JP6855019B2 - Powder storage container, process cartridge, and image forming device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a powder storage container that is detachably installed on an image forming apparatus main body or a process cartridge, a process cartridge provided with the powder storage container, and an image forming apparatus.

Conventionally, in image forming devices such as copiers, printers, and facsimiles, a powder storage container (developer storage container) in which powder such as waste toner is collected and stored is used as an image forming device main body (or process cartridge). It is known that the container is detachably installed with respect to the above (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Specifically, the untransferred toner collected by the cleaning device installed in the main body of the image forming apparatus is transferred as waste toner from the collection port into the powder storage container after being conveyed by the waste toner transport unit (convey pipe). Will be done. Then, when the waste toner collected inside is full, the powder storage container is taken out from the image forming apparatus main body and replaced with a new one (or one that has undergone maintenance).

In a conventional powder storage container, a driven unit (drive input unit) for driving a transport screw or the like for transporting the collected powder (waste toner) is provided inside the container, and the driving force thereof is used. When a drive gear (drive output unit) for transmitting drive is to be provided to a waste toner transport unit installed in the image forming apparatus main body, the driven unit (drive input unit) and the drive gear (drive output unit) are provided. ) Is difficult to arrange on one end side in the width direction of the powder storage container, so one of the driven portion and the drive gear is arranged on one end side in the width direction and the other end in the width direction. It was placed on the side.
However, if one of the driven portion and the drive gear is arranged on one end side in the width direction and the other is arranged on the other end side in the width direction in this way, the powder storage container becomes large in the width direction. It will be.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the powder storage container does not become so large, and the driven portion serving as the drive input portion and the drive gear serving as the drive output portion are provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide a powder storage container, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus, which can be provided with the above.

The powder storage container in the present invention is a powder storage container that is detachably installed on an image forming apparatus main body or a detachable member that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body, and receives and collects powder from the outside. A collection port for this purpose, a driven portion installed on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the powder storage container and to which drive is transmitted from the outside, and a first rotating shaft that is rotated by the drive transmitted to the driven portion. , is installed in the other longitudinal end side of the powder storage container, a first gear that rotates together with the first rotary shaft, is installed in the other longitudinal end side of the powder container, said first gear a second gear drive is transmitted from the second rotating shaft that rotates together with the second gear, is disposed between the longitudinal center portion of said second gear the powder container, said first It is provided with a drive gear that rotates together with a two-rotation shaft to transmit drive to the outside.

According to the present invention, the powder storage container and the process cartridge can be provided with a driven unit serving as a drive input unit and a drive gear serving as a drive output unit without increasing the size of the powder storage container so much. , And an image forming apparatus can be provided.

It is an overall block diagram which shows the image forming apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the process cartridge and the toner container. (A) A perspective view showing the image forming apparatus, and (B) a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus in a state where the opening / closing cover is opened. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the toner container is attached to the process cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the state which separated the toner container from a process cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the toner container is attached to the process cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the toner container from below. It is a perspective view which shows the vicinity of the collection port of the toner container with the gear train removed. It is a figure which shows the inside of the toner container. It is a figure which shows the toner recovery part in a toner container. It is the schematic which shows the transport path of waste toner in a process cartridge and a toner container. It is a perspective view which shows the inside of the waste toner collection part in the toner container in the state of being mounted on a process cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the inside of the waste toner collection part and the inside of the waste toner transfer part in the toner container in the state of being mounted on a process cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the main constituent member in the waste toner collection part of a toner container. It is an enlarged perspective view which shows the main part in the waste toner collection part of a toner container. (A) is a perspective view showing a state in which the drive gear is separated from the second rotary shaft, and (B) is a perspective view of the drive gear as viewed from the side of the second rotary shaft.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the duplicated description thereof will be appropriately simplified or omitted.

First, FIG. 1 describes the overall configuration and operation of the image forming apparatus 100.
In FIG. 1, 100 is a printer as an image forming apparatus, 1 is a photoconductor drum on which a toner image is formed on the surface, and 7 is an exposure light L based on image information input from an input device such as a personal computer. 1 Indicates an exposed portion (writing portion) to be irradiated on the top.
Further, 9 is a transfer roller that transfers the toner image carried on the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 to the sheet P that is conveyed to the transfer nip portion (transfer position), and 10 is the photoconductor drum 1, the charging roller 4, and the developing device 5. A process cartridge in which the cleaning device 2 and the waste toner transport unit 6 are integrated, and 12 is a paper feed device (paper feed cassette) in which a sheet P such as paper is stored.
Reference numeral 16 denotes a resist roller (timing roller) that conveys the sheet P toward the transfer nip portion where the photoconductor drum 1 and the transfer roller 9 come into contact with each other, and 20 is a fixing device for fixing an unfixed image on the sheet P. Is a fixing roller installed in the fixing device 20, 22 is a pressure roller installed in the fixing device 20, and 30 is a toner container as a powder storage container.

Here, a charging roller 4, a developing device 5, a cleaning device 2, a waste toner conveying section 6, and the like are arranged around the photoconductor drum 1. Then, these members (photoreceptor drum 1, charging roller 4, developing device 5, cleaning device 2, waste toner transporting unit 6) are integrated as a process cartridge 10 (detachable member, detachable device, detachable unit). It is made removable (replaceable) with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 100. The process cartridge 10 will be replaced with a new one in a constant replacement cycle.
Further, above the process cartridge 10 (developing device 5) as a detachable member, a toner container 30 as a powder storage container is installed detachably (replaceable) with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 100. Inside the toner container 30 (toner storage unit 31), toner as powder (new toner) is stored. Then, the toner is appropriately replenished from the toner container 30 toward the inside of the developing apparatus 5. When the toner contained in the toner container 30 is emptied (or when the toner contained in the developing apparatus 5 is emptied), the toner container 30 is replaced with a new one. In the toner container 30 of the present embodiment, in addition to the toner storage unit 31 (powder storage unit) in which new toner is stored, the waste toner collection unit 32 (waste toner collection unit 32) in which waste toner as powder is collected is collected. A powder recovery unit) is provided, which will be described in detail later.

The operation of the image forming apparatus 100 at the time of normal image forming will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
With reference to FIG. 1, first, when image information is transmitted from an input device such as a personal computer to the exposure unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 100, the exposure light L (laser light) based on the image information is emitted from the exposure unit 7. , Is emitted toward the surface of the photoconductor drum 1.
On the other hand, the photoconductor drum 1 is rotating in the arrow direction (clockwise direction). Then, first, the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 is uniformly charged at the portion facing the charging roller 4 (the charging step). In this way, a charging potential (about −900 V) is formed on the photoconductor drum 1. After that, the surface of the charged photoconductor drum 1 reaches the irradiation position of the exposure light L. Then, the potential of the portion irradiated with the exposure light L becomes a latent image potential (about 0 to -100 V), and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 (exposure step). .).

After that, the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed reaches a position facing the developing device 5. Then, toner is supplied from the developing device 5 onto the photoconductor drum 1, and the latent image on the photoconductor drum 1 is developed to form a toner image (a developing step).
As shown in FIG. 2, the developing apparatus 5 includes a developing roller 5a, two developing transfer screws 5b, 5c, a doctor blade 5d, and the like. A developer (two-component developer) composed of toner and a carrier is housed inside the developing apparatus 5. Further, according to the consumption of the toner in the developer of the developing device 5, the toner is replenished into the developing device 5 from the discharge port 36 of the toner container 30 (toner storage unit 31) through the inflow port 64 of the developing device 5. Toner. Then, the replenished toner is circulated and conveyed in the longitudinal direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 2) while being stirred together with the developer by the developing and conveying screws 5b and 5c. Then, a part of the developer transported by one of the developing transport screws 5b is pumped up by the developing roller 5a, and the developer pumped up by the developing roller 5a is made into an appropriate amount by the doctor blade 5d, and then the photoconductor drum 1 Reach the position opposite to (development area). Then, in the developing region, the toner in the developer in an appropriate amount adheres to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 1, and the toner image is formed on the photoconductor drum 1. The developing rollers 5a and the two developing transfer screws 5b and 5c are driven by a drive motor installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100 and are rotationally driven in the directions of arrows in FIG.

After that, the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 after the developing step reaches the transfer nip portion (transfer position) with the transfer roller 9. Then, a transfer bias (a bias having a polarity different from that of the toner) is applied from the power supply unit to the transfer roller 9 at the transfer nip portion with the transfer roller 9, so that the sheet conveyed by the resist roller 16 is applied. The toner image formed on the photoconductor drum 1 is transferred onto P (this is a transfer step).

Then, the surface of the photoconductor drum 1 after the transfer step reaches a position facing the cleaning device 2. Then, at this position, the untransferred toner remaining on the photoconductor drum 1 is mechanically removed by the cleaning blade 2a and collected in the cleaning device 2 (cleaning step).
In this way, a series of image forming processes on the photoconductor drum 1 is completed.
The untransferred toner collected inside the cleaning device 2 is conveyed to one end side in the width direction (rotational axis direction) by the collection screw 2b installed in the cleaning device 2, and the waste toner transport unit 6 (waste). The toner transfer coil 6a is internally provided), and then the toner is conveyed diagonally upward to the upper right in FIG. 2, and then the toner container 30 (waste) is conveyed from the outlet 74 of the waste toner transfer section 6 through the collection port 37 of the toner container 30. It is collected as waste toner inside the toner collecting unit 32).
In the new toner container 30, the toner storage unit 31 is filled with new toner, and the waste toner collection unit 32 is empty.

On the other hand, the sheet P conveyed to the transfer nip portion (transfer position) of the photoconductor drum 1 and the transfer roller 9 operates as follows.
First, the uppermost sheet P of the sheets P housed in the paper feed device 12 is fed by the paper feed roller 15 toward the transport path.
After that, the sheet P reaches the position of the resist roller 16. Then, the sheet P that has reached the position of the resist roller 16 aligns with the image formed on the photoconductor drum 1 in order to align the sheet P with the transfer nip portion (transfer roller 9 and the photoconductor drum 1). It is conveyed toward the contact position).

Then, the sheet P after the transfer step reaches the fixing device 20 via the transfer path after passing through the position of the transfer nip portion (transfer roller 9). The sheet P that has reached the fixing device 20 is fed between the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22, and the image is fixed by the heat received from the fixing roller 21 and the pressure received from both members 21 and 22. .. The sheet P on which the image is fixed is sent out from between the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22 (which is the fixing nip portion), is discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 100, and is placed on the paper ejection tray. Placed.
In this way, a series of image forming processes is completed.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3A, the image forming apparatus 100 in the present embodiment is covered with a plurality of exterior covers. Then, as shown in FIG. 3B, a part of the front exterior cover is configured as a rotatably formed opening / closing cover 90.
Specifically, the opening / closing cover 90 is held by the image forming apparatus main body 100 so as to be rotatable around a support shaft 90a (rotation center axis). Then, the opening / closing cover 90 is closed (the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A) by rotating in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. 1 about the support shaft 90a, or the support shaft 90a is moved. By rotating in the clockwise direction of FIG. 1 at the center, the open state (the state of FIG. 3 (B)) is set or the state is set.

Then, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3B, the toner container 30 (powder storage container) can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 100 when the opening / closing cover 90 is in the open state. It is configured to be exposed. Then, with the opening / closing cover 90 open, only the toner container 30 (the one in the state of FIG. 7) is replaced with a new one, or the toner container 30 and the process cartridge 10 are replaced with new ones at the same time (FIG. 7). It will be replaced or replaced with the one in the state of 4.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming process (printing operation) described above with reference to FIG. 1 is performed with the opening / closing cover 90 closed.

Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the toner container 30 (powder storage container), which is characteristic of the present embodiment, will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the toner container 30 as the powder storage container is configured to be detachably installed with respect to the process cartridge 10. In particular, in the present embodiment, the toner container 30 can be attached to and detached from the process cartridge 10 regardless of whether the process cartridge 10 is attached to or removed from the image forming apparatus 100. It is configured in.
Here, as described above with reference to FIG. 3 and the like, in the present embodiment, the toner container 30 is detachably installed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 100 in which the process cartridge 10 is attached. ing. Therefore, it can be said that the toner container 30 as the powder storage container is indirectly detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100.
In the present embodiment, the toner container 30 is indirectly detachably installed on the image forming apparatus main body 100, but the toner container 30 is directly attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100. It can also be configured to be detachably installed.
The process cartridge 10 is a detachable member that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 100. However, in addition to the process cartridge, the developing device may function as an detachable member, and another device functions as an detachable member. You may. Then, the toner container 30 (powder storage container) can be configured to be detachably attached to a detachable member other than the process cartridge.

Further supplementing with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7, the toner container 30 is image-formed as one detachable unit (toner container 30 and process cartridge 10) as shown in FIG. 4 while being mounted on the process cartridge 10. It will be installed detachably from the device body 100. Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the toner container 30 can be moved in a predetermined direction (in the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 6) and mounted on the process cartridge 10, and the toner container 30 can be mounted in the reverse direction. It can also be moved in the direction and removed from the process cartridge 10. As shown in FIG. 7, the toner container 30 will be distributed even in a single state. Similarly, the process cartridge 10 will also be distributed in a single state.
When attaching / detaching the toner container 30 to / from the process cartridge 10 (or the image forming apparatus main body 100), an operator such as a user has a handle installed on the front side (+ X direction) of the toner container 30 in the operation direction. While holding the 38 (see FIGS. 2 to 6), the toner container 30 is pulled out or pushed in. The handle 38 is a foldable type, and even if the toner container 30 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100 in an upright state (the state of FIGS. 4 to 6). In conjunction with the operation of closing the opening / closing cover 90 from the open state, the opening / closing cover 90 is pushed by the opening / closing cover 90 and is stored along the outer portion of the toner container 30.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the toner container 30 is formed with a guide portion 51 and a plurality of positioning portions 49, 50, and the process cartridge 10 also has a plurality of guide grooves 77, 79 and guide receivers. The portions 78 are formed, and the toner container 30 in the process cartridge 10 is attached / detached and positioned while being fitted with the portions 78.
Specifically, two positioning portions 49 and 50 (positioning protrusions) formed in a protrusion shape on one end side (+ Y direction) in the width direction of the toner container 30 are guides formed on one end side in the width direction of the process cartridge 10, respectively. The guide portion 78 is guided by the receiving portion 78 and the guide groove 79, and is formed so as to be inclined upward toward the guide portion 51 (in the + X direction) formed on the other end side (−Y direction) of the toner container 30 in the width direction. The toner container 30 in the process cartridge 10 is mounted while being guided by the guide groove 77 formed on the other end side in the width direction of the process cartridge 10). The position of the toner container 30 in the process cartridge 10 is at a position where the positioning portions 49 and 50 are fitted to the ends of the guide receiving portion 78 and the guide groove 79 and the guide portion 51 is fitted to the end of the guide groove 77. It will be decided.
One of the positioning units 49 (first positioning unit) surrounds the stirring member drive input unit (coupling) that inputs the drive from the image forming apparatus to the stirring member 33 (described later) that stirs the toner. It is a protrusion that stands around. The other positioning unit 50 (second positioning unit) is a protrusion that is erected around the coupling gear 60 as a driven unit, which will be described later. In this way, by providing the input unit that receives the drive from the image forming apparatus in the vicinity (inside) of the positioning units 49 and 50, the drive input can be made more reliable.

Here, the toner container 30 (powder storage container) is provided with a discharge port 36, a recovery port 37, a first shutter 40, a second shutter 41, and the like.
The discharge port 36 of the toner container 30 directs the toner as powder stored inside the toner container 30 (toner storage unit 31) toward the developing device 5 with reference to FIGS. 2, 7, 9, 9 and the like. It is an opening for discharging. The discharge port 36 communicates with the inflow port 64 (an opening formed above the second development transfer screw 5c) of the developing device 5 when the toner container 30 is set in the process cartridge 10. Is.
The collection port 37 of the toner container 30 is for receiving and collecting waste toner (untransferred toner) as powder from the outside of the toner container 30 with reference to FIGS. 2, 8, 10, 15, 15 and the like. It is an opening. The collection port 37 is an opening formed at the outlet 74 of the waste toner transport section 6 (the bottom surface of the downstream end of the waste toner transport section 6) when the toner container 30 is set in the process cartridge 10. (See also FIGS. 12 and 13).

In the toner container 30 of the present embodiment, referring to FIGS. 2, 9, 10, 10 and the like, the toner container 30 serves as a powder storage unit in which the toner (powder) discharged from the discharge port 36 is stored. The unit 31 and the waste toner collecting unit 32 as a powder collecting unit for collecting the waste toner (powder) received from the collecting port 37 are partitioned by a wall portion.

Further, the toner storage unit 31 (powder storage unit) is provided with a replenishment screw 34 that is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction of FIG. 2, a stirring member 33 that is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. There is.
The drive timing and rotation time of the replenishment screw 34 are controlled, and the toner stored in the toner storage unit 31 is discharged from the discharge port 36 by a target amount.
The stirring member 33 rotates in a predetermined direction and stirs the toner stored inside the toner storage unit 31 so as not to agglomerate. The stirring member 33 has two blades arranged on the rotation shaft portion so as to be displaced by 180 degrees in the rotation direction with the center in the rotation axis direction as a boundary. Both ends of the stirring member 33 in the axial direction are rotatably supported by the housing of the toner container 30 via bearings.

The waste toner recovery unit 32 (powder collection unit) is provided with a transfer screw 63 (waste toner transfer screw) that is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction shown in FIG. The transport screw 63 rotates so that the lowermost end thereof rises toward the upstream side in the insertion direction of the toner container 30. The transport screw 63 transports the waste toner so that the waste toner flowing in from the collection port 37 is evenly collected inside the waste toner collection unit 32 without accumulating in the vicinity thereof.
The waste toner recovery unit 32 (powder collection unit) includes a coupling gear 60 as a driven unit (drive input unit) for rotationally driving the transport screw 63 as the first rotation shaft, and a driving force thereof. A drive gear 66 (drive output unit) for transmitting drive to the waste toner transfer unit 6 (waste toner transfer coil 6a) installed in the process cartridge 10 is installed by using the above, but this will be described later. explain in detail.

In the present embodiment, the operator rotates the lever 39 in a state where the toner container 30 is mounted on the process cartridge 10 (or the image forming apparatus main body 100), so that the first shutter 40 (discharge port 36) is used. The opening / closing operation of the second shutter 41 (collection port 37) is performed at the same timing, and the opening / closing operation of the inlet 64 and the outlet 74 of the process cartridge 10 is also performed at the same timing.
When the opening / closing cover 90 is opened with the toner container 30 attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100, the lever 39 is exposed to the outside as shown in FIG. 3B (operable by the operator). As), are arranged.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the toner container 30 is provided with a rotating portion 43 that rotates in conjunction with the rotating operation of the lever 39. The rotating portion 43 is provided with a toner container side engaging portion 43a that engages with the engaging portion provided on the process cartridge 10 side. The toner container side engaging portion 43a is formed in a shape (substantially arcuate shape) in which a part of a circle is missing. Then, when the toner container 30 is mounted on the process cartridge 10, the engaging portion of the process cartridge 10 is inserted into the engaging portion 43a on the toner container side. When the lever 39 is rotated with the engaging portion on the process cartridge 10 side inserted, the rotating portion 43 also rotates and is engaged with the engaging portion on the process cartridge 10 side. As a result, the engagement between the process cartridge 10 and the toner container 30 is completed, and the toner container 30 cannot be moved in the direction of being pulled out from the process cartridge 10.
Further, as the rotating portion 43 rotates, the engaging portion on the process cartridge 10 side also rotates. As a result, the shutter opening / closing mechanism connected to the engaging portion on the process cartridge 10 side moves in the direction of opening the second shutter 41 on the toner container 30 side, and the collection port 37 is opened.
On the other hand, when the toner container 30 is removed from the process cartridge 10, the rotating portion 43 rotates in the reverse direction as the lever 39 rotates in the reverse direction, so that the second shutter 41 (collection port) 37) is closed, and the engagement between the toner container side engaging portion 43a and the process cartridge 10 side engaging portion is released.
As described above, the rotating portion 43 also has a function as an engaging portion for engaging the toner container 30 with the process cartridge 10.

Even if the toner container 30 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100 with the lever 39 tilted (the state shown in FIG. 8), it is linked to the operation of closing the opening / closing cover 90 from the open state. The lever 39 is pushed by the pushing member 91 of the opening / closing cover 90 (see FIG. 3B) to open the discharge port 36 with the first shutter 40 (and open the inflow port 64). The operation of opening the collection port 37 with the second shutter 41 (and the operation of opening the outlet 74) are performed at the same time. As a result, a defective setting of the toner container 30 can be prevented.
Further, the pushing member 91 is not fixed to the opening / closing cover 90 in the upright state (the state of FIG. 3B), but is a foldable type capable of switching between the upright state and the fallen state. belongs to. Then, the pushing member 91 is put into a collapsed state at the time of shipment from the factory. When the pushing member 91 is in the tilted state, the lever 39 (which is in the tilted state as shown in FIG. 8) is not pushed by the pushing member 91 even when the opening / closing cover 90 is closed. The discharge port 36 and the recovery port 37 remain closed. Then, the image forming apparatus 100 is shipped from the factory with the toner container 30 whose discharge port 36 and collection port 37 are closed by the shutters 40 and 41. Therefore, it is not necessary to pack the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the toner container 30 separately and ship them at the factory, and the toner is released from the toner container 30 attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100 due to vibration during transportation or the like. Leakage defects will also be suppressed.
Then, at the time of arrival at the user's destination or the like, the user (or serviceman) performs the work of rotating the pushing member 91, which has been in a fallen state, into an upright state. Such work is performed in a state where the opening / closing cover 90 is opened (the shutters 40 and 41 remain in the closed state). Then, the shutters 40 and 41 are opened only by closing the opening / closing cover 90 after raising the pushing member 91, and toner is supplied from the toner container 30 to the empty developing device 5, so that the developing device 5 can be used. It becomes a state.

Here, referring to FIGS. 11 (and 12 to 15), the waste toner recovery unit 32 (powder collection unit) of the toner container 30 (powder storage container) in the present embodiment has a collection port. 37, coupling gear 60 as a driven unit, input gear 61, transport screw 63 as a first rotating shaft, first gear 62, second gear 65, second rotating shaft 67, drive gear 66, etc. are installed. Has been done.
As described above, the collection port 37 is an opening formed in the waste toner collection unit 32 in order to receive and collect waste toner (powder) from the outside.

The coupling gear 60 as the driven portion is installed on one end side (right side in FIG. 11) of the toner container 30 (powder storage container) in the width direction, and the drive is transmitted from the outside. ..
Specifically, in the coupling gear 60, the coupling portion and the gear portion are integrally formed, and the direction corresponds to the width direction of the toner container 30 (the direction corresponding to the rotation axis direction of the transport screw 63). It is rotatably installed on a stud that stands up on the side surface on one end side of FIG. 11 in the left-right direction. Then, when the process cartridge 10 in which the toner container 30 is installed is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 100, the coupling portion of the coupling gear 60 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100 in conjunction with the mounting operation. It will be fitted to the installed drive coupling. Then, the drive motor installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100 is operated to rotate the drive coupling in a predetermined direction, so that the drive is transmitted to the coupling gear 60 and the coupling gear 60 is rotationally driven in the predetermined direction. Will be done. In this way, the coupling gear 60 as the driven unit functions as the drive input unit.

The transport screw 63 as the first rotation shaft rotates in a predetermined direction by the drive transmitted to the coupling gear 60 (driven portion).
Specifically, the transport screw 63 is a screw member in which a screw portion is spirally wound on the shaft, and is arranged so as to extend over substantially the entire width direction of the waste toner collecting portion 32. The transport screw 63 is rotatably held in the case of the toner container 32 via a bearing. The transport screw 63 transports the waste toner so that the waste toner flowing in from the collection port 37 is evenly collected inside the waste toner collection unit 32 without accumulating in the vicinity thereof. In the present embodiment, in the transport screw 63, the screw portion is not formed on the downstream side in the transport direction away from the collection port 37, and the waste toner collected by the waste toner collection portion 32 is balanced. There is.
Further, an input portion gear 61 that meshes with the gear portion of the coupling gear 60 is installed on one end side in the width direction of the transport screw 63 (first rotating shaft). The driving force input to the coupling gear 60 is transmitted to the transport screw 63 via the input gear 61, and the transport screw 63 rotates together with the input gear 61 in a predetermined direction to transport waste toner. Become.
The first gear 62 is installed on the other end side (left side in FIG. 11) of the toner container 30 in the width direction, and rotates together with the transport screw 63 (first rotation shaft) and the input gear 61. is there. That is, the transfer screw 63 has an input gear 61 installed on one end side in the width direction and a first gear 62 installed on the other end side in the width direction. An idler gear can also be installed between the coupling gear 60 and the input gear 61.

The second rotating shaft 67 is installed on the other end side of the toner container 30 in the width direction. Further, the second rotation shaft 67 is provided with a second gear 65 whose drive is transmitted from the first gear 62, and rotates together with the second gear 65. That is, in the second rotating shaft 67, the second gear 65 that meshes with the first gear 62 is installed on the other end side in the width direction, and rotates together with the second gear 65.
Further, a drive gear 66 is installed at a position on the second rotating shaft 67 away from the second gear 65 toward the central portion in the width direction. The drive gear 66 is installed between the second gear 65 and the central portion in the width direction of the toner container 30 on the second rotating shaft 67, and rotates together with the second rotating shaft 67 to transmit the drive to the outside. The drive gear 66 is arranged so that the position in the width direction is located between the recovery port 37 and the coupling gear 60 (driven portion). Specifically, the second rotating shaft 67 does not extend from the other end side in the width direction to the one end side in the width direction as in the transport screw 63, but the transport screw extends from the other end side in the width direction to the central portion in the width direction. It is arranged so as to extend in a range shorter than 63. More specifically, the second rotating shaft 67 is provided so as to end (become an end portion) on the other end side of the central portion in the width direction of the toner container 30. Further, the case of the toner container 30 is also partially formed in a concave shape so as to rotatably hold such a second rotating shaft 67 via a bearing. A second gear 65 is installed on the other end side in the width direction of the second rotating shaft 67, and a drive gear 66 is installed in the central portion in the width direction on one end side in the width direction. Then, the driving force input to the coupling gear 60 is transmitted to the driving gear 66 via the input unit gear 61, the transport screw 63, the first gear 62, the second gear 65, and the second rotating shaft 67 to drive the coupling gear 60. The gear 66 will rotate in a predetermined direction. The drive gear 66 is provided between the collection port 37 and the discharge port 36.
An idler gear may be provided between the first gear 62 and the second gear 65.

The drive gear 66 rotates together with the second rotating shaft 67 and the second gear 65 to transmit the drive to the outside.
Specifically, the drive gear 66 is installed in the waste toner collecting unit 32 together with the coupling gear 60, the transport screw 63, the second rotating shaft 67, and the plurality of gears 61, 62, 65, and is installed in the process cartridge 10. This is for driving the waste toner transfer coil 6a as a transfer member for transporting the untransferred toner contained in the cleaning device 2 toward the collection port 37. In this way, the drive gear 66 functions as a drive output unit that transmits the drive force to the waste toner transfer coil 6a installed outside by utilizing the drive force input from the outside to the coupling gear 60. Become.

More specifically, with reference to FIG. 11, a driven coupling 80 having a gear portion is installed on one end side of the photoconductor drum 1 of the process cartridge 10 in the width direction. When the process cartridge 10 is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body 100, the driven coupling 80 is fitted into the drive coupling installed on the image forming apparatus main body 100 in conjunction with the mounting operation. Then, the drive motor installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100 is operated to rotate the drive coupling in a predetermined direction, so that the drive is transmitted to the driven coupling 80 and the driven coupling 80 is directed in the predetermined direction (FIG. 1). It will be rotationally driven in the clockwise direction of.).
On the other hand, a gear 81 that meshes with the gear portion of the driven coupling 80 of the photoconductor drum 1 is installed on one end side in the width direction of the recovery screw 2b internally installed in the cleaning device 2. Then, the recovery screw 2b also rotates in a predetermined direction as the photoconductor drum 1 is rotationally driven, and the untransferred toner collected by the cleaning device 2 is indicated by a broken line arrow from one end side in the width direction to the other end side in the width direction. It will be transported in the direction. Then, the untransferred toner conveyed to the other end side in the width direction by the recovery screw 2b is supplied to the waste toner transfer unit 6, and then the waste toner transfer coil 6a (conveyed member) installed in the waste toner transfer unit 6 is installed. The toner is conveyed to the position of the outlet 74, and is collected as waste toner from the collection port 37 into the waste toner collection unit 32 (toner container 30).
In this way, the untransferred toner (waste toner) collected by the cleaning device 2 in the process cartridge 10 moves as shown by the broken line arrow in FIG. 11, and finally the waste toner collection unit 32 from the collection port 37. It will be collected in (toner container 30).

Here, the waste toner transfer coil 6a (conveyor member) is located on one end side (the end on the outlet 74 side and downstream in the waste toner transfer direction) of the waste toner collection unit 32. A driven gear 75 that meshes with the drive gear 66 is installed. The driven gear 75 meshes with the drive gear 66 in conjunction with the mounting operation of the toner container 30 with respect to the process cartridge 10. Then, as described above, the drive is transmitted from the drive gear 66 of the waste toner collection unit 32 to the driven gear 75, and the waste toner transfer coil 6a (conveyor member) rotates in a predetermined direction to transfer the waste toner. In the unit 6, waste toner (untransferred toner) is conveyed toward the position of the outlet 74. As shown in FIG. 13 and the like, the waste toner transport section 6 in the present embodiment transports the waste toner diagonally upward from the confluence with the cleaning device 2, and then faces the middle portion in the width direction from the other end side in the width direction. It conveys in a substantially horizontal direction, and has a bent conveying portion. Since the waste toner transport coil 6a can be flexibly bent, the waste toner can be satisfactorily transported even if it is installed internally in the waste toner transport portion 6 having such a bent transport portion.

Further, the driven gear 75 is provided at the final end of the waste toner transfer coil 6a at a position exceeding the outflow port 74 in the outflow direction of the waste toner. It can be said that the driven gear 75 is arranged at the final end of the waste toner transport flow path. By doing so, the driven gear 75 can receive the drive from the drive gear 66 at a position that does not interfere with the transfer of the waste toner. Furthermore, effective use of space is also possible.
Further, the rotation axis of the drive gear 66 (second rotation axis 67) is located below the rotation axis of the driven gear 75, and the rotation direction of the drive gear 66 is a direction in which the drive gear 75 is scooped up (the direction of rotation of the drive gear 66). The lowest point is in the direction of rising toward the driven gear 75 side, and the lowest point is in the direction of moving toward the downstream side in the insertion direction of the container). As a result, the toner container 30 is pressed downward, and the posture of the toner container 30 with respect to the process cartridge 10 is stabilized.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the drive source of the waste toner transfer coil 6a is provided independently, or the waste toner transfer coil 6a is driven by the drive transmission by the recovery screw 2b at the confluence with the cleaning device 2. Instead, the waste toner transfer coil 6a is driven by the drive transmission from the drive gear 66 of the waste toner collection unit 32 at the position at the center in the width direction.
In other words, the toner container 30 (powder storage container) in the present embodiment is provided between a driven portion (coupling gear 60) provided on one end side and between one end side and the other end side. A drive gear 66, a first transmission means for transmitting the driving force input to the driven unit to the other end side, and a second transmission means for transmitting the driving force transmitted to the first transmission means to the drive gear 66. , Will be provided.
As a result, the drive mechanism of the waste toner transfer coil 6a has a relatively simple configuration, and the problem that the process cartridge 10 becomes large due to the drive mechanism of the waste toner transfer coil 6a is reduced.

The toner container 30 (powder storage container) in the present embodiment is a coupling gear as a driven unit (drive input unit) for driving a transport screw 63 for transporting waste toner collected inside the toner container 30 (powder storage container). 60 is provided on one end side in the width direction, and a drive gear 66 (drive output unit) for transmitting drive to the waste toner transfer unit 6 (waste toner transfer coil 6a) installed outside by utilizing the driving force is provided. Although it is provided, since the drive gear 66 is not arranged on the other end side in the width direction but is arranged in the central portion in the width direction, it is possible to reduce the problem that the toner container 30 becomes large in the width direction. ..
Further, in the present embodiment, the toner container 30 having the waste toner collecting unit 32 is detachably attached to the process cartridge 10, but one of the toner containers 30 is attached to and detached from the process cartridge 10. As a unit, it will be miniaturized as a whole.

Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15 and the like, the collection port 37 is arranged above the transport screw 63 (first rotation shaft). Specifically, the collection port 37 is provided directly above the screw portion of the transport screw 63.
As a result, the waste toner flowing in from the collection port 37 drops by its own weight and then hits the rotating transport screw 63 to be loosened. Therefore, the efficiency of collecting waste toner in the waste toner collecting unit 32 is improved.
The collection port 37 is an opening that communicates with the discharge port 74 of the process cartridge 10. A square columnar collection path extends from the collection port 37 toward the toner container 30. Then, the opening (recovery path opening) on the toner container 30 side of the recovery path is opened above the transport screw 63 (first rotation shaft). The waste toner that has flowed into the collection port 37 falls onto the transport screw 63 through the collection path. In other words, the collection path is provided at a position where waste toner is dropped on the transport screw 63.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 11, 15, and the like, the collection port 37 is arranged so that the position in the width direction thereof is between the second gear 65 and the drive gear 66. ing.
As a result, the collection port 37 can be arranged by effectively utilizing the space between the second gear 65 and the drive gear 66, so that the toner container 30 is made compact as a whole.
Further, referring to FIG. 11, the recovery port 37 is a second gear rather than the distance A in the width direction between the one end side end portion of the gear tooth of the drive gear 66 and the one end side end portion of the recovery port 37. The distance B between the one end side end of the gear tooth of 65 and the other end side edge of the recovery port 37 is provided so as to be shorter (A> B). As a result, the waste toner collecting unit 32 can efficiently transport the waste toner.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14 and the like, the rotation center of the second rotation shaft 67 is configured to be located above the rotation center of the transport screw 63 (first rotation shaft). ..
As a result, the collection port 37 can be easily arranged above the transport screw 63, and the effects described above (the effect of improving the collection efficiency of waste toner in the waste toner collection unit 32 and the compactness of the toner container 30 can be achieved. It is an effect.) Is more likely to be exhibited.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12 and the like, the rotation center of the second rotation shaft 67 is from the rotation center of the driven gear 75 (the driven gear of the process cartridge 10 that meshes with the drive gear 66). Is also configured to be located below.
As a result, the external force acting on the coupling gear 60 as the drive input unit and the force acting on the drive gear 66 as the drive output unit (the reaction force received from the driven gear 75) of the toner container 30. The position becomes easier to determine.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6 and the like, the drive gear 66 is arranged so as to be exposed to the outside of the toner container 30 (which is in a single state). Further, as shown in FIG. 5 and the like, the driven gear 75 is arranged so as to be exposed to the outside of the process cartridge 10 (which is in a single state). As a result, the driven gear 75 of the process cartridge 10 and the drive gear 66 of the toner container 30 can be meshed with or disengaged in conjunction with the operation of attaching and detaching the toner container 30 to the process cartridge 10.
Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a guide protrusion 69 is provided on the side surface of the toner container 30 so as to project toward the other end side of the toner container 30. The guide protrusion 69 guides the toner container 30 by sliding on a sliding portion provided on the process cartridge 10 when the toner container 30 is mounted on the process cartridge 10.

Further, in the present embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 6, 8 and the like, a guide guided along a guide groove 77 (see FIG. 5) when the toner container 30 is mounted on the process cartridge 10. The portion 51 (insertion protrusion) is installed on the other end side in the width direction (the side on which the second gear 65, the drive gear 66, and the second rotating shaft 67 are installed).
As a result, the toner container 30 is smoothly attached to the process cartridge 10, and poor meshing between the drive gear 66 and the driven gear 75 is less likely to occur.

Specifically, the guide portion 51 is a protrusion protruding from the other end of the toner container 30, and is the back side (downstream side in the insertion direction of the toner container 30) when the toner container 30 is mounted on the process cartridge 10. It has a long axis with an inclination that goes down toward). That is, the guide portion 51 is a protruding portion that extends while inclining toward the back side.
Further, the lowermost end portion of the inclination of the guide portion 51 has an arc shape, and is formed (bulged) slightly larger than the other portions. Then, when the toner container 30 is inserted into the process cartridge 10, this large formed portion enters and is guided into the guide groove 77 (a groove that is inclined like the guide portion 51). .. The other portion of the guide portion 51 has a linear inclination and has a function of suppressing backlash centered on the lowermost end portion after entering the guide groove 77.
A drive gear 66 is provided above the guide portion 51. Since the guide portion 51 is inserted below the drive gear 66 while the toner container 30 is inserted while being suppressed from moving upward by the guide groove 77, the drive gear 66 is inserted from below the driven gear 75 on the process cartridge 10 side. It becomes easier to mesh.
Further, the rotating portion 43 (toner container side engaging portion 43a) described above with reference to FIG. 8 is arranged above the drive gear 66. That is, the drive gear 66 is provided so as to exist between the guide portion 51 and the rotating portion 43 in the vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the rotating portion 43 is arranged above the drive gear 66, and the guide portion 51 is arranged below the drive gear 66. As a result, the rattling of the drive gear 66 is further suppressed.

Here, in the present embodiment, when the toner container 30 is mounted on the process cartridge 10, the drive gear 66 is rotated in the rotation direction so that the drive gear 66 and the driven gear 75 are less likely to have a poor meshing. It is configured to have backlash in the gear.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 16A, the drive gear 66 is installed on the second rotating shaft 67 via the fitting member 68. The fitting member 68 is installed so that three convex portions 68a are formed evenly in the rotation direction and are fitted to the D-cut portion formed at the other end in the width direction of the second rotation shaft 67. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16B, three recesses 66a are formed evenly in the rotation direction on the facing surface of the drive gear 66 (the surface facing the fitting member 68). The circumferential width of the concave portion 66a of the drive gear 66 is formed to be slightly larger than the circumferential width of the convex portion 68a of the fitting member 68. As a result, the drive gear 66 fitted to the fitting member 68 rotates together with the second rotating shaft 67, but the drive gear 66 has backlash in the rotation direction by the gap between the convex portion 68a and the concave portion 66a. become.
Since the drive gear 66 has backlash in the rotational direction in this way, when the toner container 30 is mounted on the process cartridge 10, the tooth tips of the drive gear 66 and the driven gear 75 are likely to collide with each other. Even so, since the drive gear 66 rotates in the rotational direction due to backlash, the problem of damaging the tooth tips is suppressed.
The drive gear 66 is provided with a retaining ring in the axial direction of the second rotating shaft 67 so that the drive gear 66 in a state of being loosely fitted to the fitting member 38 in the rotating direction does not fall off from the second rotating shaft 67. Movement is restricted.
Further, since the drive gear 66 has play in the rotation direction, the start of rotation of the drive gear 66 is slightly delayed when the second rotating shaft 67 starts rotating, but such a delay is a waste toner. It has almost no effect on the drive of the transfer coil 6a.

As described above, the toner container 30 (powder storage container) in the present embodiment has a collection port 37 for receiving and collecting waste toner (powder) from the outside, and one end side in the width direction of the toner container 30. The coupling gear 60 (driven portion) whose drive is transmitted from the outside, the transport screw 63 (first rotating shaft) which is rotated by the drive transmitted to the coupling gear 60, and the other end in the width direction of the toner container 30. A first gear 62 that rotates with the transport screw 63 on the side, a second rotating shaft 67 that rotates with a second gear 65 to which drive is transmitted from the first gear 62 on the other end side in the width direction of the toner container 30, and a second. A drive gear 66, which is installed between the second gear 65 and the central portion of the toner container 30 in the width direction of the rotary shaft 67 and rotates together with the second rotary shaft 67 to transmit drive to the outside, is provided.
As a result, the coupling gear 60 serving as the drive input unit and the drive gear 66 serving as the drive output unit can be provided without increasing the size of the toner container 30 so much.

In the present embodiment, the process cartridge 10 is a combination of the photoconductor drum 1 (image carrier), the charging roller 4 (charging device), the developing device 5, the cleaning device 2, and the waste toner transfer unit 6. The present invention has been applied to the case where it is configured. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, in the case where these devices 1, 2, 4 to 6 are individually attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 100. Even if there is, the present invention can be applied as a matter of course.
Then, even in such a case, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained.
In the present application, the "process cartridge" includes a charging device for charging the image carrier, a developing device for developing a latent image formed on the image carrier, and a cleaning device for cleaning the image carrier. Of these, at least one and the image carrier are defined as a detachable member (detachable unit) that is integrated and detachably installed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body.

Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the toner container 30 (powder storage container) installed in the monochrome image forming apparatus 100, but the toner container (powder) installed in the color image forming apparatus 100 is applied. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to a body storage container).
Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the toner container 30 (powder storage container) indirectly detachably installed on the image forming apparatus main body 100 via the process cartridge 10, but the process cartridge is used. The present invention can also be applied to a toner container (powder storage container) that can be directly attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body without using the above.
Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the toner container 30 (powder storage container) in which the toner (one-component developer) as a powder is stored or recovered, but as a powder. The present invention can also be applied to a powder storage container in which a two-component developer (a developer in which toner and a carrier are mixed) is stored and recovered.
Further, in the present embodiment, the drive is transmitted from the coupling gear 60 as the driven portion to the transport screw 63 (first rotating shaft) via the input portion gear 61, but the drive is directly transmitted from the driven portion. It can also be configured to transmit the drive to the first rotation shaft.
Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the toner container 30 (powder storage container) in which the toner storage unit 31 and the waste toner collection unit 32 are integrated, but the waste toner collection unit (powder) is applied. As a matter of course, the present invention can be applied to a powder storage container composed of only a recovery unit).
Further, in the present embodiment, the drive source of the drive input unit for the stirring member can be used as the drive source of the drive input unit (coupling gear 60) in the toner container 30.
And even in those cases, the same effect as that of the present embodiment can be obtained.

It is clear that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and the present embodiment may be appropriately modified in addition to the suggestions in the present embodiment within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. is there. Further, the number, position, shape, etc. of the constituent members are not limited to the present embodiment, and can be a suitable number, position, shape, etc. for carrying out the present invention.

In the specification of the present application and the like, the "powder storage container" is a container for storing the powder used in the image forming apparatus or the powder used in the image forming apparatus. Therefore, the "powder storage container" includes a container for storing new toner and carriers and a container for storing used toner and carriers.
Further, in the specification of the present application and the like, the "width direction" is a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the powder storage container is mounted on the process cartridge. The powder storage container has a length and a short side, and the "width direction" is also the length direction of the powder storage container. Further, the "width direction" is the same direction as the direction in which the shaft of the transport screw extends.
Further, in the specification of the present application and the like, the "one end side in the width direction" is one end side when one is divided by the central portion in the longitudinal direction and one is the one end side and the other is the other end side. Further, the "one end side end portion" is an end portion of the "one end side in the width direction" and is an end portion when viewed in the longitudinal direction. In the present embodiment, a driven portion is provided at one end on one end.
Further, in the specification of the present application and the like, the "other end side in the width direction" is the other end side when one is divided by the central portion in the longitudinal direction and one is the other end side and the other is the other end side. Further, the "other end side end portion" is an end portion of the "other end side in the width direction" and is an end portion when viewed in the longitudinal direction.
Further, in the specification of the present application and the like, the "center portion in the width direction" is a portion located at the center between the "one end side end portion" and the "other end side end portion". The central part in the width direction of the powder storage container points to exactly the center in the longitudinal direction of the powder storage container.

1 Photoreceptor drum (image carrier),
2 Cleaning device,
2b Recovery screw,
5 developing equipment,
6 Waste toner transport unit,
6a Waste toner transfer coil (conveyor member),
10 Process cartridge (detachable member),
30 Toner container (powder storage container),
31 Toner storage unit (powder storage unit),
32 Waste toner recovery section (powder recovery section),
36 outlet,
37 Collection port,
51 Guide section,
60 Coupling gear (driven part),
61 Input gear,
62 1st gear,
63 Transport screw (first rotating shaft),
64 inlet,
65 2nd gear,
66 drive gear,
66a recess,
67 Second axis of rotation,
68 fitting member, 68a convex part,
74 outlet,
75 driven gear,
100 Image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus main body).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-80433

Claims (12)

A powder storage container that is detachably installed on an image forming apparatus main body or a detachable member that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body.
A collection port for receiving and collecting powder from the outside,
A driven portion that is installed on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the powder storage container and transmits drive from the outside,
A first rotating shaft that is rotated by the drive transmitted to the driven unit, and
A first gear installed on the other end side of the powder storage container in the longitudinal direction and rotating together with the first rotation shaft,
A second gear , which is installed on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the powder storage container and to which the drive from the first gear is transmitted,
A second rotating shaft that rotates with the second gear,
Is installed between the longitudinal center portion of the powder container and the second gear, a driving gear for transmitting driving force to the outside by rotating together with the second rotary shaft,
A powder storage container characterized by being equipped with. The powder storage container according to claim 1, wherein the first rotating shaft is a transport screw having a screw portion wound around the shaft. The powder storage container according to claim 2, wherein the collection port is provided directly above the screw portion of the transport screw. The powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the collection port is arranged above the first rotation shaft. The collection port according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the collection port is arranged so that the position in the longitudinal direction is a position between the second gear and the drive gear. Powder storage container. The powder storage according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the rotation center of the second rotation shaft is configured to be located above the rotation center of the first rotation shaft. container. The powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the drive gear is arranged so as to be exposed to the outside of the powder storage container. 1. The first aspect of the present invention is that the rotation center of the second rotation shaft is configured to be located below the rotation center of the driven gear of the image forming apparatus main body or the attachment / detachment member that meshes with the drive gear. The powder storage container according to any one of claims 7. The first to eighth aspects of the present invention, wherein the guide portion that is guided when the powder storage container is attached to the image forming apparatus main body or the detachable member is installed on the other end side in the longitudinal direction. The powder storage container according to any one. The powder recovery unit in which the powder received from the collection port is collected and the powder storage unit in which the powder stored inside is discharged from the discharge port are partitioned by a wall portion.
The drive gear is installed in the powder recovery unit and drives a transport member that transports untransferred toner contained in the cleaning device installed in the image forming apparatus main body or the attachment / detachment member toward the collection port. The powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the powder storage container is intended to be used. A process cartridge that is detachably installed with respect to the image forming apparatus main body.
A process cartridge comprising the powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 10. An image forming apparatus comprising the powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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