JP7511811B2 - Powder storage container, toner storage container, developing device, image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a powder container for storing powder, a toner container, a developing device, and an image forming device.

As a powder storage container for storing powder, for example, in image forming devices such as copiers and printers, toner cartridges that store toner, which is a powder for image formation, are used.

Such a toner cartridge is provided with an outlet for supplying toner to a developing roller, etc., and a transport member such as a transport screw that transports the toner inside the toner cartridge to the outlet. Some toner cartridges are also designed to circulate the toner inside the toner cartridge to prevent toner from accumulating at the outlet (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The toner cartridge described in Patent Document 1 (JP 2019-2956 A) includes a conveying screw, a discharge port, a stirring member for stirring the toner in the container body, a return port for returning the toner from the discharge port side to the stirring member side, and a partition wall provided between the upper part of the return port and the stirring member. A portion of the toner conveyed to the discharge port side by the conveying screw moves to the stirring member side through the return port. This allows the toner to circulate within the container body. In addition, the partition wall can prevent the toner stirred by the stirring member from being carried to the discharge port side through the return port, preventing the toner from flowing back and making the toner discharge speed from the discharge port uniform.

However, with the toner cartridge of Patent Document 1, the toner returned from the return port is separated from the stirring member by a partition, causing the toner to accumulate above the return port and preventing the toner from returning to the stirring member.

There was an issue with powder accumulating on the return port side of the partition.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a powder storage container having an outlet for discharging powder to the outside, a container body for storing the powder, a transport member for transporting the powder to the outlet, a rotatable stirring member for stirring the powder in the container body, a return port for returning the powder transported by the transport member to the stirring member side, and a partition separating the stirring member and the return port, wherein when the powder storage container is attached to an image forming apparatus, at least a portion of the partition is disposed above the return port, the partition is capable of opening the gap between the stirring member side and the return port side to the stirring member side, the partition automatically returns to the separated state after the opening, and the partition opens and closes at a lower portion in the direction of gravity, with the opposite side to the direction of gravity as a rotation axis .

The present invention can suppress the accumulation of powder on the return port side of the partition.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus with a cover member open. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the container holder of the image forming apparatus is rotated upward. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a toner cartridge. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an internal configuration of the toner cartridge. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of a partition member. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a toner cartridge different from that of the present embodiment. 11A and 11B are cross-sectional views showing a rotational operation of a partition wall. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a torsion spring provided in a partition wall. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a partition wall having a different shape from that shown in FIG. 8 . 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a partition wall having a different shape from that shown in FIG. 8 . 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a partition wall having a different shape from that shown in FIG. 8 . FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner cartridge in which a scraping member is disposed. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating the rotation of a scraping member. 14 is a diagram showing a scraping member having a different configuration from that shown in FIG. 13; 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner cartridge in which the scraping member of FIG. 15 is disposed. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner cartridge in which a scraping member having a different shape from that in FIG. 13 is arranged. FIG. 18 shows the scraping member of FIG. 17 .

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In each drawing for describing an embodiment of the present invention, components such as parts and components having the same function or shape are given the same reference numerals as far as they can be distinguished, and the description will be omitted after the first description. In the following description, a toner storage container that stores toner as powder and an image forming apparatus equipped with a toner storage container will be described as an example of a powder storage container.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Here, the image forming apparatus includes a printer, a copier, a facsimile, or a combination machine of these.

The image forming device 100 shown in FIG. 1 is a color image forming device equipped with four imaging units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk that are detachable from the image forming device main body. Note that the present invention is not limited to color image forming devices, but can also be applied to monochrome image forming devices. Each imaging unit 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk has the same configuration, except that it contains a developer of a different color, yellow, magenta, cyan, or black, which corresponds to the color separation components of a color image.

Specifically, each of the imaging units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 2 as an image carrier, a charging device 3 that charges the surface of the photoconductor 2, a developing device 4 that supplies toner as powder to the surface of the photoconductor 2 to form a toner image, and a cleaning device 5 that cleans the surface of the photoconductor 2.

The developing device 4 includes a developing container 41, a developing roller 42 as a developer carrier that carries toner as a developer, a supply roller 43 as a developer supply member that supplies toner to the developing roller 42, a developing blade 44 as a developer regulating member that regulates the amount of toner carried on the developing roller 42, and a conveying screw that conveys toner within the developing container 41. For convenience, FIG. 1 illustrates the developing container 41 and the like only for the developing device 4 provided in the imaging unit 1Y, but the configuration of the developing device 4 is the same for all imaging units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk.

The toner cartridge 30 is removably mounted on the top of the developing container 41. By mounting the toner cartridge 30 on the developing container 41, an outlet (described in detail later) on the toner cartridge 30 communicates with a supply port on the top of the developing container 41, making it possible to supply toner from the toner cartridge 30 to the developing container 41. The unit in which the toner cartridge 30 is mounted on the developing container 41 can be the developing device 4, or the unit in which the toner cartridge 30 is removed from the developing container 41 can be the developing device 4.

The image forming apparatus 100 also includes an exposure device 6 that exposes the surface of each photoconductor 2 to light to form an electrostatic latent image, a paper feed device 7 that supplies paper as a recording medium, a transfer device 8 that transfers the toner image formed on each photoconductor 2 onto the paper, and a fixing device 9 that fixes the toner image transferred onto the paper.

The paper feed device 7 has a paper feed cassette 10 that stores paper and a paper feed roller 11 that feeds paper from the paper feed cassette 10.

The transfer device 8 has an endless intermediate transfer belt 12 as an intermediate transfer body stretched by multiple rollers, four primary transfer rollers 13 as primary transfer members that transfer the toner image on each photoconductor 2 to the intermediate transfer belt 12, and a secondary transfer roller 14 as a secondary transfer member that transfers the toner image transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 12 to paper. Each of the multiple primary transfer rollers 13 contacts the photoconductor 2 via the intermediate transfer belt 12. As a result, the intermediate transfer belt 12 and each photoconductor 2 come into contact with each other, and a primary transfer nip is formed between them. The secondary transfer roller 14 contacts one of the rollers that stretch the intermediate transfer belt 12 via the intermediate transfer belt 12. As a result, a secondary transfer nip is formed between the secondary transfer roller 14 and the intermediate transfer belt 12.

The fixing device 9 has a fixing roller 15 as a fixing member that is heated by a heating means such as a halogen heater to fix an image onto a sheet of paper, and a pressure roller 16 as a pressure member that applies pressure to the fixing roller 15. The fixing roller 15 and the pressure roller 16 are in contact with each other, and a fixing nip is formed between the rollers 15 and 16.

In addition, a paper transport path 20 is formed within the image forming device 100 along which paper sent from the paper feed cassette 10 is transported. A pair of timing rollers 17 are provided on the paper transport path 20 midway between the paper feed roller 11 and the secondary transfer nip (secondary transfer roller 14).

Next, the image forming operation of the image forming device will be described with reference to FIG.

When an instruction to start the image creation operation is given, each photoconductor 2 is rotated clockwise in the figure, and the surface of each photoconductor 2 is charged to a uniform high potential by the charging device 3. Next, the exposure device 6 exposes the surface of each photoconductor 2 based on the image information of the original document read by the original reading device, or the print information instructed to be printed from the terminal, thereby lowering the potential of the exposed area and forming an electrostatic latent image. Toner is then supplied from each developing device 4 to this electrostatic latent image, and a toner image is formed on each photoconductor 2.

The toner images formed on each photoreceptor 2 are transferred sequentially to the intermediate transfer belt 12 so that they overlap each other at the primary transfer nip. This results in a full-color (four-color) toner image being carried on the intermediate transfer belt 12. The toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 12 is then transferred to paper at the secondary transfer nip.

The paper is transported from the paper feed device 7. In the paper feed device 7, the paper in the paper feed cassette 10 is sent out one by one by the paper feed roller 11, and the sent paper is transported to the secondary transfer nip by the timing roller 17 in synchronization with the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 12.

The paper with the transferred toner image is transported to the fixing device 9, where the toner image is fixed to the paper by applying heat and pressure to it using the fixing roller 15 and pressure roller 16. The paper is then ejected outside the image forming device.

The above explanation is about the imaging operation when forming a full-color image on paper, but it is also possible to form a monochrome image using any one of the four imaging units, or to form a two- or three-color image using two or three imaging units.

As shown in FIG. 1, an openable and closable cover member 21 is provided on the top of the image forming apparatus 100. The cover member 21 is configured to be openable and closable in the vertical direction by rotating around a horizontal support shaft 22 (perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1) provided on the apparatus body. A container holder 23 that holds a plurality of toner cartridges 30 as powder containers is provided between the cover member 21 and each of the imaging units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk. The container holder 23 is configured to be rotatable around a horizontal support shaft 24 provided on the apparatus body.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the cover member 21 is rotated upward to the open position, the top of the device body is opened. By opening the top of the device body in this way, the toner cartridge 30 can be attached to and detached from the container holder 23 from the top of the device body.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, by rotating the container holder 23 upward, the container holder 23 (together with the toner cartridges 30) can be withdrawn from the upper vicinity of the imaging units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk. In addition, the exposure device 6 is suspended and held at the bottom of the container holder 23, and as the container holder 23 withdraws, the exposure device 6 also withdraws from the upper vicinity of each photoconductor 2. By achieving this state, the imaging units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk can be attached and detached from the top of the device body. In addition, by simply rotating the container holder 23, the multiple toner cartridges 30 can be withdrawn as a unit, so that the imaging units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk can be attached and detached without having to remove the toner cartridges 30 individually, which is highly operable.

The specific configuration of the toner cartridge 30 will now be described.
A plurality of toner cartridges 30 (four in the above image forming apparatus) are provided corresponding to the developing devices 4, and are detachably mounted to the developing devices 4. Each toner cartridge 30 contains toner of the same color as the toner in the corresponding developing device 4, but apart from that, all of them have basically the same configuration, so the configuration of one toner cartridge 30 will be described as an example.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge 30, and Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the toner cartridge 30.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the toner cartridge 30 has a container body 31 that contains the toner. Inside the container body 31, there are provided an agitating member 32 that agitates the toner in the container body 31, a conveying screw 33 as a conveying member that conveys the toner, a partition member 34, etc.

The stirring member 32 is made of a resin material or a flexible material. The stirring member 32 is made of a shaft portion 32a and two stirring portions 32b. The stirring portions 32b each extend in the opposite radial direction of the rotation trajectory around the shaft portion 32a, and one end of each stirring portion 32b (the end opposite the shaft portion 32a) abuts against the container body 31. However, it is sufficient that either one of the stirring portions 32b abuts against the container body 31, and only one stirring portion 32b may be provided.

When a driving force is transmitted from the drive source to the agitating member 32, the two agitating parts 32b rotate around the shaft part 32a in the direction of the arrow B1. This causes the toner in the container body 31 to be agitated and transported toward the transport screw 33.

The partition member 34 is a member that partitions a portion of the container body 31. Within the container body 31, the area outside the partition member 34 is the first area X1, and the area inside the partition member 34 is the second area X2. As shown in FIG. 4, the second area X2 is formed by the inner circumferential surface of the partition member 34 and the opposing inner circumferential surface of the container body 31.

The rotation of the stirring member 32 in the direction of the arrow B1 stirs the toner in the first region X1, and some of it is transported toward the transport screw 33 (see arrow C1). As shown in FIG. 5, the drive of the transport screw 33 rotates the screw in the direction of the arrow B2, transporting the toner in the direction of the arrow C2.

The transport screw 33 is provided with its downstream end in the toner transport direction (arrow C2 direction) inserted into the second region X2 in the partition member 34, and the toner transported by the transport screw 33 is transported to the second region X2.

A return port 35 is provided at the top of the partition member 34 to return the toner to the agitator member side. The return port 35 is provided radially outside the rotation path of the agitator member 32.

As shown in FIG. 6, the portion of the container body 31 that forms the second region X2 is provided with an outlet 36 for discharging toner to the outside. The outlet 36 is provided on the lower side of the container body 31 in the direction of gravity (the lower side in the direction of gravity when the toner cartridge 30 is attached to an image forming device placed on a horizontal surface, hereinafter also referred to simply as the direction of gravity). The outlet 36 is provided so as to be openable and closable by a shutter member, and in the illustrated example, double shutter members are provided, showing the state in which the outlet 36 is closed. Each shutter member is provided with an opening hole, and when each shutter member operates to connect the outlet 36 to the two opening holes, the outlet 36 is opened to the outside.

When viewed from the side of the second region X2, the return port 35 opens in an upward direction, which is the direction opposite to the direction of gravity, and the discharge port 36 opens in the direction of gravity. In the example of FIG. 6, the discharge port 36 is provided opposite a part of the return port 35. In other words, when viewed in the direction of gravity, the discharge port 36 is arranged to overlap the return port 35.

When toner is supplied from the toner cartridge 30 to the developing device 4 (see FIG. 1), the discharge port 36 is opened to communicate with the main body of the developing device, and the transport screw 33 is driven to transport the toner in the container body 31 to the second region X2, and a portion of the toner is discharged from the discharge port 36 to the main body of the developing device (see arrow B3 in FIG. 6). The partition member 34 partitions the second region X2 in which the discharge port 36 is located, so that the amount of toner discharged from the discharge port 36 can be adjusted to a certain amount or less.

Then, a portion of the toner transported to the second region X2 by the transport screw 33 is returned to the stirring member side by the return port 35 (see arrow C3 in Figure 6).

As described above, by returning a portion of the toner transported to the second region X2 to the stirring member 32 via the return port 35, the toner can be circulated within the container body 31. This prevents an excessive amount of toner from being transported into the second region X2, causing clogging of the toner within the second region X2, or causing the toner to condense within the second region X2.

The toner cartridge 30 also has a partition 37. The partition 37 is provided between the return port 35 and the stirring member 32. The partition 37 is a plate-shaped member that extends upward (opposite the direction of gravity) from the top surface 34a of the partition member 34 and in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 4, and at least a portion of it (all of it in this embodiment) is provided above the return port 35.

This partition 37 prevents the toner accumulated near the return port 35 from flowing back into the second area X2. In other words, in a toner cartridge 30 that does not have the partition 37, when the toner cartridge 30 is driven, some of the toner stirred by the stirring member 32 (see FIG. 5) is transported toward the return port 35 and accumulates near the return port 35. When the accumulated toner reaches a certain amount, it falls from the return port 35 into the second area X2, and some of it is discharged to the outside through the discharge port 36. This causes a problem in that the toner discharge speed from the toner cartridge 30 becomes uneven.

In response to this, the provision of the partition 37 prevents the toner from flowing back from the return port 35 to the second region X2, thereby making the toner discharge speed uniform. In this embodiment, the height H1 of the partition 37 from the top surface 34a of the partition member 34 (the length in the direction opposite to the direction of gravity) is greater than the height H2 from the top surface 34a of the partition member 34 to the rotation axis of the agitator 32. This allows the partition 37 to efficiently prevent toner from flowing from the agitator 32 to the return port 35, which is preferable.

However, as shown in FIG. 7, in a configuration in which the partition 37' is fixed to the partition member 34, unlike the configuration of this embodiment, the toner T returned from the return port 35 to the first region X1 accumulates between the container body 31 above the return port 35 and the partition 37', causing the toner to stop circulating within the container body 31.

In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the partition 37 is provided so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 37a fixed to the top surface 34a of the partition member 34. The rotation shaft 37a extends in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 8, in the same direction as the shaft portion 32a of the stirring member 32. The rotation shaft 37a is fixed to the partition member 34 by a hinge or the like.

When no external force is applied to the partition 37, the partition 37 stands upright (see dotted line in FIG. 8) and functions as a wall member between the stirring member 32 side and the upper part of the return port 35. This prevents the toner stirred by the stirring member 32 from flowing back from the return port 35 to the second area X2. On the other hand, in this embodiment, when the toner T returned from the return port 35 to the first area X1 side accumulates between the container body 31 above the return port 35 and the partition 37' (see FIG. 7 for the accumulation of the toner T), as shown in FIG. 8, the partition 37 rotates around the rotation axis 37a toward the stirring member 32 side due to the load of the toner T (see the arrow and solid line in FIG. 8). This prevents the toner T from flowing out toward the stirring member 32 and accumulating above the return port 35 to a certain amount or more, and allows the toner to circulate within the toner cartridge 30.

In this way, the partition 37 of this embodiment functions as a wall member to prevent the backflow of toner from the return port 35, and when the amount of toner T accumulated above the return port 35 reaches a certain amount or more, the toner T is forced to flow toward the stirring member 32, thereby preventing the accumulation of toner above the return port 35. In addition, because the partition 37 is configured to rotate automatically due to the weight of the toner T, no driving member or the like is required to drive the partition 37, and the cost of the toner cartridge 30 can be kept low.

As shown in FIG. 9, the partition 37 is provided with a torsion spring 38 as a biasing member. One end of the torsion spring 38 is fixed to one end of the partition 37 (the free end opposite the rotation shaft 37a), and the other end is fixed to, for example, the partition member 34. The torsion spring 38 biases the partition 37 in the direction of the dotted line (see the direction of the arrow in FIG. 9).

The partition 37, which has rotated to the solid line position in FIG. 9 due to the load of the toner T, rotates to the dotted line position due to the biasing force of the torsion spring 38. In this way, the partition 37, which has sent the accumulated toner T toward the stirring member 32, automatically returns to the dotted line position and can function as a wall member again. However, instead of the biasing force of the torsion spring 38, the partition 37 can also be rotated to the dotted line position by the rotational movement of the stirring member 32.

Next, we will explain modified examples of the partition wall 37. Explanations of the same points as in the above embodiment will be omitted as appropriate.

As shown in Figure 10, in this embodiment, the rotation axis 37a of the partition 37 extends in the direction of gravity (vertical direction) and rotates around this rotation axis 37a (see the partition 37 shown by solid and dotted lines in Figure 10). The rotation axis 37a is fixed to the container body 31.

In the configuration of this embodiment, the partition 37 uses the axial end side of the agitating member 32 as a fulcrum to open and close the axial center side of the agitating member 32, which is the opposite side. This allows the accumulated toner T to be sent further toward the center of the agitating member 32 in the axial direction, improving the efficiency of toner circulation within the toner cartridge 30.

Also, as shown in FIG. 11, the rotation axis 37a of the partition 37 can be provided at the end opposite the direction of gravity. The rotation axis 37a extends in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 11. The end of the partition 37 on the lower side in the direction of gravity becomes the free end, and this part opens and closes. In this embodiment, the partition 37 that has rotated to the dotted line position can return to the solid line position by its own weight.

In the next embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a recess 37b is provided in the partition 37. The recess 37b is a portion recessed toward the stirring member 32 side more than the other portions of the partition 37.

In this embodiment, a portion of the toner T that has accumulated at the top of the return port 35 accumulates in the recess 37b. This makes it easier for the partition 37 to rotate due to the weight of the toner T, making it easier to send the accumulated toner T toward the stirring member 32.

In the next embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, a scraping member 39 such as Mylar is provided. The scraping member 39 is a thin plate-like member, and the scraping surface (the surface with the largest area) faces the direction in which the toner flows from the return port 35.

One end of the scraping member 39 is fixed to the rotating shaft 37a of the partition 37, and the other end is a free end. The free end of the scraping member 39 extends toward the return port 35 and is provided between the conveying screw 33 and the return port 35. The scraping member 39 rotates integrally with the partition 37, and can reciprocate from the solid line portion in FIG. 13 to the dotted line portion toward the agitator 32, and from the dotted line portion in FIG. 13 to the solid line portion.

In this embodiment, when the partition 37 rotates toward the agitator 32 due to the load of the toner T, the scraper 39 also rotates toward the agitator 32. This allows the scraper 39 to scrape off the accumulated toner T, particularly the toner T near the return port 35, and send it toward the agitator 32. Therefore, the accumulated toner T can be efficiently sent toward the agitator 32 and circulated within the toner cartridge 30. In addition, after completing the scraping operation, the scraper 39 can return to its original position (solid line position in FIG. 13) due to the biasing force of a biasing member such as the torsion spring described above.

As shown in FIG. 14, the toner T accumulated above the return port 35 pushes the scraping member 39, causing it to rotate toward the agitating member 32 (see the direction of the arrow in FIG. 14). This applies a force to the partition 37 in a direction that rotates it toward the agitating member 32.

Also, as shown in FIG. 15, multiple holes 39a may be provided in the scraping member 39. The holes 39a are holes that penetrate in the direction in which the toner flows. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, the toner T passes through the holes 39a and accumulates on the upper part. In addition, the scraping member 39 is pushed by the toner T at a portion other than the holes 39a of the scraping member 39, and a force is applied to rotate the scraping member 39 toward the agitating member 32. By providing multiple holes 39a in the scraping member 39, the toner that passes through the holes 39a and moves toward the partition 37 can be sent toward the agitating member 32, thereby improving the toner scraping effect of the scraping member 39.

Also, as shown in FIG. 17, the scraping member 39 may extend in the opposite direction to the extension direction of the partition wall 37. In other words, the free end of the scraping member 39 may be disposed below the direction of gravity. In this case, as shown in FIG. 18, the scraping member 39 has a comb-tooth shape in which convex portions 39b and concave portions 39c are alternately arranged in the axial direction. This comb-tooth shape allows the scraping member 39 to rotate along the screw portion of the conveying screw 33 so as to slip between the portions when it rotates clockwise in FIG. 17.

In this embodiment, the scraping member 39 can scrape off the toner in the second region X2 and send it toward the stirring member 32, allowing more toner to be returned to the stirring member 32.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the present invention has been described as being applied to a toner cartridge (toner storage container) as a powder storage container that stores powder used in image formation, but the present invention is not limited to this and can also be applied to powder storage containers that store powder other than toner. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to powder storage containers used in image forming devices, but can also be applied to powder storage containers used in other devices and applications.

In addition, the image forming apparatus equipped with the toner cartridge of the above-described embodiment (more specifically, the image forming apparatus equipped with a developing device having a toner cartridge) is not limited to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, but may be an inkjet image forming apparatus.

Recording media include paper P (plain paper), as well as cardboard, postcards, envelopes, thin paper, coated paper (coated paper, art paper, etc.), tracing paper, overhead projector sheets, plastic film, prepreg, copper foil, etc.

4 Developing device 30 Toner cartridge (powder container)
31 Container body 32 Stirring member 33 Conveying screw (conveying member)
34 Partition member 35 Return port 36 Discharge port 37 Partition wall 37a Rotation shaft 37b Recess 38 Torsion spring (biasing member)
39 Scraping member 39a Hole 100 Image forming device X1 First area X2 Second area

JP 2019-2956 A

Claims (11)

A container body that contains the powder and has an outlet for discharging the powder to the outside;
A conveying member that conveys the powder to the discharge port;
a stirring member that is rotatably provided and stirs the powder in the container body;
a return port for returning the powder transported by the transport member to the stirring member;
A powder storage container including a partition wall separating the stirring member and the return port,
When the powder container is attached to the image forming apparatus, at least a portion of the partition is provided above the return port,
the partition wall is capable of opening a gap between the stirring member side and the return port side to the stirring member side,
The partition automatically returns to the closed state after the opening,
The partition has a rotation axis on the side opposite to the direction of gravity, and a lower portion of the partition opens and closes in the direction of gravity . A container body that contains the powder and has an outlet for discharging the powder to the outside;
A conveying member that conveys the powder to the discharge port;
a stirring member that is rotatably provided and stirs the powder in the container body;
a return port for returning the powder transported by the transport member to the stirring member;
A powder storage container including a partition wall separating the stirring member and the return port,
When the powder container is attached to the image forming apparatus, at least a portion of the partition is provided above the return port,
the partition wall is capable of opening a gap between the stirring member side and the return port side to the stirring member side,
The partition has a recess that is recessed toward the stirring member . A container body that contains the powder and has an outlet for discharging the powder to the outside;
A conveying member that conveys the powder to the discharge port;
a stirring member that is rotatably provided and stirs the powder in the container body;
a return port for returning the powder transported by the transport member to the stirring member;
A powder storage container including a partition wall separating the stirring member and the return port,
When the powder container is attached to the image forming apparatus, at least a portion of the partition is provided above the return port,
the partition wall is capable of opening a gap between the stirring member side and the return port side to the stirring member side,
A powder storage container comprising: a scraping member disposed on an opposite side of the partition wall from the stirring member, the scraping member being movable toward the stirring member . 4. The powder storage container according to claim 3 , wherein a tip of the scraping member is provided between the return port and the conveying member. The powder storage container according to claim 3 , wherein the scraping member extends in a direction opposite to an extension direction of the partition wall relative to the return port. The powder storage container according to claim 3 , wherein the scraping member is provided with a hole . The powder storage container according to claim 3 , wherein the scraping member is shaped like comb teeth. The powder storage container according to claim 1 , wherein the partition wall opens toward the stirring member due to a load from the powder accumulated above the discharge port. The powder storage container according to claim 1 , which is a toner storage container for storing toner as the powder. A developing device comprising the toner container according to claim 9 , for developing toner supplied from the toner container. An image forming apparatus comprising the developing device according to claim 10 .

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