WO2019008763A1

WO2019008763A1 - Developer storing container and image forming device provided with same

Info

Publication number: WO2019008763A1
Application number: PCT/JP2017/025010
Authority: WO
Inventors: 大輔江藤
Original assignee: 京セラドキュメントソリューションズ株式会社
Priority date: 2017-07-07
Filing date: 2017-07-07
Publication date: 2019-01-10
Also published as: RU2675406C1; JPWO2019008763A1; JP6481796B1; CN108323188A; CN108323188B

Abstract

A toner container (30) is provided with a container main body (37), shaft (33), and moving wall (32). The moving wall (32) is capable of moving in the first direction along the shaft (33), while transferring a toner in the container main body (37) toward a toner outlet (377). The moving wall (32) has a wall plate (321), sealing member (322), and wall main body section (323). The sealing member (322) is sandwiched between the wall plate (321) and the wall main body section (323), forms the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall (32), and is compressed and deformed by being in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the container main body (37).

Description

Developer container and image forming apparatus provided with the same

The present invention relates to a developer storage container for storing a developer, and an image forming apparatus provided with the same.

Conventionally, as a developer containing container for containing a developer, one provided in an image forming apparatus is known. The image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a developing device, and a developer container. When the developer is supplied from the developing device to the image carrier, the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier is manifested as a developer image. The developer storage container is provided with a developer discharge port, and supplies the replenishment developer to a replenishment port provided in the developing device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a developer accommodating container provided with a moving wall which moves along a shaft while conveying the developer toward a developer discharge port. In this technique, the moving wall moves in response to the rotation of the shaft by the engagement of the male spiral portion provided on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and the female spiral portion provided on the bearing portion of the moving wall. In addition, a tape-like seal member is wound around the moving wall. The seal member is in close contact with the container body of the developer storage container to prevent toner leakage from the periphery of the moving wall.

JP, 2015-125333, A

In the developer container described in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the seal member is deformed or damaged as the moving wall advances, and the seal curl easily occurs.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems as described above, and is directed to a developer accommodating container in which the seal member is prevented from being detached from the moving wall as the moving wall advances, and an image forming apparatus including the same. It aims at providing an apparatus.

The developer container according to an aspect of the present invention is a container main body having an inner peripheral surface which defines an inner space extending in a cylindrical shape along the first direction, and is opened so as to communicate with the inner space. A container body formed with a developer discharge port for allowing the agent to be discharged, and a shaft disposed so as to extend in the first direction in the internal space and rotatably supported on the container body; It has an outer peripheral surface arranged to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the container body, and a transport surface which defines, together with the inner peripheral surface of the container body, a storage space in which the developer is stored, And a moving wall movable in the first direction along the shaft in the internal space while conveying the developer in the space toward the developer discharge port; First bearing part through which the shaft is inserted An upstream side wall portion including the downstream side wall portion including the transport surface, and a second bearing portion through which the shaft is inserted, and disposed upstream of the downstream side wall portion in the first direction, and the shaft A third bearing portion to be inserted is included, and is sandwiched by the downstream side wall portion and the upstream side wall portion along the first direction to form the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall, and the inner peripheral surface of the container main body And a seal member which is compressed and deformed by abutting on the seal member.

According to this configuration, the moving wall has the upstream side wall portion, the downstream side wall portion, and the seal member. The seal member is sandwiched by the downstream side wall and the upstream side wall along the first direction. For this reason, it is suppressed that a sealing member detaches from a moving wall with advancing of a moving wall compared with a mode where a tape-shaped sealing member is fixed around a moving wall.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state in which a part of the casing of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is opened. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing the internal structure of the developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing how the developer is supplied to the developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a developer accommodating container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a plan view of a developer container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a developer storage container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a developer storage container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the inside of the developer accommodating container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the movable wall of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the movable wall of the developer accommodating container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the wall main body of the movable wall of the developer accommodating container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the moving wall of the developer storage container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the pressing member of the developer storage container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the pressing member of the developer storage container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the pressing member of the developer storage container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the movable wall, the pressing member, and the shaft of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which the pressing member is engaged with the movable wall. FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the movable wall, the pressing member, and the shaft of the developer container according to the embodiment of the present invention, in which the engagement between the pressing member and the movable wall is released. . FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the developer storage container according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the engagement between the pressing member and the moving wall is released. FIG. 22 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the developer container of FIG. FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of a developer accommodating container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of a developer accommodating container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 25 is an exploded perspective view of the ratchet mechanism of the developer accommodating container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the ratchet mechanism of the developer accommodating container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a ratchet mechanism of the developer storage container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a ratchet mechanism of the developer accommodating container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 29 is an enlarged plan view of a developer accommodating container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of a developer accommodating container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of a developer storage container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view of a developer accommodating container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view of a developer accommodating container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 34 is a cross-sectional view of a developer accommodating container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of a developer accommodating container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view of a developer accommodating container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a shaft portion of a developer accommodating container according to a modified embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a shaft portion of another developer containing container to be compared with the developer containing container according to the modified embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a printer 100 (image forming apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an internal structure of the printer 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Although the printer 100 as an image forming apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is a so-called monochrome printer machine, in another embodiment, the image forming apparatus is a color printer, a facsimile machine, a multifunction machine having these functions, It may be another device for forming a toner image on a sheet. The terms used in the following description to indicate directions such as "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left" and "right" are simply for the purpose of clarifying the explanation. There is no limitation on the principle of the image forming apparatus.

The printer 100 includes a housing 101 that houses various devices for forming an image on a sheet S. The housing 101 has an upper wall 102 defining the top surface of the housing 101, a bottom wall 103 (FIG. 3) defining the bottom surface of the housing 101, and a main body rear wall 105 between the top wall 102 and the bottom wall 103. (FIG. 3) and the main body front wall 104 located in front of the main body rear wall 105. The housing 101 includes a main body internal space 107 in which various devices are disposed. In the main body internal space 107 of the housing 101, a sheet conveyance path PP in which the sheet S is conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction is extended. In addition, the printer 100 includes an open / close cover 100 C attached to the housing 101 so as to be openable and closable.

The opening and closing cover 100C includes a front wall upper portion 104B which is an upper portion of the main body front wall 104, and an upper wall front portion 102B which is a front portion of the upper wall 102. In addition, the opening and closing cover 100C can be opened and closed in the vertical direction with a hinge shaft (not shown) disposed at a pair of arm portions 108 disposed at both end portions in the left and right direction as a fulcrum (FIG. 2). In the open state of the openable cover 100C, the upper side of the main body internal space 107 is opened to the outside. On the other hand, in the closed state of the open / close cover 200C, the upper side of the main body internal space 107 is closed.

At a central portion of the upper wall 102, a paper discharge unit 102A is disposed. The sheet discharge unit 102A is formed of an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the front portion to the rear portion of the upper wall 102. The sheet S on which an image is formed is discharged to the sheet discharge unit 102A in an image forming unit 120 described later. Further, a manual feed tray 104A is disposed at the central portion in the vertical direction of the main body front wall 104. The manual feed tray 104A is pivotable up and down with the lower end as a fulcrum (arrow DT in FIG. 3).

Referring to FIG. 3, the printer 100 includes a cassette 110, a pickup roller 112, a first sheet feeding roller 113, a second sheet feeding roller 114, a conveyance roller 115, a resist roller pair 116, and an image forming unit. 120 and a fixing device 130.

The cassette 110 accommodates the sheet S therein. The cassette 110 includes a lift plate 111. The lift plate 111 is inclined to push up the leading edge of the sheet S. The cassette 110 can be pulled forward with respect to the housing 101.

The pickup roller 112 is disposed on the leading edge of the sheet S pushed up by the lift plate 111. When the pickup roller 112 rotates, the sheet S is pulled out of the cassette 110.

The first sheet feeding roller 113 is disposed downstream of the pickup roller 112 and feeds the sheet S further downstream. The second sheet feeding roller 114 is disposed on the inner side (rear side) of the fulcrum of the manual feed tray 104A, and draws the sheet S on the manual feed tray 104A into the housing 101.

The conveyance roller 115 is disposed downstream of the first sheet feeding roller 113 and the second sheet feeding roller 114 in the sheet conveyance direction. The conveyance roller 115 further conveys the sheet S fed by the first sheet feeding roller 113 and the second sheet feeding roller 114 to the downstream.

The registration roller pair 116 has a function of correcting the oblique conveyance of the sheet S. Thereby, the position of the image formed on the sheet S is adjusted. The registration roller pair 116 supplies the sheet S to the image forming unit 120 in accordance with the timing of image formation by the image forming unit 120.

The image forming unit 120 includes a photosensitive drum 121 (image carrier), a charger 122, an exposure device 123, a developing device 20, a toner container 30 (developer container), and a transfer roller 126 (transfer unit). And a cleaning device 127.

The photosensitive drum 121 has a cylindrical shape. The photosensitive drum 121 has a surface on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and carries a toner image (developer image) corresponding to the electrostatic latent image on the surface. A predetermined voltage is applied to the charger 122 to charge the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121 substantially uniformly.

The exposure device 123 irradiates the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 121 charged by the charger 122 with laser light. As a result, on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed.

The developing device 20 supplies toner to the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. The toner container 30 supplies toner (supply developer) to the developing device 20. The toner container 30 is detachably disposed to the developing device 20. When the developing device 20 supplies the toner to the photosensitive drum 121, the electrostatic latent image formed on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121 is developed (visualized). As a result, a toner image (developer image) is formed on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121.

The transfer roller 126 is disposed below the photosensitive drum 121 so as to face the photosensitive drum 121 with the sheet conveyance path PP interposed therebetween. The transfer roller 126 forms a transfer nip portion with the photosensitive drum 121 and transfers the toner image to the sheet S.

The cleaning device 127 removes the toner remaining on the circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 121 after the toner image is transferred to the sheet S.

The fixing device 130 is disposed downstream of the image forming unit 120 in the conveyance direction, and fixes the toner image on the sheet S. The fixing device 130 includes a heating roller 131 which melts the toner on the sheet S, and a pressure roller 132 which brings the sheet S into close contact with the heating roller 131.

The printer 100 further includes a transport roller pair 133 disposed downstream of the fixing device 130 and a discharge roller pair 134 disposed downstream of the transport roller pair 133. The sheet S is conveyed upward by the conveyance roller pair 133 and finally discharged from the housing 101 by the discharge roller pair 134. The sheet S discharged from the housing 101 is stacked on the sheet discharge unit 102A.

<About the developing device>
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the developing device 20. As shown in FIG. The developing device 20 includes a developing housing 210 (housing) having a box shape elongated in one direction (the axial direction of the developing roller 21 and the left and right direction). The development housing 210 has a storage space 220 (developer transport path). In the storage space 220, a developing roller 21, a first stirring screw 23 (developer conveying member) and a second stirring screw 24, and a toner supply port 25 are disposed. In the present embodiment, a one-component developing method is applied, and the storage space 220 is filled with toner as a developer. On the other hand, in the case of the two-component development system, a mixture of toner and a carrier made of a magnetic material is filled as a developer. The toner is stirred and conveyed in the storage space 220 and sequentially supplied from the developing roller 21 to the photosensitive drum 121 in order to develop the electrostatic latent image.

The developing roller 21 has a cylindrical shape extending in the longitudinal direction of the developing housing 210, and has a sleeve portion that is rotationally driven on the outer periphery. A storage space 220 of the development housing 210 is covered by a top plate (not shown) and is divided into a first conveyance path 221 and a second conveyance path 222 which are long in the left-right direction by a partition plate 22 extending in the left-right direction. There is. The partition plate 22 is shorter than the width of the developing housing 210 in the left-right direction, and the first communication passage 223 and the first communication passage 223 which communicate the first conveyance passage 221 and the second conveyance passage 222 at the left end and the right end of the division plate 22 respectively A two communication passage 224 is provided. As a result, in the storage space 220, a circulation path extending to the first conveyance path 221, the second communication path 224, the second conveyance path 222, and the first communication path 223 is formed. The toner is conveyed in the circulation path counterclockwise in FIG.

The toner replenishing port 25 (developer replenishing port) is an opening portion opened to the top plate of the developing housing 210, and is disposed above the vicinity of the left end of the first conveyance path 221. The toner replenishing port 25 is disposed to face the above-described circulation path, and has a function of receiving, into the storage space 220, a replenishing toner (replenishing developer) replenished from the toner discharging port 377 (FIG. 4) of the toner container 30.

The first stirring screw 23 is disposed in the first conveyance path 221. The first stirring screw 23 includes a first rotation shaft 23a and a first spiral blade 23b protruding in a spiral shape around the circumference of the first rotation shaft 23a. The first stirring screw 23 is rotationally driven around the first rotation shaft 23a (arrow r2) to convey the toner in the direction of the arrow D1 in FIG. The first stirring screw 23 conveys the developer such that the toner replenishment port 25 passes a position facing the first conveyance path 221. Thus, the first stirring screw 23 has a function of mixing and conveying the new toner flowing from the toner supply port 25 and the toner carried into the first conveyance path 221 from the second conveyance path 222 side. A first paddle 23 c is disposed downstream of the first stirring screw 23 in the toner conveyance direction (direction D1). The first paddle 23c is rotated together with the first rotation shaft 23a, and delivers toner from the first conveyance path 221 to the second conveyance path 222 in the direction of arrow D4 in FIG.

The second stirring screw 24 is disposed in the second conveyance path 222. The second stirring screw 24 includes a second rotation shaft 24 a and a second spiral blade 24 b protruding in a spiral shape around the circumference of the second rotation shaft 24 a. The second stirring screw 24 is rotationally driven around the second rotation shaft 24a (arrow r1), thereby supplying the toner to the developing roller 21 while conveying the toner in the direction of the arrow D2 in FIG. A second paddle 24 c is disposed downstream of the second stirring screw 24 in the toner conveying direction (direction D 2). The second paddle 24c is rotated together with the second rotation shaft 24a, and delivers the toner from the second conveyance path 222 to the first conveyance path 221 in the direction of arrow D3 in FIG.

The toner container 30 (FIG. 3) is disposed above the toner supply port 25 of the developing housing 210. The toner container 30 is provided with a toner discharge port 377 (FIG. 4). The toner discharge port 377 is disposed at the bottom of the toner container 30 corresponding to the toner supply port 25 of the developing device 20. The toner dropped from the toner discharge port 377 is supplied to the developing device 20 from the toner supply port 25.

<About Toner Supply>
Next, the flow of toner newly supplied from the toner supply port 25 will be described. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the toner supply port 25 disposed in the developing device 20 and the toner discharge port 377 disposed in the toner container 30.

The replenishment toner T2 supplied from the toner discharge port 377 of the toner container 30 falls into the first conveyance path 221, is mixed with the existing toner T1, and is conveyed by the first stirring screw 23 in the direction of the arrow D1. At this time, the toners T1 and T2 are stirred and charged.

The first stirring screw 23 is provided with a suppression paddle 28 (conveyance capacity suppressing portion) in which the conveyance performance of the developer is partially suppressed on the downstream side of the toner supply port 25 with respect to the toner conveyance direction. In the present embodiment, the suppression paddle 28 is a plate-like member disposed between the adjacent first spiral blades 23 b of the first stirring screw 23. As the suppression paddle 28 rotates around the first rotation shaft 23a, the toner conveyed from the upstream side of the suppression paddle 28 starts to stagnate. Then, the stagnation of the toner accumulates to a position immediately upstream of the suppression paddle 28 and at a position where the toner supply port 25 faces the first conveyance path 221. As a result, in the vicinity of the inlet of the toner supply port 25, a retention portion 29 (developer retention portion) of the developer is formed. The first spiral blade 23b is disposed in the area where the toner supply port 25 faces (FIG. 4). In another embodiment, the conveyance capacity suppressing portion is a region where the first spiral blade 23b of the first stirring screw 23 is partially missing and the first rotation shaft 23a is partially exposed along the axial direction. It may be formed. In such a configuration as well, the conveyance capacity of the first stirring screw 23 is partially suppressed, so that the stagnation portion of the developer is formed.

When the replenishing toner T2 is replenished from the toner replenishing port 25 and the amount of toner in the storage space 220 increases, the toner staying in the retaining portion 29 blocks (seals) the toner replenishing port 25 and further replenishes the toner. Suppress. Further, the first spiral blade 23 b pushes the developer in the storage space 220 around the toner supply port 25 upward by being rotated. As a result, the sealing effect of the toner supply port 25 by the retention portion 29 is increased. Thereafter, when the toner in the storage space 220 is consumed from the developing roller 21 and the toner stagnating in the retention portion 29 decreases, the toner blocking the toner supply port 25 decreases, and the space between the retention portion 29 and the toner replenishment port 25 decreases. There is a gap. As a result, the replenishment toner T2 again flows into the storage space 220 from the toner replenishment port 25. As described above, in the present embodiment, the volume replenishment type toner replenishment type is adopted in which the amount of replenishment toner is adjusted in accordance with the decrease of the toner retained in the retention portion 29. Therefore, the developing device 20 can be replenished with toner without necessarily including the sensor for detecting the toner amount in the developing housing 210 of the developing device 20.

<Mounting of Toner Container to Developing Device>
6 and 7 are perspective views of the toner container 30 and the developing device 20 according to the present embodiment, respectively. The toner container 30 is attachable to and detachable from the developing device 20 in the housing 101.

The toner container 30 includes a lid 31, a container body 37, a cover 39, and a container shutter 30S (FIG. 6).

The container main body 37 is a main body portion of the toner container 30, and contains toner inside. The lid 31 closes the left end of the container body 37. The cover 39 is attached to the right end of the container body 37.

The container shutter 30S is supported slidably relative to the container body 37. The container shutter 30S has a function of sealing and opening the toner discharge port 377 of the container body 37. The container shutter 30S has a shutter body 30S1, a shutter lock portion 30S2, and a lock release portion 30S3. The shutter main body 30S1 is a main body portion of the container shutter 30S and has a function of sealing and opening the toner discharge port 377. The shutter body 30S1 is supported slidably relative to the container body 37. The shutter lock portion 30S2 is supported swingably with respect to the shutter main body 30S1. The shutter lock portion 30S2 has a function of permitting and restricting the slide movement of the shutter main body 30S1 with respect to the container main body 37. The lock release unit 30S3 is a projection provided on the shutter lock unit 30S2. When the lock release portion 30S3 is pressed, a lock piece (not shown) provided on the shutter lock portion 30S2 is disengaged from the engaging portion formed on the container main body 37, and the slide movement of the shutter main body 30S1 becomes possible.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the opening and closing cover 100C of the housing 101 is opened upward, the container mounting portion 109 provided on the developing housing 210 of the developing device 20 is exposed to the outside of the housing 101. Referring to FIG. 7, development housing 210 includes a pair of housing left wall 210L and housing right wall 210R. The container mounting portion 109 is formed between the housing left wall 210L and the housing right wall 210R. In the present embodiment, the toner container 30 is mounted obliquely to the container mounting portion 109 (see arrow DC in FIG. 6). At this time, the cover 39 of the toner container 30 is disposed on the housing right wall 210R side, and the lid 31 of the toner container 30 is disposed on the housing left wall 210L. The developing housing 210 includes a left guide groove 201L and a right guide groove 201R (FIG. 7).

The left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R are grooves formed in the housing left wall 210L and the housing right wall 210R, respectively. The left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R guide the mounting of the toner container 30 to the container mounting portion 109. Therefore, the inlet sides of the left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R are formed to extend along the mounting direction of the toner container 30 (the arrow DC direction in FIG. 7). On the other hand, the rear side of the left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R has a fan-like shape so as to allow rotation of the first guide portion 312 (FIG. 8) and the second guide portion 391 (FIG. 6) as described later. Have.

Further, referring to FIG. 7, the developing device 20 includes a first transmission gear 211, a second transmission gear 212, and a third transmission gear 213. The printer 100 also includes a first motor M1 provided in the housing 101, a second motor M2, and a control unit 50 (FIG. 7). The first transmission gear 211, the second transmission gear 212, and the third transmission gear 213 are gears rotatably supported by the housing right wall 210R. The first transmission gear 211 is connected to the second transmission gear 212. The first transmission gear 211 is connected to the developing roller 21, the first stirring screw 23, and the second stirring screw 24 via a gear group (not shown). When the developing device 20 is attached to the housing 101, the first motor M1 is connected to the third transmission gear 213, and the second motor M2 is connected to the first transmission gear 211.

The first motor M1 moves a later-described moving wall 32 of the toner container 30 by rotating a later-described shaft 33 of the toner container 30 via the third transmission gear 213. That is, the third transmission gear 213 engages with a later-described second container gear 382 of the toner container 30, and transmits the driving force of the first motor M1 to the second container gear 382. The second motor M 2 rotates the developing roller 21, the first stirring screw 23 and the second stirring screw 24 of the developing device 20 via the first transmission gear 211. Further, the second motor M2 rotates a stirring member 35 described later of the toner container 30 via the first transmission gear 211 and the second transmission gear 212. The control unit 50 controls the first motor M1 and the second motor M2 in the printing operation of the printer 100 and the like, and drives respective members of the developing device 20 and the toner container 30.

Further, the developing housing 200 includes a lock release button 202, the toner supply port 25 (developer supply port) described above, a release projection 206, a pair of container shutter fixing portions 207, and a pair of shutter springs 208 (see FIG. And a housing shutter 210S.

The lock release button 202 is a push button slidably supported on the housing right wall 210R. The lock release button 202 has a function of locking the posture of the toner container 30 mounted on the container mounting portion 109 or a function of releasing the lock. The lock release button 202 includes a lock engagement piece 202S. The lock engagement piece 202S is a claw portion formed on the front side of the housing right wall 210R so as to protrude toward the container mounting portion 109. Further, the developing device 20 is provided with a lock biasing spring (not shown). The lock biasing spring is a coil spring that is disposed inside the housing right wall 210R and biases the lock release button 202 forward. The lock engagement piece 202S has a function of locking the posture of the toner container 30 mounted on the container mounting portion 109. On the other hand, when the lock release button 202 is pressed against the biasing force of the lock biasing spring, the lock engagement piece 202S separates from the toner container 30, and the lock function for the toner container 30 is released.

The above-described toner supply port 25 is an opening having a substantially rectangular shape in the top plate of the development housing 200 (FIG. 7). The toner supply port 25 is in communication with the inside of the developing housing 200. Further, the toner supply port 25 is disposed to face the toner container 30 mounted to the container mounting portion 109. The toner discharged from the toner discharge port 377 of the toner container 30 flows into the inside of the developing housing 200 from the toner supply port 25.

The release projection 206 is a projection adjacent to the rear of the toner supply port 25 and protruding from the top plate of the developing housing 200. The release projection 206 has a function of pressing the unlocking portion 30S3 (FIG. 6) of the container shutter 30S of the toner container 30 when the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 109. In other words, the release projection 206 permits the sliding movement of the container shutter 30S.

The pair of container shutter fixing portions 207 is a protrusion which is provided so as to protrude from the top plate of the developing housing 200 so as to sandwich the release protrusion 206 in the left-right direction. In a cross-sectional view intersecting the left-right direction, the container shutter fixing portion 207 has a substantially trapezoidal shape. In addition, on the side surface on the front side of the container shutter fixing portion 207, a wedge-shaped cutout portion is formed. When the toner container 30 is mounted to the container mounting portion 109, a part of the container shutter 30S of the toner container 30 is engaged with the notch. As a result, the container shutter fixing unit 207 fixes the container shutter 30S and regulates movement (rotation) of the container shutter 30S. Further, the container shutter fixing portion 207 allows rotation of the container main body 37 in the second rotation direction when the toner container 30 is mounted.

The pair of shutter springs 208 is a pair of spring members disposed outside in the left-right direction of the pair of container shutter fixing portions 207. The shutter spring 208 is disposed to extend in the front-rear direction. Rear end portions of the pair of shutter springs 208 are locked to the top plate of the developing housing 200, respectively. Further, the front end portions of the pair of shutter springs 208 are respectively locked to the left and right end portions of the housing shutter 210S.

The housing shutter 210S is slidably supported by the developing housing 200 with respect to the toner supply port 25. The housing shutter 210S seals or opens the toner supply port 25.

The pair of shutter springs 208 bias the housing shutter 210S in the direction in which the housing shutter 210S seals the toner supply port 25. When the toner container 30 is removed from the developing device 20, the housing shutter 210S receives the biasing force of the pair of shutter springs 208 and seals the toner supply port 25.

Further, when the toner container 30 is mounted to the container mounting portion 109, the housing shutter 210S can press the container main body 37 of the toner container 30. Therefore, the shutter spring 208 biases the toner container 30 mounted on the container mounting portion 109 in the direction in which the housing shutter 210S closes the toner supply port 25 via the housing shutter 210S.

<Structure of Toner Container>
Next, referring to FIGS. 8 to 11 in addition to FIG. 6, the toner container 30 (developer storage container) according to the embodiment of the present invention will be further described. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment. 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views of the toner container 30. FIG. Note that FIG. 9 shows a state in which a moving wall 32 described later is disposed at an initial position, and FIG. 10 shows a state in which the moving wall 32 is disposed at a final position. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the inside of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment, in which the container main body 37 is removed.

The toner container 30 has a tubular shape extending in the left-right direction (first direction, the direction of the arrow DA in FIG. 9). The toner container 30 accommodates the replenishment toner (developer) inside. The toner container 30 includes the moving wall 32, the shaft 33, the pressing member 34, the stirring member 35, and a toner sensor (not shown) in addition to the lid 31, the container main body 37 (container main body) and the cover 39 described above. A first container gear 381, a second container gear 382, a ratchet gear 383 and a ratchet shaft 384 are provided.

The lid 31 is fixed to the container body 37 and seals the opening of the container body 37. The lid 31 rotatably supports the second shaft end 332 (FIG. 9) of the shaft 33. The lid 31 includes a first guide 312. The first guide portion 312 is a protrusion formed on the left side surface (outer surface portion) of the lid portion 31 so as to extend in the vertical direction. The first guide portion 312 has a function of guiding the toner container 30 to be attached to the developing device 20.

The container main body 37 is a main body portion of the cylindrical toner container 30. The container body 37 includes an inner circumferential surface 37K and an inner space 37H. The inner peripheral surface 37K is an inner peripheral surface of the container main body 37, and extends in a tubular shape along the longitudinal direction (first direction, the direction of the arrow DA in FIG. 9) of the toner container 30.

Also, the container body 37 includes a right wall 375 (FIG. 9) and a projecting wall 376 (see FIG. 24). The right wall 375 is a wall portion which is disposed on one end side (right end side) of the container body 37 in the first direction and closes the inside of the container body 37. The inner space 37H is a space defined by the inner circumferential surface 37K formed by the container body 37, and further by the right wall 375 and the lid 31. Further, in the internal space 37H, a region between the right wall 375 and the movable wall 32 is taken as a housing space 37S. The accommodation space 37S is a space in which toner is accommodated inside the toner container 30.

As shown in FIG. 9, the side opposite to the first direction of the right wall 375 in the container body 37 is open (opening). When the lid 31 is fixed to the opening, the lid 31 closes the internal space 37H of the container main body 37. The outer peripheral edge of the lid 31 is ultrasonically welded to the container body 37.

Referring to FIG. 24, the protruding wall 376 is a portion where the outer peripheral surface of the container body 37 protrudes to the right relative to the right wall 375. A cover 39 is attached to the projecting wall 376.

Further, the container main body 37 includes the toner discharge port 377 (developer discharge port) described above and a main body bearing portion 37J (FIG. 9). The toner discharge port 377 is an opening that communicates with the inner peripheral surface 37K (the internal space 37H) and is opened in the lower surface portion of the container main body 37. As shown in FIG. 9, the toner discharge port 377 is opened at the lower surface of the right end (one end in the first direction) of the container body 37 so as to communicate with the internal space 37H. In other words, the toner discharge port 377 is disposed adjacent to the right wall 375 in the first direction. Further, the toner discharge port 377 is opened in a rectangular shape with a predetermined length along the first direction and a predetermined width along the arc shape of the bottom of the container body 37. In the present embodiment, the toner discharge port 377 is opened at a position shifted rearward and upward along the circumferential direction from the lower end portion of the bottom portion of the container main body 37. The toner discharge port 377 allows the toner to be discharged toward the developing device 20 from the storage space 37S.

The main body bearing portion 37J (FIG. 9) is a bearing formed on the right wall 375. The shaft 33 is inserted into the main body bearing portion 37J. At this time, the right end side (first shaft end portion 331) of the shaft 33 protrudes to the outside of the container main body 37.

The moving wall 32 is a wall portion disposed facing the first direction in the inside (the internal space 37H) of the container main body 37. The moving wall 32 receives a driving force from the pressing member 34 as the shaft 33 rotates. The moving wall 32 defines one end surface (left end surface) of the accommodation space 37S in the first direction. The other end face (right end face) of the accommodation space 37S in the first direction is defined by the right wall 375. In addition, from the initial position on one end side in the first direction, the moving wall 32 conveys the toner in the storage space 37S toward the toner discharge port 377 from the start of use of the toner container 30 to the end of use. It has a function of moving in the inner space 37H in the first direction to the final position on the end side. In the present embodiment, the initial position of the movable wall 32 is disposed on the right side (downstream side in the first direction) of the lid 31 (FIG. 9), and the final position is on the immediate left side (upstream side in the first direction) Are arranged (Figure 10). The structure of the moving wall 32 will be described in more detail later.

The shaft 33 is rotatably supported by the right wall 375 and the lid 31 of the container body 37 so as to extend in the first direction in the internal space 37H. The shaft 33 includes a first shaft end 331, a second shaft end 332, a male spiral portion 333 (first engagement portion), and a movable wall stop 334.

Referring to FIG. 9, the first shaft end portion 331 is a tip end portion of the shaft 33 which protrudes to the right through the main body bearing portion 37J. A pair of D surfaces is formed on the circumferential surface of the first shaft end portion 331 (see FIG. 24). A ratchet shaft 384 is engaged with the first shaft end 331. As a result, the shaft 33 and the ratchet shaft 384 can be integrally rotated. The second shaft end 332 is the left end of the shaft 33. The second shaft end 332 is pivotally supported by the shaft hole formed in the lid 31 as described above.

The male spiral portion 333 is a screw portion spirally formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 33 in the inner space 37H along the first direction. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the male spiral portion 333 is a region on the upstream side of the toner discharge port 377 in the first direction (arrow DA in FIG. 9) from the region adjacent to the lid 31 in the shaft 33. Are arranged up.

The moving wall stopping portion 334 is continuously disposed on the downstream side of the male spiral portion 333 in the first direction. The moving wall stop portion 334 is a region of only the shaft portion where the male spiral portion 333 is partially lost in the shaft 33 in the internal space 37H. The moving wall stopping portion 334 is located above the toner discharge port 377 and upstream of the toner discharge port 377 in the first direction.

The pressing member 34 (FIG. 9) is disposed upstream of the movable wall 32 in the first direction. The pressing member 34 is a cylindrical member that allows the shaft 33 to be inserted therein, and has a function of pressing the moving wall 32 in the first direction. The structure of the pressing member 34 will be described in more detail later.

The stirring member 35 is disposed along the right wall 375 above the toner discharge port 377. The agitating member 35 agitates the toner in the accommodation space 37S and sends the toner from the toner discharge port 377. In the present embodiment, the stirring member 35 rotates around the shaft 33 and relative to the shaft 33. The stirring member 35 includes a plate portion 35A, a plurality of blade portions 35B, and a stirring bearing portion 35C. The plate portion 35A is a plate-like portion disposed along the right wall 375, and is rotatable around the shaft 33. The plurality of blade portions 35B are blade portions extending from the plate portion 35A toward the upstream side in the first direction, that is, toward the moving wall 32. The blade portion 35 B circulates around the shaft 33 above the toner discharge port 377. The stirring bearing portion 35C is a cylindrical portion extending rightward from the plate portion 35A, and accommodates the shaft 33 therein. Further, the tip end portion of the stirring bearing portion 35C is engageable with the first container gear 381.

The first container gear 381 transmits rotational driving force to the stirring member 35. The first container gear 381 is connected to the second motor M 2 via the first transmission gear 211 and the second transmission gear 212 of the developing device 20. In the present embodiment, the first container gear 381 is rotationally driven in synchronization with the developing roller 21, the first stirring screw 23 and the second stirring screw 24 of the developing device 20. The first container gear 381 is connected to the tip of the agitating bearing portion 35C of the agitating member 35 which penetrates the main body bearing portion 37J. As a result, the first container gear 381 and the stirring member 35 rotate integrally.

The second container gear 382 transmits the rotational driving force to the shaft 33. The second container gear 382 is disposed on the same axis as the shaft 33. The second container gear 382 is connected to the first motor M1 via the third transmission gear 213. The second container gear 382 is capable of rotating the shaft 33 by being rotated by the driving force generated by the first motor M1. As shown in FIG. 9, the right end portion of the shaft 33 is disposed to penetrate the stirring member 35. The second container gear 382 is coupled (fixed) to the tip (first shaft end 331) of the shaft 33 via the ratchet gear 383 and the ratchet shaft 384. The ratchet structure for connecting the second container gear 382 and the shaft 33 will be described in more detail later.

The cover 39 is attached to the container body 37. The cover 39 has a function of exposing a part in the circumferential direction of the first container gear 381 and the second container gear 382 to the outside, and covering the other part of the first container gear 381 and the second container gear 382 in the circumferential direction. Is equipped. The cover 39 includes the second guide 391 (FIGS. 9 and 11), the container engaging portion 392, and the gear opening 39K (FIG. 6).

The second guide portion 391 is a protruding portion provided on the right side of the cover 39 so as to protrude on the right side in the vertical direction. The second guide 391 has a function of guiding the toner container 30 to be mounted on the developing device 20 together with the first guide 312 of the lid 31. The container engaging portion 392 is a protrusion which is provided on the right side surface of the cover 39 at a distance from the second guide portion 391. The lock engagement piece 202S of the lock release button 202 is engageable with the container engagement portion 392.

The gear opening 39K is an opening in which the lower surface of the cover 39 is opened in a semicircular arc shape. When the cover 39 is attached to the container body 37, part of the gear teeth of the first container gear 381 and the second container gear 382 is exposed to the outside of the toner container 30 through the gear opening 39K. As a result, when the toner container 30 is attached to the developing housing 210 of the developing device 20, the first container gear 381 and the second container gear 382 are respectively used as the second transmission gear 212 and the third transmission gear 213 (FIG. 7). It is engaged.

The toner sensor is a sensor fixed to the container body 37. The toner sensor is disposed adjacent to the top of the toner discharge port 377 in the circumferential direction. The toner sensor TS is a sensor comprising a magnetic permeability sensor (magnetic sensor) or a piezoelectric element. When the toner sensor is formed of a piezoelectric element, the sensor portion of the toner sensor is exposed to the housing space 37S. The toner sensor outputs a HIGH signal (+5 V) by being pressed by the toner in the storage space 37S. Also, when there is almost no toner above the toner sensor, the toner sensor outputs a LOW signal (0 V). The output signal of the toner sensor is referred to by the control unit 50 (FIG. 7). When the toner sensor is a magnetic permeability sensor, the sensor does not have to be in direct contact with the toner. Therefore, the toner sensor may be fixed to the outer wall of the container body 37. In another embodiment, the toner sensor may be disposed on the developing housing 210 side (apparatus main body side) of the developing device 20 so as to face the outer wall of the container main body 37.

<About the movement of the moving wall>
While the first guide portion 312 of the lid portion 31 and the second guide portion 391 of the cover 39 are guided by the pair of left guide grooves 201L and right guide grooves 201R of the developing device 20, the user mounts the toner container 30 by the container mounting portion 109. Mounted on (Fig. 6, Fig. 7). When the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 109, the container shutter 30S is moved, and the toner discharge port 377 is opened. As a result, the toner discharge port 377 is disposed to face the upper side of the toner supply port 25 (FIGS. 4 and 5).

As described above, when the new toner container 30 is mounted on the printer 100, the control unit 50 (FIG. 7) drives the first motor M1 to engage the third transmission gear 213 via the second container gear 382 The shaft 33 is rotationally driven. As a result, the engagement between the male spiral portion 333 of the shaft 33 and the female spiral portion 34J of the pressing member 34 causes the pressing member 34 to move the moving wall 32 in the first direction (arrow DA in FIG. 9). Move towards Eventually, when the moving wall 32 moves to the right from the initial position by a predetermined distance, the housing space 37S is filled with toner, and the toner sensor outputs a HIGH signal according to the full state. The control unit 50 receives the HIGH signal output from the toner sensor, stops the rotation of the shaft 33, and stops the movement of the moving wall 32.

As described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the volume replenishment type toner replenishment type is adopted. Therefore, when the retention portion 29 (FIG. 5) on the developing device 20 side seals the toner supply port 25 from below, the replenishment toner does not drop from the toner container 30. On the other hand, when the toner is supplied from the developing roller 21 of the developing device 20 to the photosensitive drum 121 and the toner in the retention portion 29 decreases, the toner flows from the toner discharge port 377 into the developing device 20 via the toner supply port 25. As a result, in the housing space 37S of the toner container 30, the toner around the toner sensor disappears, and the toner sensor outputs a LOW signal. In response to the signal, the control unit 50 drives the first motor M1 to further move the movable wall 32 toward the toner discharge port 377 until the toner sensor outputs the HIGH signal.

Note that, in accordance with the developing operation in the developing device 20, the control unit 50 drives the second motor M2 to rotationally drive the developing roller 21 and the like. In conjunction with this rotation, the stirring member 35 is rotated via the first container gear 381 engaged with the second transmission gear 212. As a result, since the agitating member 35 disposed on the right end side of the accommodation space 37S rotates around the shaft 33, the toner above the toner discharge port 377 is stably agitated. Therefore, the fluidity of the toner is increased, and the toner is stably dropped from the toner discharge port 377.

When the printing operation is repeated and the toner in the storage space 37S of the toner container 30 continues to be used, the moving wall 32 eventually reaches the final position in front of the toner discharge port 377. As described above, the moving wall 32 gradually moves in the first direction, whereby the toner in the accommodation space 37S is conveyed to the toner discharge port 377 while being pressed by the moving wall 32. At this time, the accommodation space 37S is gradually reduced until the moving wall 32 reaches the final position. Therefore, in the toner container 30, the space itself in which the toner remains is gradually dissipated. As a result, the amount of toner remaining in the storage space 37S of the container main body 37 is reduced at the end of use, as compared with the conventional toner container in which the volume of the storage space does not change.

In the present embodiment, the moving wall 32 stops at a final position slightly upstream of the toner discharge port 377 in the first direction. Specifically, when the female spiral portion 34J of the pressing member 34 reaches the movable wall stop portion 334 with the movement of the movable wall 32, the engagement between the male spiral portion 333 and the female spiral portion 34J is released. As a result, the transfer of the moving force from the shaft 33 to the pressing member 34 is lost, and the moving wall 32 stops at the final position.

<About detailed structure of moving wall>
12 and 13 are exploded perspective views of the movable wall 32 of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment, and are perspective views seen from different viewpoints. In FIG. 12, the pressing member 34 also appears. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the wall main body 323 of the moving wall 32. As shown in FIG. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the moving wall 32. As shown in FIG.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, moving wall 32 includes wall plate 321 (downstream side wall), seal member 322, and wall main body 323 (upstream side wall). In other words, in the present embodiment, the movable wall 32 is formed of three plate members. The outer peripheral portions of the wall plate 321, the seal member 322, and the wall main body portion 323 have similar shapes. That is, the lower end portion of the movable wall 32 has an arc shape projecting downward, the upper end portion of the movable wall 32 is a horizontal flat portion, and both side portions of the movable wall 32 have the above arc shape and the flat portion. It consists of the inclined part which connects

The wall plate 321 is disposed downstream of the moving wall 32 in the first direction. The wall plate 321 is molded by resin molding. The wall plate 321 includes a plate body 321A, four (plural) studs 321B, and four (plural) engagement pieces 321C. The plate main body 321A is a main body portion of the wall plate 321, and is a plate-like portion facing in the left-right direction. A plate shaft hole 321H (first bearing portion) is opened at a central portion of the plate main body 321A. The shaft 33 is inserted into the plate shaft hole 321H. Further, the right side surface of the plate main body 321A constitutes the transport surface 320S. The conveying surface 320S, together with the inner circumferential surface 37K of the container body 37, defines a storage space 37S in which the toner is stored. Further, the transport surface 320S transports the toner in the storage space 37S while pressing the toner as the moving wall 32 moves.

The four studs 321B (plurality of positioning projections) are provided so as to project leftward (toward the wall main portion 323) from the left side surface of the plate main body 321A. The stud 321B has a cylindrical shape, and its tip is tapered. In the present embodiment, two studs 321B are disposed above the plate shaft hole 321H at intervals in the front-rear direction, and two studs 321B are disposed below the plate shaft hole 321H at an interval in the front-rear direction. . The four studs 321 B have a positioning function with respect to the wall body portion 323 of the wall plate 321.

Similar to the studs 321B, the four engagement pieces 321C (a plurality of engagement pieces) are provided so as to project leftward (toward the wall main portion 323) from the left side surface of the plate main body 321A. The engaging piece 321C has a hook shape, and has a claw shape at its tip. In the present embodiment, one engagement piece 321C is disposed immediately above the plate shaft hole 321H, two studs 321B are disposed before and after the plate shaft hole 321H, and one stud 321B is disposed below the plate shaft hole 321H. It is arranged. In other words, the four engagement pieces 321C are respectively disposed between the four studs 321B in the circumferential direction. The four engagement pieces 321C have a function of fixing the wall plate 321 to the wall body 323.

The seal member 322 is a central portion in the first direction of the movable wall 32 and is disposed at a position to be sandwiched between the wall plate 321 and the wall body portion 323. The seal member 322 is made of a urethane material having a predetermined thickness in the first direction. A seal shaft hole 322H (third bearing portion) is opened at the central portion of the seal member 322. The shaft 33 is inserted into the seal shaft hole 322H. Further, in the seal member 322, four stud insertion holes 322B (a plurality of third openings) and four engagement piece insertion holes 322C (a plurality of first openings) so as to surround the periphery of the seal shaft hole 322H. And) are respectively opened. The four stud insertion holes 322B allow the four studs 321B described above to be inserted respectively. Similarly, the four engagement piece insertion holes 322C allow the aforementioned four engagement pieces 321C to be inserted respectively. As a result, the position of the seal member 322 with respect to the wall plate 321 of the movable wall 32 and the wall main body 323 is restricted. In other words, the seal member 322 is constrained in the vertical and horizontal directions. The outer peripheral portion of the seal member 322 constitutes the outer peripheral surface 32K of the movable wall 32 (FIG. 9). The outer peripheral surface 32 K is disposed in contact with the inner peripheral surface 37 K of the container main body 37 and is compressed and deformed.

The wall body portion 323 is disposed upstream of the wall plate 321 and the seal member 322 in the first direction, that is, on the most upstream side of the movable wall 32 in the first direction. The wall body portion 323 is molded by resin molding. As shown in FIG. 13, the wall body portion 323 includes a large diameter portion 323S and a small diameter portion 323T. That is, the wall body portion 323 has a step shape along the first direction, and the shape in the first direction downstream side (small diameter portion 323T) is slightly smaller than the first direction upstream side (large diameter portion 323S) have. A cylindrical portion 323J (wall cylindrical portion) is disposed at the center of the wall main body 323 (FIG. 14). The cylindrical portion 323J has a cylindrical shape that protrudes from the wall main portion 323 toward the upstream side in the first direction. A wall main body axial hole 323H (second bearing portion) is formed inside the cylinder of the cylindrical portion 323J (FIG. 13). The shaft 33 is inserted into the wall main body axial hole 323H. Further, the cylindrical portion 323J is inserted into the inside of the cylinder of the pressing member 34. The tip (front end) on the upstream side of the cylindrical portion 323J in the first direction is formed in a ring shape, and functions as a pressed portion 323J1 (FIG. 14) pressed by a pressing member 34 described later. The pressed portion 323J1 contacts the pressing surface 34F (described later) of the pressing member 34 and the entire circumferential direction of the shaft 33.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the wall main body portion 323 includes four stud receiving portions 323B (a plurality of second openings), four wall engaging portions 323C (a plurality of engaged portions), and four. And a wall rib 323L. The four stud receiving portions 323B allow the four studs 321B described above to be inserted respectively. Similarly, the four wall engaging portions 323C allow the four engaging pieces 321C described above to be locked respectively (FIG. 15). The four wall surface ribs 323L are ribs provided so as to protrude from the left side surface of the wall main body portion 323, and extend so as to connect the stud receiving portion 323B and the wall engaging portion 323C. The four wall ribs 323L have one first wall rib 323L1 and three second wall ribs 323L2. The first wall rib 323L1 extends upward from the upper end of the cylindrical portion 323J. The three second wall ribs 323L2 respectively extend radially outward from the left and right end portions and the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 323J. An insertion hole H (engaged portion) is formed in the first wall rib 323L1. The insertion hole H is an opening formed to penetrate the first wall rib 323L1 in the front-rear direction, and a pressing member engaging portion 34K of the pressing member 34 described later can be inserted.

Further, referring to FIG. 13, on the right side surface of the wall main body 323, three seal pressing ribs 323F (regulating parts) are provided so as to surround the four stud receiving parts 323B and the four wall engaging parts 323C. In the circumferential direction of the shaft 33, it protrudes annularly toward the seal member 322. Each of the three seal pressing ribs 323F is a rib similar to the outer peripheral shape of the wall main body 323, and is arranged at a predetermined interval in the radial direction. The outermost seal pressing rib 323F is disposed in the vicinity of the outer peripheral portion of the small diameter portion 323T. In addition, the innermost seal pressing rib 323F is disposed close to the four stud receiving portions 323B and the four wall engaging portions 323C. The seal pressing rib 323F has a function of contacting the side surface of the seal member 322 to press the seal member 322 and restricting the radial proximal end position of the compression-deformed portion of the seal member 322.

Further, referring to FIG. 13, a plurality of outer peripheral ribs 323 R are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral portion of the large diameter portion 323 S. The plurality of outer peripheral ribs 323 R slightly maintain the posture of the movable wall 32 by slightly contacting the inner peripheral surface 37 K of the container body 37.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 13, when wall plate 321, seal member 322 and wall main body portion 323 are integrated, the outer peripheral portion of seal member 322 is arranged radially outward most. As a result, the outer peripheral portion (the outer peripheral surface 32 K of the moving wall 32) of the seal member 322 is compressed and deformed by the inner peripheral surface 37 K of the container main body 37. As a result, the toner in the storage space 37S is prevented from flowing out between the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container body 37 and the outer peripheral surface 32K of the movable wall 32 in the moving direction upstream of the movable wall 32. At this time, the position of the proximal end portion in the radial direction of the portion to be compressively deformed is regulated by the plurality of seal pressing ribs 323F. Therefore, the compression part of the outer peripheral part of the seal member 322 is limited, and a strong pressing force can be maintained toward the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container main body 37. Further, the outer peripheral portion of the large diameter portion 323S of the wall main portion 323 and the outer peripheral portion of the wall plate 321 are disposed slightly radially inward of the outer peripheral portion of the seal member 322. As described above, the planar (plate-like) seal member 322 is held between the wall plate 321 and the wall body portion 323, whereby the outer peripheral portion of the seal member 322 is detached with the movement of the movable wall 32. Is deterred. In other words, as compared with the aspect in which the tape-like sealing member is wound around the outer peripheral portion of the moving wall 32, the occurrence of seal curl is prevented. Furthermore, the small diameter portion 323T is disposed radially inward of the large diameter portion 323S. As a result, when the moving wall 32 moves in the first direction, the outer peripheral portion of the seal member 322 is allowed to enter the step between the large diameter portion 323S and the small diameter portion 323T on the upstream side in the first direction. Therefore, an excessive load is applied to the outer peripheral portion of the seal member 322, and the outer peripheral portion is prevented from being damaged.

With reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, when the seal member 322 is sandwiched between the wall plate 321 and the wall body portion 323, the peripheral portion of the seal shaft hole 322H of the seal member 322 is crushed, so that the shaft A shaft seal portion is formed so as to be in close contact with the outer circumferential surface of the entire surface 33 in the entire circumferential direction. The shaft seal portion is disposed upstream of the female spiral portion 34J of the pressing member 34 described later in the first direction (FIG. 9). Therefore, the shaft seal portion contacts the male spiral portion 333 of the shaft 33 earlier than the female spiral portion 34J, and cleans the toner attached to the male spiral portion 333. Further, since the shaft seal portion has a ring shape so as to surround the shaft 33, the shaft seal portion is in close contact with the shaft 33 over the entire circumferential direction of the shaft 33. Therefore, the toner in the accommodation space 37S is prevented from flowing out through the bearing portion of the movable wall 32 to the upstream side in the moving direction relative to the movable wall 32.

<About the structure of the pressing member>
16 to 18 are perspective views of the pressing member 34 of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the moving wall 32, the pressing member 34 and the shaft 33 of the toner container 30, in which the pressing member 34 is engaged with the moving wall 32. As shown in FIG. FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the moving wall 32, the pressing member 34 and the shaft 33 of the toner container 30, and is a perspective view of a state in which the pressing member 34 and the moving wall 32 are disengaged. FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container 30, and is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the engagement between the pressing member 34 and the moving wall 32 is released. FIG. 22 is an enlarged sectional view of a part (pressing member 34) of the toner container 30 of FIG.

The pressing member 34 is disposed on the upstream side of the moving wall 32 in the first direction (FIG. 9). The pressing member 34 has a cylindrical shape. The outer peripheral surface of the pressing member 34 is disposed radially inward of the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container main body 37 (FIG. 9). The pressing member 34 has a first cylindrical portion 34A (second bearing portion) and a second cylindrical portion 34B. The first cylindrical portion 34A is slightly smaller in diameter than the second cylindrical portion 34B, and is disposed upstream of the second cylindrical portion 34B in the first direction. The shaft 33 is inserted into the inside of the first cylindrical portion 34A and the second cylindrical portion 34B. The pressing member 34 has a female spiral portion 34J (second engaging portion), a pressing surface 34F (pressing portion), and a pressing member engaging portion 34K.

The female helical portion 34J is a helical thread formed on the inner peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion 34A. The female spiral portion 34J engages with the male spiral portion 333 of the shaft 33 to move the pressing member 34 in the first direction.

The pressing surface 34F has a function of pressing the moving wall 32 downstream in the first direction. The pressing surface 34F is formed in a ring shape at the step between the first cylindrical portion 34A and the second cylindrical portion 34B inside the cylinder of the pressing member 34. The pressing surface 34F presses the pressed portion 323J1 (FIG. 14) of the moving wall 32 in the first direction in the entire circumferential direction around the shaft 33.

The pressing member engaging portion 34 K radially protrudes from the first direction downstream side portion of the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 34 B and includes a tip portion extending in the circumferential direction. The insertion hole H of the moving wall 32 described above allows the tip end portion of the pressing member engaging portion 34K to be engaged along the circumferential direction (FIGS. 19 and 20).

Further, a first notch 34L1 and three second notches 34L2 are respectively formed on the downstream side of the second cylindrical portion 34B in the first direction (FIG. 16). The first notch 34L1 is defined by a first opposing surface 34P1 and a second opposing surface 34P2 provided with a step. The first opposing surface 34P1 is disposed radially inward of the distal end (bent portion) of the pressing member engaging portion 34K. The three second notches 34L2 each have a shape in which the end face of the second cylindrical portion 34B is cut into a rectangular shape. When the pressing member 34 presses the moving wall 32, the first wall rib 323L1 and the second wall rib 323L2 (FIG. 14) are inserted into the first notch 34L1 and the second notch 34L2, respectively. .

In the pressing member 34, when the shaft 33 is rotated in a predetermined first rotation direction (arrow R1 in FIG. 19), the pressing surface 34F moves along with the engagement between the male spiral portion 333 and the female spiral portion 34J. By pressing 32, it moves in the first direction integrally with the moving wall 32. In addition, when the shaft 33 is rotated in the second rotation direction (arrow R2 in FIG. 20) opposite to the first rotation direction, the pressing member 34 is engaged with the male spiral portion 333 and the female spiral portion 34J. Thus, it moves relative to the moving wall 32 in the first direction upstream.

Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, the present modified embodiment is characterized in the shape of the thread of male spiral portion 333 and the thread of female spiral portion 34J. That is, referring to FIG. 22, male spiral portion 333 has a first male slope 333 A (first slope) and a second male slope 333 B (second slope).

The first male slope 333A is disposed on the downstream side of the ridge line of the male spiral portion 333 in the first direction, and is an inclined surface that tapers in the first direction. In other words, the first male slope 333A is inclined so as to extend radially inward along the first direction. In addition, the second male slope 333B is disposed on the upstream side of the ridge line of the male spiral portion 333 in the first direction, and from the slope which is inclined in the first direction toward the first direction opposite to the first male slope 333A. Become. In other words, the second male slope 333B is inclined so as to extend radially outward along the first direction. Further, the second male slope 333B is more gently inclined in the first direction than the first male slope 333A.

The female spiral portion 34J has a first female slope 34J1 (third slope) and a second female slope 34J2 (fourth slope).

The first female slope 34J1 is disposed on the upstream side of the ridge line of the female spiral portion 34J in the first direction, and is formed of an inclined surface which is inclined in a first direction toward the first direction. In other words, the first female slope 34J1 is inclined to extend radially inward along the first direction. The second female slope 34J2 is disposed on the downstream side of the ridge line of the female spiral portion 34J in the first direction, and includes an inclined surface that is tapered in the first direction on the opposite side to the first female slope 34J1. In other words, the second female slope 34J2 is inclined so as to extend radially outward along the first direction. The second female slope 34J2 inclines more gently in the first direction than the first female slope 34J1.

According to such a configuration, when the shaft 33 is rotated in the first rotation direction (arrow R1 in FIG. 19), the engagement between the first male slope 333A of the shaft 33 and the first female slope 34J1 of the female spiral portion 34J. When the shaft 33 is rotated in the second rotation direction (arrow R2 in FIG. 20) than the rotational torque applied to the shaft 33 accompanying the rotation, the second male slope 333B of the male spiral portion 333 and the female spiral portion 34J In accordance with the engagement with the second female slope 34J2, the rotational torque applied to the shaft 33 becomes larger. In either case of rotation of the shaft 33 in the first rotational direction and rotation in the second rotational direction, the pitch of the male spiral portion 333 is the same, but in the case of rotation in the second rotational direction, the second male slope Since the component in the radial direction of the force generated by the contact between 333 B and the second female slope 34 J 2 is large, a large torque is generated to the shaft 33. Therefore, the load for rotating the shaft 33 is increased, and the amount of movement of the pressing member 34 can be reduced. Therefore, the pressing member 34 and the movable wall 32 can be easily fitted again according to the manual operation or the rotation of the shaft 33.

<About the ratchet structure>
23 and 24 are exploded perspective views of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment. 25 and 26 are exploded perspective views of the ratchet mechanism of the toner container 30. FIG. 27 and 28 are perspective views of the ratchet mechanism of the toner container 30. FIG.

In the present embodiment, the second container gear 382, the ratchet gear 383 and the ratchet shaft 384 have a ratchet mechanism for transmitting the rotational drive force to the shaft 33.

Referring to FIGS. 25 and 26, the second container gear 382 has a cylindrical portion 382S and a disk-shaped gear portion 382T connected to the cylindrical portion 382S. Gear teeth (not shown) are formed on the outer peripheral portion of the gear portion 382T. The shaft portion 384T of the ratchet shaft 384 is insertable into the cylindrical portion 382S. The cylindrical portion 382S has an engaging portion 382A extending in the axial direction of the ratchet shaft 384 (the axial direction of the shaft 33).

The ratchet gear 383 has a cylindrical shape, and the shaft portion 384T of the ratchet shaft 384 can be inserted therein. The ratchet gear 383 is disposed between the shaft 33 and the second container gear 382 in the axial direction, and is rotatable about the axis of the shaft 33. The ratchet gear 383 has an engaging portion 383A extending in the axial direction of the ratchet shaft 384 and an inclined portion 383B opposed to the engaging portion 383A in the circumferential direction. Further, the ratchet gear 383 is disposed axially opposite to the engaging portion 383A and the inclined portion 383B, and is opposed to the engaging portion 383C extending in the axial direction of the ratchet shaft 384 in the circumferential direction. And an inclined portion 383D.

Furthermore, the ratchet shaft 384 is disposed between the second container gear 382 and the shaft 33 in the axial direction, and can rotate integrally with the shaft 33. The ratchet shaft 384 includes a proximal end 384S and a shaft 384T. The proximal end 384S has a substantially cylindrical shape. The cylinder interior of the proximal end 384S has a pair of D-face shapes. The first shaft end 331 (FIG. 24) of the shaft 33 is inserted into and engaged with the inside of the proximal end 384S. As a result, the shaft 33 and the ratchet shaft 384 can be integrally rotated. The shank 384T extends axially from the proximal end 384S. The outer diameter of the shaft portion 384T is smaller than the outer diameter of the proximal end 384S. An end of the base end 384S on the side of the shaft 384T is provided with an engaging portion 384A extending in the axial direction of the ratchet shaft 384 and an inclined portion 384B opposed to the engaging portion 384A in the circumferential direction. .

As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28, after the ratchet gear 383 is externally fitted to the ratchet shaft 384, the cylindrical portion 382S of the second container gear 382 is externally fitted to the ratchet shaft 384. As a result, in the circumferential direction around the ratchet shaft 384, the engagement portion 382A is disposed to face the engagement portion 383C, and the engagement portion 384A is disposed to face the engagement portion 383A. When the second container gear 382 is rotated in the first rotation direction (arrow R1 in FIG. 19, arrow DG1 in FIG. 27), the engaging portion 382A moves along the inclined portion 383D and the ratchet gear 383 is moved to the proximal end 384S. Press in the axial direction to the side. Eventually, the engaging portion 382A abuts on the engaging portion 383C and presses the engaging portion 383C in the first rotation direction. Further, the engaging portion 383A abuts on the engaging portion 384A and presses the engaging portion 384A in the first rotational direction. As a result, the shaft 33 coupled to the ratchet shaft 384 rotates in the first rotation direction. That is, the pressing member 34 and the movable wall 32 move in the first direction (DA).

On the other hand, when the second container gear 382 is rotated in the second rotation direction (arrow R2 in FIG. 20, arrow DG2 in FIG. 28), the engaging portion 382A is spaced apart from the engaging portion 383C in the circumferential direction. . Further, the engaging portion 382B of the second container gear 382 presses the engaging portion 383E of the ratchet gear 383 in the second rotational direction. As a result, the ratchet gear 383 rotates in the second rotation direction. At this time, since the ratchet shaft 384 does not press the ratchet gear 383 toward the shaft portion 384T, the engagement between the ratchet gear 383 and the ratchet shaft 384 (engagement portion 384A) is released, and the ratchet gear 383 is Idle in the direction of rotation. As a result, the rotational force in the second rotational direction is not transmitted to the ratchet shaft 384, and as a result, the shaft 33 does not rotate in the second rotational direction. That is, with the rotation of the second container gear 382 in the second rotational direction, movement of the pressing member 34 and the moving wall 32 in the first direction (DA) is suppressed. Further, since the shaft 33 does not rotate in the second rotation direction, the pressing member 34 does not move relative to the moving wall 32 in the first direction upstream side. Therefore, even when the user mistakenly rotates the second container gear 382 in the second rotation direction when the toner container 30 is removed from the developing device 20 of the printer 100, the moving wall 32 is in the first direction. It is prevented from moving upstream.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the ratchet mechanism including the second container gear 382, the ratchet gear 383 and the ratchet shaft 384 transmits the rotational driving force in the first rotation direction of the second container gear 382 to the shaft 33. At the same time, the transmission of the rotational drive force of the second container gear 382 in the second rotational direction to the shaft 33 is blocked.

In the present embodiment, the first container gear 381 has a cylindrical shape so as to include a connecting portion between the first shaft end portion 331 of the shaft 33 and the base end portion 384S of the ratchet shaft 384. Therefore, regardless of the connected state of the first container gear 381 and the shaft 33, the rotational force of the first container gear 381 can be stably transmitted to the agitating bearing portion 35C of the agitating member 35.

<Removal of Toner Container>
FIG. 29 is an enlarged plan view of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment. 30 to 36 are cross-sectional views of the toner container 30. FIG. FIGS. 30, 33, and 34 are cross sections (cross sections passing through the second guide portion 391) including the front and rear direction and the vertical direction at the cross section position AA in FIG. 31 and 35 are cross sections (cross sections passing through the second container gear 382) including the front and rear direction and the vertical direction at the cross sectional position BB in FIG. Further, FIGS. 32 and 36 are cross-sections (cross-sections passing through the first container gear 381) including the front-rear and top-bottom directions at the cross-sectional position CC in FIG.

When the container shutter 30S is erroneously moved from the position where the toner discharge port 377 is closed until the toner container 30 is mounted to the developing device 20, the toner leaks from the toner discharge port 377. In the present embodiment, in the state of the toner container 30 alone, the container shutter 30S is prevented from sliding movement from the toner discharge port 377 as described above. Therefore, when the toner container 30 is stored and transported alone, the toner discharge port 377 is stably sealed by the container shutter 30S.

When the toner container 30 is replaced, the user of the printer 100 mounts the toner container 30 on the developing device 20 as described above. At this time, the user inserts the first guide portion 312 and the second guide portion 391 of the toner container 30 into the left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R, so that the toner container 30 can receive the left guide groove 201L and the right guide groove 201R. Thus, the container mounting portion 109 is mounted at the first position while being guided along the arrow DC direction of FIG. The posture of the toner container 30 at this time is defined as a first posture (FIGS. 34 to 36).

At this time, the releasing projection 206 of the developing housing 200 presses the unlocking portion 30S3 of the container shutter 30S of the toner container 30. As a result, the shutter lock portion 30S2 swings, the lock of the container shutter 30S by the shutter lock portion 30S2 is released, and the slide movement of the container shutter 30S becomes possible.

On the other hand, when the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 109 with the first posture, a part of the container shutter 30S engages with the wedge-shaped cutouts of the pair of container shutter fixing portions 207 (FIG. 7) . As a result, the container shutter 30S is fixed to the container shutter fixing portion 207. After that, the container body 37 of the toner container 30 is rotated by the user from the above first position in the first mounting rotation direction (the direction of the arrow DM in FIG. 7) about the axial center along the left and right direction. At this time, the container body 37 reaches the second position while the toner discharge port 377 slides relative to the container shutter 30S. At the second position, the opened toner discharge port 377 communicates with the toner supply port 25 of the developing device 20. In other words, the toner discharge port 30S moves in the first mounting rotation direction together with the container body 37. As a result, the toner discharge port 377 comes out of the fixed container shutter 30S, and the opened toner discharge port 377 is located above the toner supply port 25 and can communicate with the toner supply port 25. The attitude of the toner container 30 at this time is defined as a second attitude (FIGS. 30 to 32).

Further, in a state where the toner container 30 is not mounted to the container mounting portion 109, the housing shutter 210S (FIG. 7) seals the toner supply port 25. Then, when the toner container 30 is mounted on the container mounting portion 109 with the first posture, a part of the container main body 37 of the toner container 30 is disposed to face the housing shutter 210S. Then, as described above, when the toner container 30 is rotated in the first mounting rotation direction and the posture is changed from the first posture to the second posture, the container main body against the biasing force of the pair of shutter springs 208 37 presses the housing shutter 210S in the first mounting rotational direction. As a result, the housing shutter 210S slides along with the container body 37 of the toner container 30 in the first mounting rotation direction, and the toner supply port 25 is opened as shown in FIG. Therefore, the toner discharge port 377 and the toner supply port 25 can be communicated in the vertical direction.

FIGS. 30 to 32 thus show the toner container 30 mounted at the second position with the second posture. At this time, the lock engagement piece 202S of the lock release button 202 is engaged with the container engagement portion 392 of the toner container 30. For this reason, the toner container 30 is prevented from being erroneously rotated in the second mounting rotational direction (arrow DN in FIG. 33) opposite to the first mounting rotational direction. In the state of FIG. 30, when the user presses the lock release button 202, the lock engagement piece 202S is disengaged from the container engagement portion 392 (arrow DL of FIG. 33). As a result, since the force for restricting the rotation of the toner container 30 is lost, the container main body 37 of the toner container 30 is moved in the second mounting rotation direction (arrow DN in FIG. 33) by the biasing force of the pair of shutter springs 208 (FIG. 7). Rotate to). At this time, the housing shutter 210 S moves toward a position where the toner supply port 25 is sealed by the pair of shutter springs 208. Further, while the housing shutter 210S is engaged with a part of the container main body 37, the container main body 37 is rotated in the second mounting rotation direction.

As a result, the toner container 30 is placed at the first position again in the first position (FIGS. 34, 35 and 36). At this time, the second guide portion 391 is disposed to extend along the longitudinal direction of the right guide groove 201R. Similarly, the first guide portion 312 of the toner container 30 is arranged to extend along the longitudinal direction of the left guide groove 201L. That is, the toner container 30 can be detached from the container mounting portion 109 (FIG. 7) along the mounting direction DC. The second container gear 382 of the toner container 30 is engaged with the third transmission gear 213 of the developing device 20 while the toner container 30 extends from the second position to the first position (FIG. 35). The first container gear 381 of the container 30 is engaged with the second transmission gear 212 of the developing device 20 (FIG. 36).

Here, in the present embodiment, when the toner container 30 is detached, the lock release button 202 is pressed to rotate the container body 37 of the toner container 30 in the second rotation direction (arrow DN in FIG. 33). The same as the direction (arrow DG1 in FIG. 27) in which the ratchet mechanism of the toner container 30 transmits the rotational drive force to the shaft 33. In other words, when the lock release button 202 is pressed and the container body 37 receives the biasing force of the pair of shutter springs 208 and rotates in the second mounting rotation direction, it engages with the third transmission gear 213 of the developing device 20. The second container gear 382 rotates relative to the container body 37 in the direction of the arrow DG2 of FIG. At this time, the connection between the second container gear 382 and the shaft 33 is released by the action of the aforementioned ratchet mechanism. Therefore, the movement load of the movable wall 32 is not applied to the rotational movement of the toner container 30, and the rotational movement of the toner container 30 to the first position is stably realized.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the shaft 33 is rotated in the first rotation direction (R1), the pressing member 34 presses the moving wall 32 and moves the moving wall 32 in the first direction. Can be discharged from the toner discharge port 377. Further, when the shaft 33 is rotated in the second rotation direction (R2), the pressing member 34 moves upstream in the first direction with the moving wall 32 remaining. For this reason, a large change in the distribution state of the toner downstream in the first direction with respect to the moving wall 32 is suppressed, and the discharge of the toner is stably maintained. For this reason, at the time of maintenance of the toner container 30, after the operator removes the ratchet mechanism of the toner container 30, the moving wall 32 moves upstream in the first direction even if the shaft 33 is directly rotated. Is prevented. As a result, when the toner container 30 is mounted on the printer 100 again, the position of the movable wall 32 in the first direction is reproduced, and the distribution of toner in the storage space 37S is stably held. Therefore, a pressing force is applied to the toner in the vicinity of the toner supply port 25 and the toner discharge port 377 with the same pressing force as the state before the toner container 30 is removed, and toner supply from the toner container 30 to the developing device 20 is stably maintained. Be done. In addition, the said effect is similarly exhibited also in the function in which the above-mentioned ratchet mechanism does not move the moving wall 32 to 1st direction upstream.

Further, in the present embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the pressing member 34 is disposed radially inward of the inner peripheral surface 37 K of the container main body 37 at an interval. Therefore, the pressing member 34 is set to be compact, and the load applied to the shaft 33 is reduced as compared with the case where the pressing member 34 rubs against the inner peripheral surface 37K of the container main body 37.

Further, in the present embodiment, the pressing surface 34F of the pressing member 34 presses the pressed portion 323J1 of the movable wall 32 in the first direction in the entire circumferential direction around the shaft 33. Therefore, the moving wall 32 receives a pressing force from the pressing member 34 in the entire circumferential direction around the shaft 33. As a result, the transport surface 320S of the movable wall 32 is prevented from inclining with respect to the shaft 33.

Further, in the present embodiment, the cylindrical portion 323J of the movable wall 32 is accommodated in the cylindrical pressing member 34. Then, the pressing member 34 presses the pressed portion 323J1 formed at the tip of the cylindrical portion 323J. Therefore, the pressing force is stably applied to the moving wall 32 from the pressing member 34. In other words, the contact area between the pressing member 34 and the moving wall 32 is stably held as compared with the case where the tip of the cylindrical pressing member 34 presses the end of the cylindrical portion 323J of the moving wall 32. Ru.

Further, in the present embodiment, the pressing member 34 has a pressing member engaging portion 34K which protrudes in the radial direction and includes a tip portion extending in the circumferential direction. Further, the moving wall 32 is formed with an insertion hole H which allows the tip end portion of the pressing member engaging portion 34K to be engaged along the circumferential direction. Then, when the shaft 33 is rotated in the first rotation direction, the leading end of the pressing member engaging portion 34K engages with the insertion hole H, and along with the engagement between the male spiral portion 333 and the female spiral portion 34J. The pressing surface 34F presses the pressure receiving portion 323J1 of the moving wall 32 so that the pressing member 34 moves in the first direction integrally with the moving wall 32. Therefore, the movement of both the moving wall 32 and the pressing member 34 is stably maintained. Further, even if the toner container 30 is held in such a posture that the shaft 33 extends in the vertical direction, the pressing member 34 is prevented from separating from the moving wall 32 and falling along the shaft 33. Further, when the shaft 33 is rotated in the second rotation direction, the engagement between the pressing member engaging portion 34K of the pressing member 34 and the insertion hole H of the moving wall 32 is released, and the pressing surface 34F becomes a cover of the moving wall 32. It is disposed at an upstream side in the first direction with respect to the pressing portion 323J1 at an interval. For this reason, the moving wall 32 is prevented from erroneously moving upstream with the pressing member 34 in the first direction.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, the male spiral portion 333 includes the first male slope 333A and the second male slope 333B, and the female spiral portion 34J includes the first female slope 34J1 and the second female slope 34J2. Equipped with Therefore, it is possible to increase the rotational torque applied to the shaft 33 when the shaft 33 is rotated in the second rotational direction. Therefore, even if the shaft 33 is rotated in the second rotation direction, the pressing member 34 is prevented from being largely separated from the moving wall 32.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the developing device 20 of volume supply type is adopted, and the toner in the storage space 37S applies pressure to the toner around the toner discharge port 377 and the toner supply port 25 to develop from the toner container 30. An operation of supplying toner to the device 20 is performed. Then, since the distribution state of the toner in the housing space 37S does not largely change due to the action of the moving wall 32 and the pressing member 34, the toner is stably supplied to the developing housing 210 of the developing device 20.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, when the second container gear 382 is rotated in the first rotation direction, the aforementioned ratchet mechanism couples the second container gear 382 to the shaft 33, and the shaft 33 in the first rotation direction. The rotation allows the moving wall 32 to move in the first direction. Also, when the second container gear 382 is rotated in the second rotation direction, the ratchet mechanism releases the connection between the second container gear 382 and the shaft 33, and restricts the shaft 33 from rotating in the first rotation direction. By doing this, the moving wall 32 is restricted from moving in the first direction and in the direction opposite to the first direction. Therefore, when the second container gear 382 is rotated in the first rotation direction, the moving wall 32 moves in the first direction, whereby the toner in the accommodation space 37S can be discharged from the toner discharge port 377. In addition, even if the second container gear 382 is rotated in the second rotation direction, the toner distribution state on the downstream side of the moving wall 32 in the first direction is prevented from being largely changed, and the toner is not discharged. It is maintained stably. As a result, an image can be stably formed on the sheet.

Further, in the present embodiment, the rotation in the first rotation direction of the shaft 33 is permitted by the ratchet mechanism including the cylindrical portion 382S of the second container gear 382, the ratchet gear 383 and the ratchet shaft 384, and the second rotation direction Can be regulated. As a result, movement of the moving wall 32 in the first direction is permitted, and movement in the direction opposite to the first direction is restricted. In particular, when the second container gear 382 is rotated in the first rotational direction, the cylindrical portion 382S, the ratchet gear 383 and the ratchet shaft 384 integrally rotate in the first rotational direction, whereby the shaft 33 is in the first rotational direction. Will be rotated. In addition, when the second container gear 382 is rotated in the second rotational direction, at least one of the connection between the cylindrical portion 382S and the ratchet gear 383 and the connection between the ratchet gear 383 and the ratchet shaft 384 is released. The rotation of the shaft 33 in the first rotation direction is restricted.

Further, in the present embodiment, the toner container 30 is mounted in the first position on the container mounting portion 109 while being guided along the predetermined mounting direction DC by the right guide groove 201R and the left guide groove 201L, and the container shutter 30S is When fixed to the container shutter fixing portion 207 and the container body 37 is rotated in the first mounting rotation direction (DM) about an axis extending in the first direction, the toner discharge port 377 is relative to the container shutter 30S. The toner container 30 is held in the second position by the lock engagement piece 202S while slidingly moving, and the toner discharge port 377 opened from the container shutter 30S is allowed to communicate with the toner supply port 25. The shapes of the right guide groove 201R and the left guide groove 201L are set.Furthermore, when the lock release button 202 is pressed in a state where the toner container 30 is in the second posture, the engagement between the lock engagement piece 202S and the toner container 30 is released, and the biasing force of the shutter spring 208 Thus, the toner container 30 is changed in posture from the second posture to the first posture while being rotated in a second mounting rotation direction (DN) opposite to the first mounting rotation direction. In the ratchet mechanism (regulating mechanism) of the toner container 30, when the container body 37 of the toner container 30 is rotated in the second mounting rotation direction by the urging force of the shutter spring 208, the second container gear 382 is the third transmission gear. The engagement with 213 allows relative rotation in the second rotational direction with respect to the container body 37. As a result, when the lock release button 202 is pressed and the attitude of the toner container 30 is changed from the second attitude to the first attitude, the engagement of the second container gear 382 and the third transmission gear 213 causes the toner The rotation of the container 30 is prevented from being heavily loaded. At this time, since the connection between the second container gear 382 and the shaft 33 is released, the movement load of the movable wall 32 is prevented from being applied to the rotation of the toner container 30.

The printer 100 including the toner container 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. According to such a configuration, the toner container 30 in which the distribution state of the toner in the accommodation space 37S is suppressed from being largely changed by the retrogression of the moving wall 32, and the printer 100 provided with the same are provided. On the other hand, the present invention is not limited to this, and, for example, the following modified embodiments can be adopted.

(1) In the above embodiment, the printer 100 is described as a monochrome printer, but the present invention is not limited to this. In particular, when the printer 100 is a tandem type color printer, after the opening and closing cover 100C (FIG. 2) of the printer 100 is opened, the respective toner containers 30 are adjacent from above corresponding to the toners of a plurality of colors. May be mounted in the housing 101.

(2) In the above embodiment, the moving wall 32 is described as moving from the lid 31 side to the right wall 375 side, but the present invention is not limited to this. The toner discharge port 377 may be opened to the lid 31 side, and the moving wall 32 may be moved from the right wall 375 side to the lid 31 side. Furthermore, the opening position of the toner discharge port 377 is not limited to the above position. The toner discharge port 377 may be opened at the lowermost surface of the container body 37 or may be opened at another position.

(3) Also, in the above embodiment, the volume replenishment type toner replenishment type has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The developing housing 210 of the developing device 20 may also be provided with a toner sensor (not shown), and the moving wall 32 may be moved according to the output of the toner sensor to supply toner from the toner container 30 to the developing device 20. Further, the developing device 20 is not limited to the one-component developing method, and a two-component developing method may be adopted.

(4) In the above embodiment, the stud 321B and the engagement piece 321C are protruded from the wall plate 321 of the moving wall 32. However, the stud 321B and the engagement piece 321C It may be protruded toward the wall plate 321 from the H.323 side. Further, the number and position of the studs 321B and the engagement pieces 321C are not limited to the above embodiment. Further, the seal pressing rib 323F in contact with the seal member 322 may be disposed on the wall plate 321 side, or may be disposed on both the wall plate 321 and the wall main body portion 323. Further, the number and the shape of the seal pressing ribs 323F are not limited to the above embodiment. The seal pressing rib 323F is not limited to the aspect extending continuously along the circumferential direction of the shaft 33, and may be disposed at a predetermined interval.

(5) Furthermore, FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a shaft 33 of a toner container (developer storage container) according to a modified embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 38 is a perspective view of a shaft 33Z of another toner container to be compared with the toner container according to the present modified embodiment. In the shaft 33 shown in FIG. 37, the tip end portion 333T is disposed at the end of the male spiral portion 333 closest to the moving wall stop portion 334. The tip 333 T is smoothly connected to the shaft of the shaft 33 such that the outer diameter of the outer peripheral edge of the spiral of the male spiral 333 is gradually reduced. On the other hand, in the shaft 33Z shown in FIG. 38, the tip end portion 333TZ is disposed at the end of the male spiral portion 333Z closest to the moving wall stopping portion 334Z. The tip portion 333TZ has a discontinuous side surface with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 33Z. In other words, the tip end portion 333TZ has a shape in which the male spiral portion 333Z is cut at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction. When the shaft 33Z is inserted into the seal shaft hole 322H (FIG. 13) of the seal member 322 of the movable wall 32, the seal shaft hole 322H adheres to the shaft 33Z along the circumferential direction. However, in the contact portion between the shaft 33Z and the seal shaft hole 322H in the tip end portion 333TZ, a substantially triangular gap is likely to be generated. As a result, as indicated by the arrow DZ in FIG. 38, the toner in the storage space 37S (FIG. 9) may enter the inside of the seal shaft hole 322H. On the other hand, in the shaft 33 shown in FIG. 37, the tip end portion 333T is smoothly inclined along the circumferential direction. Therefore, a gap is unlikely to be generated at the contact portion between the shaft 33 and the seal shaft hole 322H at the tip end portion 333T. As a result, the toner is prevented from entering the inside of the seal shaft hole 322H. The embodiment of FIG. 38 is not excluded from the configuration of the present invention.

Claims

A container body having an inner circumferential surface defining an inner space extending in a cylindrical shape along a first direction, wherein the developer discharge port is opened to communicate with the inner space and allows the developer to be discharged. Is formed, with the container body,
A shaft disposed so as to extend in the first direction in the internal space and rotatably supported by the container body;
It has an outer peripheral surface arranged to be in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the container body, and a transport surface which defines, together with the inner peripheral surface of the container body, a storage space in which the developer is stored, the inner A movable wall movable in the first space along the shaft in the inner space while conveying the developer in the space toward the developer discharge port;
Equipped with
The moving wall is
A downstream side wall including a first bearing into which the shaft is inserted and the transport surface;
An upstream side wall portion including a second bearing portion through which the shaft is inserted and disposed on the upstream side in the first direction with respect to the downstream side wall portion;
And a third bearing portion into which the shaft is inserted, which is sandwiched by the downstream side wall portion and the upstream side wall portion along the first direction to form the outer peripheral surface of the moving wall; A seal member which is compressed and deformed by coming into contact with the inner circumferential surface;
And a developer container.
One wall portion of the downstream side wall portion and the upstream side wall portion has a plurality of engagement pieces protruding toward the other wall portion of the downstream side wall portion and the upstream side wall portion,
The other wall portion has a plurality of engaged portions that allow the plurality of engagement pieces to be engaged with each other,
The developer accommodating container according to claim 1, wherein the seal member has a plurality of first openings that allow the plurality of engagement pieces to be inserted respectively.
The one wall portion has a plurality of positioning protrusions protruding toward the other wall portion,
The other wall has a plurality of second openings that allow the plurality of positioning protrusions to be respectively inserted therethrough,
The developer accommodating container according to claim 2, wherein the seal member has a plurality of third openings that allow the plurality of positioning protrusions to be inserted respectively.
At least one wall portion of the downstream side wall portion and the upstream side wall portion has a restricting portion which restricts the proximal end position of the compressive deformation of the seal member by abutting on the side surface of the seal member. The developer container according to Item 1.
The developer accommodating container according to claim 4, wherein the restricting portion is a rib which protrudes from a wall surface of the one wall portion toward the seal member and extends along a circumferential direction of the shaft.
The developer accommodating container according to claim 5, wherein the rib extends annularly along the entire circumferential direction.
The developer accommodating container according to claim 1, wherein the third bearing portion of the seal member is in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the shaft over the entire circumferential direction.
The shaft has a first engaging portion formed in a spiral along the first direction on the outer peripheral surface,
A pressing member disposed on the upstream side in the first direction of the moving wall, the fourth bearing portion through which the shaft is inserted, and the first engaging portion disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the fourth bearing portion And a pressing portion for pressing the moving wall in the first direction, and when the shaft is rotated in the first rotation direction, the first engaging portion and The pressing portion presses the moving wall in accordance with the engagement with the second engaging portion, whereby the pressing wall moves integrally with the moving wall in the first direction, and the shaft is in the first rotation direction. A pressing member which moves relative to the moving wall upstream in the first direction with the engagement of the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion when the second rotation direction is rotated in the opposite second rotational direction. The developer container according to claim 1, further comprising:
The first engagement portion is
A first inclined surface inclined to extend radially inward along the first direction;
A second inclined surface disposed on the opposite side to the first inclined surface across the ridge line of the first engaging portion, and inclined to extend radially outward along the first direction, A second slope that slopes more gently than one slope,
Have
The second engagement portion is a helical protrusion, and
A third inclined surface inclined to extend radially inward along the first direction;
The fourth inclined surface is disposed on the opposite side to the third inclined surface across the ridge line of the second engaging portion, and is inclined to extend radially outward along the first direction, 4th inclined surface which is inclined more gently than 3 inclined surfaces,
Have
When the shaft is rotated in the first rotation direction, the shaft is imparted to the shaft according to the engagement between the first inclined surface of the first engaging portion and the third inclined surface of the second engaging portion. Engagement between the second inclined surface of the first engagement portion and the fourth inclined surface of the second engagement portion when the shaft is rotated in the second rotational direction, based on the rotational torque The developer accommodating container according to claim 8, wherein a rotational torque applied to the shaft is larger in accordance with the above.
A developer container according to claim 1;
An image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface and which carries a developer image;
A developing device which supplies the developer from the developer container and supplies the developer to the image carrier;
A transfer unit for transferring the developer image from the image carrier to a sheet;
An image forming apparatus comprising:
The developing device is
A housing provided with a developer conveyance path in which the developer is conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction;
A developer supply port which is open to the housing below the developer discharge port and receives the developer from the developer storage container to the developer transport path;
A developer transport member disposed in the developer transport path for transporting the developer in the transport direction;
A conveyance ability suppressing portion that partially suppresses the conveyance ability of the developer in the conveyance direction of the developer conveyance member downstream of the developer supply port in the conveyance direction;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, comprising: