DEVELOPER FEED CONTAINER AND DEVELOPER FEEDING SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus.

[0002] Such a developer supply container is usable with an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic type such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer or a complex machine having a plurality of functions of them.[BACKGROUND ART]

[0003] Conventionally, an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic type such as an electrophotographic copying machine uses a developer (toner) of fine particles. In such an image forming apparatus, the developer is supplied from the developer supply container with the consumption thereof by the image forming operation.

[0004] Since the developer is very fine powder, it may scatter in the mounting and demounting of the developer supply container relative to the image forming apparatus. Under the circumstances, various connecting types between the developer supply container and the image forming apparatus have been proposed and put into practice.

[0005] One of conventional connecting types is disclosed in JP H08-110692 A, for example.

[0006] With the device disclosed in JP H08-110692 A, a developer supplying device (so-called hopper) drawn out of the image forming apparatus receives the developer from a developer accommodating container, and then is reception reset into the image forming apparatus.

[0007] When the developer supplying device is set in the image forming apparatus, an opening of the developer supplying device takes the position right above the opening of a developing device. In the developing operation, the entirety of the developing device is lifted up to closely contact the developing device to the developer supplying device (openings of them are in fluid communication with each other). By this, the developer supply from the developer supplying device into the developing device can be properly carried out, so that the developer leakage can be suppressed properly.

[0008] On the other hand, in the non-developing operation period, the entirety of the developing device is lowered, so that the developer supplying device is spaced from the developing device.

[0009] As will be understood, the device disclosed in JP H08-110692 A requires a driving source and a drive transmission mechanism for automatically moving up a down the developing device.

[0010] However, the device of JP H08-110692 A necessitates the driving source and the drive transmission mechanism for moving the entirety of the developing device up and down, and therefore, the structure of the image forming apparatus side is complicated, and the cost will increase.

[0011] US 2010 / 129118 A1 shows a developer supplying device including a developer container frame. Here, a developer supply container is detachably installable in the developer container frame horizontally and including a container body in which a discharge port through which developer is discharged from the container body is formed. Further, a pivotable shutter control member is provided, which is pivotable (rotatable) in case the developer supply container is mounted (inserted) into a developer receiving apparatus.[SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION]

[0012] It is the object of the present invention to provide a developer supply container capable of simplifying the mechanism for connecting the developer receiving portion with the developer supply container by displacing the developer receiving portion.

[0013] The object of the present invention is achieved by a developer supply container having the features of claim 1.

[0014] Further advantageous developments of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0015] It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a developer supply container with which the developer supply container and the developer receiving apparatus can be connected properly with each other.

[0016] According to the present invention, a mechanism for displacing the developer receiving portion to connect with the developer supply container can be simplified.

[0017] In addition, using the mounting operation of the developer supply container, the connecting state between the developer supply container and the developer receiving portion can be made proper.[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS]

[0018] Figure 1 is a sectional view of a main assembly of the image forming apparatus. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

[0019] In Figure 3, (a) is a perspective view of a developer receiving apparatus, and (b) is a sectional view of the developer receiving apparatus.

[0020] In Figure 4, (a) is a partial enlarged perspective view of the developer receiving apparatus, (b) is a partial enlarged sectional view of the developer receiving apparatus, and (c) is a perspective view of a developer receiving portion.

[0021] In Figure 5, (a) is an exploded perspective view of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 1, (b) is a perspective view of the developer supply container of Embodiment 1.

[0022] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a container body.

[0023] In Figure 7, (a) is a perspective view (top side) of an upper flange portion, (b) is a perspective view (bottom side) of the upper flange portion.

[0024] In Figure 8, (a) is a perspective view (top side) of a lower flange portion in Embodiment 1, (b) is a perspective view (bottom side) of the lower flange portion in Embodiment 1, and (c) is a front view of the lower flange portion in Embodiment 1.

[0025] In Figure 9, (a) is a top plan view of a shutter in Embodiment 1, and (b) is a perspective view of the shutter in Embodiment 1.

[0026] In Figure 10, (a) is a perspective view of a pump, and (b) is a front view of the pump.

[0027] In Figure 11, (a) is a perspective view (top side) of a reciprocating member, (b) is a perspective view (bottom side) of the reciprocating member.

[0028] In Figure 12, (a) is a perspective view (top side) of a cover, (b) is a perspective view (bottom side) of the cover.

[0029] Figure 13 is a perspective view (a) of a partial section, a front view (b) of the partial section, a top plan view (c), an interrelation relation view (d) of the lower flange portion with developer receiving portion, illustrating a mounting and demounting operation of the developer supply container in Embodiment 1.

[0030] Figure 14 is a perspective view (a) of a partial section, a front view (b) of the partial section, a top plan view (c), an interrelation relation view (d) of the lower flange portion with developer receiving portion, illustrating a mounting and demounting operation of the developer supply container in Embodiment 1.

[0031] Figure 15 is a perspective view (a) of a partial section, a front view (b) of the partial section, a top plan view (c), an interrelation relation view (d) of the lower flange portion with developer receiving portion, illustrating a mounting and demounting operation of the developer supply container in Embodiment 1.

[0032] Figure 16 is a perspective view (a) of a partial section, a front view (b) of the partial section, a top plan view (c), an interrelation relation view (d) of the lower flange portion with developer receiving portion, illustrating a mounting and demounting operation of the developer supply container in Embodiment 1.

[0033] Figure 17 is a timing chart view of the mounting and demounting operation of the developer supply container in Embodiment 1.

[0034] In Figure 18, (a), (b) and (c) illustrate modified examples of an engaging portion of the developer supply container.

[0035] In Figure 19, (a) is a perspective view of a developer receiving portion according to Embodiment 2, and (b) is a sectional view of the developer receiving portion of Embodiment 2.

[0036] In Figure 20, (a) is a perspective view (top side) of a lower flange portion in Embodiment 2, and (b) is a perspective view (bottom side) of the lower flange portion in Embodiment 2.

[0037] In Figure 21, (a) is a perspective view of a shutter in Embodiment 2, (b) is a perspective view of an according to modified example 1, and (c) and (d) are schematic views of the shutter and the developer receiving portion.

[0038] In Figure 22, (a) and (b) are sectional views illustrating a shutter operation in Embodiment 2.

[0039] Figure 23 is a perspective view of the shutter in Embodiment 2.

[0040] Figure 24 is a front view of the developer supply container according to Embodiment 2.

[0041] In Figure 25, (a) is a perspective view of a shutter according to modified example 2, and (b) and (c) are schematic views of the shutter and the developer receiving portion.

[0042] Figure 26 is a perspective view (a) of a partial section, a front view (b) of the partial section, a top plan view (c), an interrelation relation view (d) of the lower flange portion with developer receiving portion, illustrating a mounting and demounting operation of the developer supply container in Embodiment 2.

[0043] Figure 27 is a perspective view (a) of a partial section, a front view (b) of the partial section, a top plan view (c), an interrelation relation view (d) of the lower flange portion with developer receiving portion, illustrating a mounting and demounting operation of the developer supply container in Embodiment 2.

[0044] Figure 28 is a perspective view (a) of a partial section, a front view (b) of the partial section, a top plan view (c), an interrelation relation view (d) of the lower flange portion with developer receiving portion, illustrating a mounting and demounting operation of the developer supply container in Embodiment 2.

[0045] Figure 29 is a perspective view (a) of a partial section, a front view (b) of the partial section, a top plan view (c), an interrelation relation view (d) of the lower flange portion with developer receiving portion, illustrating a mounting and demounting operation of the developer supply container in Embodiment 2.

[0046] Figure 30 is a perspective view (a) of a partial section, a front view (b) of the partial section, a top plan view (c), an interrelation relation view (d) of the lower flange portion with developer receiving portion, illustrating a mounting and demounting operation of the developer supply container in Embodiment 2.

[0047] Figure 31 is a perspective view (a) of a partial section, a front view (b) of the partial section, a top plan view (c), an interrelation relation view (d) of the lower flange portion with developer receiving portion, illustrating a mounting and demounting operation of the developer supply container in Embodiment 2.

[0048] Figure 32 is a timing chart view of the mounting and demounting operation of the developer supply container in Embodiment 2.

[0049] In Figure 33, (a) is a partial enlarged view of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 3, (b) is a partial enlarged sectional view of the developer supply container and a developer receiving apparatus according to Embodiment 3.

[0050] Figure 34 is an operation view of the developer receiving portion relative to the lower flange portion in a dismounting operation of the developer supply container in Embodiment 3.

[0051] Figure 35 illustrates a developer supply container of a comparison example.

[0052] Figure 36 is a sectional view of an example of an image forming apparatus.

[0053] Figure 37 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus of Figure 36.

[0054] Figure 38 is a perspective view illustrating a developer receiving apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0055] Figure 39 is a perspective view of the developer receiving apparatus of Figure 38 as seen in a different direction.

[0056] Figure 40 is a sectional view of the developer receiving apparatus of Figure 38.

[0057] Figure 41 is a block diagram illustrating a function and a structure of a control device.

[0058] Figure 42 is a flow chart illustrating a flow of a supplying operation.

[0059] Figure 43 is a sectional view illustrating a developer receiving apparatus without a hopper and a mounting state of the developer supply container.

[0060] Figure 44 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the developer supply container.

[0061] Figure 45 is a sectional view illustrating an embodiment of the developer supply container.

[0062] Figure 46 is a sectional view of the developer supply container in which a discharge opening and an inclined surface are connected.

[0063] In Figure 47, (a) is a perspective view of a blade used in a device for measuring a flowability energy, and (b) is a schematic view of the measuring device.

[0064] Figure 48 is a graph showing a relation between a diameter of the discharge opening and a discharge amount.

[0065] Figure 49 is a graph showing a relation between a filling amount in the container and the discharge amount.

[0066] Figure 50 is a perspective view illustrating parts of operation states of the developer supply container and the developer receiving apparatus.

[0067] Figure 51 is a perspective view of the developer supply container and the developer receiving apparatus.

[0068] Figure 52 is a sectional view of the developer supply container and the developer receiving apparatus.

[0069] Figure 53 is a sectional view of the developer supply container and the developer receiving apparatus.

[0070] Figure 54 illustrates a change of an internal pressure of the developer accommodating portion in the apparatus and the system according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention.

[0071] In Figure 55, (a) is a block diagram of a developer supplying system (Embodiment 4) used in a verification experiment, and (b) is a schematic view illustrating a phenomenon-in the developer supply container.

[0072] In Figure 56, (a) is a block diagram of a developer supplying system (comparison example) used in the verification experiment, and (b) is a schematic Figure of a phenomenon-in the developer supply container.

[0073] Figure 57 is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 5.

[0074] Figure 58 is a sectional view of the developer supply container of Figure 57.

[0075] Figure 59 is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 6.

[0076] Figure 60 is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 6.

[0077] Figure 61 is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 6.

[0078] Figure 62 is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 7.

[0079] Figure 63 is a sectional perspective view of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 74.

[0080] Figure 64 is a partially sectional view of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 7.

[0081] Figure 65 is a sectional view of another example according to Embodiment 7.

[0082] In Figure 66, (a) is a front view of a mounting portion, and (b) is a partial enlarged perspective view of an inside of the mounting portion.

[0083] In Figure 67, (a) is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 8, (b) is a perspective view around a discharge opening, and (c) and (d) are a front view and a sectional view illustrating a state in which the developer supply container is mounted to a mounting portion of the developer receiving apparatus.

[0084] In Figure 68, (a) is a perspective view of a portion of the developer accommodating portion of Embodiment 8, (b) is a perspective view of a section of the developer supply container, (c) is a sectional view of an inner surface of a flange portion, (d) is a sectional view of the developer supply container.

[0085] In Figure 69, (a) and (b) are sectional views illustrating a behavior in suction and discharging operation of a pump portion at the developer supply container of Embodiment 8.

[0086] Figure 70 is an extended elevation of a cam groove configuration of the developer supply container.

[0087] Figure 71 is an extended elevation of an example of the cam groove configuration of the developer supply container.

[0088] Figure 72 is an extended elevation of an example of the cam groove configuration of the developer supply container.

[0089] Figure 73 is an extended elevation of an example of the cam groove configuration of the developer supply container.

[0090] Figure 74 is an extended elevation of an example of the cam groove configuration of the developer supply container.

[0091] Figure 75 is an extended elevation of an example of the cam groove configuration of the developer supply container.

[0092] Figure 76 is an extended elevation of an example of the cam groove configuration of the developer supply container.

[0093] Figure 77 is graphs showing changes of an internal pressure of the developer supply container.

[0094] In Figure 78, (a) is a perspective view of a structure of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 9, and (b) is a sectional view of a structure of the developer supply container.

[0095] Figure 79 is a sectional view illustrating a structure of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 10.

[0096] In Figure 80, (a) is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 11, (b) is a sectional view of the developer supply container, (c) is a perspective view of a cam gear, and (d) is a partial enlarged view of a rotational engaging portion of a cam gear.

[0097] In Figure 81, (a) is a perspective view of a structure of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 12, and (b) is a sectional view of a structure of the developer supply container.

[0098] In Figure 82, (a) is a perspective view of a structure of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 13, and (b) is a sectional view of a structure of the developer supply container.

[0099] In Figure 83, (a) - (d) illustrate an operation of a drive converting mechanism.

[0100] In Figure 84, (a) is a perspective view of a structure of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 14, and (b) and (c) illustrate an operation of a drive converting mechanism.

[0101] Part (a) of Figure 85 is a sectional perspective view illustrating a structure of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 15, (b) and (c) are sectional views illustrating suction and discharging operations of a pump portion.

[0102] In Figure 86, (a) is a perspective view of another example of the developer supply container of Embodiment 15, and (b) illustrates a coupling portion of the developer supply container.

[0103] In Figure 87, (a) is a perspective view of a section of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 16, and (b) and (c) are a sectional view illustrating a state of suction and discharging operations of the pump portion.

[0104] In Figure 88, (a) is a perspective view of a structure of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 17, (b) is a perspective view of a section of the developer supply container, (c) illustrates an end portion of a developer accommodating portion, and (d) and (e) illustrate a state in the suction and discharging operations of a pump portion.

[0105] In Figure 89, (a) is a perspective view of a structure of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 18, (b) is a perspective view of a flange portion, and (c) is a perspective view of a structure of a cylindrical portion.

[0106] In Figure 90, (a) and (b) are sectional views illustrating a state of suction and discharging operations of a pump portion of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 18.

[0107] Figure 91 illustrate a structure of the pump portion of the developer supply container according to Embodiment 18.

[0108] In Figure 92, (a) and (b) are schematic sectional views of a structure of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 19.

[0109] In Figure 93, (a) and (b) are perspective views of a cylindrical portion and a flange portion of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 20.

[0110] In Figure 94, (a) and (b) are perspective views of a partial section of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 20.

[0111] Figure 95 is a time chart illustrating a relation between an operation state of a pump according to Embodiment 20 and opening and closing timing of a rotatable shutter.

[0112] Figure 96 is a partly sectional perspective view illustrating a developer supply container according to Embodiment 21.

[0113] In Figure 97, (a) - (c) are partially sectional views illustrating an operation state of a pump portion in Embodiment 21.

[0114] Figure 98 is a time chart illustrating a relation between an operation state of a pump according to Embodiment 21 and opening and closing timing of a stop valve.

[0115] In Figure 99, (a) is a perspective view of a portion of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 22, (b) is a perspective view of a flange portion, and (c) is a sectional view of the developer supply container.

[0116] In Figure 100, (a) is a perspective view of a structure of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 23, (b) is a perspective view of a section of the developer supply container.

[0117] Figure 101 is a partly sectional perspective view illustrating a structure of a developer supply container according to Embodiment 23.

[0118] In Figure 102, (a) - (d) are sectional views of a developer supply container and a developer receiving apparatus of a comparison example, illustrating a flow of developer supplying steps.

[0119] Figure 103 is a sectional view illustrating a developer supply container and a developer receiving apparatus of another comparison example.[PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION]

[0120] The description will be made as to a developer supply container and a developer supplying system according to the present invention.[Embodiment 1]

[0121] First, basic structures of an image forming apparatus will be described, and then, a developer receiving apparatus and a developer supply container constituting a developer supplying system used in the image forming apparatus will be described.(Image forming apparatus)

[0122] Referring to Figure 1, the description will be made as to a structure of a copying machine (electrophotographic image forming apparatus) of an electrophotographic type as an example of an image forming apparatus comprising a developer receiving apparatus to which a developer supply container (so-called toner cartridge) is detachably (removably) mounted.

[0123] In the Figure, designated by 100 is a main assembly of the copying machine (main assembly of the image forming apparatus or main assembly of the apparatus). Designated by 101 is an original which is placed on an original supporting platen glass 102. A light image corresponding to image information of the original is imaged on an electrophotographic photosensitive member 104 (photosensitive member) by way of a plurality of mirrors M of an optical portion 103 and a lens Ln, so that an electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent image is visualized with toner (one component magnetic toner) as a developer (dry powder) by a dry type developing device (one component developing device) 201a.

[0124] In this embodiment, the one component magnetic toner is used as the developer to be supplied from a developer supply container 1, but the present invention is not limited to the example and includes other examples which will be described hereinafter.

[0125] Specifically, in the case that a one component developing device using the one component non-magnetic toner is employed, the one component non-magnetic toner is supplied as the developer. In addition, in the case that a two component developing device using a two component developer containing mixed magnetic carrier and non-magnetic toner is employed, the non-magnetic toner is supplied as the developer. In such a case, both of the non-magnetic toner and the magnetic carrier may be supplied as the developer.

[0126] As described hereinbefore, the developing device 201 of Figure 1 develops, using the developer, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member 104 as an image bearing member on the basis of image information of the original 101. The developing device 201 is provided with a developing roller 201f in addition to the developer hopper portion 201a. The developer hopper portion 201a is provided with a stirring member 201c for stirring the developer supplied from the developer supply container 1. The developer stirred by the stirring member 201c is fed to the feeding member 201e by a feeding member 201d.

[0127] The developer having been fed by the feeding members 201e, 201b in the order named is supplied finally to a developing zone relative to the photosensitive member 104 while being carried on the developing roller 201f.

[0128] In this example, the toner as the developer is supplied from the developer supply container 1 to the developing device 201, but another system may be used, and the toner and the carrier functioning developer may be supplied from the developer supply container 1, for example.

[0129] Of the sheet S stacked in the cassettes 105 - 108, an optimum cassette is selected on the basis of a sheet size of the original 101 or information inputted by the operator (user) from a liquid crystal operating portion of the copying machine. The recording material is not limited to a sheet of paper, but OHP sheet or another material can be used as desired.

[0130] One sheet S supplied by a separation and feeding device 105A-108A is fed to registration rollers 110 along a feeding portion 109, and is fed at timing synchronized with rotation of a photosensitive member 104 and with scanning of an optical portion 103.

[0131] Designated by 111, 112 are a transfer charger and a separation charger. An image of the developer formed on the photosensitive member 104 is transferred onto the sheet S by a transfer charger 111.

[0132] Thereafter, the sheet S fed by the feeding portion 113 is subjected to heat and pressure in a fixing portion 114 so that the developed image on the sheet is fixed, and then passes through a discharging / reversing portion 115, in the case of one-sided copy mode, and subsequently the sheet S is discharged to a discharging tray 117 by discharging rollers 116. The trailing end thereof passes through a flapper 118, and a flapper 118 is controlled when it is still nipped by the discharging rollers 116, and the discharging rollers 116 are rotated reversely, so that the sheet S is refed into the apparatus. Then, the sheet S is fed to the registration rollers 110 by way of re-feeding portions 119, 120, and then conveyed along the path similarly to the case of the one-sided copy mode and is discharged to the discharging tray 117.

[0133] In the main assembly 100 of the apparatus, around the photosensitive member 104, there are provided image forming process equipment such as a developing device 201a as the developing means a cleaner portion 202 as a cleaning means, a primary charger 203 as charging means. The developing device 201 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member 104 by the optical portion 103 in accordance with image information of the 101, by depositing the developer onto the latent image. The primary charger 203 uniformly charges a surface of the photosensitive member for the purpose of forming a desired electrostatic image on the photosensitive member 104. The cleaner portion 202 removes the developer remaining on the photosensitive member 104.

[0134] Figure 2 is an outer appearance of the image forming apparatus. When an exchange cover 40 which is a part of an outer casing of the image forming apparatus, a part of a developer receiving apparatus 8 which will be described hereinafter is exposed.

[0135] By inserting (mounting) the developer supply container 1 into the developer receiving apparatus 8, the developer supply container 1 is set in the state capable of supplying the developer into the developer receiving apparatus 8. On the other hand, when the operator exchanges the developer supply container 1 the developer supply container 1 is taken out (disengaged) from the developer receiving apparatus 8 through the operation reciprocal to the mounting operation, and a new developer supply container 1 is set. Here, the exchange cover 40 is exclusively for mounting and demounting (exchange) of the developer supply container 1, and is opened and closed for mounting and demounting the developer supply container 1. For other maintenance operations for the main assembly of the apparatus 100, a front cover 100c is opened and closed. The exchange cover 40 and the front cover 100c may be made integral with each other, and in this case, the exchange of the developer supply container 1 and the maintenance of the main assembly of the apparatus 100 are carried out with opening and closing of the integral cover (unshown).(Developer receiving apparatus)

[0136] Referring to Figures 3 and 4 the developer receiving apparatus 8 will be described. Part (a) of Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the developer receiving apparatus 8, and part (b) of Figure 3 is a schematic sectional view of the developer receiving apparatus 8. Part (a) of Figure 4 is a partial enlarged perspective view of the developer receiving apparatus 8, part (b) of Figure 4 is a partial enlarged sectional view of the developer receiving apparatus 8, and a part (c) of Figure 4 is a perspective view of a developer receiving portion 11.

[0137] As shown in part (a) of Figure 3, the developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with a mounting portion (mounting space) 8f into which the developer supply container 1 is removably (detachably) mounted. It is also provided with a developer receiving portion 11 for receiving the developer discharged through a discharge opening 3a4 (part (b) of Figure 7), which will be described hereinafter, of the developer supply container 1. The developer receiving portion 11 is mounted so as to be movable (displaceable) relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8 in the vertical direction. As shown in part (c) of Figure 4, the developer receiving portion 11 is provided with a main assembly seal 13 having a developer receiving port 11a at the central portion thereof. The main assembly seal 13 is made of an elastic member, a foam member or the like, and is close-contacted with an opening seal 3a5 (part (b) of Figure 7) having a discharge opening 3a4 of the developer supply container 1, by which the developer discharged through the discharge opening 3a4 is prevented from leaking out of a developer feeding path including developer receiving port 11a.

[0138] In order to prevent the contamination in the mounting portion 8f by the developer as much as possible, a diameter of the developer receiving port 11a is desirably substantially the same as or slightly larger than a diameter of the discharge opening 3a4 of the developer supply container 1. This is because if the diameter of the developer receiving port 11a is smaller than the diameter of the discharge opening 3a4, the developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 is deposited on the upper surface of the main assembly seal 13 having the developer receiving port 11a, and the deposited developer is transferred onto the lower surface of the developer supply container 1 during the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1, with the result of contamination with the developer. In addition, the developer transferred onto the developer supply container 1 may be scattered to the mounting portion 8f with the result of contamination of the mounting portion 8f with the developer. On the contrary, if the diameter of the developer receiving port 11a is quite larger than the diameter of the discharge opening 3a4, an area in which the developer scattered from the developer receiving port 11a is deposited around the discharge opening 3a4 formed in the opening seal 3a5 is large. That is, the contaminated area of the developer supply container 1 by the developer is large, which is not preferable. Under the circumstances, the difference between the diameter of the developer receiving port 11a and the diameter of the discharge opening 3a4 is preferably substantially 0 to approx. 2 mm.

[0139] In this example, the diameter of the discharge opening 3a4 of the developer supply container 1 is approx. Φ2 mm (pin hole), and therefore, the diameter of the developer receiving port 11a is approx. φ3 mm.

[0140] As shown in part (b) of Figure 3, the developer receiving portion 11 is urged downwardly by an urging member 12. When the developer receiving portion 11 moves upwardly, it has to move against an urging force of the urging member 12.

[0141] As shown in part (b) of Figure 3, below the developer receiving apparatus 8, there is provided a sub-hopper 8c for temporarily storing the developer. In the sub-hopper 8c, there are provided a feeding screw 14 for feeding the developer into the developer hopper portion 201a which is a part of the developing device 201, and an opening 8d which is in fluid communication with the developer hopper portion 201a.

[0142] As shown in part (b) of Figure 13, the developer receiving port 11a is closed so as to prevent foreign matter and / or dust entering the sub-hopper 8c in a state that the developer supply container 1 is not mounted. More specifically, the developer receiving port 11a is closed by a main assembly shutter 15 in the state that the developer receiving portion 11 is away to the upside. The developer receiving portion 11 moves upwardly (arrow E) from the position shown in part (b) of Figure 13 toward the developer supply container 1. By this, as shown in part (b) of Figure 15, the developer receiving port 11a and the main assembly shutter 15 are spaced from each other so that the developer receiving port 11a is open. With this open state, the developer is discharged from the developer supply container 1 through the discharge opening 3a4, so that the developer received by the developer receiving port 11a is movable to the sub-hopper 8c.

[0143] As shown in part (c) of Figure 4, a side surface of the developer receiving portion 11 is provided with an engaging portion 11b. The engaging portion 11b is directly engaged with an engaging portion 3b2, 3b4 (Figure 8) provided on the developer supply container 1 which will be described hereinafter, and is guided thereby so that the developer receiving portion 11 is raised toward the developer supply container 1.

[0144] As shown in part (a) of Figure 3, the mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with an insertion guide 8e for guiding the developer supply container 1 in the mounting and demounting direction, and by the insertion guide 8e, the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 is made along the arrow A. The dismounting direction of the developer supply container 1 is the opposite (arrow B) to the direction of the arrow A.

[0145] As shown in part (a) of Figure 3, the developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with a driving gear 9 functioning as a driving mechanism for driving the developer supply container 1.

[0146] The driving gear 9 receives a rotational force from a driving motor 500 through a driving gear train, and functions to apply a rotational force to the developer supply container 1 which is set in the mounting portion 8f.

[0147] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the driving motor 500 is controlled by a control device (CPU) 600.(Developer supply container)

[0148] Referring to Figure 5, the developer supply container 1 will be described. Part (a) of Figure 5 a schematic exploded perspective view of the developer supply container 1, and part (b) of Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the developer supply container 1. In the part (b) of Figure 5, a cover 7 is partly broken for better understanding.

[0149] As shown in part (a) of Figure 5, the developer supply container 1 mainly comprises a container body 2, a flange portion 3, a shutter 4, a pump portion 5, a reciprocating member 6 and the cover 7. The developer supply container 1 is rotated about a rotational axis P shown in part (b) of Figure 5 in a direction of an arrow R in the developer receiving apparatus 8, by which the developer is supplied into the developer receiving apparatus 8. Each element of the developer supply container 1 will be described in detail.(Container body)

[0150] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a container body. As shown in Figure 6, the container body (developer feeding chamber) 2 mainly comprises a developer accommodating portion 2c for accommodating the developer, and a helical feeding groove 2a (feeding portion) for feeding the developer in the developer accommodating portion 2c by rotation of the container body 2 about a rotational axis P in the direction of the arrow R. As shown in Figure 6, a cam groove 2b and drive receiving portion (drive inputting portion) for receiving the drive from the main assembly side are formed integrally with the body 2, over the full circumference at one end portion of the container body 2. In this example, the cam groove 2b and the drive receiving portion 2d are integrally formed with the container body 2, but the cam groove 2b or the drive receiving portion 2d may be formed as another member, and may be mounted to the container body 2. In this example, the developer containing the toner having a volume average particle size of 5 µm - 6 µm is accommodated in the developer accommodating portion 2c of the container body 2. In this example, the developer accommodating portion (developer accommodating space) 2c is provided not only by the container body 2 but also by the inside space of the flange portion 3 and the pump portion 5.(Flange portion)

[0151] Referring to Figure 5, the flange portion 25 will be described. As shown in part (b) of Figure 5, the flange portion (developer discharging chamber) 3 is rotatably the rotational axis P relative to the container body 2, and when the developer supply container 1 is mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 8, it is not rotatable in the direction of the arrow R relative to the mounting portion 8f (part (a) of Figure 3). In addition, it is provided with the discharge opening 3a4 (Figure 7). As shown in part (a) of Figure 5, the flange portion 3 is divided into an upper flange portion 3a, a lower flange portion 3b taking into account an assembling property, and the pump portion 5, the reciprocating member 6, the shutter 4 and the cover 7 are mounted thereto. As shown in part (a) of Figure 5, the pump portion 5 is connected with one end portion side of-the upper flange portion 3a by screws, and the container body 2 is connected with the other end portion side through a sealing member (unshown). The pump portion 5 is sandwiched between the reciprocating members 6, and engaging projections 6b (Figure 11) of the reciprocating member 6 are fitted in the cam groove 2b of the container body 2. Furthermore, the shutter 4 is inserted into a gap between the upper flange portion 3a and the lower flange portion 3b. For protection of the reciprocating member 6 and the pump portion 5 and for better outer appearance, the cover 7 is integrally provided so as to cover the entirety of the flange portion 3, the pump portion 5 and the reciprocating member 6.(Upper flange portion)

[0152] Figure 7 illustrates the upper flange portion 3a. Part (a) of Figure 7 is a perspective view of the upper flange portion 3a as seen obliquely from an upper portion, and part (b) of Figure 7 is a perspective view of the upper flange portion 3ea as seen obliquely from bottom. The upper flange portion 3a includes a pump connecting portion 3a1 (screw is not shown) shown in part (a) of Figure 7 to which the pump portion 5 is threaded, a container body connecting portion 3a2 shown in part (b) of Figure 7 to which the container body 2 is connected, and a storage portion 3a2 shown in part (a) of Figure 7 for storing the developer fed from the container body 2. As shown in part (b) of Figure 7, there are provided a circular discharge opening (opening) 3a4 for permitting discharging of the developer into the developer receiving apparatus 8 from the storage portion 3a3, and a opening seal 3a5 forming a connecting portion 3a6 connecting with the developer receiving portion 11 provided in the developer receiving apparatus 8. The opening seal 3a5 is stuck on the bottom surface of the upper flange portion 35a by a double coated tape and is nipped by shutter 4 which will be described hereinafter and the flange portion 3a to prevent leakage of the developer through the discharge opening 3a4. In this example, the discharge opening 3a4 is provided to opening seal 3a5 which is unintegral with the flange portion 3a, but the discharge opening 3a4 may be provided directly in the upper flange portion 35a.

[0153] As described above, the diameter of the discharge opening 3a4 is approx. 2 mm for the purpose of minimizing the contamination with the developer which may be unintentionally discharged by the opening and closing of the shutter 4 in the mounting and demounting operation of the developer supply container 1 relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8. In this example, the discharge opening 3a4 is provided in the lower surface of the developer supply container 1, that is, the lower surface of the upper flange portion 3a, but the connecting structure of this example can be accomplished if it is fundamentally provided in a side except for an upstream side end surface or a downstream side end surface with respect to the mounting and dismounting direction of the developer supply container 1 relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8. The position of the discharge opening 25a4 may be properly selected taking situation of the specific apparatus into account. A connecting operation between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 in this example will be described hereinafter.(Lower flange portion)

[0154] Figure 8 shows the lower flange portion 25b. Part (a) of Figure 8 is a perspective view of the lower flange portion 3b as seen obliquely from an upper position, part (b) of Figure 8 is a perspective view of the lower flange portion 3b as seen obliquely from a lower position, and part (c) of Figure 8 is a front view. As shown in part (a) of Figure 8, the lower flange portion 3b is provided with a shutter inserting portion 3b1 into which the shutter 4 (Figure 9) is inserted. The lower flange portion 3b is provided with engaging portions 3b2, 3b4 engageable with the developer receiving portion 11 (Figure 4).

[0155] The engaging portions 3b2, 3b4 displace the developer receiving portion 11 toward the developer supply container 1 with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 so that the connected state is established in which the developer supply from the developer supply container 1 to the developer receiving portion 11 is enabled. The engaging portions 3b2, 3b4 guide the developer receiving portion 11 to space away from the developer supply container 1 so that the connection between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving portion 39 is broken with the dismounting operation of the developer supply container1.

[0156] A first engaging portion 3b2 of the engaging portions 3b2, 3b4 displaces the developer receiving portion 11 in the direction crossing with the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 for permitting an unsealing operation of the developer receiving portion 1. In this example, the first engaging portion 3b2 displaces the developer receiving portion 11 toward the developer supply container 1 so that the developer receiving portion 11 is connected with the connecting portion 3a6 formed in a part of the opening seal 3a5 of the developer supply container1 with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1. The first engaging portion 3b2 extends in the direction crossing with the mounting direction of the developer supply container1.

[0157] The first engaging portion 3b2 effects a guiding operation so as to displace the developer receiving portion 11 in the direction crossing with the dismounting direction of the developer supply container 1 such that the developer receiving portion 11 is resealed with the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1. In this example, the first engaging portion 3b2 effects the guiding so that the developer receiving portion 11 is spaced away from the developer supply container 1 downwardly, so that the connection state between the developer receiving portion 11 and the connecting portion 3a6 of the developer supply container 1 is broken with the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1.

[0158] On the other hand, a second engaging portion 3b4 maintains the connection stated between the opening seal 3a5 and a main assembly seal 13 during the developer supply container 1 moving relative to the shutter 4 which will be described hereinafter, that is, during the developer receiving port 11a moving from the connecting portion 3a6 to the discharge opening 3a4, so that the discharge opening 3a4 is brought into communication with a developer receiving port 11a of the developer receiving portion 11 accompanying the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1. The second engaging portion 3b4 extends in parallel with the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1.

[0159] The second engaging portion 3b4 maintains the connection between the main assembly seal 13 and the opening seal 3a5 during the developer supply container 1 moving relative to the shutter 4, that is, during the developer receiving port 11a moving from the discharge opening 3a4 to the connecting portion 3a6, so that the discharge opening 3a4 is resealed accompanying the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1.

[0160] A configuration of the first engaging portion 3b2 desirably includes an inclined surface (inclined portion) crossing the inserting direction of the developer supply container 1, and it is not limited to the linear inclined surface as shown in part (a) of Figure 8. The configuration of the first engaging portion 3b2 may be a curved and inclined surface as shown in part (a) of Figure 18, for example. Furthermore, as shown in part (b) of Figure 18, may be stepped including a parallel surface and an inclined surface. The configuration of the first engaging portion 3b2 is not limited to the configuration shown in parts (a) or (b) of Figures 8 and 18, if it can displace the developer receiving portion 11 toward the discharge opening 3a4, but a linear inclined surface is desirable from the standpoint of constant manipulating force required by the mounting and dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1. An inclination angle of the first engaging portion 3b2 relative to the mounting and dismounting direction of the developer supply container 1 is desirably approx. 10 - 50 degrees in view of the situation which will be described hereinafter. In this example, the angle is approx. 40 degrees.

[0161] In addition, as shown in part (c) of Figure 18, the first engaging portion 3b2 and the second engaging portion 3b4 may be unified to provide a uniformly linear inclined surface. In this case, with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1, the first engaging portion 3b2 displaces the developer receiving portion to connect the main assembly seal 13 with the shield portion 3b6 developer receiving portion 11 in the direction crossing with the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1. Thereafter, it displaces the developer receiving portion 11 while compressing the main assembly seal 13 and the opening seal 3a5, until the developer receiving port 11a and the discharge opening 3a4 are brought into fluid communication with each other.

[0162] Here, when such a first engaging portion 3b2 is used, the developer supply container 1 always receives a force in the direction of B (part (a) of Figure 16) by the relationship between the first engaging portion 3b2 and the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 in the completed position of the mounting of the developer supply container 1 which will be described hereinafter. Therefore, the developer receiving apparatus 8 is required to have a holding mechanism for holding the developer supply container 1 in the mounting completed position, with the result of increase in cost and / or increase in the number of parts. Therefore, this standpoint, it is preferable that the developer supply container 1 is provided with the above-described second engaging portion 3b4 so that the force in the B direction is not applied to the developer supply container 1 in the mounting completed position, thus stabilizing the connection state between the main assembly seal 13 and the opening seal 3a5.

[0163] The first engaging portion 3b2 shown in part (c) of Figure 18 has a linear inclined surface, but similar to the part (a) of Figure 18 or part (b) of Figure 18, for example, a curved or stepped configuration is usable, although the linear inclined surface is preferable from the standpoint of constant manipulating force in the mounting and dismounting operations of the developer supply container 1, as described hereinbefore.

[0164] The lower flange portion 3b is provided with a regulation rib (regulating portion) 3b3 (part (a) of Figure 3) for preventing or permitting an elastic deformation of a supporting portion 4d of the shutter 4 which will be described hereinafter, with the mounting or dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1 relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8. The regulation rib 3b3 protrudes upwardly from an insertion surface of the shutter inserting portion 3b1 and extends along the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1. In addition, as shown in part (b) of Figure 8, the protecting portion 3b5 is provided to protect the shutter 4 from damage during transportation and / or mishandling of the operator. The lower flange portion 3b is integral with the upper flange portion 3a in the state that the shutter 4 is inserted in the shutter inserting portion 3b1.(Shutter)

[0165] Figure 9 shows the shutter 4. Part (a) of Figure 9 is a top plan view of the shutter 4, and part (b) of Figure 9 is a perspective view of shutter 4 as seen obliquely from an upper position. The shutter 4 is movable relative to the developer supply container 1 to open and close the discharge opening 3a4 with the mounting operation and the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1. The shutter 4 is provided with a developer sealing portion 4a for preventing leakage of the developer through the discharge opening 3a4 when the developer supply container 1 is not mounted to the mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8, and a sliding surface 4i which slides on the shutter inserting portion 3b1 of the lower flange portion 3b on the rear side (back side) of the developer sealing portion 4a.

[0166] Shutter 4 is provided with a stopper portion (holding portion) 4b, 4c held by shutter stopper portions 8n, 8p (part (a) of Figure 4) of the developer receiving apparatus 8 with the mounting and dismounting operations of the developer supply container 1 so that the developer supply container 1 moves relative to the shutter 4. A first stopper portion 5b of the stopper portions 4b, 4c engages with a first shutter stopper portion 8n of the developer receiving apparatus 8 to fix the position of the shutter 4 relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8 at the time of mounting operation of the developer supply container 1. A second stopper portion 4c engages with a second shutter stopper portion 8b of the developer receiving apparatus 8 at the time of the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1.

[0167] The shutter 4 is provided with a supporting portion 4d so that the stopper portions 4b, 4c are displaceable. The supporting portion 4d extends from the developer sealing portion 4a and is elastically deformable to displaceably support the first stopper portion 4b and the second stopper portion 4c. The first stopper portion 4b is inclined such that an angle α formed between the first stopper portion 4b and the supporting portion 4d is acute. On the contrary, the second stopper portion 4c is inclined such that an angle β formed between the second stopper portion 4c and the supporting portion 4d is obtuse.

[0168] The developer sealing portion 4a of the shutter 4 is provided with a locking projection 4e at a position downstream of the position opposing the discharge opening 3a4 with respect to the mounting direction when the developer supply container 1 is not mounted to the mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8. A contact amount of the locking projection 4e relative to the opening seal 3a5 (part (b) of Figure 7) is larger than relative to the developer sealing portion 4a so that a static friction force between the shutter 4 and the opening seal 3a5 is large. Therefore, an unexpected movement (displacement) of the shutter 4 due to a vibration during the transportation or the like can be prevented. Therefore, an unexpected movement (displacement) of the shutter 4 due to a vibration during the transportation or the like can be prevented. The entirety of the developer sealing portion 4a may correspond to the contact amount between the locking projection 4e and the opening seal 3a5, but in such a case, the dynamic friction force relative to the opening seal 3a5 at the time when the shutter 4 moves is large as compared with the case of the locking projection 4e provided, and therefore, a manipulating force required when the developer supply container 1 is mounted to the developer replenishing apparatus 8 is large, which is not preferable from the standpoint of the usability. Therefore, it is desired to provide the locking projection 4e in a part as in this example.(Pump portion)

[0169] Figure 10 shows the pump portion 5. Part (a) of Figure 10 is a perspective view of the pump portion 5, and part (b) is a front view of the pump portion 5. The pump portion 5 is operated by the driving force received by the drive receiving portion (drive inputting portion) 2d so as to alternately produce a state in which the internal pressure of the developer accommodating portion 2c is lower than the ambient pressure and a state in which it is higher than the ambient pressure.

[0170] In this example, the pump portion 5 is provided as a part of the developer supply container 1 in order to discharge the developer stably from the small discharge opening 3a4. The pump portion 5 is a displacement type pump in which the volume changes. More specifically, the pump includes a bellow-like expansion-and-contraction member. By the expanding-and-contracting operation of the pump portion 5, the pressure in the developer supply container 1 is changed, and the developer is discharged using the pressure. More specifically, when the pump portion 5 is contracted, the inside of the developer supply container 1 is pressurized so that the developer is discharged through the discharge opening 3a4. When the pump portion 5 expands, the inside of the developer supply container 1 is depressurized so that the air is taken in through the discharge opening 3a4 from the outside. By the take-in air, the developer in the neighborhood of the discharge opening 3a4 and / or the storage portion 3a3 is loosened so as to make the subsequent discharging smooth. By repeating the expanding-and-contracting operation described above, the developer is discharged.

[0171] As shown in part (b) of Figure 110, the pump portion 5 of this modified example has the bellow-like expansion-and-contraction portion (bellow portion, expansion-and-contraction member) 5a in which the crests and bottoms are periodically provided. The expansion-and-contraction portion 5a expands and contracts in the directions of arrows A and B. When the bellow-like pump portion 5 as in this example, a variation in the volume change amount relative to the amount of expansion and contraction can be reduced, and therefore, a stable volume change can be accomplished.

[0172] In addition, in this example, the material of the pump portion 2 is polypropylene resin material (PP), but this is not inevitable. The material of the pump portion 5 may be any if it can provide the expansion and contraction function and can change the internal pressure of the developer accommodating portion by the volume change. The examples includes thin formed ABS (acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene copolymer resin material), polystyrene, polyester, polyethylene materials. Alternatively, other expandable-and-contractable materials such as rubber are usable.

[0173] In addition, as shown in part (a) of Figure 10, the opening end side of the pump portion 5 is provided with a connecting portion 5b connectable with the upper flange portion 3a. Here, the connecting portion 5b is a screw. Furthermore, as shown in part (b) of Figure 10 the other end portion side is provided with a reciprocating member engaging portion 5c engaged with the reciprocating member 5 to displace in synchronism with the reciprocating member 6 which will be described hereinafter.(Reciprocating member)

[0174] Figure 11 shows the reciprocating member 6. Part (a) of Figure 11 is a perspective view of the reciprocating member 6 as seen obliquely from an upper position, and part (b) is perspective view of the reciprocating member 6 as seen obliquely from a lower position.

[0175] As shown in part (b) of Figure 11, the reciprocating member 6 is provided with a pump engaging portion 6a engaged with the reciprocating member engaging portion 5c provided on the pump portion 5 to change the volume of the pump portion 5 as described above. Furthermore, as shown in part (a) and part (b) of Figure 11 the reciprocating member 6 is provided with the engaging projection 6b fitted in the above-described cam groove 2b (Figure 5) when the container is assembled. The engaging projection 6b is provided at a free end portion of the arm 6c extending from a neighborhood of the pump engaging portion 6a. Rotation displacement of the reciprocating member 6 about the axis P (part (b) of Figure 5) of the arm 6c is prevented by a reciprocating member holding portion 7b (Figure 12) of the cover 7 which will be described hereinafter. Therefore, when the container body 2 receives the drive from the drive receiving portion 2d and is rotated integrally with the cam groove 20n by the driving gear 9, the reciprocating member 6 reciprocates in the directions of arrows An and B by the function of the engaging projection 6b fitted in the cam groove 2b and the reciprocating member holding portion 7b of the cover 7. Together with this operation, the pump portion 5 engaged through the pump engaging portion 6a of the reciprocating member 6 and the reciprocating member engaging portion 5c expands and contracts in the directions of arrows An and B.(Cover)

[0176] Figure 12 shows the cover 7. Part (a) of Figure 12 is a perspective view of the cover 7 as seen obliquely from a upper position, and part (b) is a perspective view of the cover 7 as seen obliquely from a lower position.

[0177] The cover 24 is provided as shown in part (b) of Figure 69 in order to protect the reciprocating member 38 and / or the pump portion 2 and to improve the outer appearance. In more detail, as shown in part (b) of Figure 5, the cover 7 is provided integrally with the upper flange portion 3a and / or the lower flange portion 3b and so on by a mechanism (unshown) so as to cover the entirety of the flange portion 3, the pump portion 5 and the reciprocating member 6. In addition, the cover 7 is provided with a guide groove 7a to be guided by the insertion guide 8e (part (a) of Figure 3) of the developer receiving apparatus 8. In addition, the cover 7 is provided with a reciprocating member holding portion 7b for regulating a rotation displacement about the axis P (part (b) of Figure 5) of the reciprocating member 6 as described above.Mounting operation of developer supply container)

[0178] Referring to Figures 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 in the order of operation, mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 to the developer receiving apparatus 8 will be described in detail. Parts (a) - (d) of Figures 13 - Figure 16 show the neighborhood of the connecting portion between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8. Parts (a) of Figure 13 - Figure 16 are perspective view of a partial section, (b) is a front view of the partial section, (c) is a top plan view of (b), and (d) show the relation between the lower flange portion 3b and the developer receiving portion 11, particularly. Figure 17 is a timing chart of operations of each elements relating to the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 to the developer receiving apparatus 8 as shown in Figures 13 - Figure 16. The mounting operation is the operation until the developer becomes able to be supplied to the developer receiving apparatus 8 from the developer supply container 1.

[0179] Figure 13 shows a connection starting position (first position) between the first engaging portion 3b2 of the developer supply container 1 and the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11.

[0180] As shown in part (a) of Figure 13, the developer supply container 1 is inserted into the developer receiving apparatus 8 in the direction of an arrow A.

[0181] First, as shown in part (c) of Figure 13, the first stopper portion 4b of the shutter 4 contacts the first shutter stopper portion 8a of developer receiving apparatus 8, so that the position of the shutter 4 relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8 is fixed. In this state, the relative position between the lower flange portion 3b and the upper flange portion 3a of the flange portion 3 and the shutter 4 remains unchanged, and therefore, the discharge opening 3a4 is sealed assuredly by the developer sealing portion 4a of the shutter 4. As shown in part (b) of Figure 13, the connecting portion 3a6 of the opening seal 3a5 is shielded by the shutter 4.

[0182] As shown in part (c) of Figure 13, the supporting portion 4d of the shutter 4 is displaceable in the direction of arrows C and D, since the regulation rib 3b3 of the lower flange portion 3b does not enter the supporting portion 4d. As has been described above, the first stopper portion 4b is inclined such that the angle α (part (a) of Figure 9) relative to the supporting portion 4d is acute, and the first shutter stopper portion 8a is also inclined, correspondingly. In this example, the inclination angle α is approx. 80 degrees. Therefore, when the developer supply container 1 is inserted further in the arrow A direction, the first stopper portion 4b receives a reaction force in the arrow B direction from the first shutter stopper portion 8a, so that the supporting portion 4d is displaced in an arrow D direction. That is, the first stopper portion 4b of the shutter 4 displaces in the direction of holding the engagement state with the first shutter stopper portion 8a of the developer receiving apparatus 8, and therefore, the position of the shutter 4 is held assuredly relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8.

[0183] In addition, as shown in part (d) of Figure 13, the positional relation between the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 and the first engaging portion 3b2 of the lower flange portion 3b is such that they start engagement with each other. Therefore, the developer receiving portion 11 remains in the initial position in which it is spaced from the developer supply container 1. More specifically, as shown in part (b) of Figure 13, the developer receiving portion 11 is spaced from the connecting portion 3a6 formed on a part of the opening seal 3a5. As shown in part (b) of Figure 13, the developer receiving port 11a is in the sealed state by the main assembly shutter 15. In addition, the driving gear 9 of the developer receiving apparatus 8 and the drive receiving portion 2d of the developer supply container 1 are not connected with each other, that is, in the non-transmission state.

[0184] In this example, the distance between the developer receiving portion 11 and the developer supply container 1 is approx. 2 mm. When the distance is too small, not more than approx. 1.5 mm, for example, the developer deposited on the surface of the main assembly seal 13 provided on the developer receiving portion 11 may be scattered by air flow produced locally by the mounting and dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1, the scattered developer may be deposited on the lower surface of the developer supply container 1. On the other hand, the distance is too large, a stroke required to displace the developer receiving portion 11 from the spacing position to the connected position is large with the result of upsizing of the image forming apparatus. Or, the inclination angle of the first engaging portion 3b2 of the lower flange portion 3b is steep relative to the mounting and dismounting direction of the developer supply container 1 with the result of increase of the load required to displace the developer receiving portion 11. Therefore, the distance between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving portion 11 is properly determined taking the specifications of the main assembly or the like into account. As described above, in this example, the inclination angle of the first engaging portion 3b2 relative to the mounting and dismounting direction of the developer supply container 1 is approx. 40 degrees. The same applies to the following embodiments.

[0185] Then, as shown in part (a) of Figure 14, the developer supply container 1 is further inserted in the direction of the arrow A. As shown in part (c) of Figure 14, the developer supply container 1 moves relative to the shutter 4 in the direction of the arrow A, since the position of the shutter 4 is held relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8. At this time, as shown in part (b) of Figure 14, a part of the connecting portion 3a6 of the opening seal 3a5 is exposed through the shutter 4. Further, as shown in part (d) of Figure 14, the first engaging portion 3b2 of the lower flange portion 3b directly engages with the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 so that the engaging portion 11b is displaced in the direction of the arrow E by the first engaging portion 3b2. Therefore, the developer receiving portion 11 is displaced in the direction of the arrow E against the urging force of the urging member 12 (arrow F) to the position shown in part (b) of Figure 14, so that the developer receiving port 11a is spaced from the main assembly shutter 15, thus starting to unseal. Here, in the position of Figure 14, the developer receiving port 11a and the connecting portion 3a6 are spaced from each other. Further, as shown in part (c) of Figure 14, the regulation rib 3b3 of the lower flange portion 3b enters of supporting portion 4d of the shutter 4, so that the supporting portion 4d can not displace in the direction of arrow C or arrow D. That is, the elastic deformation of the supporting portion 4d is limited by the regulation rib 3b3.

[0186] Then, as shown in part (a) of Figure 15, the developer supply container 1 is further inserted in the direction of the arrow A. Then, as shown in part (c) of Figure 15, the developer supply container 1 moves relative to the shutter 4 in the direction of the arrow A, since the position of the shutter 4 is held relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8. At this time, the connecting portion 3a6 formed on the part of the opening seal 3a5 is completely exposed from the shutter 4. In addition, the discharge opening 3a4 is not exposed from the shutter 4, so that it is still sealed by the developer sealing portion 4a.

[0187] Furthermore, as described hereinbefore, the regulation rib 3b3 of the lower flange portion 3b enters the supporting portion 4d of the shutter 4, by which the supporting portion 4d can not displace in the direction of arrow C or arrow D. At this time, as shown in part (d) of Figure 15, the directly engaged engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 reaches the upper end side of the first engaging portion 3b2. The developer receiving portion 11 is displaced in the direction of the arrow E against the urging force (arrow F) of the urging member 12, to the position shown in part (b) of Figure 15, so that the developer receiving port 11a is completely spaced from the main assembly shutter 15 to be unsealed.

[0188] At this time, the connection is established in the state that the main assembly seal 13 having the developer receiving port 11a is close-contacted to the connecting portion 3a6 of the opening seal 3a5. In other words, by the developer receiving portion 11 directly engaging with the first engaging portion 3b2 of the developer supply container 1, the developer supply container 1 can be accessed by the developer receiving portion 11 from the lower side in the vertical direction which is crossed with the mounting direction. Thus, the above-described the structure, can avoid the developer contamination at the end surface Y (part (b) of Figure 5) in the downstream side with respect to the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1, the developer contamination having been produced in the conventional structure in which the developer receiving portion 11 accesses the developer supply container 1 in the mounting direction. The conventional structure will be described hereinafter.

[0189] Subsequently, as shown in part (a) of Figure 16, when the developer supply container 1 is further inserted in the direction of the arrow A to the developer receiving apparatus 8, the developer supply container 1 moves relative to the shutter 4 in the direction of the arrow A similar to the forgoing, up to a supply position (second position). In this position, the driving gear 9 and the drive receiving portion 2d are connected with each other. By the driving gear 9 rotating in the direction of an arrow Q, the container body 2 is rotated in the direction of the arrow R. As a result, the pump portion 5 is reciprocated by the reciprocation of the reciprocating member 6 in interrelation with the rotation of the container body 2. Therefore, the developer in the developer accommodating portion 2c is supplied into the sub-hopper 8c from the storage portion 3a3 through the discharge opening 3a4 and the developer receiving port 11a by the reciprocation of the pump portion 5 described above.

[0190] In addition, as shown in part (d) of Figure 16, when the developer supply container 1 reaches the supply position relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8, the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 is engaged with the second engaging portion 3b4 by way of the engaging relation with the first engaging portion 3b2 of the lower flange portion 3b. And, the engaging portion 11b is brought into the state of being urged to the second engaging portion 3b4 by the urging force of the urging member 12 in the direction of the arrow F. Therefore, the position of the developer receiving portion 11 in the vertical direction is stably maintained. Furthermore, as shown in part (b) of Figure 16, the discharge opening 3a4 is unsealed by the shutter 4, and the discharge opening 3a4 and the developer receiving port 11a are brought into fluid communication with each other.

[0191] At this time, the developer receiving port 11a slides on the opening seal 3a5 to communicate with the discharge opening 3a4 while keeping the close-contact state between the main assembly seal 13 and the connecting portion 3a6 formed on the opening seal 3a5. Therefore, the amount of the developer falling from the discharge opening 3a4 and scattering to the position other than the developer receiving port 11a. Thus, the contamination of the developer receiving apparatus 8 by the scattering of the developer is less.(Dismounting operation of developer supply container)

[0192] Referring mainly to Figures 13 - Figure 16 and 17, the operation of dismounting of the developer supply container 1 from the developer receiving apparatus 8 will be described. Figure 17 is a timing chart of operations of each elements relating to the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1 from the developer receiving apparatus 8 as shown in Figures 13 - Figure 16. The dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1 is a reciprocal of the above-described mounting operation. Thus, the developer supply container 1 is dismounted from the developer receiving apparatus 8 in the order from Figure 16 to Figure 13. The dismounting operation (removing operation) is the operation to the state in which the developer supply container 1 can be take out of the developer receiving apparatus 8.

[0193] The amount of the developer in the developer supply container 1 placed in the supply position shown in Figure 16 decreases, a message promoting exchange of the developer supply container 1 is displayed on the display (unshown) provided in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus 100 (Figure 1). The operator prepares a new developer supply container 1 opens the exchange cover 40 provided in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus 100 shown in Figure 2, and extracts the developer supply container 1 in the direction of the arrow B shown in part (a) of Figure 16.

[0194] In this process, as described hereinbefore, the supporting portion 4d of the shutter 4 can not displace in the direction of arrow C or arrow D by the limitation of the regulation rib 3b3 of the lower flange portion 3b. Therefore, as shown in part (a) of Figure 16, when the developer supply container 1 tends to move in the direction of the arrow B with the dismounting operation, the second stopper portion 4c of the shutter 4 abuts to the second shutter stopper portion 8b of the developer receiving apparatus 8, so that the shutter 4 does not displace in the direction of the arrow B. In other words, the developer supply container 1 moves relative to the shutter 4.

[0195] Thereafter, when the developer supply container 1 is drawn to the position shown in Figure 15, the shutter 4 seals the discharge opening 3a4 as shown in part (b) of Figure 15. Further, as shown in part (d) of Figure 15, the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 displaces to the downstream lateral edge of the first engaging portion 3b2 from the second engaging portion 3b4 of the lower flange portion 3b with respect to the dismounting direction. As shown in part (b) of Figure 15, the main assembly seal 13 of the developer receiving portion 11 slides on the opening seal 3a5 from the discharge opening 3a4 of the opening seal 3a5 to the connecting portion 3a6, and maintains the connection state with the connecting portion 3a6.

[0196] Similarly to the foregoing, as shown in part (c) of Figure 15, the supporting portion 4d is in engagement with the regulation rib 3b3, so that it can not displace in the direction of the arrow B in the Figure. Thus, when the developer supply container 1 is taken out from the position of Figure 15 to the position of Figure 13, the developer supply container 1 moves relative to the shutter 4, since the shutter 4 can not displace relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8.

[0197] Subsequently, the developer supply container 1 is drawn from the developer receiving apparatus 8 to the position shown in part (a) of Figure 14. Then, as shown in part (d) of Figure 14, the engaging portion 11b slides down on the first engaging portion 3b2 to the position of the generally middle point of the first engaging portion 3b2 by the urging force of the urging member 12. Therefore, the main assembly seal 13 provided on the developer receiving portion 11 downwardly spaces from the connecting portion 3a6 of the opening seal 3a5, thus releasing the connection between the developer receiving portion 11 and the developer supply container 1. At this time, the developer is deposited substantially on the connecting portion 3a6 of the opening seal 3a5 with which the developer receiving portion 11 has been connected.

[0198] Subsequently, the developer supply container 1 is drawn from the developer receiving apparatus 8 to the position shown in part (a) of Figure 13. Then, as shown in part (d) of Figure 13, the engaging portion 11b slides down on the first engaging portion 3b2 to reach the upstream lateral edge with respect to dismounting direction of the first engaging portion 3b2, by the urging force of the urging member 12. Therefore, the developer receiving port 11a of the developer receiving portion 11 released from the developer supply container 1 is sealed by the main assembly shutter 15. By this, it is avoided that foreign matter or the like enters through the developer receiving port 11a and that the developer in the sub-hopper 8c (Figure 4) scatters from the developer receiving port 11a. The shutter 4 displaces to the connecting portion 3a6 of the opening seal 3a5 with which the main assembly seal 13 of the developer receiving portion 11 has been connected to shield the connecting portion 3a6 on which the developer is deposited.

[0199] Further, with the above-described dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1, the developer receiving portion 11 is guided by the first engaging portion 3b2, and after the completion of the spacing operation from the developer supply container 1, the supporting portion 4d of the shutter 4 is disengaged from the regulation rib 3b3 so as to be elastically deformable. The configurations of the regulation rib 3b3 and / or the supporting portion 4d are properly selected so that the position where the engaging relation is released is substantially the same as the position where the shutter 4 enters when developer supply container 1 is not mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 8. Therefore, when the developer supply container 1 is further drawn in the direction of the arrow B shown in part (a) of Figure 13, the second stopper portion 4c of the shutter 4 abuts to the second shutter stopper portion 8b of the developer receiving apparatus 8, as shown in part (c) of Figure 13. By this, the second stopper portion 4c of the shutter 4 displaces (elastically deforms) in the direction of arrow C along a taper surface of the second shutter stopper portion 8b, so that the shutter 4 becomes displaceable in the direction of the arrow B relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8 together with the developer supply container 1. That is, when the developer supply container 1 is completely taken out of the developer receiving apparatus 8, the shutter 4 returns to the position taken when the developer supply container 1 is not mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 8. Therefore, the discharge opening 3a4 is assuredly sealed by the shutter 4, and therefore, the developer is not scattered from the developer supply container 1 demounted from the developer receiving apparatus 8. Even if the developer supply container 1 is mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 8, again, it can be mountable without any problem.

[0200] Figure 17 shows flow of the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 to the developer receiving apparatus 8 (Figures 13 - 16) and the flow of the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1 from the developer receiving apparatus 8. When the developer supply container 1 is mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 8, the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 is engaged with the first engaging portion 3b2 of the developer supply container 1, by which the developer receiving port displaces toward the developer supply container. On the other hand, when the image material supply container 1 is dismounted from the developer receiving apparatus 8, the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 engages with the first engaging portion 3b2 of the developer supply container 1, by which the developer receiving port displaces away from the developer supply container.

[0201] As described in the foregoing, according to this example, the mechanism for connecting and spacing the developer receiving portion 11 relative to the developer supply container 1 by displacement of the developer receiving portion 11 can be simplified. More particularly, a driving source and / or a drive transmission mechanism for moving the entirety of the developing device upwardly is unnecessary, and therefore, a complication of the structure of the image forming apparatus side and / or the increase in cost due to increase of the number of parts can be avoided.

[0202] In a conventional structure, a large space is required to avoid an interference with the developing device in the upward and downward movement, but according to this example, such a large space is unnecessary so that the upsizing of the image forming apparatus can be avoided.

[0203] The connection between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be properly established using the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 with minimum contamination with the developer. Similarly, utilizing the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1, the spacing and resealing between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be carried out with minimum contamination with the developer.

[0204] The developer supply container 1 of this example can cause the developer receiving portion 11 to connect upwardly and space downwardly in the direction crossing with the mounting direction of developer supply container 1, using the engaging portions 3b2, 3b4 of the lower flange portion 3b with the mounting and demounting operation to the developer receiving apparatus 8. The developer receiving portion 11 is sufficiently small relative to developer supply container 1, and therefore, the developer contamination of the downstream side end surface Y (part (b) of Figure 5) of the developer supply container 1 with respect to the mounting direction, with the simple and space saving structure. In addition, the developer contamination by the main assembly seal 13 slides on the protecting portion 3b5 of the lower flange portion 3b and the sliding surface (lower surface of the shutter) 4i.

[0205] Furthermore, according to this example, after the developer receiving portion 11 is connected to the developer supply container 1 with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 to the developer receiving apparatus 8, the discharge opening 3a4 is exposed from the shutter 4 so that the discharge opening 3a4 and the developer receiving port 11a can be brought into communication with each other. In other words, the timing of each step is controlled by the engaging portions 3b2, 3b4 of the developer supply container 1, and therefore, the scattering of the developer can be suppressed assuredly with a simple and easy structure, without the being influenced by the way of operation by the operator.

[0206] In addition, after the discharge opening 3a4 is sealed and the developer receiving portion 11 is spaced from the developer supply container 1 with the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1 from the developer receiving apparatus 8, the shutter 4 can shield the developer deposition portion of the opening seal 3a5. In other words, the timing of each step in the dismounting operation can be controlled by the engaging portions 3b2 and 3b4 of the developer supply container 1, and therefore, the scattering of the developer can be suppressed, and the developer deposition portion can be prevented from the exposing to the outside.

[0207] In the prior-art structure, the connection relation between the connecting portion and the connected portion is established indirectly through another mechanism, and therefore, it is difficulty to control the connection relation with high precision,

[0208] However, in this example, the connection relation can be established by the directly engagement between the connecting portion (developer receiving portion 11) and the connected portion (developer supply container 1). More specifically, the timing of the connection between the developer receiving portion 11 and the developer supply container 1 can be controlled easily by the positional relation, in the mounting direction, among the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11, the first and second engaging portions 3b2 and 3a4 of the lower flange portion 3b of the developer supply container 1 and discharge opening 3a4. In other words, the timing may deviate within the tolerances of the three elements, and therefore, very high accuracy control can be performed. Therefore, the connecting operation of the developer receiving portion 11 to the developer supply container 1 and the spacing operation from the developer supply container 1 can be carried out assuredly, with the mounting operation and the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1.

[0209] Regarding the displacement amount of the developer receiving portion 11 in the direction crossing with the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 can be controlled by the positions of the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 and the second engaging portion 3b4 of the lower flange portion 3b. Similarly to the foregoing, the deviation of the displacement amount may deviate within the tolerances of the two elements, and therefore, very high accuracy control can be performed. Therefore, for example, close-contact state (amount of sealing compression or the like) between the main assembly seal 13 and the discharge opening 3a4 can be controlled easily, so that the developer discharged from the discharge opening 3a4 can be fed into the developer receiving port 11a assuredly.[Embodiment 2]

[0210] Referring to Figure 19 Figure 32, Embodiment 2 will be described. Embodiment 2 is partly different from Embodiment 1 in the configuration and structure developer receiving portion 11, the shutter 4, the lower flange portion 3b, and the mounting and demounting operations of the developer supply container 1 to the developer receiving apparatus 8 are partly different, correspondingly. Of other structures are substantially the same as Embodiment 1. In this example, the same reference numerals as in the foregoing embodiments are assigned to the elements having the corresponding functions in this embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.(Developer receiving portion)

[0211] Figure 19 shows the developer receiving portion 11 of Embodiment 2. Part (a) of Figure 19 is a perspective view of the developer receiving portion 11, and part (b) of Figure 19 is a sectional view of the developer receiving portion 11.

[0212] As shown in part (a) of Figure 19, the developer receiving portion 11 of Embodiment 2 is provided with a tapered portion 11c for misalignment prevention at the end portion of the downstream side with respect to the connecting direction to the developer supply container 1, and the end surface continuing from the tapered portion 11c is substantially annular. The misalignment prevention tapered portion 11c is engaged with a misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g (Figure 21) provided on the shutter 4, as will be described hereinafter. The misalignment prevention tapered portion 11c is provided in order to prevent a misalignment between the developer receiving port 11a and a shutter opening 4f (Figure 21) of the shutter 4 due to a vibration by a driving source inner the image forming apparatus and / or a deformation of a part. The detail of the engaging relation (contact relation) between the misalignment prevention tapered portion 11c and the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g will be described hereinafter. The material and / or configuration and dimensions of the main assembly seal 13 such as a width and / or height or the like are properly selected so that the leakage of the developer can be prevented in relation with a configuration of a close-contact portion 4h provided around the shutter opening 4f of the shutter 4 which will be described hereinafter, to which the main assembly seal 13 is connected with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1.(Lower flange)

[0213] Figure 20 shows the lower flange portion 3b in Embodiment 2. Part (a) of Figure 20 is a perspective view (upward direction) of the lower flange portion 3b, and part (b) of Figure 20 is a perspective view (downward direction) of lower flange portion 3b. The lower flange portion 3b in this embodiment is provided with a shielding portion 3b6 for shielding the shutter opening 4f which will be described hereinafter, when the developer supply container 1 is not mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 8. The provision of the shielding portion 3b6 is different from the above-described lower flange portion 3b of Embodiment 1. In this embodiment, the shielding portion 3b6 is provided in the downstream side of the lower flange portion 3b with respect to the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1.

[0214] Also in this example, similarly to the above-described embodiment, the lower flange portion 3b is provided with engaging portions 3b2 and 3b4 engageable with an engaging portion 11b (Figure 19) of the developer receiving portion 11 as shown in Figure 20.

[0215] In this example, of the engaging portions 3b2 and 3b4, the first engaging portion 3b2 displaces the developer receiving portion 11 toward the developer supply container 1 so that the main assembly seal 13 provided in the developer receiving portion 11 is connected with the shutter 4 which will be described hereinafter, with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1. The first engaging portion 3b2 displaces the developer receiving portion 11 toward the developer supply container 1 with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 so that the developer receiving port 11a formed in the developer receiving portion 11 is connected with the shutter opening (communication port) 4f.

[0216] In addition, the first engaging portion 3b2 guides the developer receiving portion 11 away from the developer supply container 1 so that the connection state between the developer receiving portion 11 and the shutter opening 4f of the shutter 4 is broken, with the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1.

[0217] On the other hand, a second engaging portion 3b4 holds the connected state between the shutter 4 and the main assembly seal 13 of the developer receiving portion 11 in the movement of the developer supply container 1 relative to the shutter 4, so that a discharge opening 3a4 is brought into fluid communication with the developer receiving port 11a of the developer receiving portion 11, with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1. The second engaging portion 3b4 maintains the connected state between the developer receiving port 11a and the shutter opening 4f in the movement of the lower flange portion 3b relative to the shutter 4 with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1, so that the discharge opening 3a4 is brought into fluid communication with the shutter opening 4f.

[0218] In addition, the second engaging portion 3b4 holds the connected state between the developer receiving portion 11 and the shutter 4 in the movement of the developer supply container 1 relative to the shutter 4 so that the discharge opening 3a4 is resealed, with the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1.(Shutter)

[0219] Figure 21 - Figure 25 show the shutter 4 in Embodiment 2. Part (a) of Figure 21 is a perspective view of the shutter 4, part (b) of Figure 21 illustrates a modified example 1 of the shutter 4, part (c) of Figure 21 illustrates a connection relation between the shutter 4 and the developer receiving portion 11, part (d) of Figure 21 is a illustration similar to the part (c) of Figure 21.

[0220] As shown in part (a) of Figure 21, the shutter 4 of Embodiment 2 is provided with the shutter opening (communication port) 4f communicatable with the discharge opening 3a4. Further, the shutter 4 is provided with a close-contact portion (projected portion, projection) 4h surrounding an outside of the shutter opening 4f, and the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g further outside the close-contact portion 4h. The close-contact portion 4h has a projection height such that it is lower than a sliding surface 4i of the shutter 4, and a diameter of the shutter opening 4f is approx. Φ2 mm. The size is selected for the same reason as with Embodiment 1, and therefore, the explanation is omitted for simplicity.

[0221] The shutter 4 is provided with a recess at a substantially central portion with respect to the longitudinal direction of the shutter 4, as a retraction space for the supporting portion 4d at the time when the supporting portion 4d of shutter 4 displaces in the direction C (part (c) of Figure 26) with the dismounting operation. A gap between the recessed configuration and the supporting portion 4d is larger than an amount of overlapping between the first stopper portion 4b and a first shutter stopper portion 8a of the developer replenishing apparatus 8, so that the shutter 4 can be engaged with and disengaged from the developer receiving apparatus 8 smoothly.

[0222] Referring to Figure 22 - Figure 24, the configuration of the shutter 4 will be described. Part (a) of Figure 22 shows a position (the same position as Figure 27) where the developer supply container 1 is engaged with the developer receiving apparatus 8, which will be described hereinafter, and part (b) of Figure 22 shows a position (the same position as Figure 31) where the developer supply container 1 is completely mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 8.

[0223] As shown in Figure 22, a length D2 of supporting portion 4d is set such that it is larger than a displacement amount D1 of the developer supply container 1 with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 (D1≦D2). The displacement amount D1 is the amount of the displacement of the developer supply container 1 relative to the shutter in the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1. That is, it is the displacement amount of the developer supply container 1 in the state (part (a) of Figure 22) in which stopper portions (holding portions) 4b and 4c of the shutter 4 is in engagement with shutter stopper portions 8a and 8b of the developer receiving apparatus 8. With such a structure, the interference between a regulation rib 3b3 of the lower flange 3b and the supporting portion 4d of the shutter 4 in the process of mounting of the developer supply container 1 can be reduced.

[0224] On the other hand, for the case in which D2 is smaller than D1, the supporting portion 4d of the shutter 4 may be provided with a regulated projection (projection) 4k positively engageable with the regulation rib 3b3 as shown in Figure 23 to prevent the interference between the supporting portion 4d and the regulation rib 3b3. With such a structure, the developer supply container 1 can be mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 8 irrespective of the size relation between the displacement amount D1 in the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 and the length D2 of the supporting portion 4d of the shutter 4. On the other hand, when the structure shown in Figure 23 is used, the size of the developer supply container 1 is larger only a height D4 of the regulated projection 4k. Figure 23 is a perspective view of the shutter 4 for the developer supply container 1 when D1>D2. Therefore, if the position of the developer receiving apparatus 8 inner the main assembly of the image forming apparatus 100 is the same, a cross-sectional area is larger by S than of the developer supply container 1 of this embodiment as shown in Figure 24, and therefore, a corresponding larger space is required. The foregoing applies to the above-described Embodiment 1, and the embodiments described hereinafter.

[0225] Part (b) of Figure 21 shows a modified example 1 of the shutter 4 in which the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g is divided into a plurality of parts, as is different from the shutter 4 of this embodiment. In the other respects, substantially the equivalent performance is provided.

[0226] Referring to, part (c) of Figure 21 and part (d) of Figure 21, the engaging relation between the shutter 4 and the developer receiving portion 11 will be described.

[0227] Part (c) of Figure 21 shows the engaging relation between the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g of the shutter 4 and the misalignment prevention tapered portion 11c of the developer receiving portion 11 in Embodiment 2.

[0228] As shown in part (c) of Figure 21 and part (d) of Figure 21, distances of the corner lines constituting the close-contact portion 4h and the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g of the shutter 4 from a center R of the shutter opening 4f (part (a) of Figure 21) are L1, L2, L3, L4. Similarly, as shown in part (c) of Figure 21, distances of corner lines constituting the misalignment prevention tapered portion 11c of the developer receiving portion 11 from the center R of the developer receiving port 11a (Figure 19) are M1, M2, M3. The positions of the centers of the shutter opening 4f and the developer receiving port 11a are set to be aligned with each other. In this embodiment, the positions of the corner lines are selected to satisfy L1<L2<M1<L3<M2<L4<M3. As shown in part (c) Figure 21, the corner lines at the distance M2 from the center R of the developer receiving port 11a of the developer receiving portion 11 abuts to the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g of the shutter 4. Therefore, even if the positional relation between the shutter 4 and the developer receiving portion 11 is deviated more or less due to the vibration from the driving source of the main assembly of the apparatus and / or part accuracies, the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g and the misalignment prevention are guided by the tapered surfaces to align with each other. Therefore, the deviation between the center shafts of and opening 4f and the developer receiving port 11a can be suppressed.

[0229] Similarly, part (d) of Figure 21 shows a modified example of the engaging relation between the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g of the shutter 4 and the misalignment prevention tapered portion 11c of the developer receiving portion 11, according to Embodiment 2.

[0230] As shown in part (d) of Figure 21, the structure of this modified example is different from the structure shown in part (c) of Figure 21 only in that the positional relation of the corner lines is L1<L2<M1<M2<L3<L4<M3. In this modified example, the corner lines at the position L4 away from the center R of the shutter opening 4f of the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g abuts to the tapered surface of the tapered portion 11c. Also in this case, the deviation of the center shafts of the shutter and the developer receiving port 11a can be suppressed, similarly.

[0231] Referring to Figure 25, a modified example 2 of the shutter 4 will be described. Part (a) of Figure 25 shows modified example 2 of the shutter 4, and the part (b) of Figure 25 and part (c) of Figure 25 show the connection relation between the shutter 4 and the developer receiving portion 11 in the modified example 2.

[0232] As shown in part (a) of Figure 25, the shutter 4 of modified example 2 is provided with the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g in the close-contact portion 4h. The other configurations are the same as those of the shutter 4 (part (a) of Figure 21) of this embodiment. The close-contact portion 4h is provided in order to control the amount of compression of the main assembly seal 13 (part (a) of Figure 19).

[0233] In this modified example, as shown in part (b) of Figure 25, distances of the corner lines constituting the close-contact portion 4h and the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g of the shutter 4 from the center R of the shutter opening 4f (part (a) of Figure 25). Similarly, distances of the corner lines constituting the misalignment prevention tapered portion 11c of the developer receiving portion 11 from the center R of the developer receiving port 11a (Figure 19) are M1, M2, M3 (Figures 21, 25).

[0234] As shown in part (b) of Figure 25, the positional relation of the corner lines satisfy L1<M1<M2<L2<M3<L3<L4. As shown in part (c) of Figure 25, the positional relation of the corner lines may be M1<L1<L2<M2<M3<L3<L4. Similarly to the relation between the shutter 4 and the developer receiving portion 11 shown in part (a) of Figure 21, by an aligning function by the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g and the misalignment prevention tapered portion 11c, the misalignment between the center axes of the opening 4f and the developer receiving port 11a can be prevented. In this example, the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g of the shutter 4 is monotonically linearly tapered, but the tapered surface portion may be curved, that is, may be an arcuate. Furthermore, it may be a contiguous taper, having a cut-away portion or portions. The same applies to the configuration of the misalignment prevention tapered portion 11c of the developer receiving portion 11 corresponding to the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4g.

[0235] With such structures, when the main assembly seal 13 (Figure 19) and the close-contact portion 4h of the shutter 4 are connected with each other, the centers of the developer receiving port 11a and the shutter opening 4f are aligned, and therefore, the developer can be discharged smoothly from the developer supply container 1 into the sub-hopper 8c. If the center positions of them are deviated even by 1 mm when the shutter opening 4f and the developer receiving port 11a have small diameters, such as Φ2 mm and Φ3 mm, respectively, the effective opening area is only one half of the intended area, and therefore, the smooth discharge of the developer is not expected. Using the structures of this example, the deviation between the shutter opening 4f and the developer receiving port 11a can be suppressed to 0.2 mm or less (approx. The tolerances of the parts), and therefore, the effective through opening area can be assured. Therefore, the developer can be discharged smoothly.(Mounting operation of developer supply container)

[0236] Referring to Figure 26 - Figures 31 and 32, the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 of this embodiment to the developer receiving apparatus 8 will be described. Figure 26 shows the position when the developer supply container 1 is inserted into the developer receiving apparatus 8, and the shutter 4 has not yet been engaged with the developer receiving apparatus 8. Figure 27 shows the position (corresponding to Figure 13 of Embodiment 1) in which the shutter 4 of the developer supply container 1 is engaged with the developer receiving apparatus 8. Figure 28 shows the position in which the shutter 4 of the developer supply container 1 is exposed from the shielding portion 3b6. Figure 29 shows a position (corresponding to Figure 14 of Embodiment 1) in the process of connection between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving portion 11. Figure 30 shows the position (corresponding to Figure 15 of Embodiment 1) in which the developer supply container 1 has been connected with the developer receiving portion 11. Figure 31 shows the position in which the developer supply container 1 is completely mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 8, and the developer receiving port 11a, the shutter opening 4f and the discharge opening 3a4 are in fluid communication therethrough, thus enabling supply of the developer. Figure 32 is a timing chart of operations of each elements relating to the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 to the developer receiving apparatus 8 as shown in Figure 27 - Figure 31.

[0237] As shown in part (a) of Figure 26, in the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1, the developer supply container 1 is inserted in the direction of an arrow A in the Figure toward the developer receiving apparatus 8. At this time, as shown in part (b) of Figure 26, the shutter opening 4f of the shutter 4 and the close-contact portion 4h is shielded by the shielding portion 3b6 of the lower flange. By this, the operator is protected from contacting to the shutter opening 4f and / or the close-contact portion 4h contaminated by the developer.

[0238] In addition, as shown in part (c) of Figure 26, in the inserting operation, a first stopper portion 4b provided in the upstream side, with respect to the mounting direction, of the supporting portion 4d of the shutter 4 abuts to an insertion guide 8e of the developer receiving apparatus 8, so that the supporting portion 4d displaces in the direction of an arrow C in the Figure. In addition, as shown in part (d) Figure 26, and first engaging portion 3b2 of the lower flange portion 3b and the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 are not engaged with each other. Therefore, as shown in part (b) of Figure 26, the developer receiving portion 11 is held in the initial position by an urging force of an urging member 12 in the direction of an arrow F. In addition, the developer receiving port 11a is sealed by a main assembly shutter 15, so that entering of a foreign matter or the like through the developer receiving port 11a and scattering of the developer through the developer receiving port 11a from the sub-hopper 8c (Figure 4) are prevented.

[0239] When the developer supply container 1 is inserted to the developer receiving apparatus 8 in the direction of an arrow A to the position shown in part (a) of Figure 27, the shutter 4 is engaged with the developer receiving apparatus 8. That is, similarly to the developer supply container 1 of Embodiment 1 the supporting portion 4d of the shutter 4 is released from the insertion guide 8e and displaces in the direction of an arrow D in the Figure by an elastic restoring force, as shown in part (c) of Figure 27. Therefore, the first stopper portion 4b of the shutter 4 and the first shutter stopper portion 8a of the developer receiving apparatus 8 are engaged with each other. Then, in the insertion process of the developer supply container 1, the shutter 4 is held immovably relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8 by the relation between the supporting portion 4d and the regulation rib 3b3 having been described with Embodiment 1. At this time, the positional relation between the shutter 4 and the lower flange portion 3b remains unchanged from the position shown in Figure 26. Therefore, as shown in part (b) of Figure 27, the shutter opening 4f of the shutter 4 keeps shielded by the shielding portion 3b6 of the lower flange portion 3b, and the discharge opening 3a4 keeps sealed by the shutter 4.

[0240] Also in this position, as shown in part (d) of Figure 27, the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 is not engaged with the first engaging portion 3b2 of the lower flange portion 3b. In other words, as shown in part (b) of Figure 27, the developer receiving portion 11 is kept in the initial position, and therefore, is spaced from the developer supply container 1. Therefore, the developer receiving port 11a is sealed by the main assembly shutter 15. The center axes of the shutter opening 4f and the developer receiving port 11a are substantially coaxial.

[0241] Then, the developer supply container 1 is further inserted into the developer receiving apparatus 8 in the direction of an arrow A to the position shown in part (a) of Figure 28. At this time, since the position of the shutter 4 is retained relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8 the developer supply container 1 moves relative to the shutter 4, and therefore, the close-contact portion 4h (Figure 25) and the shutter opening 4f of the shutter 4 are exposed through the shielding portion 3b6. Here, at this time, the shutter 4 still seals the discharge opening 3a4. In addition, as shown in part (d) of Figure 28, the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 is in the neighborhood of bottom end portion of the first engaging portion 3b2 of the lower flange portion 3b. Therefore, the developer receiving portion 11 is held at the initial position as shown in part (b) of Figure 28, and is spaced from the developer supply container 1, and therefore, the developer receiving port 11a is sealed by the main assembly shutter 15.

[0242] Then, the developer supply container 1 is further inserted into the developer receiving apparatus 8 in the direction of an arrow A to the position shown in part (a) of Figure 29. At this time, similarly to the foregoing, the position of the shutter 4 is held relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8, and therefore, as shown in part (b) of Figure 29, the developer supply container 1 moves relative the shutter 4 in the direction of an arrow A. As shown in part (b) of Figure 29, at this time, the shutter 4 still seals the discharge opening 3a4. At this time, as shown in part (d) of Figure 29, the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 is substantially in a middle part of the first engaging portion 3b2 of the lower flange portion 3b. Thus, as shown in part (b) of Figure 29, the developer receiving portion 11 moves in the direction of an arrow E in the Figure toward the exposed shutter opening 4f and the close-contact portion 4h (Figure 25) with the mounting operation by the engagement with the first engaging portion 3b2. Therefore, as shown in part (b) of Figure 29, the developer receiving port 11a having been sealed by the main assembly shutter 15 starts opening gradually.

[0243] Then, the developer supply container 1 is further inserted into the developer receiving apparatus 8 in the direction of an arrow A to the position shown in part (a) of Figure 30. Then, as shown in part (d) of Figure 30, by the direct engagement between the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 and the first engaging portion 3b2, the developer supply container 1 displaces to the upper end of the first engaging portion 3b2 in the direction of the arrow E in the Figure, which is a direction crossing with the mounting direction. In other words, as shown in part (b) of Figure 30, the developer receiving portion 11 displaces in the direction of the arrow E in the Figure, that is, in the direction crossing with the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1, so that the main assembly seal 13 connects with the shutter 4 in the state of being closely contacted with the close-contact portion 4h of the shutter 4 (Figure 25). At this time, as described hereinbefore, the misalignment prevention tapered portion 11c of the developer receiving portion 11 and the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g of the shutter 4 are engaged with each other (part (c) of Figure 21), and therefore, the developer receiving port 11a and the shutter opening 4f are brought into fluid communication with each other. In addition, by the displacement of the developer receiving portion 11 in the direction of the arrow E, the main assembly shutter 15 is further spaced from the developer receiving port 11a, and therefore, the developer receiving port 11a is completely unsealed. Here, also at this time, the shutter 4 still seals the discharge opening 3a4.

[0244] In this embodiment, the start timing of the displacement of the developer receiving portion 11 is after the shutter opening 4f of the shutter 4 and the close-contact portion 4h are exposed assuredly, but this is not inevitable. For example, it may be before the completion of the exposure, if the shutter opening 4f and the close-contact portion 4h are completely uncovered by the shielding portion 3b6 by the time the developer receiving portion 11 reaches the neighborhood of the position of connecting to the shutter 4, that is, the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 comes to the neighborhood of the upper end of the first engaging portion 3b2. However, in order to connect the developer receiving portion 11 and the shutter 4 with each other assuredly, it is desired that the developer receiving portion 11 is displaced as described above after the shutter opening 4f and the close-contact portion 4h of the shutter 4 are uncovered by the shielding portion 3b6, as in this embodiment.

[0245] Subsequently, as shown in part (a) of Figure 31, the developer supply container 1 is further inserted in the direction of the arrow A into the developer receiving apparatus 8. Then, as shown in part (c) of Figure 31, similarly to the foregoing, the developer supply container 1 moves relative to the shutter 4 in the direction of the arrow A and reaches a supply position.

[0246] At this time, as shown in part (d) of Figure 31, the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 displaces relative to the lower flange portion 3b to the downstream end of the second engaging portion 3b4 with respect to the mounting direction, and the position of the developer receiving portion 11 is kept at the position wherein it is connected with the shutter 4. Further, as shown in part (b) of Figure 31, the shutter 4 unseals the discharge opening 3a4. In other words, the discharge opening 3a4, the shutter opening 4f and the developer receiving port 11a are in fluid communication with each other. In addition, as shown in part (a) of Figure 31, a drive receiving portion 2d is engaged with a driving gear 9 so that the developer supply container 1 is capable of receiving a drive from the developer receiving apparatus 8. A detecting mechanism (unshown) provided in the developer receiving apparatus 8 detects that the developer supply container 1 is in the predetermined position (position) capable of supplying. When the driving gear 9 rotates in the direction of an arrow Q in the Figure, the container body 2 rotates in the direction of an arrow R, and the developer it supplied into the sub-hopper 8c by the operation of the above-described pump portion 5.

[0247] As described above, the main assembly seal 13 of the developer receiving portion 11 is connected with the close-contact portion 4h of the shutter 4 in the state that the position of the developer receiving portion 11 with respect to the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1. In addition, by the developer supply container 1 moves relative to the shutter 4 thereafter, the discharge opening 3a4, the shutter opening 4f and the developer receiving port 11a a brought into fluid communication with each other. Therefore, as compared with Embodiment 1, the positional relation, with respect to the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 between the main assembly seal 13 forming the developer receiving port 11a and the shutter 4 is maintained, and therefore, the main assembly seal 13 does not slide on the shutter 4. In other words, in the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 to the developer receiving apparatus 8, no direct sliding dragging action in the mounting direction occurs between the developer receiving portion 11 and the developer supply container 1 from the start of connection therebetween to the developer suppliable state. Therefore, in addition to the advantageous effects of the above-described embodiment, the contamination of the main assembly seal 13 of the developer receiving portion 11 with the developer which may be caused by the dragging of the developer supply container 1 can be prevented. In addition, wearing of main assembly seal 13 of the developer receiving portion 11 attributable to the dragging can be prevented. Therefore, a reduction of the durability, due to the wearing, of the main assembly seal 13 of the developer receiving portion 11 can be suppressed, and the reduction of the sealing property of the main assembly seal 13 due to the wearing can be suppressed.(Dismounting operation of developer supply container)

[0248] Referring to Figure 26 to Figure 31 and Figure 32, the operation of removing the developer supply container 1 from the developer receiving apparatus 8 will be described. Figure 32 is a timing chart of operations of each elements relating to the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1 from the developer receiving apparatus 8 as shown in Figure 27 - Figure 31. Similarly to the Embodiment 1, the removing operation of developer supply container 1 (dismounting operation) is a reciprocal of the mounting operation.

[0249] As described hereinbefore, in the position of part (a) of Figure 31, when the amount of the developer in the developer supply container 1 decreases, the operator dismounts the developer supply container 1 in the direction of an arrow B in the Figure. The position of the shutter 4 relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8 is maintained by the relation between the supporting portion 4d and the regulation rib 3b3, as described above. Therefore, the developer supply container 1 moves relative to the shutter 4. When the developer supply container 1 is moved to the position shown in part (a) of Figure 30, the discharge opening 3a4 is sealed by the shutter 4, as shown in part (b) of Figure 30. That is, in such a position, the developer is not supplied from the developer supply container 1. In addition, by the discharge opening 3a4 sealed, the developer does not scatter through the discharge opening 3a4 from the developer supply container 1 due to the vibration or the like resulting from the dismounting operation. The developer receiving portion 11 keeps connected with the shutter 4, and therefore, the developer receiving port 11a and the shutter are still in communication with each other.

[0250] Then, when the developer supply container 1 is moved to the position shown in part (a) of Figure 28, the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 displaces in the direction of the arrow F along the first engaging portion 3b2 by the urging force in the direction of the arrow F of the urging member 12, as shown in part (d) of Figure 28. By this, as shown in part (b) of Figure 28, the shutter 4 and the developer receiving portion 11 are spaced from each other. Therefore, in the process of reaching this position, the developer receiving portion 11 displaces in the direction of the arrow F (downwardly). Therefore, even if the developer is in the state of being packed in the neighborhood of the developer receiving port 11a, the developer is accommodated in the sub-hopper 8c by the vibration or the like resulting from the dismounting operation. By this, the developer is prevented from scattering to the outside. Thereafter, as shown in part (b) of Figure 28, the developer receiving port 11a is sealed by the main assembly shutter 15.

[0251] Then when the developer supply container 1 is removed to the position shown in part (a) of Figure 27, the shutter opening 4f is shielded by the shielding portion 3b6 of the lower flange portion 3b. More particularly, the neighborhood of the shutter opening 4f and the close-contact portion 4h which is the only contaminated part is shielded by the shielding portion 3b6. Therefore, the neighborhood of the shutter opening 4f and the close-contact portion 4h are not seen by the operator handling the developer supply container 1. In addition, the operator is protected from touching inadvertently the neighborhood of the shutter opening 4f and the close-contact portion 4h contaminated with the developer. Furthermore, the close-contact portion 4h of the shutter 4 is stepped lower than the sliding surface 4i. Therefore, when the shutter opening 4f and the close-contact portion 4h are shielded by the shielding portion 3b6, a downstream side end surface X (part (b) of Figure 20) of the shielding portion 3b6 with respect to the dismounting direction of the developer supply container 1 is not contaminated by the developer deposited on the shutter opening 4f and the close-contact portion 4h.

[0252] Moreover, with the dismounting operation of the above-described developer supply container 1, the space operation of the developer receiving portion 11 by the engaging portions 3b2, 3b4 is completed, and thereafter, the supporting portion 4d of the shutter 4 is disengaged from the regulation rib 3b3 so as to become elastically deformable. Therefore, the shutter 4 is released from the developer receiving apparatus 8, so that it becomes displaceable (movable) together with the developer supply container 1.

[0253] When the developer supply container 1 is moved to the position of part (a) of Figure 26, supporting portion 4d of shutter 4 contacts to the insertion guide 8e of the developer receiving apparatus 8 by which it is displaced in the direction of the arrow C in the Figure, as shown in part (c) of Figure 26. By this, the second stopper portion 4c of the shutter 4 is disengaged from the second shutter stopper portion 8b of the developer receiving apparatus 8, so that the lower flange portion 3b of the developer supply container 1 and the shutter 4 displace integrally in the direction of the arrow B. By further moving the developer supply container 1 away from the developer receiving apparatus 8 in the direction of the arrow B, by which the developer supply container 1 is completely taken out of the developer receiving apparatus 8. The shutter 4 of the developer supply container 1 thus taken out has returned to the initial position, and therefore, even if the developer receiving apparatus 8 is remounted, no problem arises. As described hereinbefore, the shutter opening 4f and the close-contact portion 4h of shutter 4 are shielded by the shielding portion 3b6, and therefore, the portion contaminated with the developer is not seen by the operator handling the developer supply container 1. Therefore, by the only portion of the developer supply container 1 that is contaminated with the developer is shielded, and therefore, the taken-out developer supply container 1 looks as if it is an unused developer supply container 1.

[0254] Figure 32 shows flow of the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 to the developer receiving apparatus 8 (Figures 26 - 31) and the flow of the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1 from the developer receiving apparatus 8. When the developer supply container 1 is mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 8, the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 is engaged with the first engaging portion 3b2 of the developer supply container 1, by which the developer receiving port displaces toward the developer supply container. On the other hand, when the image material supply container 1 is dismounted from the developer receiving apparatus 8, the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 engages with the first engaging portion 3b2 of the developer supply container 1, by which the developer receiving port displaces away from the developer supply container.

[0255] As described in the foregoing, according to this embodiment of the developer supply container 1, the following advantageous effects can be provided in addition to the same advantageous effects of Embodiment 1.

[0256] The developer supply container 1 of this embodiment the developer receiving portion 11 and the developer supply container 1 are connected with each other through the shutter opening 4f. And, by the connection, the misalignment prevention of the developer receiving portion 11 and the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g of the shutter 4 are engaged with each other. By the aligning function of such engagement, the discharge opening 3a4 is assuredly unsealed, and therefore, the discharge amount of the developer is stabilized.

[0257] In the case of Embodiment 1, the discharge opening 3a4 formed in the part of the opening seal 3a5 moves on the shutter 4 the become in fluid communication with the developer receiving port 11a. In this case, the developer might enter into a seam existing between the developer receiving portion 11 and the shutter 4 in the process to completely connect with the developer receiving port 11a after the discharge opening 3a4 is uncovered by the shutter 4 with the result that a small amount of the developer scatters to the developer receiving apparatus 8. However, according to this example, the shutter opening 4f and the discharge opening 3a4 are brought into communication with each other after completion of the connection (communication) between the developer receiving port 11a of the developer receiving portion 11 and the shutter opening 4f of the shutter 4. For this reason, there is no seam between the developer receiving portion 11 and the shutter 4. In addition, positional relation between the shutter and the developer receiving port 11a does not change. Therefore, the developer contamination by the developer entered into the gap between the developer receiving portion 11 and the shutter 4 and the developer contamination caused by the dragging of the main assembly seal 13 on the surface of the opening seal 3a5 can be avoided. Therefore, this example is preferable to Embodiment 1 from the standpoint of the reduction of the contamination with the developer. In addition, by the provision of the shielding portion 3b6, the shutter opening 4f and the close-contact portion 4h that are the only portion contaminated by the developer are shielded, the developer contamination dye portion is not exposed to the outside, similarly to the Embodiment 1 in which the developer contamination dye portion of the opening seal 3a5 is shielded by the shutter 4. Therefore, similarly to Embodiment 1, the portion contaminated with the developer is not seen from the outside by the operator.

[0258] Furthermore, as described in the foregoing, with respect to Embodiment 1, the connecting side (developer receiving portion 11) and the connected side (developer supply container 1) are directly engaged to establish the connection relation therebetween. More specifically, the timing of the connection between the developer receiving portion 11 and the developer supply container 1 can be controlled easily by the positional relation, with respect to mounting direction, among the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11, the first engaging portion 3b2 and the second engaging portion 3b4 of the lower flange portion 3b of the developer supply container 1, and the shutter opening 4f of the shutter 4. In other words, the timing may deviate within the tolerances of the three elements, and therefore, very high accuracy control can be performed. Therefore, the connecting operation of the developer receiving portion 11 to the developer supply container 1 and the spacing operation from the developer supply container 1 can be carried out assuredly, with the mounting operation and the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1.

[0259] Regarding the displacement amount of the developer receiving portion 11 in the direction crossing with the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 can be controlled by the positions of the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 and the second engaging portion 3b4 of the lower flange portion 3b. Similarly to the foregoing, the deviation of the displacement amount may deviate within the tolerances of the two elements, and therefore, very high accuracy control can be performed. Therefore, for example, the close-contact state between the main assembly seal 13 and the shutter 4 can be controlled easily, so that the developer discharged from the opening 4f can be fed into the developer receiving port 11a assuredly.[Embodiment 3]

[0260] Referring to Figures 33, 34, a structure of the Embodiment 3 will be described Part (a) of Figure 33 is a partial enlarged view around a first engaging portion 3b2 of a developer supply container 1, and part (b) of Figure 33 is a partial enlarged view of a developer receiving apparatus 8. Part (a) - part (c) of Figure 34 are schematic view illustrating the movement of a developer receiving portion 11 in a dismounting operation. The position of part (a) of Figure 34 corresponding to the position of Figures 15, 30, the position of part (c) of Figure 34 corresponds to the position of Figures 13 and 28, the position of part (b) of Figure 34 is therebetween and corresponds to the position of Figures 14, 29.

[0261] As shown in part (a) of Figure 33, in this example, the structure of the first engaging portion 3b2 is partly different from those of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2. The other structures are substantially similar to Embodiment 1 and / or Embodiment 2. In this example, the same reference numerals as in the foregoing Embodiment 1 are assigned to the elements having the corresponding functions in this embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0262] As shown in part (a) of Figure 33, above engaging portions 3b2, 3b4 for moving the developer receiving portion 11 upwardly, an engaging portion 3b7 for moving the developer receiving portion 11 downwardly is provided. Here, the engaging portion comprising the first engaging portion 3b2 and the second engaging portion 3b4 for moving the developer receiving portion 11 upwardly is called a lower engaging portion. On the other hand, the engaging portion 3b7 provided in this embodiment to move the developer receiving portion 11 downwardly is called an upper engaging portion.

[0263] The engaging relation between the developer receiving portion 11 and the lower engaging portion comprising the first engaging portion 3b2 and the second engaging portion 3b4 are similar to the above-described embodiments, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted. The engaging relation between the developer receiving portion 11 and the upper engaging portion comprising the engaging portion 3b7 will be described.

[0264] If, for example, the developer supply container 1 is extremely quickly dismounted (quick dismounting, not practical though), in the developer supply container 1 of Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, the developer receiving portion 11 might not be guided by the first engaging portion 3b2 and would be lowered at delayed timing, with the result of a slight contamination with the developer to a practically no problem extent on the lower surface of the developer supply container 1, the developer receiving portion 11 and / or the main assembly seal 13. This was confirmed.

[0265] In view of this, the developer supply container 1 of Embodiment 3 is improved in this respect by providing it with the upper engaging portion 3b7. When the developer supply container 1 is dismounted, the developer receiving portion 11 reaches a region contacting the first engaging portion. Even if the developer supply container 1 is taken out extremely quickly, an engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 is engaged with the upper engaging portion 3b7 and is guided thereby, with the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1, so that the developer receiving portion 11 is positively moved in the direction of an arrow F in the Figure. The upper engaging portion 3b7 extends to an upstream side beyond the first engaging portion 3b2 in the direction (arrow B) in which the developer supply container 1 is taken out. More particularly, a free end portion 3b70 of the upper engaging portion 3b7 is upstream of a free end portion 3b20 of the first engaging portion 3b2 with respect to the direction (arrow B) in which the developer supply container 1 is taken out.

[0266] The start timing of the downward movement of the developer receiving portion 11 in the dismounting of the developer supply container 1 is after the sealing of the discharge opening 3a4 by the shutter 4 similarly to Embodiment 2. The movement start timing is controlled by the position of the upper engaging portion 3b7 shown in part (a) of Figure 33. If the developer receiving portion 11 is spaced from the developer supply container 1 before the discharge opening 3a4 is sealed by the shutter 4, the developer may scatter in the developer receiving apparatus 8 from the discharge opening 3a4 by vibration or the like during the dismounting. Therefore, it is preferable to space the developer receiving portion 11 after the discharge opening 3a4 is sealed assuredly by the shutter 4.

[0267] Using the developer supply container 1 of this embodiment, the developer receiving portion 11 can be spaced assuredly from the discharge opening 3a4 in the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1. In addition, with the structure of this example, the developer receiving portion 11 can be moved assuredly by the upper engaging portion 3b7 without using the urging member 12 for moving the developer receiving portion 11 downwardly. Therefore, as described above, even in the case of the quick dismounting of the developer supply container 1, the upper engaging portion 3b7 assuredly guides the developer receiving portion 11 so that the downward movement can be effected at the predetermined timing. Therefore, the contamination of the developer supply container 1 with the developer can be prevented even in the quick dismounting.

[0268] With the structures of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the developer receiving portion 11 is moved against the urging force of the urging member 12 in the mounting of the developer supply container 1. Therefore, a manipulating force required to the operator in the mounting increases correspondingly, and on the contrary, in the dismounting, it can be dismounted smoothly with the aid of the urging force of the urging member 12. Using this example, as shown in part (b) of Figure 3, it may be unnecessary to provide the developer receiving apparatus 8 with a member for urging the developer receiving portion 11 downwardly. In this case, the urging member 12 is not provided, and therefore, the required manipulating force is the same irrespective of whether the developer supply container 1 is mounted or dismounted relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8.

[0269] In addition, irrespective of the provision of the urging member 12, the developer receiving portion 11 of the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be connected and spaced in the direction crossing with the mounting and dismounting directions with the mounting and dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1. In other words, the contamination, with the developer, of the downstream side end surface Y (part (b) of Figure 5) with respect to the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1, as compared with the case in which the developer supply container 1 is connected with and spaced from the developer receiving portion 11 in the direction of mounting and dismounting directions of the developer supply container 1. In addition, the developer contamination caused by the main assembly seal 13 dragging on the lower surface of the lower flange portion 3b can be prevented.

[0270] From the standpoint of suppression of the maximum value of the manipulating force in the mounting and dismounting of the developer supply container 1 of this example, the omission of the urging member 12 is desired. On the other hand, from the standpoint of reduction of the manipulating force in the dismounting or from the standpoint of assuring the initial position of the developer receiving portion 11, the developer receiving apparatus 8 is desirably provided with the urging member 12. A proper selection therebetween can be made depending on the specifications of the main assembly and / or the developer supply container.[Comparison example]

[0271] Referring to Figure 35, a comparison example will be described. Part (a) of Figure 35 is a sectional view of a developer supply container 1 and a developer receiving apparatus 8 prior to the mounting, parts (b) and (c) of Figure 35 are sectional views during the process of mounting the developer supply container 1 to the developer receiving apparatus 8, part (d) of Figure 35 is a sectional view thereof after the developer supply container 1 is connected to the developer receiving apparatus 8. In the description of this comparison example, the same reference numerals as in the foregoing embodiments are assigned to the elements having the corresponding functions in this embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted for simplicity.

[0272] In the comparison example, the developer receiving portion 11 is fixed to the developer receiving apparatus 8 and is immovable in the upward or downward direction, as contrasted to Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2. In other words, the developer receiving portion 11 and the developer supply container 1 are connected and spaced relative to each other in the mounting and dismounting direction of the developer supply container 1. Therefore, in order to prevent an interference of the developer receiving portion 11 with the shielding portion 3b6 provided in the downstream side of the lower flange portion 3b with respect to the mounting direction in Embodiment 2, for example, an upper end of the developer receiving portion 11 is lower than the shielding portion 3b6 as shown in part (a) of Figure 35. In addition, to provide a compression state equivalent to that of Embodiment 2 between the shutter 4 and the main assembly seal 13, the main assembly seal 13 of the comparison example is longer than that of the main assembly seal 13 of Embodiment 2 in the vertical direction. As described above, the main assembly seal 13 is made of an elastic member or foam member or the like, and therefore, even if the interference occurs between the developer supply container 1 and the developer supply container 1 in the mounting and dismounting operations, the interference does not prevent the mounting and dismounting operations of the developer supply container 1 because of the elastic deformation as shown in part (b) of Figure 35 and part (c) of Figure 35.

[0273] Experiments have been carried out about a discharge amount and an operationality as well as the developer contamination using the developer supply container 1 of the comparison example and the developer supply containers 1 of Embodiment 1 - Embodiment 3. In the experiments, the developer supply container 1 is filled with a predetermined amount of a predetermined developer, and the developer supply container 1 is once mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 8. Thereafter, the developer supplying operation is carried out to the extent of one tenth of the filled amount, and the discharge amount during the supplying operation is measured. Then, the developer supply container 1 is taken out of the developer receiving apparatus 8, and the contamination of the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 with the developer is observed. Further, the operationality such as the manipulating force and the operation feeling during the mounting and dismounting operations of the developer supply container 1 are checked. In the experiments, the developer supply container 1 of Embodiment 3 was based on the developer supply container 1 of Embodiment 2. The experiments were carried out five times for each case for the purpose of reliability of the evaluations. Table 1 shows the results of the experiments and evaluations. Table 1StructuresDeveloper contamination preventionDischarge performanceOperativityDeveloper supply device sideDeveloper supply container siceComp. exampleNNFGEmb. 1FGFGEmb. 2GGGGEmb. 3EEGG Developer contamination prevention:

[0274] E: Hardly any contamination even in extreme condition use; G: Hardly any contamination in normal condition use; F: Slight contamination (no problem practically) in normal use; and N: Contaminated (problematic practically) in normal use. Discharge performance:

[0275] G: Sufficient discharge amount per unit time; F: 70% (based on G case) (no problem practically); and N: Less than 50% (based on G case) (problematic practically). Operativity:

[0276] G: Required force is less than 20N with good operation feeling; F: Required force is 20N or larger with good operation feeling; and N: Required force is 20N or larger with no good operation feeling.

[0277] As to the level of the developer contamination of the developer supply container 1 or the developer receiving apparatus 8 taken out of the developer receiving apparatus 8 after the supplying operation, the developer deposited on the main assembly seal 13 is transferred onto the lower surface of the lower flange portion 3b and / or the sliding surface 4i (Figure 35) of the shutter 4, in the developer supply container 1 of the comparison example. In addition, the developer is deposited on the end surface Y (part (b) of Figure 5) of the developer supply container 1. Therefore, in this state, if the operator touches inadvertently the developer deposited portion, the operator's finger will be contaminated with the developer. In addition, a large amount of the developer is scattered on the developer receiving apparatus 8. With the structure of the comparison example, when the developer supply container 1 is mounted in the mounting direction (arrow A) in the Figure) from the position shown in part (a) of Figure 35, the upper surface of the main assembly seal 13 of the developer receiving portion 11 first contacts the end surface Y the part (b) of Figure 5) in the downstream side, with respect to the mounting direction, of the developer supply container 1. Thereafter, as shown in part (c) of Figure 35, the developer supply container 1 displaces in the direction of an arrow A, in the state that the upper surface of the main assembly seal 13 of the developer receiving portion 11 is in contact with the lower surface of the lower flange portion 3b and the sliding surface 4i of the shutter 4. Therefore, the developer contamination by the dragging remains on the contact portions, and the developer contamination is exposed in the outside of the developer supply container 1 and scatters with the result of contamination of the developer receiving apparatus 8.

[0278] It has been confirmed that the levels of the developer contamination in the developer supply containers 1 of Embodiment 1 - Embodiment 3 are much improved over that in the comparison example. In Embodiment 1, by the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1, the connecting portion 3a6 of the opening seal 3a5 having been shielded by the shutter 4 is exposed, and the main assembly seal 13 of the developer receiving portion 11 is connected to the exposed portion in the direction crossing with the mounting direction. With the structure of Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3, the shutter opening 4f and the close-contact portion 4h are uncovered by the shielding portion 3b6, and by the time immediately before the alignment between the discharge opening 3a4 and the shutter opening 4f, the developer receiving portion 11 displaces in the (upwardly in the embodiments) direction crossing with the mounting direction to connect with the shutter 4. Therefore, the developer contamination of the downstream end surface Y (part (b) of Figure 5) with respect to the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 can be prevented. In addition, in the developer supply container 1 of Embodiment 1, the connecting portion 3a6 formed on the opening seal 3a5 which is contaminated by the developer to be connected by the main assembly seal 13 of the developer receiving portion 11 is shielded in the shutter 4, with the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1. Therefore, the connecting portion 3a6 of the opening seal 3a5 of the taken-out developer supply container 1 is not seen from the outside. In addition, the scattering of the developer deposited on the connecting portion 3a6 of the opening seal 3a5 of the taken-out developer supply container 1 can prevented. Similarly, in the developer supply container 1 of Embodiment 2 or Embodiment 3, the close-contact portion 4h of the shutter 4 and the shutter opening 4f contaminated with the developer in the connection of the developer receiving portion 11 is shielded in the shielding portion 3b6 with the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1. Therefore, close-contact portion 4h of the shutter 4 and the shutter opening 4f contaminated with the developer is not seen from the outside. In addition, the scattering of the developer deposited on the close-contact portion 4h and the shutter of the shutter 4 can be prevented.

[0279] The levels of the contaminations with the developer are checked in the case of the quick dismounting of the developer supply container 1. With the structures of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, a slight level of developer contamination is seen, and with the structure of Embodiment 3, no developer contamination is seen on the developer supply container 1 or the developer receiving portion 11. This is because even if the quick dismounting of the developer supply container 1 of Embodiment 3 is carried out, the developer receiving portion 11 is assuredly guiding downwardly at the predetermined timing by the upper engaging portion 3b7, and therefore, no deviation of the timing of the movement of the developer receiving portion 11 occurs. It has been confirmed that the structure of Embodiment 3 is better than the structures of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2 with respect to the developer contamination level in the quick dismounting.

[0280] Discharging performance during the supplying operation of the developer supply containers 1 is checked. For this checking, the discharge amount of the developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 per unit time is measured, and the repeatability is checked. The results show that in Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3, the discharge amount from the developer supply container 1 per unit time is sufficient the and the repeatability is excellent. With Embodiment 1 and the comparison example, the discharge amount from the developer supply container 1 per unit time are sufficient is an occasion and is 70 % in another occasion. When the developer supply container 1 is observed during the supplying operation, the developer supply containers 1 sometimes slightly offset in the dismounting direction from the mounting position by the vibration during the operation. The developer supply container 1 of Embodiment 1 is mounted and demounted relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8 a plurality of times, and the connection state is checked each time, and in one case out of five, the positions of the discharge opening 3a4 of the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving port 11a are offset with the result that the opening communication area is relatively small. It is considered that the discharge amount from the developer supply container 1 per unit time is relatively small.

[0281] From the phenomenon-and the structure, it is understood that in the developer supply containers 1 of Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3, by the aligning function of the engaging effect between the misalignment prevention tapered portion 11c and the misalignment prevention taper engaging portion 4 g the shutter opening 4f and the developer receiving port 11a communicate with each other without the misalignment, even if the position of the developer receiving apparatus 8 is slightly offset. Therefore, it is considered that the discharging performance (discharge amount per unit time) is stabilized.

[0282] The operationalities are checked. A mounting force for the developer supply container 1 to the developer receiving apparatus 8 is slightly higher in Embodiment 1, Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3 than the comparison example. This is because, as described above, the developer receiving portion 11 is displaced upwardly against the urging force of the urging member 12 urging the developer receiving portion 11 downwardly. The manipulating force in Embodiment 1 to Embodiment 3 is approx. 8N-15N, which is not a problem. With the structure of Embodiment 3, the mounting force was checked with the structure not having the urging member 12. At this time, the manipulating force in the mounting operation is substantially the same as that of the comparison example and was approx. 5N-10N. The demounting force in the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1 was measured. The results show that the demounting force is smaller than the mounting force in the case of the developer supply containers 1 of Embodiment 1, Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 3 and is approx. 5N-9N. As described above, this is because the developer receiving portion 11 moves downwardly by the assisting of the urging force of the urging member 12. Similarly to the foregoing, when the urging member 12 is not provided in Embodiment 3, there is no significant difference between the mounting force and the demounting force and is approx. 6N-10N.

[0283] In any of the developer supply containers 1, the operation feeling has no problem.

[0284] By the checking described in the foregoing, it has been confirmed that the developer supply container 1 of this embodiment is overwhelmingly better than the developer supply container 1 of the comparison example from the standpoint of prevention of the developer contamination.

[0285] In addition, the developer supply container 1 of these embodiments have solved to various problems with conventional developer supply container.

[0286] In the developer supply container of this embodiment, the mechanism for displacing the developer receiving portion 11 and connecting it with the developer supply container 1 can be simplified, as compared with the conventional art. More particularly, a driving source or a drive transmission mechanism for moving the entirety of the developing device upwardly is not required, and therefore, the structure of the image forming apparatus side is not complicated, and increase in cost due to the increase of the number of parts can be avoided. In the conventional art, in order to avoid the interference with the developing device when the entirety of the developing device moves up and down, a large space is required, but such upsizing of the image forming apparatus can be prevented in the present invention.

[0287] The connection between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be properly established using the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 with the minimum contamination with the developer. Similarly, utilizing the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1, the spacing and resealing between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be carried out with minimum contamination with the developer.

[0288] In addition, with the developer supply container 1 of this embodiment, the timing of displacing the developer receiving portion 11 in the direction crossing with the mounting and demounting direction by the developer supply container 1 in the mounting and dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1 can be controlled assuredly by the engaging portion comprising the first engaging portion 3b2 and the second engaging portion 3b4. In other words, the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving portion 11 can be connected and spaced relative to each other without relying on the operation of the operator.[Embodiment 4]

[0289] Referring to the drawings, Embodiment 4 will be described. In Embodiment 4, the structure of the developer receiving apparatus and the developer supply container are partly different from those of Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2. The other structures are substantially the same as with Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals as in Embodiments 1 and 2 are assigned to the elements having the corresponding functions in this embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted for simplicity.(Image forming apparatus)

[0290] Figure 36 and 37 illustrate an example of the image forming apparatus comprising a developer receiving apparatus to which a developer supply container (so-called toner cartridge) is detachably mounted. The structure of the image forming apparatus is substantially the same as with Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2 except for a structure of a part of the developer supply container and a part of the developer receiving apparatus, and therefore, the detailed description of the common parts is omitted for simplicity.(Developer receiving apparatus)

[0291] Referring to Figures 38, 39 and 40, the developer receiving apparatus 8 will be described. Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the developer receiving apparatus 8. Figure 39 is a schematic perspective view of the developer receiving apparatus 8 as seen from a back side of Figure 38. Figure 40 is a schematic sectional view of the developer receiving apparatus 8.

[0292] The developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with a mounting portion (mounting space) 8f to which the developer supply container 1 is detachably mounted. Further, there is provided an developer receiving portion 11 for receiving a developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 through a discharge opening (opening) 1c (Figure 43). The developer receiving portion 11 is mounted so as to be movable (displaceable) relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8 in the vertical direction. As shown in Figure 40, the upper end surface of the developer receiving portion 11 is provided with a main assembly seal 13 having a developer receiving port 11a at the central portion. The main assembly seal 13 comprises an elastic member, a foam member or the like, and the main assembly seal 13 is closely-contacted with an opening seal (unshown) provided with a discharge opening 1c for the developer supply container 1 which will be described hereinafter to prevent leakage of the developer from the discharge opening 1c and / or the developer receiving port 11a.

[0293] In order to prevent the contamination in the mounting portion 8f by the developer as much as possible, a diameter of the developer receiving port 11a is desirably substantially the same as or slightly larger than a diameter of the discharge opening 3a4 of the developer supply container 1. This is because if the diameter of the developer receiving port 11a is smaller than the diameter of the discharge opening 1c, the developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 is deposited on the upper surface of developer receiving port 11a, and the deposited developer is transferred onto the lower surface of the developer supply container 1 during the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1, with the result of contamination with the developer. In addition, the developer transferred onto the developer supply container 1 may be scattered to the mounting portion 8f with the result of contamination of the mounting portion 8f with the developer. On the contrary, if the diameter of the developer receiving port 11a is quite larger than the diameter of the discharge opening 1c, an area in which the developer scattered from the developer receiving port 11a is deposited on the neighborhood of the discharge opening 1c is large. That is, the contaminated area of the developer supply container 1 by the developer is large, which is not preferable. Under the circumstances, the difference between the diameter of the developer receiving port 11a and the diameter of the discharge opening 1c is preferably substantially 0 to approx. 2 mm.

[0294] In this example, the diameter of the discharge opening 1c of the developer supply container 1 is approx. Φ2 mm (pin hole), and therefore, the diameter of the developer receiving port 11a is approx. φ3 mm.

[0295] As shown in Figure 40, the developer receiving portion 11 is urged downwardly by an urging member 12. When the developer receiving portion 11 moves upwardly, it has to move against an urging force of the urging member 12.

[0296] Below the developer receiving apparatus 8, there is provided a sub-hopper 8c for temporarily storing the developer. As shown in Figure 40, in the sub-hopper 8c, there are provided a feeding screw 14 for feeding the developer into the developer hopper portion 201a (Figure 36) which is a part of the developing device 201, and an opening 8d which is in fluid communication with the developer hopper portion 201a.

[0297] The developer receiving port 11a is closed so as to prevent foreign matter and / or dust entering the sub-hopper 8c in a state that the developer supply container 1 is not mounted. More specifically, the developer receiving port 11a is closed by a main assembly shutter 15 in the state that the developer receiving portion 11 is away to the upside. The developer receiving portion 11 moves upwardly (arrow E) from the position shown in Figure 43 toward the developer supply container 1 with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1. By this, the developer receiving port 11a and the main assembly shutter 15 are spaced from each other to unseal the developer receiving port 11a. With this open state, the developer is discharged from the developer supply container 1 through the discharge opening 1c, so that the developer received by the developer receiving port 11a is movable to the sub-hopper 8c.

[0298] A side surface of the developer receiving portion 11 is provided with an engaging portion 11b (Figures 4, 19). The engaging portion 11b is directly engaged with an engaging portion 3b2, 3b4 (Figures 8 and 20) provided on the developer supply container 1 which will be described hereinafter, and is guided thereby so that the developer receiving portion 11 is raised toward the developer supply container 1.

[0299] As shown in Figure 38, mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with a positioning guide (holding member) 8l having a L-like shape to fix the position of the developer supply container 1. The mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with an insertion guide 8e for guiding the developer supply container 1 in the mounting and demounting direction. By the positioning guide 8l and the insertion guide 8e, the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 is determined as being the direction of an arrow A. The dismounting direction of the developer supply container 1 is the opposite (arrow B) to the direction of the arrow A.

[0300] The developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with a driving gear 9 (Figure 39) functioning as a driving mechanism for driving the developer supply container 1 and is provided with a locking member 10 (Figure 38).

[0301] The locking member 10 is locked with a locking portion 18 (Figure 44 the functioning as a drive inputting portion of the developer supply container 1 when the developer supply container 1 is mounted to the mounting portion 8fed of the developer receiving apparatus 8.

[0302] As shown in Figure 38, the locking member 10 is loose fitted in an elongate hole portion 8 g formed in the mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8, and is movable relative to the mounting portion 8f in the up and down directions in the Figure. The locking member 10 is in the form of a round bar configuration and is provided at the free end with a tapered portion 10d in consideration of easy insertion into a locking portion 18 (Figure 44) of the developer supply container 1 which will be described hereinafter.

[0303] The locking portion 10a (engaging portion engageable with locking portion 18) of the locking member 10 is connected with a rail portion 10b shown in Figure 39. The sides of the rail portion 10b are held by a guide portion 8j of the developer receiving apparatus 8 and is movable in the up and down direction in the Figure.

[0304] The rail portion 10b is provided with a gear portion 10c which is engaged with a driving gear 9. The driving gear 9 is connected with a driving motor 500. By a control device 600 effecting such a control that the rotational moving direction of a driving motor 500 provided in the image forming apparatus 100 is periodically reversed, the locking member 10 reciprocates in the up and down directions in the Figure along the elongated hole 8g.(Developer supply control of developer receiving apparatus)

[0305] Referring to Figures 41 and 42, a developer supply control by the developer receiving apparatus 8 will be described. Figure 41 is a block diagram illustrating the function and the structure of the control device 600, and Figure 42 is a flow chart illustrating a flow of the supplying operation.

[0306] In this example, an amount of the developer temporarily accumulated in the hopper 8c (height of the developer level) is limited so that the developer does not flow reversely into the developer supply container 1 from the developer receiving apparatus 8 by the sucking operation of the developer supply container 1 which will be described hereinafter. For this purpose, in this example, a developer sensor 8k (Figure 40) is provided to detect the amount of the developer accommodated in the hopper 8g. As shown in Figure 41, the control device 600 controls the operation / non-operation of the driving motor 500 in accordance with an output of the developer sensor 8k by which the developer is not accommodated in the hopper 8c beyond a predetermined amount.

[0307] The control flow will be described. First, as shown in Figure 42, the developer sensor 8k checks the accommodated developer amount in the hopper 8c. When the accommodated developer amount detected by the developer sensor 8k is discriminated as being less than a predetermined amount, that is, when no developer is detected by the developer sensor 8k, the driving motor 500 is actuated to execute a developer supplying operation for a predetermined time period (S101).

[0308] When the accommodated developer amount detected with developer sensor 8k is discriminated as having reached the predetermined amount, that is, when the developer is detected by the developer sensor 8k, as a result of the developer supplying operation, the driving motor 500 is deactuated to stop the developer supplying operation (S102). By the stop of the supplying operation, a series of developer supplying steps is completed.

[0309] Such developer supplying steps are carried out repeatedly whenever the accommodated developer amount in the hopper 8c becomes less than a predetermined amount as a result of consumption of the developer by the image forming operations.

[0310] In this example, the developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 is stored temporarily in the hopper 8c, and then is supplied into the developing device, but the following structure of the developer receiving apparatus can be employed.

[0311] Particularly in the case of a low speed image forming apparatus 100, the main assembly is required to be compact and low in cost. In such a case, it is desirable that the developer is supplied directly to the developing device 201, as shown in Figure 43. More particularly, the above-described hopper 8c is omitted, and the developer is supplied directly into the developing device 201a from the developer supply container 1. Figure 43 shows an example using a two-component type developing device 201 as the developer receiving apparatus. The developing device 201 comprises a stirring chamber into which the developer is supplied, and a developer chamber for supplying the developer to the developing roller 201f, wherein the stirring chamber and the developer chamber are provided with screws 201d rotatable in such directions that the developer is fed in the opposite directions from each other. The stirring chamber and the developer chamber are communicated with each other in the opposite longitudinal end portions, and the two component developer are circulated the two chambers. The stirring chamber is provided with a magnetometric sensor 201 g for detecting a toner content of the developer, and on the basis of the detection result of the magnetometric sensor 201g, the control device 600 controls the operation of the driving motor 500. In such a case, the developer supplied from the developer supply container is non-magnetic toner or non-magnetic toner plus magnetic carrier.

[0312] The developer receiving portion is not illustrated in Figure 43, but in the case where the hopper 8c is omitted, and the developer is supplied directly to the developing device 201 from the developer supply container 1, the developer receiving portion 11 is provided in the developing device 201. The arrangement of the developer receiving portion 11 in the developing device 201 may be properly determined.

[0313] In this example, as will be described hereinafter, the developer in the developer supply container 1 is hardly discharged through the discharge opening 1c only by the gravitation, but the developer is by a discharging operation by a pump portion 2, and therefore, variation in the discharge amount can be suppressed. Therefore, the developer supply container 1 which will be described hereinafter is usable for the example of Figure 8 lacking the hopper 8c.(Developer supply container)

[0314] Referring to Figures 44 and 45, the developer supply container 1 according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 44 is a schematic perspective view of the developer supply container1. Figure 45 is a schematic sectional view of the developer supply container 1.

[0315] As shown in Figure 44, the developer supply container 1 has a container body 1a (developer discharging chamber) functioning as a developer accommodating portion for accommodating the developer. Designated by 1b in Figure 45 is a developer accommodating space in which the developer is accommodated in the container body 1a. In the example, the developer accommodating space 1b functioning as the developer accommodating portion is the space in the container body 1a plus an inside space in the pump portion 5. In this example, the developer accommodating space 1b accommodates toner which is dry powder having a volume average particle size of 5 µm - 6 µm.

[0316] In this example, the pump portion is a displacement type pump portion 5 in which the volume changes. More particularly, the pump portion 5 has a bellow-like expansion-and-contraction portion 5a (bellow portion, expansion-and-contraction member) which can be contracted and expanded by a driving force received from the developer receiving apparatus 8.

[0317] As shown in Figures 44 and 45, the bellow-like pump portion 5 of this example is folded to provide crests and bottoms which are provided alternately and periodically, and is contractable and expandable. When the bellow-like pump portion 2 as in this example, a variation in the volume change amount relative to the amount of expansion and contraction can be reduced, and therefore, a stable volume change can be accomplished.

[0318] In this embodiment, the entire volume of the developer accommodating space 1b is 480 cm^3, of which the volume of the pump portion 2 is 160 cm^3 (in the free state of the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a), and in this example, the pumping operation is effected in the pump portion (2) expansion direction from the length in the free state.

[0319] The volume change amount by the expansion and contraction of the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a of the pump portion 5 is 15 cm^3, and the total volume at the time of maximum expansion of the pump portion 5 is 495 cm^3.

[0320] The developer supply container 1 filled with 240 g of developer. The driving motor 500 for driving the locking member 10 shown in Figure 43 is controlled by the control device 600 to provide a volume change speed of 90 cm^3 / s. The volume change amount and the volume change speed may be properly selected in consideration of a required discharge amount of the developer receiving apparatus 8.

[0321] The pump portion 5 in this example is a bellow-like pump, but another pump is usable if the air amount (pressure) in the developer accommodating space 1b can be changed. For example, the pump portion 5 may be a single-shaft eccentric screw pump. In this case, an opening for suction and discharging of the single-shaft eccentric screw pump is required, and such an opening requires a additional filter or the like in addition to the above-described filter, in order to prevent the leakage of the developer therethrough. In addition, a single-shaft eccentric screw pump requires a very high torque to operate, and therefore, the load to the main assembly 100 of the image forming apparatus increases. Therefore, the bellow-like pump is preferable since it is free of such problems.

[0322] The developer accommodating space 1b may be only the inside space of the pump portion 5. In such a case, the pump portion 5 functions simultaneously as the developer accommodating space 1b.

[0323] A connecting portion 5b of the pump portion 5 and the connected portion 1i of the container body 1a are unified by welding to prevent leakage of the developer, that is, to keep the hermetical property of the developer accommodating space 1b.

[0324] The developer supply container 1 is provided with a locking portion 18 as a drive inputting portion (driving force receiving portion, drive connecting portion, engaging portion) which is engageable with the driving mechanism of the developer receiving apparatus 8 and which receives a driving force for driving the pump portion 5 from the driving mechanism.

[0325] More particularly, the locking portion 18 engageable with the locking member 10 of the developer receiving apparatus 8 is mounted to an upper end of the pump portion 5. The locking portion 18 is provided with a locking hole 18a in the center portion as shown in Figure 44. When the developer supply container 1 is mounted to the mounting portion 8f (Figure 38), the locking member 10 is inserted into a locking hole 18a, so that they are unified (slight play is provided for easy insertion). As shown in Figure 44, the relative position between the locking portion 18 and the locking member 10 in arrow p direction and arrow q direction which are expansion and contracting directions of the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a. It is preferable that the pump portion 5 and the locking portion 18 are molded integrally using an injection molding method or a blow molding method.

[0326] The locking portion 18 unified substantially with the locking member 10 in this manner receives a driving force for expanding and contracting the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a of the pump portion 2 from the locking member 10. As a result, with the vertical movement of the locking member 10, the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a of the pump portion 5 is expanded and contracted.

[0327] The pump portion 5 functions as an air flow generating mechanism for producing alternately and repeatedly the air flow into the developer supply container and the air flow to the outside of the developer supply container through the discharge opening 1c by the driving force received by the locking portion 18 functioning as the drive inputting portion.

[0328] In this embodiment, the use is made with the round bar locking member 10 and the round hole locking portion 18 to substantially unify them, but another structure is usable if the relative position therebetween can be fixed with respect to the expansion and contracting direction (arrow p direction and arrow q direction) of the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a. For example, the locking portion 18 is a rod-like member, and the locking member 10 is a locking hole; the cross-sectional configurations of the locking portion 18 and the locking member 10 may be triangular, rectangular or another polygonal, or may be ellipse, star shape or another shape. Or, another known locking structure is usable.

[0329] The bottom end portion of the container body 1a is provided with an upper flange portion 1 g constituting a flange held by the developer receiving apparatus 8 so as to be non-rotatable. The upper flange portion 1 g is provided with a discharge opening 1c for permitting discharging of the developer to the outer of the developer supply container 1 from the developer accommodating space 1b. The discharge opening 1c will be described in detail hereinafter.

[0330] As shown in Figure 45, an inclined surface 1f is formed toward the discharge opening 1c in a lower portion of the container body 1a, the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating space 1b slides down on the inclined surface 1f by the gravity toward a neighborhood of the discharge opening 1c. In this embodiment, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 1f (angle relative to a horizontal surface in the state that the developer supply container 1 is set in the developer receiving apparatus 8) is larger than an angle of rest of the toner (developer).

[0331] As for the configuration of the peripheral portion of the discharge opening 1c, as shown in Figure 46, the configuration of the connecting portion between the discharge opening 1c and the inside of the container body 1a may be flat (1W in Figure 45), or as shown in Figure 46, the discharge opening 1c may be connected with the inclined surface 1f.

[0332] The flat configuration shown in Figure 45 provides high space efficiency in the direction of the height of the developer supply container 1, and the configuration connecting with the inclined surface 1f shown in Figure 46 provides the reduction of the remaining developer because the developer remaining on the inclined surface 1f falls to the discharge opening 1c. As described above, the configuration of the peripheral portion of the discharge opening 1c may be selected properly depending on the situation.

[0333] In this embodiment, the flat configuration shown in Figure 45 is used.

[0334] The developer supply container 1 is in fluid communication with the outside of the developer supply container 1 only through the discharge opening 1c, and is sealed substantially except for the discharge opening 1c.

[0335] Referring to Figures 38 and 45, a shutter mechanism for opening and closing the discharge opening 1c will be described.

[0336] An opening seal (sealing member) 3a5 of an elastic material is fixed by bonding to a lower surface of the upper flange portion 1 g so as to surround the circumference of the discharge opening 1c to prevent developer leakage. The opening seal 3a5 is provided with a circular discharge opening (opening) 3a4 for discharging the developer into the developer receiving apparatus 8 similarly to the above-described embodiments. There is provided a shutter 4 for sealing the discharge opening 3a4 (discharge opening 1c) so that the opening seal 3a5 is compressed between the lower surface of the upper flange portion 1g. In this manner, the opening seal 3a5 is stuck on the lower surface of the upper flange portion 1g, and is nipped by the upper flange portion 1 g and the shutter 4 which will be described hereinafter.

[0337] In this example, the discharge opening 3a4 is provided on the opening seal 3a5 is unintegral with the upper flange portion 1g, but the discharge opening 3a4 may be provided directly on the upper flange portion 1 g (discharge opening 1c). Also in this case, in order to prevent the leakage of the developer, it is desired to nip the opening seal 3a5 by the upper flange portion 1 g and the shutter 4.

[0338] Below the upper flange portion 1g, a lower flange portion 3b constituting a flange through the shutter 4 is mounted. The lower flange portion 3b includes engaging portions 3b2, 3b4 engageable with the developer receiving portion 11 (Figure 4) similarly to the lower flange shown in Figure 8 or Figure 20. The structure of the lower flange portion 3b having the engaging portions 3b2 and 3b4 is similar to the above-described embodiments, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0339] The shutter 4 is provided with a stopper portion (holding portion) held by a shutter stopper portion of the developer receiving apparatus 8 so that the developer supply container 1 is movable relative to the shutter 4, similarly to the shutter shown in Figure 9 or Figure 21. The structure of the shutter 4 having the stopper portion (holding portion) is similar to that of the above-described embodiments, and the description thereof is omitted.

[0340] The shutter 4 is fixed to the developer receiving apparatus 8 by the stopper portion engaging with the shutter stopper portion formed on the developer receiving apparatus 8, with the operation of mounting the developer supply container 1. Then, the developer supply container 1 starts the relative movement relative to the fixed shutter 4.

[0341] At this time, similarly to the above-described embodiments, the engaging portion 3b2 of the developer supply container 1 is first engaged directly with the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11 to move the developer receiving portion 11 upwardly. By this, the developer receiving portion 11 is close-contacted to the developer supply container 1 (or the shutter opening 4f of the shutter 4), and the developer receiving port 11a of the developer receiving portion 11 is unsealed.

[0342] Thereafter, the engaging portion 3b4 of the developer supply container 1 is engaged directly with the engaging portion 11b of the developer receiving portion 11, and the developer supply container 1 moves relative to the shutter 4 while maintaining the above-described close-contact state, with the mounting operation. By this, the shutter 4 is unsealed, and the discharge opening 1c of the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving port 11a of the developer receiving portion 11 are aligned with each other. At this time, the upper flange portion 1 g of the developer supply container 1 is guided by the positioning guide 8l of the developer receiving apparatus 8 so that a side surface 1k (Figure 44) of the developer supply container 1 abuts to the stopper portion 8i of the developer receiving apparatus 8. As a result, the position of the developer supply container 1 relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8 in the mounting direction (A direction) is determined (Figure 52).

[0343] In this manner, the upper flange portion 1 g of the developer supply container 1 is guided by the positioning guide 8l, and at the time when the inserting operation of the developer supply container 1 is completed, the discharge opening 1c of the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving port 11a of the developer receiving portion 11 are aligned with each other.

[0344] At the time when the inserting operation of the developer supply container 1 is completed, the opening seal 3a5 (Figure 52) seals between the discharge opening 1c and the developer receiving port 11a to prevent leakage of the developer to the outside.

[0345] With the inserting operation of the developer supply container 1, the locking member 109 is inserted into the locking hole 18a of the locking portion 18 of the developer supply container 1 so that they are unified.

[0346] At this time, the position thereof is determined by the L shape portion of the positioning guide 8l in the direction (up and down direction in Figure 38) perpendicular to the mounting direction (A direction), relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8, of the developer supply container 1. The flange portion 1 g as the positioning portion also functions to prevent movement of the developer supply container 1 in the up and down direction (reciprocating direction of the pump portion 5).

[0347] The operations up to here are the series of mounting steps for the developer supply container 1. By the operator closing the front cover 40, the mounting step is finished.

[0348] The steps for dismounting the developer supply container 1 from the developer receiving apparatus 8 are opposite from those in the mounting step. The steps for dismounting the developer supply container 1 from the developer receiving apparatus 8 are opposite from those in the mounting step.

[0349] More specifically, the steps described as the mounting operation and the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1 in the above-described embodiments apply. More specifically, the steps described in conjunction with Figures 13 - 17 by Embodiment 1, or the steps described in conjunction with Figure 26 - 29 by Embodiment 2 apply here.

[0350] In this example, the state (decompressed state, negative pressure state) in which the internal pressure of the container body 1a (developer accommodating space 1b) is lower than the ambient pressure (external air pressure) and the state (compressed state, positive pressure state) in which the internal pressure is higher than the ambient pressure are alternately repeated at a predetermined cyclic period. Here, the ambient pressure (external air pressure) is the pressure under the ambient condition in which the developer supply container 1 is placed. Thus, the developer is discharged through the discharge opening 1c by changing a pressure (internal pressure) of the container body 1a. In this example, it is changed (reciprocated) between 480 - 495 cm^3 at a cyclic period of 0.3 sec.

[0351] The material of the container body 1a is preferably such that it provides an enough rigidity to avoid collision or extreme expansion.

[0352] In view of this, this example employs polystyrene resin material as the materials of the developer container body 1a and employs polypropylene resin material as the material of the pump portion 2.

[0353] As for the material for the container body 1a, other resin materials such as ABS (acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene copolymer resin material), polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, for example are usable if they have enough durability against the pressure. Alternatively, they may be metal.

[0354] As for the material of the pump portion 2, any material is usable if it is expansible and contractable enough to change the internal pressure of the space in the developer accommodating space 1b by the volume change. The examples includes thin formed ABS (acrylonitrile, butadiene, styrene copolymer resin material), polystyrene, polyester, polyethylene materials. Alternatively, other expandable-and-contractable materials such as rubber are usable.

[0355] They may be integrally molded of the same material through an injection molding method, a blow molding method or the like if the thicknesses are properly adjusted for the pump portion 5b and the container body 1a.

[0356] In this example, the developer supply container 1 is in fluid communication with the outside only through the discharge opening 1c, and therefore, it is substantially sealed from the outside except for the discharge opening 1c. That is, the developer is discharged through discharge opening 1c by compressing and decompressing the inside of the developer supply container 1 by the pump portion 5, and therefore, the hermetical property is desired to maintain the stabilized discharging performance.

[0357] On the other hand, there is a liability that during transportation (air transportation) of the developer supply container 1 and / or in long term unused period, the internal pressure of the container may abruptly changes due to abrupt variation of the ambient conditions. For an example, when the apparatus is used in a region having a high altitude, or when the developer supply container 1 kept in a low ambient temperature place is transferred to a high ambient temperature room, the inside of the developer supply container 1 may be pressurized as compared with the ambient air pressure. In such a case, the container may deform, and / or the developer may splash when the container is unsealed.

[0358] In view of this, the developer supply container 1 is provided with an opening of a diameter φ 3 mm, and the opening is provided with a filter, in this example. The filter is TEMISH (registered Trademark) available from Nitto Denko Kabushiki Kaisha, Japan, which is provided with a property preventing developer leakage to the outside but permitting air passage between inside and outside of the container. Here, in this example, despite the fact that such a countermeasurement is taken, the influence thereof to the sucking operation and the discharging operation through the discharge opening 1c by the pump portion 5 can be ignored, and therefore, the hermetical property of the developer supply container 1 is kept in effect.(Discharge opening of developer supply container)

[0359] In this example, the size of the discharge opening 1c of the developer supply container 1 is so selected that in the orientation of the developer supply container 1 for supplying the developer into the developer receiving apparatus 8, the developer is not discharged to a sufficient extent, only by the gravitation. The opening size of the discharge opening 1c is so small that the discharging of the developer from the developer supply container is insufficient only by the gravitation, and therefore, the opening is called pin hole hereinafter. In other words, the size of the opening is determined such that the discharge opening 1c is substantially clogged. This is expectedly advantageous in the following points: . 1) the developer does not easily leak through the discharge opening 1c; . 2) excessive discharging of the developer at time of opening of the discharge opening 1c can be suppressed; and . 3) the discharging of the developer can rely dominantly on the discharging operation by the pump portion.

[0360] The inventors have investigated as to the size of the discharge opening 1c not enough to discharge the toner to a sufficient extent only by the gravitation. The verification experiment (measuring method) and criteria will be described.

[0361] A rectangular parallelepiped container of a predetermined volume in which a discharge opening (circular) is formed at the center portion of the bottom portion is prepared, and is filled with 200 g of developer; then, the filling port is sealed, and the discharge opening is plugged; in this state, the container is shaken enough to loosen the developer. The rectangular parallelepiped container has a volume of 1000 cm^3, 90 mm in length, 92 mm width and 120 mm in height.

[0362] Thereafter, as soon as possible the discharge opening is unsealed in the state that the discharge opening is directed downwardly, and the amount of the developer discharged through the discharge opening is measured. At this time, the rectangular parallelepiped container is sealed completely except for the discharge opening. In addition, the verification experiments were carried out under the conditions of the temperature of 24 degree C and the relative humidity of 55 %.

[0363] Using these processes, the discharge amounts are measured while changing the kind of the developer and the size of the discharge opening. In this example, when the amount of the discharged developer is not more than 2g, the amount is negligible, and therefore, the size of the discharge opening at that time is deemed as being not enough to discharge the developer sufficiently only by the gravitation.

[0364] The developers used in the verification experiment are shown in Table 1. The kinds of the developer are one component magnetic toner, non-magnetic toner for two component developer developing device and a mixture of the non-magnetic toner and the magnetic carrier.

[0365] As for property values indicative of the property of the developer, the measurements are made as to angles of rest indicating flowabilities, and fluidity energy indicating easiness of loosing of the developer layer, which is measured by a powder flowability analyzing device (Powder Rheometer FT4 available from Freeman Technology). Table 2DevelopersVolume average particle size of toner (µm)Developer componentAngle of rest (deg.)Fluidity energy (Bulk density of 0.5g / cm 3< )A7Two-component non-magnetic182.09×10 -3< JB6.5Two-component non-magnetic toner + carrier226.80×10 -4< JC7One-component magnetic toner354.30×10 -4< JD5.5Two-component non-magnetic toner + carrier403.51×10 -3< JE5Two-component non-magnetic toner + carrier274.14×10 -3< J

[0366] Referring to Figure 47, a measuring method for the fluidity energy will be described. Here, Figure 47 is a schematic view of a device for measuring the fluidity energy.

[0367] The principle of the powder flowability analyzing device is that a blade is moved in a powder sample, and the energy required for the blade to move in the powder, that is, the fluidity energy, is measured. The blade is of a propeller type, and when it rotates, it moves in the rotational axis direction simultaneously, and therefore, a free end of the blade moves helically.

[0368] The propeller type blade 51 is made of SUS (type=C210) and has a diameter of 48 mm, and is twisted smoothly in the counterclockwise direction. More specifically, from a center of the blade of 48 mm x 10 mm, a rotation shaft extends in a normal line direction relative to a rotation plane of the blade, a twist angle of the blade at the opposite outermost edge portions (the positions of 24 mm from the rotation shaft) is 70°, and a twist angle at the positions of 12 mm from the rotation shaft is 35°.

[0369] The fluidity energy is total energy provided by integrating with time a total sum of a rotational torque and a vertical load when the helical rotating blade 51 enters the powder layer and advances in the powder layer. The value thus obtained indicates easiness of loosening of the developer powder layer, and large fluidity energy means less easiness and small fluidity energy means greater easiness.

[0370] In this measurement, as shown in Figure 12, the developer T is filled up to a powder surface level of 70 mm (L2 in Figure 47) into the cylindrical container 53 having a diameter φ of 50 mm (volume = 200 cc, L1 (Figure 47) = 50 mm) which is the standard part of the device. The filling amount is adjusted in accordance with a bulk density of the developer to measure. The blade 54 of φ48 mm which is the standard part is advanced into the powder layer, and the energy required to advance from depth 10 mm to depth 30 mm is displayed.

[0371] The set conditions at the time of measurement are, The set conditions at the time of measurement are, The rotational speed of the blade 51 (tip speed = peripheral speed of the outermost edge portion of the blade) is 60 mm / s: The blade advancing speed in the vertical direction into the powder layer is such a speed that an angle θ (helix angle) formed between a track of the outermost edge portion of the blade 51 during advancement and the surface of the powder layer is 10°: The advancing speed into the powder layer in the perpendicular direction is 11 mm / s (blade advancement speed in the powder layer in the vertical direction = (rotational speed of blade) x tan (helix angle x π / 180)): and The measurement is carried out under the condition of temperature of 24 degree C and relative humidity of 55 %

[0372] The bulk density of the developer when the fluidity energy of the developer is measured is close to that when the experiments for verifying the relation between the discharge amount of the developer and the size of the discharge opening, is less changing and is stable, and more particularly is adjusted to be 0.5g / cm^3.

[0373] The verification experiments were carried out for the developers (Table 2) with the measurements of the fluidity energy in such a manner. Figure 48 is a graph showing relations between the diameters of the discharge openings and the discharge amounts with respect to the respective developers

[0374] From the verification results shown in Figure 48, it has been confirmed that the discharge amount through the discharge opening is not more than 2 g for each of the developers A - E, if the diameter φ of the discharge opening is not more than 4 mm (12.6 mm^2 in the opening area (circle ratio = 3.14)). When the diameter φ discharge opening exceeds 4 mm, the discharge amount increases sharply.

[0375] The diameter φ of the discharge opening is preferably not more than 4 mm (12.6 mm^2 of the opening area) when the fluidity energy of the developer (0.5g / cm^3 of the bulk density) is not less than 4.3x 10 - 4 kg-m^2 / s^2 (J) and not more than 4.14x 10^-3 kg-m^2 / s^2 (J).

[0376] As for the bulk density of the developer, the developer has been loosened and fluidized sufficiently in the verification experiments, and therefore, the bulk density is lower than that expected in the normal use condition (left state), that is, the measurements are carried out in the condition in which the developer is more easily discharged than in the normal use condition.

[0377] The verification experiments were carries out as to the developer A with which the discharge amount is the largest in the results of Figure 48, wherein the filling amount in the container were changed in the range of 30 - 300 g while the diameter ϕ of the discharge opening is constant at 4 mm. The verification results are shown in part (b) of Figure 49. From the results of Figure 49, it has been confirmed that the discharge amount through the discharge opening hardly changes even if the filling amount of the developer changes.

[0378] From the foregoing, it has been confirmed that by making the diameter φ of the discharge opening not more than 4 mm (12.6 mm^2 in the area), the developer is not discharged sufficiently only by the gravitation through the discharge opening in the state that the discharge opening is directed downwardly (supposed supplying attitude into the developer receiving apparatus 201 irrespective of the kind of the developer or the bulk density state.

[0379] On the other hand, the lower limit value of the size of the discharge opening 1c is preferably such that the developer to be supplied from the developer supply container 1 (one component magnetic toner, one component non-magnetic toner, two component non-magnetic toner or two component magnetic carrier) can at least pass therethrough. More particularly, the discharge opening is preferably larger than a particle size of the developer (volume average particle size in the case of toner, number average particle size in the case of carrier) contained in the developer supply container 1. For example, in the case that the supply developer comprises two component non-magnetic toner and two component magnetic carrier, it is preferable that the discharge opening is larger than a larger particle size, that is, the number average particle size of the two component magnetic carrier.

[0380] Specifically, in the case that the supply developer comprises two component non-magnetic toner having a volume average particle size of 5.5 µm and a two component magnetic carrier having a number average particle size of 40 µm, the diameter of the discharge opening 1c is preferably not less than 0.05 mm (0.002 mm^2 in the opening area).

[0381] If, however, the size of the discharge opening 1c is too close to the particle size of the developer, the energy required for discharging a desired amount from the developer supply container 1, that is, the energy required for operating the pump portion 5 is large. It may be the case that a restriction is imparted to the manufacturing of the developer supply container 1. When the discharge opening 1c is formed in a resin material part using an injection molding method, a durable of a metal mold part forming the portion of the discharge opening 1c has to be high. From the foregoing, the diameter φ of the discharge opening 1c is preferably not less than 0.5 mm.

[0382] In this example, the configuration of the discharge opening 1c is circular, but this is not inevitable. A square, a rectangular, an ellipse or a combination of lines and curves or the like are usable if the opening area is not more than 12.6 mm^2 which is the opening area corresponding to the diameter of 4 mm.

[0383] However, a circular discharge opening has a minimum circumferential edge length among the configurations having the same opening area, the edge being contaminated by the deposition of the developer. Therefore, the amount of the developer dispersing with the opening and closing operation of the shutter 5 is small, and therefore, the contamination is decreased. In addition, with the circular discharge opening, a resistance during discharging is also small, and a discharging property is high. Therefore, the configuration of the discharge opening 1c is preferably circular which is excellent in the balance between the discharge amount and the contamination prevention.

[0384] From the foregoing, the size of the discharge opening 1c is preferably such that the developer is not discharged sufficiently only by the gravitation in the state that the discharge opening 1c is directed downwardly (supposed supplying attitude into the developer receiving apparatus 8). More particularly, a diameter φ of the discharge opening 1c is not less than 0.05 mm (0.002 mm^2 in the opening area) and not more than 4 mm (12.6 mm^2 in the opening area). Furthermore, the diameter φ of the discharge opening 1c is preferably not less than 0.5 mm (0.2 mm^2 in the opening area and not more than 4 mm (12.6 mm^2 in the opening area). In this example, on the basis of the foregoing investigation, the discharge opening 1c is circular, and the diameter ϕ of the opening is 2 mm.

[0385] In this example, the number of discharge openings 1c is one, but this is not inevitable, and a plurality of discharge openings 1c a total opening area of the opening areas satisfies the above-described range. For example, in place of one developer receiving port 8a having a diameter φ of 2 mm, two discharge openings 3a each having a diameter φ of 0.7 mm are employed. However, in this case, the discharge amount of the developer per unit time tends to decrease, and therefore, one discharge opening 1c having a diameter φ of 2 mm is preferable.(Developer supplying step)

[0386] Referring to Figures 50 - 53, a developer supplying step by the pump portion will be described. Figure 50 is a schematic perspective view in which the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a of the pump portion 5 is contracted. Figure 51 is a schematic perspective view in which the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a of the pump portion 5 is expanded. Figure 52 is a schematic sectional view in which the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a of the pump portion 5 is contracted. Figure 53 is a schematic sectional view in which the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a of the pump portion 5 is expanded.

[0387] In this example, as will be described hereinafter, the drive conversion of the rotational force is carries out by the drive converting mechanism so that the suction step (sucking operation through discharge opening 3a) and the discharging step (discharging operation through the discharge opening 3a) are repeated alternately. The suction step and the discharging step will be described.

[0388] The description will be made as to a developer discharging principle using a pump.

[0389] The operation principle of the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a of the pump portion 5 is as has been in the foregoing. Stating briefly, as shown in Figure 45, the lower end of the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a is connected to the container body 1a. The container body 1a is prevented in the movement in the arrow p direction and in the arrow q direction (Figure 44) by the positioning guide 8l of the developer supplying apparatus 8 through the upper flange portion 1 g at the lower end. Therefore, the vertical position of the lower end of the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a connected with the container body 1a is fixed relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8.

[0390] On the other hand, the upper end of the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a is engaged with the locking member 10 through the locking portion 18, and is reciprocated in the arrow p direction and in the arrow q direction by the vertical movement of the locking member 10.

[0391] Since the lower end of the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a of the pump portion 5 is fixed, the portion thereabove expands and contracts.

[0392] The description will be made as to expanding-and-contracting operation (discharging operation and sucking operation) of the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a of the pump portion 5 and the developer discharging.(Discharging operation)

[0393] First, the discharging operation through the discharge opening 1c will be described.

[0394] With the downward movement of the locking member 10, the upper end of the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a displaces in the p direction (contraction of the expansion-and-contraction portion), by which discharging operation is effected. More particularly, with the discharging operation, the volume of the developer accommodating space 1b decreases. At this time, the inside of the container body 1a is sealed except for the discharge opening 1c, and therefore, until the developer is discharged, the discharge opening 1c is substantially clogged or closed by the developer, so that the volume in the developer accommodating space 1b decreases to increase the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b. Therefore, the volume of the developer accommodating space 1b decreases, so that the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b increases.

[0395] Then, the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b becomes higher than the pressure in the hopper 8c (substantially equivalent to the ambient pressure). Therefore, as shown in Figure 52, the developer T is pushed out by the air pressure due to the pressure difference (difference pressure relative to the ambient pressure). Thus, the developer T is discharged from the developer accommodating space 1b into the hopper 8c. An arrow in Figure 52 indicates a direction of a force applied to the developer T in the developer accommodating space 1b.

[0396] Thereafter, the air in the developer accommodating space 1b is also discharged together with the developer, and therefore, the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b decreases.(Sucking operation) ▪

[0397] The sucking operation through the discharge opening 1c will be described.

[0398] With upward movement of the locking member 10, the upper end of the expansion-and-contraction portion 5a of the pump portion 5 displaces in the p direction (the expansion-and-contraction portion expands) so that the sucking operation is effected. More particularly, the volume of the developer accommodating space 1b increases with the sucking operation. At this time, the inside of the container body 1a is sealed except of the discharge opening 1c, and the discharge opening 1c is clogged by the developer and is substantially closed. Therefore, with the increase of the volume in the developer accommodating space 1b, the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b decreases.

[0399] The internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b at this time becomes lower than the internal pressure in the hopper 8c (substantially equivalent to the ambient pressure). Therefore, as shown in Figure 53, the air in the upper portion in the hopper 8c enters the developer accommodating space 1b through the discharge opening 1c by the pressure difference between the developer accommodating space 1b and the hopper 8gc. An arrow in Figure 53 indicates a direction of a force applied to the developer T in the developer accommodating space 1b. Ovals Z in Figure 53 schematically show the air taken in from the hopper 8c.

[0400] At this time, the air is taken-in from the outside of the developer receiving device 8 side, and therefore, the developer in the neighborhood of the discharge opening 1c can be loosened. More particularly, the air impregnated into the developer powder existing in the neighborhood of the discharge opening 1c, reduces the bulk density of the developer powder and fluidizing.

[0401] In this manner, by the fluidization of the developer T, the developer T does not pack or clog in the discharge opening 3a, so that the developer can be smoothly discharged through the discharge opening 3a in the discharging operation which will be described hereinafter. Therefore, the amount of the developer T (per unit time) discharged through the discharge opening 1c can be maintained substantially at a constant level for a long term.(Change of internal pressure of developer accommodating portion)

[0402] Verification experiments were carried out as to a change of the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 The verification experiments will be described

[0403] The developer is filled such that the developer accommodating space 1b in the developer supply container 1 is filled with the developer; and the change of the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 is measured when the pump portion 5 is expanded and contracted in the range of 15 cm^3 of volume change. The internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 is measured using a pressure gauge (AP-C40 available from Kabushiki Kaisha KEYENCE) connected with the developer supply container 1.

[0404] Figure 54 shows a pressure change when the pump portion 5 is expanded and contracted in the state that the shutter 4 of the developer supply container 1 filled with the developer is open, and therefore, in the communicatable state with the outside air.

[0405] In Figure 54, the abscissa represents the time, and the ordinate represents a relative pressure in the developer supply container 1 relative to the ambient pressure (reference (0)) (+ is a positive pressure side, and - is a negative pressure side).

[0406] When the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 becomes negative relative to the outside ambient pressure by the increase of the volume of the developer supply container 1, the air is taken in through the discharge opening 1c by the pressure difference. When the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 becomes positive relative to the outside ambient pressure by the decrease of the volume of the developer supply container 1, a pressure is imparted to the inside developer by the pressure difference. At this time, the inside pressure eases corresponding to the discharged developer and air.

[0407] By the verification experiments, it has been confirmed that by the increase of the volume of the developer supply container 1, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 becomes negative relative to the outside ambient pressure, and the air is taken in by the pressure difference. In addition, it has been confirmed that by the decrease of the volume of the developer supply container 1, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 becomes positive relative to the outside ambient pressure, and the pressure is imparted to the inside developer so that the developer is discharged. In the verification experiments, an absolute value of the negative pressure is 1.3kPa, and an absolute value of the positive pressure is 3.0kPa.

[0408] As described in the foregoing, with the structure of the developer supply container 1 of this example, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 switches between the negative pressure and the positive pressure alternately by the sucking operation and the discharging operation of the pump portion 5, and the discharging of the developer is carried out properly.

[0409] As described in the foregoing, in this example, a simple and easy pump capable of effecting the sucking operation and the discharging operation of the developer supply container 1 is provided, by which the discharging of the developer by the air can be carries out stably while providing the developer loosening effect by the air.

[0410] In other words, with the structure of the example, even when the size of the discharge opening 1c is extremely small, a high discharging performance can be assured without imparting great stress to the developer since the developer can be passed through the discharge opening 1c in the state that the bulk density is small because of the fluidization.

[0411] In addition, in this example, the inside of the displacement type pump portion 5 is utilized as a developer accommodating space, and therefore, when the internal pressure is reduced by increasing the volume of the pump portion 5, an additional developer accommodating space can be formed. Therefore, even when the inside of the pump portion 5 is filled with the developer, the bulk density can be decreased (the developer can be fluidized) by impregnating the air in the developer powder. Therefore, the developer can be filled in the developer supply container 1 with a higher density than in the conventional art.

[0412] In the foregoing, the inside space in the pump portion 5 is used as a developer accommodating space 1b, but in an alternative, a filter which permits passage of the air but prevents passage of the toner may be provided to partition between the pump portion 5 and the developer accommodating space 1b. However, the embodiment described in the form of is preferable in that when the volume of the pump 5 increases, an additional developer accommodating space can be provided(Developer loosening effect in suction step)

[0413] Verification has been carried out as to the developer loosening effect by the sucking operation through the discharge opening 1c in the suction step. When the developer loosening effect by the sucking operation through the discharge opening 1c is significant, a low discharge pressure (small volume change of the pump) is enough, in the subsequent discharging step, to start immediately the discharging of the developer from the developer supply container 1. This verification is to demonstrate remarkable enhancement of the developer loosening effect in the structure of this example. This will be described in detail.

[0414] Part (a) of Figure 55 and part (a) of Figure 56 are block diagrams schematically showing a structure of the developer supplying system used in the verification experiment. Part (b) of Figure 55 and part (b) of Figure 56 are schematic views showing a phenomenon-occurring in the developer supply container. The system of Figure 55 is analogous to this example, and a developer supply container C is provided with a developer accommodating portion C1 and a pump portion P. By the expanding-and-contracting operation of the pump portion P, the sucking operation and the discharging operation through a discharge opening (the discharge opening 1c of this example (unshown)) of the developer supply container C are carried out alternately to discharge the developer into a hopper H. On the other hand, the system of Figure 56 is a comparison example wherein a pump portion P is provided in the developer receiving apparatus side, and by the expanding-and-contracting operation of the pump portion P, an air-supply operation into the developer accommodating portion C1 and the sucking operation from the developer accommodating portion C1 are carried out alternately to discharge the developer into a hopper H. In Figures 55 and 56, the developer accommodating portions C1 have the same internal volumes, the hoppers H have the same internal volumes, and the pump portions P have the same internal volumes (volume change amounts).

[0415] First, 200 g of the developer is filled into the developer supply container C.

[0416] Then, the developer supply container C is shaken for 15 minutes in view of the state after transportation, and thereafter, it is connected to the hopper H.

[0417] The pump portion P is operated, and a peak value of the internal pressure in the sucking operation is measured as a condition of the suction step required for starting the developer discharging immediately in the discharging step. In the case of Figure 55, the start position of the operation of the pump portion P corresponds to 480 cm^3 of the volume of the developer accommodating portion C1, and in the case of Figure 56, the start position of the operation of the pump portion P corresponds to 480 cm^3 of the volume of the hopper H.

[0418] In the experiments of the structure of Figure 56, the hopper H is filled with 200 g of the developer beforehand to make the conditions of the air volume the same as with the structure of Figure 55. The internal pressures of the developer accommodating portion C1 and the hopper H are measured by the pressure gauge (AP-C40 available from Kabushiki Kaisha KEYENCE) connected to the developer accommodating portion C1.

[0419] As a result of the verification, according to the system analogous to this example shown in Figure 55, if the absolute value of the peak value (negative pressure) of the internal pressure at the time of the sucking operation is at least 1.0kPa, the developer discharging can be immediately started in the subsequent discharging step. In the comparison example system shown in Figure 56, on the other hand, unless the absolute value of the peak value (positive pressure) of the internal pressure at the time of the sucking operation is at least 1.7kPa, the developer discharging cannot be immediately started in the subsequent discharging step.

[0420] It has been confirmed that using the system of Figure 55 similar to the example, the suction is carries out with the volume increase of the pump portion P, and therefore, the internal pressure of the developer supply container C can be lower (negative pressure side) than the ambient pressure (pressure outside the container), so that the developer solution effect is remarkably high. This is because as shown in part (b) of Figure 55, the volume increase of the developer accommodating portion C1 with the expansion of the pump portion P provides pressure reduction state (relative to the ambient pressure) of the upper portion air layer of the developer layer T. For this reason, the forces are applied in the directions to increase the volume of the developer layer T due to the decompression (wave line arrows), and therefore, the developer layer can be loosened efficiently. Furthermore, in the system of Figure 55, the air is taken in from the outside into the developer supply container C1 by the decompression (white arrow), and the developer layer T is solved also when the air reaches the air layer R, and therefore, it is a very good system. As a proof of the loosening of the developer in the developer supply container C in the, experiments, it has been confirmed that in the sucking operation, the apparent volume of the whole developer increases (the level of the developer rises).

[0421] In the case of the system of the comparison example shown in Figure 56, the internal pressure of the developer supply container C is raised by the air-supply operation to the developer supply container C up to a positive pressure (higher than the ambient pressure), and therefore, the developer is agglomerated, and the developer solution effect is not obtained. This is because as shown in part (b) of Figure 56, the air is fed forcedly from the outside of the developer supply container C, and therefore, the air layer R above the developer layer T becomes positive relative to the ambient pressure. For this reason, the forces are applied in the directions to decrease the volume of the developer layer T due to the pressure (wave line arrows), and therefore, the developer layer T is packed. Actually, a phenomenon-has been confirmed that the apparent volume of the whole developer in the developer supply container C increases upon the sucking operation in this comparison example. Accordingly, with the system of Figure 56, there is a liability that the packing of the developer layer T disables subsequent proper developer discharging step.

[0422] In order to prevent the packing of the developer layer T by the pressure of the air layer R, it would be considered that an air vent with a filter or the like is provided at a position corresponding to the air layer R thereby reducing the pressure rise. However, in such a case, the flow resistance of the filter or the like leads to a pressure rise of the air layer R. However, in such a case, the flow resistance of the filter or the like leads to a pressure rise of the air layer R. Even if the pressure rise were eliminated, the loosening effect by the pressure reduction state of the air layer R described above cannot be provided.

[0423] From the foregoing, the significance of the function of the sucking operation a discharge opening with the volume increase of the pump portion by employing the system of this example has been confirmed.

[0424] As described above, by the repeated alternate sucking operation and the discharging operation of the pump portion 2, the developer can be discharged through the discharge opening 1c of the developer supply container 1. That is, in this example, the discharging operation and the sucking operation are not in parallel or simultaneous, but are alternately repeated, and therefore, the energy required for the discharging of the developer can be minimized.

[0425] On the other hand, in the case that the developer receiving apparatus includes the air-supply pump and the suction pump, separately, it is necessary to control the operations of the two pumps, and in addition it is not easy to rapidly switch the air-supply and the suction alternately.

[0426] In this example, one pump is effective to efficiently discharge the developer, and therefore, the structure of the developer discharging mechanism can be simplified.

[0427] In the foregoing, the discharging operation and the sucking operation of the pump are repeated alternately to efficiently discharge the developer, but in an alternative structure, the discharging operation or the sucking operation is temporarily stopped and then resumed.

[0428] For example, the discharging operation of the pump is not effected monotonically, but the compressing operation may be once stopped partway and then resumed to discharge. The same applies to the sucking operation. Each operation may be made in a multi-stage form as long as the discharge amount and the discharging speed are enough. It is still necessary that after the multi-stage discharging operation, the sucking operation is effected, and they are repeated.

[0429] In this example, the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b is reduced to take the air through the discharge opening 1c to loosen the developer. On the other hand, in the above-described conventional example, the developer is loosened by feeding the air into the developer accommodating space 1b from the outside of the developer supply container 1, but at this time, the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b is in a compressed state with the result of agglomeration of the developer. This example is preferable since the developer is loosened in the pressure reduced state in which is the developer is not easily agglomerated.

[0430] Furthermore, also according to this example, the mechanism for connecting and separating the developer receiving portion 11 relative to the developer supply container 1 by displacing the developer receiving portion 11 can be simplified, similarly to Embodiments 1 and 2. More particularly, a driving source and / or a drive transmission mechanism for moving the entirety of the developing device upwardly is unnecessary, and therefore, a complication of the structure of the image forming apparatus side and / or the increase in cost due to increase of the number of parts can be avoided.

[0431] In a conventional structure, a large space is required to avoid an interference with the developing device in the upward and downward movement, but according to this example, such a large space is unnecessary so that the upsizing of the image forming apparatus can be avoided.

[0432] The connection between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be properly established using the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 with minimum contamination with the developer. Similarly, utilizing the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1, the spacing and resealing between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be carried out with minimum contamination with the developer.[Embodiment 5]

[0433] Referring to Figures 57, 58, a structure of the Embodiment 5 will be described. Figure 57 is a schematic perspective view of a developer supply container 1, and Figure 58 is a schematic sectional view of the developer supply container 1. In this example, the structure of the pump is different from that of Embodiment 4, and the other structures are substantially the same as with Embodiment 4. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals as in Embodiment 4 are assigned to the elements having the corresponding functions in this embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0434] In this example, as shown in Figures 57, 58, a plunger type pump is used in place of the bellow-like displacement type pump as in Embodiment 4. More specifically, the plunger type pump of this example includes an inner cylindrical portion 1h and an outer cylindrical portion 6 extending outside the outer surface of the inner cylindrical portion 1h and movable relative to the inner cylindrical portion 1h. The upper surface of the outer cylindrical portion 36 is provided with a locking portion 18, fixed by bonding similarly to Embodiment 4. More particularly, the locking portion 18 fixed to the upper surface of the outer cylindrical portion 36 receives a locking member 10 of the developer receiving apparatus 8, by which they a substantially unified, the outer cylindrical portion 36 can move in the up and down directions (reciprocation) together with the locking member 10.

[0435] The inner cylindrical portion 1h is connected with the container body 1a, and the inside space thereof functions as a developer accommodating space 1b.

[0436] In order to prevent leakage of the air through a gap between the inner cylindrical portion 1h and the outer cylindrical portion 36 (to prevent leakage of the developer by keeping the hermetical property), a sealing member (elastic seal 7) is fixed by bonding on the outer surface of the inner cylindrical portion 1h. The elastic seal 37 is compressed between the inner cylindrical portion 1h and the outer cylindrical portion 35.

[0437] Therefore, by reciprocating the outer cylindrical portion 36 in the arrow p direction and the arrow q direction relative to the container body 1a (inner cylindrical portion 1h) fixed non-movably to the developer receiving apparatus 8, the volume in the developer accommodating space 1b can be changed (increased and decreased). That is, the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b can be repeated alternately between the negative pressure state and the positive pressure state.

[0438] Thus, also in this example, one pump is enough to effect the sucking operation and the discharging operation, and therefore, the structure of the developer discharging mechanism can be simplified. In addition, by the sucking operation through the discharge opening, a decompressed state (negative pressure state) can be provided in the developer accommodation supply container, and therefore, the developer can be efficiently loosened.

[0439] In this example, the configuration of the outer cylindrical portion 36 is cylindrical, but may be of another form, such as a rectangular section. In such a case, it is preferable that the configuration of the inner cylindrical portion 1h meets the configuration of the outer cylindrical portion 36. The pump is not limited to the plunger type pump, but may be a piston pump.

[0440] When the pump of this example is used, the seal structure is required to prevent developer leakage through the gap between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, resulting in a complicated structure and necessity for a large driving force for driving the pump portion, and therefore, Embodiment 4 is preferable.

[0441] In addition, in this example, the developer supply container 1 is provided with the engaging portion similar to Embodiment 4, and therefore, similarly to the above-described embodiments, the mechanism for connecting and separating the developer receiving portion 11 relative to the developer supply container 1 by displacing the developer receiving portion 11 of the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be simplified. More particularly, a driving source and / or a drive transmission mechanism for moving the entirety of the developing device upwardly is unnecessary, and therefore, a complication of the structure of the image forming apparatus side and / or the increase in cost due to increase of the number of parts can be avoided.

[0442] The connection between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be properly established using the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 with minimum contamination with the developer. Similarly, utilizing the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1, the spacing and resealing between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be carried out with minimum contamination with the developer.[Embodiment 6]

[0443] Referring to Figures 59, 60, a structure of the Embodiment 6 will be described. Figure 59 is a perspective view of an outer appearance in which a pump portion 38 of a developer supply container 1 according to this embodiment is in an expanded state, and Figure 60 is a perspective view of an outer appearance in which the pump portion 38 of the developer supply container 1 is in a contracted state. In this example, the structure of the pump is different from that of Embodiment 4, and the other structures are substantially the same as with Embodiment 4. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals as in Embodiment 4 are assigned to the elements having the corresponding functions in this embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0444] In this example, as shown in Figures 59, 60, in place of a bellow-like pump having folded portions of Embodiment 4, a film-like pump portion 38 capable of expansion and contraction not having a folded portion is used. The film-like portion of the pump portion 38 is made of rubber. The material of the film-like portion of the pump portion 12 may be a flexible material such as resin film rather than the rubber.

[0445] The film-like pump portion 38 is connected with the container body 1a, and the inside space thereof functions as a developer accommodating space 1b. The upper portion of the film-like pump portion 38 is provided with a locking portion 18 fixed thereto by bonding, similarly to the foregoing embodiments. Therefore, the pump portion 38 can alternately repeat the expansion and the contraction by the vertical movement of the locking member 10 (Figure 38).

[0446] In this manner, also in this example, one pump is enough to effect both of the sucking operation and the discharging operation, and therefore, the structure of the developer discharging mechanism can be simplified. In addition, by the sucking operation through the discharge opening, a pressure reduction state (negative pressure state) can be provided in the developer supply container, and therefore, the developer can be efficiently loosened.

[0447] In the case of this example, as shown in Figure 61, it is preferable that a plate-like member 39 having a higher rigid than the film-like portion is mounted to the upper surface of the film-like portion of the pump portion 38, and the locking member 18 is provided on the plate-like member 39. With such a structure, it can be suppressed that the amount of the volume change of the pump portion 38 decreases due to deformation of only the neighborhood of the locking portion 18 of the pump portion 38. That is, the followability of the pump portion 38 to the vertical movement of the locking member 10 can be improved, and therefore, the expansion and the contraction of the pump portion 38 can be effected efficiently. Thus, the discharging property of the developer can be improved.

[0448] In addition, in this example, the developer supply container 1 is provided with the engaging portion similar to Embodiment 4, and therefore, similarly to the above-described embodiments, the mechanism for connecting and separating the developer receiving portion 11 relative to the developer supply container 1 by displacing the developer receiving portion 11 of the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be simplified. More particularly, a driving source and / or a drive transmission mechanism for moving the entirety of the developing device upwardly is unnecessary, and therefore, a complication of the structure of the image forming apparatus side and / or the increase in cost due to increase of the number of parts can be avoided.

[0449] The connection between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be properly established using the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 with minimum contamination with the developer. Similarly, utilizing the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1, the spacing and resealing between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be carried out with minimum contamination with the developer.[Embodiment 7]

[0450] Referring to Figures 62 - 64, a structure of the Embodiment 7 will be described. Figure 62 is a perspective view of an outer appearance of a developer supply container 1, Figure 63 is a sectional perspective view of the developer supply container 1, and Figure 64 is a partially sectional view of the developer supply container 1. In this example, the structure is different from that of Embodiment 4 only in the structure of a developer accommodating space, and the other structure is substantially the same. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals as in Embodiment 4 are assigned to the elements having the corresponding functions in this embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0451] As shown in Figures 62, 63, the developer supply container 1 of this example comprises two components, namely, a portion X including a container body 1a and a pump portion 5 and a portion Y including a cylindrical portion 24. The structure of the portion X of the developer supply container 1 is substantially the same as that of Embodiment 4, and therefore, detailed description thereof is omitted.(Structure of developer supply container)

[0452] In the developer supply container 1 of this example, as contrasted to Embodiment 4, the cylindrical portion 24 is connected by a connecting portion 14c to a side of the portion X (a discharging portion in which a discharge opening 1c is formed), as shown in Figure 63.

[0453] The cylindrical portion (developer accommodation rotatable portion) 24 has a closed end at one longitudinal end thereof and an open end at the other end which is connected with an opening of the portion X, and the space therebetween is a developer accommodating space 1b. In this example, an inside space of the container body 1a, an inside space of the pump portion 5 and the inside space of the cylindrical portion 24 are all developer accommodating space 1b, and therefore, a large amount of the developer can be accommodated. In this example, the cylindrical portion 24 as the developer accommodation rotatable portion has a circular cross-sectional configuration, but the circular shape is not restrictive to the present invention. For example, the cross-sectional configuration of the developer accommodation rotatable portion may be of non-circular configuration such as a polygonal configuration as long as the rotational motion is not obstructed during the developer feeding operation.

[0454] A inside of the cylindrical portion (developer feeding chamber) 24 is provided with a helical feeding projection (feeding portion) 24a, which has a function of feeding the inside developer accommodated therein toward the portion X (discharge opening 1c) when the cylindrical portion 24 rotates in a direction indicated by an arrow R.

[0455] In addition, the inside of the cylindrical portion 24 is provided with a receiving-and-feeding member (feeding portion) 16 for receiving the developer fed by the feeding projection 24a and supplying it to the portion X side by rotation of the cylindrical portion 24 in the direction of arrow R (the rotational axis is substantially extends in the horizontal direction), the moving member upstanding from the inside of the cylindrical portion 24. The receiving-and-feeding member 16 is provided with a plate-like portion 16a for scooping the developer up, and inclined projections 16b for feeding (guiding) the developer scooped up by the plate-like portion 16a toward the portion X, the inclined projections 16b being provided on respective sides of the plate-like portion 16a. The plate-like portion 16a is provided with a through-hole 16c for permitting passage of the developer in both directions to improve the stirring property for the developer.

[0456] In addition, a gear portion 24b as a drive inputting mechanism is fixed by bonding on an outer surface at the other longitudinal end (with respect to the feeding direction of the developer) of the cylindrical portion 24. When the developer supply container 1 is mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 8, the gear portion 24b engages with the driving gear (driving portion) 9 functioning as a driving mechanism provided in the developer receiving apparatus 8. When the rotational force is inputted to the gear portion 14b as the driving force receiving portion from the driving gear 9, the cylindrical portion 24 rotates in the direction or arrow R (Figure 63). The gear portion 24b is not restrictive to the present invention, but another drive inputting mechanism such as a belt or friction wheel is usable as long as it can rotate the cylindrical portion 24.

[0457] As shown in Figure 64, one longitudinal end of the cylindrical portion 24 (downstream end with respect to the developer feeding direction) is provided with a connecting portion 24c as a connecting tube for connection with portion X. The above-described inclined projection 16b extends to a neighborhood of the connecting portion 24c. Therefore, the developer fed by the inclined projection 16b is prevented as much as possible from falling toward the bottom side of the cylindrical portion 24 again, so that the developer is properly supplied to the connecting portion 24c.

[0458] The cylindrical portion 24 rotates as described above, but on the contrary, the container body 1a and the pump portion 5 are connected to the cylindrical portion 24 through a flange portion 1 g so that the container body 1a and the pump portion 5 are non-rotatable relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8 (non-rotatable in the rotational axis direction of the cylindrical portion 24 and non-movable in the rotational moving direction), similarly to Embodiment 4. Therefore, the cylindrical portion 24 is rotatable relative to the container body 1a.

[0459] A ring-like elastic seal 25 is provided between the cylindrical portion 24 and the container body 1a and is compressed by a predetermined amount between the cylindrical portion 24 and the container body 1a. By this, the developer leakage there is prevented during the rotation of the cylindrical portion 24. In addition, the structure, the hermetical property can be maintained, and therefore, the loosening and discharging effects by the pump portion 5 are applied to the developer without loss. The developer supply container 1 does not have an opening for substantial fluid communication between the inside and the outside except for the discharge opening 1c.(Developer supplying step)

[0460] A developer supplying step will be described.

[0461] When the operator inserts the developer supply container 1 into the developer receiving apparatus 8, similarly to Embodiment 4, the locking portion 18 of the developer supply container 1 is locked with the locking member 10 of the developer receiving apparatus 8, and the gear portion 24b of the developer supply container 1 is engaged with the driving gear 9 of the developer receiving apparatus 8.

[0462] Thereafter, the driving gear 9 is rotated by another driving motor (not shown) for rotation, and the locking member 10 is driven in the vertical direction by the above-described driving motor 500. Then, the cylindrical portion 24 rotates in the direction of the arrow R, by which the developer therein is fed to the receiving-and-feeding member 16 by the feeding projection 24a. In addition, by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 24 in the direction R, the receiving-and-feeding member 16 scoops the developer, and feeds it to the connecting portion 24c. The developer fed into the container body 1a from the connecting portion 24c is discharged from the discharge opening 1c by the expanding-and-contracting operation of the pump portion 5, similarly to Embodiment 4.

[0463] These are a series of the developer supply container 1 mounting steps and developer supplying steps. Here, the developer supply container 1 is exchanged, the operator takes the developer supply container 1 out of the developer receiving apparatus 8, and a new developer supply container 1 is inserted and mounted.

[0464] In the case of a vertical container having a developer accommodating space 1b which is long in the vertical direction as in Embodiment 4 - Embodiment 6, if the volume of the developer supply container 1 is increased to increase the filling amount, the developer results in concentrating to the neighborhood of the discharge opening 1c by the weight of the developer. As a result, the developer adjacent the discharge opening 1c tends to be compacted, leading to difficulty in suction and discharge through the discharge opening 1c. In such a case, in order to loosen the developer compacted by the suction through the discharge opening 1c or to discharge the developer by the discharging, the internal pressure (negative pressure / positive pressure) of the developer accommodating space 1b has to be enhanced by increasing the amount of the change of the pump portion 5 volume. Then, the driving forces or drive the pump portion 5 has to be increased, and the load to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus 100 may be excessive.

[0465] According to this embodiment, however, container body 1a and the portion X of the pump portion 5 and the portion Y of the cylindrical portion 24 are arranged in the horizontal direction, and therefore, the thickness of the developer layer above the discharge opening 1c in the container body 1a can be thinner than in the structure of Figure 44. By doing so, the developer is not easily compacted by the gravity, and therefore, the developer can be stably discharged without load to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0466] As described, with the structure of this example, the provision of the cylindrical portion 24 is effective to accomplish a large capacity developer supply container 1 without load to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

[0467] In this manner, also in this example, one pump is enough to effect both of the sucking operation and the discharging operation, and therefore, the structure of the developer discharging mechanism can be simplified.

[0468] The developer feeding mechanism in the cylindrical portion 24 is not restrictive to the present invention, and the developer supply container 1 may be vibrated or swung, or may be another mechanism. Specifically, the structure of Figure 65 is usable.

[0469] As shown in Figure 65, the cylindrical portion 24 per se is not movable substantially relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8 (with slight play), and a feeding member 17 is provided in the cylindrical portion in place of the feeding projection 24a, the feeding member 17 being effective to feed the developer by rotation relative to the cylindrical portion 24.

[0470] The feeding member 17 includes a shaft portion 17a and flexible feeding blades 17b fixed to the shaft portion 17a. The feeding blade 17b is provided at a free end portion with an inclined portion S inclined relative to an axial direction of the shaft portion 17a. Therefore, it can feed the developer toward the portion X while stirring the developer in the cylindrical portion 24.

[0471] One longitudinal end surface of the cylindrical portion 24 is provided with a coupling portion 24e as the rotational driving force receiving portion, and the coupling portion 24e is operatively connected with a coupling member (not shown) of the developer receiving apparatus 8, by which the rotational force can be transmitted. The coupling portion 24e is coaxially connected with the shaft portion 17a of the feeding member 17 to transmit the rotational force to the shaft portion 17a.

[0472] By the rotational force applied from the coupling member (not shown) of the developer receiving apparatus 8, the feeding blade 17b fixed to the shaft portion 17a is rotated, so that the developer in the cylindrical portion 24 is fed toward the portion X while being stirred.

[0473] However, with the modified example shown in Figure 65, the stress applied to the developer in the developer feeding step tends to be large, and the driving torque is also large, and for this reason, the structure of the embodiment is preferable.

[0474] Thus, also in this example, one pump is enough to effect the sucking operation and the discharging operation, and therefore, the structure of the developer discharging mechanism can be simplified. In addition, by the sucking operation through the discharge opening, a pressure reduction state (negative pressure state) can be provided in the developer supply container, and therefore, the developer can be efficiently loosened.

[0475] In addition, in this example, the developer supply container 1 is provided with the engaging portion similar to Embodiment 4, and therefore, similarly to the above-described embodiments, the mechanism for connecting and separating the developer receiving portion 11 relative to the developer supply container 1 by displacing the developer receiving portion 11 of the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be simplified. More particularly, a driving source and / or a drive transmission mechanism for moving the entirety of the developing device upwardly is unnecessary, and therefore, a complication of the structure of the image forming apparatus side and / or the increase in cost due to increase of the number of parts can be avoided.

[0476] The connection between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be properly established using the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 with minimum contamination with the developer. Similarly, utilizing the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1, the spacing and resealing between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 can be carried out with minimum contamination with the developer.[Embodiment 8]

[0477] Referring to Figures 66 - 68, the description will be made as to structures of Embodiment 8. Part (a) of Figure 66 is a front view of a developer receiving apparatus 8, as seen in a mounting direction of a developer supply container 1, and (b) is a perspective view of an inside of the developer receiving apparatus 8. Part (a) of Figure 67 is a perspective view of the entire developer supply container 1, (b) is a partial enlarged view of a neighborhood of a discharge opening 21a of the developer supply container 1, and (c) - (d) are a front view and a sectional view illustrating a state that the developer supply container 1 is mounted to a mounting portion 8f. Part (a) of Figure 68 is a perspective view of the developer accommodating portion 20, (b) is a partially sectional view illustrating an inside of the developer supply container 1, (c) is a sectional view of a flange portion 21, and (d) is a sectional view illustrating the developer supply container 1.

[0478] In the above-described Embodiment 4 - 7, the pump is expanded and contracted by moving the locking member 10 (Figure 38) of the developer receiving apparatus 8 vertically. In this example, the developer supply container 1 receives only a rotational force from the developer receiving apparatus 8, similarly to the Embodiment 1 - Embodiment 3. In the other respects, the structure is similar to the foregoing embodiments, and therefore, the same reference numerals as in the foregoing embodiments are assigned to the elements having the corresponding functions in this embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted for simplicity.

[0479] Specifically, in this example, the rotational force inputted from the developer receiving apparatus 8 is converted to the force in the direction of reciprocation of the pump, and the converted force is transmitted to the pump portion 5.

[0480] In the following, the structure of the developer receiving apparatus 8 and the developer supply container 1 will be described in detail.(Developer receiving apparatus)

[0481] Referring to Figure 66, the developer receiving apparatus 8 will be described.

[0482] The developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with a mounting portion (mounting space) 8f to which the developer supply container 1 is detachably mounted. As shown in part (b) of Figure 66, the developer supply container 1 is mountable in a direction indicated by an arrow A to the mounting portion 8f. Thus, a longitudinal direction (rotational axis direction) of the developer supply container 1 is substantially the same as the direction of an arrow A. The direction of the arrow A is substantially parallel with a direction indicated by X of part (b) of Figure 68 which will be described hereinafter. In addition, a dismounting direction of the developer supply container 1 from the mounting portion 8f is opposite (the direction of arrow B) the direction of the arrow A.

[0483] As shown in part (a) of Figure 66, the mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with a rotation regulating portion (holding mechanism) 29 for limiting movement of the flange portion 21 in the rotational moving direction by abutting to a flange portion 21 (Figure 67) of the developer supply container 1 when the developer supply container 1 is mounted. Furthermore, as shown in part (b) of Figure 66, the mounting portion 8f is provided with a regulating portion (holding mechanism) 30 for regulating the movement of the flange portion 21 in the rotational axis direction by locking with the flange portion 21 of the developer supply container 1 when the developer supply container 1 is mounted. The rotational axis direction regulating portion 30 elastic deforms with the interference with the flange portion 21, and thereafter, upon release of the interference with the flange portion 21 (part (b) of Figure 67), it elastically restores to lock the flange portion 21 (resin material snap locking mechanism).

[0484] The mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with a developer receiving portion 11 for receiving the developer discharged through the discharge opening (opening) 21a (part (b) of Figure 68) of the developer supply container 1 which will be described hereinafter. Similarly to the above-described Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, the developer receiving portion 11 is movable (displaceable) in the vertical direction relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8. An upper end surface of the developer receiving portion 11 is provided with a main assembly seal 13 having a developer receiving port 11a in the central portion thereof. The main assembly seal 13 is made of an elastic member, a foam member or the like, and is close-contacted with an opening seal 3a5 (part (b) of Figure 7) having a discharge opening 3a4 of the developer supply container 1, by which the developer discharged through the discharge opening 3a4 is prevented from leaking out of a developer feeding path including developer receiving port 11a. Or, it is close-contacted with the shutter 4 (part (a) of Figure 25) having a shutter opening 4f to prevent leakage of the developer through the discharge opening 21a, the shutter opening 4f and the developer receiving port 11a.

[0485] In order to prevent the contamination in the mounting portion 8f by the developer as much as possible, a diameter of the developer receiving port 11a is desirably substantially the same as or slightly larger than a diameter of the discharge opening 21a of the developer supply container 1. This is because if the diameter of the developer receiving port 11a is smaller than the diameter of the discharge opening 21a, the developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 is deposited on the upper surface of developer receiving port 11a, and the deposited developer is transferred onto the lower surface of the developer supply container 1 during the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1, with the result of contamination with the developer. In addition, the developer transferred onto the developer supply container 1 may be scattered to the mounting portion 8f with the result of contamination of the mounting portion 8f with the developer. On the contrary, if the diameter of the developer receiving port 11a is quite larger than the diameter of the discharge opening 21a, an area in which the developer scattered from the developer receiving port 11a is deposited on the neighborhood of the discharge opening 21a is large. That is, the contaminated area of the developer supply container 1 by the developer is large, which is not preferable. Under the circumstances, the difference between the diameter of the developer receiving port 11a and the diameter of the discharge opening 21a is preferably substantially 0 to approx. 2 mm.

[0486] In this example, the diameter of the discharge opening 21a of the developer supply container 1 is approx. Φ2 mm (pin hole), and therefore, the diameter of the developer receiving port 11a is approx. φ3 mm.

[0487] Further, the developer receiving portion 11 is urged downwardly by an urging member 12 (Figures 3 and 4). When the developer receiving portion 11 moves upwardly, it has to move against an urging force of the urging member 12.

[0488] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, below the developer receiving apparatus 8, there is provided a sub-hopper 8c for temporarily storing the developer. In the sub-hopper 8c, there are provided a feeding screw 14 for feeding the developer into the developer hopper portion 201a which is a part of the developing device 201, and an opening 8d which is in fluid communication with the developer hopper portion 201a.

[0489] The developer receiving port 11a is closed so as to prevent foreign matter and / or dust entering the sub-hopper 8c in a state that the developer supply container 1 is not mounted. More specifically, the developer receiving port 11a is closed by a main assembly shutter 15 in the state that the developer receiving portion 11 is away to the upside. The developer receiving portion 11 moves upwardly (arrow E) from the position spaced from the developer supply container 1 toward the developer supply container 1. By this, the developer receiving port 11a and the main assembly shutter 15 are spaced from each other so that the developer receiving port 11a is open. With this open state, the developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 through the discharge opening 21a or the shutter and received by the developer receiving port 11a becomes movable to the sub-hopper 8c.

[0490] A side surface of the developer receiving portion 11 is provided with an engaging portion 11b (Figure 3 and 4). The engaging portion 11b is directly engaged with an engaging portion 3b2, 3b4 (Figure 8 or 20) provided on the developer supply container 1 which will be described hereinafter, and is guided thereby so that the developer receiving portion 11 is raised toward the developer supply container 1.

[0491] The mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with an insertion guide 8e for guiding the developer supply container 1 in the mounting and demounting direction, and by the insertion guide 8e (Figures 3 and 4), the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 is made along the arrow A. The dismounting direction of the developer supply container 1 is the opposite (arrow B) to the direction of the arrow A.

[0492] As shown in part (a) of Figure 66, the developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with a driving gear 9 functioning as a driving mechanism for driving the developer supply container 1. The driving gear 9 receives a rotational force from a driving motor 500 through a driving gear train, and functions to apply a rotational force to the developer supply container 1 which is set in the mounting portion 8f.

[0493] As shown in Figure 66, the driving motor 500 is controlled by a control device (CPU) 600.

[0494] In this example, the driving gear 9 is rotatable unidirectionally to simplify the control for the driving motor 500. The control device 600 controls only ON (operation) and OFF (non-operation) of the driving motor 500. This simplifies the driving mechanism for the developer replenishing apparatus 8 as compared with a structure in which forward and backward driving forces are provided by periodically rotating the driving motor 500 (driving gear 9) in the forward direction and backward direction.(Developer supply container)

[0495] Referring to Figures 67 and 68, the structure of the developer supply container 1 which is a constituent-element of the developer supplying system will be described.

[0496] As shown in part (a) of Figure 67, the developer supply container 1 includes a developer accommodating portion 20 (container body) having a hollow cylindrical inside space for accommodating the developer. In this example, a cylindrical portion 20k and the pump portion 20b functions as the developer accommodating portion 20. Furthermore, the developer supply container 1 is provided with a flange portion 21 (non-rotatable portion) at one end of the developer accommodating portion 20 with respect to the longitudinal direction (developer feeding direction). The developer accommodating portion 20 is rotatable relative to the flange portion 21.

[0497] In this example, as shown in part (d) of Figure 68, a total length L1 of the cylindrical portion 20k functioning as the developer accommodating portion is approx. 300 mm, and an outer diameter R1 is approx. 70 mm. A total length L2 of the pump portion 20b (in the state that it is most expanded in the expansible range in use) is approx. 50 mm, and a length L3 of a region in which a gear portion 20a of the flange portion 21 is provided is approx. 20 mm. A length L4 of a region of a discharging portion 21h functioning as a developer discharging portion is approx. 25 mm. A maximum outer diameter R2 (in the state that it is most expanded in the expansible range in use in the diametrical direction) of the pump portion 20b is approx. 65 mm, and a total volume capacity accommodating the developer in the developer supply container 1 is the 1250 cm^3. In this example, the developer can be accommodated in the cylindrical portion 20k and the pump portion 20b and in addition the discharging portion 21h, that is, they function as a developer accommodating portion.

[0498] As shown in Figures 67 and 68, in this example, in the state that the developer supply container 1 is mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 8, the cylindrical portion 20k and the discharging portion 21h are substantially on line along a horizontal direction. That is, the cylindrical portion 20k has a sufficiently long length in the horizontal direction as compared with the length in the vertical direction, and one end part with respect to the horizontal direction is connected with the discharging portion 21h. For this reason, the suction and discharging operations can be carried out smoothly as compared with the case in which the cylindrical portion 20k is above the discharging portion 21h in the state that the developer supply container 1 is mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 8. This is because the amount of the toner existing above the discharge opening 21a is small, and therefore, the developer in the neighborhood of the discharge opening 21a is less compressed.

[0499] As shown in part (b) of Figure 67, the flange portion 21 is provided with a hollow discharging portion (developer discharging chamber) 21h for temporarily storing the developer having been fed from the inside of the developer accommodating portion (inside of the developer accommodating chamber) 20 (see parts (b) and (c) of Figure 33 if necessary). A bottom portion of the discharging portion 21h is provided with the small discharge opening 21a for permitting discharge of the developer to the outside of the developer supply container 1, that is, for supplying the developer into the developer receiving apparatus 8. The size of the discharge opening 21a is as has been described hereinbefore.

[0500] An inner shape of the bottom portion of the inner of the discharging portion 21h (inside of the developer discharging chamber) is like a funnel converging toward the discharge opening 21a in order to reduce as much as possible the amount of the developer remaining therein (parts (b) and (c) of Figure 68, if necessary).

[0501] In addition, as shown in Figure 67, the flange portion 21 is provided with engaging portions 3b2, 3b4 engageable with the developer receiving portion 11displacably provided in the developer receiving apparatus 8, similarly to the above-described Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2. The structures of the engaging portions 3b2, 3b4 are similar to those of above-described Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, and therefore, the description is omitted.

[0502] Further, the flange portion 21 is provided therein with the shutter 4 for opening and closing discharge opening 21a, similarly to the above-described Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2. The structure of the shutter 4 and the movement of the developer supply container 1 in the mounting and demounting operation are similar to the above-described Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted.

[0503] The flange portion 21 is constructed such that when the developer supply container 1 is mounted to the mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8, it is stationary substantially.

[0504] More particularly, as shown in part (c) of Figure 67, the flange portion 21 is regulated (prevented) from rotating in the rotational direction about the rotational axis of the developer accommodating portion 20 by a rotational moving direction regulating portion 29 provided in the mounting portion 8f. In other words, the flange portion 21 is retained such that it is substantially non-rotatable by the developer receiving apparatus 8 (although the rotation within the play is possible).

[0505] Furthermore, the flange portion 21 is locked by the rotational axis direction regulating portion 30 provided in the mounting portion 8f with the mounting operation of the developer supply container1. More specifically, the flange portion 21 contacts to the rotational axis direction regulating portion 30 in the process of the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 to elastically deform the rotational axis direction regulating portion 30. Thereafter, the flange portion 21 abuts to an inner wall portion 28a (part (d) of Figure 67) which is a stopper provided in the mounting portion 8f, by which the mounting step of the developer supply container 1 is completed. At this time, substantially simultaneously with and completion of the mounting, the interference by the flange portion 21 is released, so that the elastic deformation of the regulating portion 30 is released.

[0506] As a result, as shown in part (d) of Figure 67, the rotational axis direction regulating portion 30 is locked with the edge portion (functioning as a locking portion) of the flange portion 21 so that the movement in the rotational axis direction (rotational axis direction of the developer accommodating portion 20) is substantially prevented (regulated). At this time, a slight negligible movement within the play is possible.

[0507] As described in the foregoing, in this example, the flange portion 21 is retained by the rotational axis direction regulating portion 30 of the developer receiving apparatus 8 so that it does not move in the rotational axis direction of the developer accommodating portion 20. Furthermore, the flange portion 21 is retained by the rotational moving direction regulating portion 29 of the developer receiving apparatus 8 such that it does not rotate in the rotational moving direction of the developer accommodating portion 20.

[0508] When the operator takes the developer supply container 1 out of the mounting portion 8f, the rotational axis direction regulating portion 30 elastically deforms by the flange portion 21 so as to be released from the flange portion 21. The rotational axis direction of the developer accommodating portion 20 is substantially coaxial with the rotational axis direction of the gear portion 20a (Figure 68).

[0509] Therefore, in the state that the developer supply container 1 is mounted to the developer receiving apparatus 8, the discharging portion 21h provided in the flange portion 21 is prevented substantially in the movement of the developer accommodating portion 20 in the axial direction and in the rotational moving direction (movement within the play is permitted).

[0510] On the other hand, the developer accommodating portion 20 is not limited in the rotational moving direction by the developer receiving apparatus 8, and therefore, is rotatable in the developer supplying step. However, the movement of the developer accommodating portion 20 in the rotational axis direction is substantially prevented by the flange portion 21 (the movement within the play is permitted).(Pump portion)

[0511] Referring to Figures 68 and 69, the description will be made as to the pump portion (reciprocable pump) 20b in which the volume thereof changes with reciprocation. Part (a) of Figure 69 is a sectional view of the developer supply container 1 in which the pump portion 20b is expanded to the maximum extent in operation of the developer supplying step, and part (b) of Figure 69 is a sectional view of the developer supply container 1 in which the pump portion 20b is compressed to the maximum extent in operation of the developer supplying step.

[0512] The pump portion 20b of this example functions as a suction and discharging mechanism for repeating the sucking operation and the discharging operation alternately through the discharge opening 21a.

[0513] As shown in part (b) of Figure 68, the pump portion 20b is provided between the discharging portion 21h and the cylindrical portion 20k, and is fixedly connected to the cylindrical portion 20k. Thus, the pump portion 20b is rotatable integrally with the cylindrical portion 20k.

[0514] In the pump portion 20b of this example, the developer can be accommodated therein. The developer accommodating space in the pump portion 20b has a significant function of fluidizing the developer in the sucking operation, as will be described hereinafter.

[0515] In this example, the pump portion 20b is a displacement type pump (bellow-like pump) of resin material in which the volume thereof changes with the reciprocation. More particularly, as shown in (a) - (b) of Figure 68, the bellow-like pump includes crests and bottoms periodically and alternately. The pump portion 20b repeats the compression and the expansion alternately by the driving force received from the developer receiving apparatus 8. In this example, the volume change of the pump portion 20b by the expansion and contraction is 15 cm^3 (cc). As shown in part (d) of Figure 68, a total length L2 (most expanded state within the expansion and contraction range in operation) of the pump portion 20b is approx. 50 mm, and a maximum outer diameter (largest state within the expansion and contraction range in operation) R2 of the pump portion 20b is approx. 65 mm.

[0516] With use of such a pump portion 20b, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 (developer accommodating portion 20 and discharging portion 21h) higher than the ambient pressure and the internal pressure lower than the ambient pressure are produced alternately and repeatedly at a predetermined cyclic period (approx. 0.9 sec in this example). The ambient pressure is the pressure of the ambient condition in which the developer supply container 1 is placed. As a result, the developer in the discharging portion 21h can be discharged efficiently through the small diameter discharge opening 21a (diameter of approx. 2 mm).

[0517] As shown in part (b) of Figure 68, the pump portion 20b is connected to the discharging portion 21h rotatably relative thereto in the state that a discharging portion 21h side end is compressed against a ring-like sealing member 27 provided on an inner surface of the flange portion 21.

[0518] By this, the pump portion 20b rotates sliding on the sealing member 27, and therefore, the developer does not leak from the pump portion 20b, and the hermetical property is maintained, during rotation. Thus, in and out of the air through the discharge opening 21a are carries out properly, and the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 (pump portion 20b, developer accommodating portion 20 and discharging portion 21h) are changed properly, during supply operation.(Drive transmission mechanism)

[0519] The description will be made as to a drive receiving mechanism (drive inputting portion, driving force receiving portion) of the developer supply container 1 for receiving the rotational force for rotating the feeding portion 20c from the developer receiving apparatus 8.

[0520] As shown in part (a) of Figure 68, the developer supply container 1 is provided with a gear portion 20a which functions as a drive receiving mechanism (drive inputting portion, driving force receiving portion) engageable (driving connection) with a driving gear 9 (functioning as driving portion, driving mechanism) of the developer receiving apparatus 8. The gear portion 20a is fixed to one longitudinal end portion of the pump portion 20b. Thus, the gear portion 20a, the pump portion 20b, and the cylindrical portion 20k are integrally rotatable.

[0521] Therefore, the rotational force inputted to the gear portion 20a from the driving gear 9 is transmitted to the cylindrical portion 20k (feeding portion 20c) a pump portion 20b.

[0522] In other words, in this example, the pump portion 20b functions as a drive transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force inputted to the gear portion 20a to the feeding portion 20c of the developer accommodating portion 20.

[0523] For this reason, the bellow-like pump portion 20b of this example is made of a resin material having a high property against torsion or twisting about the axis within a limit of not adversely affecting the expanding-and-contracting operation.

[0524] In this example, the gear portion 20a is provided at one longitudinal end (developer feeding direction) of the developer accommodating portion 20, that is, at the discharging portion 21h side end, but this is not inevitable, and for example, it may be provided in the other longitudinal end portion of the developer accommodating portion 20, that is, most rear part. In such a case, the driving gear 9 is provided at a corresponding position.

[0525] In this example, a gear mechanism is employed as the driving connection mechanism between the drive inputting portion of the developer supply container 1 and the driver of the developer receiving apparatus 8, but this is not inevitable, and a known coupling mechanism, for example is usable. More particularly, in such a case, the structure may be such that a non-circular recess is provided in a bottom surface of one longitudinal end portion (righthand side end surface of (d) of Figure 68) as a drive inputting portion, and correspondingly, a projection having a configuration corresponding to the recess as a driver for the developer receiving apparatus 8, so that they are in driving connection with each other.(Drive converting mechanism)

[0526] A drive converting mechanism (drive converting portion) for the developer supply container 1 will be described.

[0527] The developer supply container 1 is provided with the cam mechanism for converting the rotational force for rotating the feeding portion 20c received by the gear portion 20a to a force in the reciprocating directions of the pump portion 20b. That is, in the example, the description will be made as to an example using a cam mechanism as the drive converting mechanism, but the present invention is not limited to this example, and other structures such as with Embodiments 9 et seqq. Are usable.

[0528] In this example, one drive inputting portion (gear portion 20a) receives the driving force for driving the feeding portion 20c and the pump portion 20b, and the rotational force received by the gear portion 20a is converted to a reciprocation force in the developer supply container 1 side.

[0529] Because of this structure, the structure of the drive inputting mechanism for the developer supply container 1 is simplified as compared with the case of providing the developer supply container 1 with two separate drive inputting portions. In addition, the drive is received by a single driving gear of developer receiving apparatus 8, and therefore, the driving mechanism of the developer receiving apparatus 8 is also simplified.

[0530] In the case that the reciprocation force is received from the developer receiving apparatus 8, there is a liability that the driving connection between the developer receiving apparatus 8 and the developer supply container 1 is not proper, and therefore, the pump portion 20b is not driven. More particularly, when the developer supply container 1 is taken out of the image forming apparatus 100 and then is mounted again, the pump portion 20b may not be properly reciprocated.

[0531] For example, when the drive input to the pump portion 20b stops in a state that the pump portion 20b is compressed from the normal length, the pump portion 20b restores spontaneously to the normal length when the developer supply container is taken out. In this case, the position of the drive inputting portion for the pump portion 20b changes when the developer supply container 1 is taken out, despite the fact that a stop position of the drive outputting portion of the image forming apparatus 100 side remains unchanged. As a result, the driving connection is not properly established between the drive outputting portion of the image forming apparatus 100 sides and pump portion 20b drive inputting portion of the developer supply container 1 side, and therefore, the pump portion 20b cannot be reciprocated. Then, the developer supply is not carries out, and sooner or later, the image formation becomes impossible.

[0532] Such a problem may similarly arise when the expansion and contraction state of the pump portion 20b is changed by the user while the developer supply container 1 is outside the apparatus. Such a problem similarly arises when developer supply container 1 is exchanged with a new one.

[0533] The structure of this example is substantially free of such a problem. This will be described in detail.

[0534] As shown in Figures 68 and 69, the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 20k of the developer accommodating portion 20 is provided with a plurality of cam projections 20d functioning as a rotatable portion substantially at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. More particularly, two cam projections 20d are disposed on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 20k at diametrically opposite positions, that is, approx. 180° opposing positions.

[0535] The number of the cam projections 20d may be at least one. However, there is a liability that a moment is produced in the drive converting mechanism and so on by a drag at the time of expansion or contraction of the pump portion 20b, and therefore, smooth reciprocation is disturbed, and therefore, it is preferable that a plurality of them are provided so that the relation with the configuration of the cam groove 21b which will be described hereinafter is maintained.

[0536] On the other hand, a cam groove 21b engaged with the cam projections 20d is formed in an inner surface of the flange portion 21 over an entire circumference, and it functions as a follower portion. Referring to Figure 70, the cam groove 21b will be described. In Figure 70, an arrow An indicates a rotational moving direction of the cylindrical portion 20k (moving direction of cam projection 20d), an arrow B indicates a direction of expansion of the pump portion 20b, and an arrow C indicates a direction of compression of the pump portion 20b. In Figure 40, an arrow An indicates a rotational moving direction of the cylindrical portion 20k (moving direction of cam projection 20d), an arrow B indicates a direction of expansion of the pump portion 20b, and an arrow C indicates a direction of compression of the pump portion 20b. Here, an angle α is formed between a cam groove 21c and a rotational moving direction An of the cylindrical portion 20k, and an angle β is formed between a cam groove 21d and the rotational moving direction A. In addition, an amplitude (= length of expansion and contraction of pump portion 20b) in the expansion and contracting directions B, C of the pump portion 20b of the cam groove is L.

[0537] As shown in Figure 70 illustrating the cam groove 21b in a developed view, a groove portion 21c inclining from the cylindrical portion 20k side toward the discharging portion 21h side and a groove portion 21d inclining from the discharging portion 21h side toward the cylindrical portion 20k side are connected alternately. In this example, the relation between the angles of the cam grooves 21c, 21d is α = β.

[0538] Therefore, in this example, the cam projection 20d and the cam groove 21b function as a drive transmission mechanism to the pump portion 20b. More particularly, the cam projection 20d and the cam groove 21b function as a mechanism for converting the rotational force received by the gear portion 20a from the driving gear 300 to the force (force in the rotational axis direction of the cylindrical portion 20k) in the directions of reciprocal movement of the pump portion 20b and for transmitting the force to the pump portion 20b.

[0539] More particularly, the cylindrical portion 20k is rotated with the pump portion 20b by the rotational force inputted to the gear portion 20a from the driving gear 9, and the cam projections 20d are rotated by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k. Therefore, by the cam groove 21b engaged with the cam projection 20d, the pump portion 20b reciprocates in the rotational axis direction (X direction of Figure 68) together with the cylindrical portion 20k. The arrow X direction is substantially parallel with the arrow M direction of Figures 66 and 67.

[0540] In other words, the cam projection 20d and the cam groove 21b convert the rotational force inputted from the driving gear 9 so that the state in which the pump portion 20b is expanded (part (a) of Figure 69) and the state in which the pump portion 20b is contracted (part (b) of Figure 69) are repeated alternately.

[0541] Thus, in this example, the pump portion 20b rotates with the cylindrical portion 20k, and therefore, when the developer in the cylindrical portion 20k moves in the pump portion 20b, the developer can be stirred (loosened) by the rotation of the pump portion 20b. In this example, the pump portion 20b is provided between the cylindrical portion 20k and the discharging portion 21h, and therefore, stirring action can be imparted on the developer fed to the discharging portion 21h, which is further advantageous.

[0542] Furthermore, as described above, in this example, the cylindrical portion 20k reciprocates together with the pump portion 20b, and therefore, the reciprocation of the cylindrical portion 20k can stir (loosen) the developer inside cylindrical portion 20k.(Set conditions of drive converting mechanism)

[0543] In this example, the drive converting mechanism effects the drive conversion such that an amount (per unit time) of developer feeding to the discharging portion 21h by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k is larger than a discharging amount (per unit time) to the developer receiving apparatus 8 from the discharging portion 21h by the pump function.

[0544] This is because if the developer discharging power of the pump portion 20b is higher than the developer feeding power of the feeding portion 20c to the discharging portion 21h, the amount of the developer existing in the discharging portion 21h gradually decreases. In other words, it is avoided that the time period required for supplying the developer from the developer supply container 1 to the developer receiving apparatus 8 is prolonged.

[0545] In the drive converting mechanism of this example, the feeding amount of the developer by the feeding portion 20c to the discharging portion 21h is 2.0g / s, and the discharge amount of the developer by pump portion 20b is 1.2g / s.

[0546] In addition, in the drive converting mechanism of this example, the drive conversion is such that the pump portion 20b reciprocates a plurality of times per one full rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k. This is for the following reasons.

[0547] In the case of the structure in which the cylindrical portion 20k is rotated inner the developer receiving apparatus 8, it is preferable that the driving motor 500 is set at an output required to rotate the cylindrical portion 20k stably at all times. However, from the standpoint of reducing the energy consumption in the image forming apparatus 100 as much as possible, it is preferable to minimize the output of the driving motor 500. The output required by the driving motor 500 is calculated from the rotational torque and the rotational frequency of the cylindrical portion 20k, and therefore, in order to reduce the output of the driving motor 500, the rotational frequency of the cylindrical portion 20k is minimized.

[0548] However, in the case of this example, if the rotational frequency of the cylindrical portion 20k is reduced, a number of operations of the pump portion 20b per unit time decreases, and therefore, the amount of the developer (per unit time) discharged from the developer supply container 1 decreases. In other words, there is a possibility that the developer amount discharged from the developer supply container 1 is insufficient to quickly meet the developer supply amount required by the main assembly of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0549] If the amount of the volume change of the pump portion 20b is increased, the developer discharging amount per unit cyclic period of the pump portion 20b can be increased, and therefore, the requirement of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus 100 can be met, but doing so gives rise to the following problem.

[0550] If the amount of the volume change of the pump portion 20b is increased, a peak value of the internal pressure (positive pressure) of the developer supply container 1 in the discharging step increases, and therefore, the load required for the reciprocation of the pump portion 20b increases.

[0551] For this reason, in this example, the pump portion 20b operates a plurality of cyclic periods per one full rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k. By this, the developer discharge amount per unit time can be increased as compared with the case in which the pump portion 20b operates one cyclic period per one full rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k, without increasing the volume change amount of the pump portion 20b. Corresponding to the increase of the discharge amount of the developer, the rotational frequency of the cylindrical portion 20k can be reduced.

[0552] Verification experiments were carried out as to the effects of the plural cyclic operations per one full rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k. In the experiments, the developer is filled into the developer supply container 1, and a developer discharge amount and a rotational torque of the cylindrical portion 20k are measured. Then, the output (= rotational torque x rotational frequency) of the driving motor 500 required for rotation a cylindrical portion 20k is calculated from the rotational torque of the cylindrical portion 20k and the preset rotational frequency of the cylindrical portion 20k. The experimental conditions are that the number of operations of the pump portion 20b per one full rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k is two, the rotational frequency of the cylindrical portion 20k is 30rpm, and the volume change of the pump portion 20b is 15 cm^3.

[0553] As a result of the verification experiment, the developer discharging amount from the developer supply container 1 is approx. 1.2g / s. The rotational torque of the cylindrical portion 20k (average torque in the normal state) is 0.64N·m, and the output of the driving motor 500 is approx. 2W (motor load (W) =0.1047x rotational torque (N·m) x rotational frequency (rpm), wherein 0.1047 is the unit conversion coefficient) as a result of the calculation.

[0554] Comparative experiments were carried out in which the number of operations of the pump portion 20b per one full rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k was one, the rotational frequency of the cylindrical portion 20k was 60rpm, and the other conditions were the same as the above-described experiments. In other words, the developer discharge amount was made the same as with the above-described experiments, i.e. approx. 1.2g / s.

[0555] As a result of the comparative experiments, the rotational torque of the cylindrical portion 20k (average torque in the normal state) is 0.66N·m, and the output of the driving motor 500 is approx. 4W by the calculation.

[0556] From these experiments, it has been confirmed that the pump portion 20b carries out preferably the cyclic operation a plurality of times per one full rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k. In other words, it has been confirmed that by doing so, the discharging performance of the developer supply container 1 can be maintained with a low rotational frequency of the cylindrical portion 20k. With the structure of this example, the required output of the driving motor 500 may be low, and therefore, the energy consumption of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus 100 can be reduced.(Position of drive converting mechanism)

[0557] As shown in Figures 68 and 69, in this example, the drive converting mechanism (cam mechanism constituted by the cam projection 20d and the cam groove 21b) is provided outside of developer accommodating portion 20. More particularly, the drive converting mechanism is disposed at a position separated from the inside spaces of the cylindrical portion 20k, the pump portion 20b and the flange portion 21, so that the drive converting mechanism does not contact the developer accommodated inside the cylindrical portion 20k, the pump portion 20b and the flange portion 21.

[0558] By this, a problem which may arise when the drive converting mechanism is provided in the inside space of the developer accommodating portion 20 can be avoided. More particularly, the problem is that by the developer entering portions of the drive converting mechanism where sliding motions occur, the particles of the developer are subjected to heat and pressure to soften and therefore, they agglomerate into masses (coarse particle), or they enter into a converting mechanism with the result of torque increase. The problem can be avoided.(Developer discharging principle by pump portion).

[0559] Referring to Figure 69, a developer supplying step by the pump portion will be described.

[0560] In this example, as will be described hereinafter, the drive conversion of the rotational force is carries out by the drive converting mechanism so that the suction step (sucking operation through discharge opening 21a) and the discharging step (discharging operation through the discharge opening 21a) are repeated alternately. The suction step and the discharging step will be described.(Suction step)

[0561] First, the suction step (sucking operation through discharge opening 21a) will be described.

[0562] As shown in part (a) of Figure 69, the sucking operation is effected by the pump portion 20b being expanded in a direction indicated by an arrow ω by the above-described drive converting mechanism (cam mechanism). More particularly, by the sucking operation, a volume of a portion of the developer supply container 1 (pump portion 20b, cylindrical portion 20k and flange portion 21) which can accommodate the developer increases.

[0563] At this time, the developer supply container 1 is substantially hermetically sealed except for the discharge opening 21a, and the discharge opening 21a is plugged substantially by the developer T. Therefore, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 decreases with the increase of the volume of the portion of the developer supply container 1 capable of containing the developer T.

[0564] At this time, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 is lower than the ambient pressure (external air pressure). For this reason, the air outside the developer supply container 1 enters the developer supply container 1 through the discharge opening 21a by a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the developer supply container 1.

[0565] At this time, the air is taken-in from the outside of the developer supply container 1, and therefore, the developer T in the neighborhood of the discharge opening 21a can be loosened (fluidized). More particularly, by the air impregnated into the developer powder existing in the neighborhood of the discharge opening 21a, the bulk density of the developer powder T is reduced and the developer is and fluidized.

[0566] Since the air is taken into the developer supply container 1 through the discharge opening 21a as a result, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 changes in the neighborhood of the ambient pressure (external air pressure) despite the increase of the volume of the developer supply container 1.

[0567] In this manner, by the fluidization of the developer T, the developer T does not pack or clog in the discharge opening 21a, so that the developer can be smoothly discharged through the discharge opening 21a in the discharging operation which will be described hereinafter. Therefore, the amount of the developer T (per unit time) discharged through the discharge opening 3a can be maintained substantially at a constant level for a long term.(Discharging step)

[0568] As shown in part (b) of Figure 69, the discharging operation is effected by the pump portion 20b being compressed in a direction indicated by an arrow γ by the above-described drive converting mechanism (cam mechanism). More particularly, by the discharging operation, a volume of a portion of the developer supply container 1 (pump portion 20b, cylindrical portion 20k and flange portion 21) which can accommodate the developer decreases. At this time, the developer supply container 1 is substantially hermetically sealed except for the discharge opening 21a, and the discharge opening 21a is plugged substantially by the developer T until the developer is discharged. Therefore, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 rises with the decrease of the volume of the portion of the developer supply container 1 capable of containing the developer T.

[0569] Since the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 is higher than the ambient pressure (the external air pressure), the developer T is pushed out by the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the developer supply container 1, as shown in part (b) of Figure 69. That is, the developer T is discharged from the developer supply container 1 into the developer receiving apparatus 8.

[0570] Thereafter, the air in the developer supply container 1 is also discharged with the developer T, and therefore, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 decreases.

[0571] As described in the foregoing, according to this example, the discharging of the developer can be effected efficiently using one reciprocation type pump, and therefore, the mechanism for the developer discharging can be simplified.(Set condition of cam groove)

[0572] Referring to Figures 71 - 76, modified examples of the set condition of the cam groove 21b will be described. Figures 71 - 76 are developed views of cam grooves 3b. Referring to the developed views of Figures 71 - 76, the description will be made as to the influence to the operational condition of the pump portion 20b when the configuration of the cam groove 21b is changed.

[0573] Here, in each of Figures 71 - 76 - 41, an arrow A indicates a rotational moving direction of the developer accommodating portion 20 (moving direction of the cam projection 20d); an arrow B indicates the expansion direction of the pump portion 20b; and an arrow C indicates a compression direction of the pump portion 20b. In addition, a groove portion of the cam groove 21b for compressing the pump portion 20b is indicated as a cam groove 21c, and a groove portion for expanding the pump portion 20b is indicated as a cam groove 21d. Furthermore, an angle formed between the cam groove 21c and the rotational moving direction An of the developer accommodating portion 20 is α; an angle formed between the cam groove 21d and the rotational moving direction An is β; and an amplitude (expansion and contraction length of the pump portion 20b), in the expansion and contracting directions B, C of the pump portion 20b, of the cam groove is L.

[0574] First, the description will be made as to the expansion and contraction length L of the pump portion 20b.

[0575] When the expansion and contraction length L is shortened, for example, the volume change amount of the pump portion 20b decreases, and therefore, the pressure difference from the external air pressure is reduced. Then, the pressure imparted to the developer in the developer supply container 1 decreases, with the result that the amount of the developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 per one cyclic period (one reciprocation, that is, one expansion and contracting operation of the pump portion 20b) decreases.

[0576] From this consideration, as shown in Figure 71, the amount of the developer discharged when the pump portion 20b is reciprocated once, can be decreased as compared with the structure of Figure 70, if an amplitude L' is selected so as to satisfy L' < L under the condition that the angles α and β are constant. On the contrary, if L' > L, the developer discharge amount can be increased.

[0577] As regards the angles α and β of the cam groove, when the angles are increased, for example, the movement distance of the cam projection 20d when the developer accommodating portion 20 rotates for a constant time increases if the rotational speed of the developer accommodating portion 20 is constant, and therefore, as a result, the expansion-and-contraction speed of the pump portion 20b increases.

[0578] On the other hand, when the cam projection 20d moves in the cam groove 21b, the resistance received from the cam groove 21b is large, and therefore, a torque required for rotating the developer accommodating portion 20 increases as a result.

[0579] For this reason, as shown in Figure 72, if the angle β' of the cam groove 21d of the cam groove 21d is selected so as to satisfy α' > α and β' > β without changing the expansion and contraction length L, the expansion-and-contraction speed of the pump portion 20b can be increased as compared with the structure of the Figure 70. As a result, the number of expansion and contracting operations of the pump portion 20b per one rotation of the developer accommodating portion 20 can be increased. Furthermore, since a flow speed of the air entering the developer supply container 1 through the discharge opening 21a increases, the loosening effect to the developer existing in the neighborhood of the discharge opening 21a is enhanced.

[0580] On the contrary, if the selection satisfies α'< α and β'< β, the rotational torque of the developer accommodating portion 20 can be decreased. When a developer having a high flowability is used, for example, the expansion of the pump portion 20b tends to cause the air entered through the discharge opening 21a to blow out the developer existing in the neighborhood of the discharge opening 21a. As a result, there is a possibility that the developer cannot be accumulated sufficiently in the discharging portion 21h, and therefore, the developer discharge amount decreases. In this case, by decreasing the expanding speed of the pump portion 20b in accordance with this selection, the blowing-out of the developer can be suppressed, and therefore, the discharging power can be improved.

[0581] If, as shown in Figure 73, the angle of the cam groove 21b is selected so as to satisfy α < β, the expanding speed of the pump portion 20b can be increased as compared with a compressing speed. On the contrary, as shown in Figure 70, if the angle α > the angle β, the expanding speed of the pump portion 20b can be reduced as compared with the compressing speed.

[0582] When the developer is in a highly packed state, for example, the operation force of the pump portion 20b is larger in a compression stroke of the pump portion 20b than in an expansion stroke thereof. As a result, the rotational torque for the developer accommodating portion 20 tends to be higher in the compression stroke of the pump portion 20b. However, in this case, if the cam groove 21b is constructed as shown in Figure 73, the developer loosening effect in the expansion stroke of the pump portion 20b can be enhanced as compared with the structure of Figure 70. In addition, the resistance received by the cam projection 20d from the cam groove 21b in the compression stroke is small, and therefore, the increase of the rotational torque in the compression of the pump portion 20b can be suppressed.

[0583] As shown in Figure 74, a cam groove 21e substantially parallel with the rotational moving direction (arrow A in the Figure) of the developer accommodating portion 20 may be provided between the cam grooves 21c, 21d. In this case, the cam does not function while the cam projection 20d is moving in the cam groove 21e, and therefore, a step in which the pump portion 20b does not carry out the expanding-and-contracting operation can be provided.

[0584] By doing so, if a process in which the pump portion 20b is at rest in the expanded state is provided, the developer loosening effect is improved, since then in an initial stage of the discharging in which the developer is present always in the neighborhood of the discharge opening 21a, the pressure reduction state in the developer supply container 1 is maintained during the rest period.

[0585] On the other hand, in a last part of the discharging, the developer is not stored sufficiently in the discharging portion 21h, because the amount of the developer inside the developer supply container 1 is small and because the developer existing in the neighborhood of the discharge opening 21a is blown out by the air entered through the discharge opening 21a.

[0586] In other words, the developer discharge amount tends to gradually decrease, but even in such a case, by continuing to feed the developer by rotating is developer accommodating portion 20 during the rest period with the expanded state, the discharging portion 21h can be filled sufficiently with the developer. Therefore, a stabilization developer discharge amount can be maintained until the developer supply container 1 becomes empty.

[0587] In addition, in the structure of Figure 70, by making the expansion and contraction length L of the cam groove longer, the developer discharging amount per one cyclic period of the pump portion 20b can be increased. However, in this case, the amount of the volume change of the pump portion 20b increases, and therefore, the pressure difference from the external air pressure also increases. For this reason, the driving force required for driving the pump portion 20b also increases, and therefore, there is a liability that a drive load required by the developer receiving apparatus 8 is excessively large.

[0588] Under the circumstances, in order to increase the developer discharge amount per one cyclic period of the pump portion 20b without giving rise to such a problem, the angle of the cam groove 21b is selected so as to satisfy α> β, by which the compressing speed of a pump portion 20b can be increased as compared with the expanding speed, as shown in Figure 75.

[0589] Verification experiments were carried out as to the structure of Figure 75.

[0590] In the experiments, the developer is filled in the developer supply container 1 having the cam groove 21b shown in Figure 75; the volume change of the pump portion 20b is carried out in the order of the compressing operation and then the expanding operation to discharge the developer; and the discharge amounts are measured. The experimental conditions are that the amount of the volume change of the pump portion 20b is 50 cm^3, the compressing speed of the pump portion 20b the 180 cm^3 / s, and the expanding speed of the pump portion 20b is 60 cm^3 / s. The cyclic period of the operation of the pump portion 20b is approx. 1.1 seconds.

[0591] The developer discharge amounts are measured in the case of the structure of Figure 70. However, the compressing speed and the expanding speed of the pump portion 20b are 90 cm^3 / s, and the amount of the volume change of the pump portion 20b and one cyclic period of the pump portion 20b is the same as in the example of Figure 75.

[0592] The results of the verification experiments will be described. Part (a) of Figure 77 shows the change of the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 in the volume change of the pump portion 50b. In part (a) of Figure 77, the abscissa represents the time, and the ordinate represents a relative pressure in the developer supply container 1 (+ is positive pressure side, is negative pressure side) relative to the ambient pressure (reference (0)). Solid lines and broken lines are for the developer supply container 1 having the cam groove 21b of Figure 75, and that of Figure 70, respectively.

[0593] In the compressing operation of the pump portion 20b, the internal pressures rise with elapse of time and reach the peaks upon completion of the compressing operation, in both examples. At this time, the pressure in the developer supply container 1 changes within a positive range relative to the ambient pressure (external air pressure), and therefore, the inside developer is pressurized, and the developer is discharged through the discharge opening 21a.

[0594] Subsequently, in the expanding operation of the pump portion 20b, the volume of the pump portion 20b increases for the internal pressures of the developer supply container 1 decrease, in both examples. At this time, the pressure i...

Claims

1. A developer supply container (1) which is detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus (8) provided with a developer receiving portion (11) including a developer receiving port (11a) and an engaged portion (11b), the developer supply container (1) being for supplying developer through the developer receiving port (11a), the developer receiving portion (11) being displaceable in a vertical direction crossing with an inserting direction (A) of the developer supply container (1) for mounting to said developer receiving apparatus (8), said developer supply container (1) comprising: a developer accommodating portion (2) configured to accommodate the developer; a discharge opening (3a4) configured to permit discharging of the developer in the developer accommodating portion (2) to the developer receiving portion (11) through the developer receiving port (11a); and an engaging portion (3b2 and 3b4) including a first engaging portion (3b2) and a second engaging portion (3b4) engagable with the engaged portion (11b), characterized by the first engaging portion (3b2) being inclined with respect to the inserting direction (A) and displacing the developer receiving portion (11) toward the developer supply container (1) with a mounting operation of the developer supply container (1) to the developer receiving apparatus (8) so as to establish a connected state between the discharging opening (3a4) and the developer receiving port (11a), the second engaging portion (3b4) extending in parallel with the inserting direction (A) and maintaining the connected state between the discharging opening (3a4) and the developer receiving port (11a) so as to communicate the discharge opening (3a4) with the developer receiving port (11a).

2. The developer supply container (1) according to claim 1, wherein the first engaging portion (3b2) displaces the developer receiving portion (11) with the mounting operation of said developer supply container (1) so as to unseal the developer receiving portion (11).

3. The developer supply container (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, further comprising a shutter (4) configured to open the discharge opening (3a4) with the mounting operation of the developer supply container (1), wherein the second engaging portion (3b4) is configured to maintain the connected state between the discharge opening (3a4) and the developer receiving port (11a) so as to communicate the discharge opening (3a4) with the developer receiving port (11a) when the developer accommodating portion (2) moves relative to the shutter (4) with the mounting operation of said developer supply container (1).

4. The developer supply container (1) according to claim 3, the shutter (4) is slidable relative to the discharge opening (3a4) in the inserting direction.

5. The developer supply container (1) according to claim 3, wherein said shutter (4) includes a holding portion (4b, 4c) held by the developer receiving apparatus (8) with the mounting operation of the developer supply container (1) so as to permit the movement of the developer accommodating portion (2) relative to the shutter (4).

6. The developer supply container (1) according to claim 5, wherein the shutter (4) includes a supporting portion (4d) configured to displaceably support the holding portion (4b, 4c), and wherein the developer supply container (1) includes a regulating portion (3b3) configured to maintain a held state of the holding portion (4b, 4c) by the developer receiving apparatus (8), by regulating an elastic deformation of the supporting portion (4d) with the mounting operation of said developer supply container (1), and by permitting the elastic deformation of the supporting portion (4d) after completion of a spacing operation of the developer receiving portion (11) by the engaging portion (3b2 and 3b4).

7. The developer supply container (1) according to any one of claims 1 - 6, wherein a diameter of the discharge opening (3a4) is not more than 4mm.

8. The developer supply container (1) according to any one of claims 1 - 6, wherein an area of the discharge opening (3a4) is not more than 12.6mm2.

9. The developer supply container (1) according to any one of claims 1 - 8, wherein the engaging portion (3b2 and 3b4) includes a removal engaging portion (3b7) configured to displace the developer receiving portion (11) in a direction of spacing from the developer supply container (1) with a dismounting operation of the developer supply container (1) to release a fluid-communication between the discharge opening (3a4) and the developer receiving port (11a).

10. The developer supply container (1) according to claim 9, wherein the removal engaging portion (3b7) displaces the developer receiving portion (11) with the dismounting operation of the developer supply container (1) to effect a resealing operation of the developer receiving portion (11).

11. The developer supply container (1) according to any one of claims 1 - 10, further comprising: a drive inputting portion (2d, 20a, 20s) to which a driving force is inputted from the developer receiving apparatus (8), and a pump portion (20b) so that an internal pressure of the developer accommodating portion (2) alternately and repetitively changes between a pressure lower than an ambient pressure and a pressure higher than the ambient pressure, wherein the developer accommodating portion (2) includes a rotatable developer feeding chamber configured to feed the developer, and a developer discharging chamber (3) provided with the discharge opening (3a4) and held by the developer receiving apparatus (8) so as to be non-rotatable relative to the developer receiving apparatus (8), and wherein the engaging portion (3b2 and 3b4) is integral with the developer discharging chamber (3).

12. The developer supply container (1) according to claim 11, wherein the developer accommodating portion (2c) includes a helical feeding groove (2a) configured to feed the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion (2c) toward the developer discharging chamber (3), and wherein the engaging portion (3b2 and 3b4) is provided on the developer discharging chamber (3) such that the drive inputting portion (2d, 20a, 20s) is disposed between the engaging portion (3b2 and 3b4) and the helical feeding groove (2a) in the inserting direction (A).