developer container, developer device, process unit, and image forming apparatus

专利摘要:
DEVELOPER CONTAINER, DEVELOPMENT DEVICE, PROCESS UNIT, AND IMAGE FORMATION APPARATUS. A developer container includes a rotor that is rotated in the container body, a sequence of gears disposed outside the developer container that transmits torque to the rotor, and a container guide portion that fits with a lateral guide portion of the body. main and orients the developer container in a direction in which the developer container is attached to a mounting portion of a main body of the imaging apparatus. A first gear included in the gear sequence is movable between an operating position where the first gear engages a second gear and a retracted position where the first gear is retracted. On the surface on which the container guide portion is disposed, a part of the container guide portion is disposed within a projected area of the first gear being disposed in the operating position.
公开号:BR112013007292B1
申请号:R112013007292-0
申请日:2012-07-27
公开日:2021-04-20
发明作者:Tomohiro Kubota；Naoki Nakatake；Yoshiyuki Shimizu；Shoh Tsuritani；Manabu HAMADA；Masato Tsuji；Masanari Fujita
申请人:Ricoh Company, Ltd；
IPC主号:

专利说明:

TECHNICAL FIELD
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a developer container that contains developer, a developer device, a process unit, and an imaging apparatus that include the developer container. PRIOR TECHNIQUE
For an imaging apparatus, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, and a machine composed thereof, a scheme is known so that, for example, a developing device, a charging device and a photoconductor are integrally formed as an imaging unit, and the imaging unit is detachably attached to the imaging apparatus. Such scheme is adopted for many products due to its advantage that the maintenance of the device can be easily carried out by replacing the unit with another one by a user. Types of such an imaging unit include an imaging unit where a developer container for containing the developer, such as toner, is integrally formed with the imaging unit, and an imaging unit where a developer container is formed separately from the imaging unit.
For the case of the former, when the stored developer runs out, the imaging unit is replaced with a new unit. This case is advantageous in that the developer device and the photoconductor can be replaced together with the used developer container, thereby facilitating the replacement tasks.
On the other hand, for the case of the latter, when the stored developer runs out, only the developer container is replaced with a new one. In this case, the developing device and the photoconductor can be used continuously without being replaced, with the proviso that their longevity has not been achieved. Supported by a growing interest in considering environmental impact, the configuration where the developer canister can be replaced separately is becoming the main objective.
In the configuration where the developer container is attached and detached separately, it may be required to position a position of a developer container discharge opening with a position of a developer device supply opening. Therefore, generally, a guide unit for guiding the developer container during attachment or detachment of the developer container and a positioning portion for positioning the developer container with respect to the main body of the imaging apparatus are provided on the outer surface. from the developer container.
Additionally, there is a developer container that includes a shipping screw for transporting the developer within the developer container and an agitator for agitating the developer. In such a developer container, a driving force for the conveyor screw and agitator is generally obtained from a drive source disposed in the main body of the imaging apparatus. Therefore gears are provided on the outside of this type of developer container so as to transfer the driving force from the drive source in the main body of the imaging apparatus to the conveyor screw and agitator (as per the Patent Document 1 (Registered JP Patent No. 4283070) and Patent Document 2 (Public JP Patent Application No. 2006-139069)).
When gears are provided on the exterior of the developer container as described above, it may be required to prevent the guide unit to guide the developer container during attachment and detachment of the developer container from interfering with the gears. Therefore, there is a restriction on the sketch that the guide unit attached to the developer container is replaced in a position that is separate from a position where gears are provided. In this case, the developer container size becomes consequently large. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to downsize the device.
In view of the above problem problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a developer container which improves a degree of freedom in the sketch design of a guide unit that can be decreased in size, and a developing device, the process unit , and an imaging apparatus including the developer container. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION MEANS TO SOLVE PROBLEMS
In one aspect, a developer container configured to be detachably attached to a main body of the imaging apparatus is provided. The developer container includes a container body configured to store the developer; a discharge opening configured to discharge the developer into the container body; the rotator configured to be rotatably driven in the container body; a sequence of gears disposed on an outer side of the container body, the sequence of gears including a number of gears configured to transmit a drive torque to the rotator; and a container orienting the portion configured to orient the developer container toward the imaging apparatus in a direction in which the developer container is attached to the imaging apparatus, where in the container the guide portion orients the imaging container. developer fitting with a guide portion on the side of the main body disposed in the imaging apparatus. A first gear included in the gear sequence is configured to be moved between an operating position where the first gear engages with a second gear and transmits a torque and a retracted position where the first gear is retracted from the operating position. On a surface on which the guide portion of the container is configured to be disposed within a projected area of the first gear which is disposed in the operating position.
In the above configuration, a gear in the gear sequence is movable between the operating position and the stowed position. Therefore, even if part or all of the guide portion in the developer container is arranged in the projection area of the gear placed in the operating position, the guide portion on the side of the main body in the main body of the imaging apparatus can be Prevented from interfering with the gear sequence when attaching or detaching the developer container. Furthermore, according to the present invention, since a degree of freedom in the design of the sketch of the guide portion of the container in the developer container is improved, the developer container can be decreased in dimension. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an imaging apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a developing device and a toner cartridge; Figure 3 is an external view of the toner cartridge; Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a state where an upper case and a gear cover are removed from the toner cartridge; Figure 5 is a side view showing a state where the gear cover of the toner cartridge is removed; Figure 6 is a side view showing a state where the gear cover of the toner cartridge is removed; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a gear retainer; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge where the toner cartridge is cut at a position of a transport screw in a direction of an axis of the transport screw; Figure 9A is a cross-sectional view of the proximity of an outflow opening in a state where the outflow opening is open; Figure 9B is a cross-sectional view of the proximity of the outflow opening in a state where the outflow opening is closed; Figure 10A is a diagram showing a state where an inner shutter is opened by a drive unit; Figure 10B is a diagram showing a state where the inner shutter is closed by the drive unit; Figure 11 is a perspective view of the inner shutter and the drive unit, seen from the outside; Figure 12 is a perspective view of a gear cover, seen from a front side of the gear cover; Figure 13 is a perspective view of the gear cover, viewed from a rear side of the gear cover; Figure 14 is a diagram showing the toner cartridge, viewed from one side of the gear cover; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of one of the side walls of one of the side walls of a main body of the imaging apparatus; Figure 16 is an enlarged view of a supply opening; Figure 17 is a diagram showing a state where the discharge opening and the supply opening are connected; Figure 18 is a perspective view showing an internal structure of another side wall of the main body of the imaging apparatus; Figures 19A, 19B, and 19C are diagrams illustrating an operation of attaching the toner cartridge to the main body of the imaging apparatus and an operation of detaching the toner cartridge from the main body; Figure 20 is a perspective view showing a state where the torque transmission gear is arranged in an operating position; Figure 21 is a perspective view showing a state where the discharge opening is open; Figure 22 is a perspective view showing a state where the torque transmission gear is disposed in a retracted position; Figure 23 is a perspective view showing a state where the discharge opening is closed; Figure 24 is a diagram illustrating a position where a return opening is provided; Figure 25 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the transport screw; Figure 26 is a diagram showing a relationship between the widths of a developer outflow opening, an outflow opening, and the supply opening; Figure 27 is a diagram illustrating a force applied to the toner cartridge; Figure 28 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge in a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the main body of the imaging apparatus, viewed from a bottom side of the toner cartridge; toner cartridge according to a comparative example in a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the imaging apparatus, viewed from a bottom side of the toner cartridge; Figure 30 is a schematic configuration diagram of an imaging apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 31 is a diagram showing a state where an upper cover is open; Figure 32 is a diagram showing a state where the top cover and an inner cover are open; and Figure 33 is a diagram showing a configuration where a protrusion in the main body of the apparatus is attached to a process unit. DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
1Y, 1M, IC, IBk Process unit 2 Photoconductor (imaging support body) 4 Development device 22 Inner shutter 23 Inner opening 24 Return opening 26 Tension spring (bias member) 27 Inner shutter protrusion 40 Housing developer capacity 41 Develop roller (developer holder body) 49 Supply slot 50 Toner cartridge (developer container) 52 Discharge opening 53 Transport screw (conveyor) 54 Agitator 60 External shutter 62 Transport drive gear (transmitter 63 Agitation drive gear (second drive force transmitter) 65 Top portion 66 Toner transport passage (developer transport passage) 67 Second return opening 70 Container body 71b Retainer bulge gear (drive portion) 100 Image forming apparatus main body 101 Horizontal protrusion or protrusion (drive portion) body side guide) 102 Protrusion of the main body of the apparatus (a side pushing portion of the main body) 109 Top cover (first cover) 113 Moving member 116 Inner cover (second cover) 120 Container mounting portion 130 Mounting portion unit size 200 Stirring region Kl Width of internal opening K2 Width of discharge opening K3 Width of supply opening HOW TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION
In the following, the embodiments of the present invention are explained based on the attached figures. In the figures to illustrate the modalities, the same reference numbers are attached to members or components that have the same functions or the same shapes, as long as they can be identified. By attaching the same reference numbers once the member or component is explained, duplicate explanations for the numbers of components that have the same reference numbers are omitted. First modality
In the following, a general configuration and operations of a color laser printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention are explained with reference to Figure 1. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited thereto. The configuration according to the modality can be applied to a monochrome printer, other printers, a copier, a facsimile machine, and an image forming apparatus which is a combined machine thereof.
As shown in figure 1, four process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk are detachably attached to a main body of the color laser printer apparatus (image forming apparatus main body) 100 as color laser forming units. Image. Process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk have the same settings, except process unit 1Y stores toner (Y) , process unit 1M stores toner (M) , process unit 1C stores cyan toner (C) , and the IBk process unit stores black toner (Bk). Colors other than yellow, magenta, cyan, and black correspond to color decomposition components of a color image.
Specifically, each of the process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk includes at least the photoconductor 2 which has a drum-like shape as an imaging support body; a charging device including a charging roller 3 for electrically charging a surface of the photoconductor 2; a developing device 4 which supplies the toner to a latent image in the photoconductor 2; cleaning device including a cleaning blade 5 to clean the surface of photoconductor 2. In figure 1, the reference numbers are only attached to photoconductor 2, charge roller 3, developing device 4, and cleaning blade 5 included in the 1Y yellow process unit. In other process units 1M, 1C, and IBk, the reference numbers are omitted. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, a single-component developer formed from toner particles is used as the developer. However, the developer is not limited to this, and the developer can be dual component developer formed from the toner particles and carrier particles.
Above the four developing devices 4 included in the process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk, respectively, four corresponding toner cartridges 50 are arranged. The four toner cartridges 50 are used as developing containers which store the four corresponding colors of toner to be supplied to the four corresponding developing devices 4. In the first embodiment, a divider plate 108 included in the main body of apparatus 100 is disposed between the four developing devices 4 and the four corresponding toner cartridges 50. The four toner cartridges 50 are detachably attached to four mounting portions 106 formed in the dividing plate 108 .
In the upper proximity of the toner cartridge 50, an exposure unit 6 is disposed. The exposure unit 6 radiates the surfaces of the photoconductor 2 included in the corresponding 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk process units. The display unit 6 includes at least a light source, a polygonal mirror, a f-theta lens, and a reflection mirror. Exposure unit 6 radiates laser beams onto the surface of photoconductor 2 based on the image data.
On top cover 109 an upper portion of the main body of apparatus 100 is provided. Top cover 109 can be opened or closed in the vertical direction since top cover 109 is pivoted about a fulcrum 110. Display unit 6 is described above is attached to the top cover 109. Therefore, when the top cover 109 is open, the exposure unit 6 can be retracted from the upper proximity of the toner cartridge 50. In this state, the toner cartridge 50 can be attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus 100 through the top opening.
A transfer unit 7 is arranged below the process units 1Y, IM, 1C, and IBk. The process unit 7 includes an intermediate transfer belt 8 which acts as a transfer body. The intermediate transfer belt 8 is formed from an endless belt. The intermediate transfer belt 8 is suspended around a drive roller 9 and a driven roller 10, which act as support body members. As the drive roller 9 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in the figure, the intermediate transfer belt 8 circles (rotates) in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure.
Four primary transfer rollers 11 are arranged in positions facing the four corresponding photoconductors 2 . The primary transfer rollers are compressing an inner circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 8 into corresponding positions. The spaces between the primary rollers are formed at the portions where the compressed portions of the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the corresponding photoconductors 2 contact each other. The primary transfer rollers 11 are connected to a power supply (not shown), and predetermined direct current (DC) voltages and/or alternating current (AC) voltages are applied to the corresponding primary transfer rollers 11.
A secondary transfer roller 12 is arranged in a position facing the drive roller 9 as a secondary transfer unit. The secondary transfer roller 12 is compressing the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 8. A space between the secondary transfer rollers is formed at a portion where the secondary transfer roller 12 contacts the intermediate transfer belt 8. Similar to rollers. of primary transfer rollers 11, the secondary transfer roller 12 is connected to the power supply (not shown), and a predetermined direct current (DC) voltage and/or alternating current (AC) voltage is applied to the secondary transfer roller 12 .
A belt cleaning unit 13 is disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 8 on the far right side. A waste toner transfer hose (not shown) extending from the belt cleaning unit 13 is connected to an inlet opening of a waste toner container 14 disposed below the transfer unit 7.
A paper feed cassette 15 is disposed in a lower portion of the main body of the apparatus 100. The paper feed cassette 15 stores recording media S such as paper sheets or OHP sheets. The paper feed cassette 15 includes a paper feed roller 16 which sends the recording media S stored in the paper feed cassette 15. On the other hand, a pair of paper discharge rollers 17 for discharging the recording media outwardly is disposed in an upper portion of the main body of the apparatus 100. In addition, a paper discharge tray 18 for accumulating recording means discharged by the paper discharge rollers 17 is disposed on the upper cover 109.
A transport path R is provided in the main body of the apparatus 100. The transport path R is for transporting the recording media S from the paper feed cassette 15 to the paper discharge tray 18 via the secondary transfer tongs . On the transport path R, a pair of recording rollers 19 are arranged on an upstream side of the position of the secondary transfer roller 12 in the conveying direction of the recording medium. The pair of record rollers 19 is a transport unit for transporting the recording medium while adjusting the transport time. Furthermore, a clamping unit 20 is arranged at a side downstream of the position of the secondary transfer roller 12 in the transfer direction of the recording medium.
The image forming apparatus described above operates as follows. Namely, when the imaging operation is started, the photoconductors 2 of the corresponding process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk are rotated clockwise in figure 1, and the surfaces of the photoconductor 2 are uniformly loaded in a polarity predetermined by the corresponding charge roller 3 . The exposure unit 6 radiates laser beams onto the charged surfaces of the corresponding photoconductors 2 based on image information from a document read by an image reader unit (not shown), and thereby forming electrostatic latent images on the surfaces of the photoconductors 2 matching. At this time, the displayed image information about the corresponding photoconductor 2 is a single color image information corresponding to one of the yellow image information, magenta image information, cyan image information, and black image information, which are formed by the color decomposition of image information. When toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent images formed on the photoconductors 2 by the corresponding developing devices 4, the electrostatic latent images are displayed as toner images.
Subsequently, the drive roller 9 which suspends the intermediate transfer belt 8 is rotationally driven, thereby causing the intermediate transfer belt 8 to be circled in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Furthermore, when constant voltages having the polarities opposite the toner charge polarity are applied to the primary transfer rollers 11, or when voltages at which constant current control is applied and which have the polarities opposite the toner charge polarity are applied to the corresponding primary transfer rollers 11, electricity transfer fields are formed on the primary transfer tongs between the primary transfer rollers 11 and the corresponding photoconductors 2 . Toner images in the corresponding colors are sequentially superimposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 by the electric transfer fields formed in the corresponding primary transfer tongs. In this way, the intermediate transfer belt 8 supports a full color toner image on its surface. In addition, toner that has not been transferred over the intermediate transfer belt 8 and remains on the corresponding photoconductors 2 is removed by the corresponding cleaning blades 5.
On the other hand, in the paper feed cassette 15, a stored recording medium S is sent to the transport path R by rotation of the paper feed roller 16. After the recording medium S is sent to the transport path R , the recording rollers 19 adjust the transport time and send the recording medium S to the space between the secondary transfer rollers between the secondary transfer roller 12 and the intermediate transfer belt 8. At this time, a transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner charge polarity of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is applied to the secondary transfer roller 12, thereby forming an electric transfer field in the secondary transfer tongs. Then the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is collectively transferred onto the recording medium S by the electric transfer field formed in the space between secondary transfer rollers. In addition, after image transfer is completed, the remaining toner on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is removed by the belt cleaning unit 13. The removed toner is transported to the waste toner container 14 and collected.
Subsequently, the recording medium S onto which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing unit 20, and the fixing unit 20 fixes the toner image onto the recording medium S. Then, the recording medium S. is ejected out of the device by a pair of paper discharge rollers 17, and accumulated on the paper discharge tray 18.
Imaging operations to form a full color image on a recording medium have been explained above. However, a single color image can be formed using any of the four process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk.
Similarly, a two-color image or a three-color image can be formed using two or three process units.
Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the developing device described above and the toner cartridge described above. As shown in Figure 2, developing device 4 includes at least one developer housing 40 for storing toner; a developer roller 41 which acts as a developer support body to hold the toner from the body; a supply roll 42 which acts as a developer supply member for supplying the developer roll 41; a developing blade 43 which acts as a regulating member for regulating an amount of toner supported on the developing roller 41; two shipping screws 44 and 45 that act as carriers to transport toner; and two light guide members.
An inner portion of developer housing 40 is divided into a first region E1 corresponding to the upper side in the figure and a second region E2 corresponding to the underside in the figure by a dividing member 48. Communication openings 48a are provided in both portions of end of splitting member 48 (the near side and the far side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of Figure 2). Namely, the first E1 region and the second E2 region are connected at the portions where the two corresponding communication openings 48a are formed.
The transport screw 44 and the two light guide members 46 and 47 are included within a first region E1. On the other hand, the transport screw 45 and the supply roller 42 are included within a second region E2. Furthermore, the developing roller 41 and the developing blade 43 are arranged in an opening of a second region E2 facing the photoconductor 2.
Carrier screw 44 includes a swivel shaft 440. A spiral-shaped blade 441 is attached to an outer circumference of swivel shaft 440.
Similarly, transport bolt 45 includes a swivel shaft 450, and a spiral-shaped blade 451 is attached to an outer circumference of swivel shaft 450. When transport bolts 44 and 45 rotate, transport bolts 44 and 45 convey toner along the corresponding axis directions 440 and 450. The toner transport direction by the transport screw 44 and the toner transport direction by the transport screw 45 are opposite to each other.
The developing roller 41 described above includes a shaft formed of a metal and an electrically conductive rubber disposed about the shaft. In the first embodiment, the shaft has an outside diameter of 6 mm, the electrically conductive rubber has an outside diameter of 12 mm, and a rubber Hs hardness of 75. A volume resistivity value of the electrically conductive rubber is set to be within a range of about 105 Q to 107 Q. As electrically conductive rubber, for example, an electrically conductive urethane rubber and a silicone rubber can be used. The developer roller 41 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in Figure 2, and transports the developer supported on its surface to the positions facing the developer blade 43 and the photoconductor 2.
As with supply roller 42, a sponge roller is generally used. As a sponge roll, a roll formed by adhering foamed polyurethane, which has been adjusted to be semiconductive by mixing carbon, around a metal shaft is preferable. In the first embodiment, the shaft has an outer diameter of 6 mm, and the sponge portion has an outer diameter of 12 mm. The supply roller 42 contacts the developer roller 41. The portion of inter-roller space formed by contacting the supply roller 42 to the developer roller 41 is generally adjusted to be within a range of about 1 mm to 3 mm. In the first mode, the space between the rollers is 2 mm. The supply roller 42 rotates in a direction opposite to the direction in which the developer roller 41 rotates (clockwise in Figure 2), and thus the supply roller 42 effectively supplies the toner inside the developer housing 40 to the layer of surface of the developing roller 41. In the first embodiment, an excellent toner supply function is ensured by setting a rotational speed ratio between the developing roller 41 and the supply roller 42 to be 1.
The developing blade 43 is, for example, a metal plate formed from stainless steel (SUS) or the like and having a thickness of about 0.1 mm. The developing blade 43 contacts the surface of the developing roller 41 on its tip side. The control, by the developing blade 43, of the amount of toner on the developing roller 41 can be considered as a very important parameter to stabilize the developing characteristic and to obtain an excellent image quality. Therefore, in a common product, the confinement pressure of the developing blade 43 with respect to the developing roller 41 is strictly adjusted to be in a range of 20 N/m to 60 N/m, and the position of the tongs portion is strictly controlled to be 0.5mm plus or minus 0.5mm from the point of developer blade 43. In this document, these parameters are arbitrarily determined depending on the characteristics of the toner to be used, the developer roller, and the supply roll. In the first embodiment, the developing blade 43 is formed of a stainless steel plate (SUS) having a thickness of 0.1 mm, the confining pressure is set to be 45 N/m, the position of the tongs portion is set. to be 0.2 mm from the tip of developer blade 43, and the length (free length) from the end supported on the free end (the tip) of developer blade 43 is fixed to be 14 mm. In this way a stable thin layer of toner can be formed on the developing roller 41.
The two light guide members 46 and 47 are formed of a material that has excellent optical transparency. For example, when a resin is used as the material, it is preferable to use an acrylic material having a high degree of transparency or a polycarbonate (PC) resin material having a high degree of transparency. Furthermore, optical glass can be used as a material of the light guide members 46 and 47. With optical glass, a better optical characteristic can be obtained. Alternatively, optical fibers can be used as materials for the light guide members 46 and 47. When optical fibers are used, the degree of freedom in the design of optical pathways formed from the light guide members 46 and 47 is improved.
An end portion of the light guide member 46 is exposed outside the developer housing 40. Similarly, an end portion of the light guide member 47 is exposed outside the developer housing 40. In a state where the developer unit process is attached to the main body of the imaging apparatus 100, a light-emitting element (not shown) faces the exposed end portion of the light guide member 46. On the other hand, a light-receiving element. light (not shown) faces the exposed end portion (not shown) of the light guide member 47. The light-emitting element and the light-receiving element are attached to the side of the main body and function as a toner quantity detection unit. In a state where the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element face the corresponding exposed end portions of the light guide members 46 and 47, a light path for guiding light from the light element. light emission to the light receiving element through the light guide members 46 and 47 is formed.
Namely, light emitted from the light-emitting element is guided into the developer housing 40 through the light-guiding member 46, and subsequently the light is guided to the light-receiving element through the light-receiving member. light guide 47. Furthermore, in the developer housing 40, a predetermined space is provided between the end portions of the light guide members 46 and 47 that face each other.
The toner cartridge 50 includes at least one container body 70 which includes a toner storage space 51 therein for storing toner; discharge opening 52 for discharging toner into container body 70; the transport screw 53 which functions as a conveyor to transport the toner into the container body 70 to a discharge opening 52; and an agitator 54 agitates the toner within the toner storage space 51. The discharge opening 52 is disposed in a lower portion of the container body 70. On the other hand, a supply opening 49 is formed in the corresponding mounting portion 106. of the dividing plate 108, to which the toner cartridge 50 is attached. Supply opening 49 is connected to discharge opening 52.
Carrier screw 53 is formed by attaching a spiral-shaped blade 531 around an outer circumference of a rotating shaft 530. Agitator 54 is formed by attaching a deformable blade 541 having a flatter shape to a rotating shaft 540. The shaft The swivel 540 is arranged parallel to the swivel axis 530 of the conveyor screw 53. The blade 541 of the agitator 54 is formed of a flexible material such as a PET film. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 2, by forming a bottom surface 501 of the container body 70 to be an arc shape along a rotational path of the blade 541, an amount of toner that is moved by the blade 541 and remains within the blade. 51 toner storage space can be reduced.
In the first embodiment, the cartridge 50 can be individually attached to the main body of the apparatus 100. However, the configuration of the cartridge 50 is not limited to this configuration. For example, the toner cartridge 50 can be integrally formed together with the developing device 4 and the photoconductor 2 so that the toner cartridge 50 can be replaced as a process unit. Alternatively, the toner cartridge 50 can be integrally formed together with the developing device 4 so that the toner cartridge 50 can be replaced as a developing unit. In that case, the toner cartridge 50 can be directly attached to an upper portion of the developing device 4 by removing the dividing plate 108 described above and providing the mounting portion 106 on the upper portion of the developing device 4.
The developing operations of the developing device described above are explained while referring to figure 2. When it is directed to start the imaging operations and the developing roller 41 and the supply roller 42 start to rotate, the toner is supplied to the surface of the developing roller 41 by the supply roller 42. When the toner supported on the developing roller 41 passes through the tong portion between the developing roller 41 and the developing blade 43, the thickness of the toner layer is regulated while the toner on the developing roller 41 is transported to the position facing the photoconductor 2 (developing area), the toner electrostatically transfers onto the photoconductor 2 and the toner image is formed.
Next, the toner supply operations to supply toner to the developing device are explained. Toner is supplied to the developing device when the amount of toner in the developer housing 40 becomes less than or equal to a predetermined set point. Specifically, when the amount of toner in the developer housing 40 is greater than the predetermined set point, the toner exists in the space between the end portions of the two light guide members 46 and 47, where the light guide members 46 and 47 are facing each other. Thus, the light path between the end portions is blocked by toner and light does not reach the light-receiving element. Subsequently, when the toner in the developer housing 40 is consumed and the amount of toner becomes less than or equal to the predetermined set point, the toner does not exist in the space between the end portions of the two light guide members 46 and 47 where the two light guide members 46 and 47 face each other, and light passes through the space between the end portions. When light passing through the space between the end portions is detected, it is instructed to supply toner.
When it is instructed to supply the toner, the shipping screw 53 on the toner cartridge 50 turns. Then, toner is conveyed towards a discharge opening 52, and thus toner is supplied from the discharge opening 52 to a first region E1 in the developer housing 40. Furthermore, in the first mode, when the screw conveyor 53 on toner cartridge 50 starts to rotate, agitator 54 starts to rotate at the same time. The toner inside the toner cartridge 50 is agitated and conveyed towards a transport screw 53 by rotating the agitator 54. Thereafter, when the amount of toner in the developer housing 40 becomes greater than the predetermined set point by the toner supply (namely, when the light path between the two light guide members 46 and 47 is blocked by the toner), the rotational drives of the transport screw 53 and the agitator 54 are stopped and the toner supply is stopped. concluded.
On the other hand, in the developer housing 40, when toner is supplied, the transport screw 44 disposed in a first region E1 and the transport screw 45 disposed in a second region E2 rotate, and the toner is transported in opposite directions. to the others, in the corresponding E1 and E2 regions. Toner transported to an end portion on a downstream side in the toner transport direction in region E1 is passed through the first communication opening 48a formed in the end portion of dividing member 48 and sent into region E2. Similarly, toner transported to an end portion on a side downstream in the toner transport direction in the E2 region is passed through the second communication opening 48a, which is the other communication opening 48a formed in the other end portion of the member. of division 48, and sent into the E1 region. The toner sent into the E2 region is transported by the transport screw 45 in the E2 region, and the toner is passed through the second communication port 48a and sent into the E1 region. Similarly, toner sent into the E1 region is transported by the transport screw 44 in the E1 region, and the toner is passed through the first communication port 48a and sent into the E2 region. By repeating these operations, the toner circulates in a first E1 region and a second E2 region, and the new toner that is supplied is mixed with the toner that already existed in the developer housing 40.
Thus, in the first modality, the state of the toner (the ratio of new toner to the toner) is homogenized, and a failure such as color mismatch and lubrication can be prevented from occurring.
Figure 3 is a diagram showing an external appearance of the toner cartridge described above. As shown in Figure 3, the container body 70 of the toner cartridge 50 includes an upper case 55 and a lower case 56. The conveyor screw 53 and agitator 54 are stored in an internal space formed by joining the upper case 55 and the lower box 56. As a method of joining the upper box 55 and the lower box 56, a welding method such welding with vibration and ultrasonic sounding, or a bonding method using a double-sided adhesive tape or a bond with adhesion can be used.
A gear cover 57 is disposed on a side surface placed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the upper case 55 and the lower case 56. Several gears are stored within a gear cover 57 as a transmission unit to transmit driving forces to the conveyor screw 53 and stirrer 54. The gears are covered by a gear cover 57 in order to prevent one user or another from mistakenly touching the gear during a replacement process to replace the toner cartridge 50.
A gear cover 57 includes an information storage means 58. The information storage means 58 stores information relating to the toner cartridge 50 such as a color of toner stored in the toner cartridge 50. The information storage means 58 includes multiple connection terminals. When the various connection terminals are electrically connected to an information reading unit (not shown) disposed in the main body of the image forming apparatus 100, the information reading unit can read information concerning the toner cartridge 50 and can update the information stored on the information storage medium 58.
A cap member 59 for sealing the toner cartridge supply opening 50 for supplying toner within the toner storage space 51 and an external shutter 60 for opening and closing the discharge opening 52 from the outside are disposed at the end. of the toner cartridge 50 where gear cover 57 is provided. The shape of the external plug 60 is a rounded plate along the surface where the discharge opening 52 is disposed. The cap member 59 is attached so as to prevent toner from leaking through the supply opening of the toner cartridge 50 after toner has been supplied into the toner cartridge 50 through the supply opening. The outer plug 60 is pivotally attached to the container body 70. The discharge opening 52 is switched between an open state and a closed state by rotation of the outer plug 60.
A fastener 61 is disposed on an upper surface from a center in the longitudinal direction of the container body 70. The fastener 61 is formed of, for example, a flexible member which is made of a material such as polypropylene or polyethylene. When the toner cartridge 50 is replaced, the user or another can easily affix and detach the toner cartridge 50 by retaining the catch 61.
Figure 4 shows a state where the upper case 55 and gear cover 57 are removed from the toner cartridge 50. In figure 4, reference numerals 62, 63, and 64 are the various gears stored within the toner cover. gear 57 described above. Among these gears, the gear indicated by reference numeral 62 is a transport drive gear attached to the rotary shaft 530 of the transport bolt 53, which protrudes from the side surface at the end of the lower case 56. The gear indicated by the numeral reference 63 is an agitation drive gear attached to the rotary shaft 540 of the agitator 54, which protrudes from the side surface at the end of the lower casing 56. The gear indicated by reference numeral 64 is a torque transmission gear which transmits a rotational torque while engaging with the transport drive gear 62 and the agitation drive gear 63. The gears 62, 63, and 64 are drive force transmitters for locking the transport screw 53 with the agitator 54.
Bearings 80 and 81 (as shown in Figure 28) are disposed at the portions where the swivel shaft 530 of the conveyor screw 53 and the swivel shaft 540 of the agitator 54 are passed through the lower case 56. The bearing members 80 and 81 support the corresponding 530 and 540 swivel shafts. Bearings 80 and 81 have sealing functions to prevent toner from leaking through the portions where the rotary shaft 530 and transport screw 53 are passed through the lower case 56. For the sealing functions of the corresponding bearings 80 and 81, by For example, G seals can be used. The G seal is a seal made of a rubber having substantially the shape of a G. The G seal holds a shaft in a radial direction by an elastic seal lip that is integrally formed with a ring main body on a circumferential portion of the main body of ring. Furthermore, as a bearing which is less expensive than the bearing for which the G-seal is used, a bearing formed by combining a sponge having high hardness and a resin bearing such as POM can be used.
In the first embodiment, when the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, the transport drive gear 62 engages with a main body drive gear 105 (as shown in Figure 15), which is included in the main body of the apparatus 100. When the main body side drive gear 105 is rotary driven in this condition, the transport drive gear 62, the torque drive gear 64, and the agitation drive gear 63 rotate in the corresponding directions indicated by the arrows in figure 4, and in this way the transport screw 53 and the agitator 54 rotate.
Furthermore, the transport drive gear 62 in the first mode is formed as a two-stage gear having a large diameter gear and a small diameter gear, the torque transmission gear 64 engages with the large diameter gear, and the main body side drive gear 105 engages with the small diameter gear.
In the following, the configuration of the toner cartridge 50 described above is further explained in detail. Figures 5 and 6 are side views showing the toner cartridge 50 in a state where the gear cover 57 is removed. In the first embodiment, torque transmission gear 64 is movable between an operating position where torque transmission gear 64 engages with other gears 62 and 63 to transmit a torque as shown in Figure 5 and a retracted position where the torque transmission gear 64 Torque transmission 64 is retracted from the operating position as shown in Figure 6. Specifically, the torque transmission gear 64 is disposed in a gear retainer 71. The gear retainer 71 can pivot about the pivot shaft 530 of the transport screw 53 (or the transport drive gear 62), while being centered on the swivel 530 . The position of the torque transmission gear 64 is switched between the operating position which is shown in Figure 5 and the stowed position which is shown in Figure 6 by the pivot of the gear retainer 71.
In the first embodiment, a gear sequence is formed by three gears 62, 63, and 64. However, the gear sequence can be formed by two gears or four or more gears. In addition, a number of gears included in the gear sequence can be moved between the operating position and the stowed position.
As shown in Figure 7, the outer plug 60 is formed integrally with the gear retainer 71. Therefore, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, when the gear retainer 71 pivots, the outer plug 60 also pivots about the pivot shaft 530 of the transport screw 53, while being centered on the rotating shaft 530. In this case, as shown in Figure 5, the discharge opening 52 is opened by the external shutter 60 in a state where the torque transmission gear 64 is arranged in the position of operation. On the other hand, as shown in Figure 6, the discharge opening 52 is closed by the outer shutter 60 in a state where the torque transmission gear 64 is disposed in the retracted position. In other words, the outer shutter is formed to be connected to the movement of the torque transmission gear 64 between the operating position and the retracted position.
Furthermore, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, one end of a tension spring 72 which functions as a biasing member is curved into a first hook 71a disposed on the gear retainer 71. The first hook 71a is adjacent to the transmission gear of torque 64. The other end of the tension spring 72 is curved into a second hook 70a disposed on a side surface of the upper case 55. The gear retainer 71 is biased by a tension (a biasing force) from the spring. tension 72, so as to remove the torque transmission gear 64 from the agitation drive gear 63. Therefore, in a state where an external force does not act on the gear retainer 71, as shown in Figure 6, the retainer gear 71 is pulled up by tension spring 72, and torque transmission gear 64 is disposed in the retracted position.
In addition, the gear retainer 71 includes a gear retainer protrusion 71b as a biasing portion disposed in a position where a main body protrusion of the apparatus 102 as a main body side biasing portion included in the mounting portion 106 of the The main body of the apparatus 100 contacts and pushes up the protrusion of the gear retainer 71b (as shown in Figure 15) when the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the main body of the apparatus 100. The shape of the protrusion of the main body of the apparatus 102 is a plate extending vertically from the bottom of the mounting portion 106 near the supply opening 115 as shown in figure 16.
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge 50 in which the toner cartridge 50 is cut at the position of the transport screw 53 perpendicular to the direction of the rotary shaft 530. As shown in Figure 8, an inner shutter 22 is disposed within. of the container body 70. The inner shutter 22 is for opening and closing the discharge opening 52 from the inside. As described, in the first embodiment, a double shutter configuration is adopted so that it includes the inner shutter 22 for opening and closing the discharge opening 52 from the interior and the outer shutter 60 for opening and closing the discharge opening 52 from the outside.
Inner plug 22 is formed to have a cylindrical shape. An inner opening 23 is formed on the peripheral wall of the inner shutter 22. The state of a discharge opening 52 can be switched between an open state where the inner opening 23 overlaps the discharge opening 52 and a closed state where the peripheral wall of inner shutter 22 overlaps discharge opening 52 (a state where inner opening 23 does not overlap discharge opening 52).
A portion downstream in the toner transport direction of the transport screw 53 is placed within the inner plug 22. An inner space of the inner plug 22 is a toner transport passage 66 as a developer transport passage where toner is transported by the transport screw 53.
In addition, the inner shutter 22 includes a return opening 24 for returning toner that has not been discharged from the discharge opening 52 from the interior of the inner shutter 22 (toner transport passage 66) into the storage space. of toner container 51. The return opening 24 is disposed on a side downstream of the inner opening 23 in the toner transport direction.
A top portion 65 having a half roll shape is disposed on an outer circumferential side of the inner plug 22. The inner plug 22 is pivotally supported between the roof portion 65 and an inner surface of the container body 70 In the present document, the inner shutter 22 can be supported by overhanging one end of the inner shutter 22, without providing the roof portion. However, by providing the roof portion 65, the inner surface of the roller functions as a bearing, and the rotational position of the inner shutter 22 can be stabilized. Furthermore, the roof portion 65 includes a second return opening 67 which is disposed in a position corresponding to the return opening 24 of the inner shutter 22.
Furthermore, the cylindrical sealing members 25 are disposed in a space between the outer circumferential surface of the inner plug 22 and the inner circumferential surface of the roof portion 65 and a space between the inner circumferential surface of the inner plug 22 and the wall surface. inside the container body 70, so as to prevent toner from leaking from these spaces.
Figure 9A is a diagram showing a cross section II in figure 8. Figure 9A shows an open state where the inner opening 23 overlaps the discharge opening 52. On the other hand, figure 9B shows a closed state where the inner opening 23 do not overlap with discharge opening 52. As shown in Figure 9A, the return opening 24 formed in the inner plug 22 is extending in the circumferential direction of the inner plug 22. The return opening 24 has an opening which is larger than an opening of the inner opening 23 in the circumferential direction. By forming the return opening 24 of the inner shutter 22 in this way, a portion of the return portion 24 of the inner shutter 22 can be overlapped with the second return opening 67 of the roof portion 65, regardless of whether the return opening 24 is in the state. open shown in figure 9A or in the closed state shown in figure 9B.
Figure 10A is a diagram showing a state where the inner shutter 22 is opened by a drive unit. Figure 10B is a diagram showing a state where the inner shutter 22 is closed. Furthermore, figure 11 is a perspective view of the inner shutter and the drive unit, which are viewed from the outside. In figures 10 and 11, the gear cover 57 and gears such as the transport drive gear 62 are removed from the toner cartridge 50. In the present document, thereafter, the inner shutter drive unit 22 is explained, based on figures 10 and 11.
As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the inner shutter 22 is actuated, for example, by a tension spring 26 which functions as a biasing member that applies bias to the inner shutter 22 attached to the toner cartridge 50, a bulge of the inner shutter. 27 formed over the inner shutter 22, and a moving member 113 which is disposed on the mounting portion 106 of the main body of the apparatus 100 and which is movable in the horizontal direction.
The inner plug protrusion 27 is formed at one end of the inner plug 22 that is exposed from the lower casing 56. The inner plug protrusion 27 protrudes toward the inner plug 22. The tension spring 26 is curved towards the inner plug bulge 27 and a hook 70b. In other words, tension spring 26 is disposed between toner container 50 and inner shutter 22.
The movement member 113 is a member in longitudinal form extending in the horizontal direction. The moving member 113 is movably attached to the main body of the apparatus 100. The moving member 113 is formed to be reciprocated in the horizontal direction by a drive unit disposed in the main body of the apparatus 100. As a drive unit of the member of motion 113, it is preferable to use a device having a small fluctuation in amount of motion, such as a solenoid or cam mechanism. In addition, the movement member 113 has a convex shape 114 that can abut the inner obturator bulge 27.
Subsequently, the opening and closing operations of the inner shutter 22 are explained while referring to figures 10A and 10B. As shown in Figure 10A, when moving member 113 is moved in the leftward direction in the figure, the convex shape 114 of moving member 113 compresses the protrusion of the inner plug 27 against the biasing force from the tension spring 26. and thereby pivoting the inner shutter 22 clockwise in the figure. As a consequence, inner opening 23 is arranged to face downwards in the figure, and inner opening 23 is open as shown in figure 9A.
Contrary to this, when the moving member 113 is moved in the right direction as shown in Fig. 10B, there is no force to compress the protrusion of the inner plug 27. Thus, the inner plug 22 pivots counterclockwise in the figure by biasing force of the tension spring 26. Consequently, the inner opening 23 is directed in the right direction in the figure, and the inner opening 23 is closed as shown in the figure 9B.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of a gear cover 57, which is viewed from the front side. As shown in Figure 12, a groove 73 is disposed in the vertical direction on the outer surface of the gear cover 57 (front surface). When the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the main body of the apparatus 100, the groove 73 cooperates with the protrusion 101 (as shown in Figure 15) a side portion of the main body projecting horizontally from the inner side surface of the mounting portion 106 of the body. the main body of the apparatus 100, and thus the slot 73 functions to guide the toner cartridge 50 in the direction in which the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the main body of the apparatus 100 and functions to position the toner cartridge 50 with respect to the position of the apparatus. main body of the apparatus 100. In the following, the protrusion 101 is called a horizontal protrusion 101 for convenience. Specifically, in the groove 73, an extension from the lower end to a next part in width with upper neck is a container guide portion 73a having the function of guiding, and the width at upper neck is a container positioning portion 73b having a positioning function. The lower end f of the container guide portion 73a opens downwards. The open width of the container guide portion 73a at the lower end is set to be large and the upper portion of the container guide portion 73a is formed so that its width gradually narrows towards the container positioning portion 73b.
In addition, a convex positioning 79 is formed on the front side of the gear cover 57. The convex positioning 79 functions as another container guide portion and another toner cartridge container positioning portion 50 with respect to the mounting portion 106 of the main body of apparatus 100. Convex positioning 79 cooperates with a main body groove 103 (as shown in Figure 15) disposed in main body of apparatus 100, and thus convex positioning 79 functions to guide toner cartridge 50 in the direction toward that the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the main body of the apparatus 100 and functions to position the toner cartridge 50 with respect to the position of the main body of the apparatus 100. Thus, in the first embodiment, the position of the toner cartridge 50 is positioned with the main body of the apparatus 100 using the two positions, viz. the container positioning portion 73b and the convex positioning 79 shown in Figure 12.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of the gear cover 57, which is viewed from the rear side. As shown in Figure 13, a protrusion 76 for positioning is projecting on the rear side of the gear cover 57. When the gear cover 57 is attached to the housings 55 and 56, the protrusion 76 is inserted into an elongated hole 77 (as per 5, a rectangular hole) disposed in a side surface of the upper case 55. In this way, the gear cover 57 is positioned with the upper case 55. The gear cover 57 is attached to the case 55 and 56 by engaging deformable engagement pieces disposed on a surrounding edge of the gear cover 57 with tongues disposed on the corresponding end counterparts of the housings 55 and 56.
Furthermore, a hole 78 is formed in the rear side of the gear cover 57. The end of the swivel shaft 530 which is a part of the transport screw 53 and protrudes from the lower case 56 is inserted into the hole 78. Namely, the gear cover 57 is positioned with the lower case 56 supporting the swivel shaft 530 with the orifice 78. Thus, in the first embodiment, the cases 55 and 56 are positioned with the gear cover 57 by two positions, viz. protrusion 76 and port 78 shown in Figure 13. Specifically, upper case 55 is positioned with gear cover 57 by protrusion 76 shown in Figure 13. Similarly, lower case 56 is positioned with gear cover 57 by port 78 shown in figure 13.
As described above, in the first embodiment, the two positioning portions for positioning the gear cover 57 on the main body of the apparatus 100 are arranged on the front side of a gear cover 57, and the two positioning portions for positioning the gear cover 57 on the housings 55 and 56 are arranged on the rear side of the gear cover 57. The two positioning portions on the front side of the gear cover 57 are arranged at the same or nearly the same locations as the two corresponding positioning portions on the side rear of the gear cover 57 are arranged. Specifically, the protrusion 76 shown in Figure 13 is disposed proximate the rear side of the container positioning portion 73b of the slot 73 shown in Figure 12, and the hole 78 shown in Figure 13 is disposed on the rear side of the convex positioning 79 shown in figure 12.
Figure 14 is a diagram showing the toner cartridge 50, which is viewed from the side of the gear cover 57. In Figure 14, the projected areas of the gears 62, 63, and 64 corresponding on the outer surface of the gear cover 57 are shown by the dashed lines. In the present document, slot 73 is disposed on the outer surface of the gear cover 57. The area shown by reference symbol J is the projected area of the torque transmission gear 64 disposed in the operating position, and the area shown by the symbol reference U is the area of the torque transmission gear 64 arranged in the stowed position. Thus, in the first embodiment, a portion of the container guide portion 73a of the groove 73 is positioned within the projected area J of the torque transmission gear 64 disposed in the operating position. In the present document, the entire container guide portion 73a can be positioned within the projected area J of the torque transmission gear 64 disposed in the operating position. On the other hand, the container positioning portion 73b having a smaller width is required to be positioned outside the projected area J of the torque transmission gear 64 disposed in the operating position.
Next, the configuration of the main body of the apparatus 100 is explained. As shown in Figure 15, the various mounting portions 106 for mounting the toner cartridge 50 for the corresponding colors are disposed on the main body of the apparatus 100. For each of the toner cartridges 50, the corresponding mounting portion 106 is provided. Namely, there are four mounting portions 106. In figure 15, the two toner cartridges 50 are mounted on the two corresponding mounting portions 106 among the four mounting portions 106. The correspondence between the toner cartridge 50 and the mounting portions 106 are determined by the toner colors inside the corresponding toner cartridge 50.
Each of the mounting portions 106 includes the bulge from the main body of the apparatus 102 which protrudes upward.
When the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, the apparatus main body protrusion 102 pushes up the gear retainer protrusion 71b (as shown in Fig. 7) of the gear retainer 71.
Four connection ends 104 of the information readout unit are on an inner surface of one of the side walls 111 shown in figure 15. When the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the main body of the apparatus 100, the connection terminals 104 are connected to the corresponding connecting terminals of the information storage means 58 arranged on the gear cover 57 of the toner cartridge 50.
Furthermore, horizontal protrusions 101 projecting in the horizontal direction are disposed on the inner surface of the side wall 111 of the mounting portion 106 of the main body of the apparatus 100. Each of the horizontal protuberances 101 cooperates with the slot 73 disposed on a cover of gear 57 (as shown in Fig. 12), and thus functions as a main body side guide portion that orients the toner cartridge 50 in the direction in which the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100 and functions as a main body side positioning portion for positioning the toner cartridge 50 in the apparatus main body 100.
In addition, for each of the mounting portions 106, a main body groove 103 is disposed vertically on the inner surface of the side wall 111 of the main body of the apparatus 100 as a main body side guide portion and a side positioning portion. of the main body, other than the horizontal bulge 101 described above. An upper end 103a of each of the slots in the main body of the apparatus 103 opens upwards. The convex positioning 79 (as shown in Fig. 12) formed on the toner cartridge 50 can be inserted into the upper end portion 103a, which is open. On the other hand, a receiving portion for receiving the convex positioning 79 is formed at a lower end 103b of the main body groove 103. Namely, the lower end 103b of the main body groove 103 functions as the lateral body positioning portion. main for positioning the convex positioning 79, and in the range from the top end 103a to the lower end 103b of the main body groove 103 excluding the lower end 103b functions as the main body side guide portion to guide the convex positioning 79 .
In addition, the main body side drive gear 105 is disposed in proximity to the lower end 103b of each of the main body grooves 103. The main body side drive gear 105 is rotatably driven by a drive source disposed in the body. of the apparatus 100. In addition, when the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the main body of the apparatus 100, the side drive gear of the main body 105 engages with the transport drive gear 62 (as shown in Fig. 5).
The movement member 113 for rotatably actuating the inner shutter 22 is disposed in the main body of the apparatus 100. As shown in Figure 15, the movement member 113 has a number of convex shapes 114 which enclose the protrusions 27 of the corresponding toner cartridge 50.
As shown in Figure 16, a sealing member 115 is disposed on a flange of the supply opening 49 disposed in the main body of the apparatus 100. Therefore, as shown in Figure 17, in a state where the discharge opening 52 and the opening of supply 49 are connected, the sealing member 115 is disposed between the two openings 49 and 52. In this way, the space between the two openings 49 and 52 is sealed, and thus preventing toner from scattering within the apparatus.
Figure 18 is a diagram showing an internal structure of the main body of apparatus 100 on a side that is opposite the side shown in Figure 15. As shown in Figure 18, for each of the mounting portions 106, a biasing member 107 is disposed on a sidewall 112. Biasing member 107 biases toner cartridge 50 toward sidewall 111 (opposite side of sidewall 112). In the first embodiment, bias member 107 is formed from a flat spring.
In the following, operations for affixing and detaching the toner cartridge 50 are explained while referring to figures 19A, 19B, and 19C. When the toner cartridge 50 is to be attached to the main body of the apparatus 100, the upper cover 109 (as in Figure 1) of the main body of the apparatus 100 is opened so that the toner cartridge 50 can be mounted on the mounting portion. 106. Then, the toner cartridge 50 is retained, and as shown in Fig. 19A, the toner cartridge 50 is inserted into the upper opening portion of the main body of the apparatus 100 towards the mounting portion 106, which is disposed in a bottom side.
When the toner cartridge 50 is inserted into the main body of the apparatus 100, the convex positioning 79 formed on the cartridge 50 is fitted over the main body groove 103, as shown in Figure 19B. Thus, by fitting the convex positioning 79 over the main body groove 103, the convex positioning 79 cooperates with the main body groove 103, and thus the toner cartridge 50 is inserted into the apparatus main body 100 while being guided by the groove. of the main body 103. When the toner cartridge 50 is further inserted downwards, the horizontal protuberance 101 disposed in the main body of the apparatus 100 is fitted over the slot 73 disposed on the toner cartridge 50. Thus, the toner cartridge 50 also is guided by the fit between the horizontal protrusion 101 and the groove 73.
Furthermore, when the toner cartridge 50 is mounted on the mounting portion 106, as shown in Fig. 19C, the convex positioning 79 on the toner cartridge 50 supports the lower end (the receiving portion) of the main body groove 103 The position of the toner cartridge 50 is aligned with the confinement. Specifically, the fit between the convex positioning 79 and the lower end of the main body groove 103 regulates the downward movement of the toner cartridge 50 in the horizontal direction along the side wall 111 (the horizontal direction in Fig. 19C).
Furthermore, when the toner cartridge 50 is mounted over the mounting portion 106, the horizontal protrusion 101 on the main body of the apparatus 100 is fitted over the container positioning portion 73b where the width of the slot 73 is small. The toner cartridge 50 is also positioned by the fit between the horizontal bulge 101 and the container positioning portion 73b. Specifically, the fit between the horizontal protuberance 101 and the container positioning portion 73b regulates the movement of the toner cartridge 50 in the rotational direction centered on the convex positioning 79.
Furthermore, at the end of the toner cartridge 50 which is opposite the side of the toner cartridge 50 where the toner cartridge 50 is positioned by the horizontal bulge 101 and the groove 73, the biasing member 107 (as shown in Fig. 18) disposed in the The apparatus main body 100 biases the toner cartridge towards the side wall 111 on which the horizontal protrusion 101 of the apparatus main body 100 and the like are disposed. The biasing force regulates the movement of the toner cartridge 50 in the direction perpendicular to the side wall 111 of the main body of the apparatus 100 (the perpendicular direction of the paper surface of Fig. 19C), and thereby preventing the convex positioning 79 from coming out. of the main body groove 103 and preventing the horizontal protrusion 101 from coming out of the container positioning portion 73b. Especially, in the first embodiment, the biasing member 107 ensures that the various connection terminals of the information storage medium 58 are compressed into corresponding connection terminals on the main body. Namely, the biasing member 107 is also responsible for ensuring the electrical connections between the connecting terminals.
As shown in Fig. 19C, when the toner cartridge 50 is mounted on the mounting portion 106, the bulge of the main body of the apparatus 102 pushes up the bulge of the gear retainer 71b. By this, the gear retainer 71 pivots in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 19C against the tension (the biasing force) of the tension spring 72, and the torque transmission gear 64 is disposed at the position where the transmission gear torque 64 engages with agitation drive gear 63. Furthermore, when the gear retainer 71 pivots, the outer plug 60 which is integrally formed with the gear retainer 71 pivots, and the outer circumference of the discharge opening 52 is open . However, in this case (in the case where the toner cartridge 50 is mounted on the main body), the inner shutter 22 is kept closed. The effect of keeping this state closed is explained. In the sequence of processes, the external shutter 60 is open. However, there is a time when the discharge opening 52 of the toner cartridge 50 is not connected to the supply opening 49 of the main body. In that case, toner may leak down without the double shutter structure. However, as long as the inner shutter 22 is kept closed, toner does not leak. Incidentally, when the torque transmission gear 64 moves to the operating position, since the horizontal protrusion 101 has already passed through the area that overlaps the operating position over the groove 73 at a time when the gear torque transmission gear 64 approaches slot 73, torque transmission gear 64 does not interfere with horizontal protrusion 101.
As described above, when the torque transmission gear 64 moves into the operating position and engages with the agitation drive gear 63, the transport screw 53 and the agitator 54 are engaged in a state where the drive can be broadcast. At the same time, the outer plug 60 which is formed integrally with the gear retainer 71 pivots from the position shown in Figure 19B to the position shown in Figure 19C, and the discharge opening 52 is opened. The open discharge opening 52 is connected with the supply opening 49 on the side of the main body of the apparatus 100.
Subsequently, the inner shutter 22 is opened. Specifically, the moving member of the drive unit, such as the solenoid or cam mechanism, moves the moving member 113 while being triggered by the closing of the top cover 109. For example, when the printer is turned on, the moving member 113 moves to the left direction in the figure and opens the inner shutter 22 as shown in figure 10A. With this, both the inner shutter 22 and the outer shutter 60 are opened, and toner can be discharged from the discharge opening 52.
Figure 20 shows a state where the torque transmission gear 64 is arranged in the operating position. Figure 21 shows a state where the discharge opening 52 is opened. In figure 20, gear cover 57 is not shown.
Also, as shown in Fig. 19C, when the toner cartridge 50 is mounted on the mounting unit 106, the transport drive gear 62 engages with the main body side drive gear 105. main body 105 is rotatably driven by a drive source (not shown), in this state the drive force is transmitted to the transport screw 53 and the agitator 54 through the transport drive gear 62, the torque transmission gear 64 , and the agitation drive gear 63, and the transport screw 53 and the agitator 54 are rotationally driven. With this, toner is supplied from the open exhaust port 52 to the developing device through the supply port 49.
Furthermore, when the toner cartridge 50 is mounted on the mounting unit 106, the connecting terminals of the information storing means 58 on the side of the toner cartridge 50 are connected to the corresponding connecting terminals 104 of the information reading device. beside the main body of the apparatus 100. With this, information regarding the toner cartridge 50 can be read, or the information stored in the information storage means 58 can be updated.
When the toner cartridge 50 is removed from the main body of the apparatus 100, first the inner shutter 22 is closed. Specifically, when the top cover 109 is opened (as per Fig. 1), the drive unit of the moving member moves cooperatively, and as shown in Fig. 10B, the moving member 113 is moved in the direction to the right in the Fig. , and in this way the inner shutter 22 is closed.
Subsequently, when the toner cartridge 50 is raised, as shown in Fig. 19B, the upward thrust of the protrusion of the gear retainer 71b by the protrusion of the main body of apparatus 102 is released, and the gear retainer 71 is pivoted by tension ( bias force) from the tension spring 72 and is returned to its original position. The torque transmission gear 6 is disposed in the retracted position where the torque transmission gear 64 is separated from the agitation drive gear 63, according to the pivot of the gear retainer 71. Incidentally, at this time, the protrusion horizontal line 101 passes through the area that overlaps with the operating position on the groove 73. However, since the torque transmission gear 64 has already been retracted from the operating position on the groove 73 by the time the bulge horizontal 101 reaches the area, horizontal protrusion 101 does not interfere with torque transmission gear 6.
Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 19B, when the gear retainer 71 is pivoted to its original position, the outer plug 60 is accordingly pivoted and the discharge opening 52 is closed. With this, the inner obturator 22, which tends to become dirty due to the connection with the supply opening 49, is covered with the outer obturator 60. Consequently, the probability that the user's hand becomes dirty by contacting the portion shutter speed is decreased. Since the inner shutter 22 and outer shutter 60 are closed, the resistance against scattering of toner from the discharge opening 52 is significantly improved.
Figure 22 shows a state where the torque transmission gear 64 is disposed in the stowed position. Figure 23 shows a state where the discharge opening 52 is closed. In figure 22, gear cover 57 is not shown.
As described above, in the first embodiment, the user or others are prevented from contacting the gears by covering the gears with the gear cover 57. However, since a portion of the transport drive gear 62 is exposed from the lower portion of the gear cover 57 so that the transport drive gear 62 can be engaged with the main body side drive gear 105, it is possible for the user or others to contact the transport drive gear 62 during a cartridge replacement process of toner 50. For example, if the user or another rotates the transport drive gear 62 when the toner cartridge 50 is detached from the main body of the apparatus 100, the transport screw 53 rotates and the toner is transported. In this way, if toner clogs the inner plug 22 and a charge is generated, it is possible that the toner will deteriorate and the transport screw 53 and container body 70 are broken.
However, in the first mode, the return opening 24 is disposed in the inner shutter 22, and the second return opening 67 is disposed in the ceiling portion 65. Thus, even if the toner is transported by the transport screw 53, the toner it can be returned to the toner storage space 51 through the return openings 24 and 67. Namely, as shown in Fig. 9B, when the toner cartridge 50 is detached, the discharge opening 52 is closed. However, since a portion of the inner plug return opening 24 is overlapped with the second return opening 67 of the roof portion 65, the toner inside the inner plug 22 can be returned through the return openings 24 and 67. width of the second of the second return opening 67 is wider than the width of the return opening 24 so that the second return opening 67 can overlap in both positions of the return opening 24, the lateral position and the position bottom as shown in figures 9a and 9b. In this way, the charge applied to the toner inside the inner shutter 22 can be lessened. Thus, the toner can be prevented from being deteriorated, and the transport screw 53 and container body 70 are prevented from being broken.
of apparatus 100, the torque transmission gear 64 is moved to the stowed position, as shown in Figure 19A. Thus, the transport drive gear 62 is disengaged from the agitation drive gear 63. Therefore, if the user or another rotates the transport drive gear 62 in this state, the transport screw 53 and the agitator 54 are not driven. cooperatively. Therefore, the condensation charge, which is caused by the overfeeding of toner towards the return opening 24, is prevented from being applied to the toner.
Below, a detailed reason is described. When the discharge opening 52 is closed, if the transport screw 53 and the agitator 54 are operated cooperatively, the condensation charge for the toner may be exceeded than the reduction effort by the return opening 24. The amount of toner fed towards the return opening 24 may exceed returnable quantities. However, in the first embodiment, the toner transport screw 53 and the agitator 54 have settings such that they are not cooperatively actuated when the toner cartridge 50 is detached from the main body of the apparatus 100. condensation, which is caused by the excessive feeding of toner towards the return opening 24, is prevented from being applied to the toner.
As described above, according to the first embodiment of the present invention, failures caused by the user's unconscious rotation of the transport screw 53 in the state where the toner cartridge 50 is detached from the main body of the apparatus 100, such as deterioration toner and component damage can be suppressed. Therefore, a high quality and highly reliable imaging apparatus can be provided.
In the mode described above, the case where the user or another turns the transport drive gear 62 has been explained as an example. However, when the agitation drive gear 63 is exposed from the gear cover 57, for the convenience of the sketch, for example, the agitation drive gear 63 can be driven. In that case, the agitator is rotated, but rotation of the transport screw 53 can be avoided. Therefore, toner can be prevented from being fed into the proximity of the discharge opening 52, which is a narrow cylindrical space, and into the return opening 24, and the charge, which is caused by the transport screw 53 which is actuated when the Toner cartridge 50 was detached from the main body of the apparatus 100, can be prevented from being applied to the toner.
In addition, the imaging apparatus according to the first modality demonstrates the following functions and effects. The return openings 24 and 67 function not only in a state where the toner cartridge 50 is detached from the main body 100, but also in a state where the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the main body of the apparatus 100. Viz. as shown in Figure 9A, even when the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the main body of the apparatus 100 and the discharge opening 52 is open, the return opening 24 portion of the inner shutter 22 overlaps with the second opening of return 67 of the ceiling portion 65. Thus, the toner inside the inner shutter 22 can be returned through the return openings 24 and 67. Especially, although the discharge opening 52 is being obstructed, it is possible that toner accumulates and charge is applied. Even in that case, the toner can be returned to the toner storage 51 through the return openings 24 and 67, and in this way the charge applied to the toner can be lowered. In this way, even in the state where the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the main body of the apparatus 100, faults such as toner deterioration and component data can be suppressed.
Furthermore, it is preferable that the position where the second return opening 67 is formed in the ceiling portion 65 is located outside the agitation region 200 of the agitator 54, as shown in Figure 24. When the second return opening 67 is disposed within of the agitation region 200, specifically, when the second return opening 67 is disposed on the periphery wall on the right side of the ceiling portion 65, it is possible for the toner discharged from the second return opening 67 to be pushed back by the agitator. 54. Therefore, by arranging the second return opening 67 outside the agitation region 200, toner can be smoothly discharged into the toner storage space 51 through the return opening 67.
Furthermore, as shown in figure 25, the direction of blade 153b at an end portion of the transport screw 53 on a downstream side in the toner transport direction can be fixed opposite the direction of the blade 153 on the portion of the transport screw. transport 53 other than the end portion, so that toner is returned from the end portion of the transport screw 53 in the toner transport direction to the return opening 24. With this configuration, a stream is generated on the side closer to the end portion of the transport bolt 53 than to the return opening. The flow actively returns the toner that has passed through the return opening 24 back to the return opening 24. As a consequence, the accumulation of toner on the end portion side can be suppressed, and damage to the transport screw 53 or to the container body 70 because charging from accumulated toner can be avoided.
Furthermore, in the example shown in Fig. 25, a first pitch of the blade 153a in a first portion XI between the return opening 24 and the inner opening 23 is fixed to be smaller than a second pitch of the blade 153a in a second portion X2. on an upstream side of the inner opening 23 in the toner transport direction. With this configuration, the toner transport speed at the downstream side of the discharge opening 52 becomes slower than the toner transport speed at the upstream side of a discharge opening 52. The toner passing the discharge opening 52 jams and the next toner is eased out from the discharge opening 52.
Furthermore, in the first mode, the torque transmission gear 64 is movable between the operating position shown in Fig. 19B and the retracted position shown in Fig. 19C, as explained above. Therefore, the horizontal protuberance 101 of the main body of the apparatus 100 is prevented from interfering with the torque transmission gear 64 during the clamping operation and the detaching operation of the toner cartridge 50. As a consequence, a part of the guide portion of the container 73a or the entire guide portion of the container 73a can be arranged in the operating position of the torque transmission gear 64 (within the projected area J shown in figure 14), thereby improving the degree of freedom when designing the sketch of the guide mechanism of the toner cartridge 50, compared to conventional cases.
For example, in a conventional configuration of the toner cartridge 50 which has the sequence of several gears 62, 63, and 64, which are connected as shown in figure 14, it is required to arrange slot 73 on the left side in the figure with respect to the area design of the transport drive gear 62 or on the right side in the figure with respect to the projected area of an agitation drive gear 63, so as to arrange the groove 73 while avoiding the gear sequence. Alternatively, the gear sequence can be arranged as groove 73 overlaps the gear sequence extending the length of the toner cartridge 50 in the longitudinal direction Q. The above two types of arrangements are accompanied by growth in toner cartridge size 50, which is not related to the storage volume of the toner cartridge 50. Thus, the product may become less attractive by adopting this arrangement.
On the other hand, with the configuration according to the first mode, the groove 73 can be arranged in the space between the projected area of the transport drive gear 62 and the projected area of the agitation drive gear 63. In this configuration, it looks as if groove 73 and gear sequence were superimposed when groove 73 and gear sequence are viewed in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge 50. With the configuration according to the first modality, the degree of freedom when designing the mechanism sketch guide range is improved, and the toner cartridge 50 can be decreased in size compared to a toner cartridge having a conventional configuration.
Especially, in the configuration of the first embodiment shown in Fig. 14, it may be required to arrange the slot 73 as if the slot 73 penetrated the gear sequence, based on the following reasons. Firstly, in the case of the configuration shown in Figure 14, it is preferable that the disposed position of the information storage means 58 is at an upper portion of the toner cartridge 50 (the position which is separated from the discharge opening 52 in the diagonal direction , when the shape of the gear cover 57 is considered substantially as a rectangular shape) it is far from the discharge opening 52, so that it is difficult to soil the end surface of the information recording medium 58 with toner. Second, it is preferable that the disposed position of the container positioning portion 73b of the slot 73 is in proximity to the information recording means 58, so as to improve the positioning accuracy of the information recording means 58. container positioning portion 73b of slot 73 is disposed in an area above the gear sequence. Thus, in the scheme where the toner cartridge 50 is attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus 100 in the vertical direction, as in the case of the first embodiment, the slot 73 may be required to be downward from the area above the sequence. of gears.
Consequently, slot 73 is arranged as if slot 73 penetrated the gear sequence.
Especially, applying the configuration according to the first embodiment, for example to the configuration shown in figure 14, the groove 73 can be arranged between the projected area of the transport drive gear 62 and the projected area of the agitation drive gear 63. Therefore, a decrease in toner cartridge size can be expected.
Furthermore, as described above, in the configuration according to the first embodiment, the positioning accuracy of the information storage means 58 with respect to the contact terminals of the information reading device disposed in the main body of the apparatus 100 is improved by arranging the portion. of positioning the container 73b in the proximity of the information storage means 58. With this, the electrical connection between the information storage means 58 and the information reading device can be ensured. Furthermore, since the positioning accuracy of the information storage medium 58 is improved, the sizes of the contact terminals of the information storage medium 58 and those of the information reading device can be reduced. Generally, gold plating is applied to these contact terminals to prevent the contact terminals from corroding. By reducing the contact terminal sizes, the amount of gold plating can be reduced, and thus the production cost can be reduced.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the positioning unit is formed on the front side of the gear cover 57 for positioning the toner cartridge 50 with respect to the main body of the apparatus 100 (the container positioning portion 73b of the slot 73 and the convex positioning 79) and the positioning unit formed on the rear side of the gear cover 57 for positioning the gear cover 57 with respect to the housing 55 and 56 are arranged in the same or nearly the same positions on the front side and on the rear side of the gear cover 57. Furthermore, the convex positioning 7 on the front side and the hole 78 on the rear side are the main reference positions of the corresponding positioning portions of the main body. The container positioning portion 73b on the front side and the protrusion 76 in proximity to the position of the container positioning portion 73b on the rear side are sub-reference positions of the corresponding positioning portions of the main body. Thus, in the first mode, the main reference positions for positioning on the front side of the gear cover 57 and for positioning on the rear side of the gear cover 57 are arranged in the same corresponding positions on the front side and on the back side. Similarly, the sub-reference positions for positioning on the front side of the gear cover 57 and for positioning on the back side of the gear cover 57 are arranged in almost the same corresponding positions on the front side and on the back side. When the paper surfaces of Figure 19A through Figure 19C are considered as reference planes, the distance between the two main reference positions is minimized (equal to 0 mm) because both points of the two main reference positions are equal. Similarly, the distance between the two sub-reference positions is minimized (almost equal to 0 mm) . The gear cover 57 has been adopted in order to protect the gears. However, with the above configuration, the effect of adopting the gear cover 57, namely, variations in dimensions during the positioning of the container body 70 with respect to the main body of the apparatus 100 through the gear cover 57 can be suppressed . Consequently, even if the toner cartridges 50 are produced in a large quantity, all of the toner cartridges 50 produced can be positioned precisely with respect to the main bodies 100 of the corresponding device.
Furthermore, in the first embodiment, as long as the lower end of the slot 73 of the toner cartridge 50 is large in width, the horizontal protrusion 101 can be easily inserted into the slot 73 from the lower end. Furthermore, the slot 73 is formed so that the width of the slot 73 gradually becomes smaller towards the container positioning portion 73b. Therefore, the horizontal protuberance 101 can be smoothly oriented towards the container positioning portion 73b, and the toner cartridge 50 can be positioned precisely with respect to the main body of the apparatus 100 by the fit between the container positioning portion 73b having the small width and the horizontal protuberance 101 at the position of the container positioning portion 73b.
Furthermore, in the first mode, the time the inner shutter 22 is opened is fixed to be after the completion of assembling the toner cartridge 50. With this setting, the toner can be prevented from spreading from the toner cartridge 50 Namely, when the toner cartridge 50 is to be mounted in the main body of the apparatus 100, the outer shutter 60 is opened in accordance with the assembling operation, while the inner shutter 22 is still closed. Therefore, the toner is prevented from scattering before the connection between the discharge opening 52 and the supply opening 49 is established. The opening time of the outer shutter 60 is fixed to be the time before the completion of assembling the toner cartridge 50 so as to avoid interference between the outer shutter 60 and the supply opening 49 during the assembling operation.
Furthermore, when the toner cartridge 50 is removed from the main body of the apparatus 100, the inner shutter 22 is closed at the time that the toner cartridge 50 is still mounted in the main body of the apparatus 100. In this way, the toner internal can be prevented from spreading during the removal operation. Furthermore, since the outer shutter 60 is closed in accordance with the removal operation, even if toner is adhered within the discharge opening 52, the toner is not scattered. Thus, in the first mode, adopting the double shutter structure, including the inner shutter 22 and the outer shutter 60, the spreading of the toner from the discharge opening 52 during the attach operation and the toner cartridge detachment operation 50 is certainly forewarned.
Furthermore, in the first mode, when the toner cartridge 50 is to be removed from the main body of the apparatus 100, as long as the outer shutter 60 automatically closes the discharge opening 52 according to the removal operation, the toner leakage and toner scattering from discharge opening 52, which are caused by the outer shutter 60 being left open, can be prevented.
Incidentally, a configuration is conventionally known in which a rack and pinion mechanism is adopted as a drive unit to drive a cylindrical rotational shutter in accordance with an attachment operation and a detachment operation of a toner cartridge (as per the Patent JP Open to the Public n- 2009- 42567) . However, in this case, there is a problem that the toner cartridge guide unit may be required to be formed with a high precision, so that the shelf and the pinion smoothly engage with each other during the cartridge attaching operation. of toner.
Contrary to this, in the first embodiment, it is sufficient for the protrusion of the main body of the apparatus 102 to push the protrusion of the gear retainer 71b upwards. In the present document, the protrusion of the gear retainer 71b is formed integrally with the outer plug 60. Therefore, the position of the protrusion of the main body of the apparatus 102 can be approximately fixed. Also, the guide unit to guide the toner cartridge during an attach operation can be simple to set up. Therefore, the configuration according to the first mode is simpler than the configuration in which the rack and pinion mechanism is used.
The tension spring 26 and the movement member 113 shown in Figure 11 are used as the drive unit of the inner shutter 22. On the other hand, the tension spring 72 and the protrusion of the main body of the apparatus 102 shown in Figures 19A- 19C are used as the outer shutter drive unit 60. Namely, in the first embodiment, the inner shutter drive unit 22 and the outer shutter drive unit 60 are provided as individual different drive units. Thus, if an inner shutter 22 and outer shutter 60 do not operate due to an erroneous operation during the replacement operation of the toner cartridge 50 or a wrong operation of the main body of the apparatus 100, the other shutter operates, and thus the opening of discharge 52 may be closed. In this way, the probability of toner being smeared from discharge opening 52 due to misoperation of both inner shutter 22 and outer shutter 60 can be diminished.
In Figure 26, the width of the inner opening 23 formed in the inner shutter 22 is indicated as K1. The width of the discharge opening 52 is indicated as K2. The width of supply opening 49 is indicated as K3. It is preferable that K1, K2, and K3 satisfy the inequality Kl < K2 < K3. By adjusting the ratio between the widths of openings K1, K2, and K3, it can be ensured that toner is supplied to supply opening 49.
Figure 27 is a diagram showing a force applied to the toner cartridge 50 during transmission of a rotational torque. As shown in figure 27, when the main body side drive gear 105 rotates counterclockwise in the figure, a force is generated in the direction indicated by arrow F to a torque transmission point G where the side drive gear of the main body 105 engages with the transport drive gear 62. Then, a rotational load, which is applied to the transport drive gear 62 when the toner stored inside the toner cartridge 50 is agitated and transported, resists the force F. Consequently , a torque (moment) in the direction indicated by the arrow W is applied to the total 50 toner cartridge. In this document, the torque is centered on the convex positioning 79, which is positioned in place. However, as described above, as long as the movement of the toner cartridge 50 in the rotational direction centered on the convex positioning 79 is regulated by the fit between the horizontal protrusion 101 and the container positioning portion 73b of the slot 73, the toner cartridge 50 it is not rotated by torque. Especially, in the first embodiment, a length LI from the center of the convex positioning 79 to a portion in which the protruding portion receives the action force' (one of a pair of portions included in the container positioning portion 73b which is closest to the convex Mate 79), is about 6.4 times as much as a length L2 from the center of the convex Mate 79 to the torque transmission point G. Thus, the length LI is sufficiently large, and therefore a property resistant to rotation (positional stability) of the 50 toner cartridge is excellent. Within the gear cover 57, a passage area is provided, which the torque transmission gear 64 passes through when the torque transmission gear 64 is moved. However, through the passage area, the container guide portion 73a extends vertically downwardly from the container positioning portion 73b disposed above, and the inlet portion where the horizontal protrusion 101 of the main body of the apparatus 100 is inserted is disposed in proximity to the bottom portion of the toner cartridge 50 (the space between the transport drive gear 62 and the agitation drive gear 63). With this configuration, when the user attaches the toner cartridge 50 to the main body of the apparatus 100, the user can easily adjust the horizontal protrusion 101 in the input portion of the container guide portion 73a, and the user can smoothly carry out the operations of subsequent adjustment. Such property of resistance to rotation and ease of affixing the toner cartridge 50 to the main body of the apparatus 100 are attributable to the positional relationship between the convex positioning 79 (namely, the center of a transport drive gear 62, which is related to the external shutter 60), the container positioning portion 73b, and the container guide portion 73a. The movement mechanism establishes the positional arrangement of a torque transmission gear 64 so that the torque transmission gear 64 does not interfere with the convex positioning 79, the container positioning portion 73b, and the container guide portion 73a . The embodiment of the present invention is developed in conjunction with the movement mechanism.
Fig. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge 50 as the toner cartridge 50 is affixed to the main body of the apparatus 100 and viewed from a bottom side. As shown in Fig. 28, the torque transmission point G of the transport transmission gear 62 is disposed at a position between a point α that has been positioned in place by the groove of the main body 103 and by the convex positioning 79 and a point β which has been positioned in place by the container positioning portion 73b on the toner cartridge 50 and by the horizontal bulge 101 of the apparatus main body 100 in the longitudinal direction Q of the toner cartridge 50 (or the direction of the rotary axis 530 of the transport screw 53 ). Namely, on the gear cover 57, the convex positioning 79 is arranged on one side and the container positioning portion 73b is arranged on the opposite side through the torque transmission point G, which can be considered as a reference position , in the longitudinal direction Q.
Fig. 29 is a cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge according to an accompanying example, which is attached to the main body of apparatus 100 and viewed from a bottom side. Different from the modality described above, in the comparative example, the point α that was positioned in place by the groove of the main body 103 and by the convex positioning 79 and the point β that was positioned in place by the positioning portion of the container 73b on the toner cartridge 50 and by the horizontal protuberance 101 of the main body of the apparatus 100 are arranged on the same side (the upper side in the figure) in the longitudinal direction Q of the toner cartridge 50 with respect to the torque transmission point G of the transport drive gear 62. The configuration is the same as the modality described above, except for this one. Namely, in the comparative example shown in Fig. 29, the toner cartridge 50 is positioned in place on one side in the longitudinal direction Q.
In this case, when a force in the direction indicated by arrow F is generated at the torque transmission point G by the rotation of the main body side drive gear 105, provided that the toner cartridge 50 is positioned in place on one side in the longitudinal direction Q with respect to torque transmission G, it is possible that the toner cartridge 50 is twisted between one end and the other end of the toner cartridge 50 in the longitudinal direction Q. Especially, in the toner cartridge 50 according to modality, a end which is opposite to the sequence the gears are arranged is not positioned in place, but the end is only biased by biasing member 107 in the longitudinal direction Q. Therefore, it is likely that the position of the toner cartridge 50 is offset on the end side in the direction that crosses the longitudinal direction Q.
In the first mode, the positioning portions of the containers (the positioned α and β points) are arranged on both sides in the longitudinal direction Q with respect to the torque transmission point G, as shown in figure 28. Therefore, even if the cartridge of toner cartridge 50 receives the force F at the torque transmission point G, the toner cartridge 50 can effectively suppress that the toner cartridge 50 is twisted between one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction Q of the toner cartridge 50. With this In this configuration, the toner cartridge 50 can be positioned with respect to the main body of the apparatus 100 with a high precision. Second mode
Figures 30 to 33 show a configuration of the imaging apparatus according to a second embodiment. In the following, portions of the imaging apparatus according to the second embodiment which are different from the corresponding portions of the imaging apparatus according to the first embodiment are explained.
As shown in Figure 30, the imaging apparatus includes an upper cover 109 as a first cover that is disposed on an upper portion of the main body of the apparatus 100; a container mounting portion 120 to which the toner cartridge 50 can be mounted when the top cover 109 is open; an inner cover 116 as a second cover which is disposed within the main body of the apparatus 100 (below the container mounting portion 120) and which can be opened or closed; and a unit mounting portion 130 to which process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk can be detachably attached when the inner cover 116 is open. Fig. 31 shows a state of the imaging apparatus where the top cover 109 is open. Fig. 32 shows a state of the imaging apparatus where the inner cover 116 is open.
Specifically, the inner cover 116 is attached to the main body of the apparatus 100 so that the inner cover 116 can be opened or closed in the vertical direction when the inner cover pivots with respect to the main body of the apparatus 100 while being centered on a fulcrum 117 Toner cartridge 50 storing yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner and black toner, respectively, can be mounted on the inner cover 116.
Similar to the first embodiment, several mounting portions 106 (according to figure 15) for mounting the toner cartridge 50 for the corresponding colors are formed on an upper surface of the inner cover 116 (the mounting portions 106 are not shown in figures 30- 32). As shown in Figure 31, in the state where the top cover 109 is open, the toner cartridge 50 can be attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus 100.
As well as the first mode, the outer shutter 60 of the second mode also begins to be opened by pushing up on the bulge of the apparatus main body 102 in the middle of the assembling operation of the toner cartridge 50, as depicted in Fig. 19C. Furthermore, as well as in the first mode, when the top cover 109 is closed, the inner shutter 22 of the second mode is opened by the movement member 113 (not shown in figures 30-32), which is actuated by the drive unit such as a solenoid or a cam mechanism as depicted in Figure 10B.
The process unit 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk for the corresponding colors are stored inside (below) the inner cover 116. Therefore, when the process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk are attached or detached, both the cover The top 109 as the inner cover 116 are opened, as shown in Figure 32. In addition, several display units 6 (LED units) for exposing the corresponding photoconductors 2 are held pivotable on a bottom surface of the inner cover 116. display 6 are moved by a guide unit (not shown) between the closed positions in the vicinity of the corresponding photoconductors 2 and the retracted positions arranged above the closest corresponding positions according to an opening operation and a closing operation of the inner cover 116 , while avoiding interfering with the 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk process units.
With the configuration described above, when the inner cover 116 is open, the toner cartridge 50 can be retracted from the upper positions of the corresponding 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk process units, while the toner cartridges 50 are kept attached to the cover. internal 116. Therefore, the process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk can be attached to and detached from the main body of the device without removing the toner cartridge 50. Thus, the capacity of operation during the processes and replacement of the process unit 50 can be improved, and the probability that toner is smeared from toner cartridge 50 into the main body of apparatus 100 can be decreased.
On the other hand, in the state of the imaging apparatus where the inner cover 116 is closed, it is not possible to visually recognize the process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk. Therefore, when the process units for the various corresponding colors are to be replaced simultaneously, it is possible that the upper cover 109 and the inner cover 116 are closed, without affixing some of the process units. In case the process units are not attached, the toner will be scattered on the main body of the apparatus 100 when the discharge openings 52 of the corresponding toner cartridge 50 are open.
In order to prevent such scattering of toner, as shown in Fig. 33, the bulge of the main body of apparatus 102 for opening the corresponding external shutters 60 are provided in the corresponding process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk. Consequently, insertion holes 118 for inserting corresponding apparatus main body portions 102 are formed in the inner cover 116. With this configuration, when process units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and IBk are attached to apparatus main body 100 and the inner cover 116 is closed, the bulge from the main body of the apparatus 102 is inserted into the corresponding insertion holes 18 of the inner cover 116.
With such a configuration, the protrusion of the main body of the apparatus 102 for opening the outer shutter 60 does not exist in a portion to which the process unit is not mounted. Therefore, when the inner cover 116 is closed without affixing the process unit, the outer shutter 60 is not opened in the portion where the process unit is not mounted. Thus, toner scattering can be prevented.
Each of the insertion holes 118 formed in the inner cover 116 has a size that is sufficient to insert the protrusion of the main body of the apparatus 102. Namely, in this case, the size of the insertion hole 118 can be reduced, compared to one case. where a conventional configuration, in which the rack and pinion mechanism is adopted, is implemented. Therefore, sufficient strength of the inner cover 116 can be ensured.
The second embodiment of the present invention has been explained above based on figures 30 to 33. However, for the components of the configuration according to the second embodiment which are equal to the corresponding components of the configuration according to the first embodiment, it works and the same effects can be obtained.
In accordance with the above modalities, at least the following configurations are disclosed.
A developer container is detachably attached to a main body of the imaging apparatus. The developer container includes a container body configured to store the developer; a discharge opening configured to discharge the developer into the container body in a developing device; a rotor configured to be rotationally driven in the container body; and a gear sequence disposed on an outer side of the container body, the gear sequence including a plurality of gears configured to impart a driving torque to the rotor; wherein the container body includes a developer storage space configured to store the developer; and a developer transport passage configured to guide developer stored in the container body toward the discharge opening, wherein the rotor includes a conveyor disposed within the developer transport passage and configured to transport the developer to a discharge opening. ; and an agitator disposed within the developer storage space and configured to agitate the developer, where the gear sequence includes a drive force transmitter configured to agitate the developer, where the gear sequence includes a drive force transmitter configured to locking the conveyor with the agitator, wherein, when the developer container is detached from a mounting portion of the main body of the imaging apparatus, the drive force transmitter is configured to release the lock between the conveyor and the agitator, and wherein, the developer container further includes a first return opening configured to return developer, which has not been discharged from the discharge opening, from the developer transport passage to the developer storage space.
The drive force transmitter may include a transport drive gear attached to the conveyor; an agitation drive gear attached to the agitator; and a torque transmission gear configured to engage with the transport drive gear and the agitation drive gear and configured to transmit a rotational torque.
The torque transmission gear can be configured to be moved between an operating position where the torque transmission gear engages with the agitation drive gear and transmits torque and a stowed position where the torque transmission gear is retracted to from the operating position.
The container body may include an inner plug disposed within the container body and having a cylindrical shape, the inner plug including an inner opening disposed on the circumferential wall of the inner plug and configured to discharge developer.
When the inner plug pivots about a cylindrically shaped axis, the inner plug is configured to switch between an open state where the inner opening of the inner plug overlaps the discharge opening and a closed state where the circumferential wall of the plug internal overlaps with the discharge opening.
The first return opening can be arranged on the circumferential wall of the inner shutter.
The inner opening may be disposed on an upstream side of the first return opening in a developer transport direction.
The container body may include a top portion disposed on the outer circumferential side of the inner plug and configured to pivotally support the inner plug.
In the roof portion, a second return opening can be formed.
The first return opening can be extended in a circumferential direction of the inner shutter so that a portion of the first return opening overlaps with the second return opening, irrespective of whether the discharge opening is open or closed by the inner shutter.
The second return opening may be disposed outside of an agitator agitation region.
The developer container may further include a first bias member disposed between the developer container and the inner shutter and configured to apply a first bias force to the inner shutter in a direction to close the discharge opening. The inner shutter may be arranged in the mounting portion so as to be confined by a moving member movably disposed in the main body of the image forming apparatus.
With such a configuration, when the moving member supports the inner shutter and causes the inner shutter to be pivoted, the inner shutter is switched to the open state.
In the developer container, the container body may include an external shutter disposed on the outside of the container body and configured to open and close the discharge opening.
The outer shutter may engage with a second bias member configured to apply a second bias force to the outer shutter in a direction to close the discharge opening.
The outer shutter may include a pushed portion configured to be pushed by a main body side pushing portion disposed in the main body mounting portion of the apparatus when the developer container is attached to the mounting portion.
The discharge opening can be configured to be opened when the side pushing portion of the main body pushes the pushed portion of the outer plug and actuates the outer plug.
The developer container may further include the container body and configured to open and close the discharge opening; and an external shutter disposed outside the container body and configured to open and close the discharge opening.
The inner shutter can be configured to be triggered by a first triggering unit and the outer shutter can be configured to be triggered by a second triggering unit, the first triggering unit and the second triggering unit being different from each other.
With such a configuration, when the container body is attached to the main body of the imaging apparatus, the outer shutter is opened according to an attaching operation, and subsequently the inner shutter is opened after the attaching operation is completed.
Furthermore, when the container body is detached from the main body of the imaging apparatus, the inner shutter is closed while the container body is still attached to the main body, and subsequently the outer shutter is closed in accordance with the deployment operation.
The developer container may further include an external shutter disposed outside the container body and configured to open and close the discharge opening.
The external shutter can be configured to move a torque transmission gear to the operating position in accordance with an operation to open the discharge opening.
The outer shutter can be configured to move the torque transmission gear to the stowed position in accordance with an operation to close the discharge opening.
In the developer container, a first width K1 of the inner opening formed in the inner shutter, a second width K2 of the discharge opening and a third width K3 of the supply opening of the developing device configured to be connectable to a discharge opening can satisfy a inequality Kl < K2 < K3.
According to embodiments, a developing device operating in an imaging apparatus is provided. The developer device includes a developer housing configured to store developer; a developer support body configured to support the developer within the developer housing and configured to supply the developer with a latent image on an image support body in the imaging apparatus; a mounting portion formed on the developing device; and the developer container configured to be detachably attached to the developer device.
With this configuration, when the developer container is detached from the mounting portion of the developing device, the driving force transmitter releases the interlock between the conveyor and the agitator.
According to the embodiments, a process unit configured to be detachably attached to a main body of the imaging apparatus is provided. The process unit includes an imaging support body configured to support a latent image on a surface thereof; and the developing device configured to supply developer to the latent image on the imaging support body.
According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus including an imaging support body is provided; a developing device configured to supply developer to a latent image in the imaging support body; the developer container configured to store the developer and configured to supply the developer to the developing device; a mounting portion formed in the main body of the imaging apparatus and configured to be mounted by the developer container; and a main body side drive gear disposed in the imaging apparatus and configured to be driven by a drive source in the imaging apparatus, wherein the gear sequence engages with the main body side drive gear and the drive torque is transmitted by a side drive gear of the main body.
According to the embodiment, an imaging apparatus is provided including a process unit configured to be detachably attached to a main body of the imaging apparatus, the process unit including an imaging support body configured to supporting a latent image on a surface thereof and a developing device configured to supply developer to the latent image on the latent image support body; the developer container configured to store the developer and configured to supply the developer to the developing device; and the main body side drive gear disposed in the imaging apparatus and configured to be driven by a drive source in the imaging apparatus, wherein the gear sequence engages with the main body side drive gear and the drive torque is transmitted by the side drive gear of the main body.
The imaging apparatus may further include a first cover disposed on the imaging apparatus and configured to be opened and closed; a container mounting portion configured to affix and detach the developer container when the first cover is open; a second cover disposed within the imaging apparatus and configured to be open and closed, the second cover being disposed below the mounting portion of the container; and a unit mounting portion configured to affix and detach the process unit when the second cover is open, wherein, when the process unit is attached to the unit mounting portion and the second cover is closed, the side thrust of the main body arranged in the process unit is configured to be inserted into the mounting portion of the container from the second cover.
In the above, the developer container, the developing device, the process unit, and the imaging apparatus were explained by the modalities. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications and improvements can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the number, shape, and position of each of the components can be modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The present application is based on JP Priority Applications Nos. 2011-164036 filed on July 27, 2011, No. 2012-0199.40 filed February 1, 2012 and No. 15 2012-019937 filed February 1, 2012, the entire contents which are incorporated herein by reference.

权利要求:
Claims (12)
[0001]
1. A developer container configured to be detachably attached to a main body of the imaging apparatus comprises: a container body (70) configured to store developer; a discharge opening (52) configured to discharge the developer into the container body (70); a rotor (54) configured to be rotationally driven in the container body (70); a sequence of gears (62, 63, 64) disposed at an end side in a longitudinal direction of the container body (70), the sequence of gears (62, 63, 64) including a number of gears configured to transmit a driving torque to the rotor (54); and a container guide portion (73a) disposed on an end side and configured to guide the developer container (50) to a main body mounting portion of the imaging apparatus in a direction in which the developer container (50) is attached to the mounting portion, wherein the container guide portion (73a) orients the developer container (50) by engaging with a main body side guide portion disposed on the mounting portion, wherein the first gear (64) included in the gear sequence (62, 63, 64) is configured to be moved between an operating position where the first gear (64) engages with a second gear and transmits torque to the second gear and a retracted position where the first gear (64) is retracted from the orientation position, characterized in that, on the surface on which the container guide portion (73a) is disposed, a part of the container guide portion (73a) or the whole portion of guide of container (73a) is configured to be disposed within a projected area (J) of the first gear (64) being disposed in an operating position.
[0002]
2. Developer container according to claim 1, characterized in that the container guide portion (73a) is a part of a groove (73) disposed on the outer surface of the developer container (50), the groove (73) extending in the vertical direction, and wherein the lateral guide portion of the main body is a protrusion projecting horizontally in the mounting portion.
[0003]
3. A developer container according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a first container positioning portion configured to position the developer container (50) by fitting at a first point with a first container portion. side positioning of the main body formed in the main body mounting portion of the imaging apparatus when the developer container (50) is attached to the mounting portion, wherein the first container positioning portion is configured to be disposed outside of the projected area of the first gear (64).
[0004]
4. Developer container according to claim 3, characterized in that the first container positioning portion has a width that fits with the main body side positioning portion, wherein the main side positioning portion is a bulge projecting horizontally into the mounting portion.
[0005]
5. A developer container according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising: a second container positioning portion configured to position the developer container (50) by fitting at a second point with a second container portion. side positioning of the main body, when the developer container (50) is attached to the main body of the imaging apparatus, wherein one of the sequence of gears (62, 63, 64) engages with a side drive gear of the main body (105) in the imaging apparatus and the torque is transmitted at a point of engagement by the side drive gear of the main body (105), and wherein the point of engagement is between the first point and the second point.
[0006]
6. Developer container according to claim 5, characterized in that the second container positioning portion is a convex (79) on the outer surface of the developer container (50), the convex (79) adjusting with a groove arranged in the mounting portion.
[0007]
7. Developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it further comprises: a shutter (60) configured to be connected to the movement of the first gear (64) between the operating position and the position retracted, wherein the shutter (60) is configured to close the discharge opening (52), when the first gear (64) is disposed in the retracted position, and wherein the shutter (60) is configured to open the discharge opening (52) when the first gear (64) is disposed in the operating position.
[0008]
8. Developer container according to claim 1, characterized in that the container body (70) includes an upper box (55) and a lower box (56), wherein a gear cover (57) is disposed in the upper case (55) and the lower case (56), wherein the gear cover (57) includes an information storage means (58) including connection terminals configured to be electrically connected to an information reading device. included in the main body of the imaging device when the container body (70) is attached to the main body of the imaging device.
[0009]
9. Developer container according to claim 8, characterized in that the container positioning portion is disposed in a vicinity of the connection terminals included in the information storage means (58).
[0010]
10. Developing device operating in an imaging apparatus characterized in that the developing device comprises: a developer housing configured to store developer; a developer support body configured to support the developer within the developer housing and configured to supply the developer with a latent image on the imaging support body in the imaging apparatus; a developer container configured to store the developer and configured to supply the developer to the developer housing; and a mounting portion including a main body side guide portion, wherein the developer container is releasably attached to the developing device mounting portion, and wherein the developer container is as defined in any of the claims 1 to 7.
[0011]
11. Process unit configured to be detachably attached to a main body of the imaging apparatus characterized in that it comprises: a latent image support body (2) configured to support the latent image on a surface thereof ; a developing device (4) configured to supply developer to the latent image on the latent image support body, a developer container (50) which is detachably affixed to the developing device (4), wherein the developing device is as defined in claim 10.
[0012]
12. Imaging apparatus characterized by the fact that it comprises: a support body and latent image (2); a developing device (4) configured to supply the developer to a latent image on the imaging support body (2); a developer container (50) configured to store the developer and configured to supply the developer to the developer device (4); a mounting portion (106) formed in the main body of the imaging apparatus (100) and configured to mount the developer container (50); and a main body guide portion disposed on the mounting portion (106); wherein the developer container (50) is detachably affixed to the main body mounting portion of the imaging apparatus wherein the developer container is as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7.

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US11022911B2|2018-08-30|2021-06-01|Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.|Print substance valves|

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法律状态:
2018-12-11| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|

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2019-10-29| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: procedure suspended [chapter 6.21 patent gazette]|

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2021-02-09| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|

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2021-04-20| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted [chapter 16.1 patent gazette]|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 27/07/2012, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |

优先权:

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申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题

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JP2011-164036|2011-07-27|

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JP2011164036|2011-07-27|

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JP2012019937A|JP5273263B2|2011-07-27|2012-02-01|Developer container, developing device, process unit, and image forming apparatus|

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JP2012-019937|2012-02-01|

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JP2012-019940|2012-02-01|

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JP2012019940A|JP5212758B1|2012-02-01|2012-02-01|Developer container, developing device, process unit, and image forming apparatus|

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PCT/JP2012/069783|WO2013015455A1|2011-07-27|2012-07-27|Developer container, developing device, process unit, and image forming apparatus|

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