firing unit 39 is completed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the driving force supplied from the main body coupling 110 from being transmitted to the ball supply gear 70. Furthermore, after the firing of all the balls 71 by the firing unit 39 is finished, the ball supply gear 70 Can be reliably prevented from rotating.

(12) Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the developing cartridge 12 is configured to rotate about the central axis A1 and includes an agitator 19 for agitating the toner accommodated in the housing 16. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the ball supply gear 70 is configured to rotate around a central axis A <b> 3 along the direction in which the central axis A <b> 1 of the agitator 19 extends. More specifically, the central axis A1 of the agitator 19 and the central axis A3 of the ball supply gear 70 both extend in the left-right direction.

Therefore, as compared with the case where the central axis A1 of the agitator 19 and the central axis A3 of the ball supply gear 70 extend in different directions, an efficient arrangement of the agitator 19 and the ball supply gear 70 can be ensured. it can. Therefore, the development cartridge 12 can be downsized.

(13) In addition, the launch unit 39 includes ball receiving portions 80 for accommodating the balls 71, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the firing unit 39 can reliably hold the balls 71 and can ensure an efficient arrangement of the balls 71.

(14) Also, the ball supply gear 70 accommodates a plurality of balls 71 as shown in FIG. The number of such balls 71 corresponds to information on the developing cartridge 12, such as information on the toner capacity and toner color. Therefore, it is possible to improve the information amount of the developing cartridge 12 determined based on the detection result by the detection mechanism 111.

(15) Further, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the urging unit 91 applies a force in the urging direction B from the lower side to the upper side with respect to the ball 71 arranged at the force applying position. It is configured. Therefore, the urging unit 91 can reliably apply force to the ball 71 in the force applying position.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the ball 71 accommodated in the ball receiving portion 80 is supplied in the first guide portion 95 by moving in the supply direction S different from the urging direction B, and force is applied. Placed in position. Therefore, compared with the case where the urging direction B and the supply direction S are the same direction, it is possible to reliably apply a force to the ball 71 at the force applying position, while having a simple configuration.

Further, since the biasing direction B and the supply direction S are different directions, a force is applied to the ball 71 when the ball 71 accommodated in the ball receiving portion 80 is supplied to the first guide portion 95. That is, the urging unit 91 does not interfere with the supply of the ball 71 to the first guide portion 95. Therefore, the ball 71 accommodated in the ball receiving portion 80 is satisfactorily supplied into the first guide portion 95.

(16) Further, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 9A, the advancing member 98 is configured to sequentially supply the balls 71 accommodated in the ball receiving portions 80 to the force applying positions. Therefore, each ball 71 accommodated in the ball receiving portion 80 can be reliably disposed at the force applying position.

(17) Moreover, the launch unit 39 includes a ball receiving portion 80 included in the ball supply gear 70 and a first guide portion 95 that receives the ball 71 at the force applying position, as shown in FIG. 8B. Yes. Therefore, each ball 71 accommodated in the ball supply gear 70 is securely held by the respective ball receiving portion 80, and the ball 71 in the force applying position is reliably disposed in the first guide portion 95.

The advancing member 98 is configured to sequentially move the balls 71 from the ball receiving portions 80 to the first guide portions 95, and the urging unit 91 applies force to the balls 71 located in the first guide portions 95. Is configured to grant.

Therefore, the ball 71 can be reliably held on the ball receiving portion 80 before each launch operation of the launch unit 39 is started. Furthermore, during each launch operation of the launch unit 39, the ball 71 can be reliably moved from the ball receiving portion 80 to the first guide portion 95, and the ball 71 can be reliably placed at the force applying position. .

(18) Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, the advancing member 98 is configured to move the ball 71 from the ball receiving portion 80 to the first guide portion 95 by the driving force received by the input gear 55. That is, each of the firing operation of the launch unit 39 and the supply operation of the ball 71 of the advance member 98 is executed by the driving force received by the input gear 55. As a result, the launch operation of the launch unit 39 and the supply operation of the advance member 98 can be reliably linked. Therefore, the ball 71 to be fired next can be reliably supplied from the ball receiving portion 80 to the first guide portion 95 during the firing operation of the firing unit 39.

(19) Further, as shown in FIGS. 8A to 9B, the circumferential wall 46 has a discharge port 47 for discharging the ball 71 toward the urging unit 91. Further, the advancing member 98 includes an extension 101 that opens and closes the discharge port 47 when the supply of the ball 71 or the supply of the ball 71 is stopped. Therefore, during the supply operation of the ball 71 of the advance member 98, the remaining ball 71 accommodated in the ball receiving portion 80 is prevented from being undesirably discharged from the ball receiving portion 80 through the discharge port 47. it can.

(20) In addition, the launch unit 39 includes a guide portion 93 configured to guide the movement of the ball 71 to which the force is applied from the biasing unit 91 as shown in FIG. Therefore, stable launch of the ball 71 by the launch unit 39 can be ensured, and the ball 71 can surely enter the opening 116.

(21) Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the guide portion 93 includes a first guide portion 95 configured to guide the ball 71 so as to move in the urging direction B, and the urging direction B of the ball 71. And a second guide portion 96 configured to guide so as to move in a different discharge direction D.

Therefore, the ball 71 urged by the urging unit 91 is first guided by the first guide portion 95 and moved upward along the urging direction B, and then guided by the second guide portion 96 and discharged. Move to upper left along direction D. As a result, the ball 71 fired from the firing unit 39 can reach far in the left-right direction. Therefore, the developing cartridge 12 accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion 10 and the detection mechanism 111 can be reliably spaced apart.

(22) As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 16 includes a left side wall 35L and a right side wall 35R facing each other in the left-right direction. The launch unit 39 is provided on the left side wall 35L. As shown in FIG. 11, the second guide portion 96 is configured to guide the ball 71 so as to move in a direction away from the left side wall 35 </ b> L in the left-right direction. Therefore, the ball 71 launched from the launch unit 39 can be reliably reached far in the left-right direction.

(23) Further, the downstream end of the guide portion 93 in the moving direction of the ball 71, that is, the launch opening 107 is located outside the outer shape of the vertical section of the housing 16 as shown in FIG. 2B. Therefore, the ball 71 launched from the launch unit 39 can be moved far away in the vertical direction.

(24) Further, the downstream end portion of the second guide portion 96 in the moving direction of the ball 71, that is, the launch opening 107 is, as shown in FIG. 11, the first guide portion 95 in the moving direction of the ball 71 in the left-right direction. It is further away from the left side wall 35L than the upstream side end, that is, the lower end. Therefore, the ball 71 launched from the launch unit 39 can be reliably reached far in the left-right direction.

(25) The angle θ formed by the first guide direction X in which the first guide portion 95 extends and the second guide direction Y in which the second guide portion 96 extends is greater than 0 ° as shown in FIG. The angle is set to 180 ° or less, preferably greater than 0 ° and 90 ° or less. Therefore, the ball 71 launched from the launch unit 39 can be more reliably reached farther in the left-right direction.

(26) Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the developing cartridge 12 includes a developing roller 22 configured to rotate about the central axis A2 and to carry toner. Further, the firing opening 107 is disposed on the outer side in the left-right direction with respect to the toner carrying region T of the developing roller 22. For this reason, it is possible to ensure the efficient arrangement of the developing roller 22 and the firing opening 107 while the toner can be reliably supplied to the photosensitive drum 13 by the developing roller 22.

Further, it is possible to suppress the ball 71 fired from the firing unit 39 from coming into contact with the toner carrying region T.

(27) Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the developing roller 22 is configured to rotate by the driving force received by the input gear 55. That is, each of the developing roller 22 and the firing unit 39 is configured to be driven by the driving force received by the input gear 55. Therefore, compared to the case where the developing roller 22 and the firing unit 39 are driven by different driving forces, the configuration for driving the developing roller 22 and the firing unit 39 can be made compact, and as a result The cartridge 12 can be simplified and downsized.

(28) Further, the guide portion 93 is provided on the left side surface of the left side wall 35L as shown in FIG. That is, the guide part 93 is arrange | positioned on the outer side of the left-right direction with respect to the agitator 19 arrange | positioned between a pair of side walls 35, as shown to FIG. 2B. Therefore, it is possible to ensure efficient arrangement of the agitator 19 and the guide portion 93 while stirring the toner in the housing 16.

(29) Moreover, the launch unit 39 is configured to launch the balls 71 one by one as shown in FIG. 9B.

Therefore, compared to the case where the launch unit 39 launches a plurality of balls 71 at a time, the balls 71 can be stably fired.
14 Effects of Second Embodiment (1) Such a developing cartridge 12 includes a firing unit 133 that launches a ball 71 to the outside of the developing cartridge 12, as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is possible to provide a developing cartridge 12 in which the conventional technique is further developed.

Further, the detection mechanism 111 provided in the main body casing 2 can detect the ball 71 fired from the launch unit 133. Therefore, the detection mechanism 111 can reliably detect the ball 71, and the information on the developing cartridge 12 can be reliably determined based on the detection result of the detection mechanism 111.

Further, since the detection mechanism 111 can be arranged away from the attachment / detachment locus of the developing cartridge 12, it is possible to prevent the developing cartridge 12 and the user from interfering with the detection mechanism 111 during the attachment / detachment work of the development cartridge 12. it can. As a result, it is possible to suppress the detection mechanism 111 from being damaged.

(2) Further, as shown in FIG. 22, the developing cartridge 12 includes one or more balls 71 in advance. For this reason, the attaching / detaching operation of the developing cartridge 12 can be facilitated.

(3) Moreover, the launch unit 133 sequentially launches the balls 71 by the driving force input from the main body coupling 110 to the input gear 55 as shown in FIGS. Therefore, the firing unit 133 can reliably fire the balls 71 sequentially.

(4) Further, the launch unit 133 is configured to launch the ball 71 by applying an upward force to the ball 71 for the biasing unit 171 to launch the ball 71, as shown in FIG. 27A. Yes. Therefore, the launch unit 133 can launch the ball 71 more reliably.

(5) Further, as shown in FIGS. 26A and 27B, the lever 201 is configured to apply a rearward and upward force to the ball 71 by moving from the retracted position to the striking position. Therefore, a force for firing the ball 71 can be reliably applied.

(6) Further, as shown in FIGS. 26A and 27B, the urging unit 171 is configured to apply a force for launching the ball 71 by the elastic deformation of the tension spring 202. Therefore, the force for launching the ball 71 can be more reliably applied while having a simple configuration.

(7) Further, as shown in FIGS. 26A and 27B, the urging unit 171 is configured to apply force to the ball 71 via the lever 201 by elastic deformation from the extended state to the contracted state. Yes. Therefore, a force for firing on the ball 71 can be more reliably applied.

(8) Further, as shown in FIGS. 26A and 27B, the urging unit 171 is configured to elastically deform the tension spring 202 from the stretched state to the contracted state by the driving force received by the input gear 55. Therefore, a force for firing the ball 71 can be reliably applied.

(9) Further, as shown in FIG. 26A, the engaging gear 151 is configured to engage with the second spring locking portion 216 of the lever 201 by rotation. As a result, as shown in FIG. 26B, the tension spring 202 is elastically deformed from the contracted state to the extended state as the engagement gear 151 rotates.

Further, as shown in FIG. 27A, the engagement gear 151 is configured to be disengaged from the second spring locking portion 216 by further rotating. As a result, the tension spring 202 is elastically deformed from the stretched state to the contracted state. That is, by rotating the engagement gear 151 by the driving force received by the input gear 55, the tension spring 202 can be reliably elastically deformed from the stretched state to the stretched state.

(10) Further, as shown in FIG. 28, the engagement gear 151 is configured to stop the rotation of the engagement gear 151 after the firing of the balls 71 by the firing unit 133 is completed. For this reason, when the developing cartridge 12 is used, it is possible to prevent the engagement gear 151 from continuing to rotate even after the firing of all the balls 71 is completed, and the ball transport unit 181 and the lever 201 from being repeatedly moved. As a result, the generation of sound due to the rotation of the engagement gear 151 and the movement of the ball transport unit 181 and the lever 201 can be suppressed.

(11) Further, as shown in FIG. 23, the engagement gear 151 is connected to the input gear 55 via the idle gear 140 and the chipped gear 142 so that the driving force is transmitted from the input gear 55. Yes. Therefore, the driving force from the main body coupling 110 can be reliably transmitted to the engagement gear 151 via the input gear 55, the idle gear 140 and the chipped gear 142.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 28, the engagement gear 151 is disconnected from the input gear 55 via the idle gear 140 and the chipped gear 142 after the firing of the balls 71 by the firing unit 133 is completed. It is comprised so that. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the driving force supplied from the main body coupling 110 from being transmitted to the engagement gear 151. Furthermore, after the firing of all the balls 71 by the firing unit 133 is completed, the engagement gear 151 is stopped. Can be reliably prevented from rotating.

(12) Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the engagement gear 151 is configured to rotate around the central axis A4 along the left-right direction. More specifically, the central axis A1 of the agitator 19 and the central axis A4 of the engagement gear 151 both extend in the left-right direction.

Therefore, as compared with the case where the central axis A1 of the agitator 19 and the central axis A4 of the engagement gear 151 extend in different directions, an efficient arrangement of the agitator 19 and the engagement gear 151 can be ensured. it can. Therefore, the development cartridge 12 can be downsized.

(13) In addition, the launch unit 133 includes a ball accommodating portion 152 that accommodates one or more balls 71, as shown in FIG. Therefore, the ball 71 can be reliably held, and an efficient arrangement of the ball 71 can be ensured.

(14) Further, the ball accommodating portion 152 of the engagement gear 151 accommodates a plurality of balls 71 as shown in FIG. Therefore, it is possible to improve the information amount of the developing cartridge 12 determined based on the detection result by the detection mechanism 111.

(15) Further, as shown in FIG. 27A, the urging unit 171 is configured to apply a force in the urging direction B to the ball 71 arranged at the force applying position. Therefore, the urging unit 171 can reliably apply force to the ball 71 at the force applying position.

Further, as shown in FIG. 24B, the balls 71 accommodated in the ball accommodating portion 152 are sequentially supplied into the first guide portion 175 by moving in the supply direction S different from the urging direction B, and force Located in the grant position. Therefore, it is possible to reliably apply a force to the ball 71 at the force applying position with a simple configuration.

Further, since the biasing direction B and the supply direction S are different directions, a force is applied to the ball 71 when the ball 71 accommodated in the ball accommodating portion 152 is supplied to the first guide portion 175. In other words, the urging unit 171 does not interfere with the supply of the ball 71 to the first guide portion 175. Therefore, the ball 71 accommodated in the ball accommodating portion 152 is satisfactorily supplied into the first guide portion 175.

(16) Further, as shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, the supply unit 179 is configured to sequentially supply the balls 71 accommodated in the ball accommodating portion 152 to the force applying position. Therefore, the balls 71 accommodated in the ball accommodating portion 152 can be sequentially and reliably arranged at the force applying position.

(17) Further, the supply unit 179 is configured to sequentially move the balls 71 accommodated in the ball accommodating portion 152 from the ball accommodating chamber C to the first guide portion 175, as shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B. ing.

Therefore, the ball 71 can be reliably held in the ball housing portion 152 before the start of each launch operation of the launch unit 133. Further, during each launch operation of the launch unit 133, the ball 71 can be reliably moved from the ball housing portion 152 to the first guide portion 175, and the ball 71 can be reliably positioned at the force applying position. .

(18) Further, as shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B, the supply unit 179 is configured to move the ball 71 from the ball storage chamber C to the first guide portion 175 by the driving force received by the input gear 55. Yes. That is, each of the firing operation of the launch unit 133 and the supply operation of the ball 71 of the supply unit 179 is executed by the driving force received by the input gear 55. As a result, the firing operation of the launch unit 133 and the supply operation of the supply unit 179 can be reliably linked. Therefore, during the launch operation of the launch unit 133, the ball 71 to be fired next can be reliably supplied from the ball storage chamber C to the first guide portion 175.

(19) Further, as shown in FIG. 22, the ball housing portion 152 has a discharge port 182 for discharging the ball 71 toward the urging unit 171. The ball transport unit 181 of the supply unit 179 has a regulation surface 197 that opens and closes the discharge port 182 when the supply of the ball 71 is stopped or the supply is stopped.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 24B, the regulation surface 197 of the ball transport unit 181 closes the discharge port 182 when the ball transport unit 181 is in the supply position, and When the transport unit 181 is at the supply preparation position, the discharge port 182 is opened.

Therefore, it is possible to suppress the ball 71 from being undesirably dropped from the ball housing portion 152 during the operation in which the ball transport portion 181 supplies the ball 71 to the first guide portion 175.

(20) Further, the launch unit 133 includes a guide portion 173 configured to guide the movement of the ball 71 applied with force from the biasing unit 171 as shown in FIG. Therefore, stable launch of the ball 71 by the launch unit 133 can be ensured, and the ball 71 can surely enter the opening 116.

(21) Further, as shown in FIG. 27A, the guide portion 173 includes a first guide portion 175 that guides the ball 71 so as to move in the biasing direction B, and a discharge direction different from the biasing direction B A second guide portion 176 that guides to move to D is integrally provided.

Therefore, the ball 71 urged by the urging unit 171 is first guided by the first guide part 175 and moved rearward and upward along the urging direction B, and then guided by the second guide part 176. As shown in FIG. 12, it moves to the upper left along the discharge direction D. As a result, the ball 71 fired from the launch unit 133 can reach far away in the left-right direction. Therefore, the developing cartridge 12 accommodated in the cartridge accommodating portion 10 and the detection mechanism 111 can be reliably spaced apart.

(22) Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the second guide portion 176 is configured to guide the ball 71 so as to move in a direction away from the left side wall 35L in the left-right direction. Therefore, the ball 71 launched from the launch unit 133 can reliably reach far in the left-right direction.

(23) Further, the downstream end of the guide portion 173 in the moving direction of the ball 71, that is, the launch opening 199 is located outside the outer shape of the vertical section of the housing 16 as shown in FIG. Therefore, the ball 71 fired from the launch unit 133 can reach far away in the vertical direction.

(24) Further, the downstream end of the second guide portion 176 in the moving direction of the ball 71, that is, the launch opening 199 is upstream of the moving direction of the first guide portion 175 in the left-right direction as shown in FIG. It is farther from the left side wall 35L than the end, that is, the lower end. Therefore, the ball 71 launched from the launch unit 133 can reliably reach far in the left-right direction.

(25) The angle θ formed by the first guide direction X in which the first guide portion 175 extends and the second guide direction Y in which the second guide portion 176 extends is greater than 0 ° as shown in FIG. 18A. It is set to 180 ° or less, preferably more than 0 ° and 90 ° or less. Therefore, the ball 71 launched from the launch unit 133 can be more reliably reached farther in the left-right direction.

(26) Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the firing opening 199 is arranged on the outer side in the left-right direction with respect to the toner carrying region T of the developing roller 22. For this reason, it is possible to ensure an efficient arrangement of the developing roller 22 and the discharge opening 199 while the toner can be reliably supplied to the photosensitive drum 13 by the developing roller 22.

Further, it is possible to suppress the ball 71 fired from the firing unit 133 from coming into contact with the toner carrying region T.

(27) Further, each of the developing roller 22 and the firing unit 133 is configured to be driven by the driving force received by the input gear 55 as shown in FIG. Therefore, as compared with the case where the developing roller 22 and the firing unit 133 are driven by different driving forces, the configuration for driving the developing roller 22 and the firing unit 133 can be made compact. The cartridge 12 can be simplified and downsized.

(28) Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the guide portion 173 is provided on the left side surface of the left side wall 35L. That is, as shown in FIG. 45, the guide portion 173 is disposed on the outer side in the left-right direction with respect to the agitator 19 disposed between the pair of side walls 35. Therefore, it is possible to ensure an efficient arrangement of the agitator 19 and the guide portion 173 while the toner in the housing 16 can be stirred.
15. Effects in the third embodiment Also in the third embodiment, since the launch unit 230 can launch the ball 71 to the outside, the same effects as the first and second embodiments described above can be achieved. Can do.

In the third embodiment, since the linear motion member 232 includes the compression spring 240, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where the compression spring 240 is provided in a separate member.
16. Effects in the fourth embodiment Also in the fourth embodiment, since the launch unit 249 can launch the ball 71 to the outside, the same effects as the first to third embodiments described above can be obtained. Can do.
17. Effects in the fifth embodiment Also in the fifth embodiment, since the launch unit 266 can launch the ball 71 to the outside, the same effects as the first to fourth embodiments described above can be obtained. Can do.
18. Effects in the Sixth Embodiment Also in the sixth embodiment, since the launch unit 280 can launch the ball 71 to the outside, the same effects as the first to fifth embodiments described above can be achieved. Can do.
19. Effects in the seventh embodiment Also in the seventh embodiment, since the launch unit 290 can fire the ball 71 to the outside, the same effects as the first to sixth embodiments described above can be achieved. Can do.
20. Modifications (1) In the first to seventh embodiments described above, the second guide portion has a U-shaped or cylindrical cut surface in the horizontal direction. If it can guide so that a moving direction may be changed, it will not be limited to this.

For example, the second guide portion may be composed of a guide plate 297 as shown in FIG. 42A. The guide plate 297 has a substantially plate shape, is continuous from the upper end portion of the right side wall of the first guide portion 95, extends upward, bends, and further extends toward the upper left.

The second guide portion may be composed of a pair of pole members 298 as shown in FIG. 42B. Each of the pair of pole members 298 has a substantially columnar shape, is continuous from the upper end portion of the right side wall of the first guide portion 95, extends upward, then curves and further extends toward the upper left. ing. Further, the pair of pole members 298 are opposed to each other at a distance shorter than the outer diameter of the ball 71 in the left-right direction.

Also by these, the same operational effects as those of the first to seventh embodiments described above can be obtained.

(2) Further, as shown in FIG. 43B, the second guide unit may change the moving direction of the ball 71 by rebounding the ball 71.

For example, the second guide part may be composed of a first inclined part 299 and a second inclined part 300. The first inclined portion 299 has a substantially rectangular tube shape, is continuous from the upper end portion of the first guide portion 95, and is inclined leftward as it goes upward. The second inclined portion 300 has a substantially rectangular tube shape, is continuous from the upper end portion of the first inclined portion 299, and is bent so that the leftward inclination is larger than that of the first inclined portion 299. The second inclined portion 300 is inclined leftward as it goes upward.

In this case, the ball 71 thrown by the urging unit 91 moves along the urging direction B and reaches the first inclined portion 299. Then, the ball 71 collides with the right wall of the first inclined portion 299 and is bounced, so that the moving direction is changed from the direction along the biasing direction B to the discharging direction D indicated by the arrow. In the present modification, the discharge direction D and the direction in which the second inclined portion 300 extends are substantially parallel. Thereby, the movement direction of the ball 71 is changed by the second guide portion, and the ball 71 is discharged to the outside from the discharge opening 107.

This also has the same effects as the first to seventh embodiments described above.
(3) In the first embodiment described above, the ball supply gear 70 has the chipped gear portion 73, but the ball supply gear 70 is replaced with the chipped gear portion 73 as shown in FIG. And the resistance provision member 311 may be provided.

The main body 310 has a fan-shaped plate shape centered on the central axis A3. The resistance applying member 311 is made of a material having a relatively large friction coefficient, such as rubber, and is wound around the peripheral surface of the main body 310. As a result, the outer peripheral surface of the resistance applying member 311 has a chipped portion 312 that enters the inside of the main body 310 in the radial direction and a contact portion 313 that is a portion other than the chipped portion 312. The main body 310 and the resistance applying member 311 have a size such that the chipped portion 312 does not contact the agitator gear 60 and the contact portion 313 contacts the agitator gear 60. In this case, the peripheral surface of the agitator gear 60 may have gear teeth or may not have gear teeth.

The ball supply gear 70 is disposed at an initial position where the contact portion 313 contacts the agitator gear 60 from the front. Also by this, the driving force input to the input gear 55 can be configured to be transmitted to the ball supply gear 70 via the gear train 38.

When all the balls 71 are fired from the firing unit 39, the ball supply gear 70 is disposed at the end position where the chipped portion 312 faces the agitator gear 60. Therefore, even with such a configuration, the rotation of the ball supply gear 70 can be stopped after the firing of all the balls 71 by the firing unit 39 is completed.
(4) In the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 6, the spring member 99 is in an extended state as an example of the second state when the ball supply gear 70 is positioned at the initial position. In the second embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 14, the tension spring 202 is in a contracted state as an example of the second state in a state where the engagement gear 151 is positioned at the initial position.

However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the first embodiment, in the state where the ball supply gear 70 is disposed at the initial position, the advancing member 98 is disposed at the open position as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The arrangement of the missing tooth portion 76 of the missing tooth gear portion 73 may be changed so that the spring member 99 is arranged in a contracted state as an example of the first state.

In such a case, the developing cartridge 12 is in a new state, the ball 71 is disposed in the first guide portion 95 in advance, and the firing unit 39 moves the ball 71 in the first guide portion 95 together with the driving of the ball supply gear 70. It may be configured to fire.

In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 26B, the lever 201 is disposed at the retracted position and the tension spring 202 is an example of the first state in the state where the chipped gear 142 is disposed at the initial position. The arrangement of the engagement gear 151 may be changed so as to be arranged in the extended state.

In such a case, the developing cartridge 12 is in a new state, the ball 71 is disposed in the first guide portion 175 in advance, and the firing unit 133 is driven by the ball in the first guide portion 175 as the engagement gear 151 is driven. 71 may be configured to fire.

Also by these, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above can be obtained.
(5) In the first to seventh embodiments, the developing cartridge 12 is detachably attached to the drum cartridge 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the developing cartridge 12 is configured integrally with the drum cartridge 11. You can also In this case, a process cartridge that integrally includes the developing cartridge 12 and the drum cartridge 11 corresponds to an example of the developer cartridge.

Also, the developing cartridge 12 can be configured such that a toner cartridge that contains toner is detachably attached to a frame having the developing roller 22.

Further, only the developing cartridge 12 can be configured to be attached to and detached from the main casing 2 including the photosensitive drum 13.

Further, only the toner cartridge in which the toner is accommodated can be configured to be attached to and detached from the main body casing 2 including the developing roller 22 and the photosensitive drum 13. In this case, the toner cartridge corresponds to an example of the developer cartridge.

Also by this, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment and the second embodiment described above can be obtained.
(6) In the first to seventh embodiments described above, as shown in FIG. 11, the optical sensor 114 is configured such that the light shielding lever 122 is moved from the light path from the light emitting element to the light receiving element of the optical sensor 114. An ON signal is output when retracted, and the output of the ON signal is stopped when the optical path is blocked by the light shielding lever 122.

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the optical sensor 114 may be configured to output an off signal when the light path from the light emitting element to the light receiving element of the optical sensor 114 is blocked by the light blocking lever 122. it can.

This also has the same effects as the first to seventh embodiments described above.
(7) In the first embodiment, the chipped gear portion 73 has the chipped portion 76, and in the second embodiment, the chipped gear 142 has the chipped portion 149. However, the chipped gear portion 73 and the chipped gear 142 may not have a chipped portion.
(8) In the first to seventh embodiments described above, the ball 71 is made of a resin material. However, the material of the ball 71 is not limited to resin, and the material of the ball 71 may be metal, wooden. Ceramic or the like can be used as appropriate.
(9) In the first to sixth embodiments described above, the ball 71 is substantially spherical. However, the shape of the ball 71 is not particularly limited, and for example, a polyhedron such as a cube, a rectangular parallelepiped, or a triangular pyramid. Or a cone.
(10) In the first to seventh embodiments described above, the agitator 19 is an example of a stirring member. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the stirring member may be an auger or a paddle.
(11) In the first to seventh embodiments described above, the input gear 55 is an example of the drive input unit of the developer cartridge and constitutes a coupling. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the drive input unit is not limited to this. The main body casing 2 may be configured to receive a driving force by a gear.
(12) In the first to fifth embodiments described above, the elastic member is a spring, but the elastic member is not limited to the above-described spring, and may be a sponge, a leaf spring, rubber, or the like.
(13) The printer 1 described above is configured as a laser-printer including the scanner unit 5, but may be configured as an LED printer including an LED unit instead of the scanner unit 5.

In addition, the first to seventh embodiments and the modification examples described above can be combined as appropriate.

2 Main body casing 12 Developing cartridge 16 Housing 19 Agitator 22 Developing roller 35L Left side wall 35L
35R Right side wall 35R
39 launch unit 55 input gear 70 ball supply gear 71 ball 74 ball receiving portion 80 ball receiving portion 91 biasing unit 93 guide frame 95 first guide portion 96 second guide portion 107 launch opening 133 launch unit 151 engaging gear 1
152 Ball receiving portion 167 Ball receiving portion 171 Energizing unit 173 Guide portion 175 First guide portion 176 Second guide portion 202 Tension spring 199 Launch opening 230 Launch unit 232 Direct acting member 234 Guide portion 249 Launch unit 253 Guide portion 256 First Guide portion 257 Second guide portion 262 Compression spring 266 Firing unit 270 Spring unit 276 Spring 290 Firing unit 297 Guide plate 298 Pole member 299 First inclined portion 300 Second inclined portion A1 Agitator central axis A2 Developing roller central axis A3 Ball Supply gear center axis A4 Engagement gear center axis B Energizing direction S Supply direction T Toner carrying region X First guide direction Y Second guide direction θ An angle formed between the first guide direction and the second guide direction Y

Claims (35)

1. In the developer cartridge,
   A housing configured to contain developer;
   A developer cartridge comprising: a firing device configured to fire an object to the outside of the developer cartridge.
2. The developer cartridge according to claim 1, comprising the object.
3. A drive input unit configured to receive a driving force supplied from the outside of the developer cartridge;
   The launcher is
   The developer cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developer cartridge is configured to emit the object by a driving force received by the driving input unit.
4. The launcher is
   The developer cartridge according to claim 3, further comprising a force applying member configured to apply a force for firing the object to the object.
5. The force applying member is
   The developer cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the developer cartridge is configured to apply the force to the object by moving.
6. The force applying member has an elastic member,
   The elastic member is
   The developer cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the developer cartridge is configured to apply the force to the object by elastic deformation.
7. The elastic member is
   A first state in which elastic energy is stored and a second state in which elastic energy stored in the first state is released;
   The force applying member is
   The developer cartridge according to claim 6, wherein the force is applied to the object by elastic deformation of the elastic member from the first state to the second state.
8. The force applying member is
   The elastic member in the first state is configured to apply the force to the object by elastically deforming to the second state by a driving force received by the drive input unit. The developer cartridge according to claim 7.
9. A movable member configured to move by a driving force received by the drive input unit;
   The movable member is
   It is configured to engage with the force applying member by movement, and is configured to be disengaged from the force applying member by movement,
   The elastic member is
   Along with the movement of the movable member, the movable member and the force applying member are engaged to be elastically deformed from the second state to the first state,
   As the movable member moves, the engagement between the movable member and the force applying member is released, so that the movable member is elastically deformed from the first state to the second state. The developer cartridge according to claim 7 or 8.
10. The movable member is
    The developer cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the developer cartridge is configured to stop the movement after the projecting of the object by the projecting device is completed.
11. The movable member is
    Prior to launching the object by the launcher, the drive input unit is configured to be connected to the drive input unit so that a driving force is transmitted from the drive input unit,
    11. The developer cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the developer cartridge is configured to be disconnected from the drive input unit after the projecting of the object by the projecting device is completed.
12. An agitation member configured to rotate about an axis and configured to agitate the developer contained in the housing;
    The movable member is
    The developer cartridge according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the developer cartridge is configured to rotate about an axis extending along a direction in which the axis of the stirring member extends.
13. The launcher is
    The developer cartridge according to any one of claims 4 to 12, further comprising a storage portion configured to store the object.
14. The force applying member is
    Configured to apply a force to the object in a first direction;
    The object housed in the housing portion is
    The structure according to claim 13, wherein the force applying member is supplied to a force applying position to which a force is applied by moving in a second direction different from the first direction. Developer cartridge.
15. The launcher is
    The developer cartridge according to claim 14, further comprising a supply member configured to supply the object to a force applying position to which a force is applied from the force applying member.
16. The launcher is
    A first receiving portion provided in the housing portion;
    A second receiving part for receiving the object at the force applying position,
    The supply member is
    The object accommodated in the accommodating part is configured to move from the first receiving part to the second receiving part,
    The force applying member is
    The developer cartridge according to claim 15, wherein the developer cartridge is configured to apply a force to the object positioned in the second receiving portion.
17. The supply member is
    The driving force received by the drive input unit is configured to move the object stored in the storage unit from the first receiving unit to the second receiving unit. The developer cartridge according to 16.
18. The accommodating portion is
    A discharge port configured to discharge the object toward the force applying member;
    The supply member is
    The supply regulating unit configured to open and close the discharge port in accordance with the supply of the object or the supply stop of the object, according to any one of claims 15 to 17, The developer cartridge as described.
19. The launcher is
    The developer cartridge according to any one of claims 4 to 18, further comprising a guide portion configured to guide movement of an object to which a force is applied from the force applying member. .
20. The guide portion is
    A first guide portion for guiding the object so as to move in a first direction which is a direction of a force applied to the object by the force applying member;
    The developer cartridge according to claim 19, further comprising a second guide portion that guides the object to move in a direction different from the first direction.
21. The housing has a first wall and a second wall facing each other,
    The launcher is provided on the first wall;
    The second guide part is
    21. The development according to claim 20, wherein the object is guided so as to move in a direction away from the first wall in a third direction which is a direction in which the first wall and the second wall face each other. Agent cartridge.
22. The downstream end portion of the guide portion in the moving direction of the object is located outside an outer shape in a cross section of the casing perpendicular to the third direction of the casing. The developer cartridge according to 1.
23. The housing has a first wall and a second wall facing each other,
    The launcher is provided on the first wall;
    The downstream end of the second guide portion in the moving direction of the object is
    In the third direction, which is the direction in which the first wall and the second wall face each other, the first guide portion is further away from the first wall than the upstream end portion in the moving direction. The developer cartridge according to claim 21.
24. The angle formed by the extending direction of the first guide part and the extending direction of the second guide part is greater than 0 ° and not more than 180 °, according to any one of claims 21 to 23. The developer cartridge according to one item.
25. A developing roller configured to rotate around an axis and configured to carry a developer;
    The downstream end of the guide portion in the moving direction of the object is
    The developer according to any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein the developer roller is disposed outside an area in which an axis of the developer roller extends with respect to a region carrying the developer. cartridge.
26. 26. The developer cartridge according to claim 25, wherein the developing roller is configured to rotate by a driving force received by the driving input unit.
27. An agitation member configured to rotate about an axis and configured to agitate the developer contained in the housing;
    The guide portion is
    The developer cartridge according to any one of claims 19 to 26, wherein the developer cartridge is disposed outside the stirring member in a direction in which an axis of the stirring member extends.
28. A plurality of the objects are provided;
    The developer cartridge according to any one of claims 13 to 27, wherein the storage portion is configured to store a plurality of the objects.
29. The launcher is
    3. The developer cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a storage portion configured to store the object. 4.
30. A plurality of the objects are provided;
    30. The developer cartridge according to claim 29, wherein the storage portion is configured to store a plurality of the objects.
31. The developer cartridge according to claim 30, wherein the projecting device is configured to eject the objects one by one.
32. The launcher is
    The developer cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a force applying member configured to apply a force for firing the object to the object.
33. The force applying member is
    The developer cartridge according to claim 32, wherein the developer cartridge is configured to apply the force to the object by moving.
34. The force applying member has an elastic member,
    The elastic member is
    34. The developer cartridge according to claim 33, wherein the developer cartridge is configured to apply the force to the object by elastic deformation.
35. The elastic member is
    A first state in which elastic energy is stored and a second state in which elastic energy stored in the first state is released;
    The force applying member is
    35. The developer cartridge according to claim 34, wherein the developer member is configured to apply the force to the object by elastic deformation of the elastic member from the first state to the second state.

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