Toner container and image forming apparatus

Abstract

The present application provides a toner container and an image forming apparatus, which easily suppresses contamination of the outside of a container body caused by toner adhering to the outside surface of the container body. The toner container is detachably mounted to a mounting portion of the image forming apparatus, and includes a container body, a delivery outlet, a first shutter, and a second shutter. The first shutter is movable between a first closed position, which closes the delivery outlet, and a first open position, which opens the delivery outlet. The second shutter is disposed at a position further from the delivery outlet than the first shutter in a delivery direction, and is movable between a second closed position, which closes the delivery outlet, and a second open position, which opens the delivery outlet.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to toner containers and image forming apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] As a related technology, a toner cartridge with a gate is known. The toner cartridge includes a toner cartridge body for containing toner and a discharge port for supplying the toner contained in the toner cartridge body to an image forming apparatus. Furthermore, the toner cartridge includes a gate that opens the discharge port when the toner cartridge body is installed onto the image forming apparatus and closes the discharge port when the toner cartridge body is removed from the image forming apparatus.

[0003] In the aforementioned related technologies, for example, when removing the toner cartridge (toner container) from the image forming apparatus, a gate is used to close the discharge port (outlet) to suppress toner leakage from the discharge port. However, in the aforementioned related technologies, when a gate is used to close the discharge port, the gate is approached and slid to scrape off the toner discharged from the discharge port. Therefore, there is a problem: there is a possibility that the scraped-off toner will adhere to the outer surface of the toner cartridge body (container body), and the exterior of the toner cartridge body will be contaminated by the adhered toner. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a toner container and an image forming apparatus that can easily suppress external contamination of the container body caused by toner adhering to the outer surface of the container body.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, a toner container is detachably mounted to a mounting portion of an image forming apparatus, and includes a container body, a delivery outlet, a first gate, and a second gate. The container body contains toner. The delivery outlet delivers the toner from inside the container body to the outside. The first gate is movable between a first closed position that closes the delivery outlet and a first open position that opens the delivery outlet. The second gate is positioned further away from the delivery outlet than the first gate in the delivery direction in which the toner is delivered from the delivery outlet, and is movable between a second closed position that closes the delivery outlet and a second open position that opens the delivery outlet.

[0006] Another aspect of the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes: the toner container described above; a mounting part on which the toner container is mounted; and a housing that houses the mounting part.

[0007] According to the present invention, a toner container and an image forming apparatus can be provided that can easily suppress external contamination of the container body caused by toner adhering to the outer surface of the container body.

[0008] This specification is provided with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings and is presented in a simplified manner to summarize the concepts described in the following detailed description. This specification is not intended to limit the essential and fundamental features of the subject matter recited in the claims, nor is it intended to limit the scope of the subject matter recited in the claims. Furthermore, the object recited in the claims is not limited to embodiments that address some or all of the shortcomings recounted in any part of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0010] Figure 2 This is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of the toner container and developing apparatus according to the embodiment.

[0011] Figure 3 This is a schematic perspective view showing the structure of the toner container according to the embodiment.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a schematic exploded perspective view showing the main parts of the toner container in the embodiment.

[0013] Figure 5 This is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the main part of the toner container in the embodiment.

[0014] Figure 6 This is an explanatory diagram of the opening and closing of the first gate in the implementation method.

[0015] Figure 7 This is an explanatory diagram of the opening and closing of the second gate in the implementation method.

[0016] Figure 8 This is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of the first gate and locking member in the embodiment.

[0017] Figure 9 This is an explanatory diagram of a fixing method for fixing the first gate using a locking member according to an embodiment.

[0018] Figure 10 This is an explanatory diagram of a method for releasing the fixation of the first gate by the locking member of the embodiment.

[0019] Figure 11 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the first and second gates when the toner container of the embodiment is inserted into the mounting part.

[0020] Figure 12 This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the operation of the first and second gates when the toner container of the embodiment is removed from the installed part. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are merely examples embodying the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0022] [1] Overall structure of the image forming apparatus First, refer to Figure 1 The overall structure of the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment will be described below. For ease of explanation, the image forming apparatus 100 will be described in its usable configuration state (…). Figure 1 In the state shown, the vertical direction is defined as the up-down direction D1. Furthermore, Figure 1 The direction orthogonal to the paper plane in the image forming apparatus 100 shown is defined as the front-back direction D2. Figure 1 The surface on the front side of the nose is defined as the frontal surface (anterior surface). Furthermore, with... Figure 1 The left-hand side of the paper is used to define the left-hand direction D3. Furthermore, the purpose of defining the direction described above is not to limit the way the image forming apparatus 100 is used.

[0023] As an example, the image forming apparatus 100 of this embodiment is a printer with printing function. In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 is not limited to a printer, but may also be a multifunction printer with multiple functions such as printing, scanning, faxing and copying.

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a housing 101, a paper feeding unit 102, an operation display unit 103, and a toner container 1. Figure 1 The cross-sectional view at line AA is shown in the diagram, enclosed by a dashed line. Furthermore, although not shown, the image forming apparatus 100 also includes an image forming unit and a control unit. The paper feeding unit 102, the operation display unit 103, the toner container 1, the image forming unit, and the control unit are all housed in the housing 101.

[0025] The paper supply unit 102 supplies a sheet material Sh1 to the image forming unit. The paper supply unit 102 includes a paper supply box 102a and multiple transport rollers (not shown). The paper supply unit 102 uses the multiple transport rollers to transport the sheet material Sh1 from the paper supply box 102a through a transport channel and supplies it to the image forming unit. The image forming unit forms an image on the sheet material Sh1 supplied from the paper supply unit 102 through the transport channel.

[0026] The operation display unit 103 is the user interface of the image forming apparatus 100. The operation display unit 103 includes a display unit such as a liquid crystal display that displays various information according to control instructions from the control unit, and an operation unit such as a switch or touch panel that inputs various information to the control unit according to user operations. Furthermore, as a user interface, or in place of the operation display unit 103, the image forming apparatus 100 may also include, for example, a sound output unit and a sound input unit. Additionally, the operation display unit 103 may be, for example, an external device separately provided from the image forming apparatus 100. In this case, the image forming apparatus 100 can use the operation display unit 103 as a user interface by performing data communication with the external device.

[0027] The toner container 1 contains toner, which is used as a developer in the developing process performed by the developing apparatus 104 described later. In this embodiment, the toner contained in the toner container 1 is a K (black) toner. The toner container 1 supplies the contained toner to the image forming unit in the state of being installed in the mounting part 105 inside the housing 101. The toner container 1 will be described in detail in "[2] Structure of the toner container" described later.

[0028] The mounting part 105 is fixed to the internal frame inside the housing 101. The mounting part 105 is configured to contain the toner container 1, and the toner container 1 can be installed at a predetermined mounting position inside it. In this embodiment, as... Figure 2 As shown, the installation positions are the replenishment port 104a of the developing device 104 and the outlet 12 of the toner container 1 (described later) (see reference). Figure 4 The toner container 1 is positioned relative to each other in the vertical direction D1. Furthermore, the mounting part 105 supports the toner container 1 so that it can slide in the front-back direction D2.

[0029] Additionally, a sealing member 104b is attached to the periphery of the replenishment port 104a in the developing apparatus 104. The sealing member 104b is a thin-film component, formed of an elastic material such as silicone rubber, polyurethane, or sponge. The sealing member 104b is configured to absorb toner adhering around the replenishment port 104a.

[0030] An opening (not shown) is provided at the front end of the mounting section 105. This opening is exposed to the outside of the image forming apparatus 100 by opening the cover 106 provided on the front surface of the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, the user can install the toner container 1 onto the mounting section 105 by inserting it rearward through the opening with the cover 106 open. Furthermore, the user can remove the toner container 1 from the mounting section 105 by moving it forward while the cover 106 is open.

[0031] Furthermore, with the toner container 1 installed in the mounting section 105, the image forming apparatus 100 can be said to include the toner container 1, the mounting section 105 in which the toner container 1 is installed, and the housing 101 that houses the mounting section 105.

[0032] The image forming unit forms an image on the sheet body Sh1 based on image data input from an external information processing device such as a personal computer. In this embodiment, as an example, the image forming unit includes a photosensitive drum (not shown), a charging device (not shown), and a developing device 104 (see reference 104). Figure 2 The image forming unit, including a transfer device and a fixing device, forms an image on the thin sheet Sh1 using an electrophotographic method. In this embodiment, the image forming unit is configured to form a black and white image using the color K (black). Alternatively, the image forming unit may be configured to form a full-color image using the four colors C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black).

[0033] The image forming unit forms an image on the sheet body Sh1 using toner supplied from the toner container 1. Specifically, the image forming unit forms an electrostatic latent image by irradiating a laser onto the surface of a photosensitive drum charged by a charging device. Furthermore, the image forming unit develops the electrostatic latent image using toner in the developing unit 104, thereby forming a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum. Moreover, the image forming unit transfers the toner image onto the sheet body Sh1, which is transported in the transport channel, using a transfer device. The fixing device melts and fixes the toner image transferred onto the sheet body Sh1 onto the sheet body Sh1. For example, the fixing device includes a fixing roller and a pressure roller, which fixes the toner image onto the sheet body Sh1 by heating the toner image transferred onto the sheet body Sh1 and applying pressure to the sheet body Sh1.

[0034] The control unit provides unified control of the image forming apparatus 100. The control unit is primarily structured as a computer system having one or more processors and one or more memories. Within the image forming apparatus 100, the functions of the control unit are achieved by executing programs through one or more processors. The programs can be pre-stored in one or more memories, provided via electronic communication lines such as the Internet, or stored and provided on a non-temporary storage medium readable by a computer system, such as a memory card or optical disc. The one or more processors are composed of one or more electronic circuits containing semiconductor integrated circuits. Furthermore, the computer system described in this invention includes a microcontroller having one or more processors and one or more memories. The control unit can also be a separate control unit from the main control unit that unifies control of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0035] In addition, the image forming apparatus 100 also includes a storage unit, a communication unit, and a power supply unit. The storage unit contains one or more non-volatile memories that pre-store information such as control programs for instructing the control unit to perform various processes. The communication unit is an interface that performs data communication between the image forming apparatus 100 and external devices connected via communication networks such as the Internet or a LAN (Local Area Network). The power supply unit is a power supply circuit that generates (outputs) electricity for the operation of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0036] [2] Structure of toner container Next, refer to Figures 3-10 The structure of the toner container 1 in this embodiment will be described in more detail.

[0037] like Figure 3 As shown, the toner container 1 includes a container body 10 and a lid 11. The container body 10 and the lid 11 are formed of synthetic resins such as ABS resin or PET resin. An opening (not shown) is formed on the upper surface of the container body 10, and the lid 11 closes the opening.

[0038] like Figure 3 As shown, the container body 10 is a rectangular parallelepiped that is longer in the front-to-back direction D2, and houses the toner used in the developing process performed by the developing apparatus 104. A filling port 10a for filling the toner into the interior of the container body 10 is provided on the rear surface of the container body 10. Furthermore, a substrate 10b is mounted on the rear surface of the container body 10, and the substrate 10b is equipped with a circuit that stores identification information inherent to the toner container 1. When the toner container 1 is mounted on the mounting part 105, the identification information stored in the circuit mounted on the substrate 10b is read by a wireless communication circuit (not shown) provided by the image forming apparatus 100. Thus, the image forming apparatus 100 determines whether the toner container 1 is a genuine product corresponding to the image forming apparatus 100.

[0039] Furthermore, a cap member 10c with a handle 10d is mounted on the front surface of the container body 10. Thus, the user can install the toner container 1 into the mounting portion 105 by holding the handle 10d and inserting it towards the mounting portion 105. Furthermore, the user can remove the toner container 1 from the mounting portion 105 by holding the handle 10d and pulling it out.

[0040] like Figure 4As shown, a dispensing outlet 12 is formed at the lower bottom of the rear end of the container body 10. This outlet 12 communicates the interior of the container body 10 with the exterior, thereby dispensing toner from the interior of the container body 10 to the exterior. In this embodiment, the dispensing outlet 12 is located near the left side of the lower bottom of the rear end of the container body 10. The dispensing outlet 12 is an opening for conveying the toner contained within the container body 10 to the developing apparatus 104 when the toner container 1 is mounted on the mounting portion 105.

[0041] In this embodiment, if the toner container 1 is installed into the mounting section 105, the outlet 12 and the replenishment port 104a provided in the developing apparatus 104 (see reference) Figure 2 Position alignment. Here, position alignment means that the outlet 12 and the replenishment port 104a are aligned in the vertical direction D1, thereby adjusting them to a position where toner can be fed from the outlet 12 to the replenishment port 104a. In this state, if a driving force is transmitted to the screw shaft 13, which serves as a conveying member and is located inside the toner container 1, causing the screw shaft 13 to rotate, the toner in the container body 10 is pushed out by the screw shaft 13 and conveyed to the outlet 12. Thus, the toner in the container body 10 is supplied to the developing apparatus 104 from the outlet 12 via the replenishment port 104a.

[0042] As a related technology, a toner cartridge with a gate is known. The toner cartridge includes a toner cartridge body for containing toner and a discharge port for supplying the toner contained in the toner cartridge body to an image forming apparatus. Furthermore, the toner cartridge includes a gate that opens the discharge port when the toner cartridge body is installed onto the image forming apparatus and closes the discharge port when the toner cartridge body is removed from the image forming apparatus.

[0043] In the aforementioned related technologies, for example, when removing the toner cartridge (toner container) from the image forming apparatus, a gate is used to close the discharge port (outlet), thereby suppressing toner leakage from the discharge port. However, in the aforementioned related technologies, when a gate is used to close the discharge port, the gate is approached and slid to scrape off the toner discharged from the discharge port. Therefore, there is a problem: there is a possibility that the scraped-off toner adheres to the outer surface of the toner cartridge body (container body), and the exterior of the toner cartridge body is contaminated by the adhered toner.

[0044] In this embodiment, the toner container 1 described below enables the toner container 1 and image forming apparatus 100 to easily suppress external contamination of the container body 10 caused by toner adhering to the outer surface of the container body 10.

[0045] Specifically, such as Figure 4 and Figure 5As shown, a first gate 2, a first sealing member 3, a second gate 4, a sheet member 5, a retaining member 6, and a second sealing member 7 are installed at the lower rear end of the container body 10. Figure 4 In the diagram, the figure enclosed by dashed lines represents a three-dimensional view of the second gate 4. Furthermore, in... Figure 5 The schematic cross-sectional view shown only illustrates the main part of the toner container 1, omitting the parts other than the main part. Specifically, both the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 are held by the retaining member 6. Moreover, the retaining member 6 is installed at the lower bottom of the rear end of the container body 10 in a manner that covers the outlet 12.

[0046] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the first gate 2 is configured to move between a first closed position and a first open position of the outlet 12 within the closed container body 10. The first gate 2 is held by the retaining member 6 and is configured to slide along the insertion / removal direction (here, the front-to-back direction D2) of the toner container 1 relative to the mounting portion 105. The first gate 2 is formed, for example, from synthetic resin and has a main portion 21 and a mounting portion 22.

[0047] The main part 21 is a plate-shaped member having a length in the front-rear direction D2, and an opening 21a extending through its rear end in the thickness direction (here, the vertical direction D1). The opening 21a is rectangular in plan view and is approximately the same size as the outlet 12. When the toner container 1 is removed from the mounting part 105, the opening 21a is located at a position that does not coincide with the outlet 12 in the vertical direction D1. At this position, the portion of the main part 21 other than the opening 21a closes the outlet 12, thus this position corresponds to the first closed position. On the other hand, when the toner container 1 is mounted on the mounting part 105, by using the gate opening and closing mechanism 91 (described later), the relative position of the main part 21 with respect to the container body 10 is displaced, thereby positioning the opening 21a at a position aligned with the outlet 12 in the vertical direction D1. This position corresponds to the first open position.

[0048] The mounting portion 22 is formed to protrude forward from the front end of the main portion 21 and has a pair of first mounting pieces 221, a pair of second mounting pieces 222 and a pair of protrusions 223.

[0049] A pair of first mounting pieces 221 are each rectangular in shape with a length in the front-rear direction D2, and protrude forward from both ends of the main part 21 in the width direction (in this case, the left-right direction D3). In addition, the pair of first mounting pieces 221 also protrude upward from the upper surface of the main part 21.

[0050] A pair of second mounting pieces 222 are each formed to protrude downward from the front end of a pair of first mounting pieces 221, and further protrude rearward from the lower end of the protruding portion. Therefore, a groove 224 having a length in the front-rear direction D2 is formed between each first mounting piece 221 and each second mounting piece 222. By inserting and fitting the main portion 61 (described later) of the retaining member 6 into the groove 224, the first gate 2 is held in the retaining member 6 in a manner that allows it to slide in the front-rear direction D2.

[0051] A pair of protrusions 223 protrude downward from the rear ends of a pair of second mounting pieces 222. During the insertion of the toner container 1 into the mounting portion 105, the pair of protrusions 223 hook onto a portion of a locking member 8 (described later) provided inside the housing 101 of the image forming apparatus 100. This secures the first gate 2 containing the pair of protrusions 223.

[0052] The following is for reference Figure 6 The operation of the first gate 2 is explained. Figure 6 In the diagram, the figure enclosed by dashed lines is a cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the container body 10, the first gate 2, the second gate 4, the retaining member 6, and the first sealing member 3. Furthermore, in this cross-sectional view, only the main parts related to the operation of the first gate 2 are shown; illustrations of other parts are omitted. Additionally, in... Figure 6 In the middle, the second gate 4 remains in the second open position.

[0053] As described above, during the insertion of the toner container 1 into the mounting portion 105, the first gate 2 is secured by hooking a pair of protrusions 223 onto a portion of the locking member 8. Furthermore, if the toner container 1 is further inserted and mounted onto the mounting portion 105, the container body 10 and the retaining member 6 move rearward while the first gate 2 is secured. Thus, as... Figure 6 As shown in the <Opening Position>, the opening 21a is located in the position aligned with the outlet 12 in the vertical direction D1 (i.e., the first opening position).

[0054] Here, the first gate 2, which includes a pair of protrusions 223, remains fixed while the pair of protrusions 223 are hooked onto a portion of the locking member 8. In this state, if the toner container 1 is pulled out from the mounting portion 105, the container body 10 and the retaining member 6 move forward while the first gate 2 is fixed. Thus, as Figure 6 As shown in the <Closed Position>, the opening 21a is located at a position that does not coincide with the outlet 12 in the vertical direction D1 (i.e., the first closed position).

[0055] That is, the pair of protrusions 223 function as a gate opening and closing mechanism 91. Here, the gate opening and closing mechanism 91 is a mechanism that moves the first gate 2 from the first closed position to the first open position when the toner container 1 is installed onto the mounting part 105. Furthermore, the gate opening and closing mechanism 91 is a mechanism that moves the first gate 2 from the first open position to the first closed position when the toner container 1 is removed from the mounting part 105. Details regarding the opening and closing operation of the first gate 2 by the gate opening and closing mechanism 91 will be explained later.

[0056] Furthermore, each of the pair of protrusions 223 has the function of fixing the first gate 2 in the first open position when the toner container 1 is installed in the mounting part 105, by hooking onto a part of the locking member 8 provided in the image forming apparatus 100. Thus, even if an external force is applied to the toner container 1 due to vibration or the like when the toner container 1 is installed in the mounting part 105, the first gate 2 is easily maintained in the first open position. Therefore, it has the advantage of easily and stably supplying toner from the container body 10 to the developing apparatus 104. Furthermore, each of the pair of protrusions 223 has the function of releasing the first gate 2 from the fixing position by unhooking from a part of the locking member 8. That is, the pair of protrusions 223 function as a locking mechanism 92. Here, the locking mechanism 92 is designed such that when the toner container 1 is installed onto the mounting portion 105, the locking mechanism 92 secures the first gate 2 in the first open position; if the toner container 1 is moved in the direction of removal from the mounting portion 105, the locking mechanism 92 releases the first gate 2. Further details regarding the operation of the locking mechanism 92 will be explained later.

[0057] like Figure 4 As shown, the first sealing member 3 is disposed between the first gate 2 and the outlet 12, thereby sealing the periphery of the first gate 2 and the outlet 12. Here, when the first gate 2 moves from the first open position to the first closed position, it scrapes off the toner discharged from the outlet 12 by sliding along the front-rear direction D2. In this case, without the first sealing member 3 between the periphery of the first gate 2 and the outlet 12, the space between them is relatively large, potentially leading to an increase in the amount of toner scraped off by the first gate 2 and an increase in the amount of toner adhering to the outer surface of the container body 10. Therefore, by providing the first sealing member 3 between the periphery of the first gate 2 and the outlet 12, the aforementioned space can be reduced. This provides the advantage of easily reducing the amount of toner scraped off by the first gate 2 and reducing the amount of toner adhering to the outer surface of the container body 10.

[0058] The first sealing member 3 is a plate-shaped member whose thickness dimension (here, vertical direction D1) is approximately the same as the thickness dimension of the main part 21 of the first gate 2, and is formed, for example, of an elastic material such as silicone rubber, polyurethane, or sponge. The first sealing member 3 is attached to the periphery of the outlet 12 in the lower bottom of the container body 10, for example, by using an adhesive, thereby being installed in the container body 10. Furthermore, the first sealing member 3 is provided with an opening 31, which is rectangular in plan view and extends along the thickness direction. This opening 31 is located opposite the outlet 12. Therefore, the toner inside the container body 10 is discharged to the outside via the outlet 12 and the opening 31.

[0059] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the second gate 4 is positioned further away from the outlet 12 than the first gate 2 in the direction of dispensing the toner from the outlet 12 (here, the vertical direction D1). Furthermore, the second gate 4 is configured to move between a second closed position and a second open position of the outlet 12 within the closed container body 10. The second gate 4 is held by the retaining member 6 and is configured to slide along the insertion / removal direction (here, the front-to-back direction D2) of the toner container 1 relative to the mounting portion 105. The second gate 4 is formed, for example, of synthetic resin and has a main portion 41, a pair of mounting pieces 42, and a pair of force-applying members 43.

[0060] The main part 41 is a plate-shaped member having a length in the front-rear direction D2 and being thicker than the main part 21 of the first gate 2. The main part 41 has a recess 411 that is recessed in the thickness direction (here, the vertical direction D1) in the direction away from the outlet 12 (i.e., downward). During the process of inserting the toner container 1 into the mounting part 105, the outer wall of the recess 411 comes into contact with a part of the developing device 104 (here, the sealing member 104b).

[0061] With the toner container 1 removed from the mounting section 105, the main section 41 is positioned where it does not coincide with the outlet 12 in the vertical direction D1. This position corresponds to the second open position. On the other hand, with the toner container 1 installed on the mounting section 105, the main section 41 is moved relative to the container body 10 by utilizing the gate opening and closing mechanism 91, thereby positioning the main section 41 in a position aligned with the outlet 12 in the vertical direction D1. This position corresponds to the second closed position.

[0062] A pair of mounting plates 42 are flat plate-shaped components that protrude forward from the right and left sides of the main part 41, respectively, and have a length in the front-rear direction D2. A pair of protrusions 421 that protrude outward in the width direction (in this case, the left-right direction D3) are integrally formed at the front ends of the pair of mounting plates 42.

[0063] A pair of mounting pieces 42 respectively engage with a pair of retaining pieces 62c (described later) of the retaining member 6. Thus, the second gate 4 is held in the retaining member 6 in a manner that allows it to slide in the front-rear direction D2. Furthermore, while the second gate 4 is held in the retaining member 6, a pair of protrusions 421 are inserted into a pair of cuts 62a (described later) of the retaining member 6, thereby limiting the sliding range of the second gate 4 in the front-rear direction D2.

[0064] Each pair of force-applying members 43 is a helical spring with a length in the front-rear direction D2, and is mounted to a pair of mounting plates 42 by passing them through the hollow portion. When the second gate 4 is held in the retaining member 6, the front ends of the pair of force-applying members 43 are hooked onto a pair of retaining plates 62c of the retaining member 6. Thus, if the main part 41 is displaced forward relative to the retaining member 6, the pair of force-applying members 43 accumulate elastic energy by contraction and apply force in the direction that moves the main part 41 backward.

[0065] The following is for reference Figure 7 The operation of the second gate 4 is explained. Figure 7 In the diagram, the figure enclosed by dashed lines is a cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the container body 10, the first gate 2, the second gate 4, the retaining member 6, and the first sealing member 3. Furthermore, in this cross-sectional view, only the main parts related to the operation of the second gate 4 are shown; illustrations of other parts are omitted. Additionally, in... Figure 7 In the middle, the first gate 2 remains in the first open position.

[0066] During the insertion of the toner container 1 into the mounting portion 105, the main portion 41 hooks onto a part of the developing unit 104 included in the image forming apparatus 100. This secures the second gate 4, which includes the main portion 41. Furthermore, if the toner container 1 is further inserted and mounted onto the mounting portion 105, the container body 10 and the retaining member 6 move rearward while the second gate 4 is secured. Thus, as... Figure 7 As shown in the <open position>, the main part 41 is located in a position that does not coincide with the outlet 12 in the vertical direction D1 (i.e., the second open position). At this time, since the main part 41 is relatively displaced forward relative to the holding member 6, the pair of force-applying members 43 accumulate elastic energy by contraction.

[0067] Here, the second gate 4, including the main part 41, remains fixed until the toner container 1 is removed from the mounting part 105. In this state, if the toner container 1 is pulled out of the mounting part 105, the container body 10 and the retaining member 6 move forward, thereby releasing the fixation of the main part 41. Then, as the pair of force-applying members 43 attempt to release the accumulated elastic energy and return to their original state, the main part 41 is displaced rearward relative to the retaining member 6. Thus, as... Figure 7 As shown in the <Closed Position>, the main part 41 is located in the position aligned with the outlet 12 in the vertical direction D1 (i.e., the second closed position).

[0068] That is, the main part 41 and the pair of force-applying members 43 function as a gate opening and closing mechanism 91. Here, the gate opening and closing mechanism 91 is a mechanism that moves the second gate 4 from the second closed position to the second open position when the toner container 1 is installed onto the mounting part 105. In addition, the gate opening and closing mechanism 91 is a mechanism that moves the second gate 4 from the second open position to the second closed position when the toner container 1 is removed from the mounting part 105. Furthermore, details regarding the opening and closing operation of the second gate 4 by the gate opening and closing mechanism 91 will be explained later.

[0069] Sheet component 5 is a thin-film component, for example, formed of an elastic material such as silicone rubber, polyurethane, or sponge. Figure 4 As shown, the sheet member 5 is disposed around the periphery of the recess 411 of the main portion 41 of the second gate 4, and is configured to wipe away the toner. Specifically, the sheet member 5 is positioned close to the lower surface of the second sealing member 7 so as to wipe away the toner leaking from the opening 71 (described later) of the second sealing member 7. Thus, as the second sealing member 7 slides along the front-rear direction D2 while approaching the sheet member 5 with the opening and closing of the second gate 4, the toner leaking from the opening 71 of the second sealing member 7 can be wiped away by the sheet member 5. Therefore, by providing the sheet member 5, it is advantageous to easily further suppress the amount of toner adhering to the outer surface of the container body 10.

[0070] The sheet member 5 is a rectangular frame-shaped component viewed from above, whose thickness dimension (here, vertical direction D1) is smaller than the thickness dimension of the main part 41 of the second gate 4. It is formed, for example, from an elastic material such as silicone rubber, polyurethane, or sponge. The sheet member 5 is attached to the periphery of the recess 411 in the upper surface of the main part 41, for example, by using an adhesive, thereby installing it onto the second gate 4.

[0071] like Figure 4As shown, the retaining member 6 is mounted on the container body 10 and is a member that holds the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 in a movable state. Specifically, the retaining member 6 is mounted on the lower bottom of the rear end of the container body 10 in a manner that covers the outlet 12. Furthermore, the retaining member 6 holds the first gate 2 on its upper side in the thickness direction (here, the vertical direction D1) across the insert 63 described later, and holds the second gate 4 on its lower side in the thickness direction. In addition, the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 are held in the retaining member 6 in a state in which they can slide independently of each other.

[0072] Therefore, by installing the retaining member 6 holding the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 to the container body 10, the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 can be indirectly installed to the container body 10. Thus, compared to the case where the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 are independently and directly installed to the container body 10, it has the advantage of being easier to install the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 to the container body 10.

[0073] The retaining member 6 has a main part 61, a pair of sidewalls 62, an insert piece 63, and a connecting piece 64.

[0074] The main part 61 is a box-shaped member with a length in the front-rear direction D2, and its interior is hollow. With the retaining member 6 holding the first gate 2, the main part 21 of the first gate 2 is housed in the hollow portion of the main part 61. An upper opening 61a, which is rectangular in plan view and extends along the thickness direction (here, the vertical direction D1), is provided on the upper surface of the main part 61. Furthermore, a lower opening 61b, which is rectangular in plan view and extends along the thickness direction, is provided on the lower surface of the main part 61. The opening area of ​​the lower opening 61b is larger than the opening area of ​​the upper opening 61a.

[0075] A pair of sidewalls 62 are respectively disposed at both ends of the main part 61 in the width direction (in this case, the left-right direction D3). In each of the pair of sidewalls 62, the upper end protrudes further upward than the upper surface of the main part 61, and the lower end protrudes further downward than the lower surface of the main part 61.

[0076] A pair of slits 62a, which are rectangular in plan view and have a length in the front-rear direction D2, are provided at the lower ends of the pair of sidewalls 62. With the retaining member 6 holding the second gate 4, a pair of protrusions 421 are inserted into the pair of slits 62a.

[0077] A pair of limiting pieces 62b protruding inward in the width direction (here, the left-right direction D3) are integrally formed at the upper ends of a pair of sidewalls 62. When the retaining member 6 holds the first gate 2, the pair of limiting pieces 62b restrict the first gate 2 from moving upward by clamping it between the first gate 2 and the insert piece 63.

[0078] Furthermore, a pair of retaining pieces 62c protruding inward in the width direction (here, the left-right direction D3) are integrally formed at the lower ends of each pair of sidewalls 62. The pair of retaining pieces 62c retains the second gate 4 containing the pair of mounting pieces 42 by clamping a pair of mounting pieces 42 between them and the lower surface of the insert piece 63.

[0079] The insert plate 63 is a plate-shaped component that protrudes forward from the rear end of the main part 61 and has a length in the front-rear direction D2. With the retaining member 6 holding the first gate 2, the insert plate 63 engages with a pair of slots 224.

[0080] The connecting piece 64 is a plate-shaped component that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the rear end of the main part 61. A connecting portion 64a, which is circular in plan view, is formed on the front surface of the connecting piece 64. This connecting portion 64a is configured to connect with the coupled portion 10e (see reference 10e) located at the rear end of the container body 10. Figure 4 Furthermore, by joining the connecting portion 64a with the joined portion 10e, the retaining member 6, which holds the first gate 2 and the second gate 4, can be installed onto the container body 10. Thus, the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 can be indirectly installed onto the container body 10 by means of the retaining member 6.

[0081] The second sealing member 7 is configured to seal the space between the first gate 2 and the second gate 4. The second sealing member 7 is a thin-film component, formed, for example, from an elastic material such as silicone rubber, polyurethane, or sponge. Figure 4 As shown, the second sealing member 7 is adhered to the periphery of the lower opening 61b, for example, using adhesive, to cover the lower opening 61b of the main portion 61 of the retaining member 6. Furthermore, the second sealing member 7 is provided with an opening 71, which is rectangular in plan view and extends along the thickness direction (here, the vertical direction D1). With the retaining member 6 installed in the container body 10, this opening 71 is positioned opposite the dispensing outlet 12. Therefore, the toner inside the container body 10 can be dispensed to the outside via the dispensing outlet 12 and the opening 71.

[0082] The following is for reference Figure 4The method for installing the retaining member 6, which holds the first gate 2 and the second gate 4, onto the container body 10 will be described. First, the first sealing member 3 is attached to the lower bottom of the rear end of the container body 10. Next, the second sealing member 7 is attached to the periphery of the lower opening 61b in the main portion 61 of the retaining member 6, covering the lower opening 61b. Next, the first gate 2 is installed onto the upper side of the main portion 61 of the retaining member 6, and the second gate 4 is installed between the lower surface of the main portion 61 of the retaining member 6 and the second sealing member 7. Alternatively, the order of installation of the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 can be reversed. Finally, the retaining member 6, holding the first gate 2 and the second gate 4, is installed onto the container body 10 by engaging the connecting portion 64a with the connecting portion 10e of the container body 10.

[0083] The locking member 8 is disposed within the housing 101 of the image forming apparatus 100. Specifically, the locking member 8 is the mounting portion 105 within the housing 101, and is disposed in front of the developing apparatus 104, spaced apart from the supplementary port 104a of the developing apparatus 104. Figure 8 As shown, the locking member 8 has a main piece 81, a pair of protruding pieces 82, and an elastic piece 83. Additionally, in Figure 8 In the figure, the diagram surrounded by dashed lines represents a schematic three-dimensional view of the locking component 8.

[0084] The main plate 81 is a plate-shaped component with a length in the front-rear direction D2. A tapered portion 81a and a protruding wall 81b are integrally formed at both ends of the main plate 81 in the width direction (here, the left-right direction D3). The tapered portion 81a protrudes from the upper surface of the main plate 81 and slopes upwards from the front end toward the rear end of the main plate 81. The protruding wall 81b protrudes upwards from the upper surface of the main plate 81 and is positioned at a distance from the descending surface 81c of the rear end of the tapered portion 81a in the front-rear direction D2. This distance is the same as the dimension of the protrusion 223 of the first gate 2 in the front-rear direction D2.

[0085] A pair of protruding pieces 82 are flat plate-shaped components that protrude forward from both ends of the rear end of the main plate 81 in the width direction (here, the left-right direction D3) and have a length in the front-back direction D2. A pair of shaft portions 82a are provided at the rear ends of each pair of protruding pieces 82, and these shaft portions 82a are mounted in a manner that allows them to rotate within the housing 101 of the image forming apparatus 100. Therefore, the main plate 81 can swing clockwise or counterclockwise when viewed from the left-right direction D3, about the pair of shaft portions 82a as axes.

[0086] The elastic sheet 83 is a flat plate-shaped component that protrudes forward and downward from the middle of the front end of the main sheet 81 in the width direction (in this case, the left-right direction D3). If the main sheet 81 is pressed downward by a pair of protrusions 223 of the first gate 2, the elastic sheet 83 accumulates elastic energy by flexing downward together with the main sheet 81 and exerts a force in the direction that causes the main sheet 81 to move upward.

[0087] The following is for reference Figure 9 and Figure 10 The operation of the locking mechanism 92 (in this embodiment, a pair of protrusions 223 of the first gate 2) will be explained. Figure 9 This indicates that the locking mechanism 92 fixes the first gate 2 in the first open position. Figure 10 This indicates the action of releasing the locking mechanism 92 from fixing the first gate 2. Additionally, in Figure 9 and Figure 10 The diagrams only show schematic representations of the container body 10, the first gate 2, and the locking component 8, omitting detailed diagrams of each component.

[0088] First, refer to Figure 9 The operation of fixing the first gate 2 to the first open position by the locking mechanism 92 will be described. In order to install the toner container 1 onto the mounting part 105, as follows... Figure 9 As shown in the <first state>, the user inserts the toner container 1 rearward relative to the mounting part 105. In this state, the first gate 2 is in the first closed position.

[0089] If the toner container 1 enters the installed part 105, then as Figure 9 As shown in the <second state>, a pair of protrusions 223 of the first gate 2 contact a pair of cones 81a of the locking member 8, pressing the cones 81a downwards while moving backwards. In this state, the elastic sheet 83 accumulates elastic energy by displacing and flexing downwards together with the main sheet 81.

[0090] Subsequently, if the toner container 1 further enters the installed part 105, then as Figure 9 As shown in the <third state>, the pair of protrusions 223 of the first gate 2 pass over the pair of cones 81a of the locking member 8 and contact the pair of protruding walls 81b. In this state, since the force of the pair of protrusions 223 pressing down on the pair of cones 81a disappears, the elastic sheet 83 releases the stored elastic energy and returns to its original state. Thus, the movable range of each of the pair of protrusions 223 is limited to the range between the protruding wall 81b and the descending surface 81c of the cone 81a. That is, the first gate 2 is fixed by the pair of protrusions 223 hooking onto a part of the locking member 8.

[0091] Furthermore, when installing the toner container 1 onto the mounting part 105, such as Figure 9 As shown in the <fourth state>, the first gate 2 is fixed by the locking member 8, and the container body 10 moves rearward relative to it. Therefore, due to the rearward relative displacement of the container body 10 relative to the first gate 2 (in other words, the first gate 2 is forward relative to the container body 10), the opening 21a of the first gate 2 is positioned in the vertical direction D1 aligned with the outlet 12. That is, the first gate 2 is in the first open position.

[0092] Next, refer to Figure 10 The action of releasing the locking mechanism 92 from the first gate 2 will be explained. To remove the toner container 1 from the mounted part 105, as follows... Figure 10 As shown in the <first state>, the user pulls the toner container 1 forward relative to the mounting part 105. As a result, the pair of protrusions 223 of the first gate 2 move forward and come into contact with the descending surfaces 81c of the pair of cones 81a.

[0093] If the toner container 1 is pulled further forward relative to the mounting part 105, then as Figure 10 As shown in the <second state>, the first gate 2 is fixed by the locking member 8, and the container body 10 moves forward relative to it. Therefore, due to the forward relative displacement of the container body 10 relative to the first gate 2 (in other words, the rearward relative displacement of the first gate 2 relative to the container body 10), the opening 21a of the first gate 2 is located in a position that does not coincide with the outlet 12. That is, the first gate 2 is in the first closed position.

[0094] Subsequently, if the toner container 1 is pulled further out relative to the mounting part 105, then as Figure 10 As shown in the <third state>, the pair of protrusions 223 respectively cross the descending surface 81c of the pair of cones 81a. Thus, by releasing the hooks of the pair of protrusions 223 onto a portion of the locking member 8, the first gate 2 is released from its fixation. Furthermore, the pair of protrusions 223 move forward while pressing the pair of cones 81a downwards. In this state, the elastic sheet 83 accumulates elastic energy by displacing and flexing downwards together with the main sheet 81.

[0095] Furthermore, when removing the toner container 1 from the mounting part 105, such as Figure 10 As shown in the <fourth state>, since the force of the pair of protrusions 223 pressing down on the pair of cones 81a disappears, the elastic sheet 83 releases the stored elastic energy and returns to its original state.

[0096] The following is for reference Figure 11The operation of the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 when the toner container 1 is installed into the mounting section 105 will be explained. Additionally, in Figure 11 In this diagram, only the main parts related to the operation of the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 are illustrated, and the diagrams other than the main parts are omitted.

[0097] In order to install the toner container 1 onto the mounting part 105, such as Figure 11 As shown in the <first state>, the user inserts the toner container 1 rearward relative to the mounting part 105. In this state, the first gate 2 is in the first closed position, and the second gate 4 is in the second closed position.

[0098] If the toner container 1 is further inserted relative to the mounting part 105, then as Figure 11 As shown in the <second state>, the main part 41 of the second gate 4 contacts a portion of the developing apparatus 104 (here, the sealing member 104b). Thus, by hooking the main part 41 onto the sealing member 104b, the rearward movement of the second gate 4 is restricted, and the second gate 4 is fixed. Therefore, as the toner container 1 is then inserted, the container body 10 and the retaining member 6 move rearward with the second gate 4 fixed. As a result, the main part 41 of the second gate 4 is displaced to a position that does not coincide with the outlet 12 in the vertical direction D1 (i.e., the second open position). At this time, because the main part 41 is displaced forward relative to the retaining member 6, the pair of force-applying members 43 accumulate elastic energy through contraction.

[0099] Subsequently, during the further insertion of the toner container 1, a pair of protrusions 223 of the first gate 2 hook onto a portion of the locking member 8, thereby restricting the rearward movement of the first gate 2 and fixing it in place. Furthermore, if the toner container 1 is further inserted and installed into the mounting portion 105, the container body 10 and the retaining member 6 move rearward while the first gate 2 is fixed. Thus, as... Figure 11 As shown in the <third state>, the first gate 2 is displaced to the position where the opening 21a and the outlet 12 are aligned in the vertical direction D1 (i.e., the first open position).

[0100] Next, refer to Figure 12 The operation of the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 when removing the toner container 1 from the mounting section 105 will be explained. Additionally, in Figure 12 In this diagram, only the main parts related to the operation of the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 are illustrated, and the diagrams other than the main parts are omitted.

[0101] To remove the toner container 1 from the mounting part 105, the user pulls the toner container 1 forward relative to the mounting part 105. During this process, while the pair of protrusions 223 are hooked onto a portion of the locking member 8, the first gate 2 remains fixed. Therefore, the container body 10 and the retaining member 6 move forward while the first gate 2 is fixed. Thus, as... Figure 12 As shown in the <first state>, the first gate 2 begins to move toward a position where the opening 21a and the outlet 12 do not coincide in the vertical direction D1 (i.e., the first closed position). At this time, the first gate 2 slides along the front-back direction D2 while approaching the outlet 12 on its upper surface, thereby scraping off the toner delivered from the outlet 12.

[0102] In this embodiment, the gap between the first gate 2 and the first sealing member 3 in the thickness direction (here, the vertical direction D1) is suppressed to be below the thickness of the second sealing member 7. This provides the advantage that even with the scraping action of the first gate 2, the amount of toner adhering to the outer surface of the container body 10 can still be easily further suppressed.

[0103] If the toner container 1 is pulled out further, the first gate 2 is displaced to the first closed position. Furthermore, by releasing the hooks of the pair of protrusions 223 relative to a portion of the locking member 8, the first gate 2 is also released from its fixation. Therefore, as... Figure 12 As shown in the <second state>, the container body 10, including the first gate 2, and the retaining member 6 move forward.

[0104] Subsequently, if the toner container 1 is pulled out further, it exits the sealing member 104b through the main part 41 of the second gate 4, thereby releasing the fixation of the second gate 4. Furthermore, during the stage of removing the toner container 1 from the installed part 105, the main part 41 is displaced rearward relative to the retaining member 6 as the pair of force-applying members 43 attempt to release accumulated elastic energy and return to their original state. Therefore, as... Figure 12 As shown in the <Third State>, the second gate 4 is displaced to the position where the main part 41 and the outlet 12 are aligned in the vertical direction D1 (i.e., the second closed position).

[0105] As described above, the toner container 1 of this embodiment is configured such that the outlet 12 can be opened and closed by both the first gate 2 and the second gate 4. Therefore, in the toner container 1 of this embodiment, when the toner container 1 is assembled or disassembled, the second gate 4 can be used to shield the toner adhering to the outer surface of the container body 10 due to the scraping action of the first gate 2 from the outside of the container body 10. Therefore, the toner container 1 of this embodiment has the advantage that the toner adhering to the outer surface of the container body 10 is difficult to reach the outside of the container body 10, and it is easy to suppress the contamination of the outside of the container body 10 caused by the toner.

[0106] Furthermore, in the toner container 1 of this embodiment, as described above, when removing the toner container 1 from the mounting portion 105, firstly, by releasing the fixing of the pair of protrusions 223 of the first gate 2, the first gate 2 is moved from the first open position to the first closed position. Then, by releasing the fixing of the main portion 41 of the second gate 4, the second gate 4 is moved from the second open position to the second closed position by means of a pair of force-applying members 43. That is, in this embodiment, when removing the toner container 1 from the mounting portion 105, the gate opening and closing mechanism 91 (the pair of protrusions 223, the main portion 41, and the pair of force-applying members 43) moves the first gate 2 to the first closed position and then moves the second gate 4 to the second closed position. Thus, by utilizing the time difference, the second gate 4 can shield the toner adhering to the outer surface of the container body 10 due to the scraping action of the first gate 2 from the outside of the container body 10. Therefore, compared to the case where the first gate 2 and the second gate 4 move from the open position to the closed position simultaneously, it has the advantage of easily further suppressing external contamination of the container body 10 caused by toner adhering to the outer surface of the container body 10.

[0107] [3] Variations In the above embodiment, there is one second gate 4, but it is not limited to this. For example, there may be multiple second gates 4. In this case, the multiple second gates 4 can be arranged together with the first gate 2 in the thickness direction (here, the vertical direction D1).

[0108] In the above embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 includes one toner container 1, and the toner contained in the toner container 1 is a K (black) toner, but it is not limited to this. For example, if the image forming unit is configured to form a full-color image using four colors: C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), the image forming apparatus 100 may include four toner containers 1. Furthermore, in this case, the toner contained in the four toner containers 1 may be C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black), respectively. In addition, in this case, each toner container 1 may adopt the same structure as in the above embodiment.

[0109] [Notes on the Invention] Hereinafter, a summary of the invention extracted from the above embodiments will be noted. Furthermore, the structures and processing functions described in the following notes can be selected and combined arbitrarily.

[0110] <Postscript 1> A toner container, detachably mounted to a mounting portion of an image forming apparatus, comprises: a container body for containing toner; a dispensing outlet for dispensing the toner from inside the container body to the outside; a first gate movable between a first closed position closing the dispensing outlet and a first open position opening the dispensing outlet; and a second gate disposed in a dispensing direction from which the toner is dispensed, at a position further away from the dispensing outlet than the first gate, movable between a second closed position closing the dispensing outlet and a second open position opening the dispensing outlet.

[0111] <Appendix 2> According to Appendix 1, the toner container further includes a retaining member installed on the container body to hold the first gate and the second gate in a movable state, respectively.

[0112] <Appendix 3> According to Appendix 1 or 2, the toner container further includes a gate opening and closing mechanism. When the toner container is installed onto the mounting portion, the gate opening and closing mechanism moves the first gate from the first closed position to the first open position and moves the second gate from the second closed position to the second open position. When the toner container is removed from the mounting portion, the gate opening and closing mechanism moves the first gate from the first open position to the first closed position and moves the second gate from the second open position to the second closed position.

[0113] <Appendix 4> According to Appendix 3, when the toner container is removed from the mounted part, the gate opening and closing mechanism moves the second gate to the second closed position after moving the first gate to the first closed position.

[0114] <Appendix 5> The toner container according to any one of Appendices 1 to 4 further comprises a locking mechanism that, when the toner container is installed onto the mounting portion, fixes the first gate in the first open position, and releases the first gate if the toner container is moved in a direction of removal from the mounting portion.

[0115] <Appendix 6> The toner container according to any one of Appendices 1 to 5 further comprises a first sealing member disposed between the first gate and the outlet, for sealing the periphery of the first gate and the outlet.

[0116] <Appendix 7> According to Appendix 6, the toner container further comprises a second sealing member for sealing between the first gate and the second gate, wherein the distance between the first gate and the first sealing member in the thickness direction is less than the thickness of the second sealing member.

[0117] <Appendix 8> According to any one of Appendices 1 to 7, the toner container has a recessed portion in the thickness direction toward the direction away from the outlet, and the toner container further includes a sheet member disposed at the periphery of the recessed portion for wiping the toner.

[0118] <Appendix 9> An image forming apparatus comprising: a toner container as described in any one of Appendices 1 to 8; a mounting portion on which the toner container is mounted; and a housing housing the mounting portion.

[0119] The scope of this invention is not limited to the foregoing, but is defined by the claims. Therefore, the embodiments described in this specification are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope. Thus, all modifications that do not depart from the scope and limits of the claims, as well as content equivalent to the scope and limits of the claims, are included within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A toner container, detachably mounted to a mounting portion of an image forming apparatus, comprising: The main body of the container holds the toner; The outlet discharges the colorant from the inside of the container body to the outside; The first gate is movable between a first closed position that closes the outlet and a first open position that opens the outlet. as well as The second gate is positioned further away from the outlet than the first gate in the direction in which the toner is discharged from the outlet, and is movable between a second closed position that closes the outlet and a second open position that opens the outlet.

2. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein, It also includes a retaining member, which is installed on the container body to keep the first gate and the second gate in a movable state, respectively.

3. The toner container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, It also includes a gate opening and closing mechanism. When the toner container is installed onto the mounting part, the gate opening and closing mechanism moves the first gate from the first closed position to the first open position and moves the second gate from the second closed position to the second open position. When the toner container is removed from the mounting part, the gate opening and closing mechanism moves the first gate from the first open position to the first closed position and moves the second gate from the second open position to the second closed position.

4. The toner container according to claim 3, wherein, When the toner container is removed from the installed part, the gate opening and closing mechanism moves the second gate to the second closed position after moving the first gate to the first closed position.

5. The toner container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, It also has a locking mechanism that, when the toner container is installed onto the mounting part, fixes the first gate in the first open position. If the toner container is moved in the direction of being removed from the mounting part, the locking mechanism releases the first gate.

6. The toner container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, It also includes a first sealing member, which is disposed between the first gate and the outlet to seal the periphery of the first gate and the outlet.

7. The toner container according to claim 6, wherein, It also includes a second sealing member for sealing between the first gate and the second gate. The distance between the first gate and the first sealing member in the thickness direction is below the thickness of the second sealing member.

8. The toner container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The second gate has a recessed portion in the thickness direction toward the direction away from the outlet. The toner container also includes a sheet member disposed around the periphery of the recess for wiping the toner.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising: The toner container as described in claim 1 or 2; The mounting part is equipped with the toner container; and The housing contains the part to be installed.

Images