JP2018180464A - Developer container and image forming apparatus provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to secure a predetermined number of printable sheets after detection of LOW toner even when a movable wall is provided and the final position of the movable wall is set at a position on the upstream side of a developer discharge port. To provide a developer storage container and an image forming apparatus having the same. A toner container (30) includes a container body (37), a moving wall (32), a toner discharge port (377), and a toner sensor (TS). The toner container 30 supplies toner to the developing device 20 . The moving wall 32 conveys the toner while moving inside the container body 37 toward the toner discharge port 377 and reaches the final position before the toner discharge port 377 . The container main body 37 has an enlarged upper portion 37</b>P having an enlarged volume above the toner discharge port 377 . [Selection drawing] Fig. 12

Description

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

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

  Patent Document 1 discloses a developer accommodating container provided with a moving wall which moves while conveying the developer toward a developer discharge port.

JP 2007-264073 A

  In the developer container described in Patent Document 1, it is assumed that a toner sensor is disposed around the developer discharge port in order to detect the remaining amount of toner. When it is detected that the amount of toner around the toner sensor is small, the printable number of sheets according to the remaining amount of toner is notified. However, when the final position of the moving wall is set to a position upstream of the developer discharge port, there is a problem that a sufficient number of printable sheets can not be secured because the amount of remaining toner is small.

  The present invention has been made to solve the problems as described above, and is provided with a movable moving wall, and the final reaching position of the moving wall is set to a position upstream of the developer discharge port. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer accommodating container capable of securing a predetermined number of printable sheets after detection of LOW toner, and an image forming apparatus provided with the same.

  The developer container according to an aspect of the present invention is a container main body having an inner peripheral surface which defines an inner space extending in a cylindrical shape along the first direction, and is opened so as to communicate with the inner space. A container body, a developer discharge port for allowing the developer to be discharged is formed in the lower surface portion of the container body, an outer peripheral surface arranged to face the inner peripheral surface of the container body, and And a transport surface that defines a storage space in which the developer is stored together with the inner circumferential surface of the container main body, and the first developer transports the developer in the storage space toward the developer discharge port. A moving wall moving in the first direction in the internal space from an initial position on one end side of the direction to a final position on the other end side, the moving wall being in the first direction than the developer discharge port In the first direction at the final position located upstream The movement is stopped, and in the internal space, the developer remaining amount detection area formed in the accommodation space above the developer discharge port, and in the developer remaining amount detection area A developer residual amount detection area is formed, which is detected by the detection sensor that the developer remaining in the storage space falls below a predetermined threshold according to the amount, and the container main body is formed of the storage space The cross-sectional area of the cross section orthogonal to the first direction of the accommodation space in the portion downstream of the final position of the movable wall in the first direction is the cross-sectional area of the accommodation space that is perpendicular to the first direction The housing space includes an area above at least the developer remaining amount detection area so as to be larger than a cross-sectional area of a cross section orthogonal to the first direction of the housing space at the upstream side portion of the first direction. Partially Having Zhang has been accommodating space extension.

  According to this configuration, when the moving wall reaches the final position, the developer conveyed by the moving wall enters the housing space expansion portion, and the toner is deposited above the developer discharge port. As a result, it is possible to ensure a sufficient number of printable sheets after detection by the detection sensor that the developer remaining in the storage space has become equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value.

  In the above configuration, it is preferable that the accommodation space expanding portion be formed such that the accommodation space is expanded upward.

  According to this configuration, the developer conveyed by the moving wall moves upward and enters the housing space expansion portion, and the toner can be sufficiently accumulated above the developer discharge port.

  In the above configuration, the accommodation space expanding portion may be formed such that the accommodation space is expanded laterally.

  According to this configuration, the developer transported by the moving wall moves laterally while entering the storage space expansion portion, and toner can be sufficiently deposited above the developer discharge port.

  In the above configuration, the housing space expanding portion may be formed such that the housing space is expanded in both sides.

  According to this configuration, the developer conveyed by the moving wall moves to both sides and enters the housing space expansion portion, and the toner can be sufficiently accumulated above the developer discharge port.

  In the above configuration, the developer is disposed in the container main body so as to face the developer remaining amount detection area, and the developer remaining in the storage space according to the amount of developer positioned in the developer remaining amount detection area It is desirable to further include a detection sensor that detects that the predetermined threshold has been reached or less.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to stably detect the developer positioned in the developer remaining amount detection area by the detection sensor provided in the developer storage container.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes the developer container described in any of the above, an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface and carrying a developer image, A developing device that supplies the developer from the developer container and supplies the developer to the image carrier, a transfer unit that transfers the developer image from the image carrier to the sheet, and a developer remaining amount A detection sensor which is disposed to face the detection area, and detects that the developer remaining in the accommodation space has fallen below a predetermined threshold according to the amount of developer located in the developer remaining amount detection area; And.

  According to this configuration, the detection sensor provided in the image forming apparatus can stably detect the developer located in the developer remaining amount detection area. Further, since the detection sensor is not provided in the developer container, the cost of the developer container can be reduced. Further, it is possible to secure a sufficient number of printable sheets after the detection sensor detects that the developer remaining in the storage space is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.

  An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the present invention includes the developer container described above, an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface and carrying a developer image, and the development. The developing device is supplied with the developer from an agent container and supplies the developer to the image carrier, and a transfer unit for transferring the developer image from the image carrier to a sheet.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to secure a sufficient number of printable sheets after the detection sensor detects that the developer remaining in the storage space is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold.

  In the above configuration, the developing device is provided with a housing including a developer conveyance path for conveying the developer in a predetermined conveyance direction, and the housing is opened in the housing below the developer discharge port, and the developer storage container A developer supply port for receiving the developer in the developer conveyance path, a developer conveyance member disposed in the developer conveyance path, for conveying the developer in the conveyance direction, and a developer supply port It is preferable that the apparatus further comprises a conveyance capacity suppressing portion that partially suppresses the conveyance capacity of the developer in the conveyance direction of the developer conveyance member on the downstream side in the conveyance direction.

  According to this configuration, the volume replenishment type developer replenishment type is adopted, and the transport capacity suppressing portion forms the stagnant portion of the developer around the developer replenishment port. Then, with the increase and decrease of the developer in the retention portion, the developer is replenished from the developer container to the housing of the developing device. When the amount of the developer in the developer container decreases, the pressure of the replenishment developer remaining in the storage space of the developer container tends to weaken the pressing force of the developer in the retention portion of the housing from above. In this case, the amount of drop of the replenishment developer is reduced. According to the above configuration, the provision of the housing space expanding portion increases the pressing force with which the replenishment developer presses the developer in the retention portion of the housing from the upper side to the lower side, and the developer in the retention portion decreases. Thus, the replenishment developer stably flows into the housing. As a result, the developer in the developer container is stably supplied to the developing device until the end.

  According to the present invention, even when the movable wall is movable and the final arrival position of the movable wall is set to a position upstream of the developer discharge port, predetermined printing after LOW toner detection is possible. Provided are a developer storage container capable of securing the number of sheets, and an image forming apparatus provided with the same.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a state in which a part of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is opened. FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an internal structure of a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing how a developer is supplied to the developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a developer container and a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a developer container and a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the (A) top view of the developer storage container concerning one embodiment of the present invention, and a front view (B). It is a sectional view of a developer storage container concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view which showed the mode inside the developer storage container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which showed the mode inside the developer storage container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a developer accommodating container and a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a developer accommodating container and a developing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a developer accommodating container and a developing device according to a modified embodiment of the present invention.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  The first stirring screw 23 is disposed in the first conveyance path 221. The first stirring screw 23 includes a first rotation shaft 23a and a first spiral blade 23b protruding in a spiral shape around the circumference of the first rotation shaft 23a. The first stirring screw 23 is rotationally driven around the first rotation shaft 23a (arrow R2) to convey the toner in the direction of arrow D1 in FIG. The first stirring screw 23 conveys the developer such that the toner replenishment port 25 passes a position facing the first conveyance path 221. Thus, the first stirring screw 23 has a function of mixing and conveying the new toner flowing from the toner supply port 25 and the toner carried into the first conveyance path 221 from the second conveyance path 222 side. A first paddle 23 c is disposed downstream of the first stirring screw 23 in the toner conveyance direction (direction D1). The first paddle 23c is rotated together with the first rotation shaft 23a, and delivers toner from the first conveyance path 221 to the second conveyance path 222 in the direction of arrow D4 in FIG.

  The second stirring screw 24 is disposed in the second conveyance path 222. The second stirring screw 24 includes a second rotation shaft 24 a and a second spiral blade 24 b protruding in a spiral shape around the circumference of the second rotation shaft 24 a. The second stirring screw 24 is rotationally driven around the second rotation shaft 24a (arrow R1), thereby supplying the toner to the developing roller 21 while conveying the toner in the direction of the arrow D2 in FIG. A second paddle 24 c is disposed downstream of the second stirring screw 24 in the toner conveying direction (direction D 2). The second paddle 24c is rotated together with the second rotation shaft 24a, and delivers the toner from the second conveyance path 222 to the first conveyance path 221 in the direction of arrow D3 in FIG.

  The toner container 30 (FIG. 3) is disposed above the toner supply port 25 of the developing housing 210. The toner container 30 is provided with a toner discharge port 377 (FIG. 4). The toner discharge port 377 is disposed in the bottom portion 371 (FIG. 8B) of the toner container 30 corresponding to the toner supply port 25 of the developing device 20. The toner dropped from the toner discharge port 377 is supplied to the developing device 20 from the toner supply port 25.

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

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

  The first stirring screw 23 is provided with a suppression paddle 28 (conveyance capacity suppressing portion) in which the conveyance performance of the developer is partially suppressed on the downstream side of the toner supply port 25 with respect to the toner conveyance direction. In the present embodiment, the suppression paddle 28 is a plate-like member disposed between the adjacent first spiral blades 23 b of the first stirring screw 23. As the suppression paddle 28 rotates around the first rotation shaft 23a, the toner conveyed from the upstream side of the suppression paddle 28 starts to stagnate. Then, the stagnation of the toner accumulates to a position immediately upstream of the suppression paddle 28 and at a position where the toner supply port 25 faces the first conveyance path 221. As a result, in the vicinity of the inlet of the toner supply port 25, a retention portion 29 (developer retention portion) of the developer is formed. The first spiral blade 23b is disposed in the area where the toner supply port 25 faces (FIG. 4). In another embodiment, the conveyance capacity suppressing portion is a region where the first spiral blade 23b of the first stirring screw 23 is partially missing and the first rotation shaft 23a is partially exposed along the axial direction. You may form (refer suppression part 28A of FIG. 12). In such a configuration as well, the conveyance capacity of the first stirring screw 23 is partially suppressed, so that the stagnation portion of the developer is formed.

  When the replenishing toner T2 is replenished from the toner replenishing port 25 and the amount of toner in the storage space 220 increases, the toner staying in the retaining portion 29 blocks (seals) the toner replenishing port 25 and further replenishes the toner. Suppress. Further, the first spiral blade 23 b pushes the developer in the storage space 220 around the toner supply port 25 upward by being rotated. As a result, the sealing effect of the toner supply port 25 by the retention portion 29 is increased. Thereafter, when the toner in the storage space 220 is consumed from the developing roller 21 and the toner stagnating in the retention portion 29 decreases, the toner blocking the toner supply port 25 decreases, and the space between the retention portion 29 and the toner replenishment port 25 decreases. There is a gap. As a result, the replenishment toner T2 again flows into the storage space 220 from the toner replenishment port 25. As described above, in the present embodiment, the volume replenishment type toner replenishment type is adopted in which the amount of replenishment toner is adjusted in accordance with the decrease of the toner retained in the retention portion 29. Therefore, even if the developing housing 210 of the developing device 20 does not have a sensor for detecting the amount of toner, the developing device 20 can be replenished with toner.

<Mounting of Toner Container to Developing Device>
6 and 7 are perspective views of the toner container 30 and the developing device 20 according to the present embodiment. The toner container 30 is attachable to and detachable from the developing device 20 in the housing 101. Referring to FIG. 2, when the opening and closing cover 100C of the housing 101 is opened upward, the container housing portion 109 provided in the developing housing 210 of the developing device 20 is exposed to the outside of the housing 101. 6 and 7, developing housing 210 includes a pair of housing left wall 210L and housing right wall 210R. The container housing portion 109 is formed between the housing left wall 210L and the housing right wall 210R. In the present embodiment, the toner container 30 is mounted from substantially above the container storage portion 109 (see the arrow DC in FIGS. 6 and 7). At this time, a cover 39 described later of the toner container 30 is disposed on the housing right wall 210R side, and a lid 31 described later of the toner container 30 is disposed on the housing left wall 210L side. The developing housing 210 includes a pair of guide grooves 109A (FIG. 7). The guide groove 109A is a groove portion formed in the housing left wall 210L and the housing right wall 210R.

  Further, referring to FIG. 7, the developing device 20 includes a first transmission gear 211, a second transmission gear 212, and a third transmission gear 213. In addition, the printer 100 includes a first motor M <b> 1 provided in the housing 101, a second motor M <b> 2, and a control unit 50. The first transmission gear 211, the second transmission gear 212, and the third transmission gear 213 are gears rotatably supported by the housing right wall 210R. The first transmission gear 211 is connected to the second transmission gear 212. The first transmission gear 211 is connected to the developing roller 21, the first stirring screw 23, and the second stirring screw 24 via a gear group (not shown). When the developing device 20 is attached to the housing 101, the first motor M1 is connected to the third transmission gear 213, and the second motor M2 is connected to the first transmission gear 211.

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

<Structure of Toner Container>
Next, referring to FIGS. 8 to 14, the toner container 30 (developer storage container) according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8A is a plan view of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a front view thereof. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container 30. As shown in FIG. 10 and 11 are perspective views showing the inside of the toner container 30 according to the present embodiment. 10 and 11 are perspective views in which a container main body 37, described later, of the toner container 30 is partially removed. 12 and 13 are schematic cross-sectional views of the toner container 30 and the developing device 20 according to the present embodiment.

  The toner container 30 has a tubular shape extending in the left-right direction (first direction, the direction of the arrow DA in FIG. 9). The toner container 30 accommodates the replenishment toner (developer) inside. The toner container 30 includes a lid 31, a movable wall 32, a shaft 33, an agitating member 35, a container body 37 (container body), a toner sensor TS (FIG. 8B), and a first gear 381 (FIG. 9), a second gear 382, and a cover 39.

  The lid 31 (FIGS. 9 and 10) is fixed to the container body 37 and seals the opening of the container body 37. The lid 31 includes a lid shaft hole 31J and a first guide 312 (FIGS. 9 and 11). The lid shaft hole 31J is provided at the center of the lid 31, and rotatably supports the shaft 33. The first guide portion 312 is a protrusion formed on the left side surface (outer surface portion) of the lid portion 31 so as to extend in the vertical direction. The first guide portion 312 has a function of guiding the toner container 30 to be attached to the developing device 20.

  The container main body 37 is a main body portion of the cylindrical toner container 30. The container body 37 includes an inner circumferential surface 37K and an inner space 37H (FIGS. 9 and 10). The inner peripheral surface 37K is an inner peripheral surface of the container main body 37, and extends in a tubular shape along the longitudinal direction of the toner container 30 (first direction, the direction of the arrow DA in FIGS. 9 and 10).

  Further, referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, the container body 37 has a bottom 371, a top 372, a front wall 373, a rear wall 374, a right wall 375 (FIG. 9), and a protrusion. And a wall 376 (FIG. 9). The bottom portion 371 is a bottom portion of the container body 37 and has a semicylindrical shape that protrudes downward. The front wall 373 and the rear wall 374 are a pair of side walls erected upward from the side end of the bottom 371. The top plate 372 is disposed above the bottom 371 and covers the top of the internal space 37H. The right wall 375 is a wall that is provided continuously with the bottom 371, the front wall 373, the rear wall 374, and one end side (right end side) of the top plate 372 in the first direction and closes the container body 37. The inner space 37H is a space defined by the inner wall 37K formed by the bottom 371, the top 372, the front wall 373, and the rear wall 374 and the right wall 375 and the cover 31. Further, in the internal space 37H, a region between the right wall 375 and the movable wall 32 is taken as a housing space 37S. The accommodation space 37S is a space in which toner is accommodated inside the toner container 30.

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

  Referring to FIG. 9, the protruding wall 376 is a portion where the outer peripheral surface of the container body 37 protrudes to the right relative to the right wall 375. A cover 39 is attached to the projecting wall 376.

  In addition, the container main body 37 includes the toner discharge port 377 (developer discharge port) described above, the shutter 30S (FIG. 6, FIG. 8A), and the main body bearing portion 37J (FIG. 9). The toner discharge port 377 is an opening that communicates with the inner circumferential surface 37 K and is opened in the lower surface portion of the container main body 37. As shown in FIG. 9, the toner discharge port 377 is opened at the lower surface of the right end (one end in the first direction) of the container body 37 so as to communicate with the internal space 37H. In other words, the toner discharge port 377 is disposed adjacent to the right wall 375 in the first direction. Further, the toner discharge port 377 is opened in a rectangular shape with a predetermined length along the first direction and a predetermined width along the arc shape of the bottom portion 371. In the present embodiment, the toner discharge port 377 is opened rearward and upward along the circumferential direction of the lower end portion of the bottom portion 371. The toner discharge port 377 allows the toner to be discharged toward the developing device 20 from the storage space 37S.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the inner space 37H of the container body 37 is formed by the bottom 371, the front wall 373, the rear wall 374 and the top plate 372. For this reason, the toner in the storage space 37S gathers in the arc-shaped bottom portion 371 by its own weight, so that the toner conveyed by the moving wall 32 described later can be efficiently discharged from the toner discharge port 377.

  The shutter 30S (FIG. 6) is arranged slidably at the right end of the container body 37. The shutter 30S closes (seals) the toner discharge port 377 from the outside of the container main body 37 and exposes the toner discharge port 377 to the outside. The sliding movement of the shutter 30S is interlocked with the mounting operation of the toner container 30 to the developing device 20.

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

  The moving wall 32 is a wall portion disposed facing the first direction in the inside (the internal space 37H) of the container main body 37. The moving wall 32 defines one end surface (left end surface) of the accommodation space 37S in the first direction. The other end face (right end face) of the accommodation space 37S in the first direction is defined by the right wall 375. In addition, from the initial position on one end side in the first direction, the moving wall 32 conveys the toner in the storage space 37S toward the toner discharge port 377 from the start of use of the toner container 30 to the end of use. It has a function of moving in the inner space 37H in the first direction to the final position on the end side. In the present embodiment, the initial position of the movable wall 32 is disposed on the right side (downstream side in the first direction) of the lid 31 and the final position is disposed on the immediate left side (upstream side in the first direction) There is.

  9 to 11, the moving wall 32 includes a conveying wall 320, an outer peripheral wall 321, a cylindrical portion 320C, an inner wall seal 322, a shaft seal 323, and a bearing 32J (FIG. 9). , And the outer peripheral surface 32K. The outer peripheral surface 32 </ b> K is disposed to face the inner peripheral surface 37 </ b> K of the container main body 37.

  The transfer wall portion 320 is a wall portion that defines the housing space 37S together with the inner circumferential surface 37K of the container body 37. In particular, the transport wall 320 comprises a transport surface 320S perpendicular to the shaft 33. The transport surface 320 </ b> S transports the toner in the storage space 37 </ b> S while pressing the toner as the moving wall 32 moves. The conveying surface 320S, together with the inner circumferential surface 37K of the container body 37, defines a storage space 37S in which the toner is stored.

  The bearing portion 32J is a bearing portion formed substantially at the center of the transport wall 320. The bearing portion 32J moves in the first direction while holding the moving wall 32. The shaft 33 described later is inserted into the bearing portion 32J.

  The cylindrical portion 320C is a cylindrical portion that protrudes from the surface of the transport wall 320 opposite to the transport surface 320S toward the upstream side in the first direction. The cylindrical portion 320C forms a part of the bearing portion 32J. The cylindrical portion 320C includes a female spiral portion 320D. The female helical portion 320D is a helical thread formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 320C. The female spiral portion 320D has a function of moving the moving wall 32 along the first direction by engaging with a male spiral portion 333 described later of the shaft 33.

  The outer peripheral wall portion 321 is a wall portion protruding from the entire outer peripheral edge of the transport wall portion 320 on the opposite side to the accommodation space 37S, that is, the upstream side in the moving direction of the movable wall 32 (first upstream side) It is. The outer peripheral wall portion 321 is disposed to face the inner peripheral surface 37 </ b> K of the container main body 37.

  The inner wall seal 322 is a seal member disposed to cover the periphery of the conveyance wall 320 on the conveyance wall 320 side of the outer peripheral wall 321. The inner wall seal 322 is an elastic member made of urethane sponge. The inner wall seal 322 is compressed and deformed between the inner peripheral surface 37 K of the container body 37 and the moving wall 32. The inner wall seal 322 prevents the toner in the storage space 37S from flowing out between the inner circumferential surface 37K of the container body 37 and the moving wall 32 to the upstream side in the moving direction relative to the moving wall 32.

  The shaft seal 323 is fixed to the moving direction distal end side of the moving wall 32 in the bearing portion 32J more than the female spiral portion 320D (FIG. 9). The shaft seal 323 is an elastic member made of urethane sponge. The shaft seal 323 contacts the male spiral portion 333 earlier than the female spiral portion 320D, and cleans the toner attached to the male spiral portion 333. Further, since the shaft seal 323 has a ring shape, the shaft seal 323 is in close contact with the shaft 33 over the entire circumferential direction of the shaft 33. Therefore, the toner in the storage space 37S is prevented from flowing out to the upstream side in the moving direction beyond the moving wall 32 through the bearing portion 32J.

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

  Referring to FIG. 9, the first shaft end portion 331 is a tip end portion of the shaft 33 which protrudes to the right through the main body bearing portion 37J. A pair of D surfaces is formed on the circumferential surface of the first shaft end portion 331. A second gear 382 having a D-hole shape at its center is engaged with the first shaft end 331. As a result, the shaft 33 and the second gear 382 can be integrally rotated. The second shaft end 332 is the left end of the shaft 33. The second shaft end 332 is pivotally supported by a lid shaft hole 31 J formed in the lid 31.

  The male spiral portion 333 is a helical thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 33 in the inner space 37H. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the male spiral portion 333 is a region on the upstream side of the toner discharge port 377 in the first direction (arrow DA in FIG. 10) from the region adjacent to the lid 31 in the shaft 33. Are arranged up.

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

  The stirring member 35 (FIG. 9) is disposed along the right wall 375 above the toner discharge port 377. The agitating member 35 agitates the toner in the accommodation space 37S and sends the toner from the toner discharge port 377. In the present embodiment, the stirring member 35 rotates around the shaft 33 and relative to the shaft 33. In FIG. 10, the stirring member 35 is rotated in the arrow DB direction.

  The first gear 381 transmits rotational driving force to the stirring member 35. The first gear 381 is connected to the second motor M2 via the first transmission gear 211 and the second transmission gear 212 of the developing device 20 (FIG. 7). In the present embodiment, the first gear 381 is rotationally driven in synchronization with the developing roller 21, the first stirring screw 23 and the second stirring screw 24 of the developing device 20. The first gear 381 is connected to the stirring member 35 penetrating the main body bearing 37J. As a result, the first gear 381 and the stirring member 35 rotate integrally.

  The second gear 382 transmits a rotational drive force to the shaft 33. The second gear 382 is connected to the first motor M1 via the third transmission gear 213 (FIG. 7). As shown in FIG. 9, the right end portion of the shaft 33 is disposed to penetrate the stirring member 35. The second gear 382 is coupled (fixed) to the tip end portion (first shaft end portion 331) of the shaft 33.

  The cover 39 is attached to the projecting wall 376 of the container body 37. The cover 39 exposes a part of the first gear 381 and the second gear 382 in the circumferential direction to the outside, and has a function of covering the other parts of the first gear 381 and the second gear 382 in the circumferential direction. . Referring to FIG. 9, the cover 39 includes a second guide 391 and a gear opening 39 </ b> K.

  The second guide portion 391 is a protruding portion provided on the right side of the cover 39 so as to protrude on the right side in the vertical direction. The second guide 391 has a function of guiding the toner container 30 to be mounted on the developing device 20 together with the first guide 312 of the lid 31.

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

  The toner sensor TS (FIG. 8B) is a sensor fixed to the container body 37. The toner sensor TS is disposed adjacent to the toner discharge port 377 in the circumferential direction. The toner sensor TS is a sensor comprising a magnetic permeability sensor (magnetic sensor) or a piezoelectric element. When the toner sensor TS is formed of a piezoelectric element, the sensor portion of the toner sensor TS is exposed to the housing space 37S. The toner sensor TS outputs a HIGH signal (+5 V) by being pressed by the toner in the storage space 37S. Further, when there is almost no toner above the toner sensor TS, the toner sensor TS outputs a LOW signal (0 V). The output signal of the toner sensor TS is referred to by the control unit 50 (FIG. 7). When the toner sensor TS is a magnetic permeability sensor, the sensor does not have to be in direct contact with the toner. Therefore, the toner sensor TS may be fixed to the outer wall of the container body 37. In another embodiment, the toner sensor TS may be disposed on the developing housing 210 side (apparatus main body side) of the developing device 20 so as to face the outer wall of the container main body 37. Furthermore, the arrangement of the toner sensor TS is not limited to the back wall 374. In another embodiment, the toner sensor may be disposed on the top plate 372, the front wall 373 and the bottom 371 of the container body 37.

<About the movement of the moving wall>
While the first guide portion 312 of the lid portion 31 and the second guide portion 391 of the cover 39 are guided by the pair of guide grooves 109A of the developing device 20, the toner container 30 is mounted on the container storage portion 109 by the user (see FIG. 6, Figure 7). When the toner container 30 is mounted in the container housing portion 109, the shutter 30S is moved, and the toner discharge port 377 is opened. As a result, the toner discharge port 377 is disposed to face the upper side of the toner supply port 25 (FIGS. 4 and 5).

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the moving wall 32 in the middle of moving from the initial position in the first direction. Further, the initial position of the moving wall 32 is set to the position along the lid 31, that is, to the left of the position of the moving wall 32 shown in FIG.

  When a new toner container 30 is attached to the printer 100, the control unit 50 (FIG. 7) drives the first motor M1 and the shaft 33 via the second gear 382 engaged with the third transmission gear 213. Drive to rotate. As a result, due to the engagement between the male spiral portion 333 of the shaft 33 and the female spiral portion 320D of the movable wall 32, the movable wall 32 moves in the first direction (arrow DA in FIG. 9) toward the toner discharge port 377. Eventually, when the moving wall 32 moves to the right from the initial position by a predetermined distance, the housing space 37S is filled with toner, and the toner sensor TS outputs a HIGH signal according to the full state. The control unit 50 stops the moving wall 32 in response to the HIGH signal output from the toner sensor TS.

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

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

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

  In the present embodiment, the moving wall 32 stops at a final position slightly upstream of the toner discharge port 377 in the first direction. Specifically, when the bearing portion 32J of the moving wall 32 reaches the moving wall stopping portion 334 as the moving wall 32 moves, the engagement between the male spiral portion 333 and the female spiral portion 320D is released. As a result, the transfer of the moving force from the shaft 33 to the moving wall 32 is lost, and the moving wall 32 stops at the final position.

  FIG. 12 shows that the moving wall 32 is moved to the moving positions 32Q2 and 32Q3 in order after being arranged at the initial position 32Q1. Further, FIG. 13 shows that the moving wall has reached the final position 32Q4 via the moving position 32Q3.

Referring to FIG. 12, a developer remaining amount detection area TSR is formed in the accommodation space 37S above the toner discharge port 377 in the internal space 37H (FIG. 9) of the container main body 37.
The developer remaining amount detection area TSR is an area in the accommodation space 37S to which the above-described toner sensor TS (detection sensor) faces. Then, it is detected by the toner sensor TS that the toner remaining in the storage space 37S becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold according to the amount of toner positioned in the developer remaining amount detection area TSR. Specifically, the toner sensor TS detects whether toner is present in the developer remaining amount detection area TSR at a predetermined time interval (for example, 100 msec). Then, when there is no toner in the developer remaining amount detection area TSR, a LOW signal (0 V) is output to the control unit 50. When the control unit 50 receives the LOW signal continuously a predetermined number of times (for example, five times), the fact that the toner remaining amount in the toner container 30 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold (LOW toner, near empty) is not It notifies to the display part of illustration.

  In FIG. 12, even when the toner in the developer remaining amount detection area TSR disappears, a small amount of toner remains in the toner container 30 below the developer remaining amount detection area TSR. For this reason, the control unit 50 permits the printing operation only for the predetermined number of printable sheets corresponding to the remaining toner. Then, when the number of prints reaches the printable number, the printing operation in the printer 100 is prohibited (toner end). The prohibition of the printing operation is released when the toner container 30 is replaced.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, the container body 37 is provided with the upper enlarged portion 37P. The upper enlarged portion 37P is an area in which the accommodation space 37S is partially expanded, including at least an area above the developer remaining amount detection area TSR. The cross-sectional area of the cross section orthogonal to the first direction of the accommodation space 37S at the portion on the downstream side of the final position (32Q4) of the movable wall 32 in the accommodation space 37S by the upper enlarged portion 37P is the accommodation space 37S. The cross-sectional area of the section orthogonal to the first direction of the accommodation space 37S in the portion on the upstream side of the final position of the moving wall 32 in the first direction is larger than the cross-sectional area of the section. In particular, in the present embodiment, the upper enlarged portion 37P is formed such that the accommodation space 37S is expanded upward above the toner discharge port 377.

  According to such a configuration, when the moving wall 32 reaches the final position 32Q4, the toner conveyed by the moving wall 32 enters the upper enlarged portion 37P, and the toner is sufficiently accumulated above the toner discharge port 377. (Fig. 13). As a result, the printable number of sheets after the LOW toner state can be sufficiently secured. In other words, in the toner container 30 of FIG. 12, the position of the toner sensor TS (the developer remaining amount detection area TSR) may be set upward in the toner container 30 of FIG. 12 as compared with other structures in which the upper enlarged portion 37P is not provided. it can. When the toner sensor TS is disposed at a high position in a structure in which the upper enlarged portion 37P is not provided, the toner sensor TS often detects no toner even when the moving wall 32 is positioned at the positions 32Q2 and 32Q3. False detection of LOW toner is likely to occur frequently. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the toner in the storage space 37S can enter the upper enlarged portion 37P, such erroneous detection as described above is suppressed.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the volume replenishment type toner replenishment technique is adopted. That is, with the increase and decrease of the toner in the retention portion 29 (FIG. 5) of the developing device 20, the toner is replenished from the toner container 30 to the developing housing 210 of the developing device 20. When the moving wall 32 is disposed at the initial position 32Q1 or the moving position 32Q2 in a structure in which the upper enlarged portion 37P is not provided in the container main body 37, sufficient toner is contained in the containing space 37S. As the wall 32 moves, the space above the toner outlet 377 is filled with toner. However, when the moving wall 32 is disposed at the moving position 32Q3 or the final position 32Q4, the amount of toner accommodated above the toner discharge port 377 is smaller than that when the moving wall 32 is disposed at the initial position. Prone. In this case, the pressure of the replenishment toner remaining in the storage space 37S of the toner container 30 tends to weaken the pressing force of the toner in the retention portion 29 of the developing housing 210 from the upper side to the lower side. As a result, the amount of dropped replenishment toner decreases.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the upper enlarged portion 37P is formed, a large amount of self weight of toner is applied to the toner discharge port 377 and the toner supply port 25 therebelow. That is, the height of the toner deposited above the toner discharge port 377 is secured by the upper enlarged portion 37P. Therefore, even when the moving wall 32 approaches the final position 32Q4, a pressing force for the toner to press the toner of the retaining portion 29 of the developing housing 210 downward is secured, and the replenishment toner is reduced according to the decrease of the toner of the retaining portion 29. Stably flow into the developing housing 210 side. As a result, the toner in the toner container 30 is stably supplied to the developing device 20 until the end. At this time, the control unit 50 can perform more stable toner replenishment to the developing device 20 by adjusting the number of rotations of the stirring member 35.

Note that, as another example, in another toner container not provided with the upper enlarged portion 37P,
When the remaining amount of toner in the toner container was 15 g and the toner consumption amount in the printing operation was 30 mg / sheet, the amount of toner attached to the inner wall of the toner container and the agitating member was 6 g. In this case, since the amount of toner that can be used for printing is 9 g, it is necessary to notify a toner container replacement message with 300 sheets of printable sheets.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the LOW toner is detected, the toner remaining amount in the toner container 30 is 30 g, and the toner amount adhering to the inner wall of the toner container 30 and the stirring member 35 is 6 g. In this case, since the amount of toner that can be used for printing is 24 g, a message of replacement of the toner container 30 is notified when the number of printable sheets is 800. In order to increase the amount of toner remaining in the toner container 30 when LOW toner is detected, the protruding height of the upper enlarged portion 37P may be increased.

  The printer 100 including the toner container 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention has been described above. On the other hand, the present invention is not limited to this, and, for example, the following modified embodiments can be adopted.

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

  (2) In the above embodiment, the moving wall 32 is described as moving from the lid 31 side to the right wall 375 side, but the present invention is not limited to this. The toner discharge port 377 may be opened to the lid 31 side, and the moving wall 32 may be moved from the right wall 375 side to the lid 31 side. Furthermore, the opening position of the toner discharge port 377 is not limited to the above position. The toner outlet 377 may be opened at the lowermost end of the bottom 371 or may be opened at another position.

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

  (4) Further, the moving amount of the moving wall 32 in response to detection of the LOW signal of the toner sensor TS may be constant from the initial position to the final position, and the moving amount described above closer to the final position The (moving speed) may be increased. In this case, the amount of movement of the movable wall 32 is increased according to the decrease in the amount of remaining toner, so the pressure on the toner supply port 25 tends to be kept constant. In addition, when the moving wall 32 stops, it is possible to hold more toner in the upper enlarged portion 37P.

  (5) Further, in the above embodiment, although the upper enlarged portion 37P has been described as the accommodation space expansion portion according to the present invention, the present invention is not limited to this. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a toner container 30A and a developing device according to a modified embodiment of the present invention. The toner container 30A includes a side enlargement 37Q instead of the upper enlargement 37P of the toner container 30 of the previous embodiment. The side enlarged portion 37Q is formed above the toner discharge port 377 so that the accommodation space 37S expands toward the front and rear sides. In this case, it is desirable that the space above at least the developer remaining amount detection area TSR is expanded in the front and back direction. Even in such a configuration, when the moving wall 32 reaches the final position 32Q4 (FIG. 13), the toner is deposited such that the toner conveyed by the moving wall 32 enters the side enlarged portion 37Q. As a result, the printable number of sheets after the LOW toner state can be sufficiently secured. The side enlargements 37Q are not limited to those provided on both sides. The side enlargements 37Q may be provided on one side. In addition, the container main body 37 may be provided with the upper enlarged portion 37P and the side expanded portion 37Q.

100 Printer (image forming device)
121 Photosensitive drum (image carrier)
126 Transfer roller (transfer part)
20 Developing Device 21 Developing Roller 210 Developing Housing (Housing)
23 1st stirring screw (developer transport member)
25 Toner supply port (developer supply port)
28 Suppression Paddle (Conveyance Capacity Control Unit)
30 Toner Container (Developer Storage Container)
32 moving wall 320 S transport surface 33 shaft 37 container body (container body)
377 Toner outlet (developer outlet)
37H internal space 37K inner circumferential surface 37P upper enlargement (accommodation space expansion)
37Q Lateral Expansion (Accommodation Space Expansion)
37S accommodation space 50 control unit TS toner sensor (detection sensor)

Claims (8)

A container body having an inner circumferential surface defining an inner space extending in a cylindrical shape along a first direction, wherein the developer discharge port is opened to communicate with the inner space and allows the developer to be discharged. A container body formed on the lower surface of the container body,
The housing space includes an outer peripheral surface disposed to face the inner peripheral surface of the container body, and a transport surface that defines a housing space for housing the developer together with the inner peripheral surface of the container body, A moving wall moving in the first direction in the internal space from an initial position on one end side of the first direction to a final position on the other side while conveying the developer toward the developer discharge port; ,
Equipped with
The moving wall stops movement in the first direction at the final position located upstream of the developer discharge port in the first direction,
The internal space is a developer remaining amount detection area formed in the storage space above the developer discharge port, and the above-mentioned is selected according to the amount of developer located in the developer remaining amount detection area. A developer residual amount detection area is formed, which is detected by the detection sensor that the developer remaining in the accommodation space has become equal to or less than a predetermined threshold value,
In the container body, the cross-sectional area of the cross section orthogonal to the first direction of the storage space in the portion downstream of the final position of the movable wall in the first direction of the storage space is the cross section of the storage space At least the developer remaining amount detection area so as to be larger than the cross-sectional area of the cross section orthogonal to the first direction of the accommodation space at the portion on the upstream side of the final position of the moving wall in the first direction. A developer accommodating container comprising an upper area and an accommodating space expanding portion in which the accommodating space is partially expanded.   The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the storage space expansion portion is formed such that the storage space is expanded upward.   The developer accommodating container according to claim 1, wherein the accommodation space expanding portion is formed such that the accommodation space is expanded laterally.   The developer storage container according to claim 3, wherein the storage space expansion portion is formed such that the storage space is expanded to both sides.   The developer remaining in the storage space is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold according to the amount of developer positioned in the container main body so as to face the developer remaining amount detecting region and located in the developer remaining amount detecting region. The developer accommodating container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a detection sensor which detects that it has become. A developer storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
An image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface and which carries a developer image;
A developing device which supplies the developer from the developer container and supplies the developer to the image carrier;
A transfer unit for transferring the developer image from the image carrier to a sheet;
It is arranged to face the developer remaining amount detection area, and the developer remaining in the storage space becomes equal to or less than a predetermined threshold according to the amount of developer located in the developer remaining amount detection area. Detection sensor to detect,
An image forming apparatus comprising: A developer storage container according to claim 5;
An image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface and which carries a developer image;
A developing device which supplies the developer from the developer container and supplies the developer to the image carrier;
A transfer unit for transferring the developer image from the image carrier to a sheet;
An image forming apparatus comprising: The developing device is
A housing provided with a developer conveyance path in which the developer is conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction;
A developer supply port which is open to the housing below the developer discharge port and receives the developer from the developer storage container to the developer transport path;
A developer transport member disposed in the developer transport path for transporting the developer in the transport direction;
A conveyance ability suppressing portion that partially suppresses the conveyance ability of the developer in the conveyance direction of the developer conveyance member downstream of the developer supply port in the conveyance direction;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising:

Images