Powder storage container and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide a toner container (powder storage container) that can be prevented from being bent even if the thickness of the toner container is reduced.SOLUTION: A toner container 32 comprises an inner peripheral surface 311 having a spiral shape such as spiral projections 302 and can rotate around a longitudinal axis such as a rotation axis R to convey powder such as developer G and toner stored in the spiral shape in one direction. The cross-sectional shape of the inner peripheral surface in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis at a predetermined position is substantially an octagon having rounded corners 310, and the cross-sectional shape at a position shifted from the predetermined position by a predetermined amount within one pitch 316 of the spiral in the longitudinal direction has an area in a shape in which the substantial octagon having rounded corners is rotated around the longitudinal axis. A cross section in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis and passing through the longitudinal axis does not have a straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 31

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a powder storage container and an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] When forming a toner container by direct blow molding, a technique is known in which the wall thickness is adjusted to form a thin container (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Until now, most toner containers have been bottle-shaped with a cylindrical shape and a spiral groove carved into it, and when they were molded with a thin wall, there was a problem that when a force was applied perpendicular to the straight part that is parallel (horizontal) to the axial center direction of the toner container (bottle) in the circumferential direction where there are no grooves, the curved part would dent toward the inner wall and undergo plastic deformation.

[0004] Furthermore, when the toner container contains toner, if the handles at both ends of the bottle are held, the entire bottle will bend and become significantly deformed, and there are problems with strength and operability when making the toner container thinner. Furthermore, when a bent toner bottle rotates inside the image forming device in which it is installed, it is periodically hit against parts around the bottle (such as guide parts), which can cause various problems such as abnormal noises when the bottle is hit, banding images caused by the vibrations caused by the hits, an increase in the amount of remaining toner, and increased driving torque. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to provide a toner container (powder storage container) that can suppress bending even when the toner container is made thin-walled. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the powder storage container of the present invention is a powder storage container having an inner surface having a spiral shape, and capable of transporting powder stored in the spiral shape in one direction by rotating around a longitudinal axis, wherein the inner surface has a cross-sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis at a predetermined position that is an approximate polygon with rounded corners or an approximate polygon with concave sides, and has a region in which the cross-sectional shape at a position shifted a predetermined amount from the predetermined position in the longitudinal direction within one pitch of the spiral is a shape obtained by rotating the approximate polygon with rounded corners or the approximate polygon with concave sides around the longitudinal axis. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a powder storage container that can suppress bending even if the powder storage container is made thin-walled. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a toner supply device and a toner container according to an embodiment before the toner container is attached. [Diagram 2] 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment; [Diagram 3] 3 is a schematic diagram showing one configuration of an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a toner container is installed in a toner supply device in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which a toner container is installed in a toner supply device. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a toner container according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toner supply device and the toner container before the toner container is attached. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toner container and the toner supply device with the toner container attached; [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container and the toner supply device with the toner container attached. [Figure 10]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toner container with the container cover removed. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the toner container with the nozzle receiver removed from the container body. [Figure 12] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container with the nozzle receiver removed from the container body. [Figure 13] 13 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of the toner container in a state where the nozzle receiver is attached to the container body from the state shown in FIG. 12; [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a nozzle receiving member as viewed from the tip side of a container; [Figure 15] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the nozzle receiver as viewed from the rear end side of the container. [Figure 16] 14 is a top cross-sectional view of the nozzle receiver in the state shown in FIG. 13. [Figure 17] 14 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle receiving member in the state shown in FIG. 13. [Figure 18] FIG. [Figure 19] 13A to 13D are plan views seen from above, explaining the state during the mounting operation of the opening / closing member and the conveying tube. [Figure 20] FIG. [Figure 21] 4 is a perspective view of a connector fixed to the toner supply device and a tip end of the toner container; FIG. [Figure 22] 13 is a perspective view illustrating a front end portion of the toner container and a connector in a state in which the ID tag holding mechanism is disassembled. FIG. [Figure 23] 13 is a perspective view of the container front end portion of the toner container and the connector in a state in which the ID tag is temporarily attached to the holding member; FIG. [Figure 24] Three views of the ID tag: (a) is a front view, (b) is a side view, and (c) is a back view. [Diagram 25] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the relative positional relationship between the ID tag, a holding member, and a connector. [Figure 26] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which the ID tag is engaged with the connector. [Figure 27] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical circuit of the ID tag and the electrical circuit of the connector. [Figure 28] 1A is a front view of an ID tag held in a connector, and FIG. 1B is a front view of the ID tag rotated around an ID tag positioning hole. [Figure 29] FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a toner container according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 30] 29A is a front view of the toner container shown in FIG. 29, FIG. 29B is a side view of the toner container shown in FIG. 29A, FIG. 29C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 29B, and FIG. [Diagram 31] 30(a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. 30(c), and FIG. 30(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 30(d). [Diagram 32] 29 , (a) is a cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional shape of the container body in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction at a predetermined position, and (b) is a cross-sectional view explaining that the cross-sectional shape of the container body at a position shifted in the rotation axis direction from the predetermined position in (a) is an approximate octagon rotated around the rotation axis R. [Diagram 33] 32(a) to 32(b) are schematic diagrams illustrating how the substantially octagonal cross-sectional shape of the toner container according to the first embodiment changes from the position and angle state of FIG. 32(a) to that of FIG. [Diagram 34] FIG. 2A is a front view of a main part of a toner container according to a first embodiment, and FIG. 2B is a front view of a main part of a toner container according to a comparative example. [Diagram 35] FIG. 1(a1) is a diagram showing the outer shape of a toner container in Example 1, FIG. 1(a2) is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1(a1), FIG. 1(b1) is a diagram showing the outer shape of a toner container in a comparative example, and FIG. 1(b2) is a cross-sectional view of the toner container in FIG. [Diagram 36] FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cut width of the container body according to Example 1, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cut width of the container body according to the comparative example. [Figure 37] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the results of a simulation test performed on the toner containers of Example 1 and the comparative example regarding static structure analysis. [Figure 38] 6 is a graph showing the results of a simulation test on toner transportability conducted using the toner containers of Example 1 and the comparative example. [Figure 39]FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the spiral pitch and spiral height of a toner container of a comparative example. [Diagram 40] FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of a toner container according to a second embodiment. [Diagram 41] 40A is a front view of the toner container in FIG. 40, FIG. 40B is a side view of FIG. 40, FIG. 40C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 40, and FIG. [Diagram 42] 41(a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. 41(c), and FIG. 41(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 41(d). [Diagram 43] FIG. 11 is an external perspective view of a toner container according to a third embodiment. [Diagram 44] 44A is a front view of the toner container in FIG. 43, FIG. 44B is a side view of FIG. 44A, FIG. 44C is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 44B, and FIG. [Diagram 45] 44(a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. 44(c), and FIG. 44(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of FIG. 44(d). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention including examples will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Throughout the embodiments and examples, components (components and components) having the same members or functions will be given the same reference numerals once they have been described, and the description will be omitted unless there is a risk of confusion. In order to simplify the drawings and explanations, components that should be shown in the drawings but do not need to be described in particular in the drawings may be omitted without notice as appropriate. In the drawings, Y, M, C, and K are suffixes given to components corresponding to (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black), and will be omitted as appropriate. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an electrophotographic tandem-type color copier (hereinafter, referred to as "copier 500") as an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. The copier 500 is composed of a copier main body (hereinafter referred to as the “printer unit 100”), a paper feed table (hereinafter referred to as the “paper feed unit 200”), and a document reading unit (hereinafter referred to as the “scanner unit 400”) that is attached onto the printer unit 100.

[0010] Four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) serving as powder storage containers corresponding to the respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) are detachably (replaceably) installed in the toner container storage section 70 serving as a powder container storage section provided in the upper part of the printer section 100. An intermediate transfer unit 85 is disposed below the toner container storage section 70.

[0011] The intermediate transfer unit 85 is composed of the intermediate transfer belt 48 as an intermediate transfer body, four primary transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K), a secondary transfer backup roller 82, a plurality of tension rollers, and an intermediate transfer cleaning device (not shown), etc. The intermediate transfer belt 48 is stretched and supported by a plurality of roller members, and moves endlessly in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2 by the rotational drive of the secondary transfer backup roller 82, which is one of the plurality of roller members.

[0012] In the printer unit 100, four image forming units 46 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to the respective colors are arranged side by side so as to face the intermediate transfer belt 48. Four toner supply devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) serving as powder supply devices corresponding to the toner containers of the respective colors are arranged below the four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K). The toner, which is a powder developer contained in the toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K), is supplied (supplied) into the developing device of the image forming unit 46 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to each color by the corresponding toner supply device 60 (Y, M, C, K).

[0013] 2, the printer unit 100 includes an exposure device 47, which is a latent image forming means, below the four image creating units 46. The exposure device 47 exposes and scans the surfaces of photoconductors 41 (Y, M, C, K) described below based on image information of an original image read by the scanner unit 400, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of each photoconductor. The image information does not have to be read from the scanner unit 400, but may be image information input from an external device such as a personal computer connected to the copier 500. In this embodiment, the exposure device 47 uses a laser beam scanner system using a laser diode, but the exposure means may have other configurations, such as an LED array.

[0014] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image forming unit 46Y corresponding to yellow. The image forming unit 46Y includes a drum-shaped photoconductor 41Y that is an image carrier. The image forming unit 46Y includes a charging roller 44Y that is a charging means, a developing device 50Y that is a developing means, a photoconductor cleaning device 42Y, a charge removing device, and the like that are arranged around the photoconductor 41Y. Then, an image forming process (charging process, exposure process, developing process, transfer process, cleaning process) is performed on the photoconductor 41Y, and a yellow toner image is formed on the photoconductor 41Y.

[0015] The other three image forming units 46 (M, C, K) have almost the same configuration as the image forming unit 46Y corresponding to yellow, except that the toner colors used are different, and a toner image corresponding to the respective color toner is formed on each photoconductor 41 (M, C, K). Below, the description of the other three image forming units 46 (M, C, K) will be omitted as appropriate, and only the image forming unit 46Y corresponding to yellow will be described.

[0016] The photoconductor 41Y is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3 by a drive motor. The surface of the photoconductor 41Y is uniformly charged at a position facing the charging roller 44Y (charging step). Thereafter, the surface of the photoconductor 41Y reaches a position irradiated with the laser light L emitted from the exposure device 47, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to yellow is formed by exposure scanning at this position (exposure step). Thereafter, the surface of the photoconductor 41Y reaches a position facing the development device 50Y, and the electrostatic latent image is developed with yellow toner at this position to form a yellow toner image (development step).

[0017] The four primary transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K) of the intermediate transfer unit 85 sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 48 between the photoconductors 41 (Y, M, C, K) to form primary transfer nips. A transfer bias opposite to the polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K).

[0018] The surface of the photoconductor 41Y on which the toner image is formed in the developing process reaches a primary transfer nip facing the primary transfer bias roller 49Y with the intermediate transfer belt 48 interposed therebetween, and the toner image on the photoconductor 41Y is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 48 at this primary transfer nip (primary transfer process). At this time, a small amount of untransferred toner remains on the photoconductor 41Y. The surface of the photoconductor 41Y, which has transferred the toner image to the intermediate transfer belt 48 at the primary transfer nip, reaches a position facing the photoconductor cleaning device 42Y. The untransferred toner remaining on the photoconductor 41Y is mechanically collected at this position by the cleaning blade 42a of the photoconductor cleaning device 42Y (cleaning process). Finally, the surface of the photoconductor 41Y reaches a position facing the charge removing device, and the residual potential on the photoconductor 41Y is removed at this position. In this way, a series of image forming processes performed on the photoconductor 41Y is completed.

[0019] Such an image forming process is performed in the other image forming units 46 (M, C, K) in the same manner as in the yellow image forming unit 46Y. That is, laser light L based on image information is irradiated onto the photoconductors 41 (M, C, K) of each image forming unit 46 (M, C, K) from an exposure device 47 disposed below the image forming units 46 (M, C, K). In detail, the exposure device 47 emits laser light L from a light source, and irradiates each photoconductor 41 (M, C, K) through a plurality of optical elements while scanning the laser light L with a polygon mirror that is rotated. Thereafter, the toner images of each color formed on each photoconductor 41 (M, C, K) through a development process are transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt 48.

[0020] 2, and sequentially passes through the primary transfer nips of the primary transfer bias rollers 49 (Y, M, C, K). As a result, the toner images of each color on each photoconductor 41 (Y, M, C, K) are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 48 in a superimposed manner, and a color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 48.

[0021] The intermediate transfer belt 48, on which the toner images of each color are transferred and superimposed and a color toner image is formed, reaches a position facing the secondary transfer roller 89. At this position, the secondary transfer backup roller 82 sandwiches the intermediate transfer belt 48 between itself and the secondary transfer roller 89 to form a secondary transfer nip. The color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 48 is then transferred onto a recording medium P, such as a transfer paper, conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer nip by, for example, the action of a transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer backup roller 82. At this time, untransferred toner that has not been transferred to the recording medium P remains on the intermediate transfer belt 48. The intermediate transfer belt 48 that has passed through the secondary transfer nip reaches the position of an intermediate transfer cleaning device, and the untransferred toner on its surface is collected, completing a series of transfer processes performed on the intermediate transfer belt 48.

[0022] Next, the movement of the recording medium P will be described. The recording medium P transported to the secondary transfer nip is transported from a paper feed tray 26 provided in a paper feed unit 200 disposed below the printer unit 100 via a paper feed roller 27 and a pair of registration rollers 28. More specifically, a plurality of recording media P are stored in a stack in the paper feed tray 26. When the paper feed roller 27 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2, the topmost recording medium P is transported toward the roller nip formed by the two rollers of the pair of registration rollers 28.

[0023] The recording medium P conveyed to the registration roller pair 28 stops temporarily at the roller nip position of the registration roller pair 28, which has stopped rotating. Then, the registration roller pair 28 is rotated in synchronization with the timing at which the color toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 48 reaches the secondary transfer nip, so that the recording medium P is conveyed toward the secondary transfer nip. As a result, the desired color toner image is transferred onto the recording medium P.

[0024] The recording medium P onto which the color toner image has been transferred at the secondary transfer nip is transported to the position of the fixing device 86. In the fixing device 86, the color toner image transferred onto the surface is fixed onto the recording medium P by heat and pressure from a fixing belt and a pressure roller. The recording medium P that has passed through the fixing device 86 passes between the rollers of the discharge roller pair 29 and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus. The recording medium P discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 29 is stacked in sequence on the stack unit 30 as an output image. In this way, a series of image formation processes in the copier 500 is completed.

[0025] Next, a more detailed description will be given of the configuration and operation of the developing device 50 in the image forming unit 46. Note that, although the image forming unit 46Y corresponding to yellow will be used as an example for explanation, the image forming units 46 (M, C, K) for the other colors have the same configuration and operation.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 3, the developing device 50Y is composed of a developing roller 51Y as a developer carrier, a doctor blade 52Y as a developer regulating plate, two developer transport screws 55Y, and a toner concentration detection sensor 56Y. The developing roller 51Y faces the photoconductor 41Y, and the doctor blade 52Y faces the developing roller 51Y. The two developer transport screws 55Y are disposed in two developer storage sections (53Y, 54Y). The developing roller 51Y is composed of a magnet roller fixed inside and a sleeve rotating around the magnet roller. The first developer storage section 53Y and the second developer storage section 54Y store two-component developer G consisting of carrier and toner. The second developer storage section 54Y communicates with the toner drop transport path 64Y through an opening formed above it. The toner concentration detection sensor 56Y detects the toner concentration in the developer G in the second developer container 54Y.

[0027] The developer G in the developing device 50Y is circulated between the first developer container 53Y and the second developer container 54Y while being stirred by the two developer transport screws 55Y. The developer G in the first developer container 53Y is supplied to and carried on the sleeve surface of the developing roller 51Y by the magnetic field formed by the magnet roller in the developing roller 51Y while being transported by one of the developer transport screws 55Y. The sleeve of the developing roller 51Y is rotated counterclockwise as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3, and the developer G carried on the developing roller 51Y moves on the developing roller 51Y as the sleeve rotates. At this time, the toner in the developer G is charged to a potential of the opposite polarity to the carrier due to frictional charging with the carrier in the developer G, and is electrostatically attracted to the carrier, and is carried on the developing roller 51Y together with the carrier attracted by the magnetic field formed on the developing roller 51Y.

[0028] The developer G carried on the developing roller 51Y is transported in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 to reach the doctor section where the doctor blade 52Y and the developing roller 51Y face each other. The amount of the developer G on the developing roller 51Y is regulated and adjusted as it passes through the doctor section, and then it is transported to the developing area, which is the position facing the photoconductor 41Y. In the developing area, the toner in the developer G is attracted to the latent image formed on the photoconductor 41Y by the developing electric field formed between the developing roller 51Y and the photoconductor 41Y. The developer G remaining on the surface of the developing roller 51Y that has passed through the developing area reaches above the first developer container 53Y as the sleeve rotates, and is separated from the developing roller 51Y at this position.

[0029] The developer G in the developing device 50Y is adjusted so that the toner concentration is within a predetermined range. More specifically, the toner contained in the toner container 32Y is replenished into the second developer storage section 54Y via a toner replenishing device 60Y, which will be described later, according to the amount of toner consumed by development contained in the developer G in the developing device 50Y. The toner replenished into the second developer storage section 54Y is mixed and stirred with the developer G by two developer transport screws 55Y and circulates between the first developer storage section 53Y and the second developer storage section 54Y.

[0030] Next, the toner supply devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) will be described. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a toner container 32Y is attached to a toner supply device 60Y, and FIG. 5 is a schematic oblique view showing a state in which four toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) are attached to a toner container storage section 70.

[0031] The toner contained in the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) attached to the toner container storage unit 70 of the printer unit 100 is appropriately replenished into each developing device 50 (Y, M, C, K) according to the toner consumption in each developing device 50 (Y, M, C, K) as shown in FIG. 4. At this time, the toner in the toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) is replenished by the toner replenishing device 60 (Y, M, C, K) provided for each toner color. The four toner replenishing devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) and toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) have almost the same structure except for the color of the toner used in the image forming process. Therefore, only the toner replenishing device 60Y and toner container 32Y corresponding to yellow will be described below, and the description of the toner replenishing device 60 (M, C, K) and toner container 32 (M, C, K) corresponding to the other three colors will be omitted as appropriate.

[0032] The toner supply device 60Y is composed of a toner container storage section 70, a conveying nozzle 611Y as a conveying pipe, a conveying screw 614Y as a conveying member, a toner drop conveying path 64Y, a driving section 91Y, and the like. When the toner container 32Y is moved by a user in the mounting direction indicated by the arrow Q in Fig. 4 and mounted in the toner container storage unit 70 of the printer unit 100, the conveying nozzle 611Y of the toner replenishing device 60Y is inserted from the container tip side of the toner container 32Y in conjunction with the mounting operation. This allows communication between the inside of the toner container 32Y and the inside of the conveying nozzle 611Y. The details of the communication structure in conjunction with this mounting operation will be described later. Note that the arrow Q1 indicates the removal direction in which the toner container 32Y is removed from the toner container storage unit 70.

[0033] The toner container 32Y is a substantially cylindrical toner bottle. The toner container 32Y is mainly composed of a container cover 34Y that is held in a non-rotatable manner in the toner container storage section 70, and a container body 33Y that serves as a powder containing member and is integrally formed with a container gear 301Y. The container body 33Y is held rotatably relative to the container cover 34Y.

[0034] 5, the toner container storage section 70 is mainly composed of a container cover receiving section 73, a container receiving section 72, and an insertion opening forming section 71. The container cover receiving section 73 is a section for holding the container cover 34Y and the container body 33Y of the toner container 32Y. The container receiving portion 72 is a portion for supporting the container body 33Y of the toner container 32Y. The insertion opening forming portion 71 is a portion for forming an insertion opening when the toner container 32Y is attached. When the main body cover installed on the front side of the copier 500 (the front side in the vertical direction of the paper surface in FIG. 2) is opened, the insertion port forming portion 71 of the toner container storage unit 70 is exposed. Then, with the longitudinal direction of each toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) set horizontally, the attachment and detachment operation of each toner container 32 (Y, M, C, K) (attachment and detachment operation with the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 as the attachment and detachment direction) is performed from the front side of the copier 500. Note that the set cover 608Y in FIG. 4 is a part of the container cover receiving portion 73 of the toner container storage unit 70.

[0035] The container receiving portion 72 is formed so that its length in the longitudinal direction is approximately equal to the length in the longitudinal direction of the container body 33Y. The container cover receiving portion 73 is provided at the container tip side in the longitudinal direction (attachment / detachment direction) of the container receiving portion 72, and the insertion opening forming portion 71 is provided at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the container receiving portion 72. Each of the four toner containers 32 is slidably movable on the container receiving portion 72. Therefore, when the toner container 32Y is attached, the container cover 34Y slides on the container receiving portion 72 for a while after passing through the insertion opening forming portion 71, and is then attached to the container cover receiving portion 73.

[0036] With the container cover 34Y attached to the container cover receiving portion 73, as shown in FIG. 8, a rotational driving force is input from the driving unit 91Y, which is composed of a driving motor, a driving gear, etc., to the container gear 301Y (FIG. 10) provided on the container body 33Y via the body side driving gear 601Y. As a result, the container body 33Y is rotated in the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 4. As the container body 33Y itself rotates, the toner contained inside the container body 33Y is transported from one end located on the left side to the other end located on the right side in FIG. 4 along the longitudinal direction of the container body by the spiral protrusion 302Y as a transport means formed in a spiral shape on the inner peripheral surface of the container body 33Y. As a result, the toner is supplied into the transport nozzle 611Y from the container cover 34Y side provided at the other end.

[0037] A transport screw 614Y is disposed in the transport nozzle 611Y. The transport screw 614Y rotates when a rotational driving force is input from the drive unit 91Y to a transport screw gear 605Y, and transports the toner supplied into the transport nozzle 611Y. The downstream end of the transport nozzle 611Y in the transport direction is connected to a toner drop transport path 64Y. The toner transported by the transport screw 614Y falls by its own weight through the toner drop transport path 64Y and is replenished into the developing device 50Y (second developer storage unit 54Y). Each of the toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) is replaced with a new one when it reaches the end of its life (when the toner contained therein is almost all consumed and empty). A handle portion 303 is provided on one end of the toner container 32 opposite the container cover 34 in the longitudinal direction, and when replacing the toner container 32, an operator can remove the installed toner container 32 by grasping the handle portion 303 and pulling it out in a removal direction Q1 opposite to the installation direction Q.

[0038] In the toner supply device 60Y, the amount of toner supplied to the developing device 50Y is controlled by the rotation speed of the transport screw 614Y. Therefore, the toner that has passed through the transport nozzle 611Y is directly transported to the developing device 50Y via the toner drop transport path 64Y without the amount of toner supplied to the developing device 50Y being controlled. Even in the toner supply device 60Y in which the transport nozzle 611Y is inserted into the toner container 32Y as in this embodiment, a temporary toner storage section such as a toner hopper may be provided.

[0039] Next, the toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) and toner supply devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) of this embodiment will be described in more detail. As described above, the toner containers 32 (Y, M, C, K) and toner supply devices 60 (Y, M, C, K) have almost the same configuration except for the colors of toner used. Therefore, in the following description, the subscripts Y, M, C, K indicating the colors of toner will be omitted.

[0040] Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of the toner supply device 60 before the toner container 32 is attached and the end of the toner container 32 on the container tip side, and Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of the toner supply device 60 with the toner container 32 attached and the end of the toner container 32 on the container tip side. Fig. 6 is a perspective explanatory diagram of the toner container 32. Fig. 7 is a perspective explanatory diagram of the toner supply device 60 before the toner container 32 is attached and the end of the toner container 32 on the container tip side, and Fig. 8 is a perspective explanatory diagram of the toner supply device 60 with the toner container 32 attached and the end of the toner container 32 on the container tip side.

[0041] The toner supply device 60 includes a conveying nozzle 611 having a conveying screw 614 therein, and a nozzle shutter 612 as a powder receiving port opening and closing member. When the toner container 32 is not attached (the state in FIGS. 1 and 7), the nozzle shutter 612 closes a nozzle opening 610 formed in the conveying nozzle 611 as a powder receiving port, and when the toner container 32 is attached (the state in FIGS. 8 and 9), the nozzle shutter 612 opens the nozzle opening 610. Meanwhile, a nozzle receiving port 331 as a tube insertion port into which the conveying nozzle 611 is inserted when the toner container 32 is attached is formed in the center of the tip surface (the end on the other end side) of the toner container 32, and the toner container 32 includes a container shutter 332 as a container opening and closing member that closes the nozzle receiving port 331 when the toner container 32 is not attached. The toner container storage section 70 includes a container receiving section 72 that slides and moves the toner container 32 when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device 60. The container receiving section 72 is divided into four sections in a width direction W perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (attaching / detaching direction) of the toner container as shown in Fig. 5, and a groove section 74 is formed as a container mounting section that continues from the insertion opening forming section 71 to the container cover receiving section 73 along the longitudinal direction of the container body 33. The toner containers 32 of each color (Y, M, C, K) are configured to be able to slide and move on the groove section 74 in the longitudinal direction.

[0042] 20, the container cover receiving section 73 is provided with set covers 608 (Y, M, C, K) corresponding to the respective colors. The set cover 608 is provided with a conveying nozzle 611 at the center thereof, which is disposed so as to protrude into the container cover receiving section 73 from an end face 615b downstream in the mounting direction of the container setting section 615 toward the removal direction of the toner container 32. When viewed from the mounting direction, a container setting section 615 is formed at the base of the conveying nozzle 611, into which a container opening 33a (described later) is fitted when the toner container 32 is mounted on the toner supply device 60. The container setting section 615 has an inner circumferential surface 615a (inner periphery of the second cover) and an end surface 615b located downstream of the inner circumferential surface 615a in the mounting direction of the toner container 32, and the inner circumferential surface 615a and the outer circumferential surface of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 are fitted in a slidable state. This fitting determines the position of the toner container 32 relative to the toner supply device 60 in a plane direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the toner container 32. When the toner container 32 rotates, the outer circumferential surface of the container opening 33a functions as a rotation shaft, and the container setting section 615 functions as a bearing. At this time, the outer circumferential surface of the container opening 33a comes into slidable contact with the container setting part 615, and the position of the toner container 32 with respect to the toner supply device 60 is indicated by α in Fig. 9. The container setting part 615 has an inner circumferential surface 615a that fits with the outer circumferential surface of the container opening 33a of the toner container 32 when the toner container 32 is set, as shown in Fig. 1. Therefore, the container body 33 can be rotationally driven while being held by the container setting part 615.

[0043] The toner container 32 will now be described. As described above, the toner container 32 is mainly composed of the container body 33 in which the toner is stored, and the container cover 34. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the toner container 32 in a state in which the container cover 34 has been removed from the state shown in Fig. 6.

[0044] Fig. 11 is an explanatory perspective view of the toner container 32 in a state in which the nozzle receiver 330 serving as a tube insertion member has been removed from the container body 33 from the state shown in Fig. 10, and Fig. 12 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the toner container 32 and the nozzle receiver 330 in a state in which the nozzle receiver 330 has been removed from the container body 33. Fig. 13 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the toner container 32 in a state in which the nozzle receiver 330 has been attached to the container body 33 from the state shown in Fig. 12 (the toner container 32 in a state in which the container cover 34 has been removed as in Fig. 10).

[0045] 10 and 11, the container body 33 is a generally polygonal cylinder (the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the rotation axis R is generally polygonal), and is configured to rotate around the central axis of the generally polygonal cylinder as the rotation axis R. Here, "generally polygonal" includes polygons and regular polygons, and also means that the specific shape configuration produces the effects described below. The rotation axis R, which is the central axis of the generally polygonal cylinder, is the longitudinal axis according to the present invention, and the container body 33 of the toner container 32, which is a powder storage container according to the present invention, is configured to rotate around the rotation axis R, which is the longitudinal axis. Hereinafter, the direction parallel to this rotation axis R will be referred to as the "longitudinal direction or rotational axis direction," and in the rotational axis direction, the side of the toner container 32 on which the nozzle receiving port 331 is formed (the side on which the container cover 34 is arranged) will be referred to as the "container tip side." In addition, the side of the toner container 32 where the handle portion 303 is located (the side opposite to the container front end side) is referred to as the "container rear end side." Note that the longitudinal direction and the mounting and removing direction of the toner container 32 are the rotation axis direction, and when the toner container 32 is mounted in the toner supply device 60, the rotation axis direction is horizontal. The outer diameter of the container body 33 from the container gear 301 toward the rear end of the container is larger than that of the container front end, and the inner peripheral surface is formed with a spiral projection 302 specific to the present invention. When the container body 33 rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure, the toner in the container body 33 is given a conveying force from one end (the container rear end) to the other end (the container front end) in the rotation axis direction by the action of the spiral projection 302. Note that the specific shape of the inner peripheral surface and outer peripheral surface of the container body 33, the spiral projection 302 formed on the inner peripheral surface and outer peripheral surface, etc. are configurations specific to the present invention and will be described in detail later.

[0046] A pumping portion 304 is formed on the inner wall of the container body 33 at the container tip side, which pumps up the toner conveyed to the container tip side by the spiral projection 302 as the container body 33 rotates in the direction of the arrow A in the figure, by the rotation of the container body 33. As shown in FIG. 13, the pumping portion 304 is composed of a protruding portion 304h and a pumping wall surface 304f. The protruding portion 304h is a portion that protrudes inwardly from the container body 33 so as to form a ridgeline toward the center of rotation of the container body 33 while forming a spiral. The pumping wall surface 304f is a wall surface that is downstream as viewed from the container rotation direction, among the wall surfaces of the contact portion that connects the protruding portion 304h (ridgeline) to the inner wall of the circumferential surface of the container body 33. When the pumping wall surface 304f is in a downward position, the toner that has entered the internal space facing the pumping portion 304 by the conveying force of the spiral projection 302 is pumped upward by the pumping wall surface 304f in accordance with the rotation of the container body 33. This allows the toner to be pumped upward above the inserted conveying nozzle 611. As shown in Figures 1 and 10, the inner circumferential surface of pumping portion 304 is also formed with pumping portion spiral protrusion 304a, which is spirally shaped to transport the toner inside in the same manner as spiral protrusion 302.

[0047] A container gear 301 is formed on the container body 33, further toward the container tip side than the pumping portion 304. A gear exposure opening 34a is provided in the container cover 34 so that a part of the container gear 301 (the rear side in FIG. 6) is exposed when the container cover 34 is attached to the container body 33. When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner supply device 60, the container gear 301 exposed from the gear exposure opening 34a meshes with a main body side drive gear 601 on the toner supply device 60 side.

[0048] A cylindrical container opening 33a is formed on the container body 33 closer to the container tip than the container gear 301. Then, by press-fitting a receiver fixing portion 337 of the nozzle receiver 330 into this container opening 33a, the nozzle receiver 330 can be fixed to the container body 33. The method of fixing the nozzle receiver 330 is not limited to press-fitting, and it may be fixed by an adhesive or by screwing. The toner container 32 is configured such that after the toner is filled into the container body 33 through the opening of the container opening 33a, the nozzle receiver 330 is fixed to the container opening 33a of the container body 33.

[0049] Also, a cover claw hooking portion 306 is formed at the end of the container opening 33a of the container body 33 on the container gear 301 side. The container cover 34 is attached to the toner container 32 (container body 33) in the state shown in Fig. 10 from the container tip side (lower left side in Fig. 10). As a result, the container body 33 penetrates the container cover 34 in the longitudinal direction, and the cover claw hooking portion 306 is hooked onto each of the cover claw portions 341 provided at three places in the circumferential direction of the container cover 34. The cover claw hooking portion 306 is formed to go around the outer circumferential surface of the container opening 33a, and the cover claw portions 341 are hooked onto the cover claw portions 341, so that the container body 33 and the container cover 34 are attached so as to be rotatable relative to each other. 7, slide guides 361 are formed on both side surfaces of the lower portion of the container cover 34 of the toner container. When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner container storage unit 70, the pair of slide guides 361 slidably support the toner container 32 placed in a groove portion (not shown) on the container receiving portion 72 in the attachment / detachment direction.

[0050] 7, container front end cover 34 has container locking portions 339 formed on its outer circumferential surface 34b for axially positioning toner container 32 relative to toner supply device 60. When toner container 32 is attached to toner supply device 60, supply device side locking members 78 provided on set cover 608 engage with each container locking portion 339.

[0051] Next, the nozzle receiver 330 fixed to the container body 33 will be described. Fig. 14 is an explanatory perspective view of nozzle receiver 330 as viewed from the front end side of the container, and Fig. 15 is an explanatory perspective view of nozzle receiver 330 as viewed from the rear end side of the container. Fig. 16 is a top cross-sectional view of nozzle receiver 330 as viewed from above in the state shown in Fig. 13, and Fig. 17 is a cross-sectional view of nozzle receiver 330 as viewed from the side (the back side in Fig. 13) in the state shown in Fig. 13. Furthermore, Fig. 18 is an exploded perspective view of nozzle receiver 330.

[0052] The nozzle receiver 330 is composed of a container shutter support part 340 as a support member, a container shutter 332, a container seal 333 as a sealing member, a container shutter spring 336 as a biasing means, and a receiver fixing part 337. The container shutter support part 340 is composed of a shutter rear end support part 335, a shutter side surface support part 335a as a side surface part, a shutter support opening 335b as a side opening, and a receiver fixing part 337, and the container shutter spring 336 is composed of a coil spring. The shutter side support portion 335a and the shutter support opening 335b provided on the container shutter support portion 340 are disposed adjacent to each other in the rotation direction of the toner container, and the two opposing shutter side support portions 335a form a part of a cylindrical shape, and the shutter support opening 335b (at two locations) has a shape in which the cylindrical shape is largely cut away. With this shape, it is possible to guide the container shutter 332 to move in the direction of the rotation axis in a columnar space S1 (FIG. 16) formed inside the cylindrical shape.

[0053] The nozzle receiver 330 fixed to the container body 33 rotates together with the container body 33 when the container body 33 rotates, and at this time, the shutter side support portion 335a of the nozzle receiver 330 rotates around the conveying nozzle 611 on the toner supply device 60 side. Therefore, the rotating shutter side support portion 335a passes through the space immediately above the nozzle opening 610 formed at the upper part of the conveying nozzle 611. As a result, even if toner is momentarily accumulated above the nozzle opening 610, the shutter side support portion 335a crosses and breaks up the accumulated toner, so that it is possible to suppress the accumulated toner from coagulating when left unused and causing a toner conveyance failure when restarted. On the other hand, when the shutter side support portion 335a is located to the side of the conveying nozzle 611 and the nozzle opening 610 and the shutter support opening 335b face each other, the toner in the container body 33 is supplied into the conveying nozzle 611 as shown by the arrow β in FIG. 9.

[0054] The container shutter 332 is composed of a tip cylindrical portion 332c as a closing member, a sliding portion 332d, a guide rod 332e, and a shutter removal prevention claw 332a. The tip cylindrical portion 332c is a portion on the tip side of the container that comes into close contact with the cylindrical opening (nozzle receiving port 331) of the container seal 333. The sliding portion 332d is formed closer to the rear end of the container than the tip cylindrical portion 332c, has an outer diameter slightly larger than that of the tip cylindrical portion 332c, and is a cylindrical portion that slides on the inner circumferential surfaces of the pair of shutter side support portions 335a. The guide rod 332e is a column that stands from inside the cylindrical tip portion 332c toward the rear end side of the container, and is a rod portion that is inserted inside the coil of the container shutter spring 336 to guide the container shutter spring 336 so that it does not buckle. Guide rod sliding portion 332g has a pair of flat surfaces formed on both sides of the central axis of guide rod 332e from the middle of cylindrical guide rod 332e. Also, guide rod sliding portion 332g on the rear end side of the container is bifurcated into two to form a pair of cantilevers 332f. The shutter slip-off prevention claws 332a are provided at the end of the cantilever beam 332f, opposite the upright base of the guide rod 332e, and are a pair of claw portions that prevent the container shutter 332 from falling off from the container shutter support portion 340.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 16 and Fig. 17, the tip end of the container shutter spring 336 abuts against the inner wall surface of the tip cylindrical portion 332c, and the rear end of the container shutter spring 336 abuts against the wall surface of the shutter rear end support portion 335. At this time, since the container shutter spring 336 is in a compressed state, the container shutter 332 receives a biasing force in a direction away from the shutter rear end support portion 335 (to the right in Fig. 16 and Fig. 17, toward the container tip). However, the shutter removal prevention claw 332a formed at the end of the container rear end side of the container shutter 332 is caught on the outer wall surface of the shutter rear end support portion 335. This prevents the container shutter 332 from moving in a direction away from the shutter rear end support portion 335 more than in the state shown in Fig. 16 and Fig. 17. Positioning is achieved by the engagement of the shutter removal prevention claw 332a with the shutter rear end support portion 335 and the biasing force of the container shutter spring 336. More specifically, the tip cylindrical portion 332c, which exerts the toner leakage prevention function of the container shutter 332, and the container seal 333 are positioned in the axial direction with respect to the container shutter support portion 340. The two are positioned in a tight contact relationship, preventing toner leakage.

[0056] The receiver member fixing portion 337 is cylindrical in shape, with the diameters of the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface gradually decreasing toward the rear end of the container. The diameters decrease in sequence as viewed from the front end of the container to the rear end of the container. As shown in FIG. 17, the outer peripheral surface has two outer diameter portions (outer peripheral surfaces AA and BB in order from the front end of the container) and the inner peripheral surface has five inner diameter portions (outer peripheral surfaces CC, DD, EE, FF, and GG in order from the front end of the container). The boundary between the outer peripheral surface AA and the outer peripheral surface BB on the outer peripheral surface is connected by a tapered surface. The boundary between the fourth inner diameter portion FF and the fifth inner diameter portion GG on the inner peripheral surface is also connected by a tapered surface. The inner diameter portion FF on the inner peripheral surface and the tapered surface connected thereto correspond to the seal member entrapment prevention space 337b described later, and the ridges of these surfaces correspond to the sides of a pentagonal cross section described later.

[0057] As shown in Figs. 16 to 18, a pair of shutter side support parts 335a, each of which is a piece-like shape obtained by cutting a cylinder in the axial direction, protrudes from the receiver fixing part 337 toward the rear end of the container, facing each other. The ends of the two shutter side support parts 335a toward the rear end of the container are connected to the shutter rear end support part 335, which is a cup-shaped part with an oval hole in the center of the bottom. The two shutter side support parts 335a face each other to form a cylindrical space S1 that can be recognized by their inner wall cylindrical surfaces and an imaginary cylindrical surface of their extension. The receiver fixing part 337 has an inner diameter part GG, which is a fifth part from the tip, as a cylindrical inner peripheral surface having an inner diameter equal to the diameter of the cylindrical space S1. The sliding part 332d of the container shutter 332 slides on this cylindrical space S1 and the cylindrical inner peripheral surface GG. The third inner peripheral surface EE of the receiver fixing portion 337 is an imaginary circumferential surface passing through the longitudinal apexes of the nozzle shutter abutment ribs 337a that are equally spaced at 45° intervals. A cylindrical (tubular) container seal 333 having a square cross section (cross section in the cross-sectional views of Figs. 16 and 17) is disposed corresponding to this inner peripheral surface EE. The container seal 333 is fixed to the vertical surface connecting the third inner peripheral surface EE to the fifth inner peripheral surface FF with an adhesive or double-sided tape. The exposed surface on the opposite side to the attachment of this container seal 333 (the right side in Figs. 16 and 17) forms the inner bottom of the cylindrical opening of the cylindrical receiver fixing portion 337 (container opening).

[0058] As shown in Figs. 16 and 17, a seal member entrapment prevention space 337b (entrapment prevention space) is formed corresponding to the inner peripheral surface FF of the receiver member fixing portion 337 and the tapered surface connected thereto. The seal member entrapment prevention space 337b is a ring-shaped sealed space surrounded by three different members. That is, it is a ring-shaped space surrounded by the inner peripheral surface of the receiver member fixing portion 337 (the fourth inner peripheral surface FF and the tapered surface connected thereto), the vertical surface of the attachment side of the container seal 333, and the outer peripheral surface of the container shutter 332 from the tip cylindrical portion 332c to the sliding portion 332d. The cross section of this ring-shaped space (the cross section in the cross-sectional views of Figs. 16 and 17) is pentagonal. The angle between the inner peripheral surface of the receiver member fixing portion 337 and the end face of the container seal 333, and the angle between the outer peripheral surface of the container shutter 332 and the end face of the container seal 333 are both 90°.

[0059] The function of the space 337b for preventing entrapment of the sealing member will now be described. When the container shutter 332 moves from a state in which it is covering the nozzle receiving opening 331 toward the rear end of the container, the inner circumferential surface of the container seal 333 slides against the tip cylindrical portion 332c of the container shutter 332. As a result, the inner circumferential surface of the container seal 333 is pulled by the container shutter 332 and elastically deforms so as to move toward the rear end of the container. At this time, if there is no seal member entrapment prevention space 337b and the vertical surface (the attachment surface of container seal 333) connected from the third inner peripheral surface is connected perpendicularly to the fifth inner peripheral surface GG, the following situation may occur: That is, the elastically deformed portion of container seal 333 may be caught and entrapped between the inner peripheral surface of receiver member fixing portion 337, which slides against container shutter 332, and the outer peripheral surface of container shutter 332. If container seal 333 is entrapped in the portion where receiver member fixing portion 337 and container shutter 332 slide, i.e., between tip cylindrical portion 332c and inner peripheral surface GG, container shutter 332 is locked to receiver member fixing portion 337, and nozzle receiving opening 331 cannot be opened or closed.

[0060] In contrast, the nozzle receiver 330 of this embodiment has a seal member entrapment prevention space 337b formed in its inner periphery. The inner diameter of the seal member entrapment prevention space 337b (the inner diameters of the inner periphery surface EE and the tapered surfaces connected thereto) is smaller than the outer diameter of the container seal 333, so the entire container seal 333 does not enter the seal member entrapment prevention space 337b. In addition, there is a limit to the area of ​​the container seal 333 that is pulled by the container shutter 332 and elastically deformed, and the container seal returns to its original shape by its own elasticity before reaching the inner periphery surface GG and being entrapped. This action makes it possible to prevent the nozzle receiver 331 from being unable to open or close due to the container shutter 332 being locked to the receiver fixing portion 337.

[0061] 16 to 18, a plurality of nozzle shutter abutment ribs 337a are formed to extend radially on the inner peripheral surface of receiver member fixing portion 337, adjacent to the outer periphery of container seal 333. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, when container seal 333 is fixed to receiver member fixing portion 337, the vertical surface on the container tip side of container seal 333 protrudes slightly in the rotation axis direction beyond the end of nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a on the container tip side.

[0062] 9, when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner supply device 60, the nozzle shutter flange 612a of the nozzle shutter 612 on the toner supply device 60 side is biased by the nozzle shutter spring 613 to crush the protruding portion of the container seal 333. The nozzle shutter flange 612a advances further and abuts against the container tip end of the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a, covering the tip end face of the container seal 333 and blocking it from the outside of the container. This ensures the airtightness around the conveying nozzle 611 at the nozzle receiving opening 331 when the toner container 32 is attached, and prevents toner leakage.

[0063] The rear side of the nozzle shutter spring receiving surface 612f of the nozzle shutter flange 612a biased by the nozzle shutter spring 613 abuts against the nozzle shutter abutment rib 337a, thereby determining the position of the nozzle shutter 612 in the rotation axis direction relative to the toner container 32. This determines the positional relationship in the rotation axis direction between the nozzle shutter 612 and the end face of the container seal 333 on the container tip side and the end face of the tip opening 305 (the internal space of a cylindrical receiving member fixing part 337 disposed in the container opening 33a described later) on the container tip side.

[0064] Next, the operation of the container shutter 332 and the conveying nozzle 611 will be described with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 9, and FIG. 19(a) to FIG. 19(d). Before the toner container 32 is attached to the toner supply device 60, as shown in FIG. 1, the container shutter 332 is biased by the container shutter spring 336 toward the closed position where the nozzle receiving opening 331 is closed. FIG. 19(a) shows the appearance of the container shutter 332 and the conveying nozzle 611 at this time. Then, when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner supply device 60, as shown in FIG. 19(b), the conveying nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle receiving opening 331. When the toner container 32 is further pushed into the toner supply device 60, the end surface 332h of the tip cylindrical portion 332c, which is the end surface of the container shutter 332, comes into contact with the end surface 611a located in the insertion direction of the conveying nozzle 611. When the toner container 32 is further pushed in from this state, the container shutter 332 is pushed in as shown in Fig. 19(c), and the conveying nozzle 611 is inserted into the nozzle receiver 330 from the nozzle receiver opening 331 as shown in Fig. 19(d). Therefore, as shown in Fig. 9, the conveying nozzle 611 is inserted into the container body 33 and is in an attached state. At this time, the nozzle opening 610 is in communication with the inside of the container body 33 as shown in Fig. 19(d).

[0065] Thereafter, when the container body 33 rotates, the toner pumped up by the pumping unit 304 above the conveying nozzle 611 falls from the nozzle opening 610 into the conveying nozzle 611. The toner introduced into the conveying nozzle 611 is conveyed through the conveying nozzle 611 toward the toner drop conveying path 64 by the rotation of the conveying screw 614, and is dropped from the toner drop conveying path 64 to be supplied to the developing device 50.

[0066] In the above embodiment, a toner container 32 having a container body 33 with a spiral protrusion 302 and a container cover 34 attached thereto so as to be freely rotatable is exemplified as a powder storage container, but the configuration is not limited to this and may be, for example, a container body having a conveying member such as a screw inside the container.

[0067] Next, a holding mechanism for the ID tag (ID chip) 700 provided in the toner container 32 will be described. Fig. 21 is a perspective explanatory diagram of a connector 800 fixed to a toner supply device 60 and the container tip end of a toner container 32. As shown in Fig. 21, the toner container 32 includes a container body 33 and a container tip cover 34 attached to the container body 33 in a manner exposing a container opening 33a having a nozzle receiving port 331 as a toner discharge port formed in the container body 33. Furthermore, the toner container 32 includes an ID tag 700 as an information storage device attached to the tip of the container tip cover 34, and an ID tag holding mechanism 345 that holds the ID tag 700.

[0068] The communication method of the ID tag 700 in this embodiment is a contact type. Therefore, the connector 800 is disposed at a position facing the container tip end surface of the container tip end cover 34 on the main body side of the toner supply device 60. Fig. 22 is a perspective explanatory view of the container tip end of the toner container 32 with the ID tag holding mechanism 345 disassembled, and the connector 800. As shown in Fig. 22, an ID tag hole 701 for positioning is formed in the ID tag 700, and when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner supply device 60, a positioning pin 801 of the connector 800 is inserted into the ID tag hole 701.

[0069] The ID tag holding mechanism 345 includes a holding section 343 having a base 358 for holding the ID tag 700, and a holding member 344 as a cover member that holds the ID tag 700 movably in the XZ directions in the figure and is detachably fitted to the holding section 343. The ID tag 700 and its holding mechanism 345 are arranged in a space diagonally above the right side of the container tip cover 34 when the toner container 32 is viewed from the container tip side along the rotation axis. This is because the holding mechanism 345 is arranged on the container tip cover 34 by utilizing the space diagonally above the right side, which becomes a dead space when juxtaposing toner containers 32 of other colors. This makes it possible to provide a compact toner supply device in which cylindrical toner containers 32 can be arranged close to each other. In addition, the container gear 301 and the container drive gear 601 on the main body side are arranged in the space diagonally above the left side of the container tip cover 34. To prevent adjacent toner supply systems from interfering with each other, the ID tag 700, the holding mechanism 345, and the main body side terminal 804 are arranged so as not to interfere with the container driving gear 601 on the main body side.

[0070] 23 is a perspective explanatory diagram of the container front end of the toner container 32 and the connector 800 in a state in which the ID tag 700 is temporarily fixed to the holding member 344. As shown in FIG. 23, the holding part 343 is formed on the ID tag attachment surface 357 of the container front end of the container front end cover 34, and has a base 358 consisting of four square pillars that supports the board surface without wiring on the back side of the ID tag 700. The holding member 344 also has a frame 352 (see FIG. 22) and a holding member protrusion 353. The frame 352 is a frame formed to surround the base 358 from the outside when the ID tag 700 is fitted into the holding part 343, thereby preventing the ID tag 700 from coming off. The holding member protrusion 353 is a portion that protrudes from the inner wall surface of the frame 352 so as to cover an area of ​​the surface of the ID tag 700 without terminals. The frame 352 provided on the holding member 344 is large enough to accommodate an ID tag with a rectangular outer shape inside the frame, and when the ID tag 700 is set inside it, it holds the ID tag 700 so that it can move to some extent in the XZ directions.

[0071] The retention mechanism 345 will now be described in further detail. The frame 352 provided on the holding member 344 is formed longer than the length of the base 358 in the Y-axis direction in the figure (height from the ID tag mounting surface 357). Therefore, when the ID tag 700 is installed on the base 358, the ID tag 700 is not fixed to the container front end cover 34. Furthermore, the ID tag 700 is installed with a gap between it and the frame 352 that exists so as to surround the outside of the ID tag 700 in the XZ directions. In addition, since the ID tag 700 has a slight gap with the holding member protrusion 353 of the holding member 344, the ID tag 700 is not fixed to the container front end cover 34 but will not come off. The ID tag 700 is held to such an extent that it moves in the holding member 344 with a rattling sound when the toner container 32 is lightly shaken.

[0072] When assembling the ID tag 700, as shown in Fig. 23, the ID tag 700 is hooked onto the inner wall rib 351 (see Fig. 22) of the holding member 344 and assembled in a temporarily fixed state to the pedestal 358 of the holding part 343. At this time, the exterior of the pedestal 358 consisting of four rectangular pillars serves as a guide for the holding member 344, and the ID tag 700 after assembly to the pedestal is separated from the inner wall rib 351 and placed on the end faces of the four pedestals 358 on the container tip side.

[0073] Next, the attachment of the holding member 344 will be described in detail. In the toner container 32 of this embodiment, the holding member 344 is not fixed to the container front cover 34 by processing such as thermal caulking or by fastening with a fastening member, but is fixed by a fitting method using a claw member. As shown in FIG. 22, the holding member 344 has an upper holding member claw 355, a lower holding member claw 354 and a right side holding member claw 356 on an upper holding member portion 350, a lower holding member portion 348 and a right side holding member portion 349, respectively. Around the ID tag mounting surface 357 on the container tip cover 34 side, three hooks are formed at positions facing the three claws of the holding member upper claw 355, the holding member lower claw 354, and the holding member right side claw 356. In detail, an upper mounting surface hook 359a is formed around the ID tag mounting surface 357 at a position facing the holding member upper claw 355. Also, a lower mounting surface hook 359b is formed around the ID tag mounting surface 357 at a position facing the holding member lower claw 354, and a horizontal mounting surface hook 360 is formed at a position facing the holding member right side claw 356.

[0074] When the holding member 344 is set on the container tip side cover 34, three claw portions (355, 354, and 356) on the holding member 344 side engage with and are fixed to three hook portions (359a, 359b, and 360) on the container tip side cover 34 side. Of the three hook portions, two of the mounting surface upper hook portion 359a and the mounting surface lower hook portion 359b are hole-shaped, and one of the mounting surface lateral hook portions 360 is configured as a claw shape. The hole-shaped upper mounting surface hook portion 359a and lower mounting surface hook portion 359b are set by utilizing the inclination of the tips of the two claw portions of holding member upper claw 355 and holding member lower claw 354 and the elasticity of the claw portions. Also, the claw-shaped horizontal mounting surface hook portion 360 is set by utilizing the inclination of the tip of holding member right side claw 356 and horizontal mounting surface hook portion inclined surface 360a of horizontal mounting surface hook portion 360.

[0075] 23, the ID tag 700 is temporarily set inside the frame 352 of the holding member 344, and the holding member 344 is moved along the base 358 on the container tip side cover 34 side. This causes the claws (355, 354, and 356) formed on the holding member 344 side to engage with the hooks (359a, 359b, and 360) formed on the container tip side cover 34 side, and the fitting of the two can fix the holding member 344 to the container tip side cover 34. 21 to 23, the claw portions (355, 354, and 356) and the hook portions (359a, 359b, and 360) are fitted to each other at two positions, top and bottom, and one position on the right of the holding member 344. The fitting positions of the holding member 344 are not limited to a combination of top and bottom and right, and may be only top and bottom, or only left and right, or top and bottom, left and right, etc., of the holding member 344, and the fitting positions and the number are not limited to this embodiment.

[0076] As described above, in this embodiment, the fitting method using the claw members has been described, but in some cases, the holding member 344 can be fixed to the container front end cover 34 by processing such as heat caulking or by tightening with a fastening member. Furthermore, there may be cases where it is desired to attach the holding member 344 of the ID tag more firmly, or where there is a tool that allows the ID tag to be rewritten (rewritten) without removing it from the container front end cover 34 when recycling the ID tag.

[0077] Next, the ID tag 700 as an information storage device provided in the toner container 32 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, the term "approximately rectangular metal plate" is defined to include not only rectangular plates but also those with approximately rectangular shapes. Therefore, rectangular metal plates with all or part of the corners chamfered or rounded are also included in the term "approximately rectangular metal plate."

[0078] Fig. 24 is a three-view diagram of the ID tag 700. Fig. 24(a) is a front view of the ID tag 700 as viewed from the connector 800 side, and Fig. 24(b) is a side view of the ID tag 700 as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the attachment direction (diagonally upward to the right in Fig. 21). Fig. 24(c) is a back view of the ID tag 700 as viewed from the container tip cover 34 side. Fig. 25 is a perspective view showing the ID tag 700, the holding member 344, and the connector 800, and is a perspective view showing the relative positional relationship of the three members (700, 344, and 800). Note that in Fig. 25, the holding member upper claw 355 and the holding member lower claw 354 shown in Figs. 22 and 23 are omitted. 26 is a perspective view showing a state in which the ID tag 700 is engaged with the connector 800. Also, FIG. 27 is a circuit diagram showing the electric circuit of the ID tag 700 and the electric circuit of the connector 800.

[0079] FIG. 28(a) is a front view showing a state in which the ID tag 700 is held by the connector 800, and FIG. 28(b) is a front view showing a state in which the ID tag 700 is rotated around an ID tag positioning hole 701. In the ID tag 700 of this embodiment, only one ID tag hole 701 is formed in a substrate 702, and the ID tag hole 701 is disposed between a plurality of metal pads 710 (710a, 710b, 710c) made of a rectangular metal plate.

[0080] 21, the toner container 32 of this embodiment is arranged so that the long side of the rectangular ID tag 700 is not parallel to the vertical direction, but is oblique. Therefore, the up-down direction when the ID tag 700 is arranged in the toner container 32 does not coincide with the longitudinal direction of the ID tag 700. However, in the following description, for convenience, the direction parallel to the long side of the ID tag 700 (Z'-axis direction in FIG. 24) is referred to as the chip up-down direction, and the direction parallel to the short side of the ID tag 700 (X'-axis direction in FIG. 24) is referred to as the chip left-right direction. The same is true for the connector 800 arranged obliquely with respect to the toner supply device 60.

[0081] As shown in Fig. 24, an ID tag 700 as an information storage device in this embodiment has an ID tag hole 701 formed at a position vertically above the center of gravity of a substrate 702 in the chip up-down direction. An earth terminal 703 made of a metal terminal is installed on the inner diameter part and periphery of this ID tag hole 701. As shown in Fig. 24, the earth terminal 703 formed on the surface of the substrate 702 in this embodiment is formed so that two earth terminal protrusions 705 are extended in the chip left-right direction from the annular part. Also, one rectangular metal pad 710 (first metal pad 710a) is provided at a position above the ID tag hole 701 in the vertical direction of the chip. Furthermore, two metal pads 710 (second metal pad 710b, third metal pad 710c) are provided at positions below the chip in the vertical direction.

[0082] 24(c), a protective member 720 made of a semispherical resin material such as epoxy is provided on the back surface of the substrate 702 to cover and protect an information storage unit (not shown). The ID tag 700 has an information storage unit such as an IC (integrated circuit) inside, and the ID tag hole 701 is disposed above the protective member 720, which is the largest and heaviest component disposed on the back surface, in the chip up-down direction. This realizes a positional relationship in which the ID tag hole 701 is located vertically above the center of gravity of the ID tag 700 in the chip up-down direction, as described above. The arrangement of the ID tag hole 701 depends on the shape of the substrate 702 and the configuration and arrangement of the back surface of the protective member 720, etc. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 28(a), the ID tag 700 of this embodiment is formed so that the center position of the ID tag hole 701 is located a distance Za above the center of gravity of the ID tag 700 in the chip up-down direction.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 25, the connector 800 has a connector body 805 which is a hollow box made of resin, and a positioning pin 801 (positioning protrusion) which is a hollow cylinder having a tapered tip is provided on the connector body 805 so as to stand up in the horizontal direction. A ground body side terminal 802 is provided on the positioning pin 801. The ground body side terminal 802 is a plate-shaped (or wire-shaped) metal member, and a part of it is stored in the hollow part of the positioning pin 801 which is formed integrally with the connector body 805. The curved part is exposed from a slit-shaped opening formed in a part of the peripheral surface of the hollow cylinder, and protrudes from the cylindrical outer peripheral surface of the positioning pin 801. One body side terminal 804 is provided at a position vertically above the positioning pin 801 (ground body side terminal 802) in the vertical direction of the chip, and two body side terminals 804 are provided at positions vertically below the positioning pin 801 in the vertical direction of the chip. These main body side terminals 804 are plate-shaped (or wire-shaped) metal members.

[0084] Further, below the connector body 805, a pair of ribs are formed so that the tapered surfaces on the inner ends of the ribs are line-symmetrical on both sides in the left-right direction of the chip sandwiching the positioning pin 801. Furthermore, anti-vibration members 803 are provided as a pair of restricting members facing each other at positions on both side end faces of the ID tag 700 below the center of the ID tag hole 701 in the chip up-down direction.

[0085] The holding member 344 is fixed to the container front end cover 34 of the toner container 32, and is located between the connector 800 and the ID tag 700 when the toner container 32 is attached to the toner supply device 60. The holding member 344 holds the ID tag 700 movably (with some degree of play). 25, the holding member 344 has holding member protrusions 353 provided on each of the holding member lower part 348, the holding member left side part 342, and the holding member right side part 349. The three holding member protrusions 353 provided on each of the holding member lower part 348, the holding member left side part 342, and the holding member right side part 349 prevent the ID tag 700 from falling off toward the connector 800 side of the holding member 344. A holding member opening 347 is formed in the end of the holding member 344 on the connector 800 side (the wall surface including the holding member protrusion 353). The holding member opening 347 is shaped so that most of the end of the holding member 344 on the connector 800 side, including the area facing the four terminals (three main body side terminals 804 and one grounding main body side terminal 802) on the connector 800 side, is open. Furthermore, the holding member opening 347 of the holding member 344 is shaped so that it is open up to a portion corresponding to the vibration prevention member 803 provided on the connector 800. When the toner container 32 is attached, the positioning pin 801 passes through the opening position of the holding member opening 347, and then the vibration prevention member 803 also passes through the opening position of the holding member opening 347 and enters the inside of the holding member 344.

[0086] The four pedestals 358 facing the back side (the side of the protective member 720) of the ID tag 700 are part of the container tip side cover 34, and are members extending from the holding part 343 to the connector 800 side. The four pedestals 358 are configured to press the vicinity of the four corners of the rectangular substrate 702, and are shaped to avoid interference with the protective member 720 fixed to the ID tag 700 and the vibration prevention member 803 that enters when connecting with the connector 800. On the other hand, when the positioning pin 801 is inserted into the ID tag hole 701 of the ID tag 700, the ID tag 700 is pressed toward the rear end of the container by the grounding main body side terminal 802 and the main body side terminal 804 of the positioning pin 801. At this time, the four pedestals 358 support the back surface of the substrate 702, so that the terminals can be maintained in contact with each other.

[0087] Fig. 26 is a schematic perspective view showing a state where the positioning of the connector 800 on the toner supply device 60 side and the ID tag 700 is completed with the toner container 32 attached to the toner supply device 60 (main body of the copier 500). The state shown in Fig. 26 shows a state where the terminals on the main body side (main body side terminal 804 and grounding main body side terminal 802) are connected to the terminals on the ID tag 700 side (metal pad 710 and earth terminal 703). For ease of understanding, the holding member 344 and the three metal pads 710 between the connector 800 and the ID tag 700 are omitted in Fig. 26.

[0088] In the toner container 32 of this embodiment, the container opening 33a protrudes beyond the container front end cover 34. When the toner container 32 is moved from an unattached state in the direction of arrow Q in the figure to be attached to the toner supply device 60, first, the outer circumferential surface of the container opening 33a is fitted into the container setting part 615. Then, the position of the toner container 32 in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction relative to the toner supply device 60 is determined. After that, the toner container 32 is further moved in the direction of arrow Q in the figure, and the connection between the ID tag 700 and the connector 800 begins. After the toner container 32 is positioned in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction and the container front end cover 34 is positioned in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction, the ID tag 700 is positioned in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction. More specifically, after the container front end cover 34 is positioned in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction, the ID tag hole 701 of the ID tag 700 is fitted into the positioning pin 801 of the connector 800 so that the ID tag hole 701 is picked up by the taper of the tip of the positioning pin 801. This fitting simultaneously determines the chip up-down and chip left-right positions of the ID tag 700. That is, the ID tag 700 is positioned in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction.

[0089] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 28(a), the anti-vibration member 803 of the connector 800 enters the lower edge portion that is on both the left and right sides of the substrate 702 in the left-right direction of the chip and is lower in the up-down direction of the chip than the center of the ID tag hole 701. At this time, even if the posture of the ID tag 700 is shifted as shown in FIG. 28(b), when the tapered surface at the tip of the rib-shaped anti-vibration member 803 contacts one of the above-mentioned edges, the part below the ID tag hole 701 rotates so as to face the opposite side to the tapered surface that it contacts. Then, the rotation stops at a position where it contacts the two tapered surfaces evenly, and the posture deviation in the rotation direction (rotation in the direction of the double arrow shown in FIG. 28(b)) is corrected (returning to the state shown in FIG. 28(a)). This completes the positioning of the ID tag 700.

[0090] At this time, a part of the ground terminal 703 of the ID tag 700 (corresponding to the inner diameter part of the ID tag hole 701) comes into contact with the grounding main body side terminal 802 of the positioning pin 801 shown in Fig. 26, so that the ID tag 700 is grounded (conductive). Furthermore, after the grounding is achieved, the three metal pads 710 (710a, 710b, 710c) of the ID tag 700 also come into contact with the three main body side terminals 804 of the connector 800, respectively, as shown in Fig. 27(a). Then, information can be transmitted between the ID tag 700 and a control part (control part 90 of the copier 500) on the toner supply device 60 side having the connector 800.

[0091] Example 1 Next, a toner container 32 according to Example 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 29 to Fig. 33. Fig. 29 is an external perspective view of the toner container 32 according to Example 1 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 6, etc. in an exaggerated manner. The toner container 32 of Example 1 clarifies the configuration of the container body 33 shown in Figures 1, 6, etc., and the configurations of the pumping part 304, the nozzle receiving port 331, the handle part 303, etc. are the same as those of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 28 (the same applies to each example described below). Therefore, in Example 1 etc. described below, the unique configuration of the container body 33 will be mainly described. As shown in Figure 29, when container body 33 rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure, the toner contained in container body 33 is given a transport force from one end side (rear end side of the container) in the longitudinal direction of rotation axis R to the other end side (front end side of the container) by the action of spiral protrusion 302.

[0092] Fig. 30(a) is a front view of the toner container 32 in Fig. 29, Fig. 30(b) is a side view of the container body 33 seen from the nozzle receiving port 331 of the toner container 32 shown in Fig. 30(a), Fig. 30(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 30(b), and Fig. 30(d) is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC at a predetermined position in Fig. 30(a). Fig. 31(a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part in Fig. 30(c), and Fig. 31(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Fig. 30(d). Fig. 32(a) is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic cross-sectional shape of the container body 33 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction at a predetermined position of the toner container 32 in Fig. 29, and Fig. 32(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view explaining that the cross-sectional shape of the container body 33 at a position slightly shifted in the rotation axis direction from the predetermined position in Fig. 32(a) is a shape obtained by rotating an approximately octagon around the rotation axis R. FIG. 33 is a schematic diagram for explaining how the substantially octagonal cross-sectional shape of the toner container 32 in FIG. 29 changes from the position and angle state in FIG. 32(a) to that in FIG. 32(b).

[0093] As shown in Fig. 30(b), the toner container 32 of the first embodiment has a substantially circular outer shape when viewed from the rotation axis direction. The dashed lines (dotted lines) in Fig. 31(b) indicate sides 315 of the substantially octagonal shape. 31(b), the cross-sectional shape of the inner circumferential surface 311 (or the outer circumferential surface 312) of the toner container 32 in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction at a predetermined position is a substantially octagon with rounded corners 310, among the substantially polygonal shapes according to the present invention. The corners 310 are the cross-sectional shape of the vicinity of the vertex portion connecting the sides 315 of the substantially octagon, and the corners 310 are rounded. In the toner container 32 of the first embodiment, the number of threads of the helical protrusion 302 as the helical shape is 8, while the number of threads of the helical shape according to the present invention is 3 or more. Also, the number of sides of the approximate polygon according to the present invention is 8, which corresponds to an approximate octagon.

[0094] As shown in Fig. 31(a), in the toner container 32 of the present embodiment 1, a cross section of the inner circumferential surface 311 (or the outer circumferential surface 312) passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R forms a convex portion with a relatively large R shape as a corner R313, and also forms a concave portion with a relatively large R shape as a corner R314. Due to the formation of the convex portion with a relatively large R shape as the corner R313 and the concave portion with a relatively large R shape as the corner R314, as shown in Fig. 31(b), the cross section shape in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction at a predetermined position forms a substantially octagon with rounded corners 310.

[0095] 30(c), 31(a), 31(b), etc., the toner container 32 of this embodiment 1 includes a container body 33 having an outer peripheral surface 312 that faces the inner peripheral surface 311 of the container body 33 across a substantially constant thickness t. The substantially constant thickness t also applies to the formation portion of the helical projection 302 (hereinafter also referred to as the "spiral-shaped portion") that is formed with a specific shape on the inner peripheral surface 311 and the outer peripheral surface 312. Here, the substantially constant thickness means not only a constant thickness but also a design and manufacturing tolerance within a range in which the effects described later can be obtained (the same applies to each embodiment described later).

[0096] The thickness t, including the spiral-shaped portion, is preferably 0.5 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less, and more preferably 0.8 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less, in order to obtain the effect of suppressing deflection of the container body 33 even if the toner container 32 is made thin-walled (the same applies to each embodiment described later). In the following description of the container body 33 of the toner container 32 of this embodiment 1 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "container body 33 of this embodiment 1"), since the container body 33 has an inner circumferential surface 311 and an outer circumferential surface 312 that face each other with a substantially constant thickness t therebetween as described above, the inner circumferential surface 311 and the outer circumferential surface 312 have the same shape with a substantially constant thickness t between them. Therefore, the inner circumferential surface 311 will be described below as a representative example (the same applies to each embodiment described later).

[0097] As shown in Fig. 32(a), the cross-sectional shape of the inner circumferential surface 311 of the container body 33 in this Example 1 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction at a predetermined position Pa is a substantially octagon with rounded corners in the position angle state shown in the figure. The cross-sectional shape of the inner circumferential surface 311 at a position Pb that is shifted a predetermined amount within one pitch 316 of the helical projection 302 in the rotation axis direction from the substantially octagonal cross-sectional shape at the predetermined position Pa is a shape obtained by rotating a substantially octagon around the rotation axis R, as shown in Fig. 32(b).

[0098] As shown typically in the frontmost part of the paper in Fig. 33, the cross-sectional shape of the inner peripheral surface 311 of the container body 33 in the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction at the predetermined position Pa is approximately octagonal. The cross-sectional shape of the inner peripheral surface 311 of the container body 33 at a position Pb where the approximately octagonal cross-sectional shape at the predetermined position Pa is slightly shifted toward the back of the paper in the rotation axis direction (shifted by a predetermined amount within one pitch 316 of the spiral protrusion 302) is a shape obtained by rotating an approximately octagon around the rotation axis R. In addition, the ridge portions (shown by thick solid lines in Fig. 33) connecting the vertices of the sides 315 of the approximately octagon with different angles form the unique shape of the spiral protrusion 302. In other words, if the position of the approximately octagonal cross section of the inner surface 311 differs in the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R, the angle of the approximately octagonal cross section will differ, and the ridge portion connecting the vertices of the approximately octagons of the different angles forms the spiral protrusion 302.

[0099] That is, as shown in Figures 32(a), 32(b), and 33, the greatest feature of the inner surface 311 of the container body 33 in this Example 1 is that the cross-sectional shape of the inner surface 311 at a position Pb that is shifted a predetermined amount from a predetermined position Pa in the direction of the rotation axis within one pitch 316 of the spiral protrusion 302 has a region that has a shape obtained by rotating an approximately octagon around the rotation axis R (hereinafter referred to as the "first characteristic configuration").

[0100] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 31(a), the inner surface 311 of the container body 33 in Example 1 has a major characteristic in that a cross section passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R does not have a straight line (described later) parallel to the rotation axis R (hereinafter referred to as the "second characteristic configuration"). The inner circumferential surface 311 of the container body 33 in Example 1 has a convex shape 311a (the opposing outer circumferential surface 312 also has a convex shape 312a) in which a cross section passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction bulges in an arc shape. As a result, a cross section passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R does not have a straight line parallel to the rotation axis R.

[0101] 31(a) of the container body 33, convex shapes 311a (convex shapes 312a) bulging in an arc shape and concave shapes 311b (312b) recessed in an arc shape are alternately and continuously formed in the longitudinal direction. As a result, in the toner container 32 of the first embodiment, a cross section passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R does not have a straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R.

[0102] FIG. 34(a) is a front view of a main part of the toner container 32 of the first embodiment, and FIG. 34(b) is a front view of a main part of a toner container 1032 of an example of a conventional example (hereinafter referred to as a "comparative example"). As shown in FIG. 34(b), the outer circumferential surface 312 of the container body 1033 of the comparative example has a straight line PL parallel to the rotation axis R. Therefore, as described in the background art, in the case of toner container 1032 such as the comparative example in which a spiral groove is carved into a cylindrical shape, when it is molded with a thin wall, if a load L perpendicular to a straight line PL portion parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R of toner container 1032 is applied to the circumferential direction where no groove is carved, a problem occurs in which the curved portion dents toward the inner wall and undergoes plastic deformation.

[0103] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 34(a), the outer peripheral surface 312 of the container body 33 in this Example 1 in a cross section passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R does not have a straight line PL parallel to the rotation axis R (or the number of straight lines PL can be significantly reduced compared to the comparative example). Due to this unique shape, according to the first embodiment, when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R, there is no straight line PL horizontal to the center direction of the rotation axis R of the toner container 1032, and the outer peripheral surface 312 of the cross section passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R is curved, which makes it easier to disperse the load. As a result, the amount of deformation of the container body 33 is small, and plastic deformation does not occur even if a load similar to that in the comparative example is applied. Therefore, even if the toner container 32 is made thin, the deflection of the toner container 32 can be suppressed (the same applies to each embodiment described later).

[0104] Fig. 35(a1) is a diagram showing the outer shape of toner container 32 of Example 1 as viewed from the direction of rotation axis R, and Fig. 35(a2) is a diagram showing the cross-sectional shape of toner container 32 of Example 1 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of rotation axis R at a predetermined position. Fig. 35(b1) is a diagram showing the outer shape of toner container 1032 of a comparative example as viewed from the direction of rotation axis R, and Fig. 35(b2) is a diagram showing the cross-sectional shape of toner container 1032 of a comparative example in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of rotation axis R at a predetermined position. As shown in FIG. 35(b1) and FIG. 35(a1), the outer shape when viewed from the direction of the rotation axis R is substantially circular in both the comparative example and this embodiment 1. On the other hand, the cross-sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R at a specified position is approximately circular in the toner container 1032 of the comparative example, as shown in Figure 35(b2), whereas it is approximately octagonal with rounded corners in the toner container 32 of this embodiment 1, as shown in Figure 35(a2).

[0105] Fig. 36(a) is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cut width 318 formed on the inner circumferential surface 311 of the container body 33 of Example 1, and Fig. 36(b) is a cross-sectional view illustrating the cut width 318 formed on the inner circumferential surface 311 of the container body 1033 of the comparative example. The cut width 318 refers to an area having a difference in height in the radial direction of the rotation axis R. It can be seen from FIG. 36 that the cut width 318 in Example 1 is wider than that in the comparative example.

[0106] 37 shows the results of a simulation test conducted on the container bodies 33, 1033 of the toner containers 32, 1032 of Example 1 and Comparative Example, relating to static structural analysis. Example 1 and Comparative Example were produced using the same polyethylene (PE) as the molding material, and under the same molding conditions by direct blow molding. However, Example 1 was produced with a wall thickness of 0.98 mm, while Comparative Example was produced with a wall thickness of 1.50 mm. In Example 1 and Comparative Example, the handle portion 303 was fixed, and the same load equivalent to the maximum weight of toner to be contained was applied to the end of the pumping portion 304 for a predetermined time in a cantilevered state with the pumping portion 304 being the free end. Then, the deflection was measured at the same positions P1, P2, and P3 in the longitudinal direction of the container body 33, 1033 shown in FIG.

[0107] At measurement site P1, the maximum deflection of Example 1 was 4.1566 mm, and the maximum deflection of the Comparative Example was 19.568 mm. At measurement site P2, the deflection of Example 1 was 1.8474 mm, and the deflection of the Comparative Example was 8.6968 mm. At measurement site P3, the deflection of Example 1 was 0.46184 mm, and the deflection of the Comparative Example was 2.1742 mm. From the simulation test results related to this static structure analysis, it was found that Example 1 is superior to the Comparative Example, and that it is possible to suppress deflection while maintaining strength with a thinner toner container than the Comparative Example. Moreover, in Example 1, the width of the cut 318 in the radial direction of the rotation axis R shown in FIG. 36 is wider than in the comparative example, and therefore Example 1 is advantageous in terms of resistance to bending, and strength can be improved or maintained with a thinner wall than in the comparative example (the same applies to each example described later).

[0108] As described above, the container body 33 in the first embodiment is made of polyethylene (PE) and is molded by the direct blow molding method, but is not limited thereto. For example, the present invention is also applicable to containers manufactured using other materials (such as high density polyethylene (HDPE)) and other blow molding methods (such as biaxially stretched blow molding).

[0109] FIG. 38 is a graph showing the results of a simulation test on toner transportability using the toner containers 32 and 1032 of Example 1 according to the present invention and the comparative example. The toner container 32 of Example 1 was manufactured with the container body 33 having a substantially octagonal cross-sectional shape, the spiral pitch 316 being 195 mm, and the spiral height 317 being 2.46 mm, as shown in Fig. 31. On the other hand, the toner container 1032 of the comparative example was manufactured with the container body 1033 having a circular cross-sectional shape, the spiral pitch 316 being 25 mm, and the spiral height 317 being 5.0 mm, as shown in Fig. 39. The test conditions were the same for both Example 1 and the comparative example, that is, 60,000 toner particles having a specified toner particle size of 1.0 mm were placed within a range of 150 mm from the bottom of each container body 33, 1033, and a simulation test was conducted for a total of 7 seconds in which the movement of each toner container 32, 1032 was stopped for 1 second, rotated for 5 seconds, and stopped for 1 second, and the toner transport ability of the toner container 32, 1032 was judged from the amount of toner particles that came out from within the simulation range.

[0110] In the graph of Fig. 38, the comparative example (linear) shown by the dotted line is an approximation straight line of the toner discharge amount curve shown by the dashed line as the comparative example. From the results of the simulation test on the toner transportability, it was found that Example 1 had about 2.23 times the toner transportability and replenishment ability compared to the comparative example.

[0111] Fig. 39 is a diagram for explaining the spiral pitch 316 and the spiral height 317 formed in the container body 1033 of the comparative example. The spiral pitch 316 and the spiral height 317 of this Example 1 are as shown in Fig. 31(a). The spiral height 317 refers to the height difference of the convex or concave shape in a cross section passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction. If the spiral height 317 is too low, the toner transport performance decreases, and if it is too high, the processing accuracy of the toner container deteriorates. From this point of view, the spiral height 317 is preferably 2.0 to 10 mm, and more preferably 2.0 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less (the same applies to each embodiment described later).

[0112] Example 2 Next, a toner container 32 according to Example 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 40 to 42. Figure 40 is an external perspective view of a toner container 32 according to Example 2 of the embodiment shown in an exaggerated manner in Figures 1, 6, etc. As explained in Example 1, as shown in Figure 40, when the container body 33 of the toner container 32 of Example 2 rotates in the direction of the arrow A in the figure, the toner contained in the container body 33 is given a transport force from one end side (the rear end side of the container) in the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R to the other end side (the front end side of the container) by the action of the spiral protrusion 302. The toner container 32 of the second embodiment will be described below, focusing on the differences from the toner container 32 of the first embodiment. The contents of the toner container 32 of the second embodiment that are not specifically described are the same as those of the first embodiment (the same applies to the third embodiment described later).

[0113] Fig. 41(a) is a front view of a toner container 32 according to Example 2, Fig. 41(b) is a side view of the container body 33 seen from the nozzle receiving port 331 of the toner container 32 shown in Fig. 41(a), Fig. 41(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 41(b), Fig. 41(d) is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC at a predetermined position in Fig. 41(a). Fig. 42(a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion of Fig. 41(c), and Fig. 42(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Fig. 41(d).

[0114] The toner container 32 of the second embodiment has a substantially circular outer shape as viewed from the rotation axis direction, as shown in Fig. 41(b). The dashed lines (dotted lines) in Fig. 42(b) indicate sides 315 of the substantially decagon. The toner container 32 of the second embodiment differs from the toner container 32 of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 29 to 31 (which is an approximately octagon with rounded corners 310) mainly in that the toner container 32 of the second embodiment is an approximately decagon with concave sides 315.

[0115] In the toner container 32 of the second embodiment, the number of threads of the spiral projection 302 as a spiral shape is 10. The number of sides of the approximate polygon according to the present invention is 10, which corresponds to an approximate decagon. As shown in Figure 42(b), the cross-sectional shape of the inner surface 311 (or outer surface 312) of the toner container 32 of this embodiment 2 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction at a specified position is approximately a decagon with concave sides 315.

[0116] 42(a), in the toner container 32 of the second embodiment, the cross section of the inner circumferential surface 311 (or the outer circumferential surface 312) passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R forms a convex portion with a relatively large R shape as a corner R313, and forms a concave portion with a relatively small R shape as a corner R314. Due to the formation of the convex portion with a relatively large R shape as the corner R313 and the concave portion with a relatively small R shape as the corner R314, as shown in FIG 42(b), the cross section shape in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction at a predetermined position forms a substantially decagon with concave central portions of each side 315.

[0117] The inner surface 311 of the container body 33 of this Example 2 is an approximate decagon instead of an approximate octagon in Figures 32(a) and 32(b), and its greatest feature is that the cross-sectional shape of the inner surface 311 at a position shifted a predetermined amount from a predetermined position in the direction of the rotation axis within one pitch 316 of the spiral protrusion 302 has a region having a shape obtained by rotating an approximate decagon around the rotation axis R (a first characteristic configuration corresponding to Example 2).

[0118] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 42(a), the inner surface 311 of the container body 33 in Example 2 does not have a straight line (described later) parallel to the rotation axis R in a cross section passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R (a second characteristic configuration corresponding to Example 2). The inner circumferential surface 311 of the container body 33 in Example 2 has a convex shape 311a (the opposing outer circumferential surface 312 also has a convex shape 312a) in which a cross section passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction bulges in an arc shape. As a result, a cross section passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R does not have a straight line parallel to the rotation axis R.

[0119] 42(a) of the container body 33, convex shapes 311a (convex shapes 312a) expanding in an arc shape and concave shapes 311b (312b) recessed in an arc shape are alternately and continuously formed in the longitudinal direction. As a result, it can be said that the toner container 32 of Example 2 does not have a straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R in a cross section passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R.

[0120] A simulation test for static structural analysis similar to that described with reference to Fig. 37 was performed using the toner container 32 of Example 2, and the results obtained for Example 2 were similar to those for Example 1. That is, it was found that Example 2 is superior to the comparative example, and that a thinner toner container can maintain strength and suppress deflection compared to the comparative example.

[0121] In addition, a simulation test on toner transportability similar to that described with reference to Fig. 38 was carried out using the toner container 32 of Example 2, and the results obtained for Example 2 were similar to those for Example 1. In other words, it was found that Example 2 had sufficient toner transport and replenishment properties compared to the comparative example.

[0122] Example 3 Next, a toner container 32 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 43 to 45. Fig. 43 is a perspective view of the appearance of the toner container 32 according to the third embodiment of the present invention, which is exaggeratedly shown in Figs. 1 and 6. As shown in Figure 43, when the container body 33 of the toner container 32 of Example 3 rotates in the direction of arrow A in the figure, the toner contained in the container body 33 is given a transport force from one end side (rear end side of the container) in the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R to the other end side (front end side of the container) by the action of the spiral protrusion 302. The toner container 32 of the third embodiment will be described below, focusing on the differences from the toner container 32 of the second embodiment. The toner container 32 of the third embodiment is similar to the toner containers of the first and second embodiments unless otherwise specified.

[0123] Fig. 44(a) is a front view of the toner container 32, Fig. 44(b) is a side view of the container body 33 seen from the nozzle receiving port 331 of the toner container 32 shown in Fig. 44(a), Fig. 44(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in Fig. 44(b), Fig. 44(d) is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC at a predetermined position in Fig. 44(a). Fig. 45(a) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of Fig. 44(c), and Fig. 45(b) is an enlarged cross-sectional view of Fig. 44(d).

[0124] The toner container 32 of the third embodiment has an approximately circular outer shape as viewed from the rotation axis direction, as shown in Fig. 44(b). The dashed lines (dotted lines) in Fig. 45(b) indicate sides 315 of the approximately decagon. The toner container 32 of the third embodiment differs from the toner container 32 (having a substantially decagonal shape with a recessed side 315) of the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 40 to 42 only in the following points.

[0125] As shown in Fig. 45(a), the cross section of the inner peripheral surface 311 (or the outer peripheral surface 312) of the toner container 32 of the third embodiment passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R forms a convex portion with a relatively small R shape as the corner R313, and forms a concave portion with a relatively large R shape as the corner R314. As a result of forming the convex portion with a relatively small R shape as the corner R313 and the concave portion with a relatively large R shape as the corner R314, as shown in Fig. 45(b), the cross section in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction at a predetermined position forms an approximately decagon with a concave portion at the center of each side 315. This difference is manifested as a difference in the apparent external shape between the toner container 32 of the second embodiment shown in Fig. 40 and the toner container 32 of the third embodiment shown in Fig. 43.

[0126] 32(a) and 32(b), the inner circumferential surface 311 of the container body 33 of this Example 3 is an approximate decagon instead of an approximate octagon, as in Example 2. As a result, the greatest feature is that the cross-sectional shape of the inner circumferential surface 311 at a position shifted a predetermined amount from a predetermined position in the direction of the rotation axis within one pitch 316 of the helical projection 302 has a region having a shape obtained by rotating an approximate decagon around the rotation axis R (first characteristic configuration corresponding to Example 3).

[0127] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 45(a), the inner surface 311 of the container body 33 of Example 3 does not have a straight line parallel to the rotation axis R in a cross section passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R (a second characteristic configuration corresponding to Example 3). The inner circumferential surface 311 of the container body 33 in Example 3 has a convex shape 311a (opposing outer circumferential surface 312 also has a convex shape 312a) in which a cross section passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction bulges in an arc shape. As a result, a cross section passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R does not have a straight line parallel to the rotation axis R.

[0128] 45(a) of the container body 33, convex shapes 311a (convex shapes 312a) bulging in an arc shape and concave shapes 311b (312b) recessed in an arc shape are alternately and continuously formed in the longitudinal direction. As a result, it can be said that the toner container 32 of Example 3 does not have a straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R in a cross section passing through the rotation axis R in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the rotation axis R.

[0129] A simulation test for static structural analysis similar to that described with reference to Fig. 37 was performed using the toner container 32 of Example 3, and the results obtained for Example 3 were similar to those for Example 1. That is, it was found that Example 3 is superior to the comparative example, and that a thinner toner container can maintain strength and suppress deflection compared to the comparative example.

[0130] In addition, a simulation test on toner transportability similar to that described with reference to Fig. 38 was carried out using the toner container 32 of Example 3, and the results obtained for Example 3 were similar to those for Example 1. In other words, it was found that Example 3 had sufficient toner transport and replenishment properties compared to the comparative example.

[0131] In the above-mentioned Examples 1 to 3, the cross-sectional shape of the inner peripheral surface of the container body is approximately polygonal, and is described as being approximately octagonal and approximately decagonal in particular, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to this. As for the polygonal shape, shapes ranging from a triangular shape (spiral shape with three threads) to a decagonal shape (spiral shape with 20 threads) were examined by carrying out the above-mentioned simulation test (static structure analysis, toner transportability). As a result of the investigation, it was found that from the viewpoints of toner transport performance, strength, workability of the toner container, etc., a 3-12 side shape is preferable, a 5-10 side shape is particularly preferable, and an octagon is the most preferable.

[0132] The above-described embodiment and Examples 1 to 3 related to the powder container and image forming apparatus are merely examples, and the present invention achieves advantageous effects by the unique configurations for each of the following aspects. Also, it can be said that the technical matters from which the inventions according to claims 1 to 16 can be derived have been substantially described.

[0133] The powder storage container according to aspect A is A powder storage container such as a toner container 32 that has an inner circumferential surface such as an inner circumferential surface 311 having a helical shape such as a helical protrusion 302 and that can convey powder such as developer G or toner stored in the helical shape in one direction by rotating around a longitudinal axis such as a rotation axis R, The inner circumferential surface is A cross-sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis at a predetermined position is a substantially polygonal shape with rounded corners such as corner 310 or a substantially polygonal shape with concave sides such as side 315, The cross-sectional shape at a position shifted a predetermined amount in the longitudinal direction from the predetermined position within one pitch of the spiral has a region in which the cross-sectional shape is an approximate polygon with rounded corners or an approximate polygon with concave sides rotated around the longitudinal axis.

[0134] With this configuration, according to Aspect A, it is possible to provide a powder storage container that can suppress bending even if the powder storage container is made thin-walled.

[0135] The powder container according to aspect B is A powder storage container such as a toner container 32 that has an inner circumferential surface such as an inner circumferential surface 311 having a helical shape such as a helical protrusion 302 and that can convey powder such as developer G or toner stored in the helical shape in one direction by rotating around a longitudinal axis such as a rotation axis R, The inner circumferential surface is The present invention is characterized in that a cross section passing through the longitudinal axis in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis does not have a straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis.

[0136] With this configuration, according to Aspect B, it is possible to provide a powder storage container that can suppress bending even if the powder storage container is made thin-walled.

[0137] The powder storage container according to aspect C is A powder storage container such as a toner container 32 that has an inner circumferential surface such as an inner circumferential surface 311 having a helical shape such as a helical protrusion 302 and that can convey powder such as developer G or toner stored in the helical shape in one direction by rotating around a longitudinal axis such as a rotation axis R, The inner circumferential surface is A cross-sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis at a predetermined position is a substantially polygonal shape with rounded corners such as corner 310 or a substantially polygonal shape with concave sides, The cross-sectional shape at a position shifted in the longitudinal direction from the predetermined position by a predetermined amount within one pitch of the spiral has an area in which the approximate polygon with rounded corners or the approximate polygon with concave sides such as side 315 is rotated around the longitudinal axis, and the cross section in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction and passing through the longitudinal axis does not have a straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis.

[0138] With this configuration, according to Aspect C, it is possible to provide a powder storage container that can suppress bending even if the powder storage container is made thin-walled.

[0139] The powder storage container according to aspect D is characterized in that in the powder storage container according to any one of aspects A to C, the powder storage container has an outer shape that is approximately circular when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

[0140] A powder storage container according to aspect E is the powder storage container according to aspect B or D, characterized in that the number of threads of the spiral shape is two or more.

[0141] A powder storage container according to aspect F is the powder storage container according to any one of aspects A to E, characterized in that the number of threads of the spiral shape is 3 or more.

[0142] A powder storage container according to aspect G is the powder storage container according to any one of aspects A or C to F, characterized in that the number of sides of the approximately polygonal shape is three or more.

[0143] The powder storage container according to Aspect H is the powder storage container according to Aspect F, characterized in that the number of threads of the spiral shape is 8 to 10.

[0144] A powder storage container according to Aspect I is the powder storage container according to Aspect G, characterized in that the approximate polygon has 8 to 10 sides.

[0145] The powder storage container according to aspect J is characterized in that in the powder storage container according to any one of aspects A to I, the inner circumferential surface has a convex shape, such as convex shape 311a, in which a cross section passing through the longitudinal axis in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction bulges in an arc shape.

[0146] The powder container according to aspect K is In the powder storage container described in any one of Aspects A to I, the inner circumferential surface has a concave shape such as concave shape 311b, in which a cross section passing through the longitudinal axis in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction is concave in an arc shape.

[0147] The powder storage container described in aspect L is characterized in that, in the powder storage container described in any one of aspects A to K, it has an outer peripheral surface such as outer peripheral surface 312 that faces the inner peripheral surface across a thickness such as a substantially constant thickness t.

[0148] A powder storage container according to aspect M is the powder storage container according to aspect L, characterized in that the wall thickness of the portion where the spiral shape is formed is 0.5 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less.

[0149] The powder storage container according to aspect N is characterized in that in the powder storage container according to aspect L, the wall thickness at the portion where the spiral shape is formed is 0.8 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less.

[0150] The powder storage container described in aspect O is characterized in that, in the powder storage container described in aspect J or K, the height difference of the convex shape or the concave shape in a cross section passing through the longitudinal axis in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction is 2.0 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less.

[0151] The image forming apparatus according to aspect P is an image forming apparatus such as a copier 500 including a powder container such as a powder container 32 that contains powder for image formation, an image forming unit such as an image creating unit 46 that forms an image on an image carrier such as a photoconductor 41 using the powder transported from the powder container, and a powder supply device such as a toner supply device 60 that transports powder from the powder container to the image forming unit, The powder storage container according to any one of Aspects A to O is used as the powder storage container.

[0152] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such specific embodiments or examples, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the spirit of the present invention described in the claims unless otherwise specifically limited in the above description. For example, the technical matters described in the above embodiments and examples may be appropriately combined.

[0153] The effects appropriately described in the embodiments of the present invention are merely a list of the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0154] 29 Paper ejection roller pair 32(Y,M,C,K) Toner container (powder container) 33 Container body (powder containing member) 33a Container opening (opening) 34 Container cover (container tip cover) 34a Gear exposure opening 41 (Y, M, C, K) Photoconductor (image carrier) 42 (Y, M, C, K) Cleaning device (photoconductor cleaning device) 42a cleaning blade 44 (Y, M, C, K) Charging roller (charging means) 46(Y,M,C,K) Imaging section 47 Exposure Equipment 48 Intermediate transfer belt 49(Y,M,C,K) Primary transfer bias roller 50(Y,M,C,K) Developing device (developing means) 51 (Y, M, C, K) Developing roller (developer carrier) 52 (Y, M, C, K) Doctor blade (developer control plate) 53 (Y, M, C, K) First developer container 54 (Y, M, C, K) Second developer container 55 (Y, M, C, K) Developer transport screw 56(Y,M,C,K) Toner density sensor 60 (Y, M, C, K) Toner supply device (powder supply device) 64 (Y, M, C, K) Toner drop transport path 70 Toner container storage section (powder container storage section) 71 Insertion port forming section 72 Container receiving section 73 Container cover receiving part 74 Groove (container placement section) 78 Lock lever (refill device side locking member) 82 Secondary transfer backup roller 85 Intermediate transfer unit 86 Fixing device 91 Drive unit 100 Printer unit (copying machine main body) 200 Paper feed section (paper feed table) 301 Container Gear 302 Spiral projection (spiral shape, conveying means) 303 Handle 304 Pumping section 304a Spiral projection of pumping section 304h Convex 304f Pumping wall 306 Cover hook 310 corner 311 Inner surface 311a Convex shape 311b concave shape 312 Outer surface 312a Convex shape 312b concave shape 313 Corner radius 314 Corner R 315 sides 316 Spiral Pitch (1 pitch of a spiral) 317 Spiral height (height difference of convex or concave shape) 318 Cutting width 331 Nozzle receiving port (pipe insertion port) 332 Container shutter 330 Nozzle receiving member (pipe insertion member) 332 Container shutter (container opening and closing member) 333 Container seal 335 Shutter rear end support part 335a Shutter side support part 335b Shutter support opening 336 Container shutter spring (container side biasing member) 337 Receiving member fixing part 337a Nozzle shutter abutment rib 339 Container lock part 339a Guide protrusion 339a1 Guide inclined surface 339b Guide groove 339c Overcoming part (force conversion part) 339d Locking hole 339e 1st contact surface 339f 2nd contact surface 340 Container shutter support part 341 Cover claw part 361 Slide Guide 400 Scanner unit (document reading unit) 500 Copiers (image forming devices) 601 Main body drive gear 605 Conveyor screw gear 608 Set Cover 608b Mounting part 608d aperture 608e Pedestal 608f Recess 610 Nozzle opening (powder receiving port) 611 Conveying nozzle (conveying pipe) 612 Nozzle shutter (powder receiving inlet opening and closing member) 612a Nozzle shutter flange 612f Nozzle shutter spring support surface 613 Nozzle shutter spring (biasing member) 614 Conveying screw (conveying member) 615 Container setting section 615a Inner surface 615b End face G Developer (powder) L Laser light P Recording medium PL: Straight line parallel to the longitudinal direction R Rotation axis (longitudinal axis) t Thickness [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0155] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-173501 A

Claims

1. A powder storage container having an inner peripheral surface having a spiral shape, the powder storage container being capable of conveying powder stored in the spiral shape in one direction by rotating about a longitudinal axis, The inner circumferential surface is A cross-sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis at a predetermined position is a substantially polygonal shape with rounded corners or a substantially polygonal shape with concave sides, A powder storage container having a region in which the cross-sectional shape at a position shifted a predetermined amount in the longitudinal direction from the specified position within one pitch of the spiral is an approximate polygon with rounded corners or an approximate polygon with concave sides rotated around the longitudinal axis.

2. A powder storage container having an inner peripheral surface having a spiral shape, the powder storage container being capable of conveying powder stored in the spiral shape in one direction by rotating about a longitudinal axis, The inner circumferential surface is A powder storage container characterized in that a cross section parallel to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis and passing through the longitudinal axis has a series of alternating arc-shaped convex shapes and arc-shaped concave shapes formed in the longitudinal direction, and therefore does not have a straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis.

3. A powder storage container having an inner peripheral surface having a spiral shape, the powder storage container being capable of conveying powder stored in the spiral shape in one direction by rotating about a longitudinal axis, The inner circumferential surface is A cross-sectional shape in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal axis at a predetermined position is a substantially polygonal shape with rounded corners or a substantially polygonal shape with concave sides, A powder storage container characterized in that the cross-sectional shape at a position shifted in the longitudinal direction from the specified position by a specified amount within one pitch of the spiral has a region that has a shape obtained by rotating the shape of the approximately polygon with rounded corners or the shape of an approximately polygon with concave sides around the longitudinal axis, and the cross section in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction and passing through the longitudinal axis does not have a straight line parallel to the longitudinal axis.

4. The powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The powder storage container has an outer shape that is substantially circular when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

5. The powder storage container according to claim 2 or 4, A powder storage container, characterized in that the number of threads in the spiral shape is two or more.

6. The powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A powder storage container, wherein the number of threads in the spiral shape is 3 or more.

7. The powder storage container according to claim 1 or 3, The powder storage container has a number of sides of the approximately polygonal shape being three or more.

8. The powder storage container according to claim 6, A powder storage container, characterized in that the number of threads in the spiral shape is 8 to 10.

9. The powder storage container according to claim 7, The powder storage container is characterized in that the number of sides of the approximately polygonal shape is 8 to 10.

10. The powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The powder storage container, wherein the inner circumferential surface has a convex shape in which a cross section passing through the longitudinal axis in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction bulges in an arc shape.

11. The powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 9, The powder storage container, wherein the inner circumferential surface has a concave shape in which a cross section passing through the longitudinal axis in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction is concave in an arc shape.

12. The powder storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 11, A powder storage container comprising an outer circumferential surface facing the inner circumferential surface across a substantially constant thickness.

13. The powder storage container according to claim 12, A powder storage container, characterized in that the thickness of the spiral-shaped portion is 0.5 mm or more and 3.0 mm or less.

14. The powder storage container according to claim 12, A powder storage container, characterized in that the thickness of the spirally shaped portion is 0.8 mm or more and 2.0 mm or less.

15. The powder storage container according to claim 10 or 11, A powder storage container, characterized in that a height difference of the convex shape or the concave shape in a cross section passing through the longitudinal axis in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction is 2.0 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less.

16. a powder container for containing powder for image formation; an image forming unit that forms an image on an image carrier using the powder transported from the powder container; a powder supplying device that conveys powder from the powder container to the image forming unit, 16. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a powder container according to claim 1, said powder container comprising: a powder container for storing powder;

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