Developer container, image forming unit, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To provide a developer storage body that can sufficiently discharge developer and can reduce a load applied to a stirring member.SOLUTION: A developer storage body has: a storage member; a stirring member that stirs developer; a first swing member that includes a first fixed end, a first free end, and a first surface with which the stirring member comes into contact in the process of rotation, and is swung by the contact of the stirring member with the first surface; and a projection support part that is disposed projecting from a wall surface formed in the storage member, and is brought into contact with a second surface. Since the first swing member supported by the projection support part is swung and brought into contact with the wall surface formed in the storage member, a developer adhered to the wall surface is peeled off in association with the contact of the first swing member with the wall surface and separation of the former from the latter, and thereby the developer can be sufficiently discharged.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a developer container, an image forming unit, and an image forming apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, image forming devices such as printers, copiers, facsimile machines, and multifunction devices, for example, printers, are provided with an image forming unit, in which the surface of a photosensitive drum, which has been uniformly charged by a charging roller, is exposed by an exposure device, for example, an LED head, to form an electrostatic latent image, which is then developed with toner as a developer supplied from a toner cartridge serving as a developer container to form a toner image of each color, which is then transferred to paper by a transfer roller, and the toner image is then fixed to the paper in a fixing device, thereby forming an image and printing.

[0003] An opening is formed in the bottom of the toner cartridge for discharging the toner contained in the toner chamber. Mixing The member is arranged to be rotatable, and the swinging member is arranged to be swingable, and in the toner storage chamber, Mixing As the member rotates, the toner Mixing As the swinging member is swung, the toner is moved toward the opening (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-10225 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the conventional toner cartridge, when the oscillating member is oscillated in the toner storage chamber, toner may adhere to the wall surface that the oscillating member does not abut, and in such a case, the toner remaining in the toner storage chamber cannot be sufficiently discharged.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a developer container, an image forming unit and an image forming apparatus that can solve the problems of the conventional toner cartridges and that can sufficiently discharge developer. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To this end, the developer container of the present invention comprises a container member that stores developer, an agitator member that is rotatably arranged within the container member and agitates the developer as it rotates, a first oscillating member that has a first fixed end, a first free end, and a first surface that abuts against the agitator member as it rotates, and is oscillated when the agitator member abuts against the first surface, and a protruding support portion that faces a second surface opposite the first surface, is arranged to protrude from a wall surface formed within the container member, and is brought into abutment against the second surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, the developer container includes a container member that contains developer, an agitating member that is rotatably arranged within the container member and agitates the developer as it rotates, a first oscillating member that has a first fixed end, a first free end, and a first surface that abuts against the agitating member as it rotates, and is oscillated when the agitating member abuts against the first surface, and a protruding support portion that is arranged facing a second surface opposite the first surface, protruding from a wall surface formed within the container member, and abuts against the second surface.

[0009] In this case, the first oscillating member supported by the protruding support portion is oscillated by the agitating member abutting against the first surface, and is brought into contact with the wall surface formed within the storage member, so that as the first oscillating member moves toward and away from the wall surface, the developer adhering to the wall surface is peeled off.

[0010] Therefore, the amount of developer adhering to the wall surface and remaining in the containing member can be reduced, and the developer can be sufficiently discharged. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge in the first embodiment of the present invention with the shutter open. FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between an image forming unit and a transfer roller according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an image forming unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the image forming unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a first diagram for explaining the operation of the toner cartridge in the reference example. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a rocking device according to a reference example. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a main part of a swinging film in a reference example. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a second diagram for explaining the operation of the toner cartridge in the reference example. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a third diagram for explaining the operation of the toner cartridge in the reference example. [Figure 11] 5A to 5C are conceptual diagrams illustrating the operation of the toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shutter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge in the first embodiment of the present invention with the shutter closed. FIG. [Figure 14]1 is a cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a rocking device is not attached. [Figure 15] 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in a state where a rocking device is not attached. [Figure 16] 1 is a perspective view of a rocking device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 17] 1 is a side view of a rocking device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a second swing film in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 3 is a first diagram illustrating the operation of the toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 4 is a second diagram illustrating the operation of the toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a third diagram illustrating the operation of the toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 4 is a fourth diagram illustrating the operation of the toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a rocking device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a main part of a second swing film in a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a toner cartridge as a developer container and a printer as an image forming apparatus will be described.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the relationship between the image forming unit and the transfer roller according to the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the image forming unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 5 is an exploded view of the image forming unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, image forming units (image drum units) 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C for four colors, black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, are arranged in printer 10, but since image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C all have the same structure, Figs. 3 to 5 show only image forming unit 16Bk.

[0014] In the figure, 10 is the printer, Cs is the housing that is the exterior of the printer 10, and Bd is the main body of the printer 10, i.e., the device main body. The housing Cs comprises the main body of the housing Cs, i.e., the housing main body (lower frame) Cs1, and a cover (upper frame) Cs2 that is supported to be able to swing freely relative to the housing main body Cs1 via a hinge hg.

[0015] A paper cassette 11 is disposed at the bottom of the device main body Bd as a first paper supply unit and medium storage unit, and paper sheets P as a medium are stored in a stacked state in a stacker sk1 as a first stacking member of the paper cassette 11. A hopping roller 12 as a first feeding member is disposed adjacent to the front end of the paper cassette 11, and a separation member 13 is disposed opposite the hopping roller 12. The paper sheets P are separated one by one by the hopping roller 12 and the separation member 13 and fed to paper transport path Rt1 as a medium transport path, and are transported on paper transport path Rt1 by a paper feed roller pair m1 as a first transport member. After skew is corrected by a registration roller pair m2 as a second transport member disposed downstream of the paper feed roller pair m1, the paper sheets are sent to image forming unit Q1.

[0016] Near the pair of registration rollers m2, a manual feed tray Tr serving as a second paper feed section is arranged so as to be freely swingable relative to the housing main body Cs1, and paper P loaded on the manual feed tray Tr is fed to the paper transport path Rt1 by a hopping roller 15 serving as a second feed-out member, and after skew is corrected by the pair of registration rollers m2, it is sent to the image forming section Q1.

[0017] Image forming section Q1 is made up of image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C, an LED head Hd as an exposure device, a transfer unit u1, and the like, which are arranged from the upstream side to the downstream side of paper transport path Rt1.

[0018] Each of the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C is composed of an image forming device 20, which is the main body of the image forming unit 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C, and a toner cartridge Ct, which serves as a developer container, and is detachably mounted on the image forming device 20. Toner Tn, which serves as a developer, is accommodated in a toner accommodating chamber Ea, which serves as a developer accommodating chamber, of the toner cartridge Ct.

[0019] The toner cartridge Ct includes a housing Hz having a front wall Pf formed downstream in the transport direction of the paper P, a back wall Pr formed upstream in the transport direction of the paper P, a left side wall Ps1 which is a first side wall formed on the left side as seen from the upstream side in the transport direction of the paper P, a right side wall Ps2 which is a second side wall formed on the right side as seen from the upstream side in the transport direction of the paper P, a top wall Pt, and a bottom wall Pb. In Fig. 5, Lv denotes an operating lever serving as an operating part for rotating a shutter Sh (described later) which serves as an opening / closing member. The operating lever Lv protrudes from the right side wall Ps2.

[0020] The image forming unit 20 has a mounting surface Sr formed of a recess having a shape corresponding to the bottom wall Pb, and the toner cartridge Ct is held by the mounting surface Sr.

[0021] The image forming device 20 also includes a photosensitive drum 21 as a rotatably arranged image carrier, a charging roller 22 as a charging member rotatably arranged in contact with the photosensitive drum 21 at a predetermined pressure, a developing roller 23 as a developer carrier rotatably arranged in contact with the photosensitive drum 21 at a predetermined pressure, a supply roller (sponge roller) 24 as a supply member rotatably arranged in contact with the developing roller 23 at a predetermined pressure, a developing blade 25 as a regulating member arranged in contact with the developing roller 23 at a predetermined pressure at a predetermined location, and a cleaning device Bx1 arranged opposite the photosensitive drum 21. The cleaning device Bx1 includes a cleaning blade 26 as a first cleaning member arranged in contact with the photosensitive drum 21 at a predetermined pressure at its tip, and a spiral 27 as a waste developer transport member rotatably arranged.

[0022] The developing roller 23, the supply roller 24, and the developing blade 25 form a developing unit 30. In addition, above the developing unit 30 in the image forming device 20 of the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C, a toner storage unit Rm is formed as a developer storage unit for receiving the toner Tn discharged from the toner cartridge Ct.

[0023] In each of the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C, the toner Tn supplied to the toner storage section Rm is charged while being supplied to the developing roller 23 by the supply roller 24, and after the layer thickness is regulated by the developing blade 25, it is made to adhere to the photosensitive drum 21 to form a toner image. The remaining toner Tn on the developing roller 23 is sent to the toner storage section Rm as the developing roller 23 rotates, scraped off by the supply roller 24, and mixed with new toner Tn discharged from the toner cartridge Ct.

[0024] In the cleaning device Bx1, the cleaning blade 26 is brought into contact with the photosensitive drum 21 in a counter direction so that its tip butts against the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 21, scrapes off the toner Tn remaining on the photosensitive drum 21 after the toner image has been transferred to the paper P, and removes it as waste toner as waste developer. The waste toner is transported by a spiral 27 and collected in a waste toner collection chamber Eb (FIG. 1) which serves as a waste developer collection section and will be described later and which is formed adjacent to the toner storage chamber Ea of the toner cartridge Ct.

[0025] The LED head Hd consists of an LED array consisting of multiple LEDs as light-emitting elements, drive elements that cause each LED to emit light, and a lens array, and exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 21, which has been charged by the charging roller 22, to form an electrostatic latent image as a latent image.

[0026] The transfer unit u1 includes a drive roller r1 as a first roller, a driven roller r2 as a second roller, a transfer belt Bt as a belt member stretched between the drive roller r1 and the driven roller r2 so as to be freely movable, a transfer roller 28 as a transfer member arranged so as to be freely rotatable opposite each of the photosensitive drums 21 via the transfer belt Bt, a toner recovery section Bx2 as a developer recovery device arranged opposite the lower running portion of the transfer belt Bt, and a cleaning blade 29 as a second cleaning member arranged in the toner recovery section Bx2 with its tip abutting against the transfer belt Bt.

[0027] A fixing device 31 is disposed downstream of the image forming unit Q1 on the paper transport path Rt1. The fixing device 31 includes a heat roller 32 as a first fixing member, and a backup roller 33 as a second fixing member disposed opposite the heat roller 32.

[0028] In addition, a pair of conveying rollers m3 as a third conveying member is arranged downstream of the fixing unit 31 on the paper conveying path Rt1, and a pair of discharge rollers m4 as a fourth conveying member is arranged downstream of the pair of conveying rollers m3, facing a stacker sk2 as a second stacking member formed on the cover Cs2.

[0029] Next, the operation of the printer 10 will be described.

[0030] The photosensitive drum 21 is rotated by an ID motor (not shown) serving as a drive unit for image formation, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 21 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 22 and exposed to light by the LED head Hd to form an electrostatic latent image. In the developing unit 30, the supply roller 24 is rotated, and toner Tn discharged from the toner cartridge Ct and supplied to the toner storage unit Rm is charged by friction and supplied to the developing roller 23. The layer thickness of the toner Tn supplied to the developing roller 23 is regulated by the developing blade 25, and at this time, the toner Tn is further charged.

[0031] The developing roller 23 develops the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 21 by electrostatically attaching the toner Tn to the electrostatic latent image, thereby forming a toner image.

[0032] The paper P is sent from the paper cassette 11 or the manual feed tray Tr to the image forming section Q1, adhered to the transfer belt Bt by electrostatic effect, and transported between the photosensitive drum 21 of each image forming unit 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, 16C and the transfer roller 28 of the transfer unit u1. At this time, the toner image on each developing roller 23 is transferred onto the paper P by the electric field formed by the voltage applied to the transfer roller 28, and a color toner image is formed on the paper P.

[0033] Next, the paper P is sent to a fixing device 31, where the color toner image on the paper P is heated by a heat roller 32 and pressed by a backup roller 33 to be fixed to the paper P, thereby forming a color image on the paper P.

[0034] The paper P on which the color image is formed is conveyed by a pair of conveying rollers m3, discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body Bd by a pair of discharging rollers m4, and stacked on a stacker sk2.

[0035] In this embodiment, the toner Tn contained in the toner containing chamber Ea of the toner cartridge Ct is Mixing and is moved in the direction of the discharge port h2, which will be described later.

[0036] Next, a reference example of the toner cartridge Ct will be described.

[0037] Figure 6 is the first diagram for explaining the operation of the toner cartridge in the reference example, Figure 7 is an oblique view of the oscillating device in the reference example, Figure 8 is a diagram showing the main parts of the oscillating film in the reference example, Figure 9 is the second diagram for explaining the operation of the toner cartridge in the reference example, and Figure 10 is the third diagram for explaining the operation of the toner cartridge in the reference example.

[0038] In the figure, Ct is a toner cartridge, Hz is a housing of the toner cartridge Ct as a storage member for storing toner Tn, Pf is a front wall, Pr is a back wall, Pt is a top wall, Pb is a bottom wall, Pc is a central wall, Ea is a toner storage chamber formed between the front wall Pf and the central wall Pc, Eb is a waste toner collection chamber formed between the back wall Pr and the central wall Pc, h1 is an opening serving as a developer discharge port formed in the bottom wall Pb and extending in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge Ct, Ar1 is a first toner storage area having a cylindrical shape and extending in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge Ct as a first developer storage area for storing toner Tn, and Ar2 is a second toner storage area that extends in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge Ct and is formed by rising upward from the front half of the first toner storage area Ar1 as a second developer storage area for storing toner Tn.

[0039] Sh denotes a shutter rotatably disposed in the first toner storage area Ar1. The shutter Sh has a cylindrical shape and is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge Ct. Approximately one-third of the circumferential portion of the shutter Sh is an open area qa that connects the first and second toner storage areas Ar1 and Ar2, and approximately two-thirds is a closed area qb that closes the first and second toner storage areas Ar1 and Ar2. A discharge port h2 is formed at a predetermined location in the closed area qb, corresponding to the opening h1. When an operator operates the operating lever Lv (FIG. 5) formed integrally with the shutter Sh to rotate the shutter Sh and align the opening h1 with the discharge port h2, the opening h1 is opened. When an operator operates the operating lever Lv to rotate the shutter Sh and shift the opening h1 from the discharge port h2, the opening h1 is closed.

[0040] In the image forming device 20 (FIG. 3), a toner supply port (not shown) is formed as a developer supply port in correspondence with the opening h1 on the mounting surface Sr (FIG. 5). Therefore, when the opening h1 is opened, the toner Tn in the toner storage chamber Ea is discharged from the toner cartridge Ct and supplied to the toner storage section Rm in the image forming device 20.

[0041] Within the shutter Sh in the first toner storage area Ar1, a toner cartridge Ct is provided. Mixing The device 50 is disposed so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow A. Mixing The device 50 is rotatably arranged Mixing Bar 51, and the Mixing The bar 51 is attached so as to protrude radially outward from a predetermined position. Mixing As a component Mixing Consists of film Fm1.

[0042] Applicable Mixing The film Fm1 is made of an elastic resin film, and its length in the radial direction is longer than the inner diameter of the shutter Sh.

[0043] A swinging device 35 is disposed in the second toner storage area Ar2 to move the toner Tn in the second toner storage area Ar2 to the first toner storage area Ar1. The swinging device 35 is formed by bending an elastic resin film (PET) into a U-shape and includes a belt-shaped mounting portion 36 and a swinging film Sw as a swinging member that hangs down in a direction perpendicular to the mounting portion 36 and is swingable.

[0044] In addition, the rocking device 35 is attached to the upper end of the second toner storage area Ar2 by engaging the front edge eg1 of the mounting portion 36 with a protrusion formed on the upper end of the front wall Pf and the rear edge eg2 with a protrusion formed on the upper end of the central wall Pc.

[0045] The swing film Sw has protruding portions 38 formed by protruding downward at a plurality of locations, for example, four locations, in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge Ct. A pair of protrusions 41 and 42 is formed at the lower end of each protruding portion 38, and a protrusion 41 is formed at the center of each protruding portion 38 to reduce the rigidity of the swing film Sw. Mixing Holes 43 are formed to reduce the load applied to the film Fm1.

[0046] Mixing As the device 50 rotates, Mixing As shown in FIG. 6, while the film Fm1 moves within the shutter Sh, the leading edge of the film Fm1 is curved and slid against the closed region qb, and when the film Fm1 reaches the open region qa of the shutter Sh, the leading edge of the film Fm1 is slightly curved and pushes the lower end of the swinging film Sw forward, causing the swinging film Sw to rotate clockwise. Mixing When the leading edge of the film Fm1 separates from the lower end of the swing film Sw and reaches the closed region qb of the shutter Sh, the swing film Sw is rotated counterclockwise by its elasticity and returns to its initial state, as shown in FIG.

[0047] In this way, in the toner cartridge Ct of the reference example, Mixing As the device 50 rotates MixingThe film Fm1 is rotated, and the toner Tn in the first toner storage area Ar1 Mixing Then, the swing film Sw is swung, and the toner Tn in the second toner containing area Ar2 is sent to the first toner containing area Ar1.

[0048] However, in the toner cartridge Ct of the reference example, the swing film Sw is not swung sufficiently, and the area of ​​the swing film Sw that contacts the wall surface of the front wall Pf of the toner storage chamber Ea is small, so the amount of toner Tn that adheres to the wall surface and is sent to the first toner storage area Ar1 is small. As a result, the toner Tn that remains in the toner storage chamber Ea tends to increase, and the toner Tn cannot be sufficiently discharged from the toner cartridge Ct.

[0049] Therefore, in this embodiment, first and second swing films Sw1 and Sw2 serving as swing members hang down from the mounting portion of the swing device .

[0050] Next, the toner cartridge Ct of this embodiment will be described. Components having the same structure as the toner cartridge Ct of the reference example will be given the same reference numerals, and the effects of the invention resulting from having the same structure will be cited as those of the reference example.

[0051] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge with the shutter open in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the operation of a toner cartridge in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the shutter in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge with the shutter closed in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge with no rocking device attached in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge with no rocking device attached in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the rocking device in the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 17 is a side view of the rocking device in the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 18 is an enlarged view of a second rocking film in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] In the figure, Ct is the toner cartridge, Hz is the housing, Pf is the front wall, Pr is the back wall, Pt is the top wall, Pb is the bottom wall, Pc is the central wall, Ps1 is the left wall, Ps2 is the right wall, Ea is the toner storage chamber, Eb is the waste toner collection chamber, h1 is the opening as the developer discharge port, Ar1 is the first toner storage area as the first developer storage area, and Ar2 is the second toner storage area as the second developer storage area.

[0053] Further, Sh is a shutter disposed in the first toner storage area Ar1 so as to be rotatable in the direction of arrow B (FIG. 12). The shutter Sh has a cylindrical shape, and approximately one-third of its circumference is an open area qa that connects the first and second toner storage areas Ar1 and Ar2, and approximately two-thirds is a closed area qb that closes the space between the first and second toner storage areas Ar1 and Ar2. A discharge opening h2 is formed at a predetermined position in the closed area qb so as to correspond to the opening h1.

[0054] An operating lever Lv for rotating the shutter Sh is disposed on the right end of the shutter Sh.

[0055] When the operator operates the operating lever Lv to rotate the shutter Sh and align the opening h1 with the discharge port h2 as shown in Fig. 1, the opening h1 is opened. When the operator operates the operating lever Lv to rotate the shutter Sh and misalign the opening h1 with the discharge port h2 as shown in Fig. 13, the opening h1 is closed.

[0056] In this embodiment, the image forming device 20 (FIG. 3) has a toner supply port (not shown) formed on the mounting surface Sr (FIG. 5) corresponding to the opening h1 as a developer supply port. Therefore, when the opening h1 is opened, the toner Tn in the toner storage chamber Ea is supplied to the toner storage section Rm in the image forming device 20.

[0057] Within the shutter Sh in the first toner storage area Ar1, Mixing The device 50 is rotatably disposed. Mixing The device 50 is rotatably arranged Mixing Bar 51, and the Mixing The bar 51 is attached so as to protrude radially outward from a predetermined position, and agitates the toner Tn as it rotates. Mixing As a component Mixing Consists of film Fm1.

[0058] Applicable Mixing The film Fm1 is made of an elastic resin, such as a polyester film, and its radial length is longer than the inner diameter of the shutter Sh. The thickness of the agitation film Fm1 is preferably 0.05 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less, and in this embodiment, it is 0.188 mm.

[0059] A swinging device 35 is disposed in the second toner storage area Ar2 to send the toner Tn in the second toner storage area Ar2 to the first toner storage area Ar1. The swinging device 35 is formed by bending an elastic resin film into a U-shape and includes a belt-shaped mounting portion 36, and first and second swinging films Sw1 and Sw2 as swinging members that hang down in a direction perpendicular to the mounting portion 36 and are swingably formed.

[0060] In addition, the rocking device 35 is attached to the upper end of the second toner storage area Ar2 by engaging the front edge eg1 of the mounting portion 36 with a protrusion formed on the upper end of the front wall Pf and the rear edge eg2 with a protrusion formed on the upper end of the central wall Pc.

[0061] 11, the first oscillating film Sw1 has a first fixed end U1 at the intersection with the mounting portion 36, a first free end D1 at the lower end, and a first surface S1 against which the agitating film Fm1 comes into contact as it rotates, and is oscillated when the agitating film Fm1 comes into contact with the first surface S1. The second oscillating film Sw2 has a second fixed end U2 at the intersection with the mounting portion 36, a second free end D2 at the lower end, a third surface S3 against which the agitating film Fm1 comes into contact as it rotates, and a fourth surface S4 formed opposite the first surface S1, and is oscillated when the agitating film Fm1 comes into contact with the third surface S3.

[0062] In addition, a support rib 46 as a strip-shaped protruding support portion is arranged at the upper end of the front wall Pf in the second toner storage area Ar2, protruding from the wall surface Sf of the front wall Pf, extending in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge Ct, and facing and abutting against the second surface S2 opposite the first surface S1.

[0063] Since the support rib 46 abuts against the second surface S2 directly below the front edge eg1 of the mounting portion 36, the first oscillating film Sw1 is not suspended in a direction perpendicular to the mounting portion 36 as shown in Figures 1 and 11, but is instead inclined with its lower end toward the second oscillating film Sw2.

[0064] The first and second swing films Sw1 and Sw2 are divided at a plurality of locations in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge Ct, for example, 13 locations, by first slits SL1 formed to extend in the short direction of the toner cartridge Ct, i.e., in the up-down direction, to form strip-shaped portions 47 that are a plurality of divided regions, and each strip-shaped portion 47 has a lower end adjacent to the first slit SL1 and protruding downward, Mixing The first slit SL1 reduces the rigidity of the first and second swing films Sw1 and Sw2, and when the toner Tn contained in the toner containing chamber Ea is large, the first and second swing films Sw1 and Sw2 are pressed against each other. Mixing This reduces the load applied to the film Fm1. In order to prevent the protrusions 48 from interfering with other members, the strip-shaped portions 47 are formed to have appropriately different widths.

[0065] In this embodiment, there is no need to form holes in the first oscillating film Sw1, and the contact area between the first oscillating film Sw1 and the wall surface Sf can be increased, so that the toner Tn adhering to the wall surface Sf can be sufficiently peeled off.

[0066] Furthermore, a protrusion 48 is formed at the lower end of each strip-shaped portion 47, and each protrusion 48 is pressed by the agitating film Fm1, so that the area where the first and second oscillating films Sw1 and Sw2 are pressed can be reduced. Mixing Not only can the load applied to the film Fm1 be reduced, but the first and second oscillating films Sw1 and Sw2 can be moved uniformly in the longitudinal direction.

[0067] In the second swing film Sw2, as shown in FIG. 16, the protrusion 48 is formed on the left end side, which is one end side of the lower end of the strip-shaped portion 47, whereas in the first swing film Sw1, the protrusion 48 is formed on the right end side, which is the other end side of the lower end of the strip-shaped portion 47. As a result, Mixing When the film Fm1 is brought into contact with the lower ends of the first and second oscillating films Sw1 and Sw2, the first and second oscillating films Sw1 and Sw2 are deformed so that the strip-shaped portions 47 thereof are twisted in opposite directions, temporarily forming gaps between the strip-shaped portions 47 and allowing the toner Tn to move freely between the first and second oscillating films Sw1 and Sw2. Moreover, since the protrusions 48 are prevented from interfering with each other, the operating range of the first and second oscillating films Sw1 and Sw2 can be prevented from becoming narrower.

[0068] Therefore, when pressing the first and second swing films Sw1 and Sw2, Mixing The load applied to the film Fm1 can be further reduced.

[0069] In this embodiment, the protrusion 48 is formed on the left or right end of the lower end of the strip-shaped portion 47. Mixing A protrusion 48 can also be formed at another part of the lower end of the strip-shaped portion 47 so that the strip-shaped portion 47 twists when the film Fm1 is abutted against the lower ends of the first and second swing films Sw1 and Sw2.

[0070] Next, the operation of the toner cartridge Ct will be described.

[0071] Figure 19 is the first diagram for explaining the operation of the toner cartridge in the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 20 is the second diagram for explaining the operation of the toner cartridge in the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 21 is the third diagram for explaining the operation of the toner cartridge in the first embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 22 is the fourth diagram for explaining the operation of the toner cartridge in the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0072] In this embodiment, Mixing The center of rotation of the film Fm1 is set lower than the first and second swing films Sw1 and Sw2, Mixing While the device 30 moves within the shutter Sh as it rotates, the tip of the film is curved and slid along the closed area qb as shown in Fig. 19. At this time, the first and second swing films Sw1 and Sw2 are both placed in their initial states, and the lower end of the first swing film Sw1 is Mixing The film Fm1 is placed downstream of the lower end of the second swing film Sw2 in the rotation direction of the film Fm1.

[0073] and, Mixing When the film Fm1 reaches the open area qa of the shutter Sh, as shown in Figure 20, it slightly bends its tip and pushes the lower end of the second swing film Sw2 forward, causing the second swing film Sw2 to rotate clockwise.

[0074] Next, Mixing When the leading edge of the film Fm1 separates from the lower end of the second swinging film Sw2, the second swinging film Sw2 is rotated counterclockwise by its elasticity and is placed in the initial state as shown in FIG.

[0075] Accordingly, the second oscillating film Sw2 is oscillated, and the toner Tn around the second oscillating film Sw2 is sent to the first toner containing area Ar1.

[0076] Also, Mixing As the leading edge of the film Fm1 moves away from the lower edge of the second oscillating film Sw2, the leading edge of the film Fm1 bends slightly and pushes the lower edge of the first oscillating film Sw1 forward, causing the first oscillating film Sw1 to rotate clockwise and come into contact with the wall surface Sf of the front wall Pf. At this time, the first oscillating film Sw1, which is inclined in the initial state, is bent against the biasing force by the support rib 46 and comes into contact with the wall surface Sf of the front wall Pf.

[0077] Next, Mixing When the leading edge of the film Fm1 separates from the lower end of the first swing film Sw1, the first swing film Sw1 is rotated counterclockwise by its elasticity and placed in the initial state as shown in FIG.

[0078] Accordingly, the first oscillating film Sw1 is oscillated by a sufficiently large urging force around the point of contact with the support rib 46, and a sufficient amount of toner Tn around the first oscillating film Sw1 is sent to the first toner storage area Ar1. Moreover, as the first oscillating film Sw1, which has been in contact with the wall surface Sf of the front wall Pf, moves away from the wall surface Sf, the toner Tn adhering to the wall surface Sf peels off, so that the toner Tn in the second toner storage area Ar2 is reliably sent to the first toner storage area Ar1.

[0079] The toner Tn sent to the first toner storage area Ar1 is discharged from the opening h1 by the rotation of the agitating film Fm1 and is supplied to the toner storage unit Rm in the image forming device 20.

[0080] In this way, in this embodiment, Mixing When the device 50 is rotated, not only are the first and second oscillating films Sw1 and Sw2 oscillated, but the first oscillating film Sw1 is moved toward and away from the wall surface Sf, causing the toner Tn adhering to the wall surface Sf to peel off, so that the toner Tn in the second toner storage area Ar2 can be reliably sent to the first toner storage area Ar1.

[0081] In addition, in this embodiment, as the first and second oscillating films Sw1 and Sw2 are oscillated, vibrations are generated in the oscillating device 35, and the vibrations are transmitted to the housing Hz, causing the front wall Pf, central wall Pc, etc. to vibrate, thereby peeling off the toner Tn adhering to the wall surfaces Sf of the front wall Pf, the wall surfaces of the central wall Pc, etc., so that the toner Tn in the second toner storage area Ar2 can be sent to the first toner storage area Ar1 more reliably.

[0082] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first oscillating film Sw1 supported by the support rib 46 is oscillated by the agitating film Fm1 abutting against the first surface S1, and is brought into contact with the wall surface Sf, so that as the first oscillating film Sw1 contacts and separates from the wall surface Sf, the toner Tn adhering to the wall surface Sf is peeled off.

[0083] Therefore, the amount of toner Tn that adheres to the wall surface Sf and remains in the housing Hz can be reduced, and the toner Tn can be sufficiently discharged to the outside of the toner cartridge Ct.

[0084] As a result, the amount of toner Tn filled in the toner cartridge Ct during manufacture can be reduced, which not only makes it possible to reduce the size of the toner cartridge Ct but also reduces the cost of the toner cartridge Ct.

[0085] In this embodiment, the first slit SL1 is formed in the first and second oscillating films Sw1 and Sw2, but the first slit SL1 can also be formed in at least one of the first and second oscillating films Sw1 and Sw2.

[0086] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Components having the same structure as those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and the effects of the first embodiment will be applied to the effects of the invention resulting from the same structure.

[0087] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a swinging device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a main part of a second swinging film according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0088] In the figure, 35 is a oscillating device, which is formed by bending an elastic resin film into a U-shape and includes a band-shaped mounting portion 36, and first and second oscillating films Sw11 and Sw12 as oscillating members that are suspended in a direction perpendicular to the mounting portion 36 and are formed so as to be able to oscillate freely.

[0089] In addition, the oscillating device 35 is attached to the upper end of the second toner storage area Ar2 as the second developer storage area by engaging the front edge eg1 of the mounting portion 36 with a protrusion formed on the upper end of the front wall Pf and the rear edge eg2 with a protrusion formed on the upper end of the central wall Pc.

[0090] The first and second swing films Sw11 and Sw12 have protruding portions 58 as protruding regions formed by protruding downward at multiple locations, for example, four locations, in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge Ct serving as a developer container, and a pair of protrusions 61 and 62 are formed by protruding from the left and right ends of the lower end of each protruding portion 58. The protruding portion 58 has a substantially inverted trapezoidal shape, and each of the protrusions 61 and 62 also has a substantially inverted trapezoidal shape. A second slit SL2 is formed in the center of the protruding portion 58. The second slit SL2 has two trapezoidal protrusions fg1 and fg2 that protrude from the left edge to the right edge of the protrusion 58, one trapezoidal protrusion fg3 that protrudes from the right edge to the left edge of the protrusion 58 between the protrusions fg1 and fg2, and a U-shaped groove m1 that is formed by notches km1 to km3 that are formed surrounding each of the protrusions fg1 to fg3.

[0091] In this manner, in this embodiment, the second slit SL2 is formed in the protruding portion 58, so that the rigidity of the first and second swing films Sw11 and Sw12 is reduced, and when the first and second swing films Sw11 and Sw12 are pressed, Mixing As a component Mixing Not only can the load applied to the film Fm1 be reduced, but the contact area between the first oscillating film Sw11 and the wall surface Sf can be increased, so that the toner Tn as developer adhering to the wall surface Sf can be sufficiently peeled off.

[0092] Furthermore, since the second slit SL2 has protruding pieces fg1 to fg3 formed in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge Ct, the first and second swing films Sw11 and Sw12 can be deformed regardless of the remaining amount of toner Tn in the toner storage chamber Ea serving as a developer storage chamber. Mixing The load applied to the film Fm1 can be reduced.

[0093] Furthermore, since each of the protruding pieces fg1 to fg3 has a trapezoidal shape, it is possible to prevent the base of the cantilevered portion of each of the protruding pieces fg1 to fg3 from being damaged due to stress concentration.

[0094] In this embodiment, the second slit SL2 is formed in the first and second oscillating films Sw11 and Sw12, but the second slit SL2 can also be formed in at least one of the first and second oscillating films Sw11 and Sw12.

[0095] In the above-described embodiments, a single toner Tn is used as a one-component developer, but a toner and a carrier can also be used as a two-component developer.

[0096] In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, the toner cartridge Ct is arranged so as to be freely detachable from the image forming device 20, which is the main body of the image forming units 16Bk, 16Y, 16M, and 16C, but the toner cartridge Ct and the image forming device 20 can also be formed integrally, and the toner storage chamber Ea can be used as a developer storage body.

[0097] Although the printer 10 has been described in each of the above embodiments, the present invention can also be applied to image forming devices such as copying machines, facsimile machines, and multifunction machines.

[0098] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made based on the spirit of the present invention, and these modifications are not excluded from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0099] 46 Support rib Ct toner cartridge D1 First free end Fm1 Mixing film Hz Housing Sci-fi wall Sw1, Sw11 First swing film S1, S2 First and second surfaces Tn Toner U1 First fixed end

Claims

1. (a) a container for containing a developer; (b) a stirring member that is rotatably disposed within the container and stirs the developer as it rotates; (c) a first oscillating member having a first fixed end, a first free end, and a first surface that comes into contact with the stirring member as it rotates, and that is oscillated when the stirring member comes into contact with the first surface; (d) a protruding support portion that faces a second surface opposite to the first surface, protrudes from a wall surface formed within the housing member, and abuts against the second surface; (e) A developer container characterized in that, in an initial state, the first oscillating member is supported by the protruding support portion at an inclination toward the rotation axis of the stirring member from the first fixed end to the first free end.

2. (a) a second oscillating member having a second fixed end, a second free end, and a third surface that comes into contact with the stirring member as it rotates, and that is oscillated when the stirring member comes into contact with the third surface; 2. The developer container according to claim 1, wherein (b) the second swinging member has a fourth surface formed to face the first surface of the first swinging member.

3. (a) the first and second fixed ends are disposed on a top surface disposed at an upper end of the accommodating member; (b) the first swing member is arranged to hang down from the first fixed end; (c) the second swing member is arranged to hang down from the second fixed end; 3. The developer container according to claim 2, wherein (d) the first free end is located downstream of the second free end in the rotation direction of the stirring member.

4. The developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first oscillating member is oscillated around the abutment point of the first oscillating member on the protruding support portion, and is brought into contact with the wall surface as it oscillates.

5. (a) the center of rotation of the stirring member is set below the first and second swinging members; (b) at least one of the first and second swing members is divided by first slits formed in the short direction of the first and second swing members at a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction of the accommodating member, 4. The developer container according to claim 2, wherein (c) a contact portion with which the stirring member comes into contact is formed at a lower end of the divided region divided by the first slit.

6. The developer container according to claim 5 , wherein the contact portion is formed on one end side of the lower end of the divided region in the longitudinal direction of the container member.

7. (a) the center of rotation of the stirring member is set below the first and second swinging members; (b) at least one of the first and second swing members has protruding regions formed by protruding downward at a plurality of positions in the longitudinal direction of the accommodating member; (c) a second slit having a U-shape is formed in each of the protruding regions by a convex portion formed by protruding in the longitudinal direction of the accommodating member and a concave portion formed by surrounding the convex portion.

8. An image forming unit comprising the developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. An image forming apparatus comprising the image forming unit according to claim 8.

10. An image forming apparatus comprising the developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images