JPH07199619A - Developer storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To prevent toner from leaking from the opening when the discharge port 6 is made smaller in diameter than the bottle main body and held horizontally in the replenishing device, and to press the toner up to the discharge port by rotating the bottle. Provided is a toner bottle 20 in which a discharge inner surface portion is formed and toner discharge performance is also improved. A toner discharge port 6 is formed on one end wall of the toner bottle 20 so as to have a diameter smaller than that of a cylindrical main body. Part of the inner surface of the bottle shoulder portion on the toner ejection port side is pushed out from the inner surface portion of the shoulder portion to the edge of the ejection port,
The protruding inner surface portion 42 for lifting the toner is formed. Further, at the position symmetrical with respect to the lifting and pushing-out surface 42 with respect to the center axis of the bottle, it is similarly pushed out from the inner surface portion of the peripheral wall to the ejection port to form the pushing-out surface portion 43 for the toner flow-down.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer accommodating container used in a developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device in a developing device of an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine or a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An electrophotographic method in which an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photoconductive photoreceptor, the latent image is developed by charged colored particles, and the resulting image of the developer is transferred onto a transfer paper. Copiers, facsimiles, printers, etc. that utilize the are widely used. In the image forming apparatus utilizing the electrophotographic method, when the developer is consumed from the developer tank, the developer is replenished and continuously used. Conventionally, as a mechanism for replenishing a developer, Ikematsu et al.
In JP-A-188678 and JP-A-60-146265, a cylindrical container that stores a developer powder and opens the front surface at one end side to serve as a discharge port is rotated, and the developer powder is discharged from the discharge port with rotation. A device for supplying the body to the developer tank of the image forming apparatus has been proposed. In the developer replenishing device of Ikesue et al., The mechanism for installing the cylindrical container in the image forming apparatus main body is as follows. That is, at the time of the developer replenishing operation, the container mounting holder horizontally provided on the image forming apparatus main body is swung downward with one end as an axis so as to be in a vertical state. Remove the empty container after using it at that position, attach a new container filled with the developer to the above-mentioned mounting holder, and then rock the container mounting holder to the horizontal position which is the operating position. Complete. The operation of attaching this new container to the vertical container mounting holder will be described. First, with the opening of the new container facing upward, remove the cap provided on the opening and develop the contents. In order to prevent the agent powder from spilling, it is attached to the placement holder with the opening facing upward.

[0003]

However, in such a system in which the mounting holder is oscillated between the horizontal position and the vertical position about one of the axes, the length of the mounting holder is shorter than the height of the image forming apparatus. There is a need to. A general image forming apparatus has a low height, and therefore the length of the cylindrical container for replenishing the developer is short and the filling amount is small, so that the container needs to be replaced frequently. Further, in the Ikematsu replenishment mechanism, there are design restrictions on the internal structure of the image forming apparatus, making it difficult to reduce the size of the apparatus.

In order to solve such a problem, the present inventors have studied a mechanism for exchanging the cylindrical developer container while keeping the container mounting holder horizontal. However, as used in the apparatus of Ikesue et al., A container whose entire one bottom surface is open cannot be used because the developer powder, which is the content, spills from the opening when it is installed on the mounting holder. Therefore, a method in which both bottom surfaces are sealed, a discharge port is provided on the side wall at one end, and the discharge port is mounted on a mounting holder with the port facing upward is disclosed in JP-A-3-2881.
It has been proposed in the publication. However, the image forming apparatus is used by a general office worker, and there is a possibility that the mouth provided on the side wall of the container may be erroneously turned down when the developer supply container is replaced. In that case, the developer powder is spilled from the mouth portion and stains the floor.
Further, there is a problem that a dead space is created between the end portion and the mouth portion provided on the side wall near one end portion of the container, and the length of the container must be increased by that amount.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and prevents the developer from spilling out even when the developer accommodating container is placed horizontally on the container holding means of the developer replenishing device main body. An object of the present invention is to provide a developer accommodating container capable of discharging the developer from the opening by rotating the developer accommodating container.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a developer introducing section for a developing section, and a developer accommodating container whose opening is directed to the developer introducing section. In a developer accommodating container used in a developer replenishing device having a container holding means for holding the container and a driving means for rotationally driving the accommodating container, the opening is provided at one end wall of the container and at the one end wall. Of the developer on the inner surface portion of the shoulder portion having a diameter smaller than the maximum diameter of the inner surface of the shoulder portion and having a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening portion by rotating the container. In order to be able to lift up to the edge, a protruding inner surface portion for lifting having a shape larger than the diameter of the opening and protruding from the inner surface portion of the shoulder portion to the edge is formed.

Then, among the developers lifted up to the opening at the inner surface portion for pushing up by the rotation of the developer accommodating container, the developer which has not flowed into the opening is received and the diameter is larger than the diameter of the opening. In order to make it possible to flow down to the inner surface of the shoulder having a large diameter, the flow-in protruding inner surface portion having a shape protruding from the inner surface portion of the shoulder having a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening to the edge of the opening, or Rotation of the developer accommodating container makes it possible to receive the developer, which has not flowed into the opening, of the developer lifted up to the opening at the inner surface portion for lifting, and to make the developer flow down again into the opening. In addition, a reflowing protruding inner surface portion having a shape larger than the diameter of the opening portion and protruding from the shoulder inner surface portion to the edge of the opening portion was formed.

Further, a spiral ridge for sending the stored developer toward the opening side by the rotation of the developer storage container is formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container, and in the developer sending direction inside the container. A similar ridge may be formed in series with or adjacent to the ridge on the shoulder inner surface portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening corresponding to the inner surface portions of the two protruding shapes.

[0009]

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an electrophotographic copying machine using the toner replenishing device according to the embodiment. The toner replenishing device 1 according to the present embodiment is provided at an upper portion on the front side of a copying machine, and a bottle holder 3 as a container holding means for holding a toner bottle 2 as a developer accommodating container in a substantially horizontal state.
have. The bottle holder 3 is configured to be rotatable about the rotation center Z of the rotation shaft portion 4 at the right end of the toner replenishing device within a range of about 90 degrees in a substantially horizontal plane.
As shown in FIG. 4, the toner replenishing device has a bottle mounting position A on the left end side for placing the toner bottle 2 pulled out in front of the copying machine, and as shown by B in FIG. The toner replenishment position B, which is parallel to the above, can be taken. At least at this toner replenishment position B, the toner dropping opening formed in the lower wall of the bottle holder 3 communicates with the hopper portion set in the developing device in the copying machine and extends to the front side of the copying machine front side plate. It is located on the existing toner receiving portion 5. The toner replenishing device 1 is provided inside a front cover (not shown) that covers the front surface of the copying machine, and the toner replenishing device 1 can be pulled out to the bottle mounting position A with the front cover open. There is.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic structure of the toner replenishing device 1 at a toner replenishing position B, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toner replenishing device, and FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are toner replenishing devices. 1 is an explanatory view of the vicinity of the toner discharge port when the toner supply position B is shown, and FIGS. 5A and 5B are explanatory views of the vicinity of the toner discharge port when the toner supply device 1 is at the bottle mounting position A. Is.

In the toner replenishing device 1 of this example, the toner bottle 2 is held and is rotated so that the toner stored therein is sequentially discharged from the toner discharge port 6 to the toner receiving portion 5.
Is configured to supply to. This toner receiver 5
Has a gutter shape with an open upper part, and the toner conveying screw 7 extends from inside the hopper portion to transfer the toner dropped from the toner discharge port 6 of the toner bottle 2 into the hopper portion. ing.

The toner replenishing device 1 of this example is held by the bottle holder 3, the bottle locking member 8 for axially positioning the toner bottle 2 on the bottle holder 3, and the bottle holder 3. A bottle rotation drive motor 9 for rotationally driving the toner bottle 2, a cylindrical rotation transmission member 10 for transmitting the drive from the bottle rotation drive motor 9 to the toner bottle 2, and a toner bottle on the bottle holder 3. It has a collet chuck 12 for holding the two plugs 11, a core 13 slidably attached to the collet chuck 12, a cam device 14 for moving the collet chuck 12 forward and backward, and the like.

The bottle holder 3 is mounted on a movable bracket 15, and the movable bracket 15 is rotatably supported by a lower pin 17 of a fixed bracket 16 fixed to a front plate of the copying machine, and Bottle holder 3
The upper portion is rotatably locked by the upper pin 18 of the fixed bracket 16, and thereby is rotatable about a substantially vertical straight line (ZZ) connecting the upper and lower pins 17.

Further, the bottle holder 3 is provided with a lid-like cover portion 19 for covering the head portion of the toner bottle 2 on the side of the toner discharge port 6, and in the cover portion 19, the head portion of the toner bottle 2 is provided. Cylindrical stopper 20 for airtightly covering the portion
Is housed. The cylindrical stopper 20 is provided with a link accommodating portion that rotatably accommodates the cylindrical rotation transmitting member 10 and a core accommodating portion that accommodates the core 13. A toner dropping opening 21 is provided on the lower wall of the core housing portion.
And a boss portion 22 for slidably supporting the collet chuck 12 is formed on the end wall.
Further, the core 13 is always provided with the toner bottle 2 in the core containing portion.
A bamboo-spring-shaped core spring 23 biased to the side is also accommodated.

The bottle locking member 8 has a base end portion rotatably supported by the cylindrical stopper 20 and a tip end formed on the outer peripheral surface of the toner bottle 2 in the form of a projecting link. Hereinafter, it is urged to engage with a protruding ring-shaped portion 24).

The cylindrical rotation transmitting member 10 has gear teeth 26 formed on its outer peripheral surface for meshing with a gear 25 on the bottle rotation driving motor 9 side, and a hole through which a discharge port collar 27 of the toner bottle 2 can pass. On the inner surface of the end wall where is formed, a protrusion (hereinafter referred to as a transmission member rib) 29 that engages with a protrusion (hereinafter referred to as a bottle rib) 28 formed on the end wall of the toner bottle 2 is formed. . In the illustrated example, the rotation transmission is performed so that the gear 25 on the bottle rotation drive motor 9 side mounted on the movable bracket 15 can engage with the gear teeth 26 on the outer circumference of the cylindrical rotation transmission member 10. An opening for gear engagement is formed in the lower portion of the peripheral wall of the cylindrical stopper 20 that accommodates the member 10.

The collet chuck 12 has a plurality of cut cracks, and in a state where no external force is applied, for example, as shown in FIG. It is formed to be larger than the maximum diameter of 31.

The core 13 has a flange 33 which can come into contact with the flange 32 of the plug 11 and a cylindrical slider 34 on which the collet chuck 12 slides.

The cam device 14 is used for the bottle holder 3
However, the collet chuck 12 is retracted away from the toner bottle 2 in conjunction with the movement from the toner supply position B to the bottle mounting position A, while the bottle holder 3 is moved to the bottle mounting position A. To toner supply position B
It is for moving the collet chuck 12 so as to approach the toner bottle 2 in conjunction with the movement to the toner bottle 2. In this embodiment, for example, the plate cam member 35 as shown in FIG. 4 attached to the front plate of the copying machine via the fixing bracket 16 and the collet chuck 12 are used.
It comprises a roller 37 rotatably attached to a chuck shaft 36 fixed to the rear end. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the plate cam member 35 includes a first cam surface portion 38 that guides the roller 37 from the rotation center Z side of the bottle holder 3 and a side opposite to the rotation center Z. And a second cam surface portion 39 for guiding the roller 37.

In the above structure, the bottle holder 3 of the toner replenishing device 1 is located at the toner replenishing position B during the normal copying operation. At the toner supplying position B,
As shown in FIG. 1, the toner bottle 2 on the bottle holder 3 is positioned by the bottle locking member 8, and the bottle rib 28 on the end wall on the toner discharge port 6 side is the transmission member rib of the cylindrical rotation transmitting member 10. 29 can be engaged. Further, the collet chuck 12 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the holding portion 30 that is narrowed by the core 13 urged by the core spring 23 causes the stopper 11 to move.
In the state in which the grip portion 31 is held and the plug 11 is held, it is at the most retracted position from the toner bottle 2, and the toner discharge port 6 of the toner bottle 2 is open. The toner receiving portion 5 of the hopper 16 on the copying machine body side is located below the toner dropping opening 21 of the cylindrical stopper 20.

In response to the output signal of a toner concentration sensor (not shown), the bottle replenishing roller in the developing device starts to rotate, and the bottle motor 9 starts to rotate, and its drive is driven by the gear 25 and the cylindrical rotation transmitting member 10. To the toner bottle 2 and the toner bottle 2 rotates. The inner surface of the toner bottle 2 has a spiral ridge 40 (see FIG. 3).
Is provided, the toner stored inside is gradually sent to the toner discharge port 6 and the toner discharge port 6 is discharged.
And the toner drop opening 21 of the cylindrical stopper 20.
After that, the toner is received by the toner receiving portion 5 of the hopper 16 and is conveyed by the toner conveying screw 7 to the hopper portion on the back side of the front plate of the copying machine. This operation is continued until, for example, the toner concentration in the developing device reaches a predetermined value and the toner supply roller stops again.

When the toner bottle 2 is taken out of the bottle holder 3 for replacement of the toner bottle 2 or the like, first, the bottle holder 3 is moved to the toner replenishment position B.
To the bottle mounting position A from. While the bottle holder 3 is moving, the first cam surface of the cam device 14 causes the roller 3 to move.
While guiding 7, the collet chuck 12 holding the stopper 11 is moved toward the toner discharge port 6 of the toner bottle 2, and the collar portion 33 of the core 13 is moved through the collar portion 32 of the stopper 11 to the toner bottle 2. It is brought into contact with the edge of the discharge port collar 27. Even after the movement of the core 13 is restricted by this, the roller 37 is guided by the second cam surface portion 39 of the cam device 14 with the movement of the bottle holder 3, and the collet chuck 12 is further moved to move the core 13 The engagement with the collet chuck 12 is released, and the holding portion 30 is opened by the restoring force of the collet chuck 12, and the holding portion 31 of the stopper 11 is released. By moving the collet chuck 12 so far, the stopper 11 is inserted into the discharge port collar 27 of the toner bottle 2 to seal the toner discharge port 6. And bottle holder 3
When the movement to the bottle mounting position A is completed, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the collet chuck 12
The holding portion 30 of the plug 11 is in a state of being wider than the picking portion 31 of the stopper 11.

Next, with the bottle holder 3 at the bottle mounting position A, a person who replaces the toner bottle 2 pulls up the bottle locking member 8 to raise the toner bottle 2.
The bottle holder 3 by pulling out the inside of the cylindrical stopper 20.
Take out the toner bottle 2. Then, into the cylindrical stopper 20 of the bottle holder 3, the head of a new toner bottle 2 which is filled with toner and whose toner discharge port 6 is sealed with the plug 11 is inserted. The position of the bottle locking member 8 is also determined during the inserting operation.

Next, the bottle holder 3 is moved from the bottle mounting position A to the toner supply position B. While the bottle holder 3 is moving, the collet chuck 12 holding the stopper 11 is moved away from the toner ejection port 6 of the toner bottle 2 while guiding the roller 37 with the first cam surface of the cam device 14. In the collet chuck 12, at the initial stage of the movement of the collet chuck 12, the gripping portion 30 holds the gripping portion 31 of the plug 11 and holds the plug 11. Even during the subsequent movement, the urging force of the core spring 23 maintains the engagement between the core 13 and the collet chuck 12 to continue to hold the plug 11, and the plug 11 is removed from the toner discharge port 6 to remove the toner discharge port. 6 is opened, and FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 (a), (b)
As shown in FIG.
Complete the move to. As a result, as described above, it becomes possible to discharge the toner from the toner discharge port 6 by rotating the toner bottle 2 times.

As described above, the toner replenishing device 1 of this embodiment
According to this, the toner bottle 2 can be replaced without causing toner leakage from the toner discharge port 6 of the toner bottle 2 by only moving the bottle holder 3 and replacing the toner bottle 2 on the bottle holder 3. it can.

Next, the toner bottle 2 used in the toner supply device 1 of this embodiment will be described. In the toner bottle 2 of this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a toner ejection port 6 having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical main body portion is formed on one end wall. Further, a spiral protrusion 40 for feeding toner is formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the bottle body. And
With the toner discharge port 6 held horizontally on the bottle holder 3 of the toner replenishing device 17, the toner discharge port 6 is positioned higher than the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the cylindrical main body. In order to satisfactorily discharge the stored toner, the toner existing on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the lower portion of the cylindrical main body can be lifted up to the toner discharge port 6 and discharged by the rotation of the toner bottle.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the vicinity of the toner discharge port 6 of the toner bottle 2 according to this embodiment, FIG. 6B is a view seen from the toner discharge port 6 side, and FIG. YY in a)
FIG. In the toner bottle 2, a part of the inner surface of the shoulder portion, which is a peripheral wall portion near the head-side end wall 41 where the toner discharge port 6 is formed, is located upstream of the inner space of the bottle in the rotation direction K of the toner replenishing device 1. At the side position, the inner wall surface substantially perpendicular to the direction K, that is, the inner surface of the peripheral wall standing substantially in the radial direction is formed so as to extend from the inner surface portion of the peripheral wall to the edge of the inner surface of the discharge port collar 27, and lift the toner. A projecting surface portion (hereinafter referred to as a lifting projecting surface) 42 is formed. Further, at the position symmetrical with respect to the lifting and pushing surface 42 and the central axis of the bottle, the toner is similarly pushed from the inner surface portion of the peripheral wall to the edge of the inner surface of the discharge port collar 27, and the pushing surface portion for toner flow-down (hereinafter, 43, which is referred to as the flow-out pressing surface. The flow-out protruding surface 43 forms an inner surface of the peripheral wall that stands substantially in the radial direction at a position on the downstream side in the rotation direction K of the bottle inner space.

FIG. 7 (a) shows the above-mentioned both protruding surfaces 42, 4
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a method of guiding toner according to No. 3. In the figure, the pushing-out surface 4 for lifting in the longitudinal direction of the bottle.
Only the toner existing in the area corresponding to No. 2 is shown (the same applies to FIG. 7B described later). First, for example, in FIG.
As shown in (a), the toner, which is lifted up in the longitudinal direction of the bottle by the ridge 40 formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the bottle main body and is sent to the area corresponding to the protruding surface 42, is indicated by (I) in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that the toner particles are gathered at the lowest position in the area, and the lifting and pushing surfaces 42 are located on both upper sides in the rotation direction K with respect to this toner aggregate. As shown in the state (II) at the time when the bottle is rotated 90 degrees from this state, the toner is lifted by the pushing-out surface 42 and the inner surface of the large-diameter peripheral wall. Then, as shown in the state (III) when the bottle is further rotated by 90 degrees, a part of the toner lifted by the lifting push-out surface 42 and the like is discharged from the toner discharge port, and the rest is the flowing-down push-out surface on the opposite side. It flows down 43 and reaches the inner surface of the large-diameter peripheral wall. Then, the state (I
In V), the toner that has reached the inner surface of the large-diameter peripheral wall is always gathered on the inner surface of the lowest peripheral wall, and at the time when the bottle rotates 90 degrees (V), the state becomes the same as the first state (I). .

As described above, according to the toner bottle 2 of this embodiment, the toner on the inner surface of the large-diameter peripheral wall is lifted by the lifting and pushing surface 42 and is discharged to the toner discharge port 6 located thereabove. You can Further, while the toner is not completely discharged from the ejection port 6 while being lifted up to the toner ejection port 6 by the lifting ejection surface 42, the toner flows down the downflow ejection surface 43, returns to the inner surface of the large-diameter peripheral wall, and is lifted again. Toner discharge port 6 by the protruding surface 42
Can be lifted up to.

Next, another embodiment of the toner bottle 2 will be described with reference to FIG. 7A is a perspective view of the vicinity of the toner discharge port 6 of the toner bottle 2 according to this embodiment, and FIG. 7B is a view seen from the toner discharge port 6 side. Also in the toner bottle 2 of the present embodiment, the toner lifting and pushing surface 42 similar to that in the above embodiment is formed. Further, in the present embodiment, in the toner bottle 2 of the above embodiment, instead of forming the toner flow-out squeezing surface 43 at a position symmetrical with respect to the lifting squeezing surface 42 and the bottle center axis, the above-mentioned lifting squeezing surface 42 is formed. And an edge of the inner wall of the discharge port collar 27 from the inner surface of the peripheral wall at an angle of about 90 degrees between them and the inner surface of the bottle in the radial direction of the bottle (hereinafter referred to as the return pressing surface) 44. Is formed.

FIG. 7 (b) shows the above-mentioned both protruding surfaces 42, 4
7A and 7B of the above-described embodiment correspond to the position of the lifting / protruding surface 42 in each state. From (I) to (II) in FIG. 11A, the toner collected at the bottom is lifted by the lifting and pushing surface 42 and the inner surface of the large-diameter peripheral wall, as in the above embodiment. As shown in the state (III) when the bottle is further rotated 90 degrees from the state (II),
A part of the toner lifted by the lifting push-out surface 42 and the like is discharged from the toner discharge port, and passes over the toner discharge port color 207 with the force of flowing down on the lifting push-out surface 42 that is inclined toward the toner discharge port. The ejected toner is received by the return push-out surface 44 on the opposite side, and most of the toner flows down to the color 207 side on the return push-out surface 44 that is inclined so as to be lowered toward the collar 207, and the toner is ejected. Discharged from the outlet. Then, as shown in the state (IV) at the time when the bottle is further rotated by 90 degrees, only the toner not discharged from the toner discharge port by the return-pushing surface 44 reaches the inner surface of the large-diameter peripheral wall and reaches the lowest inner surface of the peripheral wall. Keep gathered in. When the bottle further rotates 90 degrees (V), the state becomes the same as the first state (I).

As described above, also in the toner bottle 2 of the present embodiment, the toner can be lifted up to the toner discharge port 6 and discharged by the lifting and pushing surface 42 as in the above embodiment. In this embodiment, the toner that has passed through the toner ejection port collar 207 by the force of flowing down on the lifting ejection surface 42 that is inclined toward the toner ejection port is received by the return ejection surface 44, and most of it is received. Can be discharged from the toner discharge port.

In the example of FIG. 7, the return protrusion surface 44 is lifted and formed at a position where the angle with respect to the protrusion surface 42 is approximately 90 degrees, but the angle is less than 180 degrees and the toner discharge port When the toner that has passed through the toner discharge port collar 207 is received with the force of flowing down on the lifting and pushing surface 42 that is inclined toward
The position is not limited to this as long as the position can be inclined so that the side 7 becomes lower.

In the toner bottle 2 of each of the above embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b), for example, the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the region corresponding to the lifting push-out surface 42 in the longitudinal direction of the bottle. The ridge 45 may be provided so as to be continuous or at least continuous with the spiral ridge 40 on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the bottle body.

Further, each of the above-mentioned protruding surfaces 42, 43, 44
Was formed as a plane almost parallel to the axis of rotation of the bottle,
This may be formed so as to be inclined with respect to the coaxial line so that the toner can be moved toward the toner discharge port 6 side in the coaxial line direction when the toner is lifted, when the toner flows down, and when the toner is returned.

In each of the toner bottles 2 of the respective embodiments, a spiral ridge is provided on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the bottle main body to feed the toner to the toner discharge port side. As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No.
Inclining itself so that the discharge port side is slightly lower, or as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-24756, the toner bottle 2 itself has a conical shape in which the toner discharge port side is gradually expanded. Then, if the toner in the bottle is brought closer to the toner discharge port side, the protrusion can be omitted.

[0037]

According to the present invention, the opening for discharging the developer is formed in the one end wall of the container so as to have a diameter smaller than the maximum diameter of the shoulder inner surface of the one end wall. Even when held horizontally, it is unlikely to spill out of the opening. Therefore, there is an effect that the developer can be prevented from spilling out even when the developer accommodating container is placed horizontally on the container holding means of the developer supply device main body. Further, since the developer on the shoulder inner surface portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening inner surface portion by the rotation of the container is lifted to the edge of the opening portion, the developer is lifted from the opening portion. There is an effect that it can be satisfactorily discharged. Further, the developer in the developer storage container can be used up to the end. Moreover, since the discharge amount from the opening can be set according to the size of the protruding portion, the discharge amount of the developer from the opening can be stabilized.

Further, if a flow-in protruding inner surface portion having a shape larger than the diameter of the opening portion and protruding from the shoulder inner surface portion to the edge of the opening portion is formed, the developer accommodating container is rotated. Since the developer that has not flowed into the opening of the developer that has been lifted up to the opening at the protruding inner surface for lifting can be made to flow down to the shoulder inner surface having a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening. After the flow-down developer, only the shoulder inner surface portion between the lifting push-out inner surface portion and the flow-down push-out inner surface portion is moved by the rotation of the container, and then the lifting push-out inner surface again. There is an effect that the part can be lifted up to the opening and discharged.

Further, by forming a protruding inner surface portion for reflowing which has a shape larger than the diameter of the opening portion from the inner surface portion of the shoulder portion to the edge of the opening portion, the rotation of the developer accommodating container can be improved. By this, the developer that has not flowed into the opening of the developer that has been lifted up to the opening in the protruding inner surface portion for lifting can be made to flow down again into the opening, and therefore, via the opening. There is an effect that the developer can be discharged more satisfactorily.

Further, a predetermined spiral ridge is formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container, and the diameter of the opening corresponding to the inner surface portions of both the protruding shapes in the developer feeding direction inside the container Also, if a similar ridge is formed on the inner surface of the shoulder portion having a large diameter in series or adjacent to the ridge, the developer is discharged more satisfactorily from the opening due to the conveyance action of both ridges by the rotation of the container. There is an effect that can be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a toner replenishing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a copying machine using the toner supply device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toner supply device.

4A and 4B are explanatory views of a collet chuck of the toner replenishing device.

5A and 5B are other explanatory views of the collet chuck of the toner replenishing device.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view near the toner outlet of the toner bottle according to the present exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6B is a view of the bottle as viewed from the toner discharge port side. (C) is a YY vertical sectional view in the above (a).

FIG. 7A is an explanatory diagram of toner ejection from the toner bottle of FIG. FIG. 9B is an explanatory diagram of toner ejection from the toner bottle of FIG. 8.

FIG. 8A is a perspective view of the vicinity of a toner outlet of a toner bottle according to another embodiment. FIG. 6B is a view of the bottle as viewed from the toner discharge port side.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view of the vicinity of a toner discharge port of a toner bottle according to a modification. FIG. 6B is a view of the bottle as viewed from the toner discharge port side.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Toner Supply Device 2 Toner Bottle 3 Bottle Holder 6 Toner Discharge Port 8 Bottle Locking Member 9 Bottle Motor 10 Cylindrical Rotation Transmission Member 11 Plug 12 Collet Chuck 13 Core 14 Cam Device 19 Cover 20 Cylindrical Stopper 21 Toner Drop Opening 23 Core spring 27 Discharge port collar 31 Knocking part 42 Lifting approaching surface 43 Downflow approaching surface 44 Return approaching surface A Bottle mounting position B Toner supply position Z Rotation center

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A container holding means which communicates with a developer introducing part to a developing part and holds a developer accommodating container with its opening facing the developer introducing part, and the accommodating container is rotationally driven. In a developer accommodating container used in a developer replenishing device having a driving means, the opening is formed in one end wall of the container so as to have a diameter smaller than a maximum diameter of a shoulder inner surface of the one end wall. A diameter larger than the diameter of the opening so that the developer on the inner surface portion of the shoulder having a diameter larger than that of the opening can be lifted to the edge of the opening by the rotation of the container. The protruding inner surface portion for lifting having a shape protruding from the inner surface portion of the shoulder to the edge, and the developer lifted to the opening at the inner surface portion for lifting by the rotation of the developer container. Receiving the developer that did not flow into the opening, A flow-in push-out inner surface portion that is pushed out from the shoulder inner surface portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening to the edge of the opening so that it can flow down to the shoulder inner surface having a larger diameter. A developer accommodating container characterized by being formed with. 2. A container holding means which communicates with a developer introducing section to the developing section and holds the developer accommodating container with its opening facing the developer introducing section, and rotationally driving the accommodating container. In a developer accommodating container used in a developer replenishing device having a driving means, the opening is formed in one end wall of the container so as to have a diameter smaller than a maximum diameter of a shoulder inner surface of the one end wall. A diameter larger than the diameter of the opening so that the developer on the inner surface portion of the shoulder having a diameter larger than that of the opening can be lifted to the edge of the opening by the rotation of the container. The protruding inner surface portion for lifting having a shape protruding from the inner surface portion of the shoulder to the edge, and the developer lifted to the opening at the inner surface portion for lifting by the rotation of the developer container. Receiving the developer that did not flow into the opening, In order to allow it to flow down toward the inside of the portion, a reflowing protruding inner surface portion having a shape protruding from the shoulder inner surface portion having a diameter larger than that of the opening to the edge of the opening is formed. Characteristic developer storage container. 3. A spiral projecting line for sending the stored developer toward the opening side by the rotation of the developer storage container is formed on the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the container, and in the developer sending direction inside the container. A similar ridge is also formed in series or adjacent to the ridge on a shoulder inner surface portion having a diameter larger than the diameter of the opening corresponding to the inner surface portion of both protruding shapes. 1 or 2 developer storage container.