Toner container and image forming device

Abstract

The invention provides a toner container and an image forming device. The toner container of the present invention has a container main body and a stirring member. The container main body accommodates toner. The agitating member rotates around a rotation shaft extending in one direction, and agitates the toner housed in the container main body. The container body has a curved portion and a concave portion. The curved portion is curved in an arc shape centering on the rotating shaft. The concave portion is recessed from the bent portion to a side away from the rotation axis. A part of the stirring member is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the bent portion in a bent state in a state where the stirring member is located at the first rotation position. The part of the stirring member is inserted into the concave portion in a state where the stirring member is located at the second rotation position. The present invention can suppress the permanent deformation of a part of the agitating member that is always in a bent state, and the toner in the container main body can be sufficiently agitated by the agitating member.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a toner container and an image forming apparatus having the same. Background technique [0002] Image forming apparatuses such as printers, copiers, facsimile machines, and all-in-one machines form a toner image by supplying toner (developer) to an image carrier such as a photosensitive drum from a developing device. Such toner for forming a toner image is usually supplied to the developing device from a toner container. The toner container includes, for example, a container body and a stirring member. The container body houses toner, and the stirring member rotates around a rotation axis to stir the toner housed in the container body. [0003] In the above-mentioned toner container, a portion of the agitating member is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the container main body in a bent state, thereby increasing the agitation force for the toner adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the container ma...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

On the other hand, if the toner container is left for a long time with a part of the agitating member bent, a large load continues to act on a part of the agitating member, thereby permanently deforming a part of the agitating member in a bent state.

If this happens, the rotation locus of the stirring member becomes narrow, and there is a possibility that the toner in the container main body cannot be sufficiently stirred by the stirring member.

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