JP2013134291A - Developer storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to suppress plastic deformation of an elastically deformable sheet member.
A developer container (developing cartridge) is provided at an end of a base portion 34A of a stirring member (agitator 34), a rotating member 60 that rotates together with the base portion 34A, and a driving force input from the outside. A rotating input member (input gear 70), a first urging member (spiral spring 80) that is deformed along with the rotation of the input member and that transmits the urging force due to the deformation to the rotating member 60, and is transmitted to the rotating member 60. Rotation adjusting means 90 that restricts the rotation of the rotating member 60 when the applied urging force is less than a predetermined value and releases the restriction when the urging force transmitted to the rotating member 60 exceeds a predetermined value. . The rotation adjusting means 90 is configured to regulate the rotation of the rotating member 60 so that the front end of the sheet member is positioned at a low load position where the deformation amount of the sheet member of the stirring member is smaller than that at the maximum.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer container including a stirring member that stirs a developer in a housing.

  Conventionally, as an agitating member provided in a developer container, a base portion rotatably supported by a housing and an elastically deformable sheet member that is supported by the base and slidably contacted with the inner surface of the housing are deformed. What has is known (refer patent document 1).

JP 2010-156759 A

  By the way, when a conventional elastically deformable sheet member is used as the stirring member, the sheet member is left in a state of being bent while being in contact with the inner surface of the housing when the stirring member is not operating. As a result, the sheet member may be plastically deformed. When the sheet member is plastically deformed in this manner, there arises a problem that the stirring performance of the developer by the stirring member is deteriorated.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to suppress plastic deformation of an elastically deformable sheet member.

In order to solve the above problems, a developer container according to the present invention is a housing that contains a developer, a base that is rotatably supported by the housing, and is deformed to the inner surface of the housing that is supported by the base. A stirring member having an elastically deformable sheet member that is in sliding contact with the state.
The developer container is provided at the end of the base, and rotates with the base, the input member that rotates by receiving a driving force from the outside, and the deformation of the input member due to the rotation of the input member. A first urging member that transmits the urging force to the rotating member; and a rotation force that restricts the rotation of the rotating member when the urging force transmitted to the rotating member is less than a predetermined value, and the urging force that is transmitted to the rotating member is predetermined. Rotation adjusting means for releasing the restriction when the value exceeds the value.
The rotation adjusting means is configured to regulate the rotation of the rotating member so that the front end of the sheet member is positioned at a low load position where the deformation amount of the sheet member is smaller than that at the maximum.

  Here, the “predetermined value” refers to a value of an urging force that can rotate the rotating member at least once.

  According to this configuration, when a driving force is input to the input member, the first biasing member is deformed as the input member rotates. Then, due to this deformation, the urging force from the first urging member to the rotating member increases, and when this urging force exceeds a predetermined value, the restriction of the rotating member by the rotation adjusting means is released, and the rotating member is attached. Rotate by force. When the rotating member rotates in this way, the urging force of the first urging member is released and gradually decreases, and becomes less than a predetermined value until the rotating member makes one revolution. (The direction corresponding to the low load position) is regulated by the rotation adjusting means.

  That is, while the urging force is less than the predetermined value, the front end of the sheet member is located at the low load position, and only when the urging force exceeds the predetermined value, the sheet member moves from the low load position and returns to the low load position again. It has become. Therefore, when the input of the driving force to the input member is cut off, the leading end of the sheet member is rotated to the low load position by the biasing force of the first biasing member regardless of the position of the leading end of the sheet member. Since it is regulated at the low load position, plastic deformation of the sheet member can be suppressed.

  Further, in the above-described configuration, the housing extends from the developer containing chamber, the developer containing chamber containing the developer and the stirring member, the developing chamber containing the developing roller, and the developer containing chamber. In the case of having a partition wall that partitions the developing chamber and an upper wall that is spaced apart from the partition wall, the low load position is preferably set between the partition wall and the upper wall.

  According to this, since the sheet member can be held at a position where it does not contact the wall when not driven, plastic deformation of the sheet member can be further suppressed.

  In the above-described configuration, a through hole penetrating in the axial direction is formed at the rotation center of the input member, the rotation member is disposed in the through hole of the input member, and the first biasing member has a spiral spring shape. Preferably, each end is fixed to the input member and the rotating member.

  According to this, since the input member, the rotating member, and the first urging member can be arranged coaxially, the size can be reduced.

  Further, in the above-described configuration, the rotation adjusting means includes a locking member provided in the housing and a locked member that is provided in the rotating member and is prevented from moving in the rotation direction by engaging with the locking member in the rotation direction. A stop member, a first release member provided in the input member, a second release member provided in the rotation member and engaged in the rotation direction with the first release member, and the rotation member in the axial direction toward the locking member A second urging member for urging, and at least one of the first releasing member and the second releasing member is provided with an inclined surface inclined with respect to the rotation direction, and the inclined surface is engaged with the other. When the rotation member moves from the initial position against the urging force of the second urging member, the restriction of the movement of the locked member by the locking member is released, and the first releasing member is released from the second position. When removed from the member, the rotating member is initially moved by the urging force of the second urging member. It may be configured to return to the location.

  In the above-described configuration, it is desirable that an annular groove is formed on one end surface of the rotating member, a member to be locked is provided in the groove, and the locking member enters.

  According to this, since the locked member and the locking member are in the groove, it is possible to reduce the size in the axial direction.

  Further, in the above-described configuration, the rotation adjusting means includes an engagement member provided on the rotation member, and a spring member fixed to the housing and engaged with the engagement member in the rotation direction of the rotation member. The first urging member transmitted to the rotating member may be bent and disengaged from the engaging member when the urging force of the first urging member becomes a predetermined value or more.

  According to this, a rotation adjustment means can be made into a simple structure.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the plastic deformation of the elastically deformable sheet member.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a developing cartridge in detail. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows simply the structure around the one end part of an agitator. It is sectional drawing (a) which shows the structure around the one end part of an agitator simply, the figure (b) which looked at the rotation member from the left-right direction inner side, and the figure (c) which looked at the input gear from the left-right direction inner side. It is a figure (a)-(c) showing the relation between the rotational speed of an input gear, the rotational speed of a rotating member, and the elastic energy of a spiral spring. It is a figure (a)-(c) which shows the state where rotation of a rotation member is controlled. It is a figure (a)-(c) which shows the state where regulation of a rotation member was canceled. It is a figure (a)-(c) which shows a state when a rotation member begins to rotate. It is figure (a), (b) which shows the modification of a rotation adjustment means.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. In the following description, first, the overall configuration of the laser printer (image forming apparatus) will be briefly described, and then the features of the present invention will be described in detail.

  In the following description, the direction will be described with reference to the user when using the laser printer. That is, in FIG. 1, the right side toward the paper surface is “front side”, the left side toward the paper surface is “rear side”, the front side toward the paper surface is “left side”, and the rear side toward the paper surface is “right side”. To do. In addition, the vertical direction toward the page is defined as the “vertical direction”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the laser printer 1 includes a feeder unit 4 for feeding paper 3 and an image forming unit 5 for forming an image on the fed paper 3 in the apparatus main body 2. I have.

  The feeder unit 4 includes a paper feed tray 6 that is detachably attached to the bottom of the apparatus main body 2 and a paper pressing plate 7 provided in the paper feed tray 6. Further, the feeder unit 4 includes a paper feed roller 8 and a paper feed pad 9 provided above the front end side end of the paper feed tray 6, and a paper provided downstream of the paper feed roller 8 in the transport direction of the paper 3. Powder removing rollers 10 and 11 are provided. Furthermore, the feeder unit 4 includes a registration roller 12 provided on the downstream side with respect to the paper dust removing roller 11.

  In the feeder unit 4 configured as described above, the sheet 3 in the sheet feeding tray 6 is brought close to the sheet feeding roller 8 side by the sheet pressing plate 7, and one sheet is fed by the sheet feeding roller 8 and the sheet feeding pad 9. The paper is separated and sent out, passes through various rollers 10 to 12 so as to make a U-turn on the front side of the apparatus main body 2, and is conveyed from the front side to the rear side of the apparatus main body 2 to the image forming unit 5.

  The image forming unit 5 includes a scanner unit 16, a process cartridge 17, and a fixing device 18.

  The scanner unit 16 is provided in the upper part of the apparatus main body 2 and includes a laser light emitting unit (not shown), a polygon mirror 19 that is rotationally driven, lenses 20, 21 and reflecting mirrors 22, 23, 24, and the like. . In the scanner unit 16, the laser beam is irradiated on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 of the process cartridge 17 by high-speed scanning through a path indicated by a chain line in the drawing.

  The process cartridge 17 is disposed below the scanner unit 16 and is detachable from the apparatus main body 2 through an opening (not shown) opened and closed by the front cover 2A. The process cartridge 17 is mainly composed of a developing cartridge 28 and a drum unit 51 as an example of a developer container.

  The developing cartridge 28 includes a developing roller 31, a layer thickness regulating blade 32, a supply roller 33, an agitator 34 as an example of a stirring member, and a casing 35 that accommodates these components. Then, the toner as an example of the developer stored in the housing 35 (specifically, in a toner storage chamber 35A described later) is stirred by the agitator 34 and then supplied to the developing roller 31 by the supply roller 33. At this time, the toner is positively frictionally charged between the supply roller 33 and the developing roller 31. The toner supplied onto the developing roller 31 enters between the layer thickness regulating blade 32 and the developing roller 31 as the developing roller 31 rotates, and is carried on the developing roller 31 as a thin layer having a constant thickness. The

  The drum unit 51 includes a photosensitive drum 27, a scorotron charger 29, and a transfer roller 30. In the drum unit 51, the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 is uniformly positively charged by the scorotron charger 29 and then exposed by high-speed scanning of the laser beam from the scanner unit 16. Thereby, the potential of the exposed part is lowered, and an electrostatic latent image based on the image data is formed.

  Next, the rotation of the developing roller 31 causes the toner carried on the developing roller 31 to be supplied to an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 when it contacts and faces the photosensitive drum 27. The The toner is visualized by being selectively carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27, whereby a toner image is formed by reversal development. Thereafter, the sheet 3 is conveyed between the photosensitive drum 27 and the transfer roller 30, whereby the toner image carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 27 is transferred onto the sheet 3.

  The fixing device 18 includes a heating roller 41 including a halogen heater HH inside, and a pressure roller 42 pressed against the heating roller 41. In the fixing device 18, the heating roller 41 is heated by the halogen heater HH, so that the toner image transferred onto the sheet 3 while the sheet 3 passes between the heating roller 41 and the pressure roller 42. Heat-fixed.

  Thereafter, the sheet 3 is conveyed to the sheet discharge path 44 by the conveying roller 43 and discharged onto the sheet discharge tray 46 by the sheet discharge roller 45.

<Structure around the agitator 34>
Next, the structure around the agitator 34 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 2, the agitator 34 is disposed in a toner storage chamber 35 </ b> A as an example of a developer storage chamber formed in the housing 35.

  Here, the housing 35 extends from the toner storage chamber 35A in which the toner and the agitator 34 are stored, the development chamber 35B in which the development roller 31 and the supply roller 33 are stored, and the toner storage chamber 35A. It has a partition wall 35C that partitions 35A and the developing chamber 35B, and an upper wall 35D that is spaced apart from the partition wall 35C.

  The toner storage chamber 35 </ b> A has an inner surface 35 </ b> E that is non-circular in sectional view with respect to the rotation center of the agitator 34. Here, the cross-sectional non-circular shape refers to a shape that is not a perfect circle shape, and includes, for example, an elliptical shape or a C-shape in which a part of a circle is cut out.

  The agitator 34 includes a base portion 34A that is rotatably supported by the left and right walls 35F of the housing 35, and an elastically deformable sheet member 34B that is supported by the base portion 34A and slidably contacts the inner surface 35E of the toner storage chamber 35A. And have.

  The base portion 34A includes a rotating shaft 34C that is rotatably supported by the wall 35F, and an arm portion 34D that is substantially L-shaped in cross section and extends radially outward from the rotating shaft 34C.

  The sheet member 34B is provided at the distal end portion of the arm portion 34D so as to protrude radially outward from the distal end of the arm portion 34D, and the distal end of the sheet member 34B is slidably contacted with the inner surface 35E of the non-circular toner storage chamber 35A. It is possible. That is, the sheet member 34B is in sliding contact with the inner surface 35E having a non-circular shape in cross section, so that the amount of deformation varies depending on the position of the tip.

  Specifically, for example, when the leading end of the sheet member 34B is located at a position between the partition wall 35C and the upper wall 35D (hereinafter referred to as “low load position”), the sheet member 34B is fully extended and the deformation amount is increased. It is supposed to be zero. In the present embodiment, when the driving force is not transmitted to the agitator 34, the rotation adjusting means 90 described later is configured so that the leading end of the sheet member 34B is always located at the low load position. It is possible to suppress the plastic deformation of the sheet member 34B.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, one end C1 of the rotating shaft 34C of the agitator 34 protrudes outward (left side) in the left-right direction from the wall 35F of the housing 35, and around this one end C1, there is a rotating member. 60, an input gear 70 as an example of an input member, and a spiral spring 80 as an example of a first urging member are mainly provided.

  The rotating member 60 is a columnar member, and is attached so as not to rotate with respect to the one end C1 of the rotating shaft 34C and to be movable in the axial direction. Specifically, a D-shaped engagement hole 61 is formed at the rotation center of the rotary member 60 and engages with one end portion C1 of the rotation shaft 34C formed in the D-shape in cross-section.

  The input gear 70 is a gear that rotates when a driving force from a motor (not shown) is input to a gear tooth formed on the outer peripheral surface of the input gear via a gear mechanism. A through hole 71 is formed so as to penetrate therethrough. And the rotation member 60 mentioned above is arrange | positioned in this through-hole 71 (refer Fig.4 (a)).

  Further, an annular groove 72 (FIG. 4 (FIG. 4 (A))) is inserted into an end face on the inner side (right side) of the input gear 70 in the lateral direction (right side). c)) is formed. Thereby, the input gear 70 is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the housing 35. In FIG. 4 and FIGS. 6 to 8, hatching is performed at appropriate positions in order to make the grooves 72 and the like easily visible.

  The spiral spring 80 is disposed between the input gear 70 and the rotating member 60 when viewed from the axial direction, and the end portions 81 and 82 are fixed to the input gear 70 and the rotating member 60. Thus, the spiral spring 80 is deformed as the input gear 70 rotates, and transmits the urging force due to the deformation to the rotating member 60.

  Specifically, when the input gear 70 rotates relative to the rotating member 60 whose rotation is regulated by a rotation adjusting unit 90 described later, the spiral spring 80 is interposed between the rotating member 60 and the input gear 70. As shown in FIG. 5 (c), the elastic energy of the spiral spring 80 is gradually increased (for example, between times t1 and t2). Thereafter, when the restriction by the rotation adjusting means 90 is released (for example, at time t2), the elastic energy is converted into the kinetic energy of the rotating member 60, and the rotating member 60 is moved to the input gear as shown in FIG. It rotates relative to 70 at a predetermined rotational speed Va.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, the input gear 70 to which the driving force is input is constantly rotating at a predetermined rotational speed Vb, but the rotating member 60 is as shown in FIG. 5B. It is designed to rotate intermittently. Here, the elastic energy stored in the spiral spring 80 until the restriction is released may be energy that can rotate the rotating member 60 at least once.

Next, the rotation adjusting means 90 will be described.
The rotation adjusting means 90 regulates the rotation of the rotating member 60 when the urging force transmitted from the spiral spring 80 to the rotating member 60 is less than a predetermined value, and the urging force transmitted to the rotating member 60 is not less than a predetermined value. 4 and has a function of releasing the regulation, and is provided in the casing 35, the rotating member 60, and the input gear 70 as shown in FIGS.

  Here, the “predetermined value” may be a value equal to or greater than the magnitude of the urging force that can rotate the rotating member 60 once.

  Specifically, the rotation adjusting means 90 includes a locking protrusion 91 as an example of a locking member, a rib 92 as an example of a locked member, a first convex portion 93 as an example of a first release member, A second convex portion 94 as an example of a second release member and a compression coil spring 95 as an example of a second urging member are provided. Here, the positions of the first protrusion 93 and the second protrusion 94 in FIG. 4 are illustrated at positions different from the positions in FIGS. 6 to 8 in consideration of the visibility in FIG.

  The locking protrusion 91 is disposed in the annular support rib 35G in the wall 35F of the housing 35, and is formed so as to protrude outward in the left-right direction (left side) from the wall 35F. Specifically, the locking protrusion 91 is formed at a position where it can enter an annular groove 62 of the rotating member 60 described later.

  The rib 92 is formed so as to protrude inward in the left-right direction from the bottom surface of the annular groove 62 formed in the end surface on the inner side in the left-right direction of the rotating member 60. Specifically, the rib 92 and the locking projection 91 are each formed at a predetermined height so that the locking projection 91 overlaps the locus of the rib 92 when the rotating member 60 rotates.

  As a result, the locking protrusion 91 and the rib 92 are engaged in the rotation direction, and the movement of the rib 92 in the rotation direction (rotation of the rotating member 60) is stopped by the locking protrusion 91. Specifically, the locking protrusions 91 and the ribs 92 are arranged at positions corresponding to the low load position so that the leading ends of the sheet members 34B (see FIG. 2) of the agitator 34 abut each other. Has been.

  The first convex portion 93 is formed so as to protrude radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 71 of the input gear 70, and the second convex portion 94 protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member 60. It is formed as follows. Specifically, the first convex portion 93 and the second convex portion 94 are arranged so that the second convex portion 94 overlaps the locus of the first convex portion 93 when the input gear 70 is rotated. It is comprised so that it may engage.

  And the site | part which contact | abuts with the 1st convex part 93 among the 2nd convex parts 94 becomes the inclined surface 94A (refer FIG. 3 or FIG. 6) inclined with respect to a rotation direction. Specifically, the inclined surface 94A is formed so as to be inclined inward in the left-right direction toward the downstream side in the rotation direction of the input gear 70.

  Thus, when the first convex portion 93 is engaged with the inclined surface 94A of the second convex portion 94 by the rotation of the input gear 70, the second convex portion 94 is pressed outward in the left-right direction by the first convex portion 93. The rotating member 60 moves from the initial position (the innermost position in the left-right direction) to the outer side in the left-right direction against an urging force of a compression coil spring 95 described later. And the rib 92 comes off from the latching protrusion 91 because the rotation member 60 moves to the left-right direction outer side in this way.

  The compression coil spring 95 is disposed between the rotation member 60 and the cover member 36 (a part of the housing 35) in the axial direction, and the rotation member 60 is directed toward the inner side in the left-right direction (on the locking projection 91 side). It is configured to bias in the direction. As a result, the rotating member 60 moved to the outside in the left-right direction from the initial position by the engagement of the first convex portion 93 and the second convex portion 94 is rotated by the urging force of the spiral spring 80, and the first convex portion 93 and the second convex portion 93 are rotated. When the engagement with the convex portion 94 is released, the rotating member 60 is returned to the initial position by the urging force of the compression coil spring 95.

Next, the operation of the rotation adjusting means 90 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C, when a driving force is input to the input gear 70, the input gear 70 rotates with respect to the rotating member 60 whose rotation is restricted by the locking protrusion 91. First, the spiral spring 80 is deformed as the input gear 70 rotates. In FIG. 6 to FIG. 8C, the spiral spring 80 is omitted for convenience.

  When the spiral spring 80 is deformed in this manner, the biasing force from the spiral spring 80 to the rotating member 60 increases, and when this biasing force becomes a predetermined value or more, FIG. (C), the 1st convex part 93 of the input gear 70 engages with the inclined surface 94A of the 2nd convex part 94 of the rotating member 60. As shown in FIG.

  As a result, the rotating member 60 moves outward in the left-right direction, the rib 92 is detached from the locking projection 91, and the rotating member 60 rotates relative to the input gear 70 by the urging force of the spiral spring 80. When the rotating member 60 rotates in this way, as shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C, the second projecting portion 94 of the rotating member 60 comes off from the first projecting portion 93, and the rotating member 60 is rotated by the compression coil spring 95. Is pushed inward in the left-right direction to return to the initial position.

  Thereafter, the rotating member 60 rotates until the rib 92 comes into contact with the locking projection 91 again. When the rib 92 comes into contact with the locking protrusion 91, the urging force of the spiral spring 80 is reduced to be less than a predetermined value, and therefore the rotation of the rotating member 60 is restricted (see FIG. 6).

  After that, when the input gear 70 rotates with respect to the rotation member 60 whose rotation is restricted again, the urging force of the spiral spring 80 increases again, and when the value exceeds a predetermined value, the rotation restriction is released again. As a result, the rotating member 60 rotates. That is, while the input gear 70 is being driven, the rotating member 60 is intermittently rotated, so that the agitator 34 is intermittently rotated to stir the toner.

  When the input of the driving force to the input gear 70 is cut off, the rib 92 abuts against the locking protrusion 91 by the urging force of the spiral spring 80 regardless of the direction of the input gear 70. The rotation member 60 is rotated until the rotation member 60 rotates, and the rotation of the rotation member 60 is stopped in the contacted direction. Thereby, when the input of the driving force to the input gear 70 is cut off, the front end of the sheet member 34B is moved to the low load position by the biasing force of the spiral spring 80 regardless of the position of the front end of the sheet member 34B of the agitator 34. And the plastic deformation of the sheet member 34B can be suppressed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects described above.
By disposing the rotating member 60 and the spiral spring 80 in the through hole 71 of the input gear 70, it is possible to eliminate a useless space between the components, and thus it is possible to reduce the size.

  Since the locking projection 91 and the rib 92 are disposed in the groove 62, the size can be reduced in the axial direction.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can utilize with various forms so that it may illustrate below. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to members having substantially the same structure as in the above embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  The rotation adjusting means is not limited to the structure as in the above-described embodiment, and can have various structures. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the rotation adjusting means 100 includes an engagement convex portion 110 as an example of an engagement member, and a long leaf spring 120 as an example of a spring member. You may comprise.

  Specifically, the engaging protrusion 110 is formed so as to protrude radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member 200. The leaf spring 120 has one end 121 fixed to the cover member 36 and the other end 122 disposed at a position where the other end 122 engages with the engaging protrusion 110 in the rotation direction of the rotating member 200. It can swing between a position on the track and a position off the track.

  The other end 122 of the leaf spring 120 is a bent portion that is bent in a convex shape and protrudes toward the upstream side in the rotation direction of the rotating member 200 (input gear 70). The leaf spring 120 is configured to bend and disengage from the engaging projection 110 when the urging force of the spiral spring 80 transmitted to the rotating member 200 exceeds a predetermined value.

  According to this, the rotation adjustment means 100 can be made a simple configuration. Specifically, since it is not necessary to move the rotating member 200 in the axial direction as compared with the above-described embodiment, the height of the support rib 35G can be reduced to achieve downsizing in the axial direction and compression. Since the coil spring 95 is unnecessary, the number of parts can be reduced. Moreover, since it is not necessary to form the groove | channel 62 like the said embodiment in the rotation member 200, the structure of a rotation member can also be simplified.

  In the embodiment, the position where the sheet member 34B does not contact the housing 35 (the position where the deformation amount becomes zero) is the low load position, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the deformation amount of the sheet member is the maximum. Any position may be used as long as the position is smaller. Even in this case, the plastic deformation of the sheet member can be suppressed as compared with the case where the sheet member stops at the position where the deformation amount becomes maximum. However, since the plastic deformation of the sheet member 34B can be suppressed to the maximum when the position where the sheet member 34B does not contact the housing 35 is set to the low load position as in the embodiment, the plastic deformation of the embodiment can be suppressed. It is desirable to configure as follows.

  In the embodiment, the inclined surface 94A is provided only on the second release member (second convex portion 94), but the present invention is not limited to this, and the inclined surface may be provided only on the first release member. The first release member and the second release member may be provided.

  In the embodiment, the locking protrusion 91 that protrudes outward in the left-right direction from the housing 35 is illustrated as an example of the locking member. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, a recess formed to be recessed in the housing. It may be. In this case, a protrusion protruding from one end surface of the rotating member may be employed as the locked member. Further, the locked member may be a convex portion that protrudes radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member, and the locking member may be formed by a step that engages the convex portion in the rotational direction.

  In the embodiment, the first release member (first convex portion 93) is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the input member (input gear 70), and the second release member (second convex portion 94) is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member 60. Although provided, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the first release member is provided on one end surface (end surface on the agitator side) in the axial direction of the input member, and the second release member is extended radially inward from the one end surface (end surface on the agitator side) of the rotation member, You may comprise so that a cancellation | release member may be engaged in a rotation direction.

  In the embodiment, the spiral spring 80 is illustrated as an example of the first urging member. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a bamboo spring, for example.

  In the embodiment, the compression coil spring 95 is illustrated as an example of the second urging member. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a leaf spring or a wire spring.

  In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the developing cartridge 28, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the developing cartridge includes a developing device having a developing roller and a supply roller, and a toner cartridge that stores toner. When configured, the present invention may be applied to a toner cartridge.

  In the said embodiment, although the rotation member 60 was formed in the column shape, this invention is not limited to this, For example, you may form in a polygonal column shape. Further, the input member is not limited to the input gear 70, and may be a friction wheel, for example.

  In the form of FIG. 9, the engaging member (engaging convex portion 110) is formed so as to protrude radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the rotating member 200, but the present invention is not limited to this, for example, the end surface of the rotating member May be formed so as to protrude in the axial direction, or may be formed as a recess on the outer peripheral surface or end surface of the rotating member.

  In the form of FIG. 9, the leaf spring 120 is illustrated as an example of the spring member, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a wire spring or a torsion spring.

  In the embodiment and the embodiment of FIG. 9, the locking member, the locked member, the first releasing member, the second releasing member, the engaging member, etc. are integrally formed on the rotating member, the input member, the housing, etc. This invention is not limited to this, You may comprise separately.

28 Developing Cartridge 34 Agitator 34A Base 34B Sheet Member 34C Rotating Shaft 34D Arm 35 Housing 60 Rotating Member 70 Input Gear 80 Spiral Spring 90 Rotation Adjustment Means

Claims (6)

A housing for containing the developer;
A developer container comprising: a base that is rotatably supported by the housing; and a stirring member that is supported by the base and elastically deformable sheet member that is slidably contacted with the inner surface of the housing. There,
A rotating member provided at an end of the base and rotating together with the base;
An input member that rotates when a driving force is input from the outside;
A first biasing member that is deformed along with the rotation of the input member and that transmits a biasing force due to the deformation to the rotating member;
Rotation that restricts rotation of the rotating member when the urging force transmitted to the rotating member is less than a predetermined value, and releases the restriction when the urging force transmitted to the rotating member exceeds a predetermined value. Adjusting means,
The rotation adjusting means regulates the rotation of the rotating member so that the leading end of the sheet member is positioned at a low load position where the deformation amount of the sheet member is smaller than the maximum amount. vessel. The housing includes a developer accommodating chamber that accommodates the developer and the stirring member, a developing chamber that accommodates a developing roller, and a developer accommodating chamber and the developing chamber that extend from the bottom of the developer accommodating chamber. And a partition wall that is spaced apart from the partition wall,
The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the low load position is set between the partition wall and the upper wall. A through hole penetrating in the axial direction is formed at the rotation center of the input member,
The rotating member is disposed in the through hole of the input member,
The first urging member is formed in a spiral spring shape and disposed between the input member and the rotating member, and each end is fixed to the input member and the rotating member. The developer container according to claim 1 or 2. The rotation adjusting means is
A locking member provided in the housing;
A locked member that is provided on the rotating member and that stops moving in the rotating direction by engaging the locking member in the rotating direction;
A first release member provided on the input member;
A second release member provided on the rotation member and engaged with the first release member in a rotation direction;
A second biasing member that biases the rotating member in the axial direction toward the locking member;
At least one of the first release member and the second release member is provided with an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the rotation direction, and when the inclined surface is engaged with the other, the rotary member is the second release member. By moving from the initial position against the urging force of the urging member, the restriction of the movement of the locked member by the locking member is released, and the first releasing member is removed from the second releasing member. 4. The developer container according to claim 3, wherein the rotating member is returned to the initial position by the urging force of the second urging member.   An annular groove is formed on one end surface of the rotating member, the locked member is provided in the groove, and the locking member is inserted in the groove. Developer container. The rotation adjusting means is
An engaging member provided on the rotating member;
A spring member fixed to the housing and engaged with the engagement member in a rotation direction of the rotation member;
4. The development according to claim 3, wherein the spring member bends and disengages from the engagement member when an urging force of the first urging member transmitted to the rotating member reaches a predetermined value or more. 5. Agent container.

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