Powder container, image forming apparatus, and method for manufacturing powder container

Abstract

The invention relates to a powder container, an image forming apparatus provided with the powder container, and a method for manufacturing the powder container. The purpose of the present invention is to reduce the amount of resin used in a powder container. A toner container (32Y), which is a powder container, is capable of accommodating a powder therein, and includes a cylindrical container main body portion (33Y1) that is capable of transporting toner, which is a powder accommodated therein, in the direction of a rotation axis (R) as a transport direction by rotating about the rotation axis (R). The container main body part (33Y1) is formed by stamping paper.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a powder container for internally storing powders such as toner, an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine provided with the powder container, and a method for manufacturing the powder container. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in image forming apparatuses such as copying machines and printers, a substantially cylindrical powder container (toner container) detachably provided on the image forming apparatus main body has been mostly used (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

[0003] Specifically, in Patent Document 1, the toner container (powder container) mainly includes a substantially cylindrical container body and a lid portion. The container body has an opening formed at its head portion, and a spiral protrusion is formed on the inner peripheral surface. The lid portion has a toner discharge port (supply port) formed at its bottom, into which the head portion of the container body is inserted.

[0004] Further, the toner container provided on the image forming apparatus main body is rotationally driven by the container body, and the toner in the container body is conveyed to the opening portion. Then, the toner discharged from the opening portion of the container body is discharged to the outside of the container through the toner discharge port of the non-rotating lid portion. Then, the toner discharged from the toner container is supplied to the developing device through a toner supply device.

[0005] On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, a method for detachably providing a toner pack for toner replacement for a toner container is disclosed.

[0006] [Prior Art Documents]

[0007] [Patent Documents]

[0008] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 5999479

[0009] Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-90641 Summary of the Invention

[0010] In a conventional powder container, since most components such as the container body and the lid portion are formed of a resin material, the amount of resin used for manufacturing one powder container is large, thereby increasing the environmental load.

[0011] In particular, since the powder container (toner container) for an image forming apparatus is replaced frequently, the above problem cannot be ignored.

[0012] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a powder container, an image forming apparatus, and a method for manufacturing the powder container that use a small amount of resin.

[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the powder container of the present invention can accommodate powder therein, and includes a container main body portion which is cylindrical and can convey the powder accommodated therein in the conveying direction along the rotation axis direction by rotating around the rotation axis; the container main body portion is formed by stamping paper.

[0014] The effects of the present invention will be described below:

[0015] According to the present invention, a powder container, an image forming apparatus, and a method for manufacturing a powder container with a small amount of resin used can be provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 is an overall structural diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an image forming unit.

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic view showing a state in which a toner container is installed in a toner supply device.

[0019] Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which a toner container is installed in a setting unit.

[0020] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a toner container.

[0021] Figure 6 is a side view of the container main body portion (container main body) of the toner container.

[0022] Figure 7 is a top view showing a state of a flat forming paper before forming a substantially cylindrical container main body portion.

[0023] Figure 8 is a view showing a concavo-convex portion, and is a view showing Figure 7 a sectional view taken along line A-A.

[0024] Figure 9 is a view showing a process of manufacturing a substantially cylindrical container main body portion.

[0025] Figure 10 is a top view showing a state of a flat forming paper before forming a substantially cylindrical container main body portion as Modification 1.

[0026] Figure 11 is a top view showing a state in which stamping is performed on a flat forming paper as Modification 2.

[0027] Figure 12 is a view showing inFigure 11 A diagram of the process of manufacturing a substantially cylindrical container body after stamping.

[0028] The symbols in the figure are explained as follows:

[0029] 5Y developing device

[0030] 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K toner containers (powder containers)

[0031] 33Y container body

[0032] 33Y1 container body part (container barrel part)

[0033] 33Y2 container bottom

[0034] 33Y3 container bottom

[0035] 33Y10 bending part

[0036] 33Y11 first semi-cylindrical part

[0037] 33Y12 second semi-cylindrical part

[0038] 33Ya outer peripheral surface (front surface)

[0039] 33Yb inner peripheral surface (rear surface)

[0040] 33b, 33b1, 33b2 concavo-convex parts

[0041] 33c gear part

[0042] 100 image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus main body)

[0043] W toner discharge port (discharge port)

[0044] B1, B2 ends

[0045] Z notch Detailed implementation manners

[0046] Hereinafter, embodiments for implementing the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions thereof are appropriately simplified or omitted.

[0047] First, the overall structure and operation of the image forming apparatus 100 will be described.

[0048] As Figure 1 shown, in the toner container storage part 70 located above the image forming apparatus main body 100 (refer to Figure 4) In it, four toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K corresponding to respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) as powder containers are detachably (replaceably) provided. These toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K are manually installed onto the image forming apparatus main body 100 or removed from the image forming apparatus main body 100 by an operator such as a user.

[0049] The intermediate transfer unit 15 is provided below the toner container storage section 70. Image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K corresponding to respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) are arranged in parallel so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 8 of the intermediate transfer unit 15.

[0050] Below the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K, toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K are respectively provided. And, the toner stored in the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K is respectively supplied (supplemented) to the developing devices of the image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K through the toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K.

[0051] Refer to Figure 2 , the image forming unit 6Y corresponding to yellow is composed of a photosensitive drum 1Y, a charging device 4Y disposed around the photosensitive drum 1Y, a developing device 5Y, a cleaning device 2Y, a discharging device, and the like. And, image forming processing (charging process, exposure process, developing process, transfer process, cleaning process, and discharging process) is performed on the photosensitive drum 1Y, thereby forming a yellow image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y.

[0052] Except for the different colors of the toner used, the other three image forming units 6M, 6C, and 6K also have substantially the same structure as the image forming unit 6Y corresponding to yellow, and form images corresponding to respective toner colors. Hereinafter, the description of the other three image forming units 6M, 6C, and 6K will be appropriately omitted, and only the image forming unit 6Y corresponding to yellow will be described.

[0053] Refer to Figure 2 , the photosensitive drum 1Y is driven by a driving motor to rotate in the Figure 2 clockwise direction in. Then, at the position of the charging device 4Y, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y is uniformly charged (charging process).

[0054] Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches the irradiation position of the laser beam L emitted from the exposure device 7 (see Figure 1 ), and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to yellow is formed by exposure scanning at this position (exposure process).

[0055] Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches the position opposite to the developing device 5Y, where the electrostatic latent image is developed to form a yellow toner image (developing process).

[0056] Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches the position opposite to the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the first transfer roller 9Y, and at this position, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1Y is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 8 (primary transfer process). At this time, a small amount of untransferred toner remains on the photosensitive drum 1Y.

[0057] Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches the position opposite to the cleaning device 2Y, where the untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1Y is mechanically recovered by the cleaning blade 2a (cleaning process).

[0058] Finally, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches the position opposite to the charge removal device, and at this position, the residual potential on the photosensitive drum 1Y is removed (charge removal process).

[0059] Thus, a series of imaging processes performed on the photosensitive drum 1Y are completed.

[0060] The above-described imaging process is also performed in the other imaging units 6M, 6C, 6K in the same manner as in the yellow imaging unit 6Y. That is, the laser L based on the image information is irradiated onto the photosensitive drums of the respective imaging units 6M, 6C, 6K from the exposure device 7 disposed below the imaging units.

[0061] Then, after the developing process, the toner images of respective colors formed on the respective photosensitive drums are overlapped and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8. Thus, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8.

[0062] Here, referring to Figure 1 , the intermediate transfer unit 15 is composed of the intermediate transfer belt 8, four primary transfer rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K, the secondary transfer support roller 12, a plurality of tension rollers, the intermediate transfer cleaning device, etc. The intermediate transfer belt 8 is tensioned and supported by a plurality of roller members, and is annularly moved in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1 by the rotation drive of one roller member 12.

[0063] The four primary transfer rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 8 between the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, 1K respectively to form a primary transfer clamping portion. Then, a transfer bias opposite to the polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, 9K.

[0064] Then, the intermediate transfer belt 8 travels in the direction of the arrow and sequentially passes through the primary transfer clamping portions of the four primary transfer rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K. In this way, the toner images of each color on the photoreceptor drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are overlapped and primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 at once.

[0065] Then, the intermediate transfer belt 8 with the overlapped toner images of each color reaches the position opposite to the secondary transfer roller 19. At this position, the intermediate transfer belt 8 is clamped between the secondary transfer opposing roller 12 and the secondary transfer roller 19 to form a secondary transfer clamping portion. Then, the four-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is transferred onto the sheet P conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer clamping portion. At this time, there remains untransferred toner on the intermediate transfer belt 8 that has not been transferred onto the sheet P.

[0066] Then, the intermediate transfer belt 8 reaches the position of the intermediate transfer cleaning device. Thereafter, at this position, the untransferred toner on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is recovered.

[0067] In this way, a series of transfer processes performed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 are completed.

[0068] Here, the sheet P conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer clamping portion is conveyed from the paper feeding device 26 disposed below the apparatus main body 100 via the paper feeding roller 27 and the registration roller pair 28, etc.

[0069] Specifically, multiple sheets of paper, etc., the sheet P, are stacked and stored in the paper feeding device 26. When the paper feeding roller 27 is rotationally driven in the Figure 1 counterclockwise direction therein, the uppermost sheet P is supplied between the rollers of the registration roller pair 28.

[0070] The sheet P conveyed to the registration roller pair 28 temporarily stops at the position where the rollers of the registration roller pair 28 that have stopped rotational drive engage. Then, synchronously with the color image on the intermediate transfer belt 8, the registration roller pair 28 is driven to rotate, and the sheet P is conveyed toward the secondary transfer clamping portion. In this way, the desired color image is transferred onto the sheet P.

[0071] Then, the sheet P onto which the color image has been transferred at the position of the secondary transfer clamping portion is conveyed to the position of the fixing device 20. Then, at this position, the color image transferred onto the surface is fixed onto the sheet P by the heat and pressure of the fixing belt and the pressure roller.

[0072] Then, the sheet P passes between the rollers of the sheet discharging roller pair 29 and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus. The sheet P discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the sheet discharging roller pair 29 is sequentially stacked on the stacking portion 30 as an output image.

[0073] In this way, a series of image forming processes in the image forming apparatus are completed.

[0074] Next, referring toFigure 2 The structure and operation of the developing device in the imaging unit will be described in more detail.

[0075] The developing device 5Y includes: a developing roller 51Y facing the photosensitive drum 1Y; a doctor blade 52Y facing the developing roller 51Y; two conveying screws 55Y provided in the developer storage units 53Y and 54Y; and a density detection sensor 56Y for detecting the toner density in the developer. The developing roller 51Y is composed of a magnet fixedly provided inside and a sleeve rotating around the magnet. A two-component developer G composed of a carrier and toner is stored in the developer storage units 53Y and 54Y. The developer storage unit 54Y communicates with the toner falling and conveying path 64Y through an opening formed above it.

[0076] The developing device 5Y configured in this way operates as described below.

[0077] The sleeve of the developing roller 51Y rotates along the Figure 2 arrow direction in. Then, through the magnetic field formed by the magnet, the developer G carried on the developing roller 51Y moves on the developing roller 51Y as the sleeve rotates.

[0078] Here, the developer G in the developing device 5Y is adjusted so that the proportion (toner density) of toner in the developer is within a predetermined range. Specifically, according to the toner consumption in the developing device 5Y, the toner stored in the toner container 32Y is replenished into the developer storage unit 54Y by the toner supply device 60Y (see Figure 3 ). The structure and operation of the toner supply device will be described in detail later.

[0079] Then, the toner supplied to the developer storage unit 54Y is mixed and stirred with the developer G by the two conveying screws 55Y and circulated in the two developer storage units 53Y and 54Y ( Figure 2 movement in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in). Then, the toner in the developer G is triboelectrically charged by friction with the carrier and adsorbed on the carrier, and is carried on the developing roller 51Y together with the carrier by the magnetic force formed on the developing roller 51Y.

[0080] The developer G carried on the developing roller 51Y is conveyed along the Figure 2 arrow direction in and reaches the position of the doctor blade 52Y. Then, the developer G on the developing roller 51Y is quantified at this position and then conveyed to the facing position (developing area) of the photosensitive drum 1Y. Then, through the electric field formed in the developing area, the toner is attracted to the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1Y. Then, the developer G remaining on the developing roller 51Y reaches above the developer storage unit 53Y as the sleeve rotates and detaches from the developing roller 51Y at this position.

[0081] Next, with reference to Figure 3 and Figure 4 the toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K will be described in detail.

[0082] With reference to Figure 3 , the toner in each of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K provided in the toner container storage section 70 of the apparatus main body 100 is appropriately supplied into each developing device according to the toner consumption in each color developing device through the toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K provided for each toner color.

[0083] Since the four toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K and the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K have substantially the same structure except for the different colors of the toner used for image forming processing, only the toner supply device 60Y and the toner container 32Y corresponding to yellow will be described, and the descriptions of the toner supply devices 60M, 60C, and 60K and the toner containers 32M, 32C, and 32K corresponding to the other three colors will be appropriately omitted.

[0084] As Figure 4 shown, when the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K are installed (moved in the direction of arrow Q) into the toner container storage section 70 (provided with a guide rail section 72 as a setting section) of the apparatus main body 100, in conjunction with this installation operation, the shutter members 34d of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K move, the toner discharge port W serving as a discharge port opens, and the toner supply ports 73w of the toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K (refer to Figure 3 ) communicate with the toner discharge port W. Therefore, the toner stored in the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K is discharged from the toner discharge port W and stored in the toner tank section 61Y through the toner supply ports 73w of the toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K.

[0085] Here, with reference to Figure 3 , the toner container 32Y is a substantially cylindrical toner bottle mainly composed of a lid portion 34Y and a container body 33Y (bottle body). Among them, the lid portion 34Y is held in the toner container storage section 70 in a non-rotating manner, and the container body 33Y is integrally formed with a gear portion 33c. The container body 33Y is held so as to be able to rotate relative to the lid portion 34Y, and is rotated by a drive section 91 (composed of a drive motor, a drive gear 81, etc.) in the Figure 3It is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow. Further, by the rotation of the container body 33Y itself, the toner stored inside the toner container 32Y (container body 33Y) is conveyed in the longitudinal direction by the spiral uneven portion 33b (protrusion portion) that is recessed from the outer peripheral surface side of the container body 33Y and protrudes toward the inner peripheral surface side (conveyed from the left side to the right side), and the toner is discharged from the toner discharge port W of the lid portion 34Y. That is, by appropriately rotationally driving the container body 33Y of the toner container 32Y by the drive unit 91, toner is appropriately supplied to the toner tank portion 61Y. When the lives of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K have reached (when almost all of the toner stored in the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K has been consumed and emptied), they are replaced with new ones. Figure 3 The toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K include a toner container storage portion 70, a toner tank portion 61Y, a toner conveying screw 62Y, a stirring member 65Y, a toner exhaustion sensor 66Y, a drive unit 91, etc., as shown in

[0086] Refer to Figure 3 .

[0087] The toner tank portion 61Y is provided below the toner discharge port W of the toner container 32Y and stores the toner discharged from the toner discharge port W of the toner container 32Y. The bottom of the toner tank portion 61Y is connected to the upstream portion of the toner conveying screw 62Y.

[0088] In addition, a toner exhaustion sensor 66Y is provided on the wall surface of the toner tank portion 61Y (at a position at a predetermined height from the bottom) for detecting a case where the toner stored in the toner tank portion 61Y becomes less than a predetermined amount. As the toner exhaustion sensor 66Y, a piezoelectric sensor or the like can be used. When the control unit 90 detects, through the toner exhaustion sensor 66Y, that the amount of toner stored in the toner tank portion 61Y is equal to or less than the predetermined amount (detects toner exhaustion), under the control of the control unit 90, the drive unit 91 (drive gear 81) drives the container body 33Y of the toner container 32Y to rotate for a predetermined time to supply toner to the toner tank portion 61Y. Further, if the detection of toner exhaustion by the toner exhaustion sensor 66Y is not canceled even after repeating the above control, it is considered that there is no toner in the toner container 32Y, and information prompting replacement of the toner container 32Y is displayed on the display panel of the apparatus main body 100.

[0089] In addition, a stirring member 65Y for preventing the toner stored in the toner tank portion 61Y from agglomerating is provided at the center of the toner tank portion 61Y (near the toner exhaustion sensor 66Y). The stirring member 65Y is a member provided with a flexible member on the shaft portion, and by rotating Figure 3Rotate the toner in the toner container section 61Y clockwise to stir it. In addition, the front end of the flexible member of the stirring member 65Y slidably contacts the detection surface of the toner exhaustion sensor 66Y at a rotation cycle, thereby suppressing the adhesion of toner to the detection surface of the toner exhaustion sensor 66Y and reducing the detection accuracy.

[0090] The toner conveying screw 62Y conveys the toner stored in the toner container section 61Y obliquely upward. Specifically, the toner conveying screw 62Y conveys the toner linearly upward from the bottom (lowest point) of the toner container section 61Y to above the developing device 5Y. Then, the toner conveyed by the toner conveying screw 62Y falls due to its own weight in the toner falling conveyance path 64Y (refer to Figure 2 ) and is replenished into the developing device 5Y (developer storage section 54Y).

[0091] Refer to Figure 4 , the toner container storage section 70 mainly consists of a lid receiving section 73 for holding the lid section 34Y of the toner container 32Y, a guide rail section 72 as a setting section (mounting section) for holding the container main body 33Y of the toner container 32Y, and an insertion port section 71 as an insertion port when the toner container 32Y is being installed.

[0092] Here, refer to Figure 1 , on the front side of the apparatus main body 100 ( Figure 1 the front side in the vertical direction of the paper surface of Figure 4 ), an opening / closing door 110 is provided (refer to

[0093] ). When this door is opened, the toner container storage section 70 (insertion port section 71, guide rail section 72) is exposed. And, with the length direction (rotation axis direction) of each toner container 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K set to the horizontal direction, the loading and unloading of each toner container 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K are performed from the front side of the apparatus main body 100 (loading and unloading operation with the length direction (rotation axis direction) of the toner container set as the loading and unloading direction).

[0094] Next, refer to Figure 5 etc. to describe in detail the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K as powder containers.

[0095] As shown Figure 5 in FIG. , the toner container 32Y mainly includes a substantially cylindrical container body 33Y (bottle body) and a lid portion 34Y (bottle cap), and the head portion (container head portion 33Y2, refer to Figure 6 ) of the container body 33Y is inserted into the lid portion 34Y.

[0096] The substantially cylindrical container body 33Y has the loading and unloading direction of the toner container 32Y ( Figure 3 the left - right direction) as the rotation axis direction, rotates about the rotation axis R (refer to Figure 3 ), and conveys the toner in powder form stored inside to the opening A.

[0097] The lid portion 34Y has the head portion (container head portion 33Y2) of the container body 33Y forming the opening A inserted therein, and a toner discharge port W is provided at the bottom for discharging the toner discharged from the opening A to the outside of the container.

[0098] Refer to Figure 2 , Figure 6 . At the container head portion 33Y2 of the substantially cylindrical container body 33Y, on one end side in the rotation axis direction ( Figure 2 , Figure 6 the left - right direction), a gear portion 33c that rotates integrally with the container body 33Y and an opening A are provided. The opening A is provided at the container head portion 33Y2 of the container body 33Y (the position that becomes the front during the installation operation), and is used to discharge the toner stored in the container body 33Y to the space (void) inside the lid portion 34Y.

[0099] The conveyance of the toner from the inside of the container body 33Y to the void inside the lid portion 34Y (rotation driving of the container body 33Y) is appropriately performed to such an extent that the toner inside the lid portion 34Y is not lower than a specified water line.

[0100] The gear portion 33c of the container body 33Y (container head portion 33Y2) meshes with a drive gear 81 provided on the toner - container housing portion 70 of the apparatus main body 100, and is used to drive the container body 33Y to rotate in the arrow direction with the longitudinal direction as the rotation axis direction. Figure 2

[0101] Specifically, the gear portion 33c is formed to surround the opening A, and a plurality of teeth are formed radially with respect to the rotation center of the container body 33Y. And a part of the gear portion 33c is exposed from a cutout portion formed in the lid portion 34Y and meshes with the drive gear 81 of the apparatus main body 100 at an engagement position obliquely below. And the driving force is transmitted from the drive gear 81 to the gear portion 33c, and the container body 33Y rotates in a specified direction.

[0102] Reference Figures 4 - 6 , at the other end side in the length direction of the container body 33Y (the end portion on the upstream side in the mounting direction), a container bottom 33Y3 is provided with a grip portion 33d for the user to hold when loading and unloading the toner container 32Y. While holding the grip portion 33d, the user mounts the toner container 32Y relative to the main body 100 (guide rail portion 72) of the image forming apparatus (the toner container 32Y moves along Figure 5 the direction indicated by the arrow in

[0103] In addition, on the container body portion 33Y1 of the container body 33Y (a portion different from the container head 33Y2 and the container bottom 33Y3), a spiral uneven portion 33b recessed from the outer peripheral surface side and protruding toward the inner peripheral surface side is provided (refer to Figure 5 , Figure 6 ), which is a spiral groove when viewed from the outer peripheral surface side and a spiral protrusion when viewed from the inner peripheral surface side. The spiral uneven portion 33b is used to rotate the container body 33Y with the length direction as the rotation axis direction, and convey the toner stored inside the container body 33Y to the opening A and discharge it from the opening A.

[0104] In the present embodiment, the container body portion 33Y1 of the container body 33Y is formed of a formed paper that can be stamped, which will be described in detail later with reference to Figures 6 - 9 and the like.

[0105] Reference Figure 3 , Figure 5 , Figure 6 and the like, the lid portion 34Y of the toner container 32Y is provided with a shutter member 34d and the like at its bottom.

[0106] The lid portion 34Y is inserted into the opening A of the container body 33Y. A toner discharge port (discharge port) is formed at the bottom of the lid portion 34Y, and the toner discharge port is used to discharge the toner discharged from the opening A of the container body 33Y to the outside of the container, that is, vertically downward (falling by its own weight). The shutter member 34d for opening and closing the toner discharge port W (see Figure 3 and Figure 5 ) is slidably held at the bottom of the lid portion 34Y. Specifically, by the relative movement of the shutter member 34d in the length direction from the lid portion 34Y side to the container body 33Y side (movement in the reverse direction of the arrow in Figure 5 ), the toner discharge port W is opened, and by the relative movement in the length direction from the container body 33Y side to the lid portion 34Y side (movement in the direction of the arrow in Figure 5Upon moving in the direction of the arrow (the movement in the direction of the dashed arrow in [])), the toner discharge port W is closed. The opening and closing operation of the shutter member 34d (the opening and closing operation of the toner discharge port W) is performed in conjunction with the loading and unloading operation of the toner container 32Y in the length direction (the rotation axis direction) of the toner container housing portion 70 (the guide portion 72).

[0107] The lid portion 34Y configured in this way communicates with the container main body 33Y through the opening A, and discharges the toner discharged from the opening A from the toner discharge port W ( Figure 3 the movement in the direction of the dashed arrow in []).

[0108] Here, in the present embodiment, inside the lid portion 34Y, a substantially cylindrical cavity (space) is formed so as to extend in the length direction. Further, inside the lid portion 34Y, a columnar toner falling path is provided with a certain flow path area (flow path cross-sectional area) from the circumferential surface below the substantially cylindrical cavity toward the toner discharge port W. Thus, the toner discharged from the opening A of the container main body 33Y into the cavity of the lid portion 34Y falls due to its own weight in the columnar toner falling path and is smoothly discharged to the outside of the container (toner tank portion 61Y) from the toner discharge port W.

[0109] Next, the characteristic structure and operation of the toner container 32Y (32M, 32C, 32K) in the present embodiment will be described.

[0110] As previously used Figure 5 , Figure 6 and so on, the toner container 32Y in the present embodiment is configured to be able to store toner as a powder inside, and is composed of a container main body 33Y and a lid portion 34Y.

[0111] Here, as Figure 6 shown, the container main body 33Y mainly includes a substantially cylindrical container main body portion 33Y1, a container head portion 33Y2 provided on one end side in the rotation axis direction of the container main body portion 33Y1 ( Figure 6 the left side in []), and a container bottom portion 33Y3 provided on the other end side in the rotation axis direction of the container main body portion 33Y1 ( Figure 6 the right side in []).

[0112] The container main body portion 33Y1 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and by rotating around the rotation axis R (refer to Figure 3 ), the toner (powder) stored inside can be conveyed in the rotation axis direction as the conveying direction. Specifically, a plurality of concavo-convex portions 33b that are recessed from the outer circumferential surface side of the substantially cylindrical shape and protrude toward the inner circumferential surface side are formed on the container main body portion 33Y1. The plurality of concavo-convex portions 33b are spaced apart at intervals N in the spiral direction (refer to Figure 7) It is formed in a spiral shape, and by rotating the container main body 33Y1, the toner stored inside is conveyed in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0113] The container head 33Y2 is arranged to communicate with the opening on the downstream side ( Figure 6 the left side) of the conveying direction of the container main body 33Y1 (both ends in the rotation axis direction are open). The container head 33Y2 forms an opening A (refer to Figure 3 ) as a discharge port, and a gear portion 33c is formed on the outer peripheral surface. The opening A is used to discharge the toner (powder) conveyed from the container main body 33Y1 to the outside of the container via the cover portion 34Y. The container head 33Y2 is joined to the container main body 33Y1 by an adhesive or the like and can rotate together with the container main body 33Y1.

[0114] The container bottom 33Y3 is arranged to block the opening on the upstream side ( Figure 6 the right side) of the conveying direction of the container main body 33Y1. Moreover, the container bottom 33Y3 is joined to the container main body 33Y1 by an adhesive or the like and is configured to be able to rotate together with the container main body 33Y1.

[0115] Here, referring to Figures 7 - 9 etc., in the present embodiment, as the container main body 33Y1, a formed paper such as pulp molding is formed by stamping. That is, the container main body 33Y1 is made by stamping a formed paper as paper.

[0116] Specifically, the container main body 33Y1 is not formed of general paper that is likely to be damaged or cracked during forming, but is formed of a formed paper that can be stamped. Specifically, the container main body 33Y1 is manufactured by performing stamping on a flat formed paper (a rectangular formed paper with a thickness of t mm, a size of E mm × D mm). Here, the above-mentioned dimension E is the dimension of the container main body 33Y1 in the rotation axis direction, the dimension D is the dimension of the approximate circumference of the container main body 33Y1, and the dimension t is the wall thickness of the container main body 33Y1.

[0117] In the present embodiment, the thickness (paper thickness) of the formed paper (paper) is preferably in the range of 0.5 to 2 mm.

[0118] Here, the container main body 33Y1 forms a plurality of concavo-convex portions 33b (33b1, 33b2) that are recessed from the outer peripheral surface side of the substantially cylindrical shape (corresponding to Figure 8 the front surface 33Ya side shown) and protrude Y mm on the inner peripheral surface side (corresponding to Figure 8 the back surface 33Yb side shown) by stamping.

[0119] The plurality of uneven portions 33b (33b1, 33b2) are arranged in a spiral shape in the substantially cylindrical container main body portion 33Y1 (arranged in a spiral shape at intervals N in the spiral direction). And due to these uneven portions 33b, when the container main body 33Y (container main body portion 33Y1) rotates, the toner stored inside is conveyed in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0120] In Figure 7 , for simplicity, only the uneven portions 33b1, 33b2 formed at both ends of the flat-shaped formed paper (container main body portion 33Y1) are shown, and the illustration of the uneven portions 33b1, 33b2 formed at the central portion is omitted. However, the plurality of uneven portions 33b1, 33b2 are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the rotation axis direction ( Figure 7 the left-right direction).

[0121] In addition, Figure 7 (and the following Figure 10 ) is a view showing the flat state of the container main body portion 33Y1 before it is formed into a cylindrical shape. In order to easily understand the positions of the uneven portions 33b1, 33b2 after stamping, the uneven portions 33b1, 33b2 are shown.

[0122] In addition, each of the plurality of uneven portions 33b (33b1, 33b2) in the present embodiment is a spiral of less than half a turn in the container main body portion 33Y1. That is, the plurality of uneven portions 33b (33b1, 33b2) do not form a continuous spiral, but are formed individually in a state where each of them is interrupted. In this specification, the plurality of uneven portions 33b (33b1, 33b2) formed in this way are also defined as being formed in a spiral shape.

[0123] In this way, in the present embodiment, the container main body portion 33Y1 (toner container 32Y) is manufactured through the following processes.

[0124] First, as Figure 7 , Figure 8 shown, a "stamping process" is performed, that is, stamping is performed on the flat-shaped formed paper (paper) to form a plurality of uneven portions 33b that are recessed from the front 33Ya side and protrude toward the back 33Yb side. That is, the flat-shaped formed paper (paper) is set in a mold, and stamping is performed to form a plurality of uneven portions 33b (33b1, 33b2) on the formed paper.

[0125] Then, after the stamping process, a "joining process" is performed, that is, the ends B1, B2 of the formed paper (paper) on which the uneven portions 33b (33b1, 33b2) are formed are joined to each other to form the substantially cylindrical container main body portion 33Y1. Here, in order to simply perform the above joining process, as Figure 7As shown, the concave and convex portions 33b1 and 33b2 are not connected in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction (circumferential direction), but are formed by being separated with a gap between the lower concave and convex portion 33b1 and the upper concave and convex portion 33b2. Figure 7 After that, in the joining process, the container head 33Y2 is joined to the head side of the container body portion 33Y1 by an adhesive or the like, and the container bottom 33Y3 is joined to the bottom side of the container body portion 33Y1 by an adhesive or the like, completing the manufacture of the container body 33Y (refer to

[0126] Figure 6 Figure 6 ).

[0127] Thereafter, toner is filled into the Figure 6 shown container body 33Y, and further, the lid portion 34Y is attached to the container head 33Y2 of the container body 33Y, completing the manufacture of the toner container 32Y (refer to Figure 5 ).

[0128] In the present embodiment, the container head 33Y2 is made of a resin material such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and is formed by resin molding. That is, the container head 32Y2 is made by resin molding. This is because a gear portion 33c or the like that requires a large mechanical strength needs to be integrally formed on the container head 33Y2, and it is difficult to achieve such conditions using forming paper.

[0129] On the other hand, although the container bottom 33Y3 is integrally formed with a grip portion 33d, it does not require the mechanical strength of the container head 33Y2. Therefore, the container bottom 33Y3 can be formed either by resin molding or by stamping the forming paper. That is, the container bottom 32Y3 can be made either by resin molding or by stamping the paper. In particular, when the grip portion 33d has a simple concave and convex shape, in order to reduce the resin amount, it is preferably formed of forming paper that can be stamped.

[0130] Thus, in the toner container 32Y of the present embodiment, at least the container body portion 33Y1 of the container body 33Y is not formed of a resin material, but is formed of stamping-processable forming paper (paper), so the amount of resin used is reduced. Therefore, the environmental load is also reduced, and the cost is also lowered.

[0131] In addition, since the toner container 32Y in the present embodiment is formed of stamping-processable paper, it also exhibits the following effects compared to toner containers formed by injection molding, blow molding, folding, etc.: (1) the strength of the paper itself is increased; (2) the surface property of the paper itself is good; (3) whether in the state of the raw material or after surface coating, paper powder is difficult to come out (it is difficult to generate abnormal images due to paper powder mixing into the toner).

[0132] In this embodiment, the toner container 32Y (container main body portion 33Y1) is formed of forming paper which is stampable paper, but the toner container 32Y (container main body portion 33Y1) may also be formed of thick paper which is stampable paper.

[0133] Here, referring to Figure 9 (and Figure 7 ), etc., in this embodiment, the container main body portion 33Y1 is formed into a substantially cylindrical shape by bending at the bending portion 33Y10 after forming a structure in which the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 and the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12 are connected at the bending portion 33Y10 by stamping, and joining the ends B1 and B2 of the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 and the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12 to each other.

[0134] In this embodiment, the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 and the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12 are formed by equally dividing one cylinder into two parts.

[0135] Then, stamping (stamping process) is performed using the dies 200A and 200B to form a plurality of uneven portions 33b1 and 33b2 on the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 and the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12, respectively.

[0136] Therefore, in the manufacturing method of the container main body portion 33Y1 described above, the "stamping process" becomes the following process: referring to Figure 9 (A), (B), forming a flat forming paper (paper) into a structure in which the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 and the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12 are connected by the bending portion 33Y10, and forming a plurality of uneven portions 33b1 and 33b2 on the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 and the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12, respectively.

[0137] In addition, the "joining process" becomes the following process: referring to Figure 9 (C), (D), bending at the bending portion 33Y10 to join the ends B1 and B2 of the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 and the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12 to each other.

[0138] The above "stamping process" can be divided into: a "semi-cylindrical portion forming process" of forming a structure in which the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 and the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12 are connected by the bending portion 33Y10 on a flat forming paper (paper); and an "uneven portion forming process" of forming the uneven portions 33b1 and 33b2 before and after performing the "semi-cylindrical portion forming process". That is, the "semi-cylindrical portion forming process" and the "uneven portion forming process" can be performed simultaneously or at different times.

[0139] More specifically, using Figure 9(A) to (D) illustrate the manufacturing process of the container main body 33Y1.

[0140] First, as shown in Figure 9 (A), for the mold in a state where the upper mold 200A and the lower mold 200B are separated, a flat forming paper (not shown) is placed therebetween. Here, recesses 210, 211 and protrusions 230, 231 for forming the first and second semi-cylindrical portions 33Y11, 33Y12 are formed on the upper mold 200A and the lower mold 200B respectively, and mountain portions 220, 221 and valley portions for forming a plurality of uneven portions 33b1, 33b2 are formed.

[0141] Then, as shown in Figure 9 (B), with the flat forming paper set, the upper mold 200A and the lower mold 200B are engaged. As a result, the forming paper is stamped, and the first and second semi-cylindrical portions 33Y11, 33Y12 having a plurality of uneven portions 33b1, 33b2 are connected by a bent portion 33Y10 (see Figure 9 (C)), and taken out from the molds 200A, 200B.

[0142] Then, as shown in Figure 9 (D), the container main body 33Y1 (forming paper) after stamping shown in Figure 9 (C) is bent at the bent portion 33Y10, and the end portion B1 of the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 and the end portion B2 of the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12 are joined by an adhesive or the like. Thus, the manufacturing of the substantially cylindrical container main body 33Y1 is completed.

[0143] By forming the first and second semi-cylindrical portions 33Y11, 33Y12 by stamping in this way, the workability of the process (joining process) of forming the substantially cylindrical container main body 33Y1 is improved compared with the case of forming a cylinder by rolling up a flat forming paper.

[0144] Moreover, in the process of forming the first and second semi-cylindrical portions 33Y11, 33Y12 by stamping, a plurality of uneven portions 33b1, 33b2 are also formed at the same time. Therefore, the overall number of processes is not increased, and the manufacturing efficiency can be improved.

[0145] Here, referring to Figure 7 , in the state of the flat forming paper before stamping of the container main body 33Y1 of the present embodiment (the state of being unfolded into a planar shape), a plurality of uneven portions 33b1 formed on the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 and a plurality of uneven portions 33b2 formed on the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12 are both formed to extend in a direction inclined at a specified angle α (within ±85°) with respect to the bent portion 33Y10 extending in the left-right direction along the rotation axis direction ( Figure 7 ).

[0146] Further, in the substantially cylindrical container body portion 33Y1 (the container body portion 33Y1 after manufacturing), the imaginary line connecting the plurality of uneven portions 33b1 formed in the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 and the plurality of uneven portions 33b2 formed in the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12 is formed to depict one helix (in the order of Figure 7 the lowermost uneven portion 33b1 on the rightmost side, the uppermost uneven portion 33b2 on the rightmost side, the second lowermost uneven portion 33b1 on the right side, the second uppermost uneven portion 33b2 on the right side,... and is formed as one helix connected alternately up and down from one end side).

[0147] Specifically, each of the plurality of uneven portions 33b1 and 33b2 is formed with a length M in the same helix direction (the direction of the inclination angle α), formed with a spacing (pitch) in the direction orthogonal to the helix direction as H, and formed with a helix direction spacing N that spans the position of the bent portion 33Y10 (and the positions of the ends B1 and B2). By not forming the position of the bent portion 33Y10, the bending operation at the bent portion 33Y10 in the joining process described above can be simply performed. In addition, by not forming the uneven portions at the positions of the ends B1 and B2, the joining operation between the ends B1 and B2 in the joining process described above can be simply performed.

[0148] <Modification Example 1>

[0149] As Figure 10 shown, the container body portion 33Y1 of the toner container 32Y (container body 33Y) in Modification Example 1 is formed such that the uneven portions 33b2 of the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12 are phase-shifted in the rotation axis direction ( Figure 10 the left-right direction of

[0150] ) with respect to the uneven portions 33b1 of the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11.

[0151] Specifically, in Modification Example 1, the substantially cylindrical container body portion 33Y1 (the container body portion 33Y1 after manufacturing) is arranged such that the imaginary line connecting the plurality of uneven portions 33b1 formed in the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 depicts one helix (the first helix), and the imaginary line connecting the plurality of uneven portions 33b2 formed in the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12 depicts one helix (the second helix) that is phase-shifted in the rotation axis direction with respect to the above one helix (the first helix). That is, two helices are formed on the container body portion 33Y1 (container body 33Y).

[0152] In this configuration, by rotating the container body portion 33Y1 (container body 33Y), the toner in the container is conveyed in the rotation axis direction by the plurality of uneven portions 33b1 and 33b2. Figure 10As shown, the container body portion 33Y1 is configured such that, when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction in the state of the flat forming paper before stamping (the state of being unfolded into a planar shape), the concavo-convex portion 33b1 formed in the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 and the concavo-convex portion 33b2 formed in the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12 overlap each other by a distance R1 on the side of the bent portion 33Y10. With such a configuration, when the container body portion 33Y1 (container body 33Y) rotates, at the position corresponding to the bent portion 33Y10, the transferability of the toner between the concavo-convex portion 33b1 on the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 side and the concavo-convex portion 33b2 on the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12 side is improved, and the overall toner transferability is improved.

[0153] In addition, as Figure 10 shown, the container body portion 33Y1 is configured such that, when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction in the state of the flat forming paper before stamping (the state of being unfolded into a planar shape), the concavo-convex portion 33b1 formed in the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 and the concavo-convex portion 33b2 formed in the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12 overlap each other by a distance R2 on the side far from the bent portion 33Y10 (the end portions B1, B2 side). With such a configuration, when the container body portion 33Y1 (container body 33Y) rotates, at the positions corresponding to the end portions B1, B2, the transferability of the toner between the concavo-convex portion 33b1 on the first semi-cylindrical portion 33Y11 side and the concavo-convex portion 33b2 on the second semi-cylindrical portion 33Y12 side is improved, and the overall toner transferability is improved.

[0154] <Modification Example 2>

[0155] As Figure 11 shown, a plurality of cuts Z parallel to the rotation axis direction are formed on the container body portion 33Y1 of the toner container 32Y (container body 33Y) in Modification Example 2.

[0156] The cut Z is formed to cut in from the outer peripheral surface side (front surface 33Ya side) without reaching the inner peripheral surface (back surface 33Yb).

[0157] Here, in Modification Example 2, as Figure 9 shown, during the stamping process (during stamping), the first and second semi-cylindrical portions 33Y11, 33Y12 are not formed, but as Figure 12 (A) shown, only a plurality of concavo-convex portions 33b are formed on the flat forming paper (container body portion 33Y1). Then, as Figure 12 (B) shown, the end portions B1, B2 of the flat forming paper after stamping are joined to form a cylindrical container body portion 33Y1.

[0158] At this time, since a plurality of incisions Z parallel to the rotation axis direction are formed on the container main body portion 33Y1, it is easy to perform the operation of rolling the flat-shaped formed paper into a cylindrical shape during the joining process.

[0159] Even in the case where the semi-cylindrical portions 33Y11 and 33Y12 are not formed during the stamping process and the operation of rolling the flat-shaped formed paper into a cylindrical shape is performed during the joining process, when the flat-shaped formed paper is stamped, as Figure 10 shown, the upper concavo-convex portion 33b1 and the lower concavo-convex portion 33b2 are formed so as to be offset in the rotation axis direction.

[0160] As described above, the toner container 32Y in the present embodiment is a powder container capable of accommodating powder therein, and is provided with a substantially cylindrical container main body portion 33Y1. The container main body portion 33Y1 can convey the toner (powder) accommodated therein with the rotation axis direction as the conveying direction by rotating around the rotation axis R. Moreover, the container main body portion 33Y1 is formed by stamping a formed paper (paper).

[0161] Therefore, the amount of resin used for the toner container 32Y can be reduced.

[0162] In the present embodiment, only toner is accommodated in the toner container 32Y. However, for an image forming apparatus that appropriately supplies a two-component developer composed of toner and a carrier to a developing device, the two-component developer as powder can also be accommodated in the toner container 32Y (powder container). That is, as the powder container, the toner container 32Y that accommodates toner or the developer container that accommodates the developer can be used.

[0163] In addition, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the toner container 32Y composed of the container main body 33Y and the lid portion 34Y. However, the toner container (powder container) to which the present invention is applied is not limited thereto. For example, it may also be a toner container composed only of the container main body (such as a toner container that directly discharges toner to the outside of the container from the discharge port at the head of the container), or a toner container having a lid portion in which the toner discharge port is formed not at the bottom but at the side end face.

[0164] In addition, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the toner container 32Y as a powder container provided in the image forming apparatus 100. However, the powder container to which the present invention is applied is not limited thereto. The present invention can also be applied to, for example, a powder container that internally accommodates edible powder such as wheat flour or potato starch.

[0165] Moreover, in these cases, substantially the same effects as those of the above-described present embodiment can also be obtained.

[0166] The present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, in addition to the content disclosed in this embodiment, this embodiment can of course be appropriately changed. In addition, the number, position, shape, etc. of the above-described constituent parts are not limited to this embodiment, and can be set to appropriate numbers, positions, shapes, etc. when implementing the present invention.

[0167] The embodiments of the present invention can also be, for example, combinations of the following Supplementary Notes 1 to 22:

[0168] (Supplementary Note 1)

[0169] A powder container capable of storing powder therein, characterized in that:

[0170] It includes a container main body portion which is cylindrical and can convey the powder stored therein in the conveying direction along the rotation axis direction by rotating around the rotation axis;

[0171] The container main body portion is made by stamping paper.

[0172] (Supplementary Note 2)

[0173] The powder container according to Supplementary Note 1, characterized in that:

[0174] It includes a container head portion which is arranged to communicate with the opening on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the container main body portion, forms a discharge port for discharging the powder conveyed from the container main body portion to the outside of the container, and forms a gear portion on the outer peripheral surface and can rotate together with the container main body portion;

[0175] The container head portion is made by resin molding.

[0176] (Supplementary Note 3)

[0177] The powder container according to Supplementary Note 1 or Supplementary Note 2, characterized in that:

[0178] It includes a container bottom portion which is arranged to block the opening on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the container main body portion and can rotate together with the container main body portion;

[0179] The container bottom portion is a molded product made by resin molding or is made by stamping paper.

[0180] (Supplementary Note 4)

[0181] The powder container according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 3, characterized in that:

[0182] The container main body portion forms a plurality of concave and convex portions, and the plurality of concave and convex portions are recessed from the outer peripheral surface side of the cylindrical shape and protrude to the inner peripheral surface side by the stamping process.

[0183] (Supplementary Note 5)

[0184] The powder container described in Supplementary Note 4 is characterized in that:

[0185] The plurality of concavo-convex portions are arranged in a spiral shape in the cylindrical container main body portion.

[0186] (Supplementary Note 6)

[0187] The powder container described in Supplementary Note 5 is characterized in that:

[0188] Each of the plurality of concavo-convex portions is a spiral of less than half a turn in the container main body portion.

[0189] (Supplementary Note 7)

[0190] The powder container according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 6 is characterized in that:

[0191] After the container main body portion is formed into a structure connecting the first semi-cylindrical portion and the second semi-cylindrical portion at the bending portion by the stamping process, it is bent at the bending portion, and a cylindrical shape is formed between the ends of the first semi-cylindrical portion and the second semi-cylindrical portion being joined.

[0192] (Supplementary Note 8)

[0193] The powder container described in Supplementary Note 7 is characterized in that:

[0194] The plurality of concavo-convex portions are respectively formed on the first semi-cylindrical portion and the second semi-cylindrical portion.

[0195] (Supplementary Note 9)

[0196] The powder container described in Supplementary Note 8 is characterized in that:

[0197] In the state of the flat paper before the stamping process of the container main body portion, the plurality of concavo-convex portions formed on the first semi-cylindrical portion and the plurality of concavo-convex portions formed on the second semi-cylindrical portion are both formed to extend in a direction inclined at a specified angle with respect to the bending portion extending in the rotation axis direction.

[0198] (Supplementary Note 10)

[0199] The powder container described in Supplementary Note 9 is characterized in that:

[0200] The cylindrical container main body portion is formed such that an imaginary line connecting the plurality of concavo-convex portions formed on the first semi-cylindrical portion and the plurality of concavo-convex portions formed on the second semi-cylindrical portion depicts a spiral.

[0201] (Supplementary Note 11)

[0202] The powder container according to Note 9, characterized in that:

[0203] The cylindrical container body is formed such that the imaginary line connecting the plurality of concavo-convex portions formed in the first semi-cylindrical portion depicts a helix, and the imaginary line connecting the plurality of concavo-convex portions formed in the second semi-cylindrical portion depicts a helix that is offset in the rotation axis direction with respect to the above-mentioned one helix.

[0204] (Note 12)

[0205] The powder container according to any one of Notes 8 to 11, characterized in that:

[0206] In the state of the flat paper before the stamping process of the container body, when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction, the concavo-convex portions formed in the first semi-cylindrical portion and the concavo-convex portions formed in the second semi-cylindrical portion are arranged such that the sides closer to the bending portion overlap each other.

[0207] (Note 13)

[0208] The powder container according to Note 12, characterized in that:

[0209] In the state of the flat paper before the stamping process of the container body, when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction, the concavo-convex portions formed in the first semi-cylindrical portion and the concavo-convex portions formed in the second semi-cylindrical portion are arranged such that the sides farther from the bending portion overlap each other.

[0210] (Note 14)

[0211] The powder container according to Note 9, characterized in that:

[0212] In the state of the flat paper before the stamping process of the container body, when viewed in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis direction, the concavo-convex portions formed in the first semi-cylindrical portion and the concavo-convex portions formed in the second semi-cylindrical portion are arranged such that the sides farther from the bending portion overlap each other.

[0213] (Note 15)

[0214] The powder container according to any one of Notes 1 to 14, characterized in that:

[0215] The container body is formed with a plurality of cuts parallel to the rotation axis direction.

[0216] (Note 16)

[0217] The powder container according to any one of Notes 1 to 15, characterized in that:

[0218] The paper is forming paper.

[0219] (Supplementary Note 17)

[0220] The powder container according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 15, characterized in that:

[0221] The paper is cardboard.

[0222] (Supplementary Note 18)

[0223] The powder container according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 17, characterized in that:

[0224] The powder container is a toner container or a developer container.

[0225] (Supplementary Note 19)

[0226] An image forming apparatus, characterized in that:

[0227] The powder container according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 18 is detachably provided on the image forming apparatus main body.

[0228] (Supplementary Note 20)

[0229] A method for manufacturing a powder container capable of storing powder therein, characterized by including:

[0230] A stamping step of performing stamping on a flat paper to form a plurality of concavo-convex portions that are recessed from the front side and protrude toward the back side; and

[0231] A joining step of joining between the ends of the paper after the stamping step to form a cylindrical container main body portion.

[0232] (Supplementary Note 21)

[0233] The method for manufacturing a powder container according to Supplementary Note 20, characterized in that:

[0234] The stamping step is a step of forming a structure in which a first semi-cylindrical portion and a second semi-cylindrical portion are connected by a bent portion on the flat paper, and forming the plurality of concavo-convex portions on the first semi-cylindrical portion and the second semi-cylindrical portion respectively;

[0235] The joining step is a step of bending and joining between the ends of the first semi-cylindrical portion and the second semi-cylindrical portion at the bent portion.

[0236] (Supplementary Note 22)

[0237] The method for manufacturing a powder container according to Supplementary Note 21, characterized in that:

[0238] The stamping process includes:

[0239] A semi-cylindrical part forming process, for the flat paper, forming a structure in which the first semi-cylindrical part and the second semi-cylindrical part are connected by the bent part; and

[0240] A concavo-convex part forming process, forming the concavo-convex part before and after the semi-cylindrical part forming process.

Claims

1. A powder container capable of storing powder inside, characterized in that : The container body is cylindrical and can transport the powder contained therein in a direction of the rotation axis as a transport direction by rotating about the rotation axis. The container body is produced by punching paper.

2. According to the powder container of claim 1, characterized in that : The container head is provided so as to communicate with the opening of the container body on the downstream side in the conveying direction, and forms a discharge port for discharging the powder conveyed from the container body to the outside of the container, and a gear portion is formed on the outer peripheral surface so as to be able to rotate together with the container body; The container head is formed by resin molding.

3. The powder container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that : A container bottom portion is provided to block an opening of the container body portion on the upstream side in the conveying direction and is rotatable together with the container body portion; The container bottom is a molded product made by resin molding, or is made by punching paper.

4. The powder container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that : The container body is formed with a plurality of concavo-convex portions, and the plurality of concavo-convex portions are recessed from the cylindrical outer peripheral surface side and protrude to the inner peripheral surface side by the press working.

5. The powder container according to claim 4, characterized in that : The plurality of concavo-convex portions are arranged in a spiral shape in the cylindrical container body portion.

6. The powder container according to claim 5, characterized in that : Each of the plurality of concave-convex portions is a spiral having a length of less than half a turn on the container body.

7. The powder container according to claim 4, characterized in that : After the container body is formed by the stamping process to form a structure in which the first semi-cylindrical portion and the second semi-cylindrical portion are connected at the bending portion, it is bent at the bending portion to join the end portions of the first semi-cylindrical portion and the second semi-cylindrical portion to form a cylindrical shape.

8. The powder container according to claim 7, characterized in that : The plurality of concavo-convex portions are formed on the first semi-cylindrical portion and the second semi-cylindrical portion, respectively.

9. The powder container according to claim 8, characterized in that : When the container body is in a flat paper state before the punching process, the multiple concave-convex portions formed on the first semi-cylindrical portion and the multiple concave-convex portions formed on the second semi-cylindrical portion are both formed to extend in a direction inclined at a specified angle relative to the bending portion extending along the direction of the rotation axis.

10. The powder container according to claim 9, characterized in that : The cylindrical container body is formed such that an imaginary line connecting the plurality of concave-convex portions formed on the first semi-cylindrical portion and the plurality of concave-convex portions formed on the second semi-cylindrical portion describes a spiral.

11. The powder container according to claim 9, characterized in that : The cylindrical container main body is formed as follows: an imaginary line connecting the multiple concave and convex parts formed in the first semi-cylindrical part describes a spiral, and an imaginary line connecting the multiple concave and convex parts formed in the second semi-cylindrical part describes a spiral that is offset relative to the above-mentioned spiral in the direction of the rotation axis.

12. The powder container according to claim 9, characterized in that : When the container body is in a flat sheet state before the punching process and is viewed in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction, the concavo-convex portion formed on the first semi-cylindrical portion and the concavo-convex portion formed on the second semi-cylindrical portion are arranged so that the bent portion sides overlap each other.

13. The powder container according to claim 12, characterized in that : When the container body is in a flat paper state before the punching process, and is viewed in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the rotation axis, the concave-convex portion formed on the first semi-cylindrical portion and the concave-convex portion formed on the second semi-cylindrical portion are configured to overlap each other on the side far from the bending portion.

14. The powder container according to claim 9, characterized in that : When the container body is in a flat paper state before the punching process, and is viewed in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the rotation axis, the concave-convex portion formed on the first semi-cylindrical portion and the concave-convex portion formed on the second semi-cylindrical portion are configured to overlap each other on the side far from the bending portion.

15. The powder container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that : The container body has a plurality of cutouts formed therein parallel to the rotation axis direction.

16. The powder container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that : The paper is a forming paper.

17. The powder container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that : The paper is thick paper.

18. The powder container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that : The powder container is a toner container or a developer container.

19. An image forming device, characterized in that : The powder container according to claim 1 or 2 is detachably provided on the image forming apparatus main body.

20. A method for manufacturing a powder container capable of storing powder therein, characterized in that: include: A punching step of punching the flat sheet of paper to form a plurality of concave and convex portions that are concave from the front side and protrude toward the back side; and The joining step is to join the end portions of the paper after the punching step to form a cylindrical container body.

21. The method for manufacturing a powder container according to claim 20, characterized in that : The punching step is a step of forming the flat sheet of paper into a structure in which a first semi-cylindrical portion and a second semi-cylindrical portion are connected by a bent portion, and forming the plurality of concave-convex portions on the first semi-cylindrical portion and the second semi-cylindrical portion, respectively; The joining step is a step of bending the bent portion to join the end portions of the first semi-cylindrical portion and the second semi-cylindrical portion.

22. The method for manufacturing a powder container according to claim 21, characterized in that : The stamping process comprises: a semi-cylindrical portion forming step of forming a structure in which the first semi-cylindrical portion and the second semi-cylindrical portion are connected by the bending portion on the flat sheet of paper; and The concavo-convex portion forming step forms the concavo-convex portion before or after the semi-cylindrical portion forming step.

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