Container holding unit, developing apparatus, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

This reduces staining caused by the developer due to the detachment of the developer container. [Solution] The image forming apparatus is provided with a main body opening 13A for receiving toner supplied from a toner supply port 12P, and a toner cleaning member 13C spaced apart from the main body opening 13A in the detachment direction Do. The toner cleaning member 13C has a film detachment direction side surface 13FS and a sponge member upper surface 13SPS which is located on the side of the main body opening 13A with respect to the mounting / detachment direction Dio, and when the toner cartridge 12 is mounted, the film side contact area 13FT on the film detachment direction side surface 13FS contacts the toner cartridge 12 and deforms in the mounting direction Di. When the toner cartridge 12 is detached, it deforms in the detachment direction Do, and the sponge member side contact area 13SPT on the sponge member upper surface 13SPS contacts the toner cartridge 12.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a container holding unit, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus, and is suitable for application to, for example, an electrophotographic printer.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a container holding unit capable of detachably holding a developer container has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in such an image forming apparatus, there has been a problem that stains due to the developer occur along with the detachment of the developer container.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above points, and intends to propose a container holding unit, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus capable of reducing stains due to the developer accompanying the detachment of the developer container.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve these problems, the present invention provides a container holding unit that can detachably hold a developer container having a supply port along an attachment / detachment direction which is along the attachment direction and the detachment direction which is opposite to the attachment direction, and provides a supply port for receiving the replenishment of developer supplied from the supply port, and a first sealing member provided spaced apart from the supply port on the detachment direction side, wherein the first sealing member has a first surface and a second surface provided on the side of the supply port side with respect to the attachment / detachment direction than the first surface, and when the developer container is attached, a first contact area on the first surface contacts the developer container and deforms toward the attachment direction, and when the developer container is detached, it deforms toward the detachment direction and a second contact area on the second surface contacts the developer container.

[0007] Furthermore, in the container holding unit of the present invention, a container holding unit capable of detachably holding a developer container having a supply port is provided, which includes a supply port for receiving the replenishment of developer supplied from the supply port, and a first sealing member provided at a distance from the supply port on the movable side when facing the supply port, wherein the first sealing member has a first surface and a second surface provided on the side of the supply port that is closer to the supply port than the first surface with respect to the direction in which the supply port becomes movable from the vicinity of the supply port, and when the supply port moves to a position where it is facing the supply port, the first contact area on the first surface deforms toward the side that comes into contact with the developer container and moves toward the supply port, and when the supply port moves away from the position where it is facing the supply port, it deforms toward the side that moves away from the supply port, and the second contact area on the second surface comes into contact with the developer container.

[0008] Furthermore, the developing apparatus of the present invention is provided with the above-described container holding unit and a developer container.

[0009] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus of the present invention is provided with the developing apparatus described above.

[0010] The present invention allows for changing the orientation of the first sealing member when inserting and removing the developer container, making the surface of the first sealing member that contacts the developer container a first surface and a second surface, thereby changing the contact pressure from the first sealing member to the developer container. Furthermore, the present invention allows for the removal of the developer from the developer container by applying a large contact pressure to the first sealing member when removing the developer container. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, the orientation of the first sealing member can be changed when the developer container is installed and when it is removed, and the surface of the first sealing member that contacts the developer container can be made into a first surface and a second surface, thereby changing the contact pressure from the first sealing member to the developer container. Furthermore, in the present invention, when the developer container is removed, the developer can be removed from the developer container by bringing the first sealing member into contact with the developer container with a large contact pressure. Thus, the present invention can realize a container holding unit, a developing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus that can reduce contamination by developer when the developer container is removed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a front cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an image forming apparatus. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the configuration of the toner cartridge and toner cartridge guide when the toner cartridge is installed or removed. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the toner cartridge guide. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in Figure 3, showing the configuration of the toner cartridge guide. [Figure 5] This is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the toner cleaning component shown in Figure 4. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the toner cartridge (1). [Figure 7] This is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the toner cartridge (2). [Figure 8] It shows the structure of the toner cartridge and is a cross-sectional view taken along the A-A arrow in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] It shows the state when the toner cartridge is installed and is a cross-sectional view at the same position as in FIGS. 4 and 8. [Figure 10] It is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state of the toner cleaning member and the toner supply port shutter (1) when the toner cartridge is installed. [Figure 11] It is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state of the toner cleaning member and the toner supply port shutter (2) when the toner cartridge is installed. [Figure 12] It shows the state when the toner cartridge is detached and is a cross-sectional view at the same position as in FIGS. 4 and 8. [Figure 13] It is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the state of the toner cleaning member and the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is detached. [Figure 14] It is a cross-sectional view showing the structure (1) of the toner cleaning member according to another embodiment. [Figure 15] It is a cross-sectional view showing the structure (2) of the toner cleaning member according to another embodiment.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0013] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0014] [1. Configuration of the Image Forming Apparatus] As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is an electrophotographic color printer that forms (i.e., prints) a color image on a sheet of paper P. Various components are arranged inside the apparatus main body 2 formed in a substantially box shape. Incidentally, hereinafter, the front side of the paper surface in FIG. 1 is defined as the front of the image forming apparatus 1, and the vertical, horizontal, and front-rear directions when viewed facing this front will be defined and described.

[0015] The image forming apparatus 1 is centrally controlled by a control unit (not shown). This control unit has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and performs various processes by reading and executing a predetermined program. The control unit is also connected to a higher-level device such as a computer wirelessly or via a wired connection. When image data representing the image to be printed is provided from this higher-level device and printing of the image data is instructed, the control unit performs a printing process to form the image on the surface of the paper P.

[0016] A paper feed cassette 3 is provided at the bottom of the main body 2 of the device. The paper feed cassette 3 accommodates multiple sheets of paper P stacked together. Inside the main body 2, a transport path W is formed, which is a path for transporting the paper P. This transport path W proceeds from the paper feed cassette 3 to the left below the intermediate transfer unit 18, then upwards, passing through the intermediate transfer unit 18 and the fuser 26, and then proceeding to the output tray 2T. Inside the main body 2, various components such as transport rollers are arranged along this transport path W.

[0017] Inside the main body of the device 2, four image forming units 10K, 10C, 10M, and 10Y are arranged in order from right to left on the upper side. Although the image forming units 10K, 10C, 10M, and 10Y correspond to the respective colors of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y), they are all configured similarly, differing only in color. Hereafter, the image forming units 10K, 10C, 10M, and 10Y will be collectively referred to as the image forming unit 10.

[0018] Furthermore, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) head 14 is configured to face each image forming unit 10 on the upper side inside the main body 2 of the device. The LED head 14 is a mechanism that irradiates light onto the photosensitive drum 16 of each image forming unit 10.

[0019] The image forming unit 10, as a developing device, is broadly composed of an image forming body 11, a toner cartridge 12, and a cartridge guide 13. Incidentally, the image forming unit 10 and each of its constituent parts have sufficient length in the front-to-back direction, corresponding to the length of the paper P in the front-to-back direction. For this reason, many of the parts have a relatively long length in the front-to-back direction compared to their length in the left-to-right and up-to-down directions, and are formed in an elongated shape along the front-to-back direction.

[0020] The toner cartridge 12 contains toner as a developer and is configured to be detachable from the image forming unit 10. When the toner cartridge 12 is installed in the image forming unit 10, it is attached to the image forming body 11 via the cartridge guide 13.

[0021] The cartridge guide 13 is located above the image forming body 11 and, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, is moved and mounted so that the toner cartridge 12 can be inserted. The toner cartridge 12 is movable in the mounting / detachment direction Dio, which is the front-to-back direction, along a rail (not shown) relative to the cartridge guide 13. The toner cartridge 12 is removed from the cartridge guide 13 by moving it along the detachment direction Do, which is the front direction of the mounting / detachment direction Dio, from the mounted state in the mounted state in the cartridge guide 13. On the other hand, the toner cartridge 12 is mounted back onto the cartridge guide 13 by moving it along the mounting direction Di, which is the rear direction of the mounting / detachment direction Dio, from the detached state in the mounted state in the cartridge guide 13.

[0022] The image forming main unit 11 mainly incorporates a supply roller, a developing roller, a photoreceptor drum 16, and a charging roller. These various rollers and the photoreceptor drum 16 are each cylindrical in shape with their central axis aligned in the front-to-back direction.

[0023] The photoreceptor drum 16 is a cylindrical component that carries an electrostatic latent image on its surface. It is charged by a charging roller and exposed by a corresponding LED head 14. This forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 16. Then, toner is supplied from the developing roller, and a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image is formed (developed) on the photoreceptor drum 16.

[0024] An intermediate transfer section 18 is located below each image forming unit 10 within the main body 2 of the apparatus (Figure 1). The intermediate transfer section 18 is equipped with a drive roller 19, a driven roller 20, a backup roller 21, an intermediate transfer belt 22, a primary transfer roller (not shown), and a secondary transfer roller 23.

[0025] The intermediate transfer belt 22 is a seamlessly formed annular belt that travels in the direction of arrow A. This intermediate transfer belt 22 is tensioned by a drive roller 19 and a driven roller 20. The drive roller 19 is a rotating member that rotates by power transmitted from a motor (not shown), and rotates the intermediate transfer belt 22 in a circulating manner. The driven roller 20 is a member that tensions the intermediate transfer belt 22 together with the drive roller 19 and adjusts the tension applied to the intermediate transfer belt 22. The backup roller 21 is located to the lower right of the drive roller 19 and to the lower left of the driven roller 20.

[0026] Furthermore, in the intermediate transfer section 18, four primary transfer rollers are positioned below the portion of the intermediate transfer belt 22 stretched between the drive roller 19 and the driven roller 20, that is, directly below each of the four image forming units 10, and facing each photoreceptor drum 16 across the intermediate transfer belt 22.

[0027] The secondary transfer roller 23 is located directly below the backup roller 21 and is biased toward the backup roller 21. In other words, the intermediate transfer section 18 holds the intermediate transfer belt 22 between the secondary transfer roller 23 and the backup roller 21. A predetermined bias voltage is also applied to the secondary transfer roller 23. Hereinafter, the secondary transfer roller 23 and the backup roller 21 will be collectively referred to as the secondary transfer section 24.

[0028] The intermediate transfer unit 18 rotates the drive roller 19 clockwise using driving force supplied from a belt motor (not shown), thereby causing the intermediate transfer belt 22 to move in the direction of arrow A. Each primary transfer roller also rotates clockwise while a predetermined bias voltage is applied. As a result, each image forming unit 10 transfers the toner image that had reached near the lower end of the peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 16 to the intermediate transfer belt 22, and sequentially overlaps the toner images of each color. By moving this intermediate transfer belt 22, the intermediate transfer unit 18 brings the toner images transferred from each image forming unit 10 to the vicinity of the backup roller 21.

[0029] In the secondary transfer section 24, the toner image formed in the image forming unit 10 and transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 22 is brought into close proximity as the intermediate transfer belt 22 moves, and a predetermined bias voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 23. Therefore, the secondary transfer section 24 transfers the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 22 to the paper P that has been transported along the transport path W, and then moves it further to the left.

[0030] A fuser 26 is located to the left of the secondary transfer unit 24. The fuser 26 applies heat and pressure to the toner image transferred onto the paper P to fix the toner image onto the paper P, and also transports the paper P along the transport path W.

[0031] In this way, the image forming apparatus 1 forms a toner image using toner in the image forming unit 10 and transfers it to the intermediate transfer belt 22, the toner image is transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 22 to the paper P in the secondary transfer unit 24, and then fixed in the fuser 26, thereby printing an image on the paper P (i.e., forming an image).

[0032] [2. Cartridge Guide Configuration] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cartridge guide 13 is centered around a guide bottom plate 13B, which is a plate-shaped member that is narrow in the left-right direction and extends horizontally in the mounting / detachment direction Dio. Hereinafter, the upper surface of the guide bottom plate 13B will be referred to as the guide bottom plate upper surface 13BS1, and the lower surface of the guide bottom plate 13B will be referred to as the guide bottom plate lower surface 13BS2. In Figure 3, for the sake of explanation, a portion of the main body opening shutter 13S is cut out, and the main body opening 13A is visible.

[0033] [2-1. Configuration around the main body opening] In the center of the guide bottom plate 13B in the mounting / detachment direction Dio, a main body opening 13A is formed, which penetrates from the upper surface 13BS1 to the lower surface 13BS2 of the guide bottom plate. The main body opening 13A is a rectangle that is short in the left-right direction and long in the mounting / detachment direction Dio when viewed from above. In the mounting state shown in Figure 9(D), where the toner cartridge 12 is mounted on the cartridge guide 13, it faces the toner supply port 12P of the toner cartridge 12 in the vertical direction, allowing the toner in the toner storage space 12T to pass downwards. In this way, the cartridge guide 13 is supplied with toner from the toner cartridge 12.

[0034] On the guide bottom plate 13B, a side wall portion 13Wi is erected vertically downward from the mounting direction Di side of the main body opening 13A, perpendicular to the guide bottom plate 13B. The side wall portion 13Wi is a thin plate shape that extends horizontally and vertically in the mounting / detachment direction Dio.

[0035] On the guide bottom plate 13B, a side wall portion 13Wo is erected perpendicular to the guide bottom plate 13B, extending downward from the side of the main body opening 13A in the detachment direction Do. The side wall portion 13Wo, as a wall, is a thin plate shape that extends horizontally and vertically in the mounting / detachment direction Dio. On the side of the side wall portion 13Wo in the detachment direction Do, a planar outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall portion is formed. The side wall portion 13Wo is also provided between the main body opening 13A and the toner cleaning member 13C (described later) with respect to the mounting / detachment direction Dio, and faces the toner cleaning member 13C with respect to the mounting / detachment direction Dio. Although not shown, walls are also erected perpendicular to the guide bottom plate 13B from the right and left sides of the main body opening 13A on the guide bottom plate 13B.

[0036] From the vicinity of the center in the vertical direction of the outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall, the cleaning member fixing portion 13H protrudes toward the detachment direction Do. The side surface of the cleaning member fixing portion 13H on the detachment direction Do side has a planar shape that is aligned with the left-right and up-down directions.

[0037] [2-2. Configuration of the main body opening shutter] Above the main body opening 13A, a main body opening shutter 13S is supported by the cartridge guide 13 so as to be able to slide horizontally in the mounting / detachment direction Dio. In plan view, the main body opening shutter 13S is approximately similar in shape to the main body opening 13A, is slightly larger than the main body opening 13A, and is a thin plate shape in the vertical direction. The lower surface of the planar shape of this main body opening shutter 13S is in contact with the upper surface 13BS1 of the guide bottom plate, and in the detached state shown in Figure 3, when the toner cartridge 12 is removed from the cartridge guide 13 (i.e., detached), it is located above the main body opening 13A and covers the entire main body opening 13A, thereby closing the main body opening 13A. The main body opening shutter 13S is also biased toward the detachment direction Do by a biasing member (not shown), and in the detached state, it comes into contact with a stopper (not shown), restricting its movement toward the detachment direction Do.

[0038] On the other hand, when the toner cartridge 12 is mounted on the cartridge guide 13 (i.e., transitioning from a detached state to a mounted state), the main body opening shutter 13S moves in the mounting direction Di by contacting and pressing against a fitting portion (not shown) of the toner cartridge 12 as it moves in the mounting direction Di, moving from the upper side of the main body opening 13A in the mounting direction Di, and gradually opening the main body opening 13A. When the main body opening shutter 13S is in the mounted state, as shown in Figure 9(D), the end on the detached direction Do side is positioned in the mounting direction Di from the upper side of the main body opening 13A, thereby opening the entire main body opening 13A.

[0039] [2-3. Configuration of Toner Cleaning Components] A toner cleaning member 13C is provided on the side of the detachment direction Do that is further from the side wall portion 13Wo in the opening detachment direction. As shown in Figure 5, the toner cleaning member 13C is composed of a sponge member 13SP and a film 13F. The toner cleaning member 13C has a longer vertical length from its lower end toward the toner cartridge 12 (upper side) than its length in the mounting detachment direction Dio, allowing it to bend. Furthermore, the toner cleaning member 13C is formed to be wider in the left-right direction than the toner supply port 12P of the toner cartridge 12, allowing its upper end to contact the sealing members 12SE on the right and left sides of the supply port edge portion 12PL (described later).

[0040] [2-3-1. Composition of sponge components] The sponge member 13SP is a thin plate shape that extends thinly in the left-right and up-down directions in the mounting / detachment direction Dio, with a constant thickness in the mounting / detachment direction Dio from the lower end to the upper end. Approximately the lower half of the side surface on the mounting direction Di side is bonded to the side surface on the detachment direction Do side of the cleaning member fixing part 13H. This sponge member 13SP is flexible and has sufficient rigidity to bend even with a small force, and is suitable for conforming to the irregularities on the lower surface around the toner supply port 12P, including the sealing member 12SE and the supply port edge 12PL of the toner cartridge 12, and is made of sponge material.

[0041] The sponge member 13SP has an upper sponge member upper surface 13SPS formed on its upper side surface, which is planar in shape and aligns horizontally in the detached state (Figure 5). The sponge member 13SP is fixed in the detached state between the outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall portion 13Wo and the toner storage portion 13P, with a gap in the mounting / detachment direction Dio. Therefore, when a load is applied to the upper end of the sponge member 13SP in the mounting direction Di, it is arranged so that the upper end of the sponge member 13SP on the mounting direction Di side can deform by the width of the mounting / detachment direction Dio in the toner storage portion 13P until the end of the upper end of the sponge member 13SP on the mounting direction Di side comes into contact with the outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall portion. In the following, when the toner cartridge 12 is removed from the cartridge guide 13 (i.e., transitions from the installed state to the detached state), the area on the upper surface 13SPS of the sponge member that the toner cartridge 12 contacts (Figure 13) will also be referred to as the sponge member side contact area 13SPT.

[0042] [2-3-2. Film composition] The film 13F is a thin film that extends thinly in the left, right, up, and down directions in the mounting / detachment direction Dio, and its mounting direction Di side is bonded to the mounting direction Do side of the sponge member 13SP. The film 13F is made of a material that has a lower coefficient of friction than the sponge member 13SP, has good surface slipperiness, does not easily adhere to toner, and does not become electrostatically charged. In this embodiment, it is made of, for example, urethane material. On the mounting direction Do side of the film 13F, which is opposite to the mounting direction Di side facing the sponge member 13SP, the film detachment direction side surface 13FS is formed.

[0043] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the upper end of the film 13F protrudes slightly upward from the upper end of the sponge member 13SP. When the toner cartridge is installed, the upper end of the film 13F does not contact the lower surface around the toner supply port 12P, including the sealing member 12SE and the supply port edge 12PL of the toner cartridge 12, but rather the film detachment direction side surface 13FS makes contact. Hereafter, the area on the film detachment direction side surface 13FS that the toner cartridge 12 contacts when the toner cartridge is installed (Figure 11) will also be referred to as the film side contact area 13FT.

[0044] Here, let L1 be a hypothetical line that runs along the upper end of the side surface 13FS of the film 13F in the film detachment direction when viewed from the front. The film inclination angle Θ1, which is the angle of the hypothetical line L1 with respect to the mounting / detachment direction Dio, which is the horizontal direction, is approximately 90° when the film is detached.

[0045] [2-4. Configuration of the toner storage compartment] From the lower end of the cleaning member fixing portion 13H, a bottom plate 13CB, which is thin in the vertical direction and extends in the front-back and left-right directions, protrudes toward the detachment direction Do. From the end of the bottom plate 13CB on the detachment direction Do side, a wall portion 13CW, which is thin in the left-right and up-down directions, extends upward toward the mounting / detachment direction Dio, up to the upper surface 13BS1 of the guide bottom plate. Although not shown, on the right and left sides of both ends of the toner cleaning member 13C, thin, plate-shaped walls are formed in the left-right direction, extending from the wall portion 13CW to the side wall portion 13Wo in the opening / detachment direction.

[0046] In the space enclosed by the outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall portion 13Wo in the opening / detachment direction, the cleaning member fixing portion 13H, and the toner cleaning member 13C, a toner storage portion 13P is formed, which has a box-shaped space with an opening on the toner cartridge 12 side (i.e., the upper side). The toner storage portion 13P is capable of storing toner.

[0047] [2-5. Configuration of the opening and closing plate] An opening / closing plate 13PL is provided on the side of the toner cleaning member 13C that is in the detachment direction Do. The opening / closing plate 13PL has gaps between its right, left, and front sides and the guide bottom plate 13B, and is connected to the guide bottom plate 13B only on the side that is in the mounting direction Di. This allows the end on the detachment direction Do side to flex so that it moves up and down with the end on the mounting direction Di side as the pivot point.

[0048] The opening / closing plate 13PL has a vertical surface 13PLS1 and an inclined surface 13PLS2 near the end on the side facing the detachment direction Do. The vertical surface 13PLS1 is a surface that is slightly inclined with respect to the vertical direction such that its upper end is slightly closer to the detachment direction Do than its lower end. The inclined surface 13PLS2 is a downward-sloping surface that slopes downward from the upper end of the vertical surface 13PLS1 toward the detachment direction Do. The upper end of the opening / closing plate 13PL, where the vertical surface 13PLS1 and the inclined surface 13PLS2 are in contact, is located above the toner supply port shutter 12S in the installed state (Figure 9(D)).

[0049] Furthermore, the rigidity of the opening / closing plate 13PL and the angle of the vertical plane 13PLS1 with respect to the vertical direction are set such that when the toner cartridge is removed (Figure 12(B)), the toner supply port shutter 12S moving toward the removal direction Do comes into contact with the vertical plane 13PLS1, and the load of the toner supply port shutter 12S moving toward the removal direction Do is received by the opening / closing plate 13PL, stopping its movement toward the removal direction Do. In addition, when the force of the toner supply port shutter 12S moving toward the removal direction Do becomes greater than a certain amount, the end on the removal direction Do side bends downward, thereby moving away from the movement path of the toner supply port shutter 12S.

[0050] [3. Toner Cartridge Configuration] As shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8, the bottom portion of the toner cartridge 12 has a cartridge bottom plate 12B that extends horizontally. Above the cartridge bottom plate 12B, a toner storage space 12T for storing toner is formed. In Figure 7, for illustrative purposes, a portion of the toner supply opening shutter 12S is cut out, showing the toner supply opening 12P.

[0051] [3-1. Configuration around the toner supply port] In the cartridge bottom plate 12B, a toner supply port 12P is formed in the center of the cartridge bottom plate 12B in the mounting / detachment direction Dio, extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. The toner supply port 12P has the same shape and size as the main body opening 13A (Figures 3 and 4) of the cartridge guide 13 in a plan view, and in the mounted state shown in Figure 9(D), it faces the main body opening 13A in the vertical direction, supplying toner from the toner storage space 12T to the cartridge guide 13 through the main body opening 13A.

[0052] A toner supply port rim 12PL extends downward from around the toner supply port 12P on the cartridge bottom plate 12B. A horizontal plane is formed on the lower surface of the supply port rim 12PL. A second sealing member 12SE made of sponge material is provided on the lower surface of the supply port rim 12PL, encircling the toner supply port 12P.

[0053] [3-2. Configuration of the toner supply port shutter] Below the toner supply port 12P, a toner supply port shutter 12S, which acts as an opening and closing member, is supported so as to be slidable horizontally in the mounting and detachment direction Dio. In plan view, the toner supply port shutter 12S is almost similar in shape to the toner supply port 12P, is slightly larger than the toner supply port 12P, and is a thin plate shape in the vertical direction. In the detached state (Figure 8), the upper surface of the planar shape of the toner supply port shutter 12S is in contact with the sealing member 12SE in a position that slightly compresses the sealing member 12SE upwards, and is located below the toner supply port 12P, covering and sealing the entire toner supply port 12P.

[0054] Furthermore, at the end of the toner supply port shutter 12S in the mounting direction Di, a supply port shutter protrusion 12SL (Figure 11) is formed, which protrudes so that its thickness gradually decreases in the vertical direction toward the mounting direction Di.

[0055] [4. How the toner cartridge looks when installed] Next, the movement of each component during toner cartridge installation, when the toner cartridge 12 is mounted on the cartridge guide 13 and transitions from a detached state to a mounted state, will be explained using Figures 9, 10, and 11. As the toner cartridge 12, which was in a detached state, moves toward the installation direction Di and is inserted into the cartridge guide 13, the toner supply port shutter 12S moves toward the installation direction Di together with the toner cartridge 12. As shown in Figure 9(A), the opening / closing plate 13PL is pushed down by the toner supply port shutter 12S and bends so that the end on the detachment direction Do side moves downward, while the other components do not deform as the toner cartridge 12 continues to be inserted.

[0056] As the toner cartridge 12 continues to move in the mounting direction Di, as shown in Figure 10, the end of the toner supply shutter projection 12SL of the toner supply shutter 12S on the mounting direction Di side comes into contact with the film side surface 13FS of the film 13F in the film detachment direction in the film contact area 13FT. As a result, the toner cleaning member 13C bends and tilts diagonally so that its upper end moves toward the mounting direction Di side compared to the detached state (Figure 5). The film tilt angle Θ1 at this time is smaller than that in the detached state (Figure 5).

[0057] Furthermore, as the toner cartridge 12 moves in the mounting direction Di while the toner supply port shutter 12S slides against the film 13F, as shown in Figure 9(B), the toner supply port shutter 12S comes into contact with a stopper (not shown) of the cartridge guide 13, thereby restricting and stopping the movement of the toner supply port shutter 12S in the mounting direction Di.

[0058] At this time, as shown in Figure 11, the toner supply port shutter 12S presses the toner cleaning member 13C against the outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall portion of the cartridge guide 13, and the toner cleaning member 13C is sandwiched between the outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall portion. Also at this time, the toner cleaning member 13C bends and tilts diagonally so that its upper end moves further toward the mounting direction Di compared to the state shown in Figure 10. In this state, the toner cleaning member 13C tilts toward the mounting direction Di by the amount of space in the mounting / detachment direction Dio of the toner storage portion 13P, and closes the toner storage portion 13P so that it is not exposed to the outside. The film tilt angle Θ1 at this time is even smaller than in the case of Figure 10. In this way, the film tilt angle Θ1 of the toner cleaning member 13C decreases as it deforms toward the mounting direction Di. Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 reduces the contact pressure applied from the toner cleaning member 13C to the toner cartridge 12, preventing the toner from being scraped off by the toner cleaning member 13C, and allowing the toner to be moved toward the main body opening 13A in the mounting direction Di.

[0059] At this time, the opening / closing plate 13PL is no longer pushed down by the toner supply port shutter 12S, and the end on the Do side of the detachment direction moves upward, eliminating the flex and returning to the normal state.

[0060] Furthermore, as the toner cartridge 12 moves in the mounting direction Di while the sealing member 12SE slides against the film 13F, the toner supply port shutter 12S is restricted from moving in the mounting direction Di and remains in place. As shown in Figure 9(C), it moves relative to the toner supply port 12P in the detachment direction Do, and begins to open the toner supply port 12P. At the same time, the toner cartridge 12 moves in the mounting direction Di while bringing a fitting portion (not shown) into contact with the main body opening shutter 13S, thereby moving the main body opening shutter 13S in the mounting direction Di and beginning to open the main body opening 13A.

[0061] Therefore, the toner TN begins to move from the toner storage space 12T to the main body opening 13A via the point of communication between the toner supply port 12P and the main body opening 13A. At this time, the upper end of the film 13F protrudes upward above the upper end of the sponge member 13SP, and the toner cleaning member 13C is tilted so that its upper end is tilted in the mounting direction Di. Therefore, the toner TN that moves in the mounting direction Di as the toner cartridge 12 moves in the mounting direction Di does not come into contact with the sponge member 13SP.

[0062] Furthermore, the lower surface around the toner supply port 12P, including the sealing member 12SE and the supply port edge portion 12PL of the toner cartridge 12, does not contact the edge of the upper end of the film 13F with a large contact force (pressure), but contacts the side surface 13FS in the film detachment direction with a small contact force (pressure). In addition, the film 13F has a sufficiently low coefficient of friction and a smooth surface. As a result, the toner TN moves smoothly while contacting the side surface 13FS of the film 13F in the film detachment direction, without being scraped off by the sponge member 13SP, which has a higher coefficient of friction than the film 13F, or otherwise hindering its movement in the mounting direction Di, and the upper side of the toner cleaning member 13C moves in the mounting direction Di. This allows the image forming apparatus 1 to smoothly move the toner TN toward the main body opening 13A without getting caught on the sponge member 13SP, and prevents the toner TN from scattering into the surroundings from, for example, the gap between the sealing member 12SE and the toner cleaning member 13C.

[0063] Furthermore, at this time, as shown in Figure 11, a recessed portion DT is formed between the end of the toner supply port shutter 12S on the mounting direction Di side and the bent film 13F, which is recessed downward relative to the surface flush with the upper surface of the toner supply port shutter 12S. In contrast, the image forming apparatus 1 forms a supply port shutter protrusion 12SL at the end of the toner supply port shutter 12S on the mounting direction Di side, which protrudes so that its thickness gradually decreases in the vertical direction toward the mounting direction Di, and the end of the supply port shutter protrusion 12SL on the mounting direction Di side is brought into contact with the film 13F. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can minimize the vertical depth of the recessed portion DT, prevent toner TN from remaining in the recessed portion DT, and prevent toner TN from coming out of the recessed portion DT and scattering into the surroundings.

[0064] Furthermore, at this time, the toner cleaning member 13C continues to cover and block the toner storage section 13P, so that when the toner cartridge is removed as described later, the toner TN stored in the toner storage section 13P will not come out of the toner storage section 13P. Therefore, the toner cleaning member 13C can prevent the toner TN from coming out of the toner storage section 13P and scattering into the surroundings.

[0065] As the toner cartridge 12 moves further in the mounting direction Di, the toner supply port shutter 12S remains in place while the toner cartridge 12 moves the main body opening shutter 13S in the mounting direction Di. Subsequently, as shown in Figure 9(D), the entire main body opening 13A and the entire toner supply port 12P open, and when the toner cartridge 12 reaches a position where the main body opening 13A and the toner supply port 12P align, it enters the mounted state and the mounting of the toner cartridge 12 is completed.

[0066] [5. What happens when the toner cartridge is detached?] Next, the movement of each component during toner cartridge detachment, when the toner cartridge 12 is removed from the cartridge guide 13 and transitions from the installed state to the detached state, will be explained using Figures 12 and 13. When the toner cartridge 12, which was in the installed state, begins to move in the detachment direction Do, which is the direction in which it can move, the toner supply port shutter 12S moves in the detachment direction Do together with the toner cartridge 12, as shown in Figure 12(A). Also, the main body opening shutter 13S is biased in the detachment direction Do by a biasing member (not shown), and therefore moves in the detachment direction Do together with the toner cartridge 12.

[0067] At this time, as shown in Figure 13, the toner cartridge 12 brings the sealing member 12SE into contact with the upper surface 13SPS of the sponge member 13SP in the sponge member side contact area 13SPT, and the friction at which contact occurs reduces the deflection of the toner cleaning member 13C so that its upper end moves toward the detachment direction Do (i.e., returns to an upright position along the vertical direction) from the bent state shown in Figure 11.

[0068] As the toner cartridge 12 continues to move in the detachment direction Do, as shown in Figure 12(B), the toner supply port shutter 12S comes into contact with the vertical surface 13PLS1 of the opening / closing plate 13PL of the cartridge guide 13, thereby restricting and stopping the movement of the toner supply port shutter 12S in the detachment direction Do. At this time, the toner cleaning member 13C returns to its upright position along the vertical direction. In this state, a gap similar to that in the detachment state is formed between the toner cleaning member 13C and the outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall, so the entire toner storage section 13P is exposed to the outside. At this time, the toner supply port shutter 12S supports the upper end of the toner cleaning member 13C so that it does not bend any further in the detachment direction Do by bringing the end of the supply port shutter protrusion 12SL on the mounting direction Di side into contact with the film detachment direction side surface 13FS of the film 13F from the detachment direction Do side.

[0069] Therefore, the lower surface around the toner supply port 12P, including the sealing member 12SE and the supply port edge portion 12PL of the toner cartridge 12, contacts the upper surface portion 13SPS of the sponge member 13SP with a large contact force (pressure), and also contacts the edge of the upper end of the film 13F. In addition, the sponge member 13SP has a high coefficient of friction, and when it comes into contact with the toner TN, it obstructs the progress of the toner TN. As a result, the toner TN is scraped off by the sponge member 13SP and the film 13F and accumulates in the toner storage portion 13P. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can actively scrape off the toner TN from the toner cartridge 12 and prevent the scraped toner TN from scattering into the surroundings.

[0070] Furthermore, as the toner cartridge 12 moves in the detachment direction Do, the toner supply port shutter 12S is restricted from moving in the detachment direction Do and remains in place. As a result, it moves relative to the toner supply port 12P toward the installation direction Di, and begins to close the toner supply port 12P. At this time, the toner cartridge 12 also prevents the main body opening shutter 13S from moving in the installation direction Di. Therefore, the biasing member causes the main body opening shutter 13S to move in the detachment direction Do, and begins to close the main body opening 13A.

[0071] Furthermore, as the toner cartridge 12 moves in the detachment direction Do, the main body opening shutter 13S completely closes the entire main body opening 13A, as shown in Figure 12(C). At this time, the toner TN that has been scraped off by the sponge member 13SP and adhered to the upper surface 13SPS of the sponge member 13SP is scraped off by the sealing member 12SE of the toner cartridge 12 and carried to the upper surface of the toner supply opening shutter 12S, where it enters the toner storage space 12T. At this time, the toner cleaning member 13C is supported by the toner supply opening shutter 12S until the toner supply opening 12P and the main body opening 13A are closed, thus maintaining the ability to scrape off the toner TN.

[0072] Furthermore, as the toner cartridge 12 moves in the detachment direction Do, the toner supply port shutter 12S remains in place while the toner cartridge 12 moves in the detachment direction Do, and as shown in Figure 12(D), the toner supply port shutter 12S completely seals and closes the entire toner supply port 12P. Once the closing of the toner supply port 12P is complete, the toner supply port shutter 12S moves while coupled with the toner cartridge 12.

[0073] Therefore, if the toner cartridge 12 moves further in the detachment direction Do from the state shown in Figure 12(D), the opening / closing plate 13PL is pushed down by the toner supply port shutter 12S, causing the end on the detachment direction Do side to bend downward, and the movement of the toner cartridge 12, including the toner supply port shutter 12S, in the detachment direction Do is not restricted. If the toner cartridge 12 moves further in the detachment direction Do from this state, the toner cartridge 12 is removed from the cartridge guide 13 and becomes detached.

[0074] [6. Effects, etc.] In the above configuration, the image forming apparatus 1 has a cartridge guide 13 that can detachably hold a toner cartridge 12 having a toner supply port 12P and a toner supply port shutter 12S for opening and closing the toner supply port 12P along the mounting / detachment direction Dio. The cartridge guide 13 is provided with a toner cleaning member 13C spaced apart from the main body opening 13A on the detachment direction Do side, and a toner storage section 13P having a box-shaped space between the toner cleaning member 13C and the main body opening 13A, with the upper side, the toner cartridge 12 side, being open. The toner cleaning member 13C also has a film detachment direction side surface 13FS which is the side of the film 13F in the detachment direction Do, and a sponge member upper side surface 13SPS which is provided on the main body opening 13A side of the film detachment direction side surface 13FS with respect to the mounting / detachment direction Dio.

[0075] Furthermore, when the toner cartridge is installed (Figure 9), the image forming apparatus 1 causes the toner cleaning member 13C to bend toward the installation direction Di by bringing the toner cartridge 12 into contact with the film-side contact area 13FT (Figure 11) on the film-detachment direction side surface 13FS of the film.

[0076] Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 can move the toner toward the main body opening 13A in the mounting direction Di without the toner being scraped off by the toner cleaning member 13C.

[0077] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 1 has formed a side wall portion 13Wo in the direction of opening and detachment between the main body opening 13A and the toner cleaning member 13C, with respect to the side wall portion 13Wo in the direction of opening and detachment, which is a wall portion facing the toner cleaning member 13C. In addition, when the toner cartridge is installed, the image forming apparatus 1 is configured to bring the sponge member 13SP into contact with the outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall portion 13Wo in the direction of opening and detachment. In this way, the image forming apparatus 1 keeps the toner storage portion 13P closed by the toner cleaning member 13C, so that when the toner cartridge is removed, the toner stored in the toner storage portion 13P does not come out of the toner storage portion 13P and scatter when the toner cartridge is installed.

[0078] On the other hand, when the toner cartridge is detached (Figure 12), the image forming apparatus 1 causes the toner cartridge 12 to come into contact with the contact area 13SPT (Figure 13) on the upper surface 13SPS of the sponge member as the toner cartridge 12 moves in the detachment direction Do, thereby mitigating the deformation of the toner cleaning member 13C toward the mounting direction Di, and causing it to stand up almost vertically, thereby separating the sponge member 13SP from the outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall portion 13Wo toward the detachment direction Do. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 1 causes the upper surface 13SPS of the sponge member 13SP to come into contact with the toner cartridge 12 with a large contact pressure, while sliding the upper surface 13SPS of the sponge member against the toner cartridge 12.

[0079] Therefore, the image forming apparatus 1 can scrape toner from the toner cartridge 12 with the toner cleaning member 13C, and by storing the scraped toner in the toner storage section 13P, it can prevent toner from scattering into the surroundings and reduce toner staining. Furthermore, when the toner cartridge is detached, the image forming apparatus 1 is configured such that the upper side surface 13SPS of the sponge member, which is located on the side of the main body opening 13A rather than the side surface 13FS in the film detachment direction, comes into contact with the toner cartridge 12 with respect to the mounting / detachment direction Dio, thereby preventing the toner from moving toward the detachment direction Do as early as possible.

[0080] In this way, the image forming apparatus 1 changes the orientation of the toner cleaning member 13C when installing and removing the toner cartridge, making the surface of the toner cleaning member 13C that contacts the toner cartridge 12 different surfaces: the film removal direction side surface 13FS and the sponge member upper surface surface 13SPS, thereby changing the contact pressure from the toner cleaning member 13C to the toner cartridge 12. As a result, when installing the toner cartridge, the image forming apparatus 1 can smoothly move the toner by bringing the film 13F into contact with the toner cartridge 12, making it easier to move the toner to the main body opening 13A, and when removing the toner cartridge, it can remove the toner from the toner cartridge 12 by bringing the sponge member 13SP into contact with the toner cartridge 12.

[0081] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 1 comprises a toner cleaning member 13C consisting of a sponge member 13SP as an elastic member and a film member 13F provided on the side of the sponge member 13SP in the detachment direction Do. The toner supply port shutter 12S is brought into contact with the film detachment direction side surface 13FS, which is the side surface of the film 13F in the detachment direction Do, and the toner cleaning member 13C is pushed in the mounting direction Di and bent.

[0082] Therefore, compared to the case where there is no film 13F and the toner supply port shutter 12S is brought into contact with the sponge member 13SP and the sponge member 13SP is pushed in the mounting direction Di to flex it, the image forming apparatus 1 reduces the friction caused by the contact between the toner cleaning member 13C and the toner supply port shutter 12S, prevents the toner supply port shutter 12S from getting caught on the sponge member 13SP and becoming difficult to move in the mounting direction Di, and allows the toner cleaning member 13C to flex smoothly.

[0083] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 1 has a toner supply port shutter projection 12SL that protrudes from the end of the toner supply port shutter 12S in the mounting direction Di, so as to become thinner toward the mounting direction Di, and when the toner cartridge is installed, the toner supply port shutter projection 12SL is brought into contact with the toner cleaning member 13C. As a result, when the toner cartridge is installed, the image forming apparatus 1 can make the recess DT between the toner cleaning member 13C and the toner supply port shutter 12S, which is formed by the bending of the toner cleaning member 13C, shallower, which prevents toner from remaining in the recess DT and prevents toner from coming out of the recess DT and scattering into the surroundings.

[0084] Furthermore, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a sealing member 12SE made of sponge material around the toner supply port 12P of the toner cartridge 12. When the toner cartridge is installed, the sealing member 12SE is moved while sliding against the film 13F, thereby scraping off the toner adhering to the surface of the film 13F and moving it towards the main body opening 13A. As a result, the image forming apparatus 1 can more easily scrape off the toner adhering to the surface of the film 13F when the toner cartridge is installed, compared to a case where the sealing member 12SE is not provided at the toner supply port 12P of the toner cartridge 12.

[0085] According to the above configuration, the image forming apparatus 1 has a cartridge guide 13 that can detachably hold a toner cartridge 12, which is a developer container having a toner supply port 12P as a supply port, along the mounting direction Di and the detachment direction Do which is opposite to the mounting direction Di, and provides a main body opening 13A for receiving the replenishment of toner as a developer supplied from the toner supply port 12P, and a toner cleaning member 13C spaced away from the main body opening 13A on the detachment direction Do side, and the toner cleaning member 13C has a film detachment direction side surface 13FS as a first surface and a mounting / detachment direction With respect to the Dio direction, it has a second surface, the upper sponge member surface 13SPS, which is provided on the side of the main body opening 13A rather than the side 13FS in the film detachment direction. When the toner cartridge 12 is installed, the film-side contact area 13FT, which is the first contact area on the side 13FS in the film detachment direction, contacts the toner cartridge 12 and deforms toward the installation direction Di. When the toner cartridge 12 is detached, it deforms toward the detachment direction Do, and the sponge member-side contact area 13SPT, which is the second contact area on the upper sponge member surface 13SPS, contacts the toner cartridge 12.

[0086] This allows the image forming apparatus 1 to change the orientation of the toner cleaning member 13C when installing and removing the toner cartridge 12, making the surface of the toner cleaning member 13C that contacts the toner cartridge 12 different surfaces: the film detachment direction side surface 13FS and the sponge member upper surface surface 13SPS, thereby changing the contact pressure from the toner cleaning member 13C to the toner cartridge 12. Furthermore, when removing the toner cartridge, the image forming apparatus 1 can remove toner from the toner cartridge 12 by bringing the toner cleaning member 13C into contact with the toner cartridge 12 with a large contact pressure.

[0087] [7. Other Embodiments] In the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is described in a case where the sponge member 13SP (Figure 5) of the toner cleaning member 13C has a thin plate shape with a constant thickness in the mounting / detachment direction Dio from the lower end to the upper end. The present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 may also be provided with a sponge member 113SP of the toner cleaning member 113C shown in Figure 14, which is assigned the same reference numerals as the member corresponding to Figure 5, instead of the sponge member 13SP of the toner cleaning member 13C.

[0088] The sponge member 113SP differs from the sponge member 13SP (Figure 5) in that it has a notch 113SPC, but is otherwise constructed similarly. The notch 113SPC is formed on the sponge member 113SP on the toner cartridge 12 side (i.e., the upper side in the mounting direction Di) facing the side wall portion 13Wo in the opening / detachment direction. This notch 113SPC is a rectangular prism shape that cuts out about half of the area of ​​the sponge member 113SP on the mounting direction Di side from the upper surface 13SPS of the sponge member downwards from the right end to the left end. Therefore, the notch 113SPC has a notch surface 113SPCS1 which is a planar bottom surface that is aligned horizontally in the detached state, and a notch surface 113SPCS2 which is a planar wall surface that is aligned vertically in the detached state. As a result, the upper end of the sponge member 113SP has a stepped shape in which about half of the area on the mounting direction Di side is lower and about half of the area on the detachment direction Do side is higher.

[0089] Compared to sponge member 13SP (Figure 5), sponge member 113SP can hold toner scraped from toner cartridge 12 in the notch 113SPC when the toner cartridge is detached, and can also easily guide the toner to the toner storage section 13P via the notch 113SPC. Furthermore, compared to sponge member 13SP (Figure 5), sponge member 113SP can increase the amount of deflection of sponge member 113SP before it contacts the outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall section when the toner cartridge is installed by the amount of the notch 113SPC, so the film inclination angle Θ1 can be made even smaller, and the toner cartridge 12 can be moved in the installation direction Di without getting caught on the toner cleaning member 113C.

[0090] Alternatively, the image forming apparatus 1 may be provided with a sponge member 213SP of the toner cleaning member 213C shown in Figure 15, which is assigned the same reference numerals as the corresponding member in Figure 5, instead of the sponge member 13SP of the toner cleaning member 13C.

[0091] The sponge member 213SP differs from the sponge member 13SP (Figure 5) in that it has a notch 213SPC, but is otherwise constructed similarly. The notch 213SPC is formed on the toner cartridge 12 side (i.e., the upper side in the mounting direction Di) of the sponge member 213SP, facing the side wall portion 13Wo in the opening / detachment direction. This notch 213SPC is a triangular prism shape that cuts out from the end on the mounting / detachment direction Di side of the upper end of the sponge member 213SP, from the right end to the left end in a downward-rear direction, extending from the right end to the left end, extending backward and downward. As a result, the notch 213SPC has a notch surface 213SPCS which is a plane that slopes toward the mounting direction Di as it moves downward in the detached state. Consequently, the upper end of the sponge member 213SP has a tapered shape that narrows as it moves upward on the mounting direction Di side.

[0092] Compared to the sponge member 13SP (Figure 5), the sponge member 213SP makes it easier to guide the toner scraped from the toner cartridge 12 to the toner storage section 13P via the notch 213SPC when the toner cartridge is removed. Furthermore, compared to the sponge member 13SP (Figure 5), the sponge member 213SP allows for a larger amount of deflection of the sponge member 213SP before it contacts the outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall section when the toner cartridge is installed, by the amount of the notch 213SPC. This allows the film inclination angle Θ1 to be further reduced, enabling the toner cartridge 12 to be moved in the installation direction Di without getting caught on the toner cleaning member 213C.

[0093] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the case in which the upper end of the film 13F protrudes upward from the upper end of the sponge member 13SP was described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 does not need to have the upper end of the film 13F protrude upward from the upper end of the sponge member 13SP. However, it is preferable to have the upper end of the film 13F protrude upward from the upper end of the sponge member 13SP because it makes it less likely for the toner to come into contact with the sponge member 13SP when the toner cartridge is installed.

[0094] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the image forming apparatus 1 is shown in a case where, when installing a toner cartridge, the toner supply port shutter 12S is not in contact with the sponge member 13SP but only with the film 13F. The present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 may also be shown to be in contact with the sponge member 13SP along with the film 13F when installing a toner cartridge. However, it is preferable to have the toner supply port shutter 12S in contact only with the film 13F, because when installing a toner cartridge, the toner is not scraped off by the sponge member 13SP.

[0095] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the toner cleaning member 13C is configured with a sponge member 13SP and a film 13F. The present invention is not limited to this, and the toner cleaning member 13C may be configured with only the sponge member 13SP. However, it is preferable to configure the toner cleaning member 13C with the sponge member 13SP and the film 13F, since the presence of the film 13F prevents toner from being scraped off by the sponge member 13SP when the toner cartridge is installed.

[0096] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is in a state where, when a toner cartridge is installed, the toner cleaning member 13C is pressed against the outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall portion of the cartridge guide 13 by the toner supply port shutter 12S (Figure 11). The present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 may also bend the toner cleaning member 13C with the toner supply port shutter 12S to the extent that it does not contact the outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall portion of the cartridge guide 13. However, it is preferable to bring the toner cleaning member 13C into contact with the outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall portion because the toner cleaning member 13C can block the toner storage portion 13P and prevent toner TN from coming out of the toner storage portion 13P.

[0097] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 was described in which the toner cleaning member 13C is bent by the toner supply port shutter 12S when the toner cartridge is installed. The present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 may be configured to be rotatable with respect to a pivot shaft provided at its lower end, and the toner cleaning member 13C may be rotated with respect to the pivot shaft when the toner supply port shutter 12S comes into contact with the toner cleaning member 13C, so that its upper end moves toward the installation direction Di.

[0098] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 is described in a state in which the toner cleaning member 13C is sandwiched between the toner supply port shutter 12S and the outer wall surface 13WS of the opening wall when the toner cartridge is installed. The present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 may also cause the toner cleaning member 13C to ride up on the toner supply port shutter 12S, and move the end of the toner supply port shutter 12S on the installation direction Di side further toward the installation direction Di side than the toner cleaning member 13C.

[0099] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the image forming apparatus 1 has formed a supply port shutter protrusion 12SL (Figure 11) at the end of the toner supply port shutter 12S in the mounting direction Di, such that the thickness in the vertical direction gradually decreases toward the mounting direction Di. The present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 does not need to form a supply port shutter protrusion 12SL on the toner supply port shutter 12S. However, it is preferable to form the supply port shutter protrusion 12SL at the end of the toner supply port shutter 12S in the mounting direction Di, as this allows the depth of the recess DT to be made as small as possible when the toner cartridge is installed, and prevents toner TN from remaining in the recess DT.

[0100] Furthermore, the above-described embodiment mentions a case where the image forming apparatus 1 uses urethane material to construct the film 13F. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 may use various other materials that have a lower coefficient of friction and better surface slipperiness than the sponge member 13SP, and that do not become electrostatically charged to construct the film 13F.

[0101] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case in which the image forming apparatus 1 is composed of a sponge material for the sponge member 13SP has been described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 may also be composed of a sponge member 13SP made of various other materials that have sufficient rigidity and flexibility to bend, and that can follow the irregularities on the lower surface around the toner supply port 12P, including the sealing member 12SE and the supply port edge portion 12PL of the toner cartridge 12, and have a coefficient of friction sufficient to obstruct the progress of toner.

[0102] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with one sponge member 13SP and one film 13F on the toner cleaning member 13C. The present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 may be provided with any number of sponge members 13SP and films 13F on the toner cleaning member 13C.

[0103] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the image forming apparatus 1 is provided with a sealing member 12SE that encircles the toner supply port 12P of the toner cartridge 12. The present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 does not need to provide a sealing member 12SE at the toner supply port 12P of the toner cartridge 12. However, it is preferable to provide a sealing member 12SE around the toner supply port 12P because it makes it easier to scrape off the toner on the film 13F with the sealing member 12SE and move it towards the main body opening 13A when the toner cartridge is installed.

[0104] Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the case in which the image forming apparatus 1 has the cartridge guide 13 provided on the image forming main body 11 was described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the image forming apparatus 1 may also have the cartridge guide 13 provided on the apparatus body 2.

[0105] Furthermore, the above-described embodiment describes the application of the present invention to an image forming apparatus 1 that uses a so-called intermediate transfer method (or secondary transfer method), in which toner images of each color are sequentially transferred from the photoreceptor drum 16 of the image forming unit 10 to the intermediate transfer belt 22, and the toner images are then transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 22 to the paper P. The present invention is not limited to this, and may also be applied to an image forming apparatus that uses a so-called direct transfer method, in which toner images of each color are sequentially transferred from the photoreceptor drum 16 of the image forming unit 10 to the paper P used as a medium.

[0106] Furthermore, the above-described embodiment described the case in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus 1 having four image forming units 10 and forming a color image using four toners. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may also be applied to an image forming apparatus having three or fewer or five or more image forming units 10 and forming an image using a predetermined number of toners.

[0107] Furthermore, the above-described embodiment described the case in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus 1, which is a single-function printer. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to image forming apparatuses with various other functions, such as MFPs (Multi-Function Peripherals) that have the functions of a copier or a facsimile machine. The present invention may also be applied to various electronic devices that form images on paper P, such as paper, using a developer by an electrophotographic method.

[0108] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and other embodiments. That is, the scope of the present invention also extends to embodiments obtained by arbitrarily combining some or all of the embodiments described above and other embodiments. In addition, the scope of the present invention also extends to embodiments obtained by extracting some of the components described in any of the embodiments described above and other embodiments and substituting or adapting them for some of the components of any of the embodiments described above and other embodiments, or by adding some of the extracted components to any embodiment.

[0109] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the case in which the cartridge guide 13 as a container holding unit is configured by the main body opening 13A as a replenishment port and the toner cleaning member 13C as a first sealing member was described. The present invention is not limited to this, and the container holding unit may be configured by a replenishment port and a first sealing member of various other configurations. [Industrial applicability]

[0110] This invention can be used when printing an image onto a medium using an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. [Explanation of symbols]

[0111] 1...Image forming apparatus, 2...Main unit, 2T...Output tray, 3...Paper feed cassette, P...Paper, W...Transport path, 10...Image forming unit, 11...Image forming main unit, 12...Toner cartridge, 13...Cartridge guide, 14...LED head, 16...Photoconductor drum, 18...Intermediate transfer section, 19...Drive roller, 20...Driven roller, 21...Backup roller, 22...Intermediate transfer belt, 23...Secondary Transfer roller, 24...Secondary transfer section, 26...Fuser, 13...Cartridge guide, 13B...Guide bottom plate, 13BS1...Upper surface of guide bottom plate, 13BS2...Lower surface of guide bottom plate, 13A...Main body opening, 13S...Main body opening shutter, 13Wi...Side wall in the opening mounting direction, 13Wo...Side wall in the opening detachment direction, 13WS...Outer wall surface of the opening wall, 13H...Cleaning member fixing section, 13CB...Bottom plate, 13CW...Wall section, 13 C, 113C... Toner cleaning member, 13F... Film, 13FS... Side of film in the direction of detachment, 13FT... Film side contact area, 13SP, 113SP... Sponge member, 13SPS... Upper side of sponge member, 13SPT... Sponge member side contact area, 113SPC... Notch, 113SPCS1, 113SPCS2, 213SPCS... Notch surface, 13P... Toner storage area, DT... Recessed area, 13PL... Opening / closing plate, 13PLS1... Vertical surface, 13PLS2... Inclined surface, 12... Toner cartridge, 12T... Toner storage space, 12B... Cartridge bottom plate, 12P... Toner supply port, 12PL... Supply port edge, 12S... Toner supply port shutter, 12SL... Supply port shutter protrusion, 12SE... Seal member, TN... Toner, Di... Installation direction, Do... Detachment direction, Dio... Installation / detachment direction, Θ1... Film inclination angle.

Claims

1. A container holding unit capable of detachably holding a developer container having a supply port along an attachment direction and an attachment / detachment direction opposite to the attachment direction, A supply port for receiving the developer supplied from the aforementioned supply port, A first sealing member is provided at a distance from the supply port on the side in the detachment direction, and It has, The first sealing member is It has a first surface and a second surface that is provided on the supply port side of the first surface with respect to the mounting and detachment direction, When the developer container is installed, the first contact area on the first surface comes into contact with the developer container and deforms toward the installation direction. When the developer container is detached, it deforms in the direction of detachment, and the second contact area on the second surface comes into contact with the developer container. A container holding unit characterized by the following features.

2. Regarding the mounting and detachment direction, a wall portion is provided between the supply port and the first sealing member and faces the first sealing member. It further possesses, The first sealing member is When the developer container is installed, it deforms upon contact with the developer container and comes into contact with the wall portion. When the developer container is detached, it deforms toward the detachment direction and separates from the wall portion. The container holding unit according to feature 1.

3. The first sealing member comprises an elastic member and a film member provided on the side of the elastic member that is in the direction of separation. The container holding unit according to feature 1.

4. The first surface is formed on the film member, The second surface is formed on the elastic member. The container holding unit according to feature 3.

5. The first sealing member is The developer container side facing the wall portion has a notch cut out in a stepped or tapered shape. The container holding unit according to feature 2.

6. The first sealing member forms a space between itself and the replenishment port, with the developer container side being open. The container holding unit according to feature 1.

7. The first sealing member is The length from the bottom toward the developer container is longer than the length in the mounting / detaching direction. The container holding unit according to feature 1.

8. As the first sealing member deforms toward the mounting direction, the angle of the first surface toward the developer container with respect to the detachment direction decreases. The container holding unit according to feature 1.

9. A developing apparatus comprising a container holding unit according to claim 1 and the developer container.

10. The developer container further includes an opening / closing member for opening and closing the supply port, The first sealing member comes into contact with the opening / closing member when the developer container is attached to or detached. The opening / closing member has a projection at its end on the mounting direction side that protrudes toward the mounting direction and contacts the first sealing member. The developing apparatus according to feature 9.

11. The developer container has a second sealing member at least on the side of the supply port that is in the detachment direction, The second sealing member scrapes off the developer from the surface of the first sealing member and moves it toward the replenishment port when the developer container is installed. The developing apparatus according to feature 9.

12. An image forming apparatus having the container holding unit according to claim 1.

13. In a container holding unit capable of detachably holding a developer container having a supply port, A supply port for receiving the developer supplied from the aforementioned supply port, A first sealing member is provided at a distance from the supply port on the movable side of the supply port when facing the supply port. It has, The first sealing member is It has a first surface and a second surface that is provided on the side of the supply port that is closer to the supply port than the first surface, with respect to the direction in which the supply port can move from the vicinity of the supply port, When the supply port and the replenishment port move to opposite positions, the first contact area on the first surface comes into contact with the developer container and deforms toward the side closer to the replenishment port. When the supply port and the supply port move from their opposing positions, they deform toward the side away from the supply port, and the second contact area on the second surface comes into contact with the developer container. A container holding unit characterized by the following features.

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