JP2002365895A - Developer replenishing container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developer replenishing container where aggregation and solidifying of developer and the generation of coarse particles are prevented and residual toner after feeding is reduced, which is low in co and can be used, furthermore with which efficient feeding of developer can be carried out. SOLUTION: In the device, a developer containing part 1c containing the developer and a jolting body containing part 4 containing a jolting body 3 that can be freely moved are provided. In this case, the jolting body containing part 4 is sealed against the developer containing part 1c.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer supply container for supplying a developer to a developing device of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, fine powder toner has been used as a developer in image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic copying machines and printers. When the developer in the image forming apparatus main body is consumed, toner is supplied to the image forming apparatus using a developer supply container (toner supply container).

[0003] Since the toner is an extremely fine powder, there has been a problem that the toner scatters during the toner replenishing operation and stains the operator and the surroundings. For this reason, a method has been proposed and put to practical use in which a toner supply container is set inside the image forming apparatus main body and toner is discharged little by little from a small opening. In such a system, it is difficult to discharge the toner spontaneously due to the action of gravity or the like, and some kind of toner stirring and conveying means is required. As such conventional toner stirring and conveying means, for example, the following (1), (2),
The method (3) is mentioned.

(1) a: The toner supply container disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 7-113796 has a substantially cylindrical container body, and has a relatively small toner discharge portion near one end of its peripheral surface. Openings are provided. A spiral toner stirring and conveying member is provided inside the container, and penetrates a wall surface of an end surface of the container to be driven from the outside of the container. The side opposite to the drive side of the transport member is a free end.

B: The toner supply container disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-104572 is one in which the agitator blades contained in the container are made of a plurality of elastic members, and the length from the rotation shaft to the tip of the blades is small. By making the trapezoidal shape different, a toner conveying force in the axial direction is obtained.

[0006] In both of these two conventional examples, the transport member penetrates the end wall surface of the container, but this portion requires some kind of bearing seal mechanism. The structure of the seal mechanism is generally such that a gear member is continuously provided at an end of the transport member, and the seal member is sandwiched between the gear member and the container wall surface. As a seal member, a donut-shaped wool felt, an oil seal, or the like is often used.

The toner replenishing container is used while being mounted in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The toner is conveyed by rotating the toner stirring and conveying member by driving from the main body side, and the toner is discharged little by little from the opening. It has become.

(2) a: The toner supply container disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-44000 has a cylindrical bottle shape as a whole, and has a helical projection on its inner surface, and the center of one end surface. A small toner outlet is provided in the vicinity, and a protruding part is provided on the end face of the container on the side where the toner outlet is provided. The toner conveyed to the end on the outlet side by the spiral protrusion is guided by the protruding shape near the opening, lifted to the outlet near the center of the end face of the container, and discharged out of the container.

B: The toner supply container disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-260574 has a cylindrical bottle shape as a whole, has a spiral projection on its inner surface, and has a small toner discharge portion near the center on one end side. There is an exit. It has a scraping section for scraping up the toner conveyed to the end on the discharge port side by the spiral projection, and a guide section for guiding the scraped toner to the discharge port.

[0010] These two conventional examples are different from the two conventional examples of (1) and do not include a transport member. And
These two toner replenishing containers are also used in a state of being installed in the main body of the image forming apparatus, and convey toner by being driven by the main body and rotating the main body itself.

(3) In the toner supply container disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-62081, a member (impact body) for preventing a toner bridge is mixed into the container and rotated, so that the impact body moves inside the container body. You can roll freely.

[0012]

However, the conventional examples described in the above-mentioned conventional examples (1) to (3) have the following problems.

(1) a: Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-113796 and b: In the case of the conventional example disclosed in JP-A-7-104572, there is a bearing seal mechanism at least on the side where the conveying member is driven.

In such a bearing seal mechanism,
In rare cases, the toner is caught in the bearing seal portion and melted and fixed to form coarse particles, which are developed and cause a problem in image quality.

(2) Next, a: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-44000 and b: In the case of the conventional example disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10-260574, there is no transport member provided inside the container body. There is no problem with the agitation bearing. However, since the spiral projection is provided on the inner surface of the container body, there are the following problems.

Since the spiral projections are arranged on almost the entire inner surface of the container, the toner tends to stay and remain at the roots of the spiral projections, and the amount of residual toner increases.

Further, since these toner replenishing containers do not have a conveying member or the like in the container main body, the toner is aggregated in the container main body in a case where the toner is vibrated due to physical distribution or stored for a long time under high temperature and high humidity. When a solidified state, that is, a so-called toner bridge occurs, there is no means for breaking the toner bridge, so that satisfactory discharge performance may not be obtained.

(3) In the case of the conventional example disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-62081, the danger of the generation of coarse particles is always present because the impactor comes into direct contact with the toner while the container is rotating. Problems, unrestricted movement of the impact body, inefficient removal of adhered toner, or the impact body moves in the carry-out direction and accumulates near the discharge opening, or is difficult to clean during recycling or reuse There is a problem that it is difficult to do. Furthermore, if the toner aggregates and hardens during distribution, the impact body cannot move freely,
It may not be possible to play that role at all.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to prevent coagulation and solidification of a developer and to prevent generation of coarse particles, to reduce the amount of residual toner after supply, and to reduce costs, to enable reusable and efficient development. An object of the present invention is to provide a developer supply container capable of supplying a developer.

[0020]

The above object is achieved by a developer supply container according to the present invention. In summary, the present invention has a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer, and an impactor accommodating portion containing a movable impactor, wherein the impactor accommodating portion is provided with respect to the developer accommodating portion. To provide a developer supply container characterized by being closed.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, an opening for discharging the developer is provided, and the developer inside the developer accommodating portion is transported to the opening by rotating the main body of the developer supply container. I do.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the opening for discharging the developer and the opening provided by stirring the developer in the developer accommodating portion provided inside the main body of the developer supply container. And a transport member for transporting the impact body. The impact body housing section is provided on the transport member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a substantially cylindrical container main body, a developer accommodating portion inside the container main body for accommodating the developer, and an opening for discharging the developer. A partition wall provided at a position crossing the opening and continuously provided in the axial direction inside the container main body so as to divide the developer accommodating portion into a plurality of sections; A developer having one or more protrusions having a surface that is protruded and inclined with respect to the container body axis, and having at one end of one or more of the protrusions a portion approaching the opening; At the time of replenishment, it rotates around the container body axis as a rotation axis,
In the developer supply container that transports the developer in the axial direction by the partition wall and the protrusion, the developer supply container further includes an impact body housing section that contains a movable impact body, and the impact body housing section includes the partition wall. And is sealed off from the developer accommodating portion.

[0024]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a developer supply container (toner supply container) according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention unless otherwise specified.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100 as an example of an image forming apparatus having a toner supply container 1 of the present invention.

An original 101 is placed on an original platen glass 102 by an operator. Then, the plurality of mirrors M and lenses Ln of the optical unit 103 are used to charge the charging unit 20.
An optical image of the document is formed on the photosensitive drum 104 charged in 3.

On the other hand, the feeding cassettes 105, 106, 10
7, 108, the recording medium P (for example, paper, O
This is an HP sheet or the like, and is hereinafter referred to as “paper”. ), A recording medium P having a size based on information input by an operator from an operation unit (not shown) is selected. Then, among the feed rollers 105A, 106A, 107A, and 108A, the roller corresponding to the selected feed cassette rotates. Then, one sheet of paper P sent from the paper feed cassette is transported to the registration roller 110 via the transport unit 109.

The registration roller 110 is a photosensitive drum 1
The paper P is conveyed to the photosensitive drum 104 by synchronizing the rotation of 04 and the scanning timing of the optical unit 103.
Then, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 104 is transferred to the sheet P by the transfer unit 111. Thereafter, the sheet P is separated from the photosensitive drum 104 by the separating unit 112. Then, the paper P is transported by the transport unit 113 to reach the fixing unit 114. Then, the fixing unit 114 fixes the toner image on the paper P by heat and pressure.

Thereafter, 1) in the case of one-sided copy, the sheet P passes through the reversing unit 115 and is discharged to the tray 117 by the discharge roller 116. 2) In the case of multiple copying, the paper P is transported to the transport units 119 and 120 by the flapper 118 of the reversing unit 115. Then, it reaches the registration roller 110. Thereafter, the image forming unit, the conveying unit 113, the fixing unit 1
14 and is discharged to a tray 117. 3) In the case of double-sided copying, the sheet P passes through the reversing unit 115 and is once discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the discharge roller 116. After that, the end of the paper P is
, The discharge roller 116 is rotated in the reverse direction. Then, the sheet P is transported into the apparatus again. The paper P is transported to the transport units 119 and 120, and the registration rollers 11
Reaches 0. Then, similarly, the image forming unit and the transport unit 11
3. The sheet is discharged to the tray 117 through the fixing unit 114.

In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus 100 having the above configuration, the developing device 20 is provided around the photosensitive drum 104.
1. Cleaning means 202 and primary charging means 203
Is formed on the image forming section. Developing device 2
01 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 104 using the toner T as a developer.

A developer supply container (toner supply container) 1 for supplying toner to the developing device 201 is detachably mounted on the apparatus main body 100. In the image forming apparatus 100, it is arranged above the developing device 201.

The toner T discharged from the opening 1a of the toner supply container 1 is supplied to the developing device 20 by a transport mechanism (not shown).
One developing container 201d is filled. Here, the developing device 201 is located between the photosensitive drum 104 and the minute gap (about 300 μm).
m), a developing roller 201a is provided. Toner T
Is transported to the toner supply roller 201c in contact with the developing roller 201a in the developing container 201d, is supplied onto the developing roller 201a, is regulated and charged to an optimal layer thickness by the developing blade 201b, and is charged around the developing roller 201a. A thin toner layer is formed on the surface. In developing, by applying a developing bias to the developing roller 201a, the toner moves to the photosensitive drum 104 and develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 104.

The charging means 203 is connected to the photosensitive drum 10
4 is charged. The cleaning means 20
Numeral 2 is for removing toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 104. The toner T reduced by the development is sequentially supplied from the toner supply container 1.

Next, the toner supply containers 1A and 1B, which are the toner supply containers 1 of this embodiment, will be described with reference to FIGS.

The toner supply container 1A in this embodiment is
As shown in the sectional view in the axial direction of FIG. 2 and the sectional view in the direction intersecting with the axial direction in FIG. 3, the container main body 1 ′ is formed in a substantially cylindrical bottle shape, and the inside thereof is provided with the developer accommodating portion 1c. Has become. An opening 1a having a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical portion is provided substantially at the center of the circular flat portion at one end in the axial direction of the container body 1 '. The opening 1a is provided with a sealing member 2 that closes the opening, and the sealing member 2 slides in the axial direction of the toner supply container main body 1 ', whereby the opening 1 is closed.
The opening / closing operation of a is performed.

When attached to the image forming apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1, the opening 1a has a toner receiving opening (not shown) of a developing container 201d for storing the developer of the developing device 201, or an opening connected to the developing container 201d. It is connected to the illustrated transport path. When supplying the developer, the sealing member 2 is slid to open the opening 1a.

The internal configuration of the toner supply container 1A will be described. Similar to the toner replenishing container 1 shown in FIG. 1, the substantially cylindrical toner replenishing container 1A has a substantially horizontal direction in the main body of the image forming apparatus with the substantially flat portions at both ends in the axial direction toward the back and front of the image forming apparatus. Placed in The toner supply container main body 1 'is configured to rotate in response to the rotation drive from the apparatus main body.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a spiral projection 1b is provided on the inner surface of the toner supply container 1A along the inner wall of the peripheral surface. When the toner supply container main body 1 'rotates, the spiral protrusion 1b lifts the toner from the bottom to the top, and the toner moves from the top to the bottom by gravity, and the toner moves along the spiral protrusion 1b. Is transported in the direction of the rotation axis, and the toner is discharged from an opening 1a provided in the end face of the toner supply container 1A. The helical projection 1b has a helical direction corresponding to the rotation direction of the developer supply container 1A, and the toner has an opening 1a.
It is provided so as to face.

As a characteristic part of the present invention, the inner wall of the toner supply container main body 1 'has at least one or more impact body accommodating portions 4 closed from the developer accommodating portion (toner accommodating portion) 1c. In this room, an impact body 3 that can freely move inside is included.

In the toner replenishing container 1A of this embodiment, the impact body accommodating portion 4 extends along the spiral projection 1b as shown in FIG. A curved surface 4a parallel to the peripheral surface with a length of about half a circumference, and a curved surface 4
a and a connecting portion 4b between the supply container main body 1 'and the inner wall of the replenishing container main body 1', the impacting member 3 is provided by the rotation of the toner replenishing container main body 1 '.
, That is, it moves along the peripheral surface in the toner supply container 1A, and reaches any end inside the impact body housing portion 4 each time it rotates, and at that time, the toner supply container main body 1 ' Shock and vibration can be given. By this shock and vibration, the toner attached to the inner wall of the toner supply container main body 1 'can be wiped off, and the toner supply container main body 1'
Even if a toner bridge occurs inside the toner bridge, the toner bridge can be broken by an impact.

The impact body 3, in order to shock, specific gravity is desired as a relatively large spheres of ^{1.0g / cm 3 ~10.0g / cm 3} . Preferably, it is more preferably made of metal. The reason is that, for example, a light substance such as plastic can transmit only a small shock and vibration even if it collides with an end portion with the same size as compared with a metal. Further, it is necessary to increase the impact in order to give an impact equivalent to that of a metal. In that respect, the case made of metal can be made compact. However, if the specific gravity is too large, it is expensive, of course. Difficult to be transmitted. The shape of the impact body 3 is preferably a spherical object that does not damage the wall surface to which the impact is applied, but is not particularly limited.

In addition, when the posture of the developer supply container body 1 'is changed by rotation or the like, the impact body 3 applies an external force to the impact body housing 4 with respect to the size of the impact body 3. It is necessary to have a volume that allows the inside of the impact body housing portion 4 to move freely by gravity alone. Regarding the shape of the impact body housing portion 4, the impact body 3 can move in the circumferential direction of the container main body 1 'in the developer supply container 1A, and the impact body 3 impacts on the wall surface of the container main body 1' or the wall surface of the impact body housing portion 4. May be in any form.

The impact body 3 having a relatively large specific gravity is provided not in the toner storage section 1c but in the impact body storage section 4 closed from the toner storage section 1c. Even if an impact is applied to the wall surface of the impact body housing 4 to impact the toner bridge, the toner particles are not damaged and coarse particles are not generated.

It is necessary that the wall surface of the impact body housing portion 4 be made of a material and a thickness that allows the impact of the impact body 3 colliding with the wall surface to be transmitted to the outside of the impact body housing portion 4.

In the toner replenishing container 1A, the impact body moves in the impact body accommodating section 4 by the rotation of the container body 1 '.
Since the impact is applied to the wall surface and the impact is transmitted to the toner storage section 1c, even if vibration is caused by physical distribution or the apparatus is left for a long time at high humidity and high temperature, the toner is rotated by rotating the container body 1 'of the toner supply container 1A. The bridge can be broken, and good toner conveyance can be realized without toner remaining on the spiral protrusion 1b of the toner supply container 1A.

The configuration of the toner supply container 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is such that the toner can be discharged by rotating the toner supply container body 1 '.
The shape and configuration are not particularly limited. Regarding the configuration of the toner replenishing container 1, a well-known toner replenishing container 1 </ b> A having a spiral projection 1 b formed therein, like the toner replenishing container 1 </ b> A described in FIGS.
Other configurations may be used.

For example, in the case of a mere cylindrical container not provided with the spiral projection 1b, the shape of the impact body accommodating portion 4 is also oblique along the spiral projection 1b. It is not necessary to take the shape of the toner replenishing container body 1 ′ as in the toner replenishing container 1 B shown in FIGS. 4 (axial sectional view) and FIG. 5 (axial cross sectional view). A part of the inner wall may be partitioned by a plane in the axial direction and the radial direction to form the impact body housing portion 4. 4 and 5
In the case of the toner supply container 1B, the surface is partitioned by a flat surface. However, as in the case of the impact body storage portion 4 in FIGS. Needless to say, it can be partitioned by the connecting portion 4b with the inner wall.

When the cover of the toner supply container main body 1 'is not so thick, the impact absorbing portion 4 may be provided along the outer peripheral wall of the toner supply container 1A.

The type of driving of the toner replenishing container is not limited to the rotational driving, but may be any type as long as the toner replenishing container replenishes the toner by vibration, swing, or other driving method. The type of drive is not limited.

That is, as long as the toner supply container is configured to discharge the toner by receiving the drive from the image forming apparatus main body, the drive may be any of a driving method, a rotating method and a swinging method.

The developer may be a one-component developer or a two-component developer having a toner and a carrier.
Therefore, the developer contained in the toner supply container may be a one-component developer, a two-component developer toner, or a mixture of a two-component developer toner and a carrier.

Second Embodiment The purpose of the first embodiment of the present invention described in the first embodiment is as follows. In the toner supply container 1 which discharges toner by driving the toner supply container main body 1 ', the toner container 1c
Means that the impact body 3 moves freely inside the impact body housing section 4 and collides with any wall in the impact body housing section 4 to impact the toner supply container main body 1 ′.・ It is characterized by giving vibration.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment based on this principle.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

In the toner replenishing containers 1A and 1B shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 described in the first embodiment, the impact body 3 is rotated reciprocally along the peripheral surface of the toner replenishing container 1 inside the impact body accommodating section 4. Although the movement is freely performed, in the toner supply containers 1C and 1D described in the present embodiment, the impact body 3 crosses the inside from the axis of the toner supply container 1 to the peripheral surface, for example, It reciprocates in the radial direction. The configuration of the toner supply containers 1C and 1D will be described below.

Toner replenishing container 1C: The container main body 1 'of the toner replenishing container 1C shown in FIGS. 6 (axial sectional view) and FIG. 7 (axial sectional view) is formed in a substantially cylindrical bottle shape. At one end, a small-diameter opening 1a is protruded substantially at the center of the circular substantially flat portion. The opening 1a is provided with a sealing member 2 for closing the opening, and the sealing member 2 slides in the axial direction of the toner supply container main body 1 'to open and close the opening 1a. ing.

As in the case of the toner supply containers 1A and 1B of the first embodiment, the toner supply containers 1A and 1B are installed in the image forming apparatus, receive rotational driving, and convey and supply toner to the developing device.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the end flat surface opposite to the opening 1a of the toner replenishing container 1C is closed off from the toner accommodating portion 1c, and an impact is applied along the end flat surface. The body accommodating part 4 is provided, and the impact body 3 is included therein.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the toner supply container 1C, the impact body housing portion 4 is arranged at a diameter position on a plane at a circular end portion, and is rotationally driven to receive the toner supply container main body 1 '. When is rotated, the impact body 3 linearly reciprocates inside the impact body housing portion 4. Further, at this time, by colliding with either the impact body housing portion 4 or the inner wall of the toner replenishing container main body 1, shock and vibration are applied to the toner replenishing container main body 1 ', and the toner adhered to the wall surface is wiped off. When toner bridges occur, they can be broken.

In this case as well, the shape of the impact body housing portion 4 is not limited to this, and may be provided over the entire circular flat portion facing the opening 1a.

The shock absorber 4 is provided in the toner supply container 1C.
May be provided on the inner wall of the flat surface facing the opening 1a of the container main body 1 ', or when the cover of the toner supply container 1 is not so thick, it may be provided on the outer wall outside the container main body 1'.

The configuration of the toner replenishing container 1C is also applicable to a toner replenishing container having a spiral projection 1b formed inside a toner replenishing container main body 1 ', such as the toner replenishing container 1A as shown in FIG. it can.

Toner replenishing container 1D: FIGS. 8 and 9 show another example in which the impacting member housing portion 4 is provided in the linear direction of the container main body.

The container main body 1 'of the toner supply container 1D is formed in a substantially cylindrical bottle shape, and an opening 1a having a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical portion is protrudingly provided at substantially the center of one end. Opening 1
A is provided with a sealing member 2 for closing the opening, and the sealing member 2 slides in the axial direction of the toner supply container 1 to open and close the opening 1a.

As in the case of the toner supply containers 1A and 1B of the first embodiment, the toner supply containers 1A and 1B are installed in the image forming apparatus, receive rotational driving, and transport and supply toner to the developing device.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the toner replenishing container 1D in the axial direction. The same impact body accommodating portion 4 inside the toner replenishing container 1D is shown in a perspective view on the left side and a sectional view on the right side. Is shown. On the inner wall of the container main body 1 'of the toner replenishing container 1D, at least one impact body housing portion 4 which is a hollow cylindrical body as shown in FIG. 8 is provided toward the center of the container main body 1'. A shock body 3 that can move freely is included in the inside thereof.

When the toner supply container 1 is rotated by receiving rotation from the apparatus main body, the impact body 3 in the impact body housing section 4 collides with the inner wall of the end of the impact body housing section 4 or the wall surface of the toner supply container body 1 '. Will do. Due to the shock and vibration at that time, the toner attached to the wall surface falls.
Further, when a toner bridge occurs, it can be broken by impact and vibration. As a result, the first embodiment
In addition to the effects similar to those of the toner supply containers 1A and 1B described above, the toner supply container 1D can be better understood by referring to a cross-sectional view of the toner supply container 1D shown in FIG. As described above, since the cylindrical impact body accommodating portion 4 extends from the peripheral surface toward the inside of the container main body 1 ′, the toner replenishing container main body 1 ′ that is hard to give an external impact.
It can also impact the toner located in the center,
It is possible to prevent the toner from agglomerating at the center and forming a toner bridge.

In the case where a plurality of impact body housing sections 4 are provided, their intervals, arrangement angles (phases), inward lengths, and the like can be freely selected as appropriate. Further, the shape of the impact body housing portion 4 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and other columnar shapes are also possible.

Further, in the toner replenishing container 1D, the impact body accommodating portion 4 is provided on the peripheral surface of the toner container main body 1 ', but it is needless to say that the impacting member accommodating portion 4 can be provided on substantially flat portions at both ends in the axial direction. Absent.

[0069] or more of the toner supply container 1C, also in 1D, in the same manner as in Example 1, the impact body 3, in order to shock, relatively specific gravity of 1.0g / cm ³ ~10.0g / cm ³ A large spherical object is desired. Preferably, it is more preferably made of metal.

It is necessary that the wall surface constituting the impact body housing portion 4 be made of a material and a thickness capable of transmitting the impact of the impact body 3 colliding with the wall surface to the outside.

Also, with respect to the configuration of the toner supply containers 1C and 1D in the embodiment of the present invention, when the posture of the container body 1 changes due to rotation or the like of the container body 1 with respect to the size of the impact body 3, In addition, it is necessary that the impact body 3 has a volume that can move inside the impact body accommodating portion 4 only by gravity without giving any external force.

The shape and configuration of the toner supply container main body 1 'are not particularly limited as long as the toner can be discharged by rotating the toner supply container main body 1'. The toner supply container 1 described with reference to FIG.
The spiral projection 1b may be formed inside the toner supply container main body 1 'as shown in FIG.

Further, the type of driving in the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the rotational driving alone, but may be a type in which the toner is replenished by vibrating or oscillating the toner supply container or by another driving method. The type of driving is not particularly limited.

That is, as long as the toner supply container is configured to discharge the toner by receiving the drive from the image forming apparatus main body, the drive may be either rotating or swinging, or any driving method may be used.

Embodiment 3 FIGS. 10 and 11 show a toner supply container 1E which is Embodiment 3 of the toner supply container.

Although the toner supply container 1E in the present embodiment is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, unlike the first and second embodiments, an opening is not provided at the center of the plane at one end.
As shown in the cross-sectional view in the direction of the axis 0 of FIG. 11 and the cross-sectional view in the direction intersecting the direction of the axis of FIG. The plate-shaped sealing member 2 slides along the opening 1a to open and close the opening 1a. Opening 1 when attached to image forming apparatus
a overlaps a toner receiving opening (not shown) of the developing container of the developing device or a toner receiving opening of a transport path (not shown) connected to the developing container. The opening is interlocked with the slide No. 2 and the toner moves to the developing device.

The internal configuration of the toner supply container 1E will be described. The container main body 1 ′ of the toner supply container 1E has a substantially cylindrical shape, and is disposed in the image forming apparatus main body in a substantially horizontal direction with flat portions at both ends in the axial direction facing the back and front of the image forming apparatus. The toner conveying member 5 installed in the toner supply container 1E is configured to rotate by receiving rotational driving from the apparatus main body.

In the inside of the container main body 1 'of the toner supply container 1E, a transport member 5 for stirring and transporting the toner is provided. A stirring shaft 5b provided in the conveying member 5 and provided with stirring blades 5a in a radial direction of rotation is provided along a central axis of the toner supply container 1E.

The stirring shaft 5b constituting the conveying member 5 is a rigid shaft provided with stirring blades 5a such as a resin film. The stirring blades 5a come into contact with the inner wall of the toner supply container 1E and rotate by rotating. The toner in the toner container 1c is agitated and conveyed without aggregating and fixing the toner.

At least one impactor housing 4 is provided on the stirring shaft 5b in a direction intersecting the axial direction, and the interior of the impactor housing 4 is free to move inside. The impact body 3 which can be used is included. Incidentally, it is desirable that the impact body accommodating portion 4 is disposed at a position not overlapping with the stirring blade 5a, and in this embodiment, FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, it is provided on the opposite side of the stirring blade 5a.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the impact body housing section 4 is a cylindrical object whose bottom is fixed to the stirring shaft 5b and extends toward the inner wall of the peripheral surface of the toner supply container main body 1 '. Are formed so as not to damage the inner wall of the toner supply container 1E even when the conveying member 5 rotates.

When the transport member 5 is rotated by receiving the rotational driving force, the impact body housing section 4 also rotates about the installation portion on the stirring shaft 5 which is the bottom surface, and the impact body inside the impact body housing section 4 is rotated. The impact body 3 moves downward when the impact body housing section 4 faces downward, and collides with the end. Further, when the impact body 3 faces upward, the impact body 3 collides with the stirring shaft 5b.

By the impact and vibration at the time of the collision, the toner attached to the conveying member 5 and the toner supply container main body 1 'can be wiped off. Further, even when a bridge occurs, the toner bridge can be broken by an impact.

Further, since the impact body housing portion 4 is cylindrical and extends in the radial direction from the center of the main body 1 of the toner supply container,
As in the toner supply container 1D of the second embodiment, the container body 1 ′
The impact at which the impact body 3 collides with the inner wall of the impact body accommodating portion 4 is also transmitted to the toner at the center, and the impact inside the container body 1 ′ is separated by the presence of the conveying member 5. It is easy to spread inside.

The developer supply container provided with such a conveying member has the following effects in addition to those described in the first and second embodiments.

The provision of the impact body housing section, which is separated from the toner housing section, breaks the toner bridge and prevents the toner from adhering to the inside of the conveying member or the toner supply container and agglomerating and solidifying. The toner can be transported efficiently, and the remaining toner is reduced, so that the toner does not melt and adhere to the bearing seal mechanism to form coarse particles.

Further, when the posture changes due to the rotation of the transport member 5 or the like, the impact body container 4 receives only the gravitational force without giving any external force to the size of the impact body 3. Therefore, it is necessary to have a volume that allows the inside of the impact body housing portion 4 to move freely.

In the case where a plurality of impact body housing sections 4 are provided, their intervals, arrangement angles (phases), lengths extending from the center, and the like can be freely selected. In addition, the impact body housing section 4
Is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and other columnar shapes are also possible.

[0089] Also in the above toner replenishing container 1E, in the same manner as in Examples 1 and 2, the impact body 3, in order to shock, relatively specific gravity of 1.0g / cm ³ ~10.0g / cm ³ A large spherical object is desired. Preferably, it is more preferably made of metal.

It is necessary that the wall surface constituting the impact body housing portion 4 be made of a material and a thickness capable of transmitting the impact of the impact body 3 colliding with the wall surface to the outside.

Further, the toner supply container 1E in this embodiment
In this case, the shape of the container body 1 ′ need not be cylindrical, and any shape and configuration may be used as long as the toner is discharged by the rotation of the conveying member 5. Absent.

In addition to the arrangement of the impact body housing 4, the impact body housing 4 is provided on the stirring blade 5a, and the impact body 3 moves together with the rotation of the stirring blade 5a, so that the inner wall of the impact body housing 4 is moved. The same effect can be obtained even with a configuration that collides with the above.

The type, arrangement, and number of the transport members are not limited to the above, and any type may be used as long as the impact body housing portion provided on the transport member does not hinder rotation.

The type of driving of the conveying member in the present embodiment is not limited to the rotational driving alone, but may be any type as long as the conveying member is replenished with the toner by vibrating or swinging or other driving methods. The type of drive is not limited.

That is, as long as the toner supply container receives the drive from the image forming apparatus main body and discharges the toner, the transport member may be driven to rotate or swing, or any drive method may be used.

Embodiment 4 The toner supply container 1F of this embodiment is shown in FIGS.
It is shown in FIG. The toner supply container 1 </ b> F of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.
Instead of the spiral protrusion 1b of the container main body of the toner supply container 1A and the transport member 5 of the toner supply container 1E of the third embodiment,
A partition wall 7 having projections is provided to partition the toner storage portion 1c inside the toner supply container 1 to improve the toner transportability. The present invention can be applied to such a toner supply container 1F. This example will be described.

As in Embodiments 1 and 2, the toner supply container 1
The container body 1 'of F is formed in a substantially cylindrical bottle shape, and an opening 1a having a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical portion is provided substantially at the center of one end thereof.
Is protruding. The opening 1a is provided with a sealing member 2 for closing the opening, and the sealing member 2 slides in the axial direction of the toner supply container 1F to thereby open the opening 1a.
Opening and closing operation.

The internal configuration of the toner supply container 1F will be described. The toner supply container main body 1 ′ has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the flat portions at both axial ends are placed in the image forming apparatus main body as shown in FIG.
The toner supply container 1 </ b> F is arranged in a substantially horizontal direction, and rotates around the axis of the container main body 1 ′ in response to rotational driving from the apparatus main body.

A partition wall 7 is provided inside the toner supply container 1F so as to bisect the toner supply container 1F over the entire length of the toner supply container 1F. Here, FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the toner supply container 1 </ b> F cut parallel to the partition wall 7, and shows a state of the surface of the partition wall 7. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken in the axial direction of the toner supply container 1F and in a direction intersecting the partition wall, and shows a state of the partition wall 7 in the thickness direction. or,
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view in a direction intersecting the axis of the toner supply container 1F.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, on both surfaces of the partition wall 7, a plurality of projections 7a inclined with respect to the axis are provided. As shown in FIG. 13, the protrusion 7a
It is a strip having a surface inclined with respect to the axis of the toner replenishing container 1F and projecting vertically from the partition wall 7, and is disposed obliquely across the surface of the partition wall 7a. One end of the inclined projection 7a reaches the opening 1a, and the toner is finally discharged from the projection 7a through the opening 1a. The protrusion 7a shown in FIG.
Indicates the projection 7a provided on the front side by a solid line and the projection 7a provided on the back side by a dotted line. Usually, in order to improve the toner conveyance, the protrusions 7a on the front and rear sides of the partition wall 7 are provided so as to intersect each other with the partition wall 7 interposed therebetween. Therefore, when the toner supply container 1F rotates, the toner is lifted from the bottom to the top by the protrusion 7a and the partition wall 7, and moves from top to bottom by the gravity of the toner, and the protrusion close to the opening 1a. 7a and is carried to the opening 1a.

In this embodiment, the impact body housing 4 is
As shown in FIG. 14, it has a hollow cylindrical shape and has at least one
More than one piece is provided in a vertical direction from the partition wall 7. Further, the impact body 3 that can freely move inside the impact body housing portion 4 is included. Impact body storage part 4
Are arranged on one side or both sides of the partition wall 7 and may penetrate the partition wall 7 like the impact body accommodating portion 4c in FIG. In addition, at least one of the impact body housing portions 4 has a configuration in which, when the end opposite to the partition wall 7 is in contact with the inner wall of the container body 1 ′, like the impact body housing portion 4 d, the partition wall 7 and the container body The toner adhered to the inner wall can be simultaneously removed by the impact of the impact body 3, which is more efficient.

When the toner supply container main body 1 'is rotated by the main body and rotates, the impact body 3 in the impact body housing section 4 collides with one end of the impact body housing section 4 and is partitioned. Shock and vibration are applied to the wall 7 and the toner supply container main body 1 '. Thereby, the toner attached to the wall surface can be removed. Further, even when a toner bridge occurs in the toner supply container main body 1 ′, the impact of the impact body 3
The partition wall 7 vibrates, and the toner bridge can be broken.

As a result, in addition to the effects similar to those of the toner supply containers 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D described in the first and second embodiments, in the toner supply container 1F, a partition plate is provided at the center of the toner supply hot water container 1F. 7, the vibration of the partition plate 7 is applied in addition to the rotation of the container main body. Further, since the toner storage section 1c is divided into a plurality of sections, the corner of the toner storage section 1c of the toner supply container main body 1 is formed. Various impacts can be applied to the toner, and it is possible to prevent the toner from aggregating and forming a toner bridge in the central portion.

In the case where a plurality of impact body housing sections 4 are provided, the intervals, arrangement angles (phases), dimensions, etc. thereof can be freely selected as appropriate. Further, the shape of the impact body housing portion 4 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and other columnar shapes are also possible.

[0105] Also in the above toner replenishing container 1F, in the same manner as in Example 1-3, the impact body 3, in order to shock, relatively specific gravity of 1.0g / cm ³ ~10.0g / cm ³ A large spherical object is desired. Preferably, it is more preferably made of metal.

It is necessary that the wall surface constituting the impact body accommodating portion 4 be made of a material and a thickness capable of transmitting the impact of the impact body 3 colliding with the wall surface to the outside.

Further, when the posture of the container body 1 ′ changes due to rotation or the like, the impact body receiving portion 4 does not apply any external force to the size of the impact body 3. It is necessary to have such a volume that the inside of the impact body housing part 4 can be moved only by the impact body.

Also, regarding the configuration of the toner supply container 1F in the embodiment of the present invention, the toner supply container main body 1 'is also used.
The shape and configuration are not particularly limited as long as the toner is discharged by the rotation of.

Although the toner supply containers described in the first to fourth embodiments are all cylindrical, the shape of the toner supply container which does not rotate the container body may not be cylindrical.

[0110]

As described above, the developer supply container of the present invention has a developer accommodating portion accommodating a developer and an impactor accommodating portion containing a movable impactor. The body container is sealed off from the developer container, so if a toner bridge occurs in the developer supply container, it can be broken by the impact of the impact body without the danger of coarse particles The present invention provides a developer replenishing container which can easily remove the developer adhered in the container, is easy to maintain, is low in cost, has good developer transportability, and has a small residual developer amount. be able to. In addition, the effect of breaking the toner bridge can be enhanced by devising the shape and arrangement of the impact body housing portion, using the same in combination with the conveying member, or partitioning the inside of the developer supply container with a partition plate.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an image forming apparatus main body to which a developer supply container according to the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of a developer supply container according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in a direction intersecting an axis of the developer supply container according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an axial sectional view of the developer supply container according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view in a direction intersecting an axis of the developer supply container according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an axial sectional view of a developer supply container according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a developer supply container according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a direction intersecting an axis of the developer supply container.

FIG. 8 is an axial sectional view of a developer supply container according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view in a direction intersecting an axis of a developer supply container according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an axial sectional view of a developer supply container according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view in a direction intersecting an axis of a developer supply container according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an axial sectional view of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an axial sectional view of a developer supply container according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a developer supply container according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention in a direction intersecting an axis line.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1A to 1F Developer supply container 1 'Developer supply container main body 1a Opening 1b Spiral protrusion 1c Developer storage unit 2 Sealing member 3 Impact body 4 Impact body storage unit 5 Transport member 7 Partition plate 7a Partition plate Projection 100 Image forming apparatus

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yusuke Yamada 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Canon Inc. (reference) 2H077 AA03 AB01 AB03 AB06 AB07 AB12 AB15 AC01 AC03 CA05

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a developer accommodating section accommodating a developer; and an impact body accommodating section including a movable impact body, wherein the impact body accommodating section is closed with respect to the developer accommodating section. A developer supply container. 2. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the density of the impact body is 1.0 g / cm ³ or more and 10.0 g / cm ³ or less. 3. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein said impact body is made of metal. 4. It has an opening for discharging the developer,
4. The developer replenishing container according to claim 1, wherein the developer replenishing container main body rotates to transport the developer in the developer accommodating portion to the opening. 5. The developer supply container main body is substantially cylindrical.
The developer supply container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the impact body storage portion is provided along a peripheral surface of the developer supply container main body. 6. The developer supply container body is substantially cylindrical.
The said impact body accommodating part is provided in the other axial one end flat part which opposes the opening part arrange | positioned at the axial one end flat part of the said developer supply container main body. 4. The developer supply container according to any one of the above items 4. 7. The impact body housing section is formed in a tubular body, and a bottom surface of the tubular body is brought into contact with an inner wall surface of the developer supply container main body to face the inside of the developer supply container main body. 2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic device is provided so as to extend.
5. The developer supply container according to any one of items 4 to 4. 8. An opening for discharging the developer, and a conveying member provided inside the main body of the developer supply container for stirring the developer in the developer accommodating section and conveying the developer to the opening. 4. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the impact body container is provided on the transport member. 5. 9. The transfer member rotates with a rotation axis in the developer supply container main body, and the impact body housing section is a cylindrical member extending in a radial direction of rotation of the transfer member. 9. The developer supply container according to claim 8, wherein said developer supply container is provided on said rotating shaft. 10. A container having a substantially cylindrical container main body, a developer accommodating section inside the container main body for accommodating a developer, and an opening for discharging the developer, wherein the opening crosses the opening. A partition wall provided in the container main body so as to be continuously provided in the axial direction so as to divide the developer accommodating portion into a plurality of parts, the partition wall protruding from a surface and the container main body axis line; Has at least one protrusion having a surface inclined with respect to the opening, at least one of the protrusions has a portion approaching the opening at one end of the protrusion. A developer supply container that rotates as a rotation axis and conveys the developer in the axial direction by the partition wall and the projection; and further includes an impact body housing section that contains a movable impact body, The part is provided so as to protrude from the surface of the partition wall, and , The developer supply container, characterized by being sealed to said developer accommodating portion. 11. The impact body has a density of 1.0 g / cm ^3.
11. The developer supply container according to claim 10, wherein the amount is not less than 10.0 g / cm ³ . 12. The developer supply container according to claim 10, wherein said impact body is made of metal. 13. The developer replenishing container according to claim 10, wherein the impact body accommodating portion is provided only on one surface of the partition wall. 14. The developer replenishing container according to claim 10, wherein the impact body accommodating portion is provided so as to penetrate the partition wall. 15. The developer replenishing container according to claim 10, wherein the impact body accommodating portions are independently provided on both sides of the partition wall. 16. The container according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the impact body housing portions has an end opposite to the partition wall in contact with the inner wall of the container body.
Developer supply container. 17. The developer supply container according to claim 1, wherein the developer supply container is detachable from the image forming apparatus.