Toner container, developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To sufficiently scrape off a toner adhered to an inner wall surface.SOLUTION: A toner storage container 30 is provided with a first stirring member 33A (rotating member) that rotates in a predetermined rotation direction centered on a rotation shaft 33a. The first stirring member 33A is provided with a flexible member 33c that can be in slide contact with a slide contact surface 59b (inner wall surface) of the toner storage container 30. The flexible member 33c is provided with a base part 33c1 that is installed along a radial direction centered on the rotation shaft 33a, and a bent part 33c2 that is bent from the base part 33c1 toward the downstream side in a direction intersecting with the radial direction being a rotation direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a toner container that stores toner therein, and to a developing device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus that include the toner container. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, image forming devices such as copiers, printers, and facsimiles have been known to be equipped with a toner storage container that rotates a flexible member made of Mylar or the like around a rotation axis to agitate the toner inside the container (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] More specifically, the powder storage container (toner storage container) in Patent Document 1 has a powder supplying member, which is a rotating member that is rotated by a drive mechanism and has a generally plate-shaped flexible blade member (flexible member) attached to it. When the powder supplying member (flexible blade member and rotating member) rotates in a predetermined direction, the toner stored in the powder storage container is agitated.

[0004] On the other hand, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology in which multiple notches are formed in a portion of the tip of the flexible blade member of the powder supply member, and multiple strips of different radial lengths are provided, with the aim of adjusting the amount of toner supplied in the powder storage container and stabilizing toner transport while suppressing toner blocking. Furthermore, Patent Document 2 discloses a technology in which a conveying sheet extending perpendicular to the radial direction is installed at the tip of an agitator member that rotates around a rotation axis in a toner supply tank, in order to ensure sufficient toner delivery from the toner supply tank to the toner supply section. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In conventional toner containers, even when the stirring member that stirs the toner inside the container is brought into sliding contact with the inner wall surface, it is not possible to scrape off the toner adhering to the inner wall surface sufficiently. As a result, the toner container must be replaced with a new one without using up all the toner adhering to the inner wall surface, resulting in waste.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a toner storage container, a developing device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus that can sufficiently scrape off toner adhering to the inner wall surface. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The toner storage container according to the present invention is a toner storage container equipped with a rotating member that rotates in a predetermined rotational direction around a rotation axis, and the rotating member has a flexible member that can slide on an inner wall surface of the toner storage container, and the flexible member has a base portion that is attached to the rotation axis and extends in a direction away from the rotation axis, and a bent portion that bends from the base portion in a direction that intersects with a radial direction about the rotation axis and is bent toward a downstream side in the rotational direction, and a plurality of notches are formed at intervals in the rotational axis direction, the notches starting from a radial position away from the rotation axis of the base portion and extending in a direction away from the rotation axis, and the bent portions are formed at intervals in the rotational axis direction by the plurality of notches, and at least one of the plurality of bent portions has a protruding portion that protrudes toward an adjacent bent portion. The plurality of bent portions have lengths extending in the intersecting direction that are different between adjacent bent portions, and the protrusion is formed at a tip end of a bent portion having a long length extending in the intersecting direction among the plurality of bent portions. It is something. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a toner container, a developing device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus that can sufficiently scrape off toner adhering to the inner wall surface. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a process cartridge and a toner container. [Figure 3] 1A is a perspective view showing an image forming apparatus, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing the image forming apparatus in a state where the access cover is open. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the toner container is attached to the process cartridge. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the toner container is separated from the process cartridge. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a process cartridge. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the toner container from below, with the first shutter (discharge port) open. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the toner storage container from the collection port side, illustrating a state in which the second shutter (collection port) is closed. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing the inside of a toner storage container. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a toner recovery section in the toner storage container. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a main part of a toner storage container. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of a toner storage section in the toner storage container. [Figure 13] 1A is a top view, FIG. 1B is a side view, and FIG. 1C is a partial perspective view showing a flexible member when no external force is applied. [Figure 14] 1A is a top view, FIG. 1B is a side view, and FIG. 1C is a partial perspective view showing a flexible member of another embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a main part of a toner storage container as a comparative example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be appropriately simplified or omitted.

[0011] First, the overall configuration and operation of an image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIG. In Figure 1, 100 denotes a printer as an image forming device, 1 denotes a photosensitive drum on whose surface a toner image is formed, and 7 denotes an exposure unit (writing unit) that irradiates exposure light L onto the photosensitive drum 1 based on image information input from an input device such as a personal computer. Also, 9 indicates a transfer roller that transfers the toner image carried on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 onto a sheet P transported to the transfer nip portion (transfer position), 10 indicates a process cartridge that integrates the photosensitive drum 1, charging roller 4, developing device 5, cleaning device 2, and waste toner transport portion 6, and 12 indicates a paper feed device (paper feed cassette) that stores sheets P such as paper. Also, 16 denotes a registration roller (timing roller) that transports the sheet P toward the transfer nip portion where the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 9 abut, 20 denotes a fixing device that fixes the unfixed image on the sheet P, 21 denotes a fixing roller installed in the fixing device 20, 22 denotes a pressure roller installed in the fixing device 20, and 30 denotes a toner storage container.

[0012] Here, a charging roller 4, a developing device 5, a cleaning device 2, a waste toner transport section 6, and the like are arranged around the photosensitive drum 1. These components (photosensitive drum 1, charging roller 4, developing device 5, cleaning device 2, and waste toner transport section 6) are integrated as a process cartridge 10, which is detachably (replaceably) installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100. The process cartridge 10 is replaced with a new one at regular replacement cycles. Moreover, a toner storage container 30 is detachably (replaceably) installed above the process cartridge 10 (developing device 5) with respect to the image forming apparatus main body 100. Toner (new toner) is stored inside the toner storage container 30 (toner storage section 31). Toner is then appropriately replenished from the toner storage container 30 to the inside of the developing device 5. When the toner stored inside the toner storage container 30 is emptied (or when the toner stored inside the developing device 5 is emptied), the toner storage container 30 in this embodiment is replaced with a new one. In addition to the toner storage section 31 in which new toner is stored, the toner storage container 30 is also provided with a waste toner collection section 32 in which waste toner is collected, which will be described in detail later.

[0013] 1 and 2, the operation of the image forming apparatus 100 during normal image formation will be described. Referring to Figure 1, first, image information is sent from an input device such as a personal computer to the exposure unit 7 of the image forming apparatus 100, and then exposure light L (laser light) based on the image information is emitted from the exposure unit 7 toward the surface of the photosensitive drum 1. Meanwhile, the photosensitive drum 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow (clockwise). First, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged where it faces the charging roller 4 (charging process). In this way, a charging potential (approximately -900V) is formed on the photosensitive drum 1. Thereafter, the charged surface of the photosensitive drum 1 reaches the position irradiated with the exposure light L. Then, the potential of the portion irradiated with the exposure light L becomes a latent image potential (approximately 0 to -100V), and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 (exposure process).

[0014] Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 on which the electrostatic latent image has been formed reaches a position facing the developing device 5. Then, toner is supplied from the developing device 5 onto the photosensitive drum 1, and the latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 is developed to form a toner image (this is the developing process). As shown in FIG. 2, the developing device 5 is composed of a developing roller 5a, two developing and transporting screws 5b and 5c, a doctor blade 5d, and the like. Toner (single-component developer) is stored inside the developing device 5. As toner consumption in the developing device 5 increases, new toner is supplied from the outlet 36 of the toner container 30 (toner storage section 31) to the developing device 5 through the inlet 64. The supplied toner is then circulated and transported in the longitudinal direction (perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 2) by the developing and transporting screws 5b and 5c while being agitated together with the toner originally contained therein. A portion of the toner transported by one of the developing and transporting screws 5b is then pumped up by the developing roller 5a. The toner pumped up by the developing roller 5a is then adjusted by the doctor blade 5d and reaches a position (development area) facing the photosensitive drum 1. At this time, the toner on the developing roller 5a is frictionally charged by contact with the doctor blade 5d. Then, in the development area, the appropriate amount of toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1, forming a toner image on the photosensitive drum 1. The development roller 5a and the two development conveying screws 5b and 5c are driven by a drive motor installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100, and are each rotated in the directions of the arrows in FIG.

[0015] Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 after the development process reaches a transfer nip portion (transfer position) with the transfer roller 9. Then, at the transfer nip portion with the transfer roller 9, a transfer bias (a bias with a polarity different from that of the toner) is applied from a power supply unit to the transfer roller 9, whereby the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred onto the sheet P conveyed by the registration roller 16 (transfer process).

[0016] After the transfer process, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 reaches a position facing the cleaning device 2. At this position, the cleaning blade 2a mechanically removes any untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1, and the toner is collected in the cleaning device 2 (this is the cleaning process). Thus, a series of image forming processes on the photosensitive drum 1 is completed. The untransferred toner collected inside the cleaning device 2 is transported to one end in the width direction (direction of the rotation axis) by the collection screw 2b installed inside the cleaning device 2, and then transported diagonally to the upper right in Figure 2 by the waste toner transport section 6 (in which a waste toner transport coil 6a is installed), and then collected as waste toner inside the toner storage container 30 (waste toner collection section 32) from the outlet 74 of the waste toner transport section 6 through the collection port 37 of the toner storage container 30. In a new toner container 30, the toner storage section 31 is filled with new toner, and the waste toner collection section 32 is empty.

[0017] On the other hand, the sheet P conveyed to the transfer nip portion (transfer position) between the photosensitive drum 1 and the transfer roller 9 operates as follows. First, the uppermost sheet of the sheets P stored in the sheet feeding device 12 is fed by the sheet feeding roller 15 toward the conveyance path. Thereafter, the sheet P reaches the position of the registration rollers 16. Then, the sheet P that has reached the position of the registration rollers 16 is transported toward the transfer nip portion (the position where the transfer roller 9 and the photosensitive drum 1 contact each other) in time to be aligned with the image formed on the photosensitive drum 1.

[0018] After the transfer process, the sheet P passes through the transfer nip portion (transfer roller 9) and then travels through a conveying path to reach the fixing device 20. The sheet P that has reached the fixing device 20 is fed between the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22, where the image is fixed by the heat received from the fixing roller 21 and the pressure received from both members 21 and 22. The sheet P with the fixed image is sent out from between the fixing roller 21 and the pressure roller 22 (the fixing nip portion), and then discharged from the image forming apparatus main body 100 and placed on a paper output tray. In this way, a series of image forming processes is completed.

[0019] Here, the image forming apparatus 100 in this embodiment is covered with a plurality of exterior covers as shown in Fig. 3(A). As shown in Fig. 3(B), a part of the front exterior cover is configured as a pivotable opening / closing cover 90. Specifically, the opening / closing cover 90 is held by the image forming apparatus main body 100 so as to be rotatable about a support shaft 90a (rotation center shaft). The opening / closing cover 90 is placed in a closed state (the state shown in FIGS. 1 and 3(A)) by rotating counterclockwise in FIG. 1 about the support shaft 90a, and placed in an open state (the state shown in FIG. 3(B)) by rotating clockwise in FIG. 1 about the support shaft 90a.

[0020] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3(B), when the opening / closing cover 90 is in an open state, the toner storage container 30 is configured to be detachably exposed to the image forming apparatus main body 100. With the opening / closing cover 90 open, the toner storage container 30 alone (as shown in Fig. 7) can be replaced with a new one, or both the toner storage container 30 and the process cartridge 10 can be replaced with new ones (as shown in Fig. 4). Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming process (printing operation) previously described with reference to FIG. 1 is carried out with the opening / closing cover 90 closed.

[0021] The configuration and operation of the toner container 30, which is a feature of this embodiment, will be described in detail below. 2, in this embodiment, the toner storage container 30 is configured to be detachably installed in the process cartridge 10. In particular, in this embodiment, the toner storage container 30 is configured to be detachably installed in the process cartridge 10 whether the process cartridge 10 is installed in the image forming apparatus 100 or removed therefrom. 3 and the like, in this embodiment, the toner storage container 30 is detachably installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100 in a state in which the process cartridge 10 is installed. Therefore, it can be said that the toner storage container 30 is indirectly detachably installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100. In this embodiment, the toner storage container 30 is configured to be indirectly and detachably installed on the image forming apparatus main body 100, but the toner storage container 30 can also be configured to be directly and detachably installed on the image forming apparatus main body 100. Furthermore, the process cartridge 10 is a detachable member that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body 100, but other than the process cartridge, a developing device or another device may function as the detachable member. The toner storage container 30 may also be configured to be detachable from a detachable member other than the process cartridge.

[0022] Furthermore, the toner storage container 30, while attached to the process cartridge 10, is detachably installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100 as a single detachable unit (toner storage container 30 and process cartridge 10) as shown in FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 5, the toner storage container 30 can be attached to the process cartridge 10 by moving it in a predetermined direction (the direction of the white arrow in FIG. 5), or it can be removed from the process cartridge 10 by moving it in the opposite direction. The toner storage container 30 can also be distributed in a standalone state as shown in FIG. 7. Similarly, the process cartridge 10 can also be distributed in a standalone state as shown in FIG. 6. When attaching or detaching the toner storage container 30 to or from the process cartridge 10 (or the image forming apparatus main body 100), the operator such as a user will pull out or push in the toner storage container 30 while grasping a handle 38 (see FIGS. 2 to 5) provided on the front side of the toner storage container 30 in the operation direction (the +X direction). Note that this handle 38 is foldable, so even if the toner storage container 30 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100 in the upright position (as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5), the handle 38 will be pushed by the opening / closing cover 90 in conjunction with the operation of closing the opening / closing cover 90 from the open position, and will be stored along the exterior of the toner storage container 30.

[0023] As shown in Figure 5, etc., the toner storage container 30 is formed with a plurality of positioning portions 49, 50 and guide portions 51 (see Figures 7 and 8), and the process cartridge 10 is also formed with a plurality of guide grooves 77, 79 and guide receiving portions 78, which fit together to allow the toner storage container 30 to be attached, detached, and positioned relative to the process cartridge 10. Specifically, when the toner storage container 30 is attached to the process cartridge 10, two positioning portions 49, 50 (positioning protrusions) formed in a protruding shape at one widthwise end (+Y direction) of the toner storage container 30 are guided by a guide receiving portion 78 and a guide groove 79 formed at one widthwise end of the process cartridge 10, and a guide portion 51 (a substantially rectangular protruding portion formed so as to slope upward in the +X direction) formed at the other widthwise end (-Y direction) of the toner storage container 30 is guided by a guide groove 77 formed at the other widthwise end of the process cartridge 10. The position of the toner storage container 30 in the process cartridge 10 is determined when the positioning portions 49, 50 fit into the ends of the guide receiving portion 78 and the guide groove 79 and the guide portion 51 fits into the end of the guide groove 77.

[0024] One of the positioning members 49 (first positioning member) is a protrusion erected around a coupling that inputs drive force from the image forming apparatus to first agitating member 33A (see FIGS. 2, 9, etc.) that agitates toner. The drive force input to first agitating member 33A is input to second agitating member 33B via an idler gear, causing first and second agitating members 33A and 33B to rotate clockwise in FIG. 9. The other positioning portion 50 (second positioning portion) is a protrusion erected on the periphery so as to surround the coupling gear for rotationally driving the waste toner transport screw 35 (see FIGS. 2, 9, etc.). In this way, by providing an input portion for receiving drive from the image forming apparatus near (inside) the positioning portions 49 and 50, the drive input can be made more reliable.

[0025] The toner container 30 is provided with a discharge port 36, a recovery port 37, a first shutter 40, a second shutter 41, and the like. 2, 7, 9, etc., the discharge port 36 of the toner storage container 30 is an opening for discharging the toner stored inside the toner storage container 30 (toner storage section 31) toward the developing device 5. When the toner storage container 30 is set in the process cartridge 10, the discharge port 36 communicates with the inlet 64 (an opening formed above the second developing transport screw 5c) of the developing device 5. 2, 8, 10, etc., the collection port 37 of the toner storage container 30 is an opening for receiving and collecting waste toner (untransferred toner) from outside the toner storage container 30. When the toner storage container 30 is set in the process cartridge 10, the collection port 37 communicates with the outlet 74 of the waste toner transport section 6 (an opening formed in the bottom surface of the downstream end of the waste toner transport section 6; see also FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0026] 2, 9, 10, etc., the toner storage container 30 in this embodiment is divided by a wall into a toner storage section 31 that stores toner discharged from the discharge port 36 and a waste toner collection section 32 that collects waste toner received from the collection port 37.

[0027] The toner storage section 31 is also provided with a supply screw 34 as a conveying member that is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction in Figures 2 and 9, and two stirring members 33A and 33B (agitators) that are each driven to rotate in the clockwise direction in Figures 2 and 9. The drive timing and rotation time of the supply screw 34 as a conveying member are controlled to discharge a target amount of toner stored in the toner storage unit 31 from the discharge port 36. In particular, in this embodiment, the supply screw 34 functions as a conveying member that conveys the toner stored inside the toner storage unit 31 (toner storage container 30) in a predetermined conveying direction (Y direction) along the rotation axis direction, and conveys the toner toward the discharge port 36 formed at the end in the Y direction. The first and second agitating members 33A and 33B each rotate in a predetermined direction about a rotation axis to agitate the toner stored inside the toner storage unit 31 to prevent clumping. As shown in FIG. 9, the first and second agitating members 33A and 33B are composed of a flexible member 33c (made of a thin plate of Mylar or the like) that rotates about a rotation axis 33a (rotation center), and a plate-shaped holding portion 33b (rigid portion) that straddles the rotation axis 33a and holds the flexible member 33c. Both axial ends of the first and second agitating members 33A and 33B are rotatably supported on the housing of the toner storage container 30 via bearings. The flexible member 33c of the first agitating member 33A (rotating member) has a bent tip (free end) to form a bent portion 33c2, which will be described in detail later using FIGS. 11 to 13.

[0028] The waste toner collection section 32 (powder collection section) is provided with a waste toner transport screw 35 that is driven to rotate counterclockwise in Fig. 2. The waste toner transport screw 35 transports the waste toner that flows in from the collection port 37 so that the waste toner is collected evenly inside the waste toner collection section 32 without accumulating in the vicinity.

[0029] In this embodiment, when the toner storage container 30 is attached to the process cartridge 10 (or the image forming apparatus main body 100), an operator rotates the lever 39, whereby the opening and closing operations of the first shutter 40 (discharge port 36) and the second shutter 41 (recovery port 37) are performed at the same time, and the opening and closing operations of the inlet 64 and outlet 74 of the process cartridge 10 are also performed at the same time. Therefore, it is possible to prevent improper opening and closing of the first and second shutters 40, 41 and the first and second opening and closing shutters 63, 73. The lever 39 is positioned so that when the toner storage container 30 is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100 and the opening / closing cover 90 is opened, it is exposed to the outside (so that it can be operated by an operator) as shown in Figure 3(B). On the other hand, as shown in Figures 5, 8, etc., the toner storage container 30 is provided with a first pivoting part 42 on the opposite side of the width direction from the lever 39 (and the second pivoting part 43), which is connected to the second pivoting part 43 via a through shaft and rotates together with the lever 39 (and the second pivoting part 43, the through shaft).

[0030] The following will describe in detail the characteristic configuration and operation of the toner container 30 according to this embodiment. As previously explained using Figure 9 etc., the toner storage container 30 in this embodiment is provided with a first agitating member 33A as a rotating member that rotates in a predetermined rotation direction (clockwise in Figure 9) around a rotation axis 33a. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the first stirring member 33A is made up of a rotating shaft 33a, a holding portion 33b, a flexible member 33c, and the like.

[0031] The rotary shaft 33a is rotatably supported via bearings on side walls located at both ends in the width direction of the toner storage container 30 (toner storage section 31). The flexible member 33c is a member that can slide against the sliding surface 59b, which is the inner wall surface of the toner container 30 (toner storage section 31). In this embodiment, a sheet-like member made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or the like and having a thickness of approximately 0.05 to 0.1 mm is used as the flexible member 33c. In this embodiment, the sliding surface 59b (inner peripheral surface) is an inclined surface formed on the side of the lower case 59 away from the supply screw 34 across the storage section 59a (where the second agitating member 33B is installed and where toner is actively stored). The sliding surface 59b (inner peripheral surface) is an inclined surface formed so as to slope downward toward the storage section 59a. The wall surface of the storage section 59a that is connected to the sliding surface 59b is a wall surface that extends in a substantially vertical direction. The storage section 59a is located downstream in the rotational direction of the sliding contact surface 59b (inner wall surface) against which the flexible member 33c of the first agitating member 33A slides, and is also the part where the toner scraped off from the sliding contact surface 59b by the flexible member 33c is stored. The holding portion 33b is a rigid plate-like member made of a resin material or the like. The holding portion 33b is formed to extend in the radial direction (the radial direction from the rotation axis 33a) and holds a part of the base portion 33c1 of the flexible member 33c by sandwiching it therebetween.

[0032] Here, in this embodiment, the flexible member 33c is provided with a base portion 33c1 that is arranged along the radial direction centered on the rotation axis 33a, and a bending portion 33c2 that bends from the base portion 33c1 in a direction that intersects the radial direction and toward the downstream side of the rotation direction. That is, the flexible member 33c is not formed in a flat plate shape, but has a bent portion 33c2 (the tip end of which is located downstream in the rotational direction from the origin of the bend) formed on a flat base portion 33c1 extending radially. The shape of the flexible member 33c described above is the shape when no external force is applied, and the flexible member 33c is deformed as shown in FIG. 11 by sliding against the sliding contact surface 59b.

[0033] By providing the bent portion 33c2 in the flexible member 33c of the first agitating member 33A (rotating member) in this manner, the toner T is less likely to adhere (stick) to the sliding surface 59b (inner wall surface) of the toner storage container 30, and even if the toner T does adhere to the sliding surface 59b, the adhering toner T can be sufficiently scraped off. That is, in the case of a first agitating member 133A installed in a toner storage container 130 shown in FIG. 15(A) as a comparative example, in which a bent portion is not formed in the flexible member 133c, the toner T on the sliding contact surface 59b cannot be sufficiently scraped off, and the toner T ends up adhering to the sliding contact surface 59b. In contrast to this, in this embodiment, the bent portion 33c2 that slides against the sliding surface 59b functions like a hoe, scraping off all the toner T that has accumulated in the area surrounded by the dashed line in Fig. 11 and dropping the toner T into the storage portion 59a. In particular, this function of the bent portion 33c2 is most pronounced when the toner in the toner storage container 30 (toner storage portion 31) is running low. By reducing the amount of toner adhering to the sliding contact surface 59b (inner wall surface) in this way, it becomes possible to replace the toner container 30 with a new one with little residual toner and no waste.

[0034] Here, the radial length of base portion 33c1 of flexible member 33c is set to be sufficiently long so that it can come into contact with sliding surface 59b (inner wall surface) at its belly. As a result, base portion 33c1 of flexible member 33c comes into sliding contact with sliding surface 59b while coming into contact with the belly, and the tip end (edge portion) of bent portion 33c2 comes into sliding contact with sliding surface 59b. Therefore, the bent portion 33c2 functions like a hoe, and the effect of scraping off the toner T on the sliding contact surface 59b is fully exhibited.

[0035] In this embodiment, the flexible member 33c is formed so that the bending angle θ (see FIG. 13(B)) of the bending portion 33c2 relative to the base portion 33c1 is within a range of 60 to 120 degrees. As a result, the bent portion 33c2 functions like a hoe, and the effect of scraping off the toner T on the sliding contact surface 59b is fully exhibited.

[0036] In particular, in this embodiment, the flexible member 33c is formed so that the bending angle θ is an acute angle when it is in a new state. This is because the bending angle θ of the bent portion 33c2 of the flexible member 33c tends to become larger than when it was new due to repeated sliding contact with the sliding contact surface 59b. The timing when the bending portion 33c2 is most effectively scraping off the toner T adhering to the sliding contact surface 59b is when the toner in the container is consumed and the amount of remaining toner is low (when the toner end is approaching), so it is preferable that the bending angle θ of the bent portion 33c2 be close to 90 degrees to coincide with this timing. For this reason, in this embodiment, the bending angle θ of the bent portion 33c2 of the new flexible member 33c is set to an acute angle smaller than 90 degrees.

[0037] Furthermore, for this reason, when the toner capacity of the toner storage container 30 is large when new, the bending angle θ of the bending portion 33c2 of the flexible member 33c when new can be set smaller than when the toner capacity is small. Specifically, toner containers 30 with substantially the same configuration may be manufactured with different toner capacities. In such cases, the flexible member 33c of a large-capacity toner container 30 slides against the sliding surface 59b more times than a small-capacity toner container 30 from a new state until the toner container nears the end. For this reason, the bending angle θ of the bending portion 33c2 of the flexible member 33c installed in the large-capacity toner container 30 is set smaller than that of the small-capacity toner container 30. As a result, regardless of the toner capacity of the toner container 30 when it is new, the toner T adhering to the sliding contact surface 59b (inner wall surface) can be sufficiently scraped off.

[0038] In the toner storage container 30 (toner storage section 31) of this embodiment, a second agitating member 33B is provided as an agitating member for agitating the toner stored in the storage section 59a, separate from the first agitating member 33A. Similar to the first agitating member 33A, the second agitating member 33B is also composed of a rotating shaft, a flexible member, and a holding section. However, the flexible member of the second agitating member 33B does not have a bent portion 33c2 formed thereon, unlike the flexible member 33c of the first agitating member 33A. The storage section 59a is located downstream in the rotational direction of the sliding surface 59b (inner wall surface) with which the flexible member 33c of the first agitating member 33A slides, and is configured to store toner scraped off from the sliding surface 59b by the flexible member 33c of the first agitating member 33A.

[0039] 11, the rotation shaft 33a of the first agitating member 33A (rotating member) is disposed above the storage portion 59a. That is, the rotation shaft 33a of the first agitating member 33A is disposed above the storage portion 59a from which the scraped toner is to be scraped off, not above the sliding contact surface 59b from which the toner is to be scraped off. This makes it easier to maintain the toner scraping force of the bent portion 33c2 of the flexible member 33c until the bent portion 33c2 passes through the lower end of the slope of the sliding surface 59b, so that the toner T adhering to the sliding surface 59b can be sufficiently scraped off. In addition, when the rotating shaft 33a is positioned in the region N above the sliding surface 59b, as in the first agitating member 133A installed in the toner storage container 230 shown in Figure 15 (B) as a comparative example, the axial distance between the rotating shaft 33a of the first agitating member 33A and the rotating shaft of the second agitating member 33B becomes larger than that in this embodiment, and therefore the gear (or gear train) for transmitting drive between the first agitating member 33A and the second agitating member 33B becomes larger or the number of gears becomes greater.

[0040] In the present embodiment, the rotation locus of holding portion 33b when rotating in the rotation direction (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 11) around rotation shaft 33a is formed so as not to deviate from region M above storage portion 59a to region N above sliding surface 59b (inner wall surface). That is, holding portion 33b of first agitating member 33A does not rotate in region N above sliding surface 59b from which toner is to be scraped, but rather rotates in region M above storage portion 59a from which the scraped toner is to be scraped off. This makes it easier to slide the bent portion 33c2 of the flexible member 33c against the sliding surface 59b while keeping the base portion 33c1 bent as shown in Figure 11 until the bent portion 33c2 passes under the lower end of the slope of the sliding surface 59b, making it easier to maintain the toner scraping force of the bent portion 33c2, and allowing the toner T adhering to the sliding surface 59b to be sufficiently scraped off.

[0041] 12 and 13, the flexible member 33c of the first agitating member 33A has a plurality of notches 33c3 formed at intervals in the rotational axis direction, the notches 33c3 originating from a radial position away from the rotational axis 33a of the base portion 33c1. The notches 33c3 form a plurality of bent portions 33c2 at intervals in the rotational axis direction. That is, the flexible member 33c in this embodiment is not a single substantially rectangular sheet with a single large bent portion 33c2 formed at the leading end, but a single substantially rectangular sheet with multiple notches 33c3 formed at the leading end to form multiple small bent portions 33c2 divided in the rotation axis direction. Each of the multiple bent portions 33c2 is bent from the middle of the notch 33c3. In this way, by forming multiple bent portions 33c2 in the flexible member 33c that are divided by the notches 33c3 so that the length in the direction of the rotation axis is shortened, the volume of the sound generated when the bent portion 33c2 collides with the sliding surface 59b or comes off can be reduced compared to when a single bent portion 33c2 is formed over the entire area in the direction of the rotation axis.

[0042] In this embodiment, the flexible member 33c is formed so as to extend in a plurality of different radial directions from the rotary shaft 33a, as shown in FIGS. More specifically, the flexible members 33c are formed in two directions that are 180 degrees apart in the rotational direction, with the rotation shaft 33a in between. In other words, the first agitating member 33A is formed so that the flexible members 33c extend in two directions that are 180 degrees apart in the rotational direction, with the rotation shaft 33a in between. Bent portions 33c2 are formed on the tip ends of the flexible members 33c in both radial directions. By providing the bent portions 33c2 in multiple directions in this manner, the first agitating member 33A comes into sliding contact with the sliding contact surface 59b multiple times during one rotation, thereby efficiently preventing toner from adhering to the sliding contact surface 59b.

[0043] In this embodiment, flexible member 33c has a group of comb-like tip portions, each of which has a plurality of bent portions 33c2 arranged side by side with notches 33c3 sandwiched therebetween, formed at intervals in the rotation axis direction. Comb-like tip portions (multiple bent portions 33c2) are alternately formed above and below rotation axis 33a along the rotation axis direction in FIG. 13(A) such that, in the gaps in the rotation axis direction between adjacent comb-like tip portions (multiple bent portions 33c2) in one radial direction, there are comb-like tip portions (multiple bent portions 33c2) in the other radial direction. By arranging multiple comb-tooth-shaped tip portions (multiple bent portions 33c2) alternately in different radial directions in this manner, the load fluctuation applied during one rotation of the first stirring member 33A can be reduced compared to when multiple comb-tooth-shaped tip portions (multiple bent portions 33c2) are all arranged in the same radial direction.

[0044] In addition, in this embodiment, the flexible member 33c is formed so that the radial lengths (cut lengths) of the multiple cuts 33c3 in the base portion 33c1 are different from each other in a group of comb-tooth-shaped tip portions in which multiple bent portions 33c2 are arranged side by side with cuts 33c3 between them. As a result, when the bent portion 33c2 slides against the sliding surface 59b, the degree and timing of bending from its base portion to the base portion 33c (starting point of the notch 33c3) varies for each bent portion 33c2, so the load fluctuation applied during one rotation of the first stirring member 33A can be reduced compared to when the notch length of all the notches 33c3 is the same.

[0045] 13, in the flexible member 33c according to the present embodiment, the plurality of bent portions 33c2 are formed such that the radial bending positions (the positions from which the bent portions originate) connecting to the base portion 33c1 are different for adjacent bent portions 33c2. That is, the plurality of bent portions 33c2 are adjacent to each other such that the bending positions are close to and far from the rotation axis 33a. By configuring it in this manner, the timing at which the multiple bent portions 33c2 slide against the sliding surface 59b can be shifted compared to a flexible member 33c shown in Figure 14, in which the lengths from the rotation axis 33a to the bending positions of the multiple bent portions 33c2 are all the same, thereby reducing the load fluctuations applied during one rotation of the first agitator 33A.

[0046] 13, in the flexible member 33c of the present embodiment, the multiple bent portions 33c2 are formed so that the lengths (lengths from the bending origin to the tip) extending in a direction intersecting the radial direction are different between adjacent bent portions 33c2. That is, the multiple bent portions 33c2 are alternately adjacent to each other with short and long lengths from the bending origin to the tip. By configuring it in this manner, the timing at which the multiple bent portions 33c2 slide against the sliding surface 59b can be shifted compared to a flexible member 33c shown in Figure 14, in which the multiple bent portions 33c2 all have the same length from the bend origin to the tip, thereby reducing the load fluctuations applied during one rotation of the first agitating member 33A.

[0047] 13, in this embodiment, among the plurality of bent portions 33c2 in the flexible member 33c, the bent portion 33c2 having a long length extending in a direction intersecting the radial direction has a protruding portion 33c20 formed at its tip end that protrudes toward the adjacent bent portion 33c2 (the side of the notch 33c3). That is, among the plurality of bent portions 33c2, the bent portion 33c2 having a long length from the bending origin to its tip end has a protruding portion 33c20 formed at its tip end that protrudes in the rotation axis direction toward the adjacent bent portion 33c2. By configuring it in this manner, when the multiple bent portions 33c2 slide against the sliding surface 59b, the protrusion 33c20 can also slide against the position of the sliding surface 59b corresponding to the notch 33c3, compared to a configuration in which the protrusion 33c20 is not provided, so that toner adhesion to the sliding surface 59b can be sufficiently prevented.

[0048] As described above, the toner storage container 30 in this embodiment is provided with a first agitating member 33A (rotating member) that rotates in a predetermined rotation direction around the rotation shaft 33a. The first agitating member 33A is provided with a flexible member 33c that can slide against the sliding surface 59b (inner wall surface) of the toner storage container 30. The flexible member 33c is provided with a base portion 33c1 that is installed along the radial direction around the rotation shaft 33a, and a bent portion 33c2 that is bent from the base portion 33c1 toward the downstream side of the rotation direction in a direction that intersects the radial direction. This allows the toner T adhering to the sliding contact surface 59b (inner wall surface) to be sufficiently scraped off.

[0049] In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a case where the photosensitive drum 1 (image carrier), charging roller 4 (charging device), developing device 5, cleaning device 2, and waste toner transport section 6 are integrated into a process cartridge 10. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can naturally be applied even when these devices 1, 2, 4 to 6 are each configured as a unit that is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100. In such a case, the same effect as that of this embodiment can be obtained. In this application, a "process cartridge" is defined as a detachable member (detachable unit) that is detachably installed on the image forming apparatus main body and that integrates at least one of a charging device that charges an image carrier, a developing device that develops a latent image formed on the image carrier, and a cleaning device that cleans the image carrier, with the image carrier.

[0050] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the present invention is applied to the toner storage container 30 installed in the monochrome image forming apparatus 100, but the present invention can also be applied to a toner storage container installed in a color image forming apparatus. In addition, in this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a toner storage container 30 that is indirectly and detachably installed in the image forming apparatus main body 100 via a process cartridge 10, but the present invention can also be applied to a toner storage container that is directly and detachably installed in the image forming apparatus main body without via a process cartridge. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a toner storage container 30 that supplies toner (single-component developer) to a single-component development device 5 that contains the toner, but the present invention can also be applied to a toner storage container that supplies toner to a two-component development device that contains a two-component developer consisting of toner and carrier. In addition, in this embodiment, the present invention is applied to the toner storage container 30 in which toner is stored and collected, but the present invention can also be applied to a toner storage container in which carrier (a two-component developer in which toner and carrier are mixed) is stored and collected together with toner. In this case, the developing device is of a two-component development type. In addition, in this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a toner storage container 30 in which the toner storage section 31 and the waste toner collection section 32 are integrated, but the present invention can naturally be applied to a toner storage container consisting of only a toner storage section. Even in these cases, the same effects as those of this embodiment can be obtained.

[0051] In addition, in this embodiment, toner storage container 30 (toner storage section 31) for replenishing toner to developing device 5 is used as the toner storage container to which the present invention is applied, but the toner storage container to which the present invention is applied is not limited to this, and can also be a developing device (for example, developing device 5 in this embodiment) that stores toner and develops a latent image formed on an image carrier to form a toner image. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to other toner storage containers installed in an image forming apparatus (for example, cleaning device 2 and waste toner collection section 32 in this embodiment), or to a toner storage container installed in a developing device. Even in these cases, the same effects as those of this embodiment can be obtained.

[0052] It is to be noted that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and it is clear that the present embodiment can be appropriately modified within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention in addition to the modifications suggested in the present embodiment. Furthermore, the number, position, shape, etc. of the components are not limited to the present embodiment, and the number, position, shape, etc. of the components can be any number, position, shape, etc. that is suitable for implementing the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1 Photosensitive drum (image carrier), 5 developing device, 10 Process cartridge, 30 Toner storage container (powder storage container), 31 Toner storage section (powder storage section), 32 Waste toner collection unit (powder collection unit), 33A first stirring member (rotating member), 33B second stirring member (stirring member), 33a rotation axis, 33b holding part (rigid part), 33c flexible member; 33c1 base part, 33c2 bend, 33c3 incision, 33c20 protrusion, 58 Upper case, 59 Lower case, 59a reservoir, 59b sliding surface (inner wall surface), 100 Image forming device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0054] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-96991 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-321855

Claims

1. A toner storage container having a rotating member that rotates in a predetermined direction around a rotation axis, the rotating member includes a flexible member that can slide against the inner wall surface of the toner storage container; The flexible member includes: a base portion disposed on the rotation shaft and extending in a direction away from the rotation shaft; a bending portion bending from the base portion toward a downstream side in the rotation direction in a direction intersecting a radial direction about the rotation axis; a plurality of notches are formed at intervals in the rotation axis direction, the notches starting from a position in the radial direction away from the rotation axis of the base portion and extending in a direction away from the rotation axis, a plurality of the bent portions are formed by the plurality of cuts at intervals in the rotation axis direction, and at least one of the plurality of bent portions has a protruding portion that protrudes toward an adjacent bent portion, The plurality of bent portions have lengths extending in the intersecting direction that are different between adjacent bent portions, The toner storage container is characterized in that, among the plurality of bent portions, the protrusion is formed at a tip end of the bent portion having a long length extending in the intersecting direction.

2. 2. The toner storage container according to claim 1, wherein the rotating member has a holding portion that is rigid and extends in the radial direction, and that holds a part of the base portion of the flexible member.

3. 3. The toner storage container according to claim 1, wherein the flexible member is formed so that the bending angle of the bending portion relative to the base portion is within a range of 60 to 120 degrees.

4. 4. The toner storage container according to claim 3, wherein the flexible member is formed so that the bending angle is an acute angle when the flexible member is in a new state.

5. 5. The toner storage container according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of bent portions are bent at different radial positions in connection with the base portion between adjacent bent portions.

6. A toner storage container having a rotating member that rotates in a predetermined rotation direction around a rotation axis, the rotating member includes a flexible member that can slide against the inner wall surface of the toner storage container; The flexible member includes: a base portion disposed along a radial direction centered on the rotation axis; a bent portion that bends from the base portion toward a downstream side in the rotation direction in a direction intersecting the radial direction; Equipped with the flexible member is formed such that a bending angle of the bending portion relative to the base portion is an acute angle when the flexible member is in a new state; A toner storage container characterized in that when the toner storage container is new and has a large toner capacity, the bending angle of the flexible member when the toner storage container is new is smaller than when the toner capacity is small.

7. A storage section is formed downstream in the rotation direction of the inner wall surface with which the flexible member slides, in which toner scraped off from the inner wall surface by the flexible member is stored; 7. The toner storage container according to claim 1, wherein the rotation shaft of the rotating member is disposed above the storage portion.

8. The rotating member includes a holding portion that is rigid and extends in the radial direction, and that holds a portion of the base portion of the flexible member; 8. The toner storage container according to claim 7, wherein the rotational path of the holding portion when rotating in the rotational direction about the rotation axis is formed so as not to deviate from the upper region of the storage portion to the upper region of the inner wall surface.

9. A toner storage container as described in claim 7 or claim 8, characterized in that it is provided with a stirring member that stirs the toner stored in the storage section.

10. A toner storage container as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the toner storage container is a developing device that develops a latent image formed on an image carrier to form a toner image.

11. A developing device for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier to form a toner image, comprising: A developing device comprising the toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A process cartridge detachably installed in an image forming apparatus body, A process cartridge comprising the toner storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. An image forming apparatus comprising a toner storage container according to claim 1.

Images