Toner container and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To reduce the likelihood of the occurrence of a problem that the residual amount of toner increases in a toner end state, while preventing a reduction in the capacity of storable toner.SOLUTION: A toner storage container comprises a rotatable container body 33. The container body 33 has an opening 33c formed at one end in a rotation axis direction and has a plurality of projections 33a formed in the rotation axis direction on its inner peripheral surface, the projections each projecting toward the inside and formed with an inclined plane K1 inclined with respect to the rotation axis direction. The plurality of projections 33a are arranged such that, for two projections 33a adjacent in the rotation axis direction, the range in the rotation axis direction of the other end in the rotation axis direction of the projection 33a on one end in the rotation axis direction and the range in the rotation axis direction of one end in the rotation axis direction of the projection 33a on the other end in the rotation axis direction overlap with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a toner container for storing toner, and an image forming apparatus including the toner container. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimiles, or combination machines thereof, in which a cylindrical toner storage container is detachably installed, have been widely known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] More specifically, the toner storage container (toner container) in Patent Document 1 has a spiral groove formed on the circumferential surface of a rotatable container body. When the container body is rotated while installed in the image forming apparatus body, the toner stored in the container body is transported in the direction of the rotation axis along the spiral groove and is discharged from the container to the outside through the opening. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional toner storage containers have spiral grooves (protrusions) on the circumferential surface of the container body, which reduces the internal volume of the container body by the amount of the groove, thereby reducing the amount of toner that can be stored. To solve this problem, it is conceivable to divide the grooves (protrusions) formed on the circumferential surface of the container body in the direction of the rotation axis, thereby reducing the proportion of the container body occupied by the grooves, to the extent that it does not affect toner transport performance. However, in this case, it is thought that toner will be more likely to accumulate between adjacent grooves (protrusions), resulting in a problem in which more toner remains in the toner storage container when the toner runs out.

[0005] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a toner storage container and an image forming apparatus that are less likely to have a large amount of remaining toner when the toner runs out without reducing the toner capacity that can be stored. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The toner storage container of the present invention is a toner storage container having a rotatable container body, the container body having an opening formed on one end side in the rotation axis direction, and a plurality of protruding portions formed on its inner peripheral surface in the rotation axis direction, which protrude inward and have inclined surfaces inclined with respect to the rotation axis direction, the plurality of protruding portions being arranged so that, of two protruding portions adjacent to each other in the rotation axis direction, the range of the protruding portion on the other end side in the rotation axis direction of the protruding portion on the one end side in the rotation axis direction overlaps with the range of the protruding portion on the one end side in the rotation axis direction of the protruding portion on the other end side in the rotation axis direction. When viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis direction, the rotors are arranged at approximately the same position in the rotation direction. It is something. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a toner storage container and an image forming apparatus that do not reduce the toner capacity that can be stored and that are less likely to have a problem in which the amount of toner remaining when the toner runs out is large. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a toner supply device and its surroundings. [Figure 4] FIG. [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are a front view and a cross-sectional view taken along line AA, respectively, showing a container body of a toner storage container; [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a container body of the toner container. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a container body of a toner storage container as a comparative example. [Figure 8] 10A and 10B are front views showing a container body of a toner storage container as a modified example, and FIG. 10C is a view in which the AA cross-sectional view and the BB cross-sectional view thereof are arranged in the same direction. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the container body of the toner storage container of FIG. 8. [Figure 10] In FIG. 8(C), (A) is a schematic diagram showing the F1-F1 cross section, (B) is a schematic diagram showing the F2-F2 cross section, and (C) is a schematic diagram showing the F3-F3 cross section. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] 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.

[0010] First, the overall configuration and operation of image forming apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a printer as an image forming apparatus, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing an image forming unit, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a toner supply device and its vicinity. 1, approximately cylindrical toner storage containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K of four colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) are detachably (replaceably) mounted on an installation section 31 (toner container receiving stand) located above the image forming apparatus main body 100. Also, below each toner storage container 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K, hoppers 81Y, 81M, 81C, and 81K of toner supply devices are disposed, respectively. An intermediate transfer unit 15 is disposed below the installation section 31. Opposite to the intermediate transfer belt 8 of the intermediate transfer unit 15, image forming sections 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K corresponding to each color (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) are arranged side by side.

[0011] 2, the image forming unit 6Y corresponding to yellow is made up of a photosensitive drum 1Y (image carrier), a charging device 4Y, a developing device 5Y, a cleaning device 2Y, a static eliminator, etc., which are arranged around the photosensitive drum 1Y. Then, an image forming process (charging process, exposure process, developing process, transfer process, cleaning process, static eliminator process) is performed on the photosensitive drum 1Y, and a yellow image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y.

[0012] The other three image forming units 6M, 6C, and 6K are configured in a manner similar to that of the image forming unit 6Y corresponding to yellow, except that they use different toner colors, and form images corresponding to their respective toner colors. Below, we will omit the explanation of the other three image forming units 6M, 6C, and 6K as appropriate, and will only explain the image forming unit 6Y corresponding to yellow.

[0013] 2, the photosensitive drum 1Y is rotated by a motor in the clockwise direction in Fig. 2. Then, at the position of the charging device 4Y, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y is uniformly charged (charging step). Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches the irradiation position of the laser light L emitted from the exposure device 7 (writing unit), and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to yellow is formed by exposure scanning at this position (exposure process).

[0014] Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches a position facing the developing device 5Y, where the electrostatic latent image is developed to form a yellow toner image (developing step). Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches a position facing the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the primary transfer roller 9Y, where the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1Y is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 (the primary transfer step). At this time, a small amount of untransferred toner remains on the photosensitive drum 1Y.

[0015] Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches a position facing the cleaning device 2Y, where untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1Y is collected (cleaning process). Finally, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches a position facing a static eliminator (not shown), where the residual potential on the photosensitive drum 1Y is removed. Thus, a series of image forming processes performed on the photosensitive drum 1Y is completed.

[0016] The above-described image forming process is also performed in the other image forming units 6M, 6C, and 6K in the same manner as in the yellow image forming unit 6Y. That is, laser light L based on image information is irradiated onto the photosensitive drum of each image forming unit 6M, 6C, and 6K from an exposure device 7 disposed below the image forming units. More specifically, the exposure device 7 emits laser light L from a light source, and irradiates the laser light L onto the photosensitive drum via multiple optical elements while scanning with a rotationally driven polygon mirror. Thereafter, the toner images of each color formed on each photosensitive drum through the development process are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 in a superimposed manner, thereby forming a color image on the intermediate transfer belt 8.

[0017] Here, the intermediate transfer unit 15 is composed of an intermediate transfer belt 8, four primary transfer rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K, a secondary transfer opposing roller 12, a cleaning backup roller 13, a tension roller 14, an intermediate transfer cleaning device 10, etc. The intermediate transfer belt 8 is stretched and supported by three rollers 12 to 14, and is moved endlessly in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 by the rotational drive of one roller 12.

[0018] The four primary transfer rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 8 between themselves and the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, respectively, to form primary transfer nips. A transfer bias opposite to the polarity of the toner is applied to the primary transfer rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K. The intermediate transfer belt 8 then travels in the direction of the arrow and passes through the primary transfer nips of the primary transfer rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K in sequence. In this way, the toner images of each color on the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 in a superimposed manner.

[0019] Thereafter, the intermediate transfer belt 8, onto which the toner images of each color have been transferred and superimposed, reaches a position facing a secondary transfer roller 19. At this position, a secondary transfer nip is formed between the secondary transfer opposing roller 12 and the secondary transfer roller 19, sandwiching the intermediate transfer belt 8. The four-color toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 are then transferred onto a sheet P, such as paper, that has been transported to the position of this secondary transfer nip. At this time, untransferred toner that has not been transferred to the sheet P remains on the intermediate transfer belt 8.

[0020] Thereafter, the intermediate transfer belt 8 reaches the position of the intermediate transfer cleaning device 10. At this position, untransferred toner on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is collected. Thus, the series of transfer processes performed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is completed.

[0021] Here, the sheet P transported to the position of the secondary transfer nip is transported from a paper feed device 26 arranged below the device main body 100 via a paper feed roller 27, a pair of registration rollers 28, etc. More specifically, a plurality of sheets P such as paper are stacked and stored in the paper feed device 26. When the paper feed roller 27 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1, the topmost sheet P is fed toward between the pair of registration rollers 28.

[0022] The sheet P conveyed to the position of the registration roller pair 28 (timing roller pair) is temporarily stopped at the roller nip position of the registration roller pair 28, which has stopped rotating. Then, the registration roller pair 28 is rotated in synchronization with the color image on the intermediate transfer belt 8, and the sheet P is conveyed toward the secondary transfer nip. In this way, the desired color image is transferred onto the sheet P.

[0023] Thereafter, the sheet P onto which the color image has been transferred at the secondary transfer nip position is transported to the position of the fixing device 20. Then, at this position, the color image transferred onto the surface is fixed onto the sheet P by heat and pressure from the fixing roller and pressure roller. Thereafter, the sheet P is discharged to the outside of the apparatus through the rollers of the discharge roller pair 29. The sheets P discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 29 are sequentially stacked on a stack unit 30 as output images. In this way, a series of image forming processes in the image forming apparatus is completed.

[0024] Next, the configuration and operation of the developing device in the image forming unit will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. The developing device 5Y is composed of a developing roller 51 facing the photosensitive drum 1Y, a doctor blade 52 facing the developing roller 51, two conveying screws 55 disposed in developer containers 53 and 54, and a concentration detection sensor 56 that detects the toner concentration in the developer. The developing roller 51 is composed of a magnet fixed inside and a sleeve that rotates around the magnet. The developer containers 53 and 54 contain a two-component developer consisting of a carrier and toner.

[0025] The developing device 5Y configured in this manner operates as follows. The sleeve of the developing roller 51 rotates in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2. The developer carried on the developing roller 51 by the magnetic field generated by the magnet moves on the developing roller 51 as the sleeve rotates. Here, the developer G in the developing device 5Y is adjusted so that the ratio of toner (toner concentration) in the developer G falls within a predetermined range. Specifically, in accordance with the toner consumption in the developing device 5Y, the toner contained in the toner storage container 32Y is replenished into the developer accommodating unit 54 via a toner replenishing device 90 serving as a replenishing device.

[0026] Thereafter, the toner supplied to the developer container 54 is circulated between the two developer containers 53 and 54 while being mixed and stirred together with the developer by the two transport screws 55 (moving in the longitudinal direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 2). The toner in the developer is then attracted to the carrier due to frictional charging with the carrier, and is carried on the developing roller 51 together with the carrier by the magnetic force formed on the developing roller 51. The developer carried on the developing roller 51 is transported in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3 and reaches the position of the doctor blade 52. The developer on the developing roller 51 is adjusted to an appropriate amount at this position, and then transported to a position facing the photosensitive drum 1Y (the developing area). The toner is then attracted to the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1Y by an electric field formed in the developing area. Thereafter, the developer remaining on the developing roller 51 reaches above the developer container 53 as the sleeve rotates, and is released from the developing roller 51 at this position.

[0027] Next, the configuration and operation of the toner supply device 90 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. The toner supply device 90 rotates the container body 33 of the toner storage container 32Y (powder storage container) installed in the installation section 31 in a predetermined direction (the direction of the arrow in Figure 3), discharging the toner as powder stored inside the toner storage container 32Y from the opening 33c (toner discharge port) to the outside of the container and guiding it to the developing device 5Y via the sub-hopper 70, thereby forming a toner supply path (toner transport path). 3, the orientation of the toner storage container 32Y, the toner supply device 90, and the developing device 5Y are changed for ease of understanding. In reality, the toner storage container 32Y and a portion of the toner supply device 90 are arranged so that their longitudinal directions are perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 3 (see FIG. 1). The orientation and arrangement of the transport pipes 95 and 96 are also simplified.

[0028] The toner in each of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K installed in the installation section 31 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is supplied to each developing device as needed via a toner supply device provided for each toner color, depending on the toner consumption in the developing device of each color. The four toner supply devices have almost the same structure, except for the color of toner used in the image forming process. 3, when the toner storage container 32Y is set in the installation portion 31 of the apparatus main body 100, the shutter member 35 of the toner storage container 32Y is pushed by the toner transport nozzle 91 (nozzle) of the apparatus main body 100, and the toner transport nozzle 91 is inserted into the toner storage container 32Y (container main body 33) through the opening 33c. This allows the toner stored inside the toner storage container 32Y to be discharged (through the toner transport nozzle 91). The bottom of the toner storage container 32Y (on the left side in FIG. 3) is formed with a grip portion 33d (having an outer diameter smaller than that of the container body 33) to facilitate the operation of attaching the toner storage container 32Y to the installation portion 31. The user sets the toner storage container 32Y in the installation portion 31 or removes the toner storage container 32Y from the installation portion 31 while holding the grip portion 33d.

[0029] 3, the toner storage container 32Y is provided with a container body 33 having a plurality of protrusions 33a (grooves) arranged in the rotation axis direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 3, which is the longitudinal direction of the container body 33). Specifically, the plurality of protrusions 33a are formed in a concave shape extending from the outer peripheral surface side to the inner peripheral surface side of the container body 33, and are intended to transport the toner in the container body 33 from left to right in FIG. 3 by driving the container body 33 to rotate. The toner transported inside the container body 33 from left to right in FIG. 3 is discharged to the outside of the container through the toner transport nozzle 91. Furthermore, a gear portion 37 that meshes with a drive gear 110 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the head side of the container main body 33 (the right side in FIG. 3, one end side in the rotation axis direction). When the toner storage container 32Y is attached to the installation portion 31, the gear portion 37 of the container main body 33 meshes with the drive gear 110 of the image forming apparatus main body 100. When the drive motor 115 is driven, the drive is transmitted from the drive gear 110 attached to the motor shaft to the gear portion 37, and the container main body 33 is rotated about the rotation axis X. In other words, the drive motor 115 and the drive gear 110 function as a drive mechanism that rotates the container main body 33. The configuration and operation of the toner container 32Y will be explained in more detail later.

[0030] 3, a conveying screw 92 is provided inside the toner conveying nozzle 91. When the conveying screw 92 is rotated by a motor 93, the toner that has flowed into the toner conveying nozzle 91 from the inlet inside the toner storage container 32Y is conveyed from left to right in FIG. 3 by the conveying screw 92. The toner is then discharged from the outlet of the toner conveying nozzle 91 toward the hopper 81. Here, a hopper 81 is provided below the outlet of the toner transport nozzle 91 via a drop path 82. The toner stored in the hopper 81 is transported by transport means to a developing device located downstream.

[0031] The transport mechanism by the transport means will be described with reference to FIG. A suction port 83 is provided at the bottom of the hopper 81, and this suction port 83 is connected to one end of a transport pipe (tube) 95. The transport pipe 95 is made of a flexible rubber material with low toner affinity, and the other end is connected to a developer pump 60 (diaphragm pump). The developer pump 60 is connected to the developing device 5Y via a sub-hopper 70 and a transport pipe 96. In the toner supply device 90 configured as described above, the container body 33 of the toner storage container 32Y is rotated by the drive motor 115 (drive mechanism), and the toner stored inside the toner storage container 32Y is discharged outside the container through the toner conveying nozzle 91. The toner discharged from the toner storage container 32Y falls through the drop path 82 and is stored in the hopper 81. When the developer pump 60 is operated, the toner stored in the hopper 81 is sucked together with air through the suction port 83 and conveyed from the developer pump 60 to the sub-hopper 70 through the conveying pipe 95. The toner conveyed to and stored in the sub-hopper 70 is then appropriately replenished into the developing device 5Y through the conveying pipe 96. That is, the toner in the toner storage container 32Y is conveyed in the direction of the dashed arrow in FIG. 3. The conveying means is not limited to the above, and may be configured to convey the toner stored in the hopper 81 directly to the developing device 5Y by a screw or the like provided in the hopper 81, for example.

[0032] The remaining toner amount detection sensor 86 is provided to indirectly detect when the toner stored inside the toner storage container 32Y has run out (toner end state) or when the toner is close to that state (toner near end state), and is installed in a position close to the suction port 83. Based on the detection result of the remaining toner amount detection sensor 86, the toner is discharged from the toner storage container 32Y. Specifically, a piezoelectric sensor, a transmitted light sensor, or the like can be used as the remaining toner amount detection sensor 86. The height of the detection surface of the remaining toner amount detection sensor 86 is set so that the amount of toner accumulated above the suction port 83 (accumulation height) becomes a target value. Then, based on the detection result of the toner remaining amount detection sensor 86, the drive timing and drive time of the drive motor 115 that rotates the toner storage container 32Y (container body 33) are controlled. Specifically, if the toner remaining amount detection sensor 86 determines that there is no toner at that position, the drive motor 115 is driven for a predetermined time, and if the toner remaining amount detection sensor 86 determines that there is toner at that position, the drive motor 115 is stopped. Even if such control is performed repeatedly, if the toner remaining amount detection sensor 86 continuously detects that there is no toner at that position, it is determined that the toner stored inside the toner storage container 32Y is empty (toner end state) or is close to that state (toner near end state).

[0033] The following describes the characteristic configuration and operation of the toner storage container 32Y of this embodiment with reference to FIGS. As previously described with reference to FIG. 3 and the like, the toner container 32Y in this embodiment is provided with a rotatable container body 33, a held portion 34 (cap member), a shutter member 35, and the like. The container body 33 has an opening 33c (toner discharge port) for discharging the toner inside the container body 33 formed at one end side in the rotation axis direction (the left side in FIGS. 4 and 5). The shutter member 35 opens and closes the opening 33c of the container body 33 in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the toner storage container 32Y to and from the image forming apparatus body 100 (installation section 31). That is, when the toner storage container 32Y is attached to the installation section 31, the shutter member 35 that had been closing the opening 33c moves in conjunction with the attachment operation to open the opening 33c. On the other hand, when the toner storage container 32Y is removed from the installation section 31, the shutter member 35 that had been opening the opening 33c moves in conjunction with the removal operation to close the opening 33c. 4, the held portion 34 is installed so as to cover one end side (the left side in FIG. 4) of the container body 33 in the rotation axis direction, and is held in a non-rotatable manner by the installation portion 31 (see FIG. 3) of the image forming apparatus body 100. In other words, the held portion 34 is configured to be rotatable relative to the container body 33. 4, the container body 33 is provided with a gear portion 37 on the outer circumferential surface at one end side in the rotation axis direction (the left side in FIG. 4), the gear portion 37 being rotatable together with the container body 33. When the toner storage container 32Y is attached to the installation portion 31, the gear portion 37 of the container body 33 meshes with the drive gear 110 of the image forming apparatus main body 100, and the container body 33 is placed in a state in which it can be rotated.

[0034] Furthermore, referring to FIG. 4, the toner storage container 32Y is provided with a holding member 39 that holds an ID chip 50 as an information storage device. The ID chip 50 (information storage device) is used to exchange various information with the control unit of the image forming apparatus main body 100. Specifically, the ID chip 50 pre-stores information such as the manufacturing date, manufacturing lot number, color, and type of toner stored in the toner container 32Y, as well as information such as the manufacturing date, destination, manufacturing plant, and whether the toner container 32Y itself is recycled. When the toner container 32Y is attached to the installation unit 31, as shown in FIG. 4, the ID chip 50 comes into communicative contact with the read / write device 120 of the image forming apparatus main body 100. The information stored in the ID chip 50 is then read by the read / write device 120 and sent to the control unit. Furthermore, the control unit of the image forming apparatus main body 100 also sends information such as the usage history of the image forming apparatus 100 to the ID chip 50 via the read / write device 120, and the information is appropriately stored in the ID chip 50. The holding member 39 that holds the ID chip 50 is held by the held portion 34 (cap portion).

[0035] 4 to 6, in the toner storage container 32Y of the present embodiment, the container body 33 has a plurality of protrusions 33a (grooves) formed on its inner circumferential surface in the rotational axis direction (the left-right direction in FIGS. 4 and 5B, and the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIGS. 5A and 6). The protrusions 33a protrude inward (toward the rotational axis X) and have an inclined surface K1 inclined with respect to the rotational axis direction. The inclined surface K1 slopes upward from right to left in FIG. 5B, and generates a force that transports the toner in the container body 33 to the opening 33c as the container body 33 rotates. Due to the plurality of protrusions 33a thus configured, when the container body 33 rotates in a predetermined direction (the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6), the toner stored in the container body 33 is transported from the other end in the rotational axis direction (the right side in FIGS. 4 and 5B) to one end in the rotational axis direction (the left side in FIGS. 4 and 5B).

[0036] In particular, in this embodiment, the multiple protrusions 33a are arranged at approximately the same position in the rotation direction when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis direction, as shown in FIGS. In this embodiment, the protruding portion 33a is formed in a groove shape so as to protrude inward from the outer circumferential surface of the container body 33. In this embodiment, five protrusions 33a are provided on the container body 33 excluding the conical portion 33t (the cone-shaped region W on the opening 33c side, see FIG. 5(B)). In addition to the five protrusions 33a (first protrusions), the container body 33 in this embodiment is also formed with a second protrusion 33b near the opening 33c, which will be described in detail later.

[0037] Here, in this embodiment, the multiple protrusions 33a are arranged so that the range in the rotational axis direction of the protrusion 33a on one end side of the rotational axis direction at the other end side of two adjacent protrusions 33a in the rotational axis direction overlaps with the range in the rotational axis direction of the protrusion 33a on the other end side of the rotational axis direction at one end side of the rotational axis direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 5(B), the five protrusions 33a are arranged so that adjacent ones of the five protrusions 33a overlap each other at portions A1 to A4 surrounded by dashed lines.

[0038] 5(B), among the five protrusions 33a, the other end of the first protrusion 33a located on the far left (one end in the rotation axis direction) overlaps with one end of the second protrusion 33a located on the right (adjacent) thereof in an area A1 surrounded by a dashed line. Furthermore, the other end of the second protrusion 33a overlaps with one end of the third protrusion 33a located on the right (adjacent) thereof in an area A2 surrounded by a dashed line. Furthermore, the other end of the third protrusion 33a overlaps with one end of the fourth protrusion 33a located on the right (adjacent) thereof in an area A3 surrounded by a dashed line. Furthermore, the other end of the fourth protrusion 33a overlaps with one end of the fifth protrusion 33a located on the far right (the other end in the rotation axis direction) (adjacent) thereof in an area A4 surrounded by a dashed line.

[0039] In the present specification, "two protrusions adjacent in the direction of the rotation axis" is defined as one protrusion having one inclined surface and another protrusion having one inclined surface located at a position shifted in the direction of the rotation axis closest to the inclined surface. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5(B), two protrusions 33a arranged so that they partially overlap each other (portions A1 to A4 surrounded by dashed lines), and Figure 8 The two protrusions 33a1 and 33a2 in (C) are also considered to be "two protrusions adjacent to each other in the direction of the rotation axis." Furthermore, in the present specification and the like, a state in which "two protrusions adjacent in the rotational axis direction are arranged so that the range in the rotational axis direction of the protrusion on one end side of the rotational axis and the range in the rotational axis direction of the protrusion on the other end side of the rotational axis overlap" is defined as a state in which the two protrusions are arranged in positions offset in the rotational axis direction (or in positions in which they completely overlap) (a state in which they are not completely separated but partially (or entirely) overlap each other). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5(B), not only a case in which two adjacent protrusions 33a are arranged so that a short range in the rotational axis direction overlaps between them, but also a case in which two adjacent protrusions 33a are arranged so that a long range in the rotational axis direction (half or more of the length of the protrusions 33a in the rotational axis direction) overlaps between them, also falls under the state in which "two protrusions adjacent in the rotational axis direction are arranged so that the range in the rotational axis direction of the protrusion on one end side of the rotational axis and the range in the rotational axis direction of the protrusion on the other end side of the rotational axis overlap."

[0040] In this way, the protrusions 33a of the toner storage container 32Y are not arranged with gaps between adjacent ones (see the toner storage container 132Y as a comparative example shown in FIG. 7), but are arranged with their ends overlapping without any gaps between adjacent ones. This prevents the toner storage capacity from decreasing, and reduces the problem of excessive toner remaining when the toner runs out. Specifically, in a container having a spiral groove (protrusion) on the circumferential surface of the container body, as in Patent Document 1, the internal volume of the container body is reduced by the amount of the groove, resulting in a smaller toner capacity that can be stored. In contrast, in the present embodiment, spiral grooves are not formed over the entire area of ​​the container body in the rotational direction, but multiple protrusions 33a (grooves) are formed only on a portion of the container body 33 in the rotational direction. This reduces the proportion of the portion of the container body 33 that protrudes inward, and increases the toner capacity that can be stored compared to a container body with the same inner diameter having spiral grooves. 7, if the adjacent protrusions 33a of the container body 133 are arranged with gaps between them, toner tends to accumulate between the adjacent protrusions 33a, resulting in a large amount of toner remaining in the container body 33 when the toner runs out (the toner container 32Y must be replaced with a large amount of wasted toner). In contrast to this, in this embodiment, the plurality of protruding portions 33a on the container body 133 are arranged with no gap between adjacent ones, so that the above-mentioned problems are less likely to occur.

[0041] Here, in this embodiment, the container body 33 is provided with a second protrusion 33b on the inner surface (the inner surface of region W in Figure 5(B)) at a position on the other end side of the rotational axis direction relative to the opening 33c and at a position on one end side of the rotational axis direction relative to the multiple protrusions 33a (first protrusions), the second protrusion 33b protruding inward and having an inclined surface K2 inclined at an angle θ2 (<θ1) with respect to the rotational axis direction that is smaller than the angle θ1 of the inclined surface K1 of the protrusion 33a (first protrusions). The second protrusion 33b scoops up and transports the toner transported in the rotation axis direction by the multiple first protrusions 33a toward the opening 33c. Because the inclination angle θ2 of the inclined surface K2 of the second protrusion 33b is small, the transport force in the rotation axis direction is weaker, and therefore the force that scoops up the toner is more likely to act.

[0042] In addition, in this embodiment, the container body 33 is formed so that the inner diameter of its inner surface gradually decreases from a position on one end side of the rotation axis direction of the multiple protrusions 33a (first protrusions) to the opening 33c (area W in Figure 5(B)). Specifically, the container body 33 is formed so that the entire diameter is substantially the same except for the region W (where the first protrusion 33a is provided), and a mortar-shaped conical portion 33t is formed in the region W. By providing the conical portion 33t in this manner, the toner transported in the rotation axis direction by the multiple first protrusions 33a is smoothly drawn up toward the opening 33c and smoothly discharged to the outside from the opening 33c.

[0043] In particular, in this embodiment, the second protrusion 33b is provided on the conical portion 33t, which promotes smooth pumping of toner toward the opening 33c and smooth discharge of toner from the opening 33c to the outside. In this embodiment, the five first protrusions 33a are arranged so that the range of the first protrusion 33a adjacent to the second protrusion 33b in the rotational axis direction on one end side thereof overlaps with the range of the second protrusion 33b in the rotational axis direction on the other end side thereof, thereby preventing the problem of toner accumulating between the first protrusion 33a and the second protrusion 33b.

[0044] <Modification> As shown in Figures 8 to 10, the multiple protrusions 33a1 to 33a10 (first protrusions) of the toner storage container 32Y (container body 33) in the modified example are arranged so that two protrusions 33a adjacent to each other in the rotational axis direction are positioned at different positions in the rotational direction (in this embodiment, they are positioned approximately 180° apart in the rotational direction around the rotational axis X of the container body 33) when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the rotational axis direction. In addition, in this modification, the two second protrusions 33b1 and 33b2b are provided at different positions in the rotation direction. Specifically, in one portion of the rotational direction of the container body 33 (a position corresponding to the AA cross section), five first protrusions 33a1, 33a3, 33a5, 33a7, and 33a9 are arranged side by side in the rotational axis direction with gaps between them, and a second protrusion 33b1 is provided near the opening 33c. In a different portion of the rotational direction of the container body 33 (a position corresponding to the BB cross section), five first protrusions 33a2, 33a4, 33a6, 33a8, and 33a10 are arranged side by side in the rotational axis direction with gaps between them, and a second protrusion 33b2 is provided near the opening 33c. 8(C), when the positions corresponding to the AA cross section and the positions corresponding to the BB cross section are superimposed on each other, the total of ten protrusions 33a1 to 33a10 are alternately arranged at the positions corresponding to the AA cross section and the positions corresponding to the BB cross section. That is, the protrusions are arranged in the rotation axis direction in the order of 33a1, 33a2, 33a3, 33a4, 33a5, 33a6, 33a7, 33a8, 33a9, 33a10. In the modified example, the ten protrusions 33a1 to 33a10 are also arranged so that the range of the protrusion on one end of two adjacent protrusions in the rotational axis direction overlaps with the range of the protrusion on the other end of the rotational axis direction. Specifically, the two adjacent protrusions 33a1 and 33a2 in the rotational axis direction are arranged so that their ends overlap within range A1 with no gap in the rotational axis direction. The other two adjacent protrusions 33a2, 33a3 in the direction of the rotation axis (two protrusions 33a3, 33a4; two protrusions 33a4, 33a5; two protrusions 33a5, 33a6; two protrusions 33a6, 33a7; two protrusions 33a7, 33a8; two protrusions 33a8, 33a9; two protrusions 33a9, 33a10) are also arranged so that their ends overlap in the range A2 to A9. 10(A), the cross section (F1-F1 cross section) of the portion where the first protrusion 33a1 and the second protrusion 33b1 overlap in the container body 33 is formed in a stepped shape. Also, with reference to Figures 10(B) and 10(C), the cross sections (F2-F2 cross section, F3-F3 cross section) of the portion where the first protrusions 33a3, 33a7 (33a1, 33a5, 33a9) arranged at positions corresponding to the AA cross section and the first protrusions 33a2, 33a8 (33a4, 33a6, 33a10) arranged at positions corresponding to the BB cross section overlap have portions where the depths (sizes) of the protrusions are different. In this modified example, toner is less likely to accumulate between two adjacent protrusions of the ten protrusions 33a1 to 33a10 in the direction of the rotation axis. In other words, when viewed in the direction of the rotation axis, an area where toner transportability is reduced and toner stagnates is less likely to be formed. Therefore, even in the modified example, the toner capacity that can be stored is not reduced, and the problem of an excessive amount of remaining toner when the toner runs out can be prevented from occurring.

[0045] As described above, the toner storage container 32Y in this embodiment is a toner storage container having a rotatable container body 33, and the container body 33 has an opening 33c formed at one end in the rotational axis direction, and a plurality of protruding portions 33a formed on its inner peripheral surface in the rotational axis direction, protruding inward and having an inclined surface K1 inclined with respect to the rotational axis direction. The plurality of protruding portions 33a are arranged such that, of two protruding portions 33a adjacent to each other in the rotational axis direction, the range of the protruding portion 33a at the one end in the rotational axis direction on the other end side of the protruding portion 33a at the other end in the rotational axis direction overlaps with the range of the protruding portion 33a at the one end in the rotational axis direction on the one end side of the protruding portion 33a at the other end in the rotational axis direction. This prevents the toner capacity from decreasing, and makes it possible to prevent the problem of an excessive amount of remaining toner when the toner runs out.

[0046] In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a toner storage container 32Y that stores toner (single-component developer), but the toner storage container to which the present invention is applied is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to a toner storage container that stores a two-component developer consisting of toner and carrier. Even in such a case, substantially the same effect as that of this embodiment can be obtained.

[0047] It is clear that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and that within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention, the present embodiment may be modified as appropriate in addition to the modifications suggested in the present embodiment. Furthermore, the number, position, shape, etc. of the above-mentioned components are not limited to the present embodiment, and the number, position, shape, etc. of the components may be any number, position, shape, etc. that is suitable for implementing the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0048] 5Y developing device (supplied section), 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K toner storage container (powder storage container), 33 Container body, 33a, 33a1~33a10 protrusion (first protrusion), 33b second protrusion, 33t cone section, 34 held portion (cap member), 35 shutter member, 37 gear section, 39 Retaining member, 50 ID chips (information storage devices), 100 Image forming apparatus (image forming apparatus main body), 120 reading and writing devices, K1, K2 sloped surfaces. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0049] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5435380

Claims

1. A toner storage container having a rotatable container body, The container body is An opening is formed on one end side in the direction of the rotation axis, a plurality of protruding portions are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the bearing in the direction of the rotation axis, the protruding portions having inclined surfaces that protrude inward and are inclined with respect to the direction of the rotation axis; The plurality of protrusions are Two protrusions adjacent to each other in the rotational axis direction are arranged so that a range in the rotational axis direction of the protrusion on one end side of the rotational axis and a range in the rotational axis direction of the protrusion on the other end side of the rotational axis overlap each other, A toner storage container characterized in that, when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the rotation axis direction, the toner storage containers are arranged at substantially the same position in the rotation direction.

2. A toner storage container as described in Claim 1, characterized in that the two adjacent protrusions are arranged so that their ends overlap without any gaps.

3. A toner storage container as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the rotational axis direction, the protruding height of the protruding portion protruding inward gradually decreases from the downstream side in the rotational direction to the upstream side in the rotational direction, and the end portion upstream in the rotational direction is formed so as to follow the inner surface.

4. A toner storage container as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the opening of the container body is formed on an end surface on one end side in the rotation axis direction.

5. 5. The toner storage container according to claim 1, wherein when the container body is rotated in a predetermined direction, the toner stored in the container body is transported from the other end side in the direction of the rotation axis to the one end side in the direction of the rotation axis by the plurality of protrusions.

6. 6. The toner storage container according to claim 1, wherein the container body is provided with a second protruding portion on the inner peripheral surface at a position on the other end side of the opening in the rotational axis direction and on one end side of the plurality of protruding portions in the rotational axis direction, the second protruding portion having an inclined surface that protrudes inward and is inclined at an angle with respect to the rotational axis direction smaller than that of the inclined surface of the protruding portion.

7. 7. The toner container according to claim 6, wherein the two second protrusions are provided at different positions in the rotation direction.

8. A toner storage container as described in claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that the range in the rotational axis direction on one end of the plurality of protrusions adjacent to the second protrusion is arranged so as to overlap with the range in the rotational axis direction on the other end of the second protrusion.

9. A toner storage container as described in any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the container body is formed so that the inner diameter of its inner surface gradually decreases from a position on one end side of the rotation axis direction relative to the multiple protrusions to the opening.

10. A held portion that is installed so as to cover one end side of the container body in the rotation axis direction and is held non-rotatably by the image forming apparatus body; a holding member that holds an information storage device and is held by the held portion; a shutter member that opens and closes the opening in conjunction with the attachment and detachment of the toner container to and from the image forming apparatus body; Equipped with 10. The toner storage container according to claim 1, wherein the container body is provided with a gear portion rotatable together with the container body on an outer peripheral surface at one end in the rotation axis direction.

11. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a toner storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 10; and a toner storage container removably installed therein.

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