Image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide one form of a toner container and an image forming system.SOLUTION: A toner container is removably attached to an image forming apparatus, and comprises: a toner storage part that stores toner; a container base part that has an exhaust port communicating with the toner storage part; and a container shutter that blocks the exhaust port. The container base part is configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis relative to the container shutter between a blocking position where the exhaust port is blocked by the container shutter and an open position where the exhaust port is opened by the container shutter. The exhaust port is provided on a side face of the container base part extending along a direction of the rotation axis. The container shutter has a part to be engaged that, when the toner container is mounted in the image forming apparatus, is engaged with an engagement part of the image forming apparatus to regulate the rotation of the container shutter around the rotation axis.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a toner container.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image by transferring a toner image formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum to a transfer material as a transfer medium. And, as a developer replenishment method, for example, a process cartridge method and a toner replenishment method are known. The process cartridge method is a method in which a photosensitive drum and a developing container are integrated as a process cartridge, and when the developer runs out, the process cartridge is replaced with a new one.

[0003] On the other hand, the toner replenishment method is a method of replenishing a developing container with new toner when the toner runs out. Conventionally, a one-component developing apparatus of a toner replenishment method in which a toner supply box capable of replenishing toner is connected to a toner conveyance path through which toner is conveyed has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). The toner stored in the toner supply box is conveyed to the toner conveyance path by a conveyance screw.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In recent years, various usage methods such as the above-described process cartridge method and toner replenishment method have been demanded by users for image forming apparatuses. Also, various forms have been demanded by users for toner containers mounted on image forming apparatuses for replenishing toner.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a form of a toner container.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0007] The present invention relates to a toner container, which is a flexible pouch for accommodating toner therein, the pouch being provided with an opening communicating with the interior, a ring-shaped ring member fixed to the opening so as to maintain the opening in an open state, and a base member provided with a discharge port for discharging the toner accommodated in the interior of the pouch to the outside of the toner container, the base member engaging with the ring member, and a shutter rotatable with respect to the base member. When the direction in which the pouch and the base member are aligned is defined as the first direction, the discharge port is provided on a side surface of the base member extending in the direction along the first direction, opens in a second direction intersecting the first direction, and the shutter rotates about a rotation axis extending in the first direction between a closed position for closing the discharge port and an open position for opening the discharge port.

Advantages of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, one form of a toner container can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009]

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Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments for implementing the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] <First Embodiment> FIG. 1(a) is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1 is a monochrome printer that forms an image on a recording material based on image information input from an external device. The recording material includes various sheet materials of different materials, such as paper such as plain paper and thick paper, plastic films such as sheets for overhead projectors, sheets of special shapes such as envelopes and index papers, and cloth.

[0012] [Overall Configuration] As shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), the image forming apparatus 1 includes a printer main body 100 as a device main body, a reading device 200 that is supported by the printer main body 100 so as to be openable and closable, and an operation unit 300 that is attached to the outer surface of the printer main body 100. The printer main body 100 includes an image forming unit 10 that forms a toner image on a recording material, a feeding unit 60 that feeds the recording material to the image forming unit 10, a fixing unit 70 that fixes the toner image formed by the image forming unit 10 to the recording material, and a pair of discharge rollers 80.

[0013] The image forming unit 10 includes a scanner unit 11, an electrophotographic process cartridge 20, and a transfer roller 12 that transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 21 of the process cartridge 20 to the recording material. The process cartridge 20 includes a photosensitive drum 21, a charging roller 22 disposed around the photosensitive drum 21, a pre-exposure device 23, and a developing device 30 including a developing roller 31.

[0014] The photosensitive drum 21 is a cylindrical photosensitive member. The photosensitive drum 21 of the present embodiment has a photosensitive layer formed of a negatively chargeable organic photosensitive material on a drum-shaped substrate formed of aluminum. Further, the photosensitive drum 21 as an image carrier is rotationally driven by a motor in a predetermined direction (clockwise direction in the figure) at a predetermined process speed.

[0015] The charging roller 22 contacts the photosensitive drum 21 with a predetermined pressure contact force to form a charging portion. Further, the charging roller 22 is applied with a desired charging voltage by a charging high-voltage power source, thereby uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 to a predetermined potential. In the present embodiment, the photosensitive drum 21 is charged to a negative polarity by the charging roller 22. The pre-exposure device 23 discharges the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 21 before entering the charging portion in order to generate a stable discharge in the charging portion.

[0016] The scanner unit 11 as exposure means irradiates the photosensitive drum 21 with laser light corresponding to the image information input from an external device or a reading device 200 using a polygon mirror, thereby performing scanning exposure on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21. By this exposure, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21. Note that the scanner unit 11 is not limited to a laser scanner device, and for example, an LED exposure device having an LED array in which a plurality of LEDs are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the photosensitive drum 21 may be employed.

[0017] The developing device 30 includes a developing roller 31 as a developer carrier that carries a developer, a developing container 32 that serves as a frame of the developing device 30, and a supply roller 33 that can supply the developer to the developing roller 31. The developing roller 31 and the supply roller 33 are rotatably supported by the developing container 32. Further, the developing roller 31 is disposed at an opening of the developing container 32 so as to face the photosensitive drum 21. The supply roller 33 is rotatably in contact with the developing roller 31, and toner as a developer accommodated in the developing container 32 is applied to the surface of the developing roller 31 by the supply roller 33. Note that if a configuration can supply toner sufficiently to the developing roller 31, the supply roller 33 is not necessarily required.

[0018] The developing device 30 of the present embodiment uses a contact developing method as the developing method. That is, the toner layer carried on the developing roller 31 contacts the photosensitive drum 21 in a developing portion (developing region) where the photosensitive drum 21 and the developing roller 31 face each other. A developing voltage is applied to the developing roller 31 by a developing high-voltage power source. Under the developing voltage, the toner carried on the developing roller 31 transfers from the developing roller 31 to the drum surface according to the potential distribution on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21, and thus the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image. In addition, in the present embodiment, a reversal developing method is adopted. That is, after being charged in the charging step, toner adheres to the surface region of the photosensitive drum 21 whose charge amount has decayed by being exposed in the exposure step, thereby forming a toner image.

[0019] Also, in the present embodiment, toner having a particle size of 6 [μm] and a normal charging polarity of negative polarity is used. As an example, the toner of the present embodiment adopts polymerized toner produced by a polymerization method. Further, the toner of the present embodiment does not contain a magnetic component, and is a so-called non-magnetic one-component developer in which the toner is carried on the developing roller 31 mainly by intermolecular force and electrostatic force (image force). However, a one-component developer containing a magnetic component may also be used. In addition, the one-component developer may contain additives (for example, wax and silica fine particles) for adjusting the fluidity and charging performance of the toner in addition to toner particles. Further, a two-component developer composed of non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier may be used as the developer. When a magnetic developer is used, as the developer carrier, for example, a cylindrical developing sleeve with a magnet arranged inside is used.

[0020] The developing container 32 is provided with a storage portion 36 as a second toner storage portion for storing toner, and a stirring member 34 as stirring means disposed inside the storage portion 36. The stirring member 34 is driven by a motor (not shown) to rotate, thereby stirring the toner in the developing container 32 and feeding the toner toward the developing roller 31 and the supply roller 33. Further, the stirring member 34 has a role of circulating the toner peeled off from the developing roller 31 and not used for development in the developing container and making the toner in the developing container uniform. Note that the stirring member 34 is not limited to a rotating form. For example, a stirring member in a swinging form may be employed.

[0021] Also, at the opening of the developing container 32 where the developing roller 31 is disposed, a developing blade 35 for regulating the amount of toner carried on the developing roller 31 is disposed. The toner supplied to the surface of the developing roller 31 passes through the portion facing the developing blade 35 as the developing roller 31 rotates, thereby being uniformly thinned and charged negatively by triboelectrification.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), the feeding unit 60 includes a front door 61 that is supported by the printer main body 100 so as to be openable and closable, a tray unit 62, a middle plate 63, a tray spring 64, and a pickup roller 65. The tray unit 62 constitutes the bottom surface of the recording material storage space that appears when the front door 61 is opened, and the middle plate 63 is supported by the tray unit 62 so as to be movable up and down. The tray spring 64 biases the middle plate 63 upward and presses the recording material P loaded on the middle plate 63 against the pickup roller 65. Note that the front door 61 closes the recording material storage space in a state where it is closed with respect to the printer main body 100, and supports the recording material P together with the tray unit 62 and the middle plate 63 in a state where it is opened with respect to the printer main body 100.

[0023] The fixing unit 70 is of a heat fixing type that performs an image fixing process by heating and melting the toner on the recording material. The fixing unit 70 includes a fixing film 71, a fixing heater such as a ceramic heater for heating the fixing film 71, a thermistor for measuring the temperature of the fixing heater, and a pressure roller 72 that presses against the fixing film 71.

[0024] Next, the image forming operation of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described. When a command for image formation is input to the image forming apparatus 1, an image forming process by the image forming unit 10 is started based on the image information input from an external computer or a reading device 200 connected to the image forming apparatus 1. The scanner unit 11 irradiates laser light toward the photosensitive drum 21 based on the input image information. At this time, the photosensitive drum 21 is pre-charged by the charging roller 22, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 21 by the irradiation of the laser light. Then, this electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing roller 31, and a toner image is formed on the photosensitive drum 21.

[0025] In parallel with the above-described image forming process, the pickup roller 65 of the feeding unit 60 feeds out the recording material P supported by the front door 61, the tray unit 62, and the intermediate plate 63. The recording material P is fed by the pickup roller 65 to the registration roller pair 15, and the skew is corrected by hitting the nip of the registration roller pair 15. Then, the registration roller pair 15 is driven in accordance with the transfer timing of the toner image, and conveys the recording material P toward the transfer nip formed by the transfer roller 12 and the photosensitive drum 21.

[0026] A transfer voltage is applied from a transfer high-voltage power supply to the transfer roller 12 as transfer means, and the toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred to the recording material P conveyed by the registration roller pair 15. The recording material P to which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 70, and the toner image is heated and pressurized when passing through the nip portion between the fixing film 71 and the pressure roller 72 of the fixing unit 70. As a result, the toner particles melt and then adhere, so that the toner image is fixed to the recording material P. The recording material P that has passed through the fixing unit 70 is discharged to the outside (outside the machine) of the image forming apparatus 1 by the discharge roller pair 80 as discharge means, and is loaded on the discharge tray 81 as a loading portion formed on the upper portion of the printer main body 100.

[0027] The discharge tray 81 slopes upward toward the downstream in the discharge direction of the recording material, and the recording material discharged onto the discharge tray 81 slides down the discharge tray 81, and the rear end is aligned by the regulation surface 84.

[0028] The reading device 200 includes a reading unit 201 having a reading section (not shown) therein, and a pressure plate 202 that is supported by the reading unit 201 so as to be openable and closable. On the upper surface of the reading unit 201, a document table glass 203 that transmits light emitted from the reading section and on which a document is placed is provided.

[0029] When the user causes the reading device 200 to read an image of a document, the user places the document on the document table glass 203 with the pressure plate 202 open. Then, by closing the pressure plate 202, displacement of the document on the document table glass 203 is prevented, and for example, by operating the operation unit 300, a reading command is output to the image forming apparatus 1. When the reading operation is started, the reading section in the reading unit 201 reciprocates in the sub-scanning direction, that is, in the left-right direction with the operation unit 300 of the image forming apparatus 1 facing forward. The reading section reads the image of the document by emitting light from the light emitting section to the document and receiving the light reflected by the document with the light receiving section and performing photoelectric conversion. Hereinafter, the front-rear direction, the left-right direction, and the up-down direction are defined based on the state in which the operation unit 300 faces forward.

[0030] On the upper part of the printer main body 100, a top cover 82 is provided as a stacking tray, and on the upper surface of the top cover 82, a discharge tray 81 is formed as a stacking surface. As shown in FIGS. 1(b) and 2, an opening / closing member 83 is supported by the top cover 82 so as to be openable and closable about a rotation axis 83a extending in the front-rear direction. An opening 82a that opens upward is formed in the discharge tray 81 of the top cover 82.

[0031] The opening / closing member 83 is configured to be movable between a closed position that covers the supply port 32a so that the toner pack 40 cannot be attached to the developing container 32 and an open position that exposes the supply port 32a so that the toner pack 40 can be attached to the developing container 32. The opening / closing member 83 functions as a part of the discharge tray 81 in the closed position. The opening / closing member 83 and the opening 82a are formed on the left side of the discharge tray 81. Further, the opening / closing member 83 is opened leftward by hooking a finger from the groove portion 82b provided in the top cover 82. The opening / closing member 83 is formed in a substantially L shape along the shape of the top cover 82.

[0032] The opening 82a of the discharge tray 81 is open so that the supply port 32a for toner replenishment formed in the upper part of the developing container 32 is exposed. By opening the opening / closing member 83, the user can access the supply port 32a. In the present embodiment, a method (direct replenishment method) of replenishing toner from the toner pack 40 (see FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b)) filled with replenishing toner to the developing device 30 while the developing device 30 is attached to the image forming apparatus 1 is adopted. The toner pack 40 is at least partially exposed to the outside when attached to the image forming apparatus 1.

[0033] Therefore, when the remaining amount of toner in the process cartridge 20 decreases, there is no need to remove the process cartridge 20 from the printer main body 100 and replace it with a new process cartridge, so the usability can be improved. Further, the developing container 32 can be replenished with toner at a lower cost than replacing the entire process cartridge 20. Note that the direct replenishment method can also reduce costs because there is no need to replace various rollers, gears, etc. compared to the case of replacing only the developing device 30 of the process cartridge 20. The image forming apparatus 1 and the toner pack 40 constitute the image forming system 1000.

[0034] [Recovery of Residual Toner for Transfer] This embodiment employs a cleanerless configuration that recovers and re-uses the transfer residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 without being transferred to the recording material P. The transfer residual toner is removed in the following steps. The transfer residual toner contains a mixture of toner charged positively and toner that is charged negatively but does not have sufficient charge. The photosensitive drum 21 after transfer is discharged by the pre-exposure device 23, and uniform discharge is generated by the charging roller 22, so that the transfer residual toner is charged negatively again. The transfer residual toner charged negatively again in the charging section reaches the developing section as the photosensitive drum 21 rotates. Then, the surface area of the photosensitive drum 21 that has passed through the charging section is exposed by the scanner unit 11 while the transfer residual toner remains attached to the surface, and an electrostatic latent image is written.

[0035] Here, the behavior of the transfer residual toner that has reached the developing section will be described separately for the exposed and non-exposed portions of the photosensitive drum 21. The transfer residual toner adhering to the non-exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 21 is transferred to the developing roller 31 due to the potential difference between the potential of the non-exposed portion (dark portion potential) of the photosensitive drum 21 and the developing voltage in the developing section, and is collected in the developing container 32. This is because the normal charging polarity of the toner is negative, and the developing voltage applied to the developing roller 31 is relatively positive with respect to the potential of the non-exposed portion. The toner collected in the developing container 32 is agitated and dispersed with the toner in the developing container by the agitating member 34, and is carried on the developing roller 31 and used again in the developing process.

[0036] On the other hand, the transfer residual toner adhering to the exposed portion of the photosensitive drum 21 remains on the drum surface without being transferred from the photosensitive drum 21 to the developing roller 31 in the developing section. This is because, assuming that the normal charging polarity of the toner is negative, the developing voltage applied to the developing roller 31 is a more negative potential than the potential of the exposed portion (bright portion potential). The transfer residual toner remaining on the drum surface is carried on the photosensitive drum 21 together with other toner transferred from the developing roller 31 to the exposed portion and moves to the transfer section, where it is transferred to the recording material S.

[0037] As described above, in this embodiment, a cleanerless configuration is adopted in which the residual transfer toner is collected by the developing device 30 and reused. However, a configuration may also be adopted in which a cleaning blade that contacts the conventionally known photosensitive drum 21 is used to collect the residual transfer toner. In that case, the residual transfer toner collected by the cleaning blade is collected in a collection container installed separately from the developing device 30. However, by adopting a cleanerless configuration, the installation space for the collection container for collecting the residual transfer toner and the like becomes unnecessary, enabling further miniaturization of the image forming apparatus 1. Also, the printing cost can be reduced by reusing the residual transfer toner.

[0038] [Configuration of Toner Pack] Next, the configuration of a toner pack 40, which is a toner container that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus 1 and houses toner, will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3(a) to 5, the toner pack 40 includes a shutter member 41, a seal member 504, a supply base 501, an outer ring member 510, an inner ring member 511, and a pouch 503, and these members are assembled to form the toner pack 40. The pouch 503, which serves as a toner storage section and a first toner storage section, is a flexible container that stores toner. The rotation axis z indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIGS. 3(a) to 5 is the rotation center line of the toner pack 40.

[0039] The supply base 501, which serves as a container base section, has an outer peripheral section 501b as a side surface that extends along an axial direction D1 parallel to the rotation axis z, and a toner discharge port 501r formed in the outer peripheral section 501b. The supply base 501 also has a recess 501f that is recessed radially inward with respect to the outer peripheral section 501b, and protrusions 501y, 501y that protrude radially outward from the outer peripheral section 501b. The toner discharge port 501r, which serves as a discharge port and a first opening, is a through hole that leads to the pouch 503. The protrusions 501y, 501y are arranged with a 180-degree phase difference from each other.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the outer ring member 510 is a resin member having an outer peripheral surface formed in a substantially hexagonal shape, and engaging portions 510y, 510y with which the convex portions 501y, 501y of the supply base 501 can engage are formed on the outer ring member 510. The outer ring member 510 is disposed so as to cover the inner ring member 511, and forms the outermost shape of the toner pack 40 so as to function as a handle when gripping the toner pack 40. That is, since the outer ring member 510 is operated at a position radially away from the rotation axis z, the force required for the user to operate the outer ring member 510 can be reduced, and the usability can be improved.

[0041] The inner ring member 511 as a support member is a resin member having an outer peripheral surface formed in a substantially hexagonal shape, similar to the outer ring member 510, and is coupled to the opening 503a (see FIG. 10(a)) of the pouch 503. Thereby, the opening 503a of the pouch 503 is supported by the inner ring member 511 so as to be maintained in an open state. Then, as will be described later, the inner ring member 511 is fixed to the supply base 501 so that the opening 503a and the toner discharge port 501r communicate with each other. The coupling between the inner ring member 511 and the pouch 503 may be any method, for example, a method using various adhesives such as hot melt, or a method of thermally welding and coupling the pouch 503 to the inner ring member 511. Note that the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring member 510 is preferably a shape that is difficult to slip when grasped and rotated by the user, such as a polygon.

[0042] In addition, concave portions 511y, 511y with which the convex portions 501y, 501y can engage are formed on the inner ring member 511. The concave portions 511y, 511y have a groove shape through which the convex portions 501y, 501y can penetrate, and the engaging portions 510y, 510y have a rib shape surrounding the convex portions 501y, 501y.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 6, the inner ring member 511 is assembled to the supply base 501 such that the convex portion 501y and the concave portion 511y engage with each other. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the outer ring member 510 is assembled to the supply base 501 such that the convex portion 501y and the engaging portion 510y engage with each other. Thus, the outer ring member 510 and the inner ring member 511 are supported by the supply base 501 so that relative rotation with respect to the supply base 501 is restricted.

[0044] Furthermore, the convex portion 501y is coupled to these concave portion 511y and engaging portion 510y in the axial direction D1 of the rotation axis z and in the radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction D1. For example, the convex portion 501y may be press-fitted into the concave portion 511y and the engaging portion 510y, or may be coupled using welding or an adhesive. Thereby, the supply base 501, the outer ring member 510, the inner ring member 511, and the pouch 503 are integrally coupled as shown in FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b). Note that the outer ring member 510 is a cylindrical member having an outer peripheral surface 510d at a position farther from the rotation axis z than the supply base 501 in the radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction D1. Also, the inner ring member 511 is fixed to the supply base 501 inside the outer ring member 510.

[0045] Hereinafter, the integrally coupled supply base 501, outer ring member 510, inner ring member 511, and pouch 503 are referred to as a rotary container unit 401, and the integrally coupled shutter member 41 and seal member 504 described later are referred to as a container shutter unit 402. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the toner pack 40 includes a container shutter unit 402 and a rotary container unit 401 that is rotatable relative to the container shutter unit 402. The rotary container unit 401 is provided so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis z in the z1 direction and the z2 direction opposite to the z1 direction with respect to the container shutter unit 402 as shown in FIG. 8(a).

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), the shutter member 41 as the container shutter is composed of a resin member having a substantially cylindrical shape. Notches 41f and grooves 41g and 41h are formed in the shutter member 41. The notches 41f and the grooves 41g are formed on the outer peripheral portion of the shutter member 41, and the groove 41h is formed on the bottom surface portion of the shutter member 41. The notch 41f is substantially rectangular, and the groove 41g is formed to extend in the circumferential direction in a partial range (about 90°) in the circumferential direction of the shutter member 41. Further, the groove 41h is formed to extend in the circumferential direction in a partial range (about 90°) in the circumferential direction of the shutter member 41 on the bottom surface portion.

[0047] The seal member 504 is made of a material such as elastic deformable foamed urethane or non-woven fabric, and is fixed to the inner surface of the shutter member 41 with a double-sided tape or the like. More specifically, the seal member 504 is disposed at a position different from the notch 41f of the shutter member 41. That is, the seal member 504 and the shutter member 41 are integrally coupled to each other to constitute a container shutter unit 402. Thereby, the container shutter unit 402 can suppress toner leakage at the interface between the seal member 504 and the shutter member 41.

[0048] As shown in FIGS. 8(a) to 10(b), when assembling the rotary container unit 401 to the container shutter unit 402, the rib 501x protruding from the outer peripheral portion 501b of the supply base 501 is aligned with the recess 41x formed in the shutter member 41. Then, the state where the rib 501x penetrates the recess 41x and is assembled is shown in FIG. 10(a). At this time, the cylindrical portion 41c of the shutter member 41 is inserted into the groove-shaped inner diameter portion 501e formed at the end of the supply base 501. The inner diameter portion 501e and the cylindrical portion 41c are a cylindrical groove and a protruding portion that are concentric with the rotation axis z, respectively. Therefore, by inserting the cylindrical portion 41c (annular rib) into the inner diameter portion 501e (annular groove), the supply base 501 is guided to be rotatable about the rotation axis z with respect to the shutter member 41.

[0049] Furthermore, the supply base 501 is provided with a hole portion 501k disposed radially inward of the inner diameter portion 501e (see FIG. 6). And the shutter member 41 is provided with a mounting portion 41d (see FIG. 9(a)) to be inserted into the hole portion 501k. An engaged portion 41k that opens to the tip side of the toner pack 40 is formed in the mounting portion 41d, and the engaged portion 41k defines a hole having a double chamfered shape. For this reason, the mounting portion 41d has a double chamfered convex shape according to the shape of the engaged portion 41k. The outermost diameter of the mounting portion 41d is set to be smaller than the inner diameter of the hole portion 501k, and the mounting portion 41d can rotate freely inside the hole portion 501k.

[0050] Also, on the end face 510x of the outer ring member 510 on the shutter member 41 side, a plurality (four in this embodiment) of ribs 510b extending in the axial direction D1 are formed. And as shown in FIG. 10(b), the base end portion 41b of the shutter member 41 is surrounded by the end face 510x and the rib 501x, and the movement in the axial direction D1 and the radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction D1 is restricted. Thereby, the rotating container unit 401 including the supply base 501 is attached to the container shutter unit 402 including the shutter member 41 so as to be relatively rotatable about the rotation axis z and the movement in the axial direction D1 and the radial direction is restricted.

[0051] And the seal member 504 fixed to the shutter member 41 has a sliding surface 504b that slides with respect to the outer peripheral portion 501b of the supply base 501. The seal member 504 is pressed and deformed in the direction approaching the shutter member 41 by the outer peripheral portion 501b, that is, outward in the radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and a surface pressure is generated between the outer peripheral portion 501b and the sliding surface 504b. Thereby, toner leakage at the interface between the seal member 504 and the supply base 501 can be suppressed.

[0052] More specifically, when viewed in the axial direction D1 of the rotation axis z, the supply base 501 and the shutter member 41 are cylindrical members. The supply base 501 is configured to rotate about the rotation axis z along the inner peripheral surface 41j of the shutter member 41 inside the shutter member 41.

[0053] FIGS. 10(a) and 11(a) show a state in which the toner discharge port 501r formed in the supply base 501 is shielded by the shutter member 41 and the seal member 504. At this time, the toner stored in the pouch 503 can pass through the opening 503a of the pouch 503, the inner space of the inner ring member 511, the opening 501a of the supply base 501, and the inner space of the supply base 501 and move to the toner discharge port 501r. However, since the toner discharge port 501r is shielded by the shutter member 41 and the seal member 504, the toner stored in the pouch 503 is sealed so as not to leak to the outside in the state of the toner pack 40 alone. Note that the opening 503a of the pouch 503 is provided at one end in the axial direction D1 of the pouch 503.

[0054] FIGS. 10(b) and 11(b) show a state in which the toner discharge port 501r formed in the supply base 501 is opened without being shielded by the shutter member 41 and the seal member 504. At this time, the toner discharge port 501r is at a position facing the notch 41f of the shutter member 41, and the toner stored in the pouch 503 can be discharged to the outside of the toner pack 40 through the toner discharge port 501r and the notch 41f.

[0055] For example, the state of the toner pack 40 shown in FIG. 11(a) is defined as the shielded state, and the state of the toner pack 40 shown in FIG. 11(b) is defined as the open state. In this case, when the toner pack 40 rotates the rotary container unit 401 approximately 90° in the direction of arrow z1 about the rotation axis z from the shielded state, it enters the open state. Further, when the toner pack 40 rotates the rotary container unit 401 approximately 90° in the direction of arrow z2 about the rotation axis z from the open state, it enters the shielded state. Note that the degree of rotation of the rotary container unit 401 for the toner pack 40 to transition between the open state and the shielded state can be freely set.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 11(a), the position of the supply base 501 when the toner pack 40 is in the shielded state is defined as the shielded position and the first shielded position, and as shown in FIG. 11(b), the position of the supply base 501 when the toner pack 40 is in the open state is defined as the open position and the first open position.

[0057] At the shielded position, the toner discharge port 501r of the supply base 501 is shielded by the shutter member 41. Further, at the open position, the shutter member 41 opens the toner discharge port 501r so that the toner in the pouch 503 is discharged to the outside of the toner pack 40 through the toner discharge port 501r.

[0058] Note that after the user attaches the toner pack 40 to the developing container 32, the user grips the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring member 510 and rotates the outer ring member 510 in the direction of arrow z1 about the rotation axis z. As a result, the supply base 501 also rotates in the direction of arrow z1 about the rotation axis z, and the toner discharge port 501r of the supply base 501 is exposed through the notch portion 41f. As a result, the toner pack 40 changes from the shielded state to the open state, and the toner in the pouch 503 can be discharged to the outside of the toner pack 40. Here, the axial direction D1 parallel to the rotation axis z is a direction along the vertical direction, and the mounting direction of the toner pack 40 with respect to the image forming apparatus 1 is a direction along the axial direction D1. That is, the toner pack 40 is configured to be mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 such that the axial direction D, which is the direction of the rotation axis z, is along the vertical direction.

[0059] The material of the pouch 503 is composed of resin sheets such as PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), PET (polyethylene terephthalate), composite materials thereof, non-woven fabrics, paper, and composite materials thereof with resins. When the pouch 503 is composed of elastically deformable members by the user, the user can easily discharge the toner in the pouch 503 by pressing or squeezing the pouch 503 with a finger.

[0060] When the user finishes discharging the toner in the pouch 503 into the developing container 32, the user grips the outer peripheral surface 510d of the outer ring member 510 and rotates the outer ring member 510 in the direction of arrow z2 about the rotation axis z. As a result, the supply base 501 also rotates in the direction of arrow z2 about the rotation axis z, and the toner discharge port 501r of the supply base 501 is shielded by the shutter member 41 and the seal member 504. As a result, the toner pack 40 changes from the open state to the shielded state, and it becomes possible to remove the toner pack 40 from the developing container 32.

[0061] [Toner receiving portion of developing container] Next, the toner receiving portion 600 provided in the developing container 32 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 12(a) to 15, the toner receiving portion 600 includes a receiving base unit 602 and a receiving shutter unit 601 that is rotatably supported about the rotation axis z with respect to the receiving base unit 602.

[0062] FIGS. 12(a) and 13(a) show a state in which the toner supply port 32r, which is a second opening leading to the accommodating portion 36, is shielded, and FIGS. 12(b) and 13(b) show a state in which the toner supply port 32r is opened. Hereinafter, as shown in FIGS. 12(a) and 13(a), the state of the toner receiving portion 600 in which the toner supply port 32r is shielded is defined as the shielded state, and as shown in FIGS. 12(b) and 13(b), the state of the toner receiving portion 600 in which the toner supply port 32r is opened is defined as the open state.

[0063] The receiving base unit 602 includes a cylindrical portion 32g as a substantially cylindrical main body base portion, a base seal 506, and a shutter restraining member 512. In the present embodiment, the cylindrical portion 32g is integrally formed with the developing container 32 (see Fig. 1(a)), but is not limited thereto. For example, the cylindrical portion 32g may be composed of a member separate from the developing container 32 and fixed to the developing container 32. Further, the cylindrical portion 32g may be provided in a portion of the printer main body 100 other than the developing container 32, and toner may be supplied to the developing container 32 through the cylindrical portion 32g.

[0064] The cylindrical portion 32g has a supply port 32a for supplying toner from the toner pack 40 to the storage portion 36 (see Fig. 1(a)) of the developing container 32, an outer peripheral portion 32b as a side surface extending along the axial direction D1, and a toner supply port 32r formed in the outer peripheral portion 32b. Further, the cylindrical portion 32g has an engaging portion 32e that protrudes upward in the axial direction D1 from its bottom surface 32h (see Fig. 19(a)). The engaging portion 32e engages with an engaged portion 41k of a shutter member 41, as will be described later. That is, the engaging portion 32e has a two-faceted boss shape corresponding to the two-faceted hole-shaped engaged portion 41k.

[0065] Further, the engaging portion 32e is press-fitted into a hole portion 512e of the shutter restraining member 512. For this reason, the hole portion 512e has a two-faceted hole shape similar to that of the engaging portion 32e. The shutter restraining member 512 is attached to the engaging portion 32e of the cylindrical portion 32g after the shutter member 507 of the receiving shutter unit 601 is assembled to the cylindrical portion 32g. In the present embodiment, the shutter restraining member 512 is press-fitted and fixed to the engaging portion 32e of the cylindrical portion 32g, but is not limited thereto. For example, the shutter restraining member 512 may be fixed to the cylindrical portion 32g by a method using welding or an adhesive.

[0066] As shown in FIGS. 16(a) and 16(b), the base seal 506 is made of a material such as elastic deformable foamed urethane or non-woven fabric, and is fixed to the cylindrical portion 32g with a double-sided tape or the like. Thereby, the base seal 506 can suppress toner leakage at the interface between the base seal 506 and the cylindrical portion 32g. Further, an opening 506a is provided in the base seal 506 at a position corresponding to the toner supply port 32r, and the toner that has passed through the opening 506a is supplied through the toner supply port 32r to the storage portion 36 (see FIG. 1(a)) of the developing container 32.

[0067] As shown in FIGS. 12(a) to 15 and 17, the receiving shutter unit 601 has a shutter member 507 and a shutter sheet 505. The developing container 32 (see FIG. 1(a)) includes a storage portion 36, a cylindrical portion 32g, and a shutter member 507, and rotatably supports the developing roller 31. The toner pack 40 is configured to be attachable to the developing container 32.

[0068] The shutter member 507 has an inner diameter portion 507h, an outer diameter portion 507k, and a convex portion 507e that connects the inner diameter portion 507h and the outer diameter portion 507k. The convex portion 507e protrudes radially inward from the outer diameter portion 507k, and as shown in FIG. 13, has a substantially fan-shaped horizontal portion 507x and a rising portion 507s extending in the axial direction D1. The horizontal portion 507x is configured to be able to pass through the groove portion 41g (see FIG. 9(a)) of the shutter member 41 of the toner pack 40. Further, the rising portion 507s is configured to be able to pass through the groove portion 41h (see FIG. 9(a)) of the shutter member 41.

[0069] As shown in FIGS. 17(a) and 17(b), the shutter sheet 505 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the rising portion 507s with a double-sided tape or the like. The shutter sheet 505 is a film having a thickness of about 100 [μm], and the tip portion 505a of the shutter sheet 505 is arranged so as to protrude from the edge portion 507a of the rising portion 507s. The sliding surface 505k of the shutter sheet 505 is configured to be slidable with respect to the sliding surface 506d (see FIG. 16(a)) of the base seal 506.

[0070] On the outer diameter portion 507k of the shutter member 507, groove portions 507p, 507p are formed into which ribs 510b (see FIG. 8(a)) formed on the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40 can be engaged. These groove portions 507p, 507p are arranged to face each other in the radial direction and are formed to extend in the circumferential direction in a partial range (about 90°) in the circumferential direction of the outer diameter portion 507k. For this reason, the upper portion of the outer diameter portion 507k is divided into four sections by the groove portions 507p, 507p, and the four ribs 510b of the outer ring member 510 are engaged with these four sections. Thereby, the toner pack 40 is configured to be rotatable only within a range of about 90° in a state where it is mounted on the toner receiving portion 600. Therefore, when replenishing toner from the toner pack 40 to the developing container 32, the range for rotating the rotating container unit 401 of the toner pack 40 becomes clear, and usability can be improved.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 18, a guide groove portion 507c is formed in the inner diameter portion 507h of the shutter member 507, and a guide rib 32k of the cylindrical portion 32g is inserted into the guide groove portion 507c. As shown in FIGS. 18(a) to 19(b), the guide groove portion 507c and the guide rib 32k are each a cylindrical groove and a protruding portion concentric with the rotation axis z. For this reason, by inserting the guide rib 32k into the guide groove portion 507c, the shutter member 507 is guided to be rotatable about the rotation axis z with respect to the cylindrical portion 32g.

[0072] Further, the inner peripheral surface 507d of the shutter member 507 is provided so as to be slidably in contact with the rib 32m of the cylindrical portion 32g. In this way, the shutter member 507 is supported so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis z with respect to the cylindrical portion 32g.

[0073] Furthermore, a hole portion 507q is formed in the inner diameter portion 507h of the shutter member 507, which is disposed radially inside the guide groove portion 507c. The engaging portion 32e penetrates through the hole portion 507q, but the outer diameter of the hole portion 507q is set to be larger than the outermost diameter of the engaging portion 32e, so that the shutter member 507 can rotate freely without interfering with the engaging portion 32e.

[0074] After the shutter member 507 is assembled to the cylindrical portion 32g, the shutter restraining member 512 is press-fitted into the engaging portion 32e. As a result, the rib 507j of the shutter member 507 is sandwiched between the bottom surface 32h of the cylindrical portion 32g and the shutter restraining member 512 in the axial direction D1. As a result, the movement of the shutter member 507 in the axial direction D1 is restricted. That is, the receiving shutter unit 601 including the shutter member 507 is attached to the receiving base unit 602 including the cylindrical portion 32g and the shutter restraining member 512 so as to be relatively rotatable about the rotation axis z and immovable in the axial direction D1 and the radial direction.

[0075] The base seal 506 fixed to the cylindrical portion 32g is pressed and deformed by the shutter sheet 505 fixed to the shutter member 507 in a direction approaching the cylindrical portion 32g, that is, outward in the radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction D1. Thereby, surface pressure is generated between the sliding surface 506d of the base seal 506 and the sliding surface 505k (see FIG. 17(a)) of the shutter sheet 505. Therefore, even when toner is accommodated in the developing container 32 in the state of the developing container 32 alone, toner leakage at the interface between the base seal 506 and the shutter sheet 505 can be suppressed.

[0076] [Connection between Toner Pack and Cylindrical Portion of Developing Container] Next, the coupling operation, detachment operation between the toner pack 40 and the developing container 32, and the opening / closing operations of the toner discharge port 501r and the toner supply port 32r will be described. FIGS. 3(a) and 11(a) show the shielded state of the toner pack 40 in which the toner discharge port 501r is shielded by the seal member 504 attached to the shutter member 41. FIGS. 12(a) and 13(a) show the shielded state of the toner receiving portion 600 in which the toner supply port 32r is shielded by the shutter sheet 505 attached to the shutter member 507.

[0077] Normally, when starting to replenish toner into the developing container 32, both the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving portion 600 are in a shielded state. In other words, when the replenishment base 501 is in the first shielding position, the toner discharge port 501r is in a position where it does not overlap with the toner supply port 32r of the cylindrical portion 32g when viewed from the radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction D1, and the shutter member 507 is in the second shielding position.

[0078] Then, as shown in FIG. 20(a), the user fits the toner pack 40 into the toner receiving portion 600. At this time, the engaged portion 41k (see FIG. 3(a)) formed on the shutter member 41 of the toner pack 40 engages with the engaging portion 32e formed on the cylindrical portion 32g of the toner receiving portion 600.

[0079] The engaged portion 41k and the engaging portion 32e each have a chamfered shape. Due to their engagement, the shutter member 41 is attached to the cylindrical portion 32g so as not to be rotatable about the rotation axis z. That is, the engaged portion 41k is configured such that when the toner pack 40 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1, rotation about the rotation axis z of the shutter member 41 is restricted by engaging with the engaging portion 32e of the image forming apparatus 1.

[0080] In other words, the toner pack 40 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1 such that rotation about the rotation axis z of the shutter member 507 with respect to the cylindrical portion 32g is restricted, and the replenishment base 501 rotates together with the shutter member 507.

[0081] Further, a convex portion 507e (see FIG. 13(a)) formed on the shutter member 507 of the toner receiving portion 600 penetrates a notch portion 41f of the shutter member 41 of the toner pack 40 and engages with a concave portion 501f (see FIG. 8(a)) formed on the supply base 501. When both the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving portion 600 are in a shielded state, when the toner pack 40 is fitted into the toner receiving portion 600, the engagement between the engaged portion 41k and the engaging portion 32e and the engagement between the convex portion 507e and the concave portion 501f can be performed simultaneously.

[0082] Here, consider the case where the user rotates the outer peripheral surface 510d of the outer ring member 510 in the direction of arrow z1 about the rotation axis z from the state shown in FIG. 20(a) to supply the toner in the toner pack 40 to the developing container 32. When the outer ring member 510 is rotated in the direction of arrow z1, the supply base 501 also rotates in the direction of arrow z1 in conjunction therewith. At this time, a stepped portion 501n (see FIG. 8(a)) of the concave portion 501f of the supply base 501 presses an end face 507f (see FIG. 13(a)) as the contacted portion of the convex portion 507e of the shutter member 507.

[0083] In other words, the stepped portion 501n as the contacted portion contacts the end face 507f so that the shutter member 507 rotates about the rotation axis z together with the shutter member 42 when the toner pack 40 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 1. As a result, the shutter member 507 as the main body shutter rotates in the direction of arrow z1 about the rotation axis z together with the supply base 501.

[0084] On the other hand, since the cylindrical portion 32g of the toner receiving portion 600 and the shutter member 41 of the toner pack 40 are rotationally restricted as described above, they do not rotate. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 11(b), the supply base 501 of the toner pack 40 rotates relative to the shutter member 41 in the direction of arrow z1, and the toner discharge port 501r faces the notch portion 41f of the shutter member 41. That is, the toner pack 40 is in an open state, and the toner accommodated in the toner pack 40 can be discharged.

[0085] At the same time, as shown in Fig. 13(b), the shutter member 507 of the toner receiving portion 600 rotates relative to the cylindrical portion 32g in the direction of arrow z1, and the shutter sheet 505 fixed to the shutter member 507 moves away from the toner supply port 32r. That is, the toner receiving portion 600 is in an open state and can receive the toner discharged from the toner pack 40. In other words, the shutter member 507 is located at a second open position where the toner supply port 32r is opened so that the toner replenished from the toner pack 40 can be received into the housing portion 36 of the developing container 32 through the toner supply port 32r. Also, when the supply base 501 is at the first open position, the toner discharge port 501r overlaps with the toner supply port 32r of the cylindrical portion 32g when viewed from the radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction D1, and the shutter member 507 is at the second open position.

[0086] As a result, as shown in Fig. 20(b), the toner stored in the toner pack 40 is replenished to the developing container 32 through the toner supply port 32r and the toner discharge port 501r. Note that the rotation angle of the outer ring member 510 is restricted to approximately 90° by the engagement between the convex portion 507e of the shutter member 507 and the groove portions 41g, 41h of the shutter member 41, and the engagement between the rib 510b of the outer ring member 510 and the groove portion 507p of the shutter member 507. Note that the rotation angle of the outer ring member 510 is not limited to approximately 90°, and may be less than 90° or more than 90°.

[0087] Also, when the convex portion 507e of the shutter member 507 engages with the groove portion 41g of the shutter member 41, the toner pack 40 becomes immovable in the axial direction D1 with respect to the toner receiving portion 600, and the toner pack 40 can be locked with respect to the toner receiving portion 600. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the toner pack 40 accidentally comes off from the toner receiving portion 600 during toner replenishment and the toner scatters inside the image forming apparatus 1, and improve the workability of the toner replenishment operation.

[0088] Next, consider the case where the user rotates the outer peripheral surface 510d of the outer ring member 510 from the state shown in FIG. 20(b) in the direction of arrow z2 about the rotation axis z to separate the toner pack 40 from the cylindrical portion 32g of the developing container 32. When the outer ring member 510 is rotated in the direction of arrow z2, the supply base 501 also rotates in the direction of arrow z2 in conjunction. At this time, the stepped portion 501m (see FIG. 8(a)) of the concave portion 501f of the supply base 501 presses the end face 507g (see FIG. 13(b)) of the convex portion 507e of the shutter member 507. As a result, the shutter member 507 rotates in the direction of arrow z2 about the rotation axis z together with the supply base 501.

[0089] On the other hand, since the cylindrical portion 32g of the toner receiving portion 600 and the shutter member 41 of the toner pack 40 are rotationally restricted as described above, they do not rotate. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 11(a), the supply base 501 of the toner pack 40 rotates relative to the shutter member 41 in the direction of arrow z2, and the toner discharge port 501r faces the seal member 504 (see FIG. 10(a)) fixed to the shutter member 41. That is, the toner pack 40 is in a shielded state, and the toner accommodated in the toner pack 40 cannot be discharged.

[0090] At the same time, as shown in FIG. 13(a), the shutter member 507 of the toner receiving portion 600 rotates relative to the cylindrical portion 32g in the direction of arrow z2, and the shutter sheet 505 fixed to the shutter member 507 covers the toner supply port 32r. That is, the toner receiving portion 600 is in a shielded state, and cannot receive the toner discharged from the toner pack 40. At this time, the shutter member 507 is located at the second shielding position that shields the toner supply port 32r.

[0091] In this state, since the convex portion 507e of the shutter member 507 disengages from the groove portions 41g and 41h of the shutter member 41, the toner pack 40 can be removed from the toner receiving portion 600. Also, since both the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving portion 600 are in a shielded state, the toner pack 40 can be removed from the toner receiving portion 600 without the toner scattering.

[0092] [Toner Leakage Suppression Configuration] Next, a configuration for suppressing toner leakage between the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving portion 600 will be described with reference to FIGS. 21(a) to 23(b). FIGS. 21(a) to 23(b) are schematic cross-sectional views showing the arrangement relationship between the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving portion 600 of the developing container 32. Although the seal members 504 and the base seal 506 are arranged on cylindrical curved surfaces, they are schematically shown as planes here.

[0093] FIGS. 21(a) to 23(b) view the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving portion 600 in the axial direction D1. When the outer ring member 510 (see FIG. 20(a)) of the toner pack 40 is rotated in the direction of arrow z1, in FIGS. 21(a) to 23(b), the supply base 501 moves to the left in the drawing plane.

[0094] FIG. 21(a) shows the state before the developing container 32 and the toner pack 40 are coupled. FIG. 21(b) shows the state where the toner pack 40 is mounted on the developing container 32 from the state shown in FIG. 21(a), and is the state before the supply base 501 of the toner pack 40 and the shutter member 507 of the toner receiving portion 600 rotate. In the state shown in FIG. 21(b), the toner supply port 32r and the toner discharge port 501r are shielded, and the toner accommodated in the pouch 503 (see FIG. 3(a)) is not discharged to the outside of the toner pack 40.

[0095] Also, FIG. 21(c) shows the state where the supply base 501 and the shutter member 507 are rotated by an angle Θ1 (0° < Θ1 < 90°) in the direction of arrow z1 (see FIG. 20(a)) about the rotation axis z from the state shown in FIG. 21(b). FIG. 22(a) shows the state where the supply base 501 and the shutter member 507 are rotated by 90° in the direction of arrow z1 (see FIG. 20(a)) from the state shown in FIG. 21(b), and shows the state where the toner supply port 32r and the toner discharge port 501r are open.

[0096] As shown in Fig. 21(b), when the toner pack 40 in the shielded state is mounted on the toner receiving portion 600 in the shielded state, the tip portion 505a of the shutter sheet 505 is arranged to contact the outer peripheral portion 501b of the supply base 501. Further, the stepped portion 501n of the supply base 501 is arranged with a gap δ1 in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation axis z with respect to the end face 507f of the shutter member 507. The stepped portion 501m of the supply base 501 is arranged with a gap δ2 in the circumferential direction centered on the rotation axis z with respect to the end face 507g of the shutter member 507.

[0097] These gaps δ1 and δ2 correspond to the gaps (play) when the user mounts the toner pack 40 on the developing container 32. The presence of the gaps δ1 and δ2 enables the toner pack 40 to be easily mounted on the developing container 32 and improves the mountability of the toner pack 40.

[0098] After the toner pack 40 is mounted on the toner receiving portion 600 of the developing container 32, the user rotates the supply base 501 in the direction of arrow z1. Then, as shown in Fig. 21(c), the gap δ1 that existed in Fig. 21(b) disappears, and the stepped portion 501n of the supply base 501 contacts the end face 507f of the shutter member 507. And the end face 507f is pressed by the stepped portion 501n, and the supply base 501 and the shutter member 507 rotate integrally in the direction of arrow z1. At this time, the gap δ2 has a wider space than the initial state. Further, the tip portion 505a of the shutter sheet 505 is configured to contact the outer peripheral portion 501b without separating from the outer peripheral portion 501b of the supply base 501.

[0099] Furthermore, when the user rotates the supply base 501 in the direction of arrow z1, as shown in Fig. 22(a), the toner discharge port 501r and the toner supply port 32r are opened without being covered by the shutter sheet 505 and the shutter member 507. Then, the toner accommodated in the toner pack 40 is supplied into the developing container 32 through the toner discharge port 501r and the toner supply port 32r. During this toner supply, the base seal 506 suppresses the entry of toner into the interface with the supply base 501.

[0100] Next, when ending the toner discharge from the toner pack 40 and removing the toner pack 40, as shown in Fig. 22(b), the user rotates the supply base 501 by an angle Θ3 (0° < Θ3 < 90°) in the direction of arrow z2 (right direction in the paper plane) from the state of Fig. 22(a). As a result, the stepped portion 501m of the supply base 501 comes into contact with the end face 507g of the shutter member 507, and the gap δ2 that existed in Fig. 22(a) disappears. Then, the end face 507g is pressed by the stepped portion 501m, and the supply base 501 and the shutter member 507 rotate integrally in the direction of arrow z2. At this time, the gap δ1 has a wider space than the initial state.

[0101] Furthermore, when the user rotates the supply base 501 in the direction of arrow z2, as shown in Fig. 23(a), the gap δ1 formed by the stepped portion 501n of the supply base 501 and the end face 507f of the shutter member 507 is located above the toner supply port 32r. At this time, since the tip portion 505a of the shutter sheet 505 is in contact with the outer peripheral portion 501b of the supply base 501, the entry of toner into the gap δ1 can be suppressed.

[0102] When the user further rotates the supply base 501 in the direction of arrow z2, as shown in FIG. 23(b), the toner discharge port 501r is shielded by the seal member 504, and the toner supply port 32r is shielded by the shutter sheet 505 and the shutter member 507. In this state, the toner pack 40 can be detached from the cylindrical portion 32g of the developing container 32, and when the toner pack 40 is detached from the cylindrical portion 32g, it returns to the state shown in FIG. 21(a). As described above, one form of the toner container and the image forming system can be provided.

[0103] In the present embodiment, when the toner pack 40 is changed from the shielded state to the open state, the toner discharge port 501r is surely shielded by the seal member 504 and the tip portion 505a of the shutter sheet 505. Therefore, the toner in the toner pack 40 is suppressed from leaking out from the toner discharge port 501r, and the usability can be improved.

[0104] Also, when the toner pack 40 is changed from the open state to the shielded state, the space between the stepped portion 501n corresponding to the gap δ1 shown in FIG. 23(a) and the end face 507f is surely shielded by the tip portion 505a of the shutter sheet 505. Therefore, the toner is suppressed from entering the gap δ1, and the toner in the gap δ1 is suppressed from scattering when the toner pack 40 is removed, and the usability can be improved.

[0105] Also, the toner discharge port 501r of the toner pack 40 is formed in the outer peripheral portion 501b extending in the axial direction D1 of the supply base 501. Therefore, for example, compared with the case where the toner discharge port 501r is formed at the end portion in the axial direction D1 of the toner pack 40 (for example, the end face perpendicular to the axial direction D1), the opening area of the toner discharge port 501r can be widened, and the toner supply efficiency can be improved. Also, the outer diameters of the supply base 501 and the cylindrical portion 32g can be made small.

[0106] Also, in the present embodiment, a supply base 501 is disposed on the inner peripheral surface side of the shutter member 41. For example, when the toner accommodated in the developing container 32 becomes full during toner supply and only a part of the toner in the toner pack 40 can be supplied, toner (cut-off toner) accumulates at the toner discharge port 501r of the supply base 501. Before the toner pack 40 is detached from the developing container 32, it is rotated while being attached to the developing container 32 and changes from the open state to the shielding state. At this time, the toner discharge port 501r is shielded by the shutter member 41 from the outer peripheral surface side of the toner discharge port 501r. Therefore, the toner pack 40 can be detached from the developing container 32 with the cut-off toner accumulated at the toner discharge port 501r reliably sealed by the shutter member 41, and the cut-off toner can be prevented from scattering outside the developing container 32.

[0107] In the present embodiment, the configuration in which the engaged portion 41k formed on the shutter member 41 of the toner pack 40 engages with the engaging portion 32e of the cylindrical portion 32g has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The engaged portion 41k and the engaging portion 32e each had a double chamfered shape, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the engaged portion 41k may be configured in a boss shape with double chamfers, and the engaging portion 32e may be configured in a hole shape with double chamfers. Further, regardless of the shapes of the engaged portion 41k and the engaging portion 32e, they may be press-fitted into each other or engaged with each other in a snap-fit shape.

[0108] <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment is configured by changing the shutter member 507 of the toner receiving portion 600 of the first embodiment to a shutter member 507B. Therefore, for the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, illustration will be omitted or the same reference numerals will be given in the drawings for description.

[0109] Note that the shutter member 507 according to the second embodiment has an inner diameter portion 507h, an outer diameter portion 507k, and a convex portion 507e, as shown in FIG. 15, similar to the first embodiment. That is, the shutter member 507B is different from the shutter member 507 of the first embodiment only in that a fitting portion 513 is provided in addition.

[0110] As shown in FIGS. 24(a) to 25, the fitting portion 513 of the shutter member 507B has a substantially hexagonal opening 513a with which the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40 engages, and a lever portion 513b that can be rotated by the user.

[0111] FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 1B according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 27 is a plan view showing the image forming apparatus 1B according to the second embodiment. The image forming apparatus 1B has basically the same configuration and functions as the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, an opening 82a is formed in the discharge tray 81 of the image forming apparatus 1B, and the opening 82a is disposed on the right side of the apparatus.

[0112] The fitting portion 513 of the shutter member 507B is exposed to the outside through the opening 82a. When the user replenishes toner to the developing container 32 (see FIG. 1(a)), the user fits the toner pack 40 into the fitting portion 513. More specifically, the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40 is fitted into the fitting portion 513.

[0113] Then, the user operates the lever portion 513b exposed from the opening 82a to rotate the lever portion 513b about the rotation axis z (see FIG. 24(b)). As a result, the shutter member 507B and the rotary container unit 401 (see FIG. 5) of the toner pack 40 rotate, and the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving portion 600B change from the shielded state to the open state. As a result, the toner in the toner pack 40 can be supplied to the developing container 32.

[0114] As described above, in this embodiment, instead of operating the outer ring member 510 as in the first embodiment, by operating the lever portion 513b of the shutter member 507B, the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving portion 600B can be changed from the shielded state to the open state.

[0115] The space for gripping the lever portion 513b can be smaller than the space for gripping the outer ring member 510. Therefore, for example, even when the opening 82a is small, the operability of the lever portion 513b is good, and usability can be improved. Note that it is advantageous for the opening 82a to be small in terms of the strength of the housing of the image forming apparatus 1B and for preventing foreign matter from entering the inside of the image forming apparatus 1B.

[0116] Also, since the lever portion 513b is arranged at a position farther from the rotation axis z in the radial direction than the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40, the force required when the user operates the lever portion 513b can be reduced, and usability can be improved.

[0117] In this embodiment, the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40 is fitted to the fitting portion 513 of the shutter member 507B, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the outer ring member 510, at least one of the supply base 501, the inner ring member 511, and the pouch 503 may be fixed to the shutter member 507B.

[0118] <Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The third embodiment is configured by changing the shutter member 507B of the first embodiment to a shutter member 507C. Therefore, for the same configurations as those in the first embodiment, illustration will be omitted or the same reference numerals will be given in the drawings for explanation.

[0119] The shutter member 507C has a fitting portion 515. As shown in FIGS. 28(a) to 29, the fitting portion 515 has a substantially hexagonal opening 515a with which the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40 engages, and a gear portion 515b. The gear portion 515b is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the fitting portion 515, and a plurality of teeth are arranged in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis z.

[0120] A guide member 516 is fixed to a frame (not shown) inside the image forming apparatus 1C (see FIG. 30) or the developing container 32 (see FIG. 1(a)). A lever member 514 is supported by the guide member 516 so as to be slidable in the w1 direction and the w2 direction. The lever member 514 has a lever portion 514a that can be gripped by the user, and a rack portion 514b that meshes with the gear portion 515b.

[0121] FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus 1C according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 31 is a plan view showing the image forming apparatus 1C according to the third embodiment. FIG. 32 is an enlarged plan view showing the peripheral configuration of the toner pack 40 and the shutter member 507C. The image forming apparatus 1C has basically the same configuration and functions as the image forming apparatus 1 of the first embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, an opening 82a is formed in the discharge tray 81 of the image forming apparatus 1C, and the opening 82a is disposed on the right side of the apparatus.

[0122] The fitting portion 515 of the shutter member 507C is exposed to the outside through the opening 82a. When the user replenishes toner to the developing container 32 (see FIG. 1(a)), the user fits the toner pack 40 to the fitting portion 515. More specifically, the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40 is fitted to the fitting portion 515.

[0123] Then, the user operates the lever portion 514a exposed from the opening 82a, and slides the lever member 514 in the w2 direction as shown in FIGS. 30 to 32. When the lever member 514 slides in the w2 direction, the gear portion 515b meshing with the rack portion 514b of the lever member 514 is rotationally driven. As a result, the shutter member 507C and the rotary container unit 401 (see FIG. 5) of the toner pack 40 rotate, and the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving portion 600C change from the shielded state to the open state. As a result, the toner in the toner pack 40 can be supplied to the developing container 32.

[0124] As described above, in the present embodiment, instead of operating the outer ring member 510 as in the first embodiment, by operating the lever portion 514a of the lever member 514, the toner pack 40 and the toner receiving portion 600C can be changed from the shielded state to the open state.

[0125] The space for gripping the lever portion 514a can be smaller than the space for gripping the outer ring member 510. Therefore, for example, even when the opening 82a is small, the operability of the lever portion 514a is good, and the usability can be improved. Note that the opening 82a is preferably small in terms of the strength of the housing of the image forming apparatus 1C and for preventing foreign matter from entering the inside of the image forming apparatus 1C.

[0126] Further, since the lever portion 514a is disposed at a position farther from the rotation axis z in the radial direction than the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40, the force required for the user to operate the lever portion 514a can be reduced, and the usability can be improved.

[0127] In the present embodiment, the outer ring member 510 of the toner pack 40 is fitted to the fitting portion 515 of the shutter member 507C, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, instead of the outer ring member 510, at least one of the supply base 501, the inner ring member 511, and the pouch 503 may be fixed to the shutter member 507C.

[0128] <Fourth Embodiment> Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The fourth embodiment is a modification of the configuration of the toner pack 40 in the first embodiment. Therefore, for the configurations similar to those in the first embodiment, illustration will be omitted or the same reference numerals will be used in the drawings for explanation.

[0129] Hereinafter, the configuration of a toner pack 40, which is detachable from an image forming apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1(a)) and serves as a toner container for storing toner, will be described. As shown in FIGS. 33(a) to 36(b), a toner pack 40D as a toner container includes a shutter member 41D, a seal member 504D, a supply base 501D, an inner ring member 511, and a pouch 503, and these members are assembled to form the toner pack 40D.

[0130] An inner ring member 511 is coupled to the supply base 501D, and a pouch 503 is coupled to the inner ring member 511. Toner is stored inside the pouch 503. As shown in FIGS. 34 and 35, a toner discharge port 501r is formed in a fixed surface 501s of the supply base 501D.

[0131] Also, a seal member 504D is fixed to the fixed surface 501s with a double-sided tape or the like, and an opening 504h is formed in the seal member 504D at a position corresponding to the toner discharge port 501r. The seal member 504D is made of a material such as elastic deformable foamed urethane or non-woven fabric.

[0132] A sliding surface 501t is formed on the supply base 501D so as to be flush with a sliding surface 504t of the seal member 504D fixed to the fixed surface 501s. That is, a step is provided between the sliding surface 501t and the fixed surface 501s.

[0133] FIG. 36(a) shows a state in which the toner discharge port 501r and the opening 504h are shielded by the shutter member 41D, and FIG. 36(b) shows a state in which the toner discharge port 501r and the opening 504h are open. The toner pack 40D is mounted on the developing container 32 in a direction along the moving direction MD described later. The toner discharge port 501r is formed on a fixed surface 501s extending along the moving direction MD. Further, as shown in FIGS. 36(a) and (b), the shutter member 41D is supported on the supply base 501D so as to be slidable in the moving direction MD. The shutter member 41D is configured to be slidable so as to slide on the sliding surfaces 501t and 504t, and is biased to the position shown in FIG. 36(a) by a spring (not shown). Thereby, it is possible to reduce the leakage of toner from the toner discharge port 501r. Further, a protrusion 41w protrudes from the side surface 41v of the shutter member 41D.

[0134] As shown in FIG. 33(a), when the user supplies toner to the developing container 32, the user mounts the toner pack 40D on the developing container 32. At this time, the protrusion 41w of the shutter member 41D engages with the restricting member 901 provided in the image forming apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1(a)), and the shutter member 41D is restricted from moving in the mounting direction of the toner pack 40D, that is, the moving direction MD, by the restricting member 901.

[0135] When the user further grasps the inner ring member 511 and moves the toner pack 40D in the mounting direction parallel to the moving direction MD, the supply base 501D and the pouch 503 move downward together with the inner ring member 511 while the shutter member 41D is restricted by the restricting member 901 and stopped. Thereby, the opening 504h and the toner discharge port 501r are exposed from the shutter member 41D, and the toner stored in the toner pack 40D is supplied to the developing container 32 through the opening 504h and the toner discharge port 501r.

[0136] As described above, in this embodiment, by simply moving the toner pack 40D in the mounting direction with respect to the developing container 32, the opening 504h and the toner discharge port 501r are opened, and toner can be replenished. Therefore, the replenishment work can be easily performed, and usability can be improved.

Explanation of Signs

[0137] 1,1B,1C: Image forming apparatus / 31: Developing roller / 32: Developing container / 32b: Side surface (outer peripheral part) / 32e: Engaging part / 32g: Main body base part (cylindrical part) / 32r: Second opening (toner supply port) / 36: Second toner storage part (storage part) / 40,40D: Toner container (toner pack) / 41: Container shutter (shutter member) / 41j: Inner peripheral surface / 41k: Engaged part / 501: Container base part (supply base) / 501b: Side surface (outer peripheral part) / 501n: Contact part (step part) / 501r: Discharge port, first opening (toner discharge port) / 503: Toner storage part, flexible container, first toner storage part (pouch) / 503a: Opening / 507: Main body shutter (shutter member) / 507f: Contacted part (end face) / 510: Cylindrical member (outer ring member) / 510d: Outer peripheral surface / 511: Support member (inner ring member) / 1000: Image forming system / D1: Direction of rotation axis (axis direction) / z: Rotation axis

Claims

1. A toner container comprising: a flexible pouch for containing toner therein, the pouch being provided with an opening communicating with the interior; a ring-shaped ring member fixed to the opening so as to maintain the opening in an open state; a base member provided with an outlet for discharging the toner contained in the interior of the pouch to the outside of the toner container, the base member engaging with the ring member; a shutter rotatable with respect to the base member; when the direction in which the pouch and the base member are aligned is defined as a first direction, the outlet is provided on a side surface of the base member extending in a direction along the first direction and opens in a second direction intersecting the first direction; the shutter rotates about a rotation axis extending in the first direction between a closed position for closing the outlet and an open position for opening the outlet; A toner container characterized by the above.

2. The pouch is heat-welded to the ring member. The toner container according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The pouch is adhered to the ring member with an adhesive. The toner container according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

4. The pouch is made of a resin sheet. The toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the above.

5. The material of the resin sheet is polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene terephthalate. The toner container according to claim 4, characterized by the above.

6. The pouch is made of paper or a composite material of paper and resin. The toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the above.

Images