Developer container and image forming apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a developer storage device and an image forming apparatus. The developer storage device of the present application is configured to enable a user to reliably hold a developer container. The developer storage device includes a developer container and a container support portion that holds the developer container at a predetermined mounting position. The developer container includes a container main body, a receiving port, a first handle portion, and a second handle portion. The receiving port is provided near a first end portion on the insertion direction side of the developer container in a container upper portion of the container main body. The receiving port causes the developer to flow into the inside of the container main body. The first handle portion is provided in the container upper portion of the container main body. The second handle portion is provided in a second end portion on the pull-out direction side opposite to the insertion direction in the container main body.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a developer container device provided with a developer container capable of accommodating used developer, and an image forming apparatus provided with the developer container device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Generally, an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic system is provided with a developer container that recovers and stores used developer (hereinafter referred to as "waste developer") used in an image forming section. The developer container is detachable with respect to a mounting section provided in the image forming apparatus, so that it can be replaced.

[0003] A conventional developer container is provided with a handle on a front side in a mounting direction with respect to the mounting section, and a receiving port of the waste developer is provided on a front end portion in the mounting direction in an upper portion of the container. Therefore, when a user holds the handle and pulls the developer container out of the mounting section to the outside, and then lifts the developer container carelessly while maintaining this state, the front end side of the developer container is sometimes inclined downward due to the weight of the developer container. In this case, the waste developer is spilled from the receiving port, and the vicinity of the insertion port of the mounting section and the floor can be contaminated with the waste developer. SUMMARY

[0004] An object of the present application is to provide a developer container device and an image forming apparatus provided with the developer container device, in which the developer container is not inclined when the developer container is pulled out.

[0005] A developer container device of one embodiment of the present application includes a developer container that can accommodate used developer recovered in an image forming apparatus, and a container support section provided in the image forming apparatus that holds the developer container inserted into the inside from an opening formed in a side surface of the image forming apparatus at a predetermined mounting position. The developer container includes a container main body, a receiving port provided near a first end portion on a side of an insertion direction of the developer container in an upper portion of the container main body, which causes the developer to flow into the inside of the container main body, a first handle section provided in the upper portion of the container main body, and a second handle section provided in a second end portion on a pulling-out direction side opposite to the insertion direction in the container main body.

[0006] An image forming apparatus of another aspect of the present invention includes: an apparatus main body; an image producing section that forms a developer image composed of a developer on an image carrier; a cleaning section that removes used developer remaining on the image carrier; a developer container that can accommodate the used developer removed by the cleaning section; and a container support section that holds the developer container inserted into an inside from an opening formed in a side surface of the apparatus main body at a predetermined mounting position, the developer container including: a container main body; a receiving port provided near a first end portion of the developer container on a side of an insertion direction of the container main body, which causes the developer to flow into an inside of the container main body; a first handle section provided at a container upper portion of the container main body; and a second handle section provided at a second end portion of the container main body on a pull-out direction side opposite to the insertion direction.

[0007] According to the present invention, the developer container can be held without tilting the developer container when the developer container is pulled out.

[0008] This specification suitably refers to the accompanying drawings by way of summarizing the concepts described in the following detailed description. The intent of this specification is not to limit the important features and essential characteristics of the subject matter recited in the claims, and further, is not to limit the scope of the subject matter recited in the claims. Further, the subject matter recited in the claims is not limited to implementations that solve any or all of the disadvantages of any portion of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention.

[0010] Figure 2 is a schematic view showing the internal configuration of an image forming apparatus.

[0011] Figure 3 is Figure 1 is a partial enlarged view of a main portion III of FIG. 1, showing the configuration of the periphery of a container mounting section provided in the image forming apparatus.

[0012] Figure 4 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of the container mounting section in which the recovery container is mounted.

[0013] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the recovery container.

[0014] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the recovery container.

[0015] Figure 7A is a view showing the mounting operation of the recovery container.

[0016] Figure 7B is a view showing a mounting operation of the recycling container.

[0017] Figure 7C is a view showing a mounting operation of the recycling container.

[0018] Figure 8A is a view showing a mounting operation of the recycling container.

[0019] Figure 8B is a view showing a mounting operation of the recycling container.

[0020] Figure 8C is a view showing a mounting operation of the recycling container.

[0021] Figure 9 is a perspective view of a configuration of a recycling container of another embodiment of the present application.

[0022] Figure 10 is a perspective view of a configuration of a recycling container of another embodiment of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present application will be described with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below is only one example of embodying the present application, and does not limit the technical scope of the present application. In addition, in order to facilitate the description, the upper-lower direction D1, the front-rear direction D2, and the left-right direction D3 are defined in a state in which the image forming apparatus 10 can be used (a state shown in FIG. 1). Figure 1

[0024] Reference Signs Figure 1 A configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 (one example of the image forming apparatus of the present application) will be described. Here, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus 10 of the embodiment of the present application. In addition, in Figure 1 , the illustration of a cover of an upper portion of the image forming apparatus 10 is omitted.

[0025] The image forming apparatus 10 is a digital multifunction peripheral having a printing function, a copying function, a scanning function, a facsimile function, and the like. As shown in Figure 1 , the image forming apparatus 10 has an image reading apparatus 11 and an image forming section 12, and the like.

[0026] The image reading apparatus 11 is an apparatus that reads an image of a document placed on a document placement table 14. The image reading apparatus 11 is provided at an upper portion of the image forming apparatus 10. The image reading apparatus 11 has the document placement table 14, a reading unit (not shown), a document pressing member (not shown), and the like. The image reading apparatus 11 performs a process of reading an image from a stationary document placed on the document placement table 14.

[0027] ​In the present embodiment, an image forming apparatus 10 provided with the image reading apparatus 11 is exemplified and described, but the present application is not limited thereto. For example, the present application can also be applied to a printer (image forming apparatus) having only a printing function of forming an image on a sheet using a developer.

[0028] The image forming section 12 forms a color or black-and-white image on a sheet by an electrophotographic method based on image data read by the image reading apparatus 11 or image data input from an information processing apparatus such as a personal computer outside. The sheet is a sheet-shaped image forming medium (transfer medium) such as paper and an envelope. The sheet on which the image is formed is discharged to a paper tray (not shown).

[0029] In addition, in the present embodiment, the image forming section 12 by the electrophotographic method is exemplified and described, but the image forming section 12 is not limited to the electrophotographic method, and can be any recording method or printing method as long as the image is formed using a developer such as a toner.

[0030] Figure 2 is a schematic view showing the configuration of the image forming section 12. As shown in Figure 2 , the image forming section 12 is provided with a frame 19 as an apparatus main body, a sheet storage section 17, a sheet supply section 2, a sheet feeding section 3, an image producing section 40 (an example of the image producing section of the present application), an optical scanning section 46, a fixing section 49, a toner replenishment section 50, and a waste toner storage apparatus 6 (an example of the developer storage apparatus of the present application).

[0031] The image producing section 40 performs an image forming process of forming an image on a sheet using a developer. The image producing section 40 includes an image forming unit 4, a device for development, a device for transport of the developer, and the like. The developer is a two-component developer including a toner and a carrier.

[0032] The image producing section 40 is provided with a plurality of image forming units 4 corresponding to a plurality of colors of toners, an intermediate transfer belt 47 (an example of the image carrier of the present application), a secondary transfer section 48, and a belt cleaning section 51 (an example of the cleaning section of the present application). Further, a plurality of toner replenishment sections 50 are provided in accordance with the colors of the toners. In the present embodiment, the image producing section 40 is provided with four image forming units 4.

[0033] The image forming units 4 each include a photosensitive drum 41 (an example of an image carrier of the present application), a charging section 42, a developing section 43, a primary transfer section 44, and a drum cleaning section 45 (an example of a cleaning section of the present application). In the image forming units 4 of the image forming section 40, the developing section 43 forms a toner image (an example of a developer image) on the outer circumferential surface of the photosensitive drum 41. Further, in the image forming section 40, the primary transfer section 44 forms the toner image on the photosensitive drum 41 on the intermediate transfer belt 47.

[0034] The sheet body storage section 17 stores the sheet bodies supplied from the sheet body supply section 2. The sheet body supply section 2 takes out the sheet bodies from the sheet body storage section 17 and feeds the sheet bodies to the paper feed passage 30. The paper feed section 3 feeds the sheet bodies fed by the sheet body supply section 2 along the paper feed passage 30 to the downstream side in the sheet body supply direction. The intermediate transfer belt 47 is a ring-shaped belt member that rotates in a state of being stretched between two rollers.

[0035] In each of the image forming units 4, the drum-shaped photosensitive drum 41 rotates, and the charging section 42 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 41. The optical scanning section 46 writes an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 by scanning laser light.

[0036] The developing section 43 develops the electrostatic latent image into a toner image using a developer containing a carrier held in advance and unused toner supplied from the toner replenishment section 50. Thus, the toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 41.

[0037] The primary transfer section 44 transfers the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 to the intermediate transfer belt 47. Then, the toner images are transferred from the plurality of photosensitive drums 41 to the intermediate transfer belt 47, respectively. Thus, a color toner image in which toner images of respective colors are overlaid is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 47.

[0038] The secondary transfer section 48 transfers the color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 47 to the sheet body. The fixing section 49 fixes the color toner image on the sheet body by heating. After that, the sheet body on which the image is fixed is discharged to a paper discharge tray (not shown).

[0039] The drum cleaning section 45 removes toner (used toner) remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 after transfer by the primary transfer section 44. The drum cleaning section 45 has, for example, a cleaning member such as a cleaning blade or a cleaning roller that contacts the surface of the photosensitive drum 41 to remove the used toner, and a conveying member such as a screw shaft provided in a housing of the drum cleaning section 45. The conveying member is driven by a driving section such as a motor not shown, whereby the conveying member conveys the toner accumulated in the bottom of the housing to the conveying passage 20 (see FIG. 2) in the frame body 19. Figure 2 )

[0040] The belt cleaning portion 51 removes toner (used toner) remaining on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 47 after transfer by the secondary transfer portion 48. The belt cleaning portion 51 has, for example, a cleaning member such as a cleaning blade or a cleaning roller that contacts the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 47 to remove the used toner, and a conveying member such as a screw shaft provided in a housing of the belt cleaning portion 51. The conveying member is driven by a drive portion such as a motor not shown, whereby the conveying member conveys the toner accumulated in the bottom of the housing toward the conveying passage 20.

[0041] The used toner conveyed from the drum cleaning portion 45 and the belt cleaning portion 51 toward the conveying passage 20 is an example of the used developer of the present application. The used toner is toner that is discarded or recycled for use, and is hereinafter referred to as waste toner.

[0042] A toner conveying member for conveying the waste toner toward the waste toner storage device 6 is provided in the conveying passage 20. The toner conveying member is driven by a drive portion such as a motor not shown, whereby the waste toner in the conveying passage 20 is conveyed toward the waste toner storage device 6.

[0043] The waste toner storage device 6 has a recycling container 60 (an example of the developer container of the present application) for storing the waste toner, and a container mounting portion 70 (an example of the container supporting portion of the present application) that supports the recycling container 60. The waste toner removed from the photosensitive drum 41 and the intermediate transfer belt 47 by the drum cleaning portion 45 and the belt cleaning portion 51 is conveyed toward the waste toner storage device 6 and stored inside the recycling container 60.

[0044] Figure 3 is a partial enlarged view showing the configuration of the periphery of the container mounting portion 70. As shown in Figure 3 , the container mounting portion 70 is provided at the left end portion of the lower portion of the front surface in the frame body 19.

[0045] The opening 21 is formed in the lower portion of the left end portion of the front surface of the frame body 19. The opening 21 is formed in a long rectangular shape that is thin in the left-right direction D3 and long in the up-down direction D1. The container mounting portion 70 is provided on the rear side from the opening 21.

[0046] The container mounting portion 70 holds the recycling container 60 inserted into the inside from the opening 21 at a predetermined mounting position (the position shown in Figure 4 ). The container mounting portion 70 supports the recycling container 60 so as to be detachable.

[0047] As shown in Figure 3As shown, the container mounting portion 70 has a lid 71 that is displaced between a closed position that closes the opening 21 and an open position that opens the opening 21. The lid 71 is pivoted about a hinge portion (not shown) provided at a left edge portion of the opening 21 between the closed position and the open position, opening and closing the opening 21. By opening the lid 71, the recycling container 60 is exposed from the opening 21 to the outside. Thus, the user can hold a handle provided at a front end portion of the recycling container 60 and pull out the recycling container 60 from the container mounting portion 70.

[0048] Figure 4 is a side view schematically showing the configuration of the container mounting portion 70. Figure 4 shows a state in which the recycling container 60 is mounted to the container mounting portion 70. Figure 5 and Figure 6 is a perspective view showing the recycling container 60. In Figure 5 and Figure 6 , the upward-downward direction Dl, the front-rear direction D2, and the left-right direction D3 are defined with reference to the mounting posture of the recycling container 60 with respect to the container mounting portion 70. Figure 7A , Figure 7B and Figure 7C are views showing the mounting operation of the recycling container 60. Figure 8A , Figure 8B and Figure 8C are views showing the dismounting operation of the recycling container 60.

[0049] As shown in Figure 4 , the container mounting portion 70 has a bottom plate 72 that supports the bottom portion 69 of the recycling container 60, and a locking member 74 (an example of the stop member of the present application) that holds the recycling container 60 mounted at the mounting position at the mounting position.

[0050] The bottom plate 72 is a flat support plate that extends in the rearward direction from the lower end portion of the opening 21, forming a part of the bottom plate of the frame 19. The bottom plate 72 supports the bottom portion 69 of the recycling container 60 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction D2.

[0051] The locking member 74 is provided to the frame 19. The locking member 74 is supported to the upper edge portion 21A of the opening 21 so as to be movable in the upward-downward direction Dl. The locking member 74 is supported so as to be movable between a locking position (an example of the protruding position of the present application) in which the locking member 74 is protruded downward from the upper edge portion 21A to lock the recycling container 60, and a release position (an example of the retracted position of the present application) in which the locking member 74 is retracted to the inside of the upper edge portion 21A to release the recycling container 60. Figure 4 shows a state in which the locking member 74 is positioned at the locking position.

[0052] In this embodiment, the recovery container 60 is mounted on the container mounting portion 70 at the mounting position of the container mounting state ( Figure 4 When the locking member 74 is in the locked position in the container mounted state, the locking piece 74A at the lower end of the locking member 74 engages with the front surface portion 66A (refer to FIG. 1 ) of the first limiting portion 66 (an example of the first engaging portion of the present invention) of the recovery container 60. Figure 5 ) abuts. Thus, the recovery container 60 is restricted from moving forward from the mounting position. As a result, the recovery container 60 can be stably held in the mounting position in the container mounting portion 70. The first restriction portion 66 will be described later.

[0053] The front surface of the locking piece 74A is an inclined surface that is inclined obliquely forward and upward. Therefore, when the recovery container 60 is inserted into the installation position of the container mounting portion 70, when the rear end portion 62A (an example of the first end portion of the present invention) of the upper portion 621 of the container body 62 (an example of the upper portion of the container of the present invention) abuts the inclined surface, the locking member 74 is lifted upward using the principle of an inclined cam. As a result, the recovery container 60 can be smoothly inserted into the container mounting portion 70 by retreating the locking member 74 to the release position. Alternatively, the user can manually move the locking member 74 upward to retreat the locking member 74 to the release position.

[0054] Furthermore, during the container pulling process in which the recovery container 60 is pulled forward from the mounting position of the container mounting portion 70, the locking member 74 is also disposed at the locking position. During the container pulling process, when the recovery container 60 moves to a predetermined rearward limiting position ( ) spaced from the mounting position in the pulling direction D22 (forward), the recovery container 60 is locked. Figure 8B When the locking piece 74A is in the position shown in FIG. 1 , the front surface portion (refer to FIG. 1 ) of the second limiting portion 64 (an example of the second engaging portion of the present invention) of the recovery container 60 is engaged with the locking piece 74A. Figure 5 ) abuts. This prevents the recovery container 60 from moving forward from the rear restriction position and falling off the container mounting portion 70. The second restriction portion 64 will be described later.

[0055] In addition, the locking of the second restricting portion 64 can be released by the user manually moving the locking member 74 upward.

[0056] Further, the container mounting portion 70 has an urging member 75 (an example of an urging member of the present application) that exerts a force on the locking member 74 toward the locked position. The urging member 75 is, for example, an elastic member such as a helical spring, a sponge member, a rubber member, or the like that has elasticity. The urging member 75 exerts an elastic force that presses the locking member 74 downward. With this elastic force, the locking member 74 is pressed downward, and thus the recovery container 60 is reliably restricted in the mounted position or the rearward restricted position.

[0057] The recovery container 60 is detachably (releasably) mounted with respect to the container mounting portion 70 via the opening 21. The recovery container 60 is a container whose inside is formed in a hollow shape, and in which the waste toner discharged from the image forming portion 40 is accommodated.

[0058] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the recovery container 60 has a container body 62 (an example of a container body of the present application) that stores the waste toner, a first restricting portion 66, a second restricting portion 64, and an inlet port 61 (an example of a receiving port of the present application) that guides the waste toner inward. Figure 5 Figure 6 As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the recovery container 60 has a container body 62 (an example of a container body of the present application) that stores the waste toner, a first restricting portion 66, a second restricting portion 64, and an inlet port 61 (an example of a receiving port of the present application) that guides the waste toner inward.

[0059] The container body 62 is shaped so that the dimension in the insertion direction D21 and the dimension in the up-down direction D1 are larger than the dimension in the width direction (left-right direction D3) orthogonal to the insertion direction D21. In other words, the container body 62 is shaped so as to be narrow in the left-right direction D3 and long in the up-down direction D1 and the front-rear direction D2, and is shaped so as to be flat in the width direction (left-right direction D3). Here, the insertion direction D21 is the direction in which the recovery container 60 is inserted from the opening 21 toward the inner side of the container mounting portion 70 when the recovery container 60 is mounted to the container mounting portion 70.

[0060] The first restricting portion 66 is provided at the upper portion 621 of the container body 62. The first restricting portion 66 engages with the locking member 74 in the locked position, and restricts the recovery container 60 from moving forward from the mounted position.

[0061] The first restricting portion 66 is provided at the upper portion 621 of the container body 62 on the pull-out direction D22 (forward direction) side of the recovery container 60. The first restricting portion 66 is integrally formed with the container body 62. A step portion 67 that is one level lower than an upper surface portion 65 that constitutes an upper surface of the container body 62 is formed at the end portion in the pull-out direction D22 in the upper portion 621 of the container body 62. The first restricting portion 66 protrudes upward more than the step portion 67, and protrudes upward more than the upper surface portion 65.

[0062] ​The flow inlet 61 is formed in a size, shape, and position such that the waste toner discharged from the image forming portion 40 via the conveyance passage 20 can flow in when the recovery container 60 is installed in the container installation portion 70 in an installed state. In the present embodiment, the flow inlet 61 is provided at the upper portion 621 of the container main body 62 at a position that can communicate with the lower end flow outlet of the conveyance passage 20 in the installed state. Specifically, the flow inlet 61 is formed in a through-hole in the upper surface 63A of the table-shaped portion 63 provided at the upper portion 621 of the container main body 62. The flow inlet 61 penetrates the upper surface 63A of the table-shaped portion 63 toward the inside along the vertical direction D1.

[0063] The upper portion 621 of the container main body 62 has an upper surface portion 65 that is one level lower than the upper surface 63A of the table-shaped portion 63. In other words, the table-shaped portion 63 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the upper surface portion 65. Specifically, the table-shaped portion 63 is a table-shaped portion that rises upward from the upper surface of the upper surface portion 65, and the upper surface 63A of the table-shaped portion 63 is a flat surface.

[0064] The second restriction portion 64 is provided between the table-shaped portion 63 and the upper surface portion 65. A step portion from the upper surface portion 65 to the upper surface 63A of the table-shaped portion 63 is formed between the table-shaped portion 63 and the upper surface portion 65, and this step portion is the second restriction portion 64.

[0065] The second restriction portion 64 is provided at a position closer to the insertion direction D21 than the first restriction portion 66 in the upper portion 621 of the container main body 62. More specifically, the second restriction portion 64 is provided at a position closer to the insertion direction D21 than the first restriction portion 66 and closer to the pull-out direction D22 (front direction) than the flow inlet 61, and is a position in the vicinity of the flow inlet 61.

[0066] However, the existing developer container is provided with a handle only on the near side in the installation direction with respect to the installation portion. Therefore, after the user pulls out the existing developer container from the installation portion to the outside while holding the handle, if the user carelessly lifts the developer container while maintaining this state, the front end side of the developer container tilts downward due to the weight of the developer container. In this case, the waste toner spills from the waste toner receiving port provided in the upper portion of the container, and the vicinity of the insertion port of the installation portion and the floor can be contaminated with the waste toner.

[0067] In contrast, in the present embodiment, as described later, two handles 81, 82 are provided in the container main body 62. Therefore, when the recovery container 60 is pulled out and detached from the container installation portion 70, the recovery container 60 can be reliably held without tilting.

[0068] AsFigure 5 and Figure 6 As shown in FIG. 8, the recovery container 60 has a first handle 81 (an example of the first handle portion of the present application) and a second handle 82 (an example of the second handle portion of the present application). Each of the handles 81, 82 is integrally formed in the container body 62.

[0069] The first handle 81 is provided in the upper portion 621 of the container body 62. The first handle 81, for example, penetrates the container body 62 in the width direction (left-right direction D3) in the upper portion 621 of the container body 62. Therefore, the user can easily hold the upper portion 621 of the container body 62 by hooking the first handle 81 and the like with a finger. In addition, the shape of the first handle 81 can be any shape as long as the user can hold it with a hand, and can be, for example, a concave shape, a hook shape, or the like.

[0070] In the present embodiment, the first handle 81 is formed in the substantially central portion in the front-rear direction D2 in the upper portion 621 of the container body 62. More specifically, the first handle 81 is formed in a position corresponding to the position of the center of gravity of the container body 62 in a state where the waste toner is stored to the upper limit position in the inside of the container body 62. For example, in the upper portion 621 of the container body 62, the first handle 81 is formed on a plumb line passing through the position of the center of gravity. Therefore, in a case where the user holds the first handle 81 and lifts up, the balance of the recovery container 60 in the front-rear direction D2 is not broken, and it is possible to maintain the mounting posture of the recovery container 60 with respect to the container mounting portion 70 to be lifted up.

[0071] Further, the positional relationship of the first handle 81 and the second limiting portion 64 is preferably a positional relationship in which the first handle 81 is exposed to the outside from the opening 21 in a state where the recovery container 60 is pulled out from the mounting position in the container mounting portion 70 and the second limiting portion 64 is engaged with the locking member 74. Thereby, when the recovery container 60 is limited to the rear limiting position, the user can easily change the position of the handle from the second handle 82 to the first handle 81.

[0072] The second handle 82 is a portion for the user to hold when pulling out the recovery container 60 located in the mounting position, and is provided in the front end portion 62B (an example of the second end portion of the present application) of the container body 62 on the pull-out direction D22 side.

[0073] For example, the second handle 82 is formed in the lower end portion of the front end portion 62B. As shown in FIG. 8, the second handle 82 is formed in the lower end portion of the front end portion 62B. As shown in FIG. 8, the second handle 82 is formed in the lower end portion of the front end portion 62B. Figure 6As shown, the second handle 82 is formed in an upward hook shape so that a user's fingers are easily hooked from above. In the present embodiment, the portion of the front end portion 62B on the lower side from the vicinity of the central position in the vertical direction D1 is formed in a shape that is recessed toward the rear and the inner side, and a hook portion is provided in a manner that protrudes toward the front from the lower end portion of the front end portion 62B. Thus, in a side view, the front surface of the second handle 82 is on the same plane as the front surface of the front end portion 62B.

[0074] Because the recycling container 60 is thus configured, as shown in Figure 7A When the recycling container 60 is inserted into the opening 21, the rear end portion 62A of the container body 62 comes into abutment with the inclined surface of the front surface of the locking piece 74A. Thereby, the locking member 74 is lifted upward, and the recycling container 60 can be inserted to the inside of the opening 21.

[0075] Then, when the recycling container 60 is further inserted, the locking member 74 rides over the table portion 63 and rests on the upper surface portion 65 (see Figure 7B ). The upper surface portion 65 is a flat surface that extends along the front-rear direction D2. During insertion of the recycling container 60 in the insertion direction D21, the locking piece 74A of the locking member 74 slides on the upper surface portion 65.

[0076] When the recycling container 60 is further inserted in the insertion direction D21, the rear surface portion (the surface on the opposite side from the front surface portion 66A) of the first restriction portion 66 of the container body 62 comes into abutment with the inclined surface of the locking piece 74A, and the locking member 74 is lifted upward by the principle of the inclined cam. Then, when the recycling container 60 reaches the installation position, the locking member 74 rides over the first restriction portion 66 and engages with the first restriction portion 66. Thereby, movement of the recycling container 60 to the front from the installation position is restricted.

[0077] Further, in the case of pulling out the recycling container 60 from the container installation portion 70, the user manually moves the locking member 74 upward to release the locking of the first restriction portion 66 (see Figure 8A ). In this state, the user holds the second handle 82 of the recycling container 60 and pulls the recycling container 60 to the pull-out direction D22 to pull out the recycling container 60 to the front.

[0078] When the recycling container 60 is pulled out to the pull-out direction D22 (front) side to reach the rear restriction position (the position shown in Figure 8B ), the locking piece 74A of the locking member 74 comes into abutment with the second restriction portion 64, and the locking piece 74A engages with the second restriction portion 64 (see Figure 8B ). Thereby, the recycling container 60 is caught at the rear restriction position, and movement of the recycling container 60 to the front from the rear restriction position is restricted.

[0079] Furthermore, by locking the recovery container 60 in the rear limit position, the user is given the opportunity to change grips. Specifically, the user is given the opportunity to change the grip of the recovery container 60 from the second grip 82 to the first grip 81. In this case, even if the user does not intend to change the grip of the recovery container 60, locking the recovery container 60 in the rear limit position provides an opportunity to change grips while the recovery container 60 is being pulled out.

[0080] Furthermore, since the first handle 81 is exposed outward from the opening 21 when the recovery container 60 is in the rear restricted position, the first handle 81 comes into the user's field of vision while the recovery container 60 is being pulled out. This allows the user to easily notice the first handle 81, and as a result, the user may be tempted to switch from the second handle 82 to the first handle 81.

[0081] Then, after the user changes the handle from the second handle 82 to the first handle 81, he manually moves the locking member 74 upward again to release the lock on the second restricting portion 64 (see Figure 8C In this state, the user can completely remove the recovery container 60 from the container mounting portion 70 by gripping the first handle 81 of the recovery container 60 and pulling it out in the pulling direction D22. At this time, because the user grips the first handle 81, the recovery container 60 can be lifted without tilting the rear side of the recovery container 60 downward. This prevents waste toner from spilling from the inlet 61.

[0082] In addition, in the above embodiment, the Figure 5 and Figure 6 The second handle 82 is hook-shaped as shown, but the shape of the second handle 82 is not limited to Figure 5 and Figure 6 For example, Figure 9 and Figure 10 As shown, the second handle 82 may also be shaped to extend through the vicinity of the front end portion 62B of the container body 62 along the width direction (left-right direction D3). In this case, the second handle 82 is preferably formed below the center of the front end portion 62B to facilitate pulling out the recovery container 60. Furthermore, the second handle 82 may be any shape as long as it is grippable by the user, and may be, for example, concave.

[0083] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the above description but is defined by the claims. Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification are for illustration only and are not intended to be limiting. Therefore, all further modifications that do not depart from the scope and limits of the claims, as well as contents equivalent to the scope and limits of the claims, are intended to be included within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A developer accommodating device characterized by comprising: An image forming apparatus includes: a developer container capable of accommodating used developer recovered in the image forming apparatus; a container support portion provided to the image forming apparatus and holding the developer container inserted from an opening formed in a side surface of the image forming apparatus to an inside thereof at a predetermined mounting position, the developer container includes: a container main body; an acceptance port provided near a first end portion on an insertion direction side of the developer container in a container upper portion of the container main body to cause the developer to flow into an inside of the container main body; a first handle portion provided in the container upper portion of the container main body; and a second handle portion provided in a second end portion on a pull-out direction side opposite to the insertion direction in the container main body, the container support portion includes a stopper member supported so as to be movable between a projected position projecting toward the container upper portion and a retreat position away from the container upper portion, the developer container includes: a first engagement portion provided in the container upper portion to engage with the stopper member at the projected position and restrict movement of the developer container in the pull-out direction; and a second engagement portion provided at a position on the insertion direction side of the first engagement portion in the container upper portion to engage with the stopper member at the projected position and restrict movement of the developer container in the pull-out direction.

2. The developer accommodating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first handle portion is provided at a position in the container upper portion corresponding to a center of gravity of the developer container.

3. The developer accommodating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container main body is formed in a shape in which a size in the insertion direction and a size in a vertical direction are larger than a size in a width direction orthogonal to the insertion direction.

4. The developer accommodating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second engagement portion is provided near the acceptance port on the pull-out direction side of the acceptance port in the container upper portion.

5. The developer accommodating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container support portion further includes a force applying member applying a force to the stopper member toward the projected position.

6. The developer accommodating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in a state where the developer container is pulled out from the mounting position with the second engagement portion engaged with the stopper member, the first handle portion is exposed to an outside from the opening. An image forming apparatus includes:

7. An image forming apparatus characterized by comprising: a device main body; an image producing portion forming a developer image composed of a developer on an image carrier; a cleaning portion removing used developer remaining on the image carrier; a developer container capable of accommodating the used developer removed by the cleaning portion; a container support portion holding the developer container inserted from an opening formed in a side surface of the device main body to an inside thereof at a predetermined mounting position, the developer container includes: a container main body; an acceptance port provided near a first end portion on an insertion direction side of the developer container in a container upper portion of the container main body to cause the developer to flow into an inside of the container main body; ​ ​ a first handle portion provided at an upper portion of the container of the container main body; and a second handle portion provided at a second end portion of the container main body on a pull-out direction side opposite to the insertion direction, the container support portion includes a stopper member supported so as to be movable between a projected position projecting toward the upper portion of the container and a retracted position away from the upper portion of the container, the developer container includes: a first engagement portion provided at the upper portion of the container and engaged with the stopper member at the projected position to restrict movement of the developer container in the pull-out direction; and a second engagement portion provided at a position on the insertion direction side of the first engagement portion in the upper portion of the container and engaged with the stopper member at the projected position to restrict movement of the developer container in the pull-out direction.

Images