Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To prevent leakage of toner when attaching and detaching a toner cartridge.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus has a toner cartridge that supplies toner to an image carrier. The toner cartridge has a developing unit that is connected with a toner container through a connection hole and is provided with an external opening supplying the toner to the image carrier, an outer shutter that opens and closes the external opening, an inner shutter that opens and closes the connection hole, and a gear mechanism that connects the outer shutter and the inner shutter to allow them to interlock with each other. When the outer shutter is at a first closing position where it closes the external opening, the inner shutter is at a second closing position where it closes the connection hole. When the outer shutter is at a first opening position where it opens the external opening, the inner shutter is at a second opening position where it opens the connection hole.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a toner cartridge and an image forming apparatus using the toner cartridge. [Background technology]

[0002] In electrophotographic image forming devices such as laser printers, when toner runs low, the toner cartridge is replaced to replenish the toner. When the toner cartridge is replaced, toner may leak. Therefore, means for preventing toner leakage have been proposed.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a sealing member is attached to cover and seal an opening of a developing frame of a developing unit in which toner is stored. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-91326 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the configuration of Patent Document 1, the developing unit is attached to the process cartridge, and as the toner transport unit operates, the sealing member is removed and the opening is opened. The sealing member then moves inside the toner storage chamber and is used as a member that stirs the toner. Therefore, if the developing unit is removed from the process cartridge while toner remains in the chamber, there is a possibility that the toner will leak from the opening. In such a case, toner leakage can be prevented by attaching a cover, but a separate cover must be provided.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to prevent toner leakage even when a toner cartridge is removed or attached with toner remaining therein. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, a toner cartridge according to one embodiment of the present disclosure supplies toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier to develop a toner image. The toner cartridge includes a toner container that stores the toner, a developing unit that is connected to the toner container via a connecting hole and has an external opening formed on its outer circumferential surface for supplying the toner to the image carrier, a toner carrier that is rotatably disposed in the developing unit and faces the image carrier and carries the toner, an outer shutter that opens and closes the external opening, an inner shutter that opens and closes the connecting hole, and a gear mechanism that interlocks the outer shutter and the inner shutter. The outer shutter is movable between at least a first closed position that closes the outer opening and a first open position that opens the outer opening. The inner shutter is movable between at least a second closed position that closes the connecting hole and a second open position that opens the connecting hole. When the outer shutter is at the first closed position, the inner shutter is at the second closed position, and when the outer shutter is at the first open position, the inner shutter is at the second open position. Effect of the Invention

[0008] The toner cartridge of the present disclosure can suppress leakage of toner when it is attached and detached. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 2 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the image forming apparatus. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus. [Diagram 3] 2 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge with the outer shutter closed. FIG. [Figure 4] 4 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge with the outer shutter open. FIG. [Diagram 5] 4 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge with the outer shutter closed. FIG. [Figure 6]4 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge with the outer shutter open. FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the outer shutter and the inner shutter in a closed state. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an outer shutter and an inner shutter in an open state. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge as viewed from below. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion X enclosed in a rectangle in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the periphery of the opening / closing boss when the outer shutter is closed. FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the toner cartridge attached to the drum cartridge. [Figure 13] 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of an opening / closing boss of an outer shutter of the toner cartridge. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a side cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of an image forming apparatus 100. Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus 100. In the following description, a direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction may be referred to as a scanning direction Sx, and a direction along the paper transport direction may be referred to as a sub-scanning direction Sy.

[0011] 1, an image forming apparatus (e.g., a monochrome printer) 100 includes an image forming section 10, a sheet cassette 20, a sheet conveying section 30, a fixing section 40, a sheet stacking section 60, and a control section 70. In the image forming apparatus 100, a sheet in the sheet cassette 20 is conveyed sequentially along the sheet conveying section 30 to the image forming section 10 and the fixing section 40, and is discharged to the sheet stacking section 60. An image is formed on the sheet as it passes through the image forming section 10 and the fixing section 40. Each section will be described in detail below.

[0012] (Control unit 70) The control unit 70 controls each part of the image forming apparatus 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 70 is connected to the image forming unit 10, the sheet conveying unit 30, and the fixing unit 40. The control unit 70 controls the operation of each of these parts and acquires information from each of these parts. The control unit 70 includes a CPU 71. The control unit 70 also includes a storage unit 72 including a non-volatile memory such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a flash ROM, and a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory). The storage unit 72 stores programs and data related to the control. The control unit 70 controls each part by using the programs and data in the storage unit 72.

[0013] (Image forming unit 10) In this embodiment, the image forming unit 10 forms a monochrome image. The image forming unit 10 includes a photoconductor drum 11, which is an image carrier. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, which will be described later, in the image forming apparatus 100, the photoconductor drum 11 is rotatably supported by a drum cartridge 111. The drum cartridge 111 is detachable from the image forming apparatus 100.

[0014] In addition, in the image forming section 10, a charging unit 12, an exposure unit (such as a laser scanning unit) 13, a developing unit 14, a transfer roller 15, a cleaning device 16, and a static eliminator (not shown) are arranged along the rotation direction (counterclockwise in FIG. 1) of the photoconductor drum 11. The operation of each part of the image forming section 10 is controlled by a control section 70.

[0015] The image formation in the image forming section 10 will be described. The rotating photoconductor drum 11 is uniformly charged by the charging unit 12. Then, the exposure unit 13 forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 based on the document image data. Furthermore, the developing unit 14 attaches toner to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11. The developing unit 14 is constituted by a toner cartridge 50.

[0016] The sheet conveying section 30 conveys a sheet from the sheet cassette 20 toward the photoreceptor drum 11 on which the toner image has been formed. When the sheet passes through the image forming section 10, the toner image formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 11 is transferred onto the sheet by a transfer roller 15 (image transfer section). The sheet onto which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the photoreceptor drum 11 and conveyed to the fixing section 40. The fixing section 40 fixes the toner image onto the sheet.

[0017] Furthermore, toner may remain on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 onto which the toner image has been transferred. The toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 is removed by a cleaning device 16 provided downstream of the transfer roller 15. After the toner remaining on the surface has been removed, the residual charge on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11 is removed by a charge removing device (not shown) provided downstream of the cleaning device 16.

[0018] (Fixing unit 40) The fixing unit 40 fixes the toner image transferred to the sheet onto the sheet. The fixing unit 40 includes a pair of rollers, and when the sheet passes through the contact portion of the pair of rollers, the sheet is heated and pressurized to fix the toner image onto the sheet. Note that in order to fix the toner image, it is necessary to raise the temperature to a certain level or higher. Therefore, one of the pair of rollers in the fixing unit 40 is provided with a heater (not shown) for heating the sheet.

[0019] (Sheet cassette 20 and sheet conveying unit 30) The sheet cassette 20 stores sheets on which no images are formed. The sheet cassette 20 is detachable from the image forming apparatus 100. The sheets stored in the sheet cassette 20 are sent out to the sheet conveying section 30 one by one.

[0020] The sheet transport section 30 includes a sheet transport path 31, a plurality of transport roller pairs 32, a registration roller pair 33, and a paper discharge roller pair .

[0021] The sheet transport path 31 guides the sheet sent out from the sheet cassette 20 to the image forming unit 10 and the fixing unit 40. The sheet transport path 31 also guides the sheet after the image has been fixed in the fixing unit 40 to the sheet stacking unit 60. A plurality of transport roller pairs 32 are arranged along the sheet transport path 31. The sheet sent out from the sheet cassette 20 is transported along the sheet transport path 31 by the drive of the transport roller pairs 32. The sheet transported along the sheet transport path 31 is then transported to the image forming unit 10 via the registration roller pairs 33.

[0022] Similarly, the sheet conveying section 30 rotates the conveying roller pairs 32 to convey the sheet on which the toner image has been formed in the image forming section 10 to the fixing section 40. Then, the sheet on which the toner image has been fixed in the fixing section 40 is also conveyed along the sheet conveying path 31 by the operation of the plurality of conveying roller pairs 32, and is discharged via the paper discharge roller pairs 34 onto a stacking tray 35 provided at the top of the image forming apparatus 100.

[0023] In this embodiment, a configuration is described in which a motor is provided to drive each roller, but multiple rollers may be driven by one motor. In this case, rollers that operate synchronously may be grouped together and driven by a common motor. Also, multiple rollers that rotate asynchronously may be driven by a common motor using a power transmission mechanism that can change the rotation speed and direction.

[0024] The sheet conveying path 31 guides the sheet sent out from the sheet cassette 20 to the image forming unit 10. A pair of registration rollers 33 is provided in the sheet conveying path 31. The sheet sent out from the sheet cassette 20 is sent to the image forming unit 10 via the sheet conveying path 31 and the pair of registration rollers 33.

[0025] The sheet conveying section 30 guides the sheet on which the toner image has been formed in the image forming section 10 to the fixing section 40. In addition, the sheet conveying path 31 conveys the sheet on which the toner image has been fixed in the fixing section 40 to the sheet stacking section 60. The conveying roller pair 32 and the paper discharge roller pair 34 are disposed in the sheet conveying path 31.

[0026] The sheet that has passed through the fixing unit 40 is transported by the transport roller pair 32. The sheet that has passed through the transport roller pair 32 is transported to the upper part of the image forming apparatus 100 by the sheet transport path 31. The printed sheet is discharged to the sheet stacking unit 60 via the transport roller pair 32 and the paper discharge roller pair 34.

[0027] The image forming apparatus 100 has the above-mentioned configuration. In the image forming apparatus 100, toner is reduced as an image is formed on a sheet. In the image forming apparatus 100, a toner cartridge 50, which is a developer container, is detachably attached to the developing unit 14, and toner is replenished by replacing the toner cartridge 50. Here, the details of the toner cartridge 50 will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0028] (Toner Cartridge 50) Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge 50 with the outer shutter 55 closed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge 50 with the outer shutter 55 open. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge 50 with the outer shutter 55 closed. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge 50 with the outer shutter 55 open. Fig. 7 is a schematic view showing the outer shutter 55 and the inner shutter 56 in a closed state. Fig. 8 is a schematic view showing the outer shutter 55 and the inner shutter 56 in an open state.

[0029] The toner cartridge 50 is an example of a container that contains toner. The toner cartridge 50 shown in FIG. 3 includes a container body 51, a developing unit 52, a toner storage unit 53, a developing roller 541, a supply roller 542, an outer shutter 55, an inner shutter 56, a gear mechanism 57, a torsion spring 58, and a drive unit 59.

[0030] The container body 51 is a box having an internal space 510. The container body 51 is elongated and extends in the scanning direction Sx. The container body 51 has a developing unit 52 and a toner storage unit 53. The developing unit 52 and the toner storage unit 53 are arranged side by side in the sub-scanning direction Sy. The container body 51 has a flow hole 511 that connects the internal space 520 of the developing unit 52 and the internal space 530 of the toner storage unit 53.

[0031] The toner storage unit 53 stores toner in an internal space 530. The internal space 530 of the toner storage unit 53 is a cylindrical space extending in the scanning direction Sx. The inner peripheral surface 531 of the toner storage unit 53 is cylindrical and centered on a center line extending in the scanning direction Sx. In the internal space 530 of the toner storage unit 53, an inner shutter 56 is movably disposed along the inner peripheral surface 531.

[0032] In the internal space 520 of the developing unit 52, the developing roller 541 and the supply roller 542 are rotatably arranged. The toner stored in the internal space 530 of the toner storage unit 53 is supplied to the internal space 520 of the developing unit 52 through the flow hole 511. The supply roller 542 rotates and supplies the toner to the developing roller 541. The driving unit 59 is arranged at one end of the container body 51 on one side in the scanning direction Sx. The driving unit 59 drives and rotates the developing roller 541 and the supply roller 542. The driving unit 59 is a power transmission mechanism that transmits power from a power source such as a motor (not shown) to the developing roller 541 and the supply roller 542. Note that the driving unit 59 may be provided on both sides in the scanning direction.

[0033] The developing section 52 has an outer opening 512 that connects the internal space 520 with the outside. When the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the developing unit 14, the developing roller 541 faces the photoconductor drum 11 at a certain distance via the outer opening 512. For example, a magnetic one-component toner is used as the toner. The developing roller 541 has a configuration capable of generating a magnetic force, and the toner is attracted and adhered to the surface of the developing roller 541.

[0034] The toner is charged by the developing roller 541. The charged toner adheres to the surface of the developing roller 541. A voltage application unit (not shown) is electrically connected to the developing roller 541, and the toner is separated from the developing roller 541 by applying a developing bias from the voltage application unit. The toner separated from the developing roller 541 by the application of the developing bias is attracted to the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 11. As a result, a toner image is formed on the surface of the photoconductor drum 11.

[0035] The outer shutter 55 is attached to the container body 51 and opens and closes the outer opening 512. As shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the outer shutter 55 has a door portion 551, a support leg portion 552, and a link mechanism 553. The door portion 551 is a member extending in the scanning direction Sx, and is arranged to be movable between a first closing position P11 where the door portion 551 overlaps with the outside of the outer opening 512 to close the outer opening 512, and a first opening position P12 where the door portion 551 is shifted from the outer opening 512 to open the outer opening 512.

[0036] The supporting leg 552 supports an end of the outer shutter 55 on the side opposite to the drive unit 59 in the scanning direction Sx, that is, on the first closed position P11 side, so as to be rotatable about a central axis C1 along the scanning direction Sx. In addition, a portion of the supporting leg 552 away from the portion supporting the door unit 551 is rotatably supported by the developing unit 52.

[0037] The link mechanism 553 has a first arm 554 and a second arm 555. The first arm 554 and the second arm 555 are rotatable relative to each other. The first arm 554 is attached to an end of the door part 551 on the first opening position P12 side of the end of the drive part 59 side in the scanning direction Sx so as to be rotatable around a center line along the scanning direction Sx. A first gear part 571 of the gear mechanism 57, which will be described later, is attached to the opposite side of the part of the second arm 555 connected to the first arm 554.

[0038] The second arm 555 and the first gear portion 571 are supported rotatably about a central axis C2 extending in the scanning direction Sx. The second gear portion 572 meshes with a second gear portion 572 (described later) attached to the inner shutter 56. Although the central axis C1 and the central axis C2 are misaligned, one of the supports that rotatably support the outer shutter 55 is the link mechanism 553, so that the outer shutter 55 substantially rotates about the central axis C1.

[0039] The outer shutter 55 is disposed outside the developing unit 52 so as to be movable back and forth between a first closed position P11 and a first open position P12 by rotating about a rotation axis parallel to the scanning direction Sx. The outer shutter 55 may be movable to positions other than the first closed position P11 and the first open position P12. In the outer shutter 55, the support leg 552 rotates about the central axis C1, so that the door portion 551 moves in the opening or closing direction. The movement of the door portion 551 causes the first arm 554 and the second arm 555 of the link mechanism 553 to operate as links, and the second gear portion 572 rotates in the rotation direction.

[0040] When the outer shutter 55 is in the first closed position P11, the outer opening 512 is closed. This prevents the toner in the internal space 520 of the developing section 52 from leaking to the outside, even when the toner cartridge 50 is moved for installation or removal from the developing unit 14.

[0041] An inner shutter 56 is disposed inside the toner storage unit 53. The inner shutter 56 has a door portion 561 and a support leg portion 562. The door portion 561 is movable in the circumferential direction along the inner peripheral surface 531 of the toner storage unit 53. In other words, the door portion 561 has a shape that constitutes a part of the circumferential direction of a cylinder centered on a center line extending in the scanning direction Sx.

[0042] The support legs 562 are paired members and are connected to both ends in the scanning direction Sx of the door part 561. The support legs 562 are supported by the toner storage part 53 so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction about a central axis C1 extending along the scanning direction Sx.

[0043] The inner shutter 56 is movable between a second closed position P21 where the door portion 561 overlaps with the inside of the circulation hole 511 to close the circulation hole 511, and a second open position P22 where the door portion 561 is offset from the circulation hole 511 to open the circulation hole 511. The inner shutter 56 is disposed inside the toner storage portion 53 so as to be movable back and forth between the second closed position P21 and the second open position P22 by rotating about a rotation axis parallel to the scanning direction Sx.

[0044] When the door portion 561 is in the second closed position P21, the inner shutter 56 can prevent the toner contained in the internal space 530 of the toner containing portion 53 from moving to the developing portion 52. This prevents the toner from leaking when the toner cartridge 50 is moved.

[0045] The gear mechanism 57 has a first gear portion 571 and a second gear portion 572. The second gear portion 572 is attached to the support leg portion 562 of the inner shutter 56. In the toner cartridge 50 of the present embodiment, the center of rotation of the second gear portion 572 coincides with the center of rotation of the inner shutter 56. As the second gear portion 572 rotates, the inner shutter 56 rotates between the second closed position P21 and the second open position P22.

[0046] The first gear portion 571 is attached to the second arm 555 of the outer shutter 55. In the toner cartridge 50 of the present embodiment, the second arm 555 and the first gear portion 571 are integrally formed, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the second arm 555 and the first gear portion 571 may be formed as separate bodies and fixed by a fixing method such as adhesion or screwing, as long as the second arm 555 and the first gear portion 571 are configured to operate integrally.

[0047] The amount of movement of the outer shutter 55 and the amount of movement of the inner shutter 56 can be adjusted by the shapes of the first arm 554, the second arm 555 and the gear mechanism 57. Depending on the relationship between the amount of movement of the outer shutter 55 and the amount of movement of the inner shutter 56, the link mechanism formed by the first arm 554 and the second arm 555 may be omitted, and the door part 551 may be supported by the support leg part 552 as on the opposite side. In this case, the first gear part 571 is attached to the support leg part 552.

[0048] When the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the developing unit 14, the door portion 551 of the outer shutter 55 moves from the first closed position P11 to the first open position P12. At this time, the first arm 554 and the second arm 555 also move in accordance with the movement of the door portion 551. The movement of the second arm 555 rotates the second gear portion 572, and the first gear portion 571 meshing with the second gear portion 572 rotates, causing the inner shutter 56 to move.

[0049] That is, in the toner cartridge 50, when the outer shutter 55 moves between the first closed position P11 and the first open position P12, the inner shutter 56 also moves between the second closed position P21 and the open position P22 in conjunction with the outer shutter 55. When the outer shutter 55 is in the first closed position P11, the inner shutter 56 is also in the second closed position P21. This makes it difficult for the toner contained in the internal space 530 of the toner containing section 53 to move to the internal space 520 of the developing section 52. Furthermore, the toner remaining in the internal space 520 of the developing section 52 is unlikely to leak to the outside. This enhances the effect of suppressing the leakage of toner from the toner cartridge 50 to the outside.

[0050] Furthermore, when the outer shutter 55 is in the first open position P12, the inner shutter 56 is in the second open position P22. This allows the toner contained in the internal space 530 of the toner storage unit 53 to easily move to the developing unit 52. The toner that has moved from the internal space 530 via the supply roller 542 is smoothly supplied to the developing roller 541, allowing accurate image formation to be performed.

[0051] Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge 50 as seen from below. Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion X enclosed in a rectangle in Fig. 9. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the support leg 552 of the outer shutter 55 has a cylindrical rotation shaft 556 extending along the scanning direction Sx. The rotation shaft 556 is rotatably supported by the container body 51, thereby rotatably supporting the outer shutter 55. A torsion spring 58 is attached to the rotation shaft 556.

[0052] The torsion spring 58 applies a force to the outer shutter 55 in a direction to rotate around the rotation shaft 556. To explain further, the force applied by the torsion spring 58 is a direction in which the outer shutter 55 moves to the first closed position P11. In other words, the torsion spring 58 applies a force to the outer shutter 55 in a direction in which the outer shutter 55 moves to the first closed position P11. When no force is applied to the outer shutter 55, the force of the torsion spring 58 moves the outer shutter 55 to the first closed position P11 and stops at the first closed position P11.

[0053] When the outer shutter 55 is in the first closed position P11, the torsion spring 58 may or may not apply a force to the outer shutter 55. When the outer shutter 55 is in the first closed position P11, the torsion spring 58 applies a force to the outer shutter 55, so that the outer shutter 55 can be held at the first closed position P11, making it difficult for rattling to occur and improving the effect of suppressing toner leakage.

[0054] (Installation and removal of toner cartridge 50) The toner cartridge 50 is configured to be detachably attached to the drum cartridge 111. Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the opening / closing boss 557 when the outer shutter 55 is closed. Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the toner cartridge 50 attached to the drum cartridge 111. Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the opening / closing boss 557 of the outer shutter 55 of the toner cartridge 50 attached to the drum cartridge 111.

[0055] The drum cartridge 111 accommodates the photosensitive drum 11 inside a drum frame 112. The drum frame 112 has support portions 113 at both ends in the scanning direction Sx that rotatably support the photosensitive drum 11. The drum frame 112 also has an insertion hole 114 into which the toner cartridge 50 is inserted.

[0056] The outer shutter 55 of the toner cartridge 50 has an opening / closing boss 557. That is, the opening / closing boss 557 is formed in a pair on the outer shutter 55. The pair of opening / closing bosses 557 extend in opposite directions along the scanning direction Sx from both ends of the outer shutter 55 in the scanning direction Sx.

[0057] The opening / closing boss 557 protrudes outward from the toner cartridge 50 in the scanning direction. Therefore, when the toner cartridge 50 is inserted into the drum cartridge 111, the opening / closing boss 557 comes into contact with the drum frame 112 of the drum cartridge 111 and is pushed by the drum frame 112. This causes the outer shutter 55 of the toner cartridge 50 to move from the first closed position P11 to the first open position P12 (in the direction of the arrow A1 in FIG. 8).

[0058] This causes the first arm 554 and the second arm 555 of the link mechanism 553 to move in an interlocking manner. As the second arm 555 moves, the first gear portion 571 of the gear mechanism 57 rotates (in the direction of the arrow A1 in FIG. 8), and the second gear portion 572 meshing with the first gear portion 571 rotates (in the direction of the arrow B1 in FIG. 8). With the rotation of the second gear portion 572, the inner shutter 56 also rotates (in the direction of the arrow B1 in FIG. 8).

[0059] As shown in FIG. 12, when the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the attachment position of the drum cartridge 111, the opening / closing boss 557 is supported by the drum frame 112. As a result, the outer shutter 55 is held at the first open position P12. The inner shutter 56 is also held at the second open position P22. The outer opening 512 of the toner cartridge 50 is opened, and the photosensitive drum 11 and the developing roller 541 are disposed opposite each other with a certain gap therebetween. In addition, the flow hole 511 is also opened, so that the toner can be supplied from the toner storage section 53 to the developing section 52. As a result, a stable and accurate toner image can be formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11.

[0060] When the toner cartridge 50 is removed from the drum cartridge 111, the outer shutter 55 is pushed from the first open position P12 toward the first closed position P11 by the torsion spring 58. As a result, although the opening / closing boss 557 is supported by the drum frame 112, the position of the outer shutter 55 relative to the container body 51 changes as the toner cartridge 50 moves. That is, in the toner cartridge 50, the outer shutter 55 moves from the first open position P12 toward the first closed position P11 (in the direction of the arrow A2 in FIG. 8).

[0061] This causes the first arm 554 and the second arm 555 of the link mechanism 553 to move in an interlocking manner. As the second arm 555 moves, the first gear portion 571 of the gear mechanism 57 rotates (in the direction of the arrow A2 in FIG. 8), and the second gear portion 572 meshing with the first gear portion 571 rotates (in the direction of the arrow B2 in FIG. 8). With the rotation of the second gear portion 572, the inner shutter 56 also rotates (in the direction of the arrow B2 in FIG. 8).

[0062] Then, when the toner cartridge 50 is removed from the drum cartridge 111, the outer shutter 55 moves to the first closed position P11. This causes the inner shutter 56 to move to the second closed position P21. This prevents the toner from moving from the toner storage section 53 to the developing section 52, and also prevents the toner from leaking from the outer opening 512. This prevents the toner from leaking to the outside when the toner cartridge 50 is removed.

[0063] In addition, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which a printer that records monochrome images using black ink was used as the image forming device, but the toner cartridge 50 of this embodiment can also be used in the case of a color printer that records color images using four colors of ink, for example. [Industrial Applicability]

[0064] The present disclosure is applicable to a toner cartridge that is detachably mounted in an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 100 Image forming device 10 Image forming section 11 Photoconductor drum 111 Drum Cartridge 112 Drum Frame 113 Support part 114 Insertion hole 12 Charging unit 13 Exposure unit 14 Development unit 15 Transfer roller 16 Cleaning equipment 20 Sheet Cassette 30 Sheet transport section 31 Sheet transport path 32 Transport roller pair 33 Registration Roller Pair 34 Paper ejection roller pair 40 Fixing section 50 Toner Cartridges 51 Container body 510 Interior Space 511 Flow hole 512 Outer opening 52 Development section 520 Interior Space 53 Toner storage unit 530 Interior Space 531 Inner surface 541 Developing roller 542 Supply Roller 55 Outer shutter 551 Door section 552 Support legs 553 Link Mechanism 554 First Arm 555 Second Arm 556 Rotational Axis 557 Opening and closing boss 56 Inner Shutter 561 Door section 562 Support legs 57 Gear mechanism 571 First Gear Section 572 Second Gear Section 58 Torsion Spring 59 Drive unit 60 Sheet loading area 70 Control section 71 CPU 72 Memory section

Claims

1. A toner cartridge that supplies toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier to develop the image into a toner image, a toner container for storing the toner; a developing unit connected to the toner container via a connecting hole and having an external opening formed on an outer circumferential surface thereof for supplying the toner to the image carrier; a toner carrier that is rotatably disposed in the developing unit and faces the image carrier, the toner carrier carrying the toner; an outer shutter for opening and closing the outer opening; an inner shutter for opening and closing the connecting hole; a gear mechanism that connects the outer shutter and the inner shutter in an interlocking manner; the outer shutter is movable at least between a first closed position for closing the outer opening and a first open position for opening the outer opening, the inner shutter is movable at least between a second closed position that closes the connecting hole and a second open position that opens the connecting hole, a toner cartridge in which, when the outer shutter is in the first closed position, the inner shutter is in the second closed position, and, when the outer shutter is in the first open position, the inner shutter is in the second open position.

2. 2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a biasing member for biasing said outer shutter toward said first closed position.

3. 2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the outer shutter and the gear mechanism are connected via a link mechanism.

4. an image carrier on whose surface an electrostatic latent image is formed; 4. An image forming apparatus comprising: the toner cartridge according to claim 1, which supplies toner to an electrostatic latent image formed on said image carrier to develop a toner image.

5. an image carrier holding portion that rotatably holds the image carrier; 5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the outer shutter has an opening / closing boss that comes into contact with the image carrier holding portion and moves the outer shutter to the first open position.

Images