Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
85371980
1
1
DESCRIPTION
NOZZLE RECEIVER, POWDER CONTAINER, AND IMAGE FORMING
APPARATUS
This application is a divisional of Canadian Patent Application
No. 2,915,008, filed on March 16, 2015.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a powder
container for storing developer that is powder used in an
image forming apparatus, such as a printer, a facsimile
machine, a copier, or a multifunction peripheral with
multiple functions of the printer, the facsimile machine,
and the copier, a nozzle insertion member attached to the
powder container, and an image forming apparatus including
the powder container.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In electrophotography image forming apparatuses,
a powder replenishing device supplies (replenishes) toner
that is developer from a toner container serving as a
powder container containing the developer that is powder to
a developing device. A toner container described in
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2012-133349 and
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No 2009-276659
includes a rotatable cylindrical powder storage, a nozzle
receiver attached to the powder storage, an opening
arranged on the nozzle receiver, and an opening/closing
member that moves to a closing position at which the
opening is closed and to an opening position at which the
opening is opened along with insertion of the conveying
nozzle of the powder replenishing device. When the
opening/closing member is moved to the opening position by
the conveying nozzle inserted in the toner container along
with attachment of the toner container to the powder
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= /Mc
410[79602-46 = =
=
2
= = =
replenishing. device, the opening/closing member moves toner
. .
located near the opening.
[0003] In-tha configuration as desctibed above, if there
is no escape for toner that moves with the movement of the
opening/closing member,. the toner is compressed and Cohered,
and prevents -the opening/closing member from moving to the
closing position when the toner 'container is detached from
the powder container, for example.
It is an object of the present invention to cope. with
the abovementioned issues.
. = SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
(0004) According to an embodiment, a nozzle receiver is
to be arranged in a powder container used in an image
forming apparatus. .The nozzle receiver includes a nozzle
receiving opening, in which a conveying' nozzle for
'conveying powder supplied from the powder container is
inserted ,in the image forming apparatus; an opening/closing
member to open and to close the nozzle receiving opening;
and a supporter to support the opening/closing member. The
opening/closing member includes a sealing portion to seal
the nozzle insertion opening. The supporter indludes an
end surface portion perpendicular to a moving direction of
the opening/cldsing member. The projection area of the end
surface portion in the moving direction of the
opening/closing member is smaller than a projection area of
the sealing portion in the moving direction of the
=
opening/closing member. =
=
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[0004a] According to another embodiment, there is provided a
powder container to be attached to an image forming apparatus,
the powder container comprising: a powder storage to contain
powder; a holder that is attachable to the powder storage; a
protrusion that is on one of the powder storage and the holder;
and a restrictor that is on an other one of the powder storage
and the holder and is to restrict a movement of the protrusion
in a longitudinal direction of the powder storage, the
restrictor including a protruding portion having a
circumference, wherein the powder storage is to rotate relative
to the holder, the restrictor includes an opening through which
the protrusion passes when the holder is being attached to the
powder storage, the opening of the restrictor faces outwardly
along a circumference of the restrictor, the opening of the
restrictor is positioned to interpose the circumference of the
protruding portion of the restrictor in a circumferential
direction, and the protrusion is to pass through the opening of
the restrictor from one end of the powder storage toward
another end of the powder storage when the holder is being
attached to the powder storage.
[0004b] According to another embodiment, there is provided a
powder container to be attached to an image forming apparatus,
the powder container comprising: a powder storage to contain
powder; a holder that is attachable to the powder storage; a
protrusion that is on one of the powder storage and the holder;
and a restrictor that is on an other one of the powder storage
and the holder and is to restrict a movement of the protrusion
in a longitudinal direction of the powder storage, the
restrictor having a circumference, wherein the powder storage
is to rotate relative to the holder, the restrictor includes an
opening through which the protrusion passes when the holder is
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-08-24
85371980
2b
being attached to the powder storage, the opening of the
restrictor faces outwardly along the circumference of the
restrictor, the protrusion includes an inclined portion that is
inclined in a rotation direction, the opening includes an
opening inclined portion that is inclined in a same direction
as the inclined portion of the protrusion, and when the
inclined portion of the protrusion comes in contact with the
opening inclined portion, the protrusion passes through the
opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a
powder replenishing device before a powder container according
to embodiments of the present invention is
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attached and the powder container;
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an overall
configuration of an image forming apparatus according to
the embodiments;
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a
configuration of an image forming section of the image
forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a
state in which the powder containers are attached to a
container holding section;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in
which the powder containers are attached to the powder
replenishing device of the image forming apparatus
illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory perspective view of the
powder replenishing device to which the powder container is
attached and the powder container;
FIG. 7 is an explanatory perspective view illustrating
a configuration of the powder container according to the
embodiments;
FIG. 8 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the
powder replenishing device to which the powder container is
attached and the powder container;
FIG. 9 is an explanatory partially-enlarged
perspective view of the container holding section according
to the embodiments;
FIG. 10 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the
container holding section to which the powder container is
attached;
FIG. 11A is a partially-enlarged perspective view
illustrating a process of attaching a container front end
cover to a container body (powder storage) according to the
embodiments;
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FIG. 11B is a front view illustrating a state in which
protrusions of the container front end cover are inserted'
in a restrictor from the state illustrated in FIG. 11A;
FIG. 11C illustrates a state in which the protrusions
of the container front end cover illustrated in FIG. 17A
are inserted in the restrictor;
FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view for explaining
a configuration of the protrusion of the container front
end cover and configurations of the restrictor and an
opening on the container body side;
FIG. 13 is a perspective view for explaining an
external appearance of the powder container according to
the embodiments;
FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of a D-D
region illustrated in FIG. 13;
FIG. 15 is a perspective view for explaining a state
in which a cap is attached to the powder container
according to the embodiments;
FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of the powder container
according to the embodiments when viewed from a container
front end cover side;
FIG. 17A is a plan view illustrating a configuration
of the powder container according to the embodiments;
FIG. 17B is a bottom view of the powder container;
FIG. 17C is .a right side view of the powder container;
FIG. 17D is a left side view of the powder container;
FIG. 18A is a back view illustrating the configuration
of the powder container according to the embodiments;
FIG. 18B is a front view of the powder container;
FIG. 19 is an enlarged perspective view for explaining
a configuration of the container body of the powder
container according to the embodiments;
FIG. 20 is an explanatory perspective view of a nozzle
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receiver when viewed from a container front side;
FIG. 21 is an explanatory perspective view of the
nozzle receiver when viewed from a container inner side;
FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a
5 configuration of the nozzle receiver;
FIG. 23 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of the
powder container in which the nozzle receiver is attached
to the container body;
FIGS. 24A to 24D are top plan views for explaining
= 10 states of an opening/closing member and a conveying nozzle
in attachment operation;
FIG. 25 is an explanatory perspective view
illustrating a configuration of a conventional nozzle
receiver;
FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the
configuration of the conventional nozzle receiver;
FIGS. 27A to 27D are bottom plan views for explaining
states of a conventional opening/closing member and the
conventional conveying nozzle in attachment operation;
FIG. 28A is a perspective view illustrating a
configuration of a container shutter supporter according to
= the embodiments when viewed from a conveying nozzle
insertion side;
FIG. 26B is a perspective view of the container
shutter supporter viewed from a side opposite to the
conveying nozzle insertion side;
FIG. 29A is a diagram illustrating a relationship
between a projected area of a conventional container
shutter supporter and a projected area of the conventional
opening/closing member for comparison between the
conventional container shutter supporter and the container
shutter supporter according to the embodiments;
FIG. 29B is a diagram illustrating a relationship
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= between a projected area of the container shutter supporter
and a projection area of the opening/closing member
according to the embodiments for comparison between the
conventional container shutter supporter and the container
shutter supporter according to the embodiments;
FIG. 30A is a plan view for explaining a configuration
of a container shutter supporter according to a first
example of a first embodiment;
FIG. 30B is a cross-sectional view of the container
shutter supporter illustrated in FIG. 30A;
FIG. 30C is an explanatory cross-section of an end
surface portion;
FIG. 31 is a perspective view illustrating another
mode of the container shutter supporter;
FIG. 32A is a diagram illustrating a state before the
opening/closing member is compressed when a compression
structure according to a second example of the first
embodiment is applied;
FIG. 323 is a diagram illustrating a state after the
opening/closing member is compressed when the compression
structure according to the second example is applied;
FIG. 33A is a diagram illustrating a state before the
opening/closing member is compressed when the compression
structure according to the embodiment is applied to the
conventional nozzle receiver and a conventional container
shutter;
FIG. 333 is a diagram illustrating a state after the
opening/closing member is compressed when the compression
structure according to the embodiment is applied to the
conventional nozzle receiver and the conventional container
shutter;
FIGS. 34A and 34B are diagrams illustrating a
configuration according to a third example;
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FIG. 35 is an enlarged perspective view for explaining
a configurations of a protrusion of a container front end
cover and configurations of a restrictor and an opening of
a container body according to a comparative example;
FIG. 36 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a
configuration of a protrusion of a container front end
cover and configurations of a restrictor and an opening of
a container body according to a second embodiment;
FIG. 37A is an enlarged view for explaining
configurations of a protrusion and the vicinity of an
opening according to a fourth example of the second
embodiment;
FIG. 37B is an enlarged view for explaining the
configuration of the opening;
FIG. 37C is a diagram for explaining the configuration
of the protrusion;
FIGS. 381k to 38G are diagrams for explaining operation
of the opening and the protrusion according to the fourth
example of the second embodiment;
FIG. 39A is an enlarged view for explaining
configurations of a protrusion and the vicinity of an
opening according to a fifth example of the second
embodiment;
FIG. 39B is an enlarged view for explaining the
configuration of the opening;
FIG. 39C is a diagram for explaining the configuration
of the protrusion;
FIGS. 40A to 40G are diagrams for explaining operation
of the opening and the protrusion according to the fifth
example of the second embodiment;
FIG. 41A is an enlarged view for explaining
configurations of a protrusion and the vicinity of an
opening according to a sixth example of the second
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embodiment;
FIG. 41B is an enlarged view for explaining the
configuration of the opening;
FIG. 41C is a diagram for explaining the configuration
of the protrusion;
FIGS. 42A to 421 are diagrams for explaining operation
of the opening and the protrusion according to the sixth
example of the second embodiment;
FIG. 43A is an enlarged view for explaining
configurations of a protrusion and the vicinity of an
opening according to a seventh example of the second
embodiment;
FIG. 43B is an enlarged view for explaining the
configuration of the opening;
FIG. 43C is a diagram for explaining the configuration
of the protrusion;
FIGS. 44A to 44G are diagrams for explaining operation
of the opening and the protrusion according to the seventh
example of the second embodiment;
FIGS. 45A to 45C are diagrams illustrating a
modification of the fourth to the seventh examples of the
second embodiment;
FIG. 46A is an enlarged view for explaining
configurations of a protrusion and the vicinity of an
opening according to an eighth example of the second
= embodiment;
FIG. 463 is an enlarged view for explaining the
configuration of the opening;
FIG. 46C is a diagram for explaining the configuration
of the protrusion;
FIGS. 47A to 47H are diagrams for explaining operation
of the opening and the protrusion according to the eighth
example of the second embodiment;
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FIG. 48A is an enlarged view for explaining
configurations of a protrusion and the vicinity of an
opening according to a ninth example of the second
embodiment;
= 5 FIG. 48B is an enlarged view for explaining the
configuration of the opening;
FIG. 48C is a diagram for explaining the configuration
of the protrusion;
FIGS. 49A to 491-i are diagrams for explaining operation
of the opening and the protrusion according to the ninth
= example of the second embodiment;
FIG. 50A is an enlarged view for explaining
configurations of a protrusion and the vicinity of an
opening according to a tenth example of the second
embodiment;
FIG. 50B is an enlarged view for explaining the
configuration of the opening;
FIG. 50C is a diagram for explaining the configuration
of the protrusion;
FIGS. 51A to 51H are diagrams for explaining operation
of the opening and the protrusion according to the tenth
example of the second embodiment;
FIG. 52A is an enlarged view for explaining
configurations of a protrusion and the vicinity of an
opening according to an eleventh example of the second
embodiment;
FIG. 52B is an enlarged view for explaining the
configuration of the opening;
FIG. 52C is a diagram for explaining the configuration
of the protrusion;
FIGS. 53A to 53G are diagrams for explaining operation
of the opening and the protrusion according to the eleventh
example of the second embodiment;
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FIG. 54A is an enlarged view for explaining
configurations of a protrusion and the vicinity of an
opening according to another example of the second
embodiment;
5 FIG. 54B is an enlarged view for explaining the
configuration of the opening;
FIG. 54C is a diagram for explaining the configuration
of the protrusion;
FIG. 55 is an enlarged perspective view for explaining
10 a configuration of a protrusion of a container front end
cover and configurations of a restrictor and an opening of
a container body according to another example of the second
embodiment;
FIG. 56A is an exploded perspective view for
explaining a mode in which the technology of the second
embodiment is applied to a bearing attachment structure;
and
FIG. 56B is a side view illustrating an assembled
state.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0006] Embodiments of the present invention will be
described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the descriptions of the embodiments and conventional
configurations, the same components or components with the
same functions are basically denoted by the same reference
symbols, and the same explanation will not be repeated in
subsequent embodiments and conventional configurations.
The descriptions below are mere examples and do not limit
the scope of the appended claims. Further, a person
skilled in the art may easily conceive other embodiments by
making modifications or changes within the scope of the
appended claims; however, such modifications and changes
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obviously fall within the scope of the appended claims. In
the drawings, Y, M, C, and K are symbols appended to
components corresponding to yellow, magenta, cyan, and
black, respectively, and will be omitted appropriately.
[0007] First Embodiment
A first embodiment of the present invention will be
described below. The first embodiment includes techniques
according to first to third examples to be described later.
FIG. 2 is an overall configuration diagram of an
electrophotography tandem-type color copier (hereinafter,
referred to as "a copier 500") serving as an image forming
apparatus according to an embodiment. The copier 500 may
be a monochrome copier. The image forming apparatus may be
a printer, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction with at
least two of the functions of a copier, a printer, a
facsimile machine, and a scanner, instead of the copier.
The copier 500 mainly includes a copier main-body
(hereinafter, referred to as "a printer 100"), a sheet feed
table (hereinafter, referred to as "a sheet feeder 200"),
and a scanner section (hereinafter, referred to as "a
scanner 400") mounted on the printer 100.
[0008] Four toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K serving
as powder containers corresponding to different colors
(yellow, magenta, cyan, black) are detachably (replaceably)
attached to a toner container holder 70 serving as a
container holding section provided in the upper part of the
printer 100. An intermediate transfer device 85 is
arranged below the toner container holder 70.
[0009] The intermediate transfer device 85 includes an
intermediate transfer belt 48 serving as an intermediate
transfer medium, four primary-transfer bias rollers 49Y,
49M, 490, 49K, a secondary-transfer backup roller 82,
multiple tension rollers, an intermediate-transfer cleaning
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device, and the like. The intermediate transfer belt 48 is
stretched and supported by multiple rollers and endlessly
moves counterclockwise in FIG. 2 along with rotation of the
secondary-transfer backup roller 82 serving as one of the
rollers.
[0010] In the printer 100, four image forming sections
46 (Y, M, C, K), as image forming units, corresponding to
the respective colors are arranged in tandem so as to face
the intermediate transfer belt 48. Four toner replenishing
devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, 60K serving as powder supply
(replenishing) devices corresponding to the four toner
containers 32Y, 32M, 320, 32K of the four colors are
arranged below the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 320, 32K,
respectively. The toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60M, 600,
60K respectively supply (replenish) toner that is powder
developer contained in the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C,
32K to developing devices of the image foLming sections 46Y,
46M, 46C, 46K for the respective colors. In the embodiment,
the four image forming sections 46Y, 46M, 460, 46K form an
image forming unit.
[0011] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the printer 100
includes an exposing device 47 serving as a latent-image
forming means below the four image forming sections 46Y,
46M, 460, 46K. The exposing device 47 exposes and scans
the surfaces of photoconductors 41Y, 41M, 410, 41K serving
as image bearers (to be described later) with light based
on image information of an original image read by the
scanner 400, so that electrostatic latent images are formed
on the surfaces of the photoconductors. The image
information may be input from an external apparatus, such
as a personal computer, connected to the copier 500,
instead of being read by the scanner 400.
In the embodiment, a laser beam scanning system using
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a laser diode is employed as the exposing device 47.
However, other configurations, such as a configuration
including an LED array, may be employed as the exposing
means.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an
overall configuration of the image forming section 46Y
corresponding to yellow.
The image forming section 46Y includes the drum-shaped
photoconductor 41Y. The image forming section 46Y includes
a charging roller 44Y serving as a charging device, a
developing device 50Y serving as a developing means, a
cleaning device 42Y serving as a photoconductor cleaning
device, a neutralizing device, and the like, all of which
are arranged around the photoconductor 41Y. Image forming
processes (a charging process, an exposing process, a
developing process, a transfer process, and a cleaning
process) are performed on the photoconductor 41Y, so that a
yellow toner image is formed on the photoconductor 41Y.
[0013] The other three image forming sections 46M, 46C,
46K have almost the same configurations as the image
forming section 46Y for yellow except that colors of toner
to be used are different and toner images corresponding to
the respective toner colors are formed on the
photoconductors 41M, 41C, 41K. Hereinafter, explanation of
only the image forming section 46Y for yellow will be given,
and explanation of the other three image forming sections
46 (M, C, K). will be omitted appropriately.
[0014] The photoconductor 41Y is rotated clockwise in
FIG. 3 by a drive motor. The surface of the photoconductor
41Y is uniformly charged at a position facing the charging
roller 44Y (charging process). Subsequently, the surface
of the photoconductor 411 reaches a position of irradiation
with laser light L emitted by the exposing device 47, where
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an electrostatic latent image for yellow is. formed through
exposure scanning (exposing process). The surface of the
photoconductor 41Y then reaches a position facing the
developing device 50Y, where the electrostatic latent image
is developed with yellow toner to form a yellow toner image
(developing device).
[0015] The primary-transfer bias roller 491 of the
intermediate transfer device 85 and the photoconductor 41Y
sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 48, so that a
primary transfer nip for yellow is formed. A transfer bias
with polarity opposite to the polarity of toner is applied
to the primary-transfer bias roller 491.
[0016] The surface of the photoconductor 411, on which
the toner image is formed through the developing process,
reaches the primary transfer nip facing the primary-
transfer bias roller 49Y across the intermediate transfer
belt 48, and the toner image on the photoconductor 411 is
transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 48 at the
primary transfer nip (primary transfer process). At this
time, a slight amount of non-transferred toner remains on
the photoconductor 411. The surface of the photoconductor
411, from which the toner image has been transferred to the
intermediate transfer belt 48 at the primary transfer nip,
reaches a position facing the cleaning device 421. At this
position, the non-transferred toner remaining on the
photoconductor 41Y is mechanically collected by a cleaning
blade 42a included in the cleaning device 42Y (cleaning
process). The surface of the photoconductor 41Y finally
reaches a position facing the neutralizing device, where
the residual potential on the photoconductor 41Y is removed.
In this way, a series of the image forming processes
performed on the photoconductor 41Y is completed.
[0017] The above image forming processes are also
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performed on the other image forming sections 46M, 46C, 46K
in the same manner as the image forming section 46Y for
yellow. Specifically, the exposing device 47 arranged
below the image forming sections 46M, 46C, 46K emits laser
5 light L based on the image information toward the
photoconductors 41M, 41C, 41K of the image forming sections
46M, 46C, 46K. More specifically, the exposing device 47
emits the laser light L from a light source and irradiates
each of the photoconductors 41M, 41C, 41K with the laser
10 light L via multiple optical elements while performing
scanning with the laser light L by a rotating polygon
mirror.
Subsequently, toner images of the respective colors
formed on the photoconductors 41M, 410, 41K through the
15 developing process are transferred to the intermediate
transfer belt 48 due to the action of transfer biases
applied to the respective primary-transfer bias rollers at
the four-color primary-transfer nips that are formed by
sandwiching the intermediate transfer belt 48 between the
primary-transfer bias rollers 49M, 490, 49K and the
photoconductors 41M, 410, 41K.
[0018] At this
time, the inteLmediate transfer belt 48
moves counterclockwise in FIG. 2 and sequentially passes
through the primary transfer nips of the primary-transfer
bias rollers 49Y, 49M, 490, 49K. Therefore, the toner
images of the respective colors on the photoconductors 41Y,
41M, 410, 41K are primary-transferred to the intermediate
transfer belt 48 in a superimposed manner, so that a color
toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 48.
[0019] The intermediate
transfer belt 48, on which the
color toner image is formed by the superimposed toner
images of the respective colors, reaches a position facing
a secondary-transfer roller 89. At this position, the
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secondary-transfer backup roller 82 and the secondary
transfer roller 89 sandwich the intermediate transfer belt
46, so that a secondary transfer nip is formed. The color
toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 48 is
transferred to a recording medium P, such as a sheet of
paper, conveyed to the position of the secondary transfer
nip, due to the action of a transfer bias applied to the
secondary-transfer backup roller 82, for example. At this
time, non-transferred toner which has not been transferred
to the recording medium P remains on the intermediate
transfer belt 48. The intermediate transfer belt 48 that
has passed through the secondary transfer nip reaches the
position of the intermediate-transfer cleaning device,
where the non-transferred toner remaining on the surface is
collected. In this way, a series of transfer processes
performed on the intermediate transfer belt 48 is completed.
[0020] Movement of the recording medium P will be
explained below.
The recording medium P is conveyed to the secondary
transfer nip from a feed tray 26 provided in the sheet
feeder 200 arranged below the printer 100 via a feed roller
27, a registration roller pair 28, and the like.
Specifically, multiple recording media P are stacked in the
feed tray 26. When the feed roller 27 is rotated
counterclockwise in FIG. 2, the topmost recording medium P
is fed to a nip between two rollers of the registration
roller pair 28.
[0021] The recording medium P conveyed to the
registration roller pair 28 temporarily stops at the
position of the nip between the rollers of the registration
roller pair 26, the rotation of which is being stopped.
The registration roller pair 28 is rotated to convey the
recording medium P toward the secondary transfer nip in
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accordance with the timing at which the color toner image
on the intermediate transfer belt 48 reaches the secondary
transfer nip. Accordingly, a desired color image is formed
on the recording medium P.
[0022] The recording
medium P on which the color toner
image is transferred at the secondary transfer nip is
conveyed to the position of a fixing device 86. In the
fixing device 86, the color toner image transferred on the
surface of the recording medium P is fixed to the recording
medium P by heat and pressure applied by a fixing belt and
a pressing roller. The recording medium P that has passed
through the fixing device 86 is discharged to the outside
of the apparatus via a nip between rollers of a discharge
roller pair 29. The recording medium P discharged to the
outside of the apparatus by the discharge roller pair 29 is
sequentially stacked, as an output image, on a stack
section 30. In this way, a series of image forming
processes in the copier 500 is completed.
[0023] A
configuration and operation of the developing
device 50 in the image forming section 46 will be explained
in detail below. In the following, the image forming
section 46Y for yellow will be explained by way of example.
However, the image forming sections 46M, 460, 46K for the
other colors have the same configurations and perform the
same operation.
[0024] As
illustrated in FIG. 3, the developing device
50Y includes a developing roller 51Y serving as a developer
bearer, a doctor blade 52Y serving as a developer
regulating plate, two developer conveying screws 55Y, a
toner density sensor 56Y, and the like. The developing
roller 51Y faces the photoconductor 41Y. The doctor blade
52Y faces the developing roller 51Y. The two developer
conveying screws 55Y are arranged inside two developer
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accommodating sections, i.e., first and second developer
accommodating sections 53Y and 54Y. The developing roller
51Y includes a magnet roller disposed inside thereof, a
sleeve that rotates around the magnet roller, and the like.
Two-component developer G containing carrier and toner is
stored in the first developer accommodating section 53Y and
the second developer accommodating section 54Y. The second
developer accommodating section 54Y communicates with a
toner dropping passage 64Y via an opening provided in the
= 10 upper side thereof. The toner density sensor 56Y detects a
toner density in the developer G stored in the second
developer accommodating section 54Y.
[0025] The developer G in the developing device 50
circulates between the first developer accommodating
section 53Y and the second developer accommodating section
54Y while being stirred by the two developer conveying
screws 55Y. The developer G in the first developer
accommodating section 53Y is supplied to and borne on the
surface of the sleeve of the developing roller 51Y due to a
magnetic field generated by the magnet roller in the
developing roller 51Y while the developer G is being
conveyed by one of the developer conveying screws 55Y. The
sleeve of the developing roller 51Y rotates
counterclockwise as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 3, and
the developer G borne on the developing roller 51Y moves on
the developing roller 51Y along with the rotation of the
sleeve. At this time, the toner in the developer G
electrostatically adheres to the carrier by being charged
to the potential opposite to the polarity of the carrier
due to triboelectric charging with the carrier in the
developer G, and is borne on the developing roller 51Y
together with the carrier that is attracted by the magnetic
field generated on the developing roller 511.
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[0026] The developer G borne on the developing roller
51Y is conveyed in the arrow direction in FIG. 3 and
reaches a doctor section where the doctor blade 52Y and the
developing roller 51Y face each other. The amount of the
developer G on the developing roller 51Y is regulated and
adjusted to an appropriate amount when the developer G
passes through the doctor section, and then the developer G
is conveyed to a development area facing the photoconductor
41Y. In the development area, the toner in the developer G
adheres to the latent image formed on the photoconductor
41Y by a developing electric field generated between the
developing roller 51Y and the photoconductor 41Y. The
developer G remaining on the surface of the developing
roller 51Y that has passed through the development area
reaches the upper side of the first developer accommodating
section 53Y along with the rotation of the sleeve. At this
position, the developer G is separated from the developing
roller 51Y.
[0027] The developer G in the developing device 50Y is
adjusted so that the toner density falls within a
predetermined range. Specifically, toner contained in the
toner container 32Y is replenished to the second developer
accommodating section 54Y by the toner replenishing device
60Y (to be described later) through the toner dropping
passage 64Y in accordance with the consumption of toner of
the developer G in the developing device 50Y through the
development. The toner replenished to the second developer
accommodating section 54Y circulates between the first
developer accommodating section 53Y and the second
developer accommodating section 54Y while being mixed and
stirred with the developer G by the two developer conveying
screws 55Y.
[0028] Next, the toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60M,
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60C, 60K will be described.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a
state in which the four toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K
are attached to the toner container holder 70. FIG. 5 is a
5 schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the toner
container 32Y is attached to the toner replenishing device
60Y. The toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, 60K for
the respective colors have the same configurations except
that the colors of toner are different. Therefore, in FIG.
10 5, explanation of only the toner replenishing device 60Y
and the toner container 32Y for yellow will be given, and
explanation of the toner replenishing devices 60M, 60C, 60K
and the toner containers 32M, 32C, 32K for the other three
colors will be omitted appropriately. When the
15 configurations vary depending on the colors, a symbol Y, M,
C, or K representing a specific color is used. When the
configurations do not vary depending on the colors or
common to all of the colors, a symbol Y, M, C, or K may be
used or all of the symbols may be omitted appropriately.
20 In FIG. 4, an arrow Q indicates an attachment direction in
which the toner containers 32 of the respective colors are
attached to the toner replenishing devices 60, and Ql
indicates a detachment direction in which the toner
containers 32 of the respective colors are detached from
the toner replenishing devices 60.
Incidentally, the diameter of the toner container 32K
containing black toner among the four toner containers 32
(Y, M, C, K) may be increased relative to the diameters of
the toner containers 32 (Y, M, C) containing yellow toner,
magenta toner, and cyan toner. With this configuration, it
is possible to reduce the frequency to replace the toner
container 32K containing black toner that is frequently
used. Even in this case, the toner replenishing devices 60
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have approximately the same configurations except that the
colors of toner used in the image forming processes and the
diameters of the toner containers 32 vary from one another.
Therefore, the toner container 321 will be mainly described
below.
[0029] The yellow toner contained in the toner container
321 among the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K for the
respective colors attached to the toner container holder 70
of the printer 100 illustrated in FIG. 4 is appropriately
replenished to the developing device in accordance with the
consumption of toner in the developing device 50 as
illustrated in FIG. 5. At this time, the toner in the
toner container 32Y is replenished by the toner
replenishing device 60Y. The toner replenishing device 601
includes the toner container holder 70, a conveying nozzle
611Y serving as a conveying pipe, a conveying screw 6141
serving as a main body conveyor, the toner dropping passage
64Y, a driving part 911 serving as a container rotating
part, and the like. The toner replenishing devices for the
other colors have the same configurations. When a user
performs attachment operation to push the toner container
32Y in the attachment direction Q in FIG. 5 and the toner
container 321 is moved inside the toner container holder 70
of the printer 100 along With the attachment direction Q,
the conveying nozzle 611Y of the toner replenishing device
601 is inserted from a front side of the toner container
321 in the attachment operation. Therefore, the toner
container 32Y and the conveying nozzle 6111 communicate
with each other. A configuration for the communication
along with the attachment operation will be described in
detail later.
[0030] The toner container 32Y may be referred to as a
toner bottle. The toner container 321 mainly includes a
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container front end cover 34Y serving as a container cover
or a held portion that is non-rotatably held by the toner
container holder 70, and includes an approximately
cylindrical container body 331 serving as a powder storage
integrated with a container gear 301Y serving as a
container-side gear. The container body 33Y is rotatably
held by the container front end cover 34Y. In FIG. 5, a
setting cover 6081 is a part of a container cover receiving
section 73 of the toner container holder 70.
[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the toner container
holder 70 mainly includes the container cover receiving
section 73, a container receiving section 72, and an
insertion hole part 71. The container cover receiving
section 73 is a section for holding the container front end
covers 34Y, 34M, 340, 34K and the container bodies 331, 33M,
330, 33K of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K for the
respective colors. The container receiving section 72 is a
section for supporting the container bodies 33Y, 33M, 33C,
33K of the toner containers 321, 32M, 32C, 32K. An
insertion hole 71a serving as an insertion opening used in
the attachment operation of the toner containers 321, 32M,
32C, 32K is defined by the insertion hole part 71. When a
main-body cover arranged on the front side of the copier
500 (the front side in the direction normal to the sheet of
FIG. 2) is opened, the insertion hole part 71 of the toner
container holder 70 is exposed. Then,
attachment/detachment operation of the toner containers 32Y,
32M, 320, 32K (attachment/detachment operation with the
longitudinal direction of the toner containers 32 taken as
an attachment/detachment direction in which the toner
containers 32 of the respective colors are attached to and
detached from the toner replenishing devices 60) is
performed from the front side of the copier 500 while the
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toner containers 321, 32M, 32C, 32K are oriented with their
longitudinal directions being parallel to the horizontal
direction.
[0032] The container receiving section 72 is provided
such that its longitudinal length becomes approximately the
same as the longitudinal lengths of the container bodies
331, 33M, 33C, 33K of the respective colors. The container
cover receiving section 73 is arranged on a container front
side (a side in the attachment direction Q) of the
container receiving section 72 in the longitudinal
direction (attachment/detachment direction), and the
insertion hole part 71 is arranged on one end side (a side
in the detachment direction Q1) of the container receiving
section 72 in the longitudinal direction. The four toner
containers 321, 32M, 32C, 32K are able to moves on the
container receiving section 72 in a sliding manner.
Therefore, along with the attachment operation of the toner
containers, the container front end covers 341, 34M, 34C,
34K first pass through the insertion hole part 71, slides
on the container receiving section 72 for a while, and are
finally attached to the container cover receiving section
73.
[0033] While the container front end cover 34Y is
attached to the container cover receiving section 73, the
driving part (container rotating part) 911 including a
driving motor, a driving gear, and the like as illustrated
in FIG. 5 inputs rotation drive to the container gear 3011
that is a gear arranged in the container body 331, via a
container driving gear 601Y serving as an apparatus main-
body gear. Therefore, the container body 33Y is rotated in
the arrow A direction in FIG. 5. With the rotation of the
container body 33Y, a spiral rib 302Y formed in a spiral
shape on the inner surface of the container body 331
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conveys toner in the container body 33Y from one end on the
right side in FIG. 5 to the other end on the left side in
FIG. 5 along the longitudinal direction of the container
body. Namely, in the embodiment, the spiral rib 302Y
serves as a rotary conveyor. Consequently, the toner is
supplied to the inside of the conveying nozzle 611Y via a
nozzle hole 610? serving as a powder receiving hole
provided on the conveying nozzle 611Y, and supplied from
the other side of the toner container 32Y where the
container front end cover 34Y is attached. The nozzle hole
610Y communicates with an opening of shutter supporting
portion 335b serving as a shutter side opening (to be
described later), at an inner position relative to the
position where the container gear 301Y is arranged in the
longitudinal direction of the container body 33Y.
Specifically, the container gear 301Y meshes with the
container driving gear 601Y on a container opening 33a side
in the longitudinal direction of the toner container,
relative to the position where the nozzle hole 610 and the
opening of shutter supporting portion 335b communicate with
each other.
[0034] The conveying screw 614? is arranged in the
conveying nozzle 611Y. When the driving part (container
rotating part) 91? inputs the rotation drive to a conveying
screw gear 605Y, the conveying screw 614Y rotates to convey
the toner supplied in the conveying nozzle 611Y. A
downstream end of the conveying nozzle 611Y in the
conveying direction is connected to the toner dropping
passage 64Y. The toner conveyed by the conveying screw
614Y falls along the toner dropping passage 64? by gravity
and is replenished to the developing device 50? (the second
developer accommodating section 54Y).
The toner containers 32Y, 3214, 320, 32K are replaced
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with new ones at the end of their lifetimes (when the
containers become empty because almost all of the contained
toner is consumed). Grippers 303Y, 303M, 303C, 303K are
arranged on one ends of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C,
5 32K opposite to the container front end covers 34Y, 34M,
34C, 34K in the longitudinal direction in FIG. 4, that is,
on the detachment direction Ql sides. When the toner
containers are to be replaced, an operator can grip the
grippers 303Y, 303M, 303C, 303K to pull out and detach the
10 toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K attached to the toner
container holder 70.
The configuration of the driving part 91 will be
further described below with reference to FIG. 6. In FIG.
6, symbols representing the colors are omitted. The
15 driving part 91 includes the container driving gear 601 and
the conveying screw gear 605. When a driving motor 603
fixed to a mounting frame 602 is driven and an output gear
is rotated, the container driving gear 601 rotates. The
conveying screw gear 605 rotates by receiving the rotation
20 of the output gear via a coupled gear 604.
[0035] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the toner replenishing
device 60Y controls the amount of toner supplied to the
developing device 50Y in accordance with the rotation
frequency of the conveying screw 614Y. Therefore, toner
25 that passes through the conveying nozzle 611Y is directly
conveyed to the developing device 50Y through the toner
dropping passage 64Y without the need to control the amount
of toner supplied to the developing device 50Y. Even in
the toner replenishing device 60Y configured to insert the
conveying nozzle 611Y into the toner container 32Y as
described in the embodiment, it may be possible to arrange
a temporary toner storage, such as a toner hopper. In the
toner replenishing devices 60M, 60C, 60K for the other
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colors, the supply amount of toner is controlled in the
same manner as in the toner replenishing device 60Y.
[0036] The toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K and the
toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, 60K according to
the embodiment-will be described in detail below. As
described above, the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, 32K
and the toner replenishing devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, 60K have
almost the same configurations except that the colors of
toner to be used are different. Therefore, in the
following descriptions, symbols Y, M, C, and K representing
the colors of toner will be omitted.
[0037] FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of
the toner replenishing device 60 before the toner container
32 is attached and a front end of the toner container 32.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory perspective view of the toner
container 32 viewed from above the container front end
cover 34. FIG. 8 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of
the toner replenishing device 60 to which the toner
container 32 is attached and the front end of the toner
container 32. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a
configuration of the container cover receiving section 73
of the toner container holder 70.
[0038] The toner replenishing device 60 includes the
conveying nozzle 611 in which the conveying screw 614 is
arranged, and a nozzle shutter 612. The nozzle shutter 612
is slidably mounted on the outer surface of the conveying
nozzle 611 so as to close the nozzle hole 610 at the time
of detachment, which is before the toner container 32 is
attached (in the state in FIG. 1), and to open the nozzle
hole 610 at the time of attachment, which is when the toner
container 32 is attached (in the state in FIG. 8). The
nozzle shutter 612 includes a nozzle shutter flange 612a
serving as a flange on the downstream side in the
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attachment direction relative to an end surface of a nozzle
receiver 330 serving as a nozzle insertion member (to be
described later) that comes in contact with the conveying
nozzle 611.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, a receiving opening 331,
which serves as a nozzle insertion opening into which the
conveying nozzle 611 is inserted at the time of attachment,
is provided in the center of the front end of the toner
container 32, and a container shutter 332, which serves as
an opening/closing member that closes the receiving opening
331 at the time of detachment, is arranged.
[0039] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the container receiving
section 72 arranged on the toner container holder 70 is
divided into four sections in a width direction W
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction
(attachment/detachment direction) of the toner container 32,
and gutters 74 serving as container mounting sections as
illustrated in FIG. 9 are provided so as to extend from the
insertion hole part 71 to the container cover receiving
section 73 along the longitudinal direction of the
container bodies 33 (Y, M, C, K). The toner containers 32
(Y, M, C, K) for the respective colors are able to move on
the gutters 74 in a sliding manner in the longitudinal
direction.
[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 9, on side surfaces 74a
and 74b of the gutter 74, which are opposite surfaces
arranged in the width direction W, the guide rails 75 are
arranged so as to face each other. The guide rails 75
protrude in the width direction W from the respective side
surfaces 74a and 74b, extend in the longitudinal direction,
and are arranged in front of the container cover receiving
section 73. The guide rails 75 have functions to guide the
container opening 33a serving as the opening to a container
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setting section 615 serving as a container receiving
section by being fitted to sliding guides 361 serving as
guiding portions on the toner container 32 side illustrated
in FIG. 7 when the toner container 32 is attached to the
printer 100 (the toner container holder 70 and the toner
replenishing device 60). Each of the guide rails 75 is
provided so as to be parallel to the rotation axis of the
container body 33 when the toner container 32 is attached
to the toner replenishing device 60.
[0041] As illustrated in
FIG. 9, the setting cover 608
for each color is arranged on the container cover receiving
section 73. The conveying nozzle 611 is arranged in the
center of the setting cover 608. The conveying nozzle 611
is arranged so as to protrude from an end surface 615b,
which is on the inner side in the attachment direction, of
the container setting section 615, which is located on the
downstream side in the attachment direction of the toner
container 32, toward the upstream side in the attachment
direction inside the container cover receiving section 73.
The container setting section 615 serving as the container
receiving section is arranged in the protruding direction
of the conveying nozzle 611, that is, toward the upstream
side in the attachment direction of the toner container 32
so as to surround the conveying nozzle 611. Specifically,
the container setting section 615 is arranged at the base
of the conveying nozzle 611 and serves as a positioner to
determine the position of the container opening 33a
relative to the toner container holder 70, where the
container opening 33a functions as a rotational shaft when
the rotary conveyor inside the toner container 32 rotates
to convey the toner contained in the toner container 32.
Namely, when the container opening 33a is inserted in and
mated to the container setting section 615, the radial
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position of the container opening 33a is determined.
[0042] When the toner container 32 is attached to the
toner replenishing device 60, an outer surface 33b of the
container opening 33a of the toner container 32 is slidably
mated to the container setting section 615. On an inner
surface 615a of the container setting section 615, contact
surfaces 615d, which are parts of the inner surface 615a of
the container setting section 615 and which protrude inward
in the radial direction from the inner surface 615a of the
container setting section 615, are provided at four evenly-
spaced positions. The contact surfaces 615d and the outer
surface 33b slide against each other with rotation of the
toner container 32.
[0043] By the mating of the inner surface 615a of the
container setting section 615 and the outer surface 33b of
the container opening 33a of the toner container 32, the
position of the toner container 32 relative to the toner
replenishing device 60 in the radial direction
perpendicular to the longitudinal direction
(attachment/detachment direction) of the toner container 32
is determined. Further, when the toner container 32
rotates, the outer surface 33b of the container opening 33a
functions as a rotational shaft, and the inner surface 615a
of the container setting section 615 functions as a bearing.
In FIG. 8, a indicates the position at which the outer
surface 33b of the container opening 33a comes in sliding
contact with the contact surfaces 615d as the parts of the
inner surface 615a of the container setting section 615 and
at which the radial position of the toner container 32
relative to the toner replenishing device 60 is determined
at this time.
In the descriptions below, it is repeatedly explained
that the outer surface 33b of the container opening 33a of
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the toner container 32 and the container setting section
615 mate with each other in a slidable manner. The mating
state is, in a precise sense, a state in which the outer
surface 33b of the container opening 33a of the toner
5 container 32 is in contact with the contact surfaces 615d
provided on the inner surface 615a of the container setting
section 615. Hereinafter, for simplicity of explanation,
= the mating will be referred to as mating the outer surface
33b of the container opening 33a with the inner surface
10 615a of the container setting section 615 by omitting the
contact surfaces 615d.
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 9, holes 608d are provided
so as to face each other in the width direction W of the
setting cover 608. On the setting cover 608, replenishing
15 device engaging members 78 (to be described later) are
arranged so as to be able to move back and forth from the
outer surface to an inner surface 608c side of the setting
cover 608 via the holes 608d. The replenishing device
engaging members 78 are biased from the outer side to the
20 inner side of the setting cover 608 by biasing means, such
as torsion coil springs 782.
[0045] The toner container 32 will be described below.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the toner container 32
= mainly includes the container body 33 containing toner, and
25 includes the container front end cover 34. The container
body 33 is in the form of an approximate cylinder and
rotates about a central axis of the cylinder as a rotation
axis. Hereinafter, one side of the toner container 32
where the receiving opening 331 is provided (the side where
30 the container front end cover 34 is arranged) in the
longitudinal direction of the toner container 32 may be
referred to as "a container front end". The other side of
the toner container 32 where the gripper 303 is arranged
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(the side opposite the container front end) may be referred
to as "a container rear end". The longitudinal direction
of the toner container 32 is the rotation axis direction,
and corresponds to the horizontal direction when the toner
container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device
60. The container rear end of the container body 33
relative to the container gear 301 has a greater outer
diameter than that of the container front end, and the
spiral rib 302 is provided on the inner surface of the
container body 33. When the container body 33 rotates in
the arrow A direction in the figures, a conveying force for
moving toner from one end (the container rear end) to the
other end (the container front end) in the rotation axis
direction is applied to the toner in the container body 33
due to the action of the spiral rib 302.
[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 8, scooping portions 304,
which scoop up the toner conveyed to the container front
end by the spiral rib 302 along with the rotation of the
container body 33 in the arrow A direction in the figures,
are provided on the inner wall of the container front end
of the container body 33. Each of the scooping portions
304 scoops up toner, which has been conveyed by the
conveying force of the spiral rib 302, by using a scooping
wall surface 304f along with the rotation of the container
body 33. Therefore, the toner can be scooped up so as to
be located above the inserted conveying nozzle 611. As
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8 for example, a spiral rib 304a
of the scooping portion is formed in a spiral shape on the
inner surface of each of the scooping portions 304 in order
to convey the internally-located toner, similarly to the
spiral rib 302.
[0047] As illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the container
gear 301 is provided on the container front side relative
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to the scooping portions 304 on the container body 33. A
gear exposing opening 34a is arranged on the container
front end cover 34 so that a part of the container gear 301
can be exposed when the container front end cover 34 is
attached to the container body 33. When the toner
container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device
60, the container gear 301 exposed from the gear exposing
opening 34a meshes with a container driving gear 601 of the
toner replenishing device 60. The container gear 301 is
arranged on the container opening 33a side (near the
container opening 33a) relative to the nozzle hole 610 in
the longitudinal direction of the container body 33 such
that the container gear 301 can mesh with the container
driving gear 601. The container gear 301 meshes with the
container driving gear 601 to thereby rotate the rotary
conveyor.
[0048] The container opening 33a in the form of a
cylinder is provided on the container front side relative
to the container gear 301 of the container body 33 so as to
be coaxial with the container gear 301. As illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 8, a nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 of
the nozzle receiver 330 is press fitted to the container
opening 33a so as to be coaxial with the container opening
33a, so that the nozzle receiver 330 is fixed to the
container body 33. The toner container 32 is configured
such that toner is replenished from the container opening
33a serving as the opening provided on one end of the
container body 33, and thereafter, the nozzle receiver 330
is attached to the container opening 33a of the container
body 33.
[0049] As illustrated in FIG. 7, a cover hook stopper
306 serving as a restrictor is provided between the
container opening 33a of the container body 33 and the
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container gear 301. The cover hook stopper 306 has a ring
shape extending in the rotation direction (circumferential
direction) on the front end of the container front end
cover 34 in the attachment direction. At least a part of
the cover hook stopper 306 is provided with openings 3061
(to be described later with reference to FIGS. 11A to 11C
and 12), each of which serves as a notch or a cutout for
passage in a direction perpendicular to the circumferential
= direction. Namely, the cover hook stopper 306 is provided
so as to surround the outer surface of the container
opening 33a. In the embodiment, the direction
perpendicular to the circumferential direction is the
longitudinal direction (attachment/detachment direction).
The container front end cover 34 is attached to the
toner container 32 (the container body 33) from the
container front end (from the bottom left side in FIG. 8).
Therefore, the container body 33 penetrates through the
container front end cover 34 in the longitudinal direction,
and cover hooks 340 serving as protrusions are engaged with
the cover hook stopper 306 serving as the restrictor. The
container body 33 and the container front end cover 34 are
attached so as to rotate relative to each other when the
cover hooks 340 are engaged with the cover hook stopper 306.
The cover hooks 340 are made of resin material.
[0050] Configurations of the cover hook stopper 306 and
the cover hooks 340 will be described with reference to
FIGS. 11A to 11C and FIG. 12. As described above, the
cover hook stopper 306 serving as the restrictor provided
on the container body 33 includes the openings 3061 through
which the cover hooks 340 arranged on the container front
end cover 34 pass in the attachment/detachment direction of
the container body 33 perpendicular to the rotation
direction.
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On a front surface 34c of the container front end
cover 34 in the attachment direction Q, a hole 34d serving
as a through hole is provided, which penetrates in the
attachment/detachment direction of the container body 33
and into which the container opening 33a is inserted. The
cover hooks 340 are provided such that front ends 340A
protrude toward the center of the hole 34d. As indicated
by a dashed-line circle 34e in FIG. 11B, tips of the front
ends 340A protrude inward relative to the outer periphery
of the hole 34d.
[0051] The openings 3061 are openings through which the
cover hooks 340 pass in the attachment/detachment direction
when the container body 33 rotates relative to the
container front end cover 34. In the first embodiment, the
three openings 3061 are provided on the cover hook stopper
306 in the rotation direction. The openings 3061 are
arranged such that spaces between the openings 3061 in the
circumferential direction coincide with the spaces between
cover hooks 340 in the circumferential direction. In the
first embodiment, the three cover hooks 340 and the three
openings 3061 are provided in the rotation direction;
however, it is sufficient that at least one cover hook 340
and one opening 3061 are provided. FIG. 110 illustrates a
state into which the cover hooks 340 are inserted in the
cover hook stopper 306 from a state into which the cover
hooks 340 are not inserted in the cover hook stopper 306 as
illustrated in FIG. 11A. As illustrated in FIG. 11C, a
center side surface of the front surface 34c and a side
surface of the cover hook stopper 306 face each other. The
cover hooks 340 are thinner than the front surface 34c (in
FIG. 11B, recessed toward the rear side relative to the
front surface 34c), and the cover hooks 340 and the cover
hook stopper 306 face each other in the attachment
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direction Q. Therefore, the movement of the container
front end cover 34 relative to the container body 33 in the
attachment direction Q and the detachment direction Ql is
restricted. The restriction involves allowing the cover
5 hooks 340 to move between the cover hook stopper 306 and
the container gear 301 in the attachment direction Q and
the detachment direction Q1 in FIG. 11C. Accordingly, the
container body 33 becomes rotatable relative to the
container front end cover 34.
10 [0052] In the first embodiment, "the rotation direction
A" is a direction in which the container front end cover 34
rotates relative to the container body 33 in the toner
container 32 attached to the copier 500 (the toner
replenishing device 60 and the toner container holder 70),
15 and "the attachment rotation direction R" is a direction in
which the container front end cover 34 (the cover hooks
340) rotates relative to the container body 33 when the
container front end cover 34 is attached to the container
body 33. The three cover hooks 340 and the three openings
20 3061 have the same configurations, respectively; therefore,
the configurations and operation of the single cover hook
340 and the single opening 3061 will be described below as
representatives. The outer diameter of the cover hook
stopper 306 is greater than the inner diameter of the hole
25 34d in the center.
[0053] The container body 33 and the container gear 301
may be integrally formed. Alternatively, the container
body 33 and the container gear 301 may be separately formed
depending on the resin material used for the container body
30 33. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the cover
hook stopper 306 is formed on the container gear 301, the
openings 3061 are formed on the cover hook stopper 306 on
the container gear 301, and the container gear 301 is
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attached to the container body 33 in an integrated manner.
[0054] As illustrated in FIG. 7, on the container front
end cover 34 of the toner container 32, the sliding guides
361 serving as guiding portions are provided on lower
portions in the width direction W, where the sliding guides
361 restrict the toner container 32 being attached from
moving in directions other than the attachment direction to
thereby guide the container opening 33a to the container
setting section 615 when the toner container 32 is attached
to the printer 100. In FIG. 7, only one of the sliding
guides 361 is illustrated. Each of the sliding guides 361
includes a gutter extending in the longitudinal direction
of the container body 33. The sliding guides 361 are
configured such that the guide rails 75, as a pair,
provided on the gutters 74 of the container receiving
section 72 as illustrated in FIG. 9 are inserted in the
respective gutters and sandwiched in the vertical direction.
Therefore, the sliding guides 361 function as positioners
of the container front end cover 34 in the width direction
W perpendicular to a vertical direction Z and the
detachment direction Ql when the toner container 32 is
attached to the printer 100 (the toner replenishing device
60 and the toner container holder 70).
[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 7, container engaging
portions 339 are provided on the surface of the container
front end cover 34 in the width direction W to determine
the position of the toner container 32 relative to the
toner replenishing device 60 in the longitudinal direction
(attachment/detachment direction). In FIG. 7, only one of
the container engaging portions 339 is illustrated. When
the toner container 32 is attached to the toner
replenishing device 60, the replenishing device engaging
members 78 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) arranged on the setting
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covers 608 are engaged with the container engaging portions
339.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, each of the container
engaging portions 339 includes a guiding protrusion 339a, a
guiding groove 339b, a bump 339c, and an engaging opening
339d serving as an axial restrictor. A pair of the
container engaging portions 339 is arranged so as to be
located on left and right sides of the container front end
cover 34. Namely, the engaging openings 339d are arranged
on the left and right sides across the center of the
container opening 33a. Each of the guiding protrusions
339a is provided on the container front end of the
container front end cover 34 and located on a vertical
plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the
toner container 32 and on a horizontal plane passing
through the rotation axis of the container body 33. Each
of the guiding protrusions 339a includes an inclined
surface adjoined to each of the guiding grooves 339b so as
to come in contact with the replenishing device engaging
members 78 and to guide the replenishing device engaging
members 78 to the guiding grooves 339b when the toner
container 32 is attached. The guiding grooves 339b are
grooves recessed.from the side surface of the container
front end cover 34.
[0056] The container rear ends of the guiding grooves
339b are not directly connected to the respective engaging
openings 339d but are terminated, and are located at the
same height as the side surfaces of the container front end
cover 34. Namely, the outer surface of the container front
end cover 34 with a width of about 1 mm is exposed between
each of the guiding grooves 339b and each of the
quadrangular engaging openings 339d, and this portion
serves as the bump 339c. The replenishing device engaging
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members 78 pass over the bumps 339c and fall in the
engaging openings 339d, so that the toner container 32 and
the toner replenishing device 60 are engaged with each
other. This state is the set position (set state) of the
toner container 32. In the embodiment, the replenishing
device engaging members 78 are configured to fall in the
engaging openings 339d of the container engaging portions
339. However, as the shapes of the container engaging
portions 339, in which the replenishing device engaging
members 78 falls to enable engagement between the toner
container 32 and the toner replenishing device 6, through
hole shapes like the engaging openings 339d or recessed
shapes such as non-penetrating engaging portions in closed-
end shapes.
[0057] As illustrated in FIG. 10, the driving part
(container rotating part) 91 inputs rotation drive to the
container gear 301 of the toner container 32 via the
container driving gear 601. When the drive is input to the
container gear 301, the outer surface 33b of the container
opening 33a of the container body 33 functions as a
rotational shaft and the inner surface 615a of the
container setting section 615 functions as a bearing, so
that the container body 33, in which the container gear 301
is attached or integrated, rotates. In the first
embodiment, the rotation center of the container gear 301
is located so as to be concentric with the axis of the
container opening 33a.
In the state in which the toner container 32 is held
by the toner container holder 70 (the set state), the outer
surface 33b of the container opening 33a serving as the
container front end of the toner container 32 serves as the
rotational shaft and is supported by the inner surface 615a
of the container setting section 615 in the toner container
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32, and the engaging openings 339d of the container
engaging portions 339 are engaged with the replenishing
device engaging members 78. The container gear 301 is
arranged between the container engaging portions 339 and
the container opening 33a.
[0058] The appearance of the toner container 32 will be
described below with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 13 to FIG.
19.
When the toner container 32 is transported, a cap 307
serving as a seal to seal the container opening 33a as
illustrated in FIG. 15 is attachable to the container
opening 33a on the container front end as illustrated in
FIG. 13 and FIG. 14. Therefore, it is possible to prevent
unexpected communication between the outside and the inside,
of the toner container 32, to thereby prevent toner leakage,
deterioration of toner due to absorption of water from air
into the toner, or the like.
When the toner container 32 is used for the first time,
the cap 307 as described above is first detached. A state
in which the cap 307 is detached and the container opening
33a is exposed is illustrated in FIGS. 7, 13, and 14.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory perspective view of the
toner container 32 viewed from obliquely below. FIG. 14 is
an enlarged perspective view of a D-D region illustrated in
FIG. 13. FIG. 15 is an explanatory perspective view
illustrating a state in which the cap 307 is attached to
the toner container 32 illustrated in FIG. 13. FIG. 16 is
a view from the container front end cover 34 side. FIG.
17A is a plan view of the toner container 32 illustrated in
FIG. 13. FIG. 173 is a bottom view of the toner container
32 illustrated in FIG. 13. FIG. 17C is a right side view
of the toner container 32 illustrated in FIG. 13. FIG. 17D
is a left side view of the toner container 32 illustrated
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in FIG. 13. FIG. 18A is a back view of the toner container
32 illustrated in FIG. 13. FIG. 18B is a front view of the
toner container 32 illustrated in FIG. 13.
On the container front end cover 34 of the toner
5 container 32, as illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 16, a plurality
of identification grooves 3405 to 3414 are arranged in
addition to the above described components. Among the
identification grooves 3411 to 3420, as illustrated in FIG.
16, the identification grooves 3411 to 3414 are provided on
10 the right side of the outer surface of the container front
end cover 34 with respect to a virtual line E passing
through the rotation center of the toner container 32 and a
rib 341b of the cover hook 340. The rib. 341b has a
function to come in sliding contact with an upper part
15 (ceiling surface) of the toner container holder 70 when the
toner container 32 is attached to the copier 500 (the toner
replenishing device 60 and the toner container holder 70)
and stably maintain the posture of the toner container 32.
Further, among the identification grooves 3405 to 3414, the
20 identification grooves 3405 to 3410 are arranged on the
left side of the outer surface of the container front end
cover 34 with respect to the virtual line E in Fig. 16. In
FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, reference signs of the identification
grooves 3411 to 3414 are not illustrated because they are
25 located on the rear side in the direction normal to the
sheets of the figures.
Among the identification grooves 3405 to 3414, the
identification grooves 3407, 3409, 3410, 3411, 3412, 3414
are grooves that linearly extend from the front surface 34c
30 of the container front end cover 34 in the longitudinal
direction of the toner container 32 (the detachment
direction Ql), and are provided on an outer surface 34b of
the container front end cover 34. Further, the
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identification grooves 3405, 3406, 3408, 3413 when viewed
from front, are concave portions that are shallowly
recessed from the front surface 34c toward the rear side in
the figures relative to the identification grooves 3407,
3409, 3410, 3411, 3412, 3414. A grid-shaped rib with
approximately the same height as the periphery of the outer
surface 34b is arranged in each of the identification
grooves. Therefore, the height of the periphery of the
outer surface 34b of the container front end cover 34
varies in the circumferential direction because of the
identification grooves 3405 to 3414 and the grid-shaped
ribs arranged in the identification grooves. The grid-
shaped ribs in the identification grooves are arranged in
positions corresponding to types of toner or models of
apparatuses to be attached. Therefore, by combinations of
the positions at which the grid-shaped ribs arranged in the
identification grooves 3405 to 3414 are provided in the
circumferential direction, irregularities corresponding to
the types of toner or the models of apparatuses to be
attached are formed, and the grid-shaped ribs function to
provide information, such as the type of the toner
container 32, to the copier 500 (the toner replenishing
device 60 and the toner container holder 70).
[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 16, the container engaging
portions 339 are arranged at symmetric positions, which are
separated by 180 degrees, with respect to the virtual line
E, and have functions to engage the copier 500 (the toner
replenishing device 60 and the toner container holder 70)
and the toner container 32 when the toner container 32 is
attached to the copier 500 (the toner replenishing device
60 and the toner container holder 70). The container gear
301 has a function to mesh with the gear 601 on the copier
500 (the toner replenishing device 60 and the toner
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container holder 70) after the toner container 32 is
attached to the copier 500 (the toner replenishing device
60 and the toner container holder 70), and appropriately
and automatically rotate the cylindrical container body 33
of the toner container 32.
FIGS. 17A to 17D and FIGS. 18A and 18B are six views
of the toner container 32. However, the external shape of
the container front end cover 34 varies depending on the
color of toner or an apparatus to which the toner container
32 is attached; therefore, the six views are not the same
for all of the toner containers 32.
FIG. 19 is an explanatory perspective view of the
container body 33 from which the container front end cover
34 on the front end of the toner container 32 is detached.
As illustrated in FIG. 19, the spiral rib 304a in a spiral
shape is provided on the inner periphery of the scooping
portion 304 in order to convey the internally-located toner,
similarly to the spiral rib 302.
[0060] The nozzle receiver 330 attached to the container
body 33 will be described below.
As illustrated in FIGS. 20 to 22, the nozzle receiver
330 is arranged on the toner container 32, and includes the
receiving opening 331 serving as a nozzle insertion opening.
The conveying nozzle 611 for conveying toner supplied from
the toner container 32 in the image forming apparatus is
inserted in the receiving opening 331. The nozzle receiver
330 includes the Container shutter 332 serving as an
opening/closing member, a container seal 333 serving as a
seal, a container shutter supporter 334 serving as a
supporter, a container shutter spring 336 serving as a
biasing member, and the nozzle receiver attachment portion
337. The container shutter 332 is inserted in and
supported by the container shutter supporter 334 in a
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reciprocating manner so as to move to the opening position
to open the receiving opening 331 by being pressed with
insertion of the conveying nozzle 611, and to move a
closing position to close the receiving opening 331 with
removal of the conveying nozzle 611. Namely, the container
shutter supporter 334 supports the container shutter 332 to
guide the movement to the opening position and the closing
position. The container shutter spring 336 is a coil
spring that is arranged inside the container shutter
supporter 334 and biases the container shutter 332 toward
the closing position.
[0061] The container shutter supporter 334 includes a
shutter rear end supporting portion 335 as a shutter rear
portion, a pair of shutter side supporting portions 335a as
shutter side portions, the openings of shutter supporting
portion 335b as side openings, and the nozzle receiver
attachment portion 337. The shutter side supporting
portions 335a are arranged so as to face each other, and
extend along the moving direction of the container shutter
332. One ends of the shutter side supporting portions 335a
are connected by the shutter rear end supporting portion
335, and the other ends are connected to the cylindrical
nozzle receiver attachment portion 337. The shutter side
supporting portions 335a and the openings of shutter
supporting portion 335b are arranged adjacent to each other
in the rotation direction of the toner container. Namely,
the container shutter supporter 334 has a shape in which
cylindrical portions corresponding to the shutter side
supporting portions 335a from the nozzle receiver
attachment portion 337 side to the shutter rear end
supporting portion 335 are vertically cut out along the
moving direction of the container shutter 332, and the
openings of shutter supporting portion 335b are provided in
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the cutout portions. The container shutter supporter 334
is configured such that the container shutter 332 can move
along the insertion direction of the conveying nozzle 611
in a space Si. The space Si is enclosed by the pair of the
shutter side supporting portions 335a, the shutter rear end
supporting portion 335, and the nozzle receiver attachment
portion 337. In other words, the container shutter
supporter 334 is configured to be able to guide the
movement of the container shutter 332 to the opening
position to open the receiving opening 331 and the closing
position to close the receiving opening 331.
[0062] As illustrated in FIG. 23, the nozzle receiver
330 attached to the container body 33 rotates with the
container body 33 when the container body 33 rotates. At
this time, the shutter side supporting portions 335a of the
nozzle receiver 330 rotate around the conveying nozzle 611
of the toner replenishing device 60. Therefore, the
shutter side supporting portions 335a being rotated
alternately pass a space just above the nozzle hole 610
provided in the upper side of the conveying nozzle 611.
Consequently, even if toner is instantaneously accumulated
above the nozzle hole 610, because the shutter side
supporting portions 335a cross the accumulated toner and
alleviate the accumulation, it becomes possible to prevent
cohesion of the accumulated toner when the apparatus is not
used and prevent a toner conveying failure when the
apparatus is resumed. In contrast, when the shutter side
supporting portions 335a are located on the aides of the
conveying nozzle 611 and the nozzle hole 610 and the
opening of shutter supporting portion 335b face each other,
toner in the container body 33 is supplied to the conveying
nozzle 611 as indicated by an arrow p in FIG. 8.
[0063] As illustrated in FIG. 22, the container shutter
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332 includes a front cylindrical portion 332c serving as a
closure, a slide area 332d, a guiding rod 332e serving as
an elongated portion, and shutter hooks 332a. The front
cylindrical portion 332c is a container front end portion
5 to be tightly fitted to a cylindrical opening (the
receiving opening 331) of the container seal 333. The
slide area 332d is a cylindrical portion serving as a
gliding portion or a sealing portion, which is provided on
the container rear end relative to the front cylindrical
10 portion 332c. The slide area 332d has an outer diameter
slightly greater than that of the front cylindrical portion
332c, slides on the inner surfaces of the pair of the
shutter side supporting portions 335a, and seals the
receiving opening 331.
15 The guiding rod 332e is a cylinder that stands from
the inner side of the cylinder of the front cylindrical
portion 332c toward the container rear end, and serves a
rod portion that prevents the container shutter spring 336
from being buckled when the guiding rod 332e is inserted to
20 the inside of the coil of the container shutter spring 336.
A guiding rod sliding portion 332g, serving as a flat
guiding portion, includes a pair of flat surfaces that are
provided on both sides across the central axis of the
cylindrical guiding rod 332e from the middle of the guiding
25 rod 332e. The container rear end of the guiding rod
sliding portion 332g is bifurcated into a pair of
cantilevers as illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 23. The shutter
hooks 332a are provided on ends of the cantilevers opposite
to the base from which the guiding rod 332e stands, and
30 form an engaging portion to be hooked on the container
shutter supporter 334. The shutter hooks 332a and the
guiding rod sliding portion 332g are inserted in a rear end
opening 335d serving as a through hole provided on the
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shutter rear end supporting portion 335, and the shutter
hooks 332a are hooked on the rear end opening 335d, so that
the shutter hooks 332a and the guiding rod sliding portion
332g serve as a pair of hooks that prevent the container
shutter 332 from coming off from the container shutter
supporter 334.
[0064] A front end
of the container shutter spring 336
abuts against an inner wall surface of the front
cylindrical portion 332c, and a rear end of the container
shutter spring 336 abuts against an inner wall surface
335ca that is an opposite surface of the shutter rear end
supporting portion 335. At this time, the container
shutter spring 336 is in a compressed state, so that the
container shutter 332 receives a biasing force in a
direction away from the shutter rear end supporting portion
335 (to the right or toward the container front end in FIG.
22). However, the shutter hooks 332a provided on the
container rear end of the container shutter 332 are hooked
on the rear end opening 335d of the shutter rear end
supporting portion 335. Therefore, the container shutter
332 is prevented from moving further in the direction away
from the shutter rear end supporting portion 335 in the
state illustrated in FIG. 22.
Due to the hooked state between the shutter hooks 332a
and the shutter rear end supporting portion 335 and the
biasing force of the container shutter spring 336, the
position of the container shutter 332 is determined.
Specifically, the positions of the front cylindrical
portion 332c and the container seal 333 in the axial
direction, both of which have a toner leakage preventing
function of the container shutter 332, are determined
relative to the container shutter supporter 334. Therefore,
it becomes possible to determine the positions of the front
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cylindrical portion 332c and the container seal 333 so that
they can be fitted to each other, enabling to prevent toner
leakage.
[0065] As illustrated in FIG. 22, the nozzle receiver
attachment portion 337 is in the form of a cylinder, the
outer diameter and the inner diameter of which are reduced
in a stepped manner toward the container rear end. The
diameters are gradually reduced from the container front
end to the container rear end. As illustrated in FIG. 22,
two outer diameter portions (outer surfaces AA and BB
located in this order from the container front end) are
provided on the outer surface, and five inner diameter
portions (inner surfaces CC, DD, EE, FF, and GG located in
this order from the container front end) are provided on
the inner surface. The outer surfaces AA and BB on the
outer surface are connected by a tapered surface at their
boundary. Similarly, the fourth inner diameter portion FF
and the fifth inner diameter portion GG on the inner
surface are connected by a tapered surface at their
boundary. The inner diameter portion FF on the inner
surface and the connected tapered surface correspond to a
seal jam preventing space 337b to be described later, and
the ridge lines of these surfaces correspond to sides of a
pentagonal cross-section to be described later.
[0066] As illustrated in FIG. 22, the pair of the
shutter side supporting portions 335a, which face each
other and which have flake shapes obtained by cutting a
cylinder in the axial direction, protrude from the nozzle
receiver attachment portion 337. The ends of the two
shutter side supporting portions 335a on the container rear
side are connected by the shutter rear end supporting
portion 335. The nozzle receiver attachment portion 337
includes the inner diameter portion GG, which is the fifth
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portion from the front end, as a cylindrical inner surface
having the same inner diameter as the diameter of the slide
area 332d of the container shutter 332. The third inner
surface EE of the nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 is
a virtual periphery that passes through longitudinal tips
of nozzle shutter positioning ribs 337a that are equally
spaced at 45 . The container seal 333 with a quadrangular
cylindrical (cylindrical tube shaped) cross section (the
cross section in the cross-sectional view in FIG. 22) is
arranged so as to correspond to the inner surface EE. The
container seal 333 is fixed to a vertical surface
connecting the third inner surface EE and the fourth inner
surface FF with adhesive agent, double-stick tape, or the
like. The exposed surface of the container seal 333
opposite to the attachment surface (the right side in FIG.
22) serves as an inner bottom of the cylindrical opening of
the cylindrical nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 (the
container opening).
[0067] Further, as illustrated in FIG. 22, the seal jam
preventing space 337h (a catch preventing space) is
provided so as to correspond to the inner surface FF of the
nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 and the connected
tapered surface. The seal jam preventing space 337b is a
ring-shaped sealed space enclosed by three different parts.
Specifically, the seal jam preventing space 337b is a ring-
shaped space enclosed by the inner surface (the fourth
inner surface FF and the connected tapered surface) of the
nozzle receiver attachment portion 337, the vertical
surface on the attachment side of the container seal 333,
and the outer surface from the front cylindrical portion
332c to the slide area 332d of the container shutter 332.
A cross section of the ring-shaped space is in the form of
a pentagon. The angle between the inner surface of the
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nozzle receiver attachment portion 337 and the end surface
of the container seal 333 and the angle between the outer
surface of the container shutter 332 and the end surface of
the container seal 333 are 90 .
[0068] Functions of the seal jam preventing space 337b
will be described below. When the container shutter 332
moves toward the container rear end from the state in which
the receiving opening 331 is closed by the container
shutter 332, the inner surface of the container seal 333
slides against the front cylindrical portion 332c of the
container shutter 332. Therefore, the inner surface of the
container seal 333 is pulled by the container shutter 332
and elastically deformed so as to move toward the container
rear end. At this time, if the seal jam preventing space
337b is not provided and the vertical surface (the
attachment surface of the container seal 333) continuing
from the third inner surface is connected to the fifth
inner surface GG so as to be perpendicular to each other,
the following situation may occur. Specifically, the
elastically-deformed portion of the container seal 333 may
be caught between the inner surface of the nozzle receiver
attachment portion 337 sliding against the container
shutter 332 and the outer surface of the container shutter
332, resulting in causing a jam. If the container seal 333
is jammed in the portion where the nozzle receiver
attachment portion 337 and the container shutter 332 slide
against each other, that is, between the front cylindrical
portion 332c and the inner surface GG, the container
shutter 332 is firmly attached to the nozzle receiver
attachment portion 337, so that the receiving opening 331
may not be opened and closed.
[0069] In contrast, the nozzle receiver 330 according to
the first embodiment is provided with the seal jam
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= preventing space 337b in the inner area thereof. The inner
diameter of the seal jam preventing space 337b (the inner
diameter of each of the inner surface EE and the connected
tapered surface) is smaller than the outer diameter of the
5 container seal 333. Therefore, the entire container seal
333 can hardly be entered into the seal jam preventing
space 337b. Further, an area of the container seal 333 to
be elastically deformed by being pulled by the container
shutter 332 is limited, and the container seal 333 can be
10 restored by its own elasticity before the container seal
333 is brought to and jammed at the inner surface GG. With
this action, it becomes possible to prevent a situation in
which the receiving opening 331 cannot be opened and closed
because of the attached state between the container shutter
15 332 and the nozzle receiver attachment portion 337.
[0070] As
illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 22, the multiple
nozzle shutter positioning ribs 337a are provided so as to
radially extend on the inner surface of the nozzle receiver
attachment portion 337 that comes in contact with the outer
20 periphery of the container seal 333. When the container
seal 333 is attached to the nozzle receiver attachment
portion 337, the vertical surface of the container seal 333
on the container front side slightly protrudes relative to
the front ends of the nozzle shutter positioning ribs 337a
25 in the rotation axis direction.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, when the toner container 32
is attached to the toner replenishing device 60, the nozzle
shutter flange 612a of the nozzle shutter 612 of the toner
replenishing device 60 presses and deforms the protruding
30 portion of the container seal 333 by being biased by a
nozzle shutter spring 613. The nozzle shutter flange 612a
further moves inward and abuts against the container front
ends of the nozzle shutter positioning ribs 337a, thereby
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covering and sealing the front end surface of the container
seal 333 from the outside of the container. Therefore, it
becomes possible to ensure the sealing performance in the
periphery of the conveying nozzle 611 at the receiving
opening 331 in the attached state, enabling to prevent
toner leakage.
[0071] The back side of a biased surface 612f of the
nozzle shutter flange 612a biased by the nozzle shutter
spring 613 abuts against the nozzle shutter positioning
ribs 337a, so that the position of the nozzle shutter 612
relative to the toner container 32 in the rotation axis
direction is determined. Therefore, a positional
relationship of the front end surface of the container seal
333, the front end surface of a front end opening 305 (an
inner space of the cylindrical nozzle receiver attachment
portion 337 arranged in the container opening 33a as will
be described later), and the nozzle shutter 612 in the
rotation axis direction is determined.
[0072] The operation of the container shutter 332 and
the conveying nozzle 611 will be described below with
reference to FIGS. 1, 8, and 24A to 24D. Before the toner
container 32 is attached to the toner replenishing device
60, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the container shutter 332 is
biased by the container shutter spring 336 toward the
closing position so as to close the receiving opening 331.
The appearance of the container shutter 332 and the
conveying nozzle 611 at this time is illustrated in FIG.
24A. When the toner container 32 is attached to the toner
replenishing device 60, as illustrated in FIG. 248, the
conveying nozzle 611 is inserted in the receiving opening
331. When the toner container 32 is further pushed into
the toner replenishing device 60, an end surface 332h of
the front cylindrical portion 332c, which serves as an end
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surface of the container shutter 332 (hereinafter, referred
to as "the end surface 332h of the container shutter") and
an end surface 611a located in the insertion direction of
the conveying nozzle 611 (hereinafter, referred to as "the
front end (end surface) 611a of the conveying nozzle") come
in contact with each other. When the toner container 32 is
further pushed from the state as described above, the
container shutter 332 is pushed as illustrated in FIG. 24C.
Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 24D, the conveying
nozzle 611 is inserted in the shutter rear end supporting
portion 335 from the receiving opening 331. Therefore, as
illustrated in FIG. 8, the conveying nozzle 611 is inserted
in the container body 33 and located at the set position.
At this time, as illustrated in FIG. 24D, the nozzle hole
610 is located at a position overlapping the opening of
shutter supporting portion 335b.
[0073] Subsequently, when the container body 33 rotates,
toner scooped up above the conveying nozzle 611 by the
scooping portions 304 falls in and is introduced into the
conveying nozzle 611 via the nozzle hole 610. The toner
introduced into the conveying nozzle 611 is conveyed inside
the conveying nozzle 611 toward the toner dropping passage
64 along with the rotation of the conveying screw 614.
Subsequently, the toner falls in and is supplied to the
developing device 50 through the toner dropping passage 64.
[0074] A configuration of a conventional nozzle receiver
330' will be described below with reference to FIGS. 25, 26,
and 27A to 27D. The same components as those of the nozzle
receiver 330 of the first embodiment are denoted by the
same reference symbols.
Toner stored in the toner container 32 serving as a
toner bottle contains air and has predetermined fluidity
just after the toner is sealed in the toner container 32.
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However, the toner in the toner container 32 is gradually
deaerated and the fluidity is reduced during transportation
or storage. Therefore, it is preferable to shake the toner
container 32 to mix the internal toner and air to thereby
obtain the predetermined fluidity just before the toner
container 32 is attached to the copier 500.
However, in some cases, the toner container 32 may be
inserted without being shaken just before the toner
container 32 is attached to the copier 500. In this case,
as illustrated in FIGS. 27A to 27D, when the conveying
nozzle 611 is inserted in the nozzle receiver 330', the
container shutter 332 starts to move. At this time, toner
with the reduced fluidity remains in the space Si, which is
defined by the two shutter side supporting portions 335a of
the container shutter supporter 334'that guides the
container shutter 332 and by the shutter rear end
supporting portion 335' of the container shutter supporter
334' and in which the container shutter spring 336 is held.
Further, in the conventional configuration, as illustrated
in FIG. 29A, the shutter rear end supporting portion 335'
is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the projection area
of the shutter rear end supporting portion 335' is greater
than the projection area of a rear end surface 332da of the
slide area 332d of the container shutter 332; therefore,
toner is likely to be accumulated in the cylindrical
portion. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 29A, the
projection area, which is indicated by the gray-shaded area,
of an end surface portion 335c of the supporter from which
the portions 335e connected to the two shutter side
supporting portions 335a are excluded is made nearly equal
to or slightly larger than the projection area in the same
direction, which is indicated by the hatched area, of the
rear end surface 332da of the slide area 332d of the
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container shutter 332. Therefore, the toner is pressed
between the rear end surface 332da of the slide area 332d
of the container shutter 332 and an opposite surface of the
nozzle receiver 330' facing the shutter rear end supporting
portion 335'.
[0075] At this time, if the toner has the predetermined
fluidity, the toner can move away from the openings of
shutter supporting portion 335b'. By contrast, when the
fluidity is low, such as when the toner container 32 is
inserted without being shaken, the toner is pressed and
compressed between the rear end surface 332da of the slide
area 332d of the container shutter 332 and the opposite
surface of the container shutter supporter 334' (the nozzle
receiver 330') facing the shutter rear end supporting
portion 335' as described above. When the toner container
32 is further pushed, the compressed toner enters between
the slide area 332d of the container shutter 332 and the
two shutter side supporting portions 335a of the container
shutter supporter 334' (the nozzle receiver 330'). If the
compressed and cohered toner enters between the slide area
332d of the container shutter 332 and the two shutter side
supporting portions 335a of the container shutter supporter
334' (the nozzle receiver 330') as described above, the
container shutter 332 is prevented from returning to the
closing position when the toner container 32 is detached
from the copier 500. Consequently, the toner container 32
may be detached while the receiving opening 331 remains
open, resulting in toner leakage.
[0076] First Example
In a first example of the first embodiment, as
illustrated in FIGS. 28A, 28B, and 29B, the container
shutter supporter 334 of the nozzle receiver 330 is
configured as described below. Specifically, the end
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surface portion 335c, which serves as the end surface
portion of supporter, is provided on the shutter rear end
supporting portion 335 of the container shutter supporter
334. At the end surface portion 335c, portions other than
5 the portions 335e connected to the two shutter side
supporting portions 335a are opened. Namely, when the
portions 335e is on both side of the end surface portion
335c in the horizontal direction, the portions other than
the portions 335e are opened in the vertical direction. The
10 end surface portion 335c is an opposite portion facing the
rear end surface 332da of the slide area 332d.
Specifically, the container shutter 332 includes the
guiding rod 332e serving as an elongated portion extending
toward the end surface portion 335c serving as the end
15 surface portion of supporter.
=
[0077] The shutter rear end supporting portion 335
includes the end surface portion 335c, which is a portion
facing the rear end surface 332da of the slide area 332d,
and includes the rear end opening 335d provided on the end
20 surface portion 335c. The end surface portion 335c is
integrally formed with the two shutter side supporting
portions 335a, and the portions other than the portions
335e connected to the shutter side supporting portions 335a
are opened. As illustrated in FIG. 29B, the shutter rear
25 end'supporting portion 335 is configured such that, within
the projection area in the direction perpendicular to the
moving direction of the container shutter 332 of the
shutter rear end supporting portion 335, the projection
area, which is indicated by the gray-shaded area, of the
30 end surface portion 335c of the supporter from which the
portions 335e connected to the two shutter side supporting
portions 335a are excluded is smaller than the projection
area in the same direction, which is indicated by the
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hatched area, of the rear end surface 332da of the slide
area 332d of the container shutter 332.
[0078] If the shutter rear end supporting portion 335 of
the container shutter supporter 334 of the nozzle receiver
330 is configured as described above, the following
advantage is achieved. Even when the container shutter 332
moves with insertion of the conveying nozzle 611, and then
toner is moved by the rear end surface 332da of the slide
area 332d of the container shutter 332, a first part of the
toner moves to the inside of the toner container 32 without
being compressed. The first part of the toner is toner
moved by a region, which is of the rear end surface 332da
of the slide area 332d of the container shutter 332 and
which does not overlap with the end surface portion 335c in
the moving direction of the container shutter 332. Further,
a second part of the toner can easily move away from the
opening of shutter supporting portion 335b because the
first part of the toner located nearby is moved. The second
part of the toner is toner moved by a region, which is of
the rear end surface 332da of the slide area 332d of the
container shutter 332 and which overlaps with the end
surface portion 335c in the moving direction of the
container shutter 332.
[0079] If the area of the shutter rear end supporting
portion 335 facing the rear end surface 332da of the slide
area 332d of the container shutter 332 is reduced, and even
when the toner container 32 is attached to the copier 500
while the fluidity of toner is low, that is, even when the
toner container 32 is attached without being shaken, it is
possible to reduce the possibility that the toner is
pressed between the rear end surface 332da of the slide
area 332d of the container shutter 332 and the end surface
portion 335c of the shutter rear end supporting portion 335
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of the container shutter supporter 334 of the nozzle
receiver 330.
[0080] Meanwhile, the end surface portion 335c of the
shutter rear end supporting portion 335 functions as a
bottom portion serving as a receiver of the container
shutter spring 336 that biases the container shutter 332
toward the closing position. As illustrated in FIGS. 24B
to 24D, in the process of attaching the toner container 32,
in which the container shutter 332 moves along with
insertion of the conveying nozzle 611 and the container
shutter spring 336 is compressed, the end surface portion
335c receives the restoring force of the container shutter
spring 336. Therefore, if the area of the end surface
portion 335c of the shutter rear end supporting portion 335
is excessively reduced, the strength of the container
shutter supporter 334 is reduced. If the strength is
reduced, components may be broken during the process of
attaching the toner container 32.
[0081] Therefore, as illustrated in FIGS. 30B and 30C, a
tapered surface 335da as an inclined surface is provided
along an opening edge of the rear end opening 335d of the
inner wall surface 335ca with which the container shutter
spring 336 on the end surface portion 335c of the shutter
rear end supporting portion 335 comes in contact. FIG. 30A
illustrates an appearance of the container shutter
supporter 334. FIG. 30E is a cross-sectional view cut
along the H-h line in FIG. 30A. FIG. 30C is an end view
cut along the J-J line in FIG. 30B. The tapered surface
335da is provided along the entire opening edge of the rear
end opening 335d, which is taperd from the end surface
portion 335c toward the inside of the rear end opening 335d.
In other words, on the end surface portion 335c of the
shutter rear end supporting portion 335, the tapered
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surface 335da is provided on the upstream surface 335ca in
the moving direction, in which a container shutter 322
moves to the opening position, along the entire
circumference of the opening edge of the rear end opening
335d.
[0082] The tapered surface 335da allows toner pressed
between the rear end surface 332da of the slide area 332d
of the container shutter 332 and the surface 335ca of the
end surface portion 335c of the shutter rear end supporting
portion 335 to easily move to the circumference, as
compared to a flat surface. Therefore, if the tapered
surface 335da is maintained even if the area of the end
surface portion 335c (the surface 335ca) as a flat surface
portion of the shutter rear end supporting portion 335 and
as the bottom portion of the container shutter spring 336
is minimized, it becomes possible to let the toner out
while maintaining the strength.
[0083] Further, in the first embodiment, as illustrated
in FIGS. 28B, 30B, and 30C, the container shutter supporter
includes a protrusion 335cc that protrudes from the end
surface portion 335c in a longitudinal direction of the
container shutter supporter. In other words, the
protrusion 335cc protrudes from the end surface portion
335c in an opening direction of the opening/closing member.
The protrusion 335cc extends in a direction parallel to the
moving direction of the container shutter 322 and is
arranged along the outer edge of a downstream surface 335cb
(a container rear end surface when the nozzle receiver 330
is attached to the toner container 32) in the moving
direction in which the container shutter 332 of the shutter
rear end supporting portion 335 moves toward the opening
position.
With the above configurations of the tapered surface
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335da and the protrusion 335cc, even when the projection
area of the shutter rear end supporting portion 335 is
smaller than the projection area of the rear end surface
332da of the slide area 332d of the container shutter 332,
it becomes possible to maintain the strength enough to
prevent breakage when the restoring force due to the
compression of the container shutter spring 336 is applied
to the container shutter supporter 334.
[0084] As illustrated in FIG. 22, the flat guiding
portion 332g of the container shutter 332 is provided so as
to face the shutter side supporting portions 335a (vertical
arrangement). The slide area 332d of the container shutter
332 slides by being guided by the two shutter side
supporting portions 335a of the nozzle receiver 330, and
the strength in the non-guided direction (the strength
parallel to the shutter side supporting portions 335a) is
lower than the strength on the guided side. However, by
arranging the flat guiding portion 332g of the container
shutter 332 so as to face the shutter side supporting
portions 335a (vertical arrangement), the strength against
a force parallel to the shutter side supporting portions
335a increases as compared to the configuration in which
the flat guiding portion 332g of the container shutter 332
is arranged so as to face the openings of shutter
supporting portion 335b (horizontal arrangement), and
therefore, deformation due to the toner pressed between the
rear end surface 332da of the slide area 332d of the
container shutter 332 and the end surface portion 335c of
the shutter rear end supporting portion 335 of the nozzle
receiver 330 is less likely to occur, which is advantageous.
[0085] Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 28A and 28B, on
the pair of the shutter side supporting portions 335a
facing each other in the container shutter supporter 334,
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stepped portions 335f are provided so as to have mutually
different widths in the moving direction of the container
shutter 322. The shutter side supporting portions 335a are
divided into a first region Yl and a second region 12,
5 which has a smaller width than the first region Yl, by the
stepped portions 335f. The second region 12 is located on
the shutter rear end supporting portion 335 side, and has a
width corresponding to the diameter of the container
shutter spring 336 that is configured by a coil spring.
10 Therefore, it is possible to stably hold an end of the
container shutter spring 336 in the space Si.
[0086] The configuration of the Container shutter
supporter 334 is not limited to the configuration in which
= the stepped portions 335f are arranged on the shutter side
15 supporting portions 335a. For example, as illustrated in
FIG. 31, it is possible to employ a configuration that does
= not include the stepped portions 335f on the shutter side
supporting portions 335a and does not include the regions
Yl and Y2 for the width.
20 [0087] Second Example
A second example of the first embodiment will be
described below. In the second example, explanation of the
same configurations as those of the first example will be
omitted appropriately, and the same components are denoted
25 by the same reference symbols.
In the first example, as described above, if
compressed and cohered toner enters between the slide area
332d of the container shutter 332 and the two shutter side
supporting portions 335a of the nozzle receiver 330, the
30 container shutter 332 may be prevented from returning to
the closing position when the toner container 32 is =
detached from the copier 500, and, the toner container 32
may be detached while the receiving opening 331 remains
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open, resulting in toner leakage.
[0088] Therefore, the present inventors have studied a
compressed state caused by the container shutter 332. The
compressed state caused by the container shutter 332 will
be described by the idea of a compression ratio. FIG. 32A
illustrates a state before compression by the container
shutter 332. FIG. 32B illustrates a state after
compression. As illustrated in FIG. 32A, a distance from
the rear end surface 332da of the slide area 332d of the
container shutter 332 to the surface 335ca of the shutter
rear end supporting portion 335 in the closed state is
assumed as a before-compression distance Ll. As
illustrated in FIG. 328, a distance from the rear end
surface 332da of the slide area 332d of the container
shutter 332 to the surface 335ca of the shutter rear end
supporting portion in the opened state is assumed as an.
after-compression distance L2. The compression ratio is
simply assumed as L1/L2.
Specifically, assuming that Li denotes a distance in
the case where the container shutter 332 is at the closing
position and L2 denotes a distance in the case where the
container shutter 332 is at the opening position with
regard to the distance between the rear end surface 332da
of the slide area 332d opposite to the end surface portion
335c and the end surface portion 335c, Ll/L2 is set to be
greater than one and not greater than two.
[0089] Experiments on a toner cohesion state were
performed, in which the compression ratio (L1/L2) was
changed by changing the before-compression distance Li and
the after-compression distance L2. The results are
illustrated in Table 1 below. In Table 1, a stroke
indicates a stroke (Ll-L2) of the container shutter 332.
The evaluation of the experiments is indicated by 0, A, and
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x. o indicates a state in which toner cohesion and toner
leakage do not occur. A indicates a state in which toner
cohesion occurs but toner leakage does not occur. x
indicates a state in which toner cohesion and toner leakage
occur.
[0090]
Table 1
Stroke
Li Ll-L2 L2
CompressionResult
Ratio
76.5 57.4 19.1 4.01
85.5 57.4 28.1 3.04 A
115 57.4 57.6 2.00
155 57.4 97.6 1.59
=
[0091] Through the experiments by the present inventors,
it is found that when L1/L2 (the compression ratio) is set
to be greater than one and not greater than two, it is
possible to prevent a situation in which the compressed and
cohered toner prevents the container shutter 332 from
returning to the closing position at the time of detachment
of the toner container 32 from the copier 500 and the toner
container 32 is detached with the receiving opening 331
remaining open resulting in toner leakage.
[0092] The advantageous effect of a change in the
compression ratio is not limited to the combination of the
container shutter supporter 334 and the container shutter
332 of the embodiment. For example, as illustrated in FIGS.
33A and 33B, even when the same is applied to a combination
of the conventional container shutter supporter 334' and
the container shutter 332, if L1/L2 (the compression ratio)
is set to be greater than one and not greater than two, it
is possible to prevent a situation in which the compressed
and cohered toner prevents the container shutter 332 from
returning to the closing position at the time of detachment
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of the toner container 32 from the copier 500 and the toner
container 32 is detached with the receiving opening 331
remaining open resulting in toner leakage. In FIG. 33A,
the before-compression distance Ll is a distance from the
rear end surface 332da of the slide area 332d of the
container shutter 332 to the surface 335'ca of the shutter
rear end supporting portion 335' in the closed state. As
illustrated in FIG. 33B, the after-compression distance L2
is a distance from the rear end surface 332da of the slide
area 332d of the container shutter 332 to the surface
335' Ca of the shutter rear end supporting portion 335' in
the opened state.
[0093] Third Example
A third example of the first embodiment will be
described below. In the third example, explanation of the
same configurations as those of the first and the second
examples will be omitted appropriately, and the same
components are denoted by the same reference symbols.
Techniques according to the third example may preferably be
implemented with the techniques described in the first and
the second examples; however, even when the techniques
according to the third example are implemented
independently, the same advantageous effects as described
below can be achieved.
[0094] In each of the examples, for convenience of
assembly, as illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, the container
shutter 332 and the container shutter spring 336 are
assembled with the container shutter supporter 334 to
fabricate the nozzle receiver 330, and thereafter the
nozzle receiver 330 is assembled with the container body 33
to fabricate the toner container 32.
The shutter hooks 332a of the container shutter 332
are hooked on the rear end opening 335d of the container
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shutter supporter 334 to prevent the container shutter 332
from coming off from the container shutter supporter 334.
However, during fabrication of the toner container 32 as
described above, an external stress may be applied to the
shutter hooks 332a when the shutter hooks 332a may bump
against anything or may be touched by mistake, and the
shutter hooks 332a may be elastically deformed, resulting
in causing the container shutter 332 from coming off from
the container shutter supporter 334.
Further, in a process of fabrication of the toner
=container 32, the nozzle receiver 330 may be fabricated in
a different place and then conveyed or transported to
assemble the nozzle receiver 330 with the container body 33
to fabricate the toner container 32. In this case, when
the nozzle receiver 330 is conveyed or transported, a
packing material for packing the nozzle receiver 330 may
interfere with the shutter hooks 332a or the packed nozzle
receivers may interfere with each other. If a stress is
applied to the shutter hooks 332a due to the interference
as described above, the shutter hooks 332a may be
elastically deformed or broken, resulting in causing the
container shutter 332 from coming off from the container
shutter supporter 334.
[0095] Therefore,
in the third example, as illustrated
in FIGS. 34A and 34B, a protrusion amount (height) thl of
the protrusion 335cc, which protrudes from the surface
335cb of the shutter rear end supporting portion 335, from
the surface 335cb is set to be equal to or greater than a
protrusion amount (height) th2 from the surface 335cb in
the state in which the shutter hooks 332a are hooked on the
rear end opening 335d. That is, the progrusion 335cc
protrudes more than the shutter hook 332a in the opening
direction of the opening/closing member.
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The protrusion 335cc is provided so as to protrude
toward a downstream side in the moving direction in which
the container shutter 332 moves from the closing position
to the opening position, relative to the shutter hooks
5 (engaging portions) 332a when the container shutter 332
serving as the opening/closing member is located at the
closing position.
[0096] As described above, when the protrusion amount
.(height) thl of the protrusion 335cc from the surface 335cb
10 is set to be equal to or greater than the protrusion amount
(height) th2 protruding from the surface 335cb when the
shutter hooks 332a are hooked on the rear end opening 335d,
the peripheries of the shutter hooks 332a are covered.
Therefore, an external stress is less likely to be applied
15 to the shutter hooks 332a, so that it becomes possible to
prevent the container shutter 332 from coming off from the
container shutter supporter 334.
[0097] Further, even when the nozzle receiver 330 is
conveyed or transported, a packing material for packing the
20 nozzle receiver 330 is less likely to interfere with the
shutter hooks 332a or the packed nozzle receivers 330 are
less likely to interfere with each other, so that it
becomes possible to prevent the container shutter 332 from
coming off from the container shutter supporter 334.
25 [0098] Second Embodiment
A second embodiment of the present invention will be
described. In the second embodiment, the same
configurations as those of the first embodiment will be
omitted appropriately, and the same components are denoted
30 by the same reference symbols. Techniques according to the
second embodiment may preferably be implemented with the
techniques described in the first embodiment; however, even
when the techniques according to the second embodiment are
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implemented independently, the same advantageous effects as
described below can be achieved. Further, the second
embodiment includes techniques according to fourth to
eleventh examples to be described below.
[0099] First, a problem will be described.
In a comparative example illustrated in FIG. 35, when
the container front end cover 34 and the container body 33
are assembled by being attached to each other, the
container body 33 is inserted in the container front end
cover 34 in the direction Q, and the container body 33 is
moved in the attachment direction Q from the hole 34d
arranged in the center of the front surface 34c of the
container front end cover 34. In this case, the tongue-
shaped cover hook 340 is elastically deformed so as to
spread from the cover hook stopper 306 in the radial
direction and then passes over the cover hook stopper 306,
so that the front end of the cover hook 340 is hooked on a
groove between the cover hook stopper 306 and the container
gear 301. The cover hook stopper 306 is arranged along the
entire circumferential direction, and the outer diameter of
the cover hook stopper 306 is greater than the inner
diameter of the hole 34d. Therefore, the container front
end cover 34 is restricted from moving in the direction Q,
but is held so as to rotate relative to the container body
33. As described above, when the toner container 32 is
held by the toner container holder 70, a stress (restoring
force) for compressing the container shutter spring 336 and
a stress caused by the compression of the nozzle shutter
spring 613 are applied to the toner container 32 (the
container front end cover 34). Therefore, if the cover
hook 340 is configured so as to be easily attached
(elastically deformed) to the cover hook stopper 306, and
when a pushing force is applied in the detachment direction
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Ql, the container body 33 is easily detached from the
container front end cover 34. By contrast, if the cover
hook 340 is configured so as to be difficult to detach
(less deformable) in order to prevent the container body 33
from being easily detached from the container front end
cover 34, the cover hook 340 is not easily attached to the
cover hook stopper 306.
101001 Therefore, in the second embodiment, as
illustrated in FIGS. 11A to 11C and 12, the cover hook
stopper 306 provided on the container body 33 includes the
openings 3061 through which the cover hooks 340 arranged on
the container front end cover 34 respectively pass in the
attachment/detachment direction of the container body 33
perpendicular to the rotation direction. The cover hook
stopper 306 serves as a restrictor, and the opening 3061
serves as a notch or a cutout.
Herein, the attachment/detachment direction of the
container body 33 is a direction in which the toner
container 32 is attached to and detached from the toner
replenishing devices 60. However, an attachment/detachment
direction of the container front end cover 34 in which the
container front end cover 34 is attached to and detached
from the toner container body 33 is the same an opposite
direction to the direction in which the toner container 32
is attached to and detached from the toner replenishing
devices 60. Therefore, the term "the attachment direction"
used in the second embodiment has two meanings, "the
attachment direction of the container body 33" and "the
detachment direction of the container front end cover 34".
And the term "the detachement direction" used in the second
embodiment has two meanings, "the detachment direction of
the container body 33" and "the attachment direction of the
container front end cover 34". Similarly, the term "the
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attachment direction Q" used in the second embodiment has
two meanings, "the attachment direction of the container.
body 33" and "the detachement direction of the container
front end cover 34"; and the term "the detachment direction
Q1" used in the second embodiment has two meanings, "the
detachment direction of the container body 33" and "the
attachment direction of the container front end cover 34".
[0101] On the
front surface 34c of the container front
end cover 34 in the attachment direction Q, the hole 34d
serving as a through hole is provided, which penetrates in
the attachment/detachment direction of the container body
33 and into which the container opening 33a is inserted.
The cover hooks 340 are provided such that the inner ends
340A protrude toward the center of the hole 34d. As
indicated by the dashed-line circle 34e in FIG. 113, the
tips of the inner ends 340A protrude inward relative to the
outer periphery of the hole 34d. The cover hooks 340
respectively pass through the openings 3061 in the
attachment/detachment direction when the container body 33
rotates relative to the container front end cover 34. In
the second embodiment, the three openings 3061 are provided
on the cover hook stopper 306 in the rotation direction.
The openings 3061 are arranged such that intervals between
the openings 3061 in the circumferential direction coincide
with the intervals between the cover hooks 340 in the
circumferential direction. In the second embodiment, the
three cover hooks 340 and the three openings 3061 are
provided in the rotation direction; however, it is
sufficient that at least one cover hook 340 and one opening
3061 are provided. FIG. 11C illustrates a state into which
the cover hook 340 is inserted in the cover hook stopper
306 from the state illustrated in FIG. 11A. As illustrated
in FIG. 11C, a center side portion of the front surface 34c
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and a outer side surface of the cover hook stopper 306 face
each other. The cover hooks 340 are thinner than the front
surface 34c (in FIG. 11B, recessed toward the rear side
relative to the front surface 34c), and the cover hooks 340
and the cover hook stopper 306 face each other in the
attachment direction Q. Therefore, the movement of the
container front end cover 34 relative to the container body
33 in the attachment direction Q and the detachment
direction Ql is restricted. The restriction involves
allowing the cover hooks 340 to move between the cover hook
stopper 306 and the container gear 301 in the attachment
direction Q and the detachment direction Ql in FIG. 11C.
Accordingly, the container body 33 becomes rotatable
relative to the container front end cover 34.
[0102] Namely, in the configuration of the powder
container described using the comparative example, the
protrusion provided on the holder is elastically deformed
in the radial direction so as to be hooked on the
restrictor of the powder storage. Therefore, if the
protrusion is configured to be easily detached or be
difficult to detach, it becomes difficult to hook the
restrictor on the protrusion, resulting in the reduced
operability.
Therefore, the powder container according to the
second embodiment includes a cylindrical powder storage to
contain powder; a holder attachable to and detachable from
the powder storage; a protrusion that is on one of the
powder storage and the holder; and a restrictor that is on
the other one of the powder storage and the holder and is
to restrict the movement of the protrusion in the
longitudinal direction of the powder strage. The powder
storage is to rotate relative to the holder. The
restrictor includes an opening through which the protrusion
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passes in the direction perpendicular to the rotation
direction when the holder is attached to the powder storage.
According to the second embodiMent, the protrusion is
provided on one of the powder storage and the holder that
5 are rotatable relative to each other, and a restrictor, on
which the protrusion is hooked and which extends in the
rotation direction, is provided on the other one of the
powder storage and the holder. Further, the restrictor
includes the opening through which the protrusion passes in
10 the direction perpendicular to the rotation direction.
Therefore, after the protrusion has passed through the
opening, the hooked state between the opening and the
protrusion is maintained. Consequently, it becomes
possible to attach the protrusion to the restrictor without
15 reducing the operability, enabling to prevent the
protrusion from easily coming off, as compared to the
conventional configuration.
[0103] Specific configurations of the cover hook 340 and
the opening 3061 will be described in each of the examples
20 below. In the examples, "a rotation direction A" is a
direction in which the container front end cover 34 rotates
relative to the container body 33 in the toner container
attached to the image forming apparatus, and "an attachment
rotation direction R" is a direction in which the container
25 front end cover 34 (the cover hooks 340) rotates relative
to the container body 33 when the container front end cover
34 is attached to the container body 33. The three cover
hooks 340 and the three openings 3061 have the same
configurations, respectively; therefore, the configurations
30 and operation of the single cover hook 340 and the single
opening 3061 will be described as representatives. The
outer diameter of the cover hook stopper 306 is equal to or
greater than the inner diameter of the hole 34d in the
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center.
[0104] Fourth Example
FIGS. 37A and 37B illustrate a cover hook and an
opening according to a fourth example. FIG. 37A is a
partially-enlarged perspective view illustrating the
configurations of the opening 3061 provided on the
container body 33 and the cover hook 340 provided on the
container front end cover 34. FIG. 37B is an enlarged view
for explaining the configurations of the opening 3061. FIG.
37C is an enlarged view for explaining the configuration of
and the cover hook 340.
In the cover hook stopper 306 having a thickness in
the attachment/detachment direction, an end surface 306a
located in the attachment direction Q serves as a guiding
surface toward the opening 3061 when the container fron end
cover 34 is attached to the container body 33, and an end
surface 306b located in the detachment direction Q1 serves
as a guiding surface toward the opening 3061 at the time of
detachment.
The cover hook 340 serving as the protrusion includes
an inclined portion 340a of the protrusion on an end
surface serving as an end located on the downstream side in
the attachment rotation direction R. The inclined portion
340a of the protrusion is inclined upward from the
downstream side to the upstream side in the attachment
rotation direction R. The inclined portion 340a of the
protrusion is an inclined surface with a flat top surface.
A surface of the cover hook 340 that is continued from the
inclined portion 340a is referred to as a bottom surface
340b of the cover hook 340, which serves as a second
surface of the protrusion. The bottom surface 340b faces
the end surface 306a in the attachment operation of the .
container cover 34 to the container body 33. A surface of
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the cover hook 340 that is continued from the inclined
portion 340a and located on the side opposite to the bottom
surface 340b of the cover hook 340 is referred to as an
upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340, which serves as a
first surface of the protrusion.
[0105] In the cover hook 340, the bottom surface 340b of
the cover hook 340 and the upper surface 340c of the cover
= hook 340 serve as parallel planes parallel to each other.
It is preferable that the bottom surface 340b of the cover
hook 340 and the end surface 306a of the cover hook stopper
306 are parallel to each other in the state before the
container front end cover 34 is attached to the container
body 33 as illustrated in FIG. 37A. It is also preferable
that the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340 and the
end surface 306b are parallel to each other in the state in
which the container front end cover 34 is attached to the
container body 33. As illustrated in FIG. 37B, the width
(length) of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340
in the attachment rotation direction R is denoted by "c",
the width (length) of the upper surface 340c of the cover
hook 340 in the attachment rotation direction R is denoted
by "e", and the thickness between the bottom surface 340b
of the cover hook 340 and the upper surface 340c of the
cover hook 340, which is the thickness of the cover hook
340, in the attachment/detachment direction is denoted by
"d". In the cover hook 340, as illustrated in FIG. 37B, a
width "c" of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 34
(i.e., a length of the bottom surface 340b in the rotation
direction R) is greater than the width "e" of the upper
surface 340c of the cover hook 340. The cover hook 340 has
a trapezoidal cross-section, in which the inclined portion
340a serbes as an inclined surface inclined downward from
the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340 to the bottom
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surface 340b of the cover hook 340 with respect to the
rotation direction. In the descriptions below, it is
assumed that the configuration of the cover hook 340 is the
same in the fourth to the seventh examples.
A surface located on the downstream side of the
opening 3061 in the attachment rotation direction R serves
as an opening inclined portion 3061a inclined in the same
direction as the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion.
The opening 3061 includes an opposite surface 3061b facing
the opening inclined portion 3061a. The opposite surface
3061b is an inclined surface. In the fourth example, the
opening inclined portion 3061a and the opposite surface
3061b are parallel planes parallel to each other.
[0106] As illustrated in FIG. 373, in the opening 3061,
an interval between the opening inclined portion 3061a and
the opposite surface 3061b is denoted by "t"; the width
(length) of the opening 3061 on a first port 3061c sideon
the end surface 306b side in the attachment rotation
direction R is denoted by "a"; and the width (length) of
the opening 3061 on a second port 3061d side in the
attachment rotation direction R is denoted by "b". The
first port 3061c serves as an outlet port (a downstream end
port, an outlet, or a first portion of the opening 3061).
The second port 3061d serves as an inlet port (an
upperstream end port, an inlet, or a second portion of
opening). The second port 3061d of the opening 3061 is one
end of the opening 3061 opened on the end surface 306a and
is located on the upstream side in the direction in which
the protrusion 340 passes through the opening 3061 when the
container front end cover 34 serving as the holder is
attached to the container body 33 serving as a powder
storage. The first port 3061c of the opening 3061 is the
other end of the opening 3061 opened on the end surface
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306b and is located on the downstream side in the direction
in which the protrusion 340 passes through the opening 3061
when the container front end cover 34 is attached to the
container body 33. In the fourth example, the relation of
(the thickness "d" of the cover hook 340) 5 (the interval
"t" of the opening 3061) and the relation of (the width "a"
=of the first port 3061c of the opening 3061) < (the width
"e" of the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340) are
satisfied.
[0107] The entering
operation of the cover hook 340 at
the opening 3061 configured as described above will be
described with reference to FIGS. 38A to 38G. As
illustrated in FIG. 38A, when the container front end cover
34 is rotated in the attachment rotation direction R, the
cover hook 340 moves from the right to the left on the end
surface 306a in FIG. 38A. When the inclined portion 340a
of the cover hook 340 is located above the second port
3061d of the opening 3061, the cover hook 340 is pressed
toward the opening 3061 (from the upstream side to the
downstream side in the detachment direction Q1) as
illustrated in FIG. 38B. Accordingly, the cover hook 340
slightly deforms counterclockwise in the figures toward the
inside of the opening 3061 by using an end Si of the second
port 3061d located on the upstream side in the attachment
rotation direction R as a pivot, and enters the opening
3061 with the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion in
the lead as illustrated in FIG. 38C. Subsequently, as
illustrated in FIG. 38D, an end S2 defined by the inclined
portion 340a and the upper surface 340c of the cover hook
340 passes by an end S3 of the second port 3061d of the
opening 3061 located on the downstream side in the
attachment rotation direction R. At this time, because the
relation of (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 340) S
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= (the interval "t" of the opening 3061) is satisfied, the
cover hook 340 passes through the opening 3061 as
illustrated in FIG. 38E and FIG. 38F. When an upstream end
34 of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 in the
5 attachment rotation direction R passes by an end S5 of the
first port 3061c located on the upstream side in the
attachment rotation direction R, the cover hook 340 is
located such that the upper surface 340c and the end
surface 306b face each other as illustrated in FIG. 38G.
10 At this time, if the length of an interval SP1 between the
end surface 306b and a component of the container body 33
located on the downstream side in the detachment direction
Ql of the container body 33 is set Such that the cover hook
340 can sufficiently rotate and the end S4 can pass by the
15 first port 3061c, rotational displacement of the cover hook
340 in the opening 3061 is smoothly performed, which is
preferable.
That is, the opening 3061 is configured such that when
the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion comes in
20 contact with the opening inclined portion 3061a, the cover
hook 340 passes through the opening 3061.
[0108] As described above, when the cover hook 340
passes through the opening 3061 that is provided in an
inclined manner on the cover hook stopper 306, an engaged
25 state is obtained, in which the upper surface 340c of the
cover hook 340 and the end surface 306b of the cover hook
stopper 306 face each other, while maintaining the state of
being hooked with each other. Therefore, it is possible to
ensure the attached state between the container body 33 and
30 the container front end cover 34, and simplify the assembly
and attachment.
Further, the width "a" of the first port 3061c of the
opening 3061 is smaller than the width "e" of the upper
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= surface 340c of the cover hook 340, so that even when the
opening 3061 and the cover hook 340 face each other after
the container front end cover 34 is attached to the
container body 33, the cover hook 340 does not easily pass
through the opening 3061. Therefore, for example, when the
toner container 32 is attached to and detached from the
toner replenishing device 60, and even if a stress
(restoring force) for compressing the container shutter
spring 336 and a stress caused by the compression of the
nozzle shutter spring 613 are applied to the toner
container 32, the container body 33 and the container front
end cover 34 are not detached from each other.
Consequently, it is possible to improve the operability
when the toner container 32 is attached and detached.
[0109] Fifth Example
FIGS. 39A to 39C illustrate a cover hook and an
opening according to a fifth example. FIG. 39A is a
partially-enlarged perspective view illustrating the
configurations of an opening 3062, which serves as a notch
or a cutout and is provided on the container body 33, and
the cover hook 340 provided on the container front end
cover 34. FIG. 39B is an enlarged view for explaining the
configuration of the opening 3062. FIG. 39C is an enlarged
view for explaining the configuration of the cover hook 340.
The opening 3062 provided on the cover hook stopper
306 according to the fifth example differs from the opening
3061 according to the fourth embodiment. The opening 3062
includes an opening inclined portion 3062a and an opposite
surface 3062b inclined in the same direction as the opening
inclined portion 3062a. In the fifth example, the opposite
surface 3062b is a surface moderately inclined by an acute
angle, which is smaller than that of the opening inclined
portion 3062a, from the downstream side to the upstream
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side in the attachment rotation direction R. Therefore, in
the fifth example, in the opening 3062, a width "b" of a
second port 3062d of the opening 3062 on the end surface
306a side and the width "a" of a first port 3062c side on
the end surface 306b side differ from each other. The
first port 3062c serves as an outlet port (a downstream end
port, an outlet, or a first portion of the opening).
Therefore, in the fifth example, an interval "t" between
the opening inclined portion 3062a and the opposite surface
3062b corresponds to the minimum interval between the
opening inclined portion 3062a and the opposite surface
3062b, and the dimension thereof corresponds to a dimension
between an extended line of the opening inclined portion
3062a and a line that extends from the opposite surface
3062b so as to be parallel to the extended line. That is,
the opening 3062 includes the opposite surface 3062b as a
guiding portion inclined from the upstream side to the
downstream side in the detachment direction Q on the second
port of the opening side.
[0110] The width of the
opening 3062 on the first port
3062c side in the attachment rotation direction R is
denoted by "a", and the width of the opening 3062 on the
second port 3062d side, which serves as an inlet port, an
upperstream end port, an inlet, or a second portion of
opening, in the attachment rotation direction R is denoted
by "b". The second port 3062d of the opening 3062
corresponds to the width of one end of the opening 3062
opened on the end surface 306a, and the first port 3062c
corresponds to the width of the other end of the opening
3062 opened on the end surface 306b. Even in the fifth
example, the relation of (the thickness "d" of the cover
hook 340) (the interval "t" of the opening 3062) and the
relation of (the width "a" of the first port 3062c of the
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opening 3062) < (the width "e" of the upper surface 340c of
the cover hook 340) are satisfied. In addition, the
relation of (the width "c" of the bottom surface 340b of
the cover hook 340) < (the width "b" of the second port
3062d of the opening 3062) is satisfied.
[0111] The entering operation of the cover hook 340 at
the opening 3062 configured as described above will be
described with reference to FIGS. 40A to 40G. As
illustrated in FIG. 40A, when the container front end cover
34 is rotated in the attachment rotation direction R, the
cover hook 340 moves from the right to the left on the end
surface 306a in FIG. 40A. When the cover hook 340 is
located above the second port 3062d of the opening 3062,
the cover hook 340 is pressed toward the opening 3062 as
illustrated in FIG. 40B. Accordingly, because the relation
of (the width "c" of the bottom surface 340b of the cover
hook 340) < (the width "b" of the second port 3062d of the
opening 3062) is satisfied, the cover hook 340 enters the
second port 3062d of the opening 3062 while maintaining the
same posture. The posture is maintained until the inclined
portion 340a of the protrusion comes in contact with the
opening inclined portion 3062a as illustrated in FIG. 40C.
[0112] When the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion
comes in contact with the opening inclined portion 3062a,
the cover hook 340 rotates counterclockwise in the figures
by using an end S4 of the bottom surface 340b of the cover
hook 340 located on the upstream side in the attachment
rotation direction R as a pivot on the opposite surface
3062b as illustrated in FIG. 40D. Subsequently, as
illustrated in FIG. 40E, the end S2 defined by the inclined
portion 340a and the upper surface 340c of the cover hook
340 passes by an end S13 of the second port 3062d of the
opening 3062 located on the downstream side in the
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= attachment rotation direction R. At this time, because the
relation of (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 340)
(the interval "t" of the opening 3062) is satisfied, the
cover hook 340 passes through the opening 3062 as
illustrated in FIGS. 40E and 40F. When the upstream end S4
of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 in the
attachment rotation direction R passes by an end S15 of the
first port 3062c located on the upstream side in the
attachment rotation direction R, the cover hook 340 is
located such that the upper surface 340c and the end
surface 306b face each other as illustrated in FIG. 40G.
At this time, if the length of the interval SP1 between the
end surface 306b and a component of the container body 33
located on the downstream side in the detachment direction
Ql is set such that the cover hook 340 can sufficiently
rotate and the end S4 can pass by the first port 3062c,
rotational displacement of the cover hook 340 in the
opening 3062 is smoothly performed, which is preferable.
That is, the opening 3062 is configured such that when
the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion comes in
contact with the opening inclined portion 3062a, the cover
hook 340 passes through the opening 3062.
[0113] When the cover hook 340 passes through the
opening 3062 that is provided in an inclined manner on the
cover hook stopper 306 as described above, an engaged state
is obtained, in which the upper surface 340c of the cover
hook 340 and the end surface 306b of the cover hook stopper
3062 face each other while maintaining the state of being
hooked with each other. Therefore, it is possible to
ensure the attached state between the container body 33 and
the container front end cover 34, and simplify the assembly
and attachment.
Further, the width "a" of the first port 3062c of the
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= opening 3062 is smaller than the width "e" of the upper
surface 340c of the cover hook 340, so that even when the
opening 3062 and the cover hook 340 face each other, the
cover hook 340 does not easily pass through the opening
5 3062. Therefore, for example, when the toner container 32
is attached to and detached from the toner replenishing
device 60, and even if a stress (restoring force) for
compressing the container shutter spring 336 and a stress
caused by the compression of the nozzle shutter spring 613
10 are applied to the toner container 32, the container body
33 and the container front end cover 34 are not detached
from each other. Consequently, it is possible to improve
the operability when the toner container 32 is attached and
detached.
15 Further, in the fifth example, because the relation of
(the width "c" of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook
340) < (the width "b" of the second port 3062d of the
opening 3062) is satisfied, an angle at which the cover
hook 340 passes through the opening 3062 with respect to
20 the rotation direction is smaller than that of the fourth
example. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the interval
SP1 than that of the fourth example.
[0114] Sixth Example
FIGS. 41A to 41C illustrate a cover hook and an
25 opening according to a sixth example. FIG. 41A is a
partially-enlarged perspective view illustrating the
configurations of an opening 3063, which serves as a notch
or a cutout and is provided on the container body 33, and .
the cover hook 340 provided on the container front end
30 cover 34. FIG. 413 is an enlarged view for explaining the
configuration of the opening 3063. FIG. 41C is an enlarged
view for explaining the configuration of the cover hook 340.
The opening 3063 provided on the cover hook stopper
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306 according to the sixth example differs from the
openings according to the above described examples. The
opening 3063 includes an opening inclined portion 3063a and
an opposite surface 3063b, which is inclined in the same
direction as and parallel to the opening inclined portion
3063a. The opening 3063 includes a concave portion 4063,
which serves as a guiding portion, a depressed portion, or
a recess and which is provided in a second port 3063d of
the opening 3063 on the end surface 306a side so as to be
recessed in the detachment direction Ql. The concave
portion 4063 includes a first surface 4063a, which is
parallel to the end surface 306a and continued to the
opposite surface 3063b, and includes a second surface 4063b,
which is connected to the first surface 4063a and the end
surface 306a. The second surface 4063b is a surface
inclined downward from the upstream side to the downstream
side in the detachment direction Q1 from the end surface
306a.
[0115] In the sixth example, in the opening 3063, an
interval between the opening inclined portion 3063a and the
opposite surface 3063b is denoted by "t"; the width of the
opening 3063 on a first port 3063c side on the end surface
306b side in the attachment rotation direction R is denoted
by "a"; and the width of the opening 3061 on in the
attachment rotation direction R is denoted by "b". The
first port 3063c serves as an outlet port. The second port
3063d serves as an inlet port (an upperstream end port, an
inlet, or a second portion of opening). The second port
3063d of the opening 3063 corresponds to a width between an
end S23, which is defined by the opening inclined portion
3063a and the end surface 306a, and an end S34, which is
defined by the second surface 4063b and the end surface
306a, in the attachment rotation direction R, and this
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width is assumed as the width "b" of the guiding portion in
the rotation direction.
Further, the relation of (the thickness "d" of the
cover hook 340) (the
interval "t" of the opening 3063),
the relation of (the width "a" of the first port 3063c of
the opening 3063) < (the width "e" of the upper surface
340c of the cover hook 340), and the relation of (the width
"c" of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340) <
(the width "b" of the guiding portion 4063) are satisfied.
[0116] The entering operation of
the cover hook 340 at
the opening 3063 configured as described above will be
described with reference to FIGS. 42A to 421. As
illustrated in FIG. 42A, when the container front end cover
34 is rotated in the attachment rotation direction R, the
cover hook 340 moves from the right to the left on the end
surface 306a in FIG. 42A. When the cover hook 340 is
located above the guiding portion 4063 of the second port
3063d of the opening 3063, the cover hook 340 is pressed
toward the opening 3063 as illustrated in FIG. 42B.
Accordingly, because the relation of (the width "c" of the
bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340) < (the width "b"
of the guiding portion) is satisfied, the cover hook 340
continuously moves while maintaining the same posture until
the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion comes in
contact with the opening inclined portion 3063a as
illustrated in FIG. 42C.
[0117] When the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion
comes in contact with the opening inclined portion 3063a,
the cover hook 340 rotates counterclockwise in the figures
on the second surface 4063b by using the end S4 of the
bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 on the upstream
side in the attachment rotation direction R as a pivot as
illustrated in FIG. 42D. Subsequently, during the rotation,
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as illustrated in FIG. 42E, the bottom surface 340b of the
cover hook 340 comes in contact with an end S25 of the
second port 3063d, and the cover hook 340 further rotates'
counterclockwise.
[0118] As illustrated in FIG. 42F, the end S2 defined by
the inclined portion 340a and the upper surface 340c of the
cover hook 340 passes by an end S23 defined by the opening
inclined portion 3063a and the end surface 306a located on
the downstream side in the attachment rotation direction R.
At this time, because ther relation of (the thickness "d"
of the cover hook 340) (the
interval "t" of the opening
3063), the cover hook 340 passes through the opening 3063
as illustrated in FIGS. 42G and 42H. When the upstream end
S4 of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340 in the
attachment rotation direction R passes by the end S25 of
the first port 3063c of the opening 3063, the upper surface
340c of the cover hook 340 and the end surface 306b face
each other as illustrated in FIG. 421. At this time, if
the length of the interval SP1 between the end surface 306b
and a component of the container body 33 located on the
downstream side in the detachment direction Q1 is set such
that the cover hook 340 can sufficiently rotate and the end
S4 can pass by the first port 3063c, rotational
displacement of the cover hook 340 in the opening 3062 is
smoothly performed, which is preferable.
That is, the opening 3063 is configured such that when
the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion comes in
contact with the opening inclined portion 3063a, the cover
hook 340 passes through the opening 3063.
[0119] When the cover hook 340 passes through the
opening 3063 that is provided in an inclined manner on the
cover hook stopper 306 as described above, an engaged state
is obtained, in which the upper surface 340c of the cover
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hook 340 and the end surface 306b of the cover hook stopper
3063 face each other while maintaining the state of being
hooked with each other. Therefore, it is possible to
ensure the attached state between the container body 33 and
the container front end cover 34, and simplify the assembly
and attachment.
Further, the width "a" of the guiding portion 4063 of
the opening 3063 is smaller than the width "e" of the upper
surface 340c of the cover hook 340, so that even when the
opening 3063 and the cover hook 340 face each other, the
cover hook 340 does not easily pass through the opening
3063. Therefore, for example, when the toner container 32
is attached to and detached from the toner replenishing
device 60, and even if a stress (restoring force) for
compressing the container shutter spring 336 and a stress
caused by the compression of the nozzle shutter spring 613
are applied to the toner container 32, the container body
33 and the container front end cover 34 are not detached
from each other. Consequently, it is possible to improve
the operability when the toner container 32 is attached and
detached.
[0120] Seventh Example
FIGS. 43A to 43C illustrate a cover hook and an
opening according to a seventh example. FIG. 43A is a
partially-enlarged perspective view illustrating the
configurations of an opening 3064, which serves as a notch
or a cutout and is provided on the container body 33, and
the cover hook 340 provided on the container front end
cover 34. FIG. 43B is an enlarged view for explaining the
configuration of the opening 3064. FIG. 43C is an enlarged
view for explaining the configuration of the cover hook 340.
[0121] The opening 3064 provided on the cover hook
stopper 306 according to the seventh example differs from
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the openings according to the above described examples.
The opening 3064 includes an opening inclined portion 3064a
and an opposite surface 3064b, which is inclined in the
same direction as and parallel to the opening inclined
5 portion 3064a. The opening 3064 includes a concave portion
4064 which serves as a guiding portion, a depressed portion
or a recess and which is provided in a second port 3064d of
the opening 3064 on the end surface 306a side so as to be
recessed in the detachment direction Ql. The concave
10 portion 4064 includes a first surface 4064a, which is
parallel to the end surface 306a and continued to the
opposite surface 3064b, and includes a second surface 4064b,
which is connected to the first surface 4064a and the end
surface 306a.
15 [0122] In the
seventh example, in the opening 3064, an
interval between the opening inclined portion 3064a and the
opposite surface 3064b is denoted by "t"; the width of the
opening 3064 on on the end surface 306b side in the
attachment rotation direction R is denoted by "a"; and the
20 width of the opening 3064 on the second port 3064d side in
the attachment rotation direction R is denoted by "b". The
first port 3064c serves as an outlet port (a downstream end
port, an outlet, or a first portion of the opening). The
second port 3064d serves as an inlet port (an upperstream
25 end port, an inlet, or a second portion of opening). The
second port 3064d of the opening 3064 corresponds to the
width between an end S33, which is provided by the opening
inclined portion 3064a and the end surface 306a, and the
second surface 4064b in the attachment rotation direction R,
30 and this width is assumed as the width "b" of the guiding
portion in the rotation direction R. An end 35, which is
defined by the opposite surface 3064b and the first surface
4064a, and an end S34, which is defined by the second
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surface 4064b and the end surface 306a, are chamfered in
arc shapes.
Further, the relation of (the thickness "d" of the
cover hook 340) (the
interval "t" of the opening 3063),
the relation of (the width "a" of the first port 3064c of
the opening 3064) < (the width "e" of the upper surface
340c of the cover hook 340), and the relation of (the width
"c" of the bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340) <
(the width "b" of the guding portion (concave portion)
4064) are satisfied.
[0123] The
entering operation of the cover hook 340 at
the opening 3064 configured as described above will be
described with reference to FIGS. 44A to 44G. As
illustrated in FIG. 44A, when the container front end cover
34 is rotated in the attachment rotation direction R, the
cover hook 340 moves from the right to the left on the end
surface 306a in FIG. 44A. When the cover hook 340 is
located above the guiding portion 4064 of the second port
3064d of the opening 3064, the cover hook 340 is pressed
toward the opening 3064 as illustrated in FIG. 44B.
Accordingly, because the relation of (the width "c" of the
bottom surface 340b of the cover hook 340) < (the width "b"
of the guiding portion) is satisfied, the cover hook 340
falls by gravity and continuously moves while maintaining
the same posture until the inclined portion 340a comes in
contact with the opening inclined portion 3064a as
illustrated in FIG. 44C.
[0124] When the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion
comes in contact with the opening inclined portion 3064a,
as illustrated in FIG. 44D, the bottom surface 340b of the
cover hook 340 comes in contact with an end S41 of the
first port 3064c, and the cover hook 340 rotates
counterclockwise in the figures. At this time, because the
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relation of (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 340)
(the interval "t" of the opening 3064) is satisfied, the
end S2, which is defined by the inclined portion 340a and
the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340, passes by an
end S33 defined by the opening inclined portion 3064a and
the end surface 306a on the downstream side in the
= attachment rotation direction R. Further, as illustrated
in FIG. 44E, the cover hook 340 passes through the opening
3064, and the upstream end S4 of the bottom surface 340b of
the cover hook 340 in the attachment rotation direction R
passes by an end S35 of the first port 3064c located on the
upstream side in the attachment rotation direction R as
illustrated in FIG. 44F. Accordingly, as illustrated in
FIG. 44G, the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340 and
the end surface 306b face each other. At this time, if the
length of the interval SP1 between the end surface 306b and
a component of the container body 33 located on the
downstream side in the detachment direction Ql is set such
that the cover hook 340 can sufficiently rotate and the end
S4 can pass by the first port 3064c, rotational
displacement of the cover hook 340 in the opening 3062 is
smoothly performed, which is preferable.
= [0125] That is, the opening 3064 is configured such that
when the inclined portion 340a of the protrusion comes in
contact with the opening inclined portion 3064a, the cover
hook 340 passes through the opening 3064.
[0126] When the cover hook 340 passes through the
opening 3064 that is provided in an inclined manner on the
cover hook stopper 306 as described above, an engaged state
is obtained, in which the upper surface 340c of the cover
hook 340 and the end surface 306b of the cover hook stopper
306 face each other while maintaining the state of being
hooked with each other. Therefore, it is possible to
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ensure the attached state between the container body 33 and
the container front end cover 34, and simplify the assembly
and attachment.
Further, the width "a" of the first port 3064c of the
opening 3064 is smaller than the width "e" of the upper
surface 340c of the cover hook 340, so that even when the
opening 3064 and the cover hook 340 face each other, the
cover hook 340 does not easily pass through the opening
3064.
[0127] Therefore, for example, when the toner container
32 is attached to and detached from the toner replenishing
device 60, and even if a stress (restoring force) for
compressing the container shutter spring 336 and a stress
caused by the compression of the nozzle shutter spring 613 .
are applied to the toner container 32, the container body
33 and the container front end cover 34 are not detached
from each other. Consequently, it is possible to improve
the operability when the toner container 32 is attached and
detached.
[01281 In the fifth to the seventh examples, the cover
hook 340 is pressed and entered into the opening similarly
to the fourth example; however, it is not limited thereto.
As illustrated in FIGS. 45A to 45C, a configuration may be
such that the cover hook 340 enters the opening when the
container front end cover 34 is rotated in the attachment
rotation direction R while the container front end cover 34
is brought into contact with the cover hook stopper 306.
For example, as illustrated in FIG. 45A, the bottom surface
340b protrudes downward by f relative to the end surface
306b. When the container body 33 is inserted in the
container front end cover 34 and abuts against the cover
hook stopper 306, the cover hook 340 is elastically
deformed in the Q direction (FIG. 45B). Because the width
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"e" of the upper surface 340c of the cover hook 340 is set
to be smaller than the width "b" of the second port of each
of the openings, when the container front end cover 34 is
rotated in the attachment rotation direction R from the
state illustrated in FIG. 45B and the cover hook 340 is
located on the second port side of each of the openings,
the cover hook 340 starts to fall with movement in the
attachment rotation direction R (FIG. 45C). Therefore, it
becomes possible to easily engage the cover hook 340 with
the cover hook stopper 306 by only rotating the container
front end cover 34, rather than pressing the container
front end cover 34 including the cover hook 340 in the
detachment direction Q1 as in the fourth example.
Consequently, attachment operability can be improved. FIGS.
45A to 450 are applied to the opening of the sixth example;
however, they are applicable to the openings of the fifth
and the seventh examples.
[0129] Next, eighth to tenth examples will be described.
In the eighth to the tenth examples, an opening provided on
the cover hook stopper 306 is the same as the opening 3061
of the fourth example, and the shape of a cover hook which
serves as a protrusion and is provided on the container
front end cover 34 side is different. In the descriptions
below, it is assumed that the relationship between the
cover hook and the front surface 34c is the same as the
relationship illustrated in FIGS. 45A to 450; however, the
relationships described in the fourth to the seventh
examples are applicable.
[01301 Eighth Example
FIGS. 46A to 46C illustrate a cover hook and an
opening according to the eighth example. FIG. 46A is a
partially-enlarged perspective view illustrating the
configurations of the opening 3061 provided on the
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container body 33 and a cover hook 3401 provided on the
container front end cover 34. FIG. 463 is an enlarged view
for explaining the configuration of the opening 3061. FIG.
46C is an enlarged view for explaining the configuration of
5 the cover hook 3401.
In the eighth example, the cover hook 3401 includes an
inclined portion 3401a of the protrusion, which is inclined
in the attachment rotation direction R, on the end surface
serving as an end located in the attachment rotation
10 direction R. The inclined portion 3401a of the protrusion
is an inclined surface with a flat top surface. A surface
of the cover hook 3401, which is continued from the
inclined portion 3401a and faces the end surface 306a, is
referred to as a bottom surface 3401b of the cover hook
15 3401. The bottom surface 3401b serves as a second surface
of the protrusion. A surface of the cover hook 340, which
is continued from the inclined portion 3401a and located on
the side opposite to the bottom surface 3401b of the cover
hook 3401, is referred to as an upper surface 3401c of the
20 cover hook 3401. The upper surface 3401c serves as a first
surface of the protrusion. A surface located opposite to
the inclined portion 3401a of the protrusion is referred to
as a side surface 3401d of the cover hook 3401.
[0131] The inclined
portion 3401a of the protrusion is
25 an inclined surface parallel to the opening inclined
portion 3061a, and the side surface 3401d of the cover hook
3401 is provided as an inclined surface inclined by an
acute angle with respect to the attachment rotation
direction R rather than being parallel to the opening
30 inclined portion 3061a. Further, the width of the bottom
surface 3401b of the cover hook 3401 in the attachment
rotation direction R is denoted by "c"; the width of the
upper surface 3401c of the cover hook 3401 in the
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attachment rotation direction R is denoted by "e"; and the
thickness between the bottom surface 3401b and the upper
µsurface 3401c of the cover hook 3401, which is the
thickness of the cover hook 3401, in the
attachment/detachment direction is denoted by "d". In the
cover hook 3401, the width "e" of the upper surface 3401c
of the cover hook 3401 is greater than the width "c" of the
bottom surface 3401b of the cover hook 3401. The cover
hook 3401 has a trapezoidal cross-section, in which the
inclined portion 3401a of the protrusion serves as an
inclined surface inclined downward in the detachment
direction Q1 from the upper surface 3401c of the cover hook
3401 to the bottom surface 3401b of the cover hook 3401
with respect to the attachment rotation direction R.
In the eighth example, the relation of (the thickness
"d" of the cover hook 3401) (the interval "t" of the
opening 3061), the relation of (the width "a" of the first
port 3061c of the opening 3061) < (the width "e" of the
upper surface 3401c of the cover hook 3401), and the
relation of (the width "c" of the the bottom surface 3401b
of the cover hook 3401) < (the width "b" of the second port
3061d of the opening 3061) are satisfied.
[0132] The
entering operation of the cover hook 3401 at
the opening 3061 configured as described above will be
described with reference to FIGS. 47A to 47H. As
illustrated in FIG. 47A, when the container front end cover
34 is rotated in the attachment rotation direction R, the
cover hook 3401 moves from the right to the left on the end
surface 306a in FIG. 47A. As illustrated in FIGS. 47B and
47C, when the cover hook 3401 is located above the second
port 3061d the opening 3061, because the relation of (the
width "0" of the bottom surface 3401b of the cover hook
3401) < (the width "b" of the second port 3061d of the
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opening 3061) is satisfied, the cover hook 340 falls while
being elastically deformed and then restored. Accordingly,
the side surface 3401d 'of the cover hook 3401 comes in .
contact with the end Slap illustrated-in FIG. 4ID.
'5 When the side surface 3401d of the, cover hook 3401
comes in contact with the end Si, the cover hook 3401
rotates counterclockwise by using the contact point as a
pivot as illustrated in FIG. 47E. 'Then, an end 342, which
=
is defined by the inclined portion 3401a of the protrusion
and the Upper surface 3401c'of the cover hook 3401, passes
by the end 53 on the insertion side, which is defined by
the opening inclined portion 3061a and the end surface 306a
on the downstream side in the attachment rotation direction
R... At this .time, because the=relation of (the thickness
"d" of the cover hook 3401) (the interval "t" of the
opening 3061) is satisfied, the side surface 3401d of the
cover hook 3401:is guided by the opposite surface 3061b and =
passes through the opening 3061 as illuStrated in FIGS. 47F
and, 41G. When an upstream end S45 of the upper surface
=
34010 of the cover hook 3401 in the attachment rotation
direction R passes by the end S5 of the first port 3061c of
the opening 3061 located on the upstream side in the
attachment rotation direction R, the upper surface 3401c of
the cover hoOk 3401 and the end surface 306b face each
other as illustrated in FIG. 47H. At this time, if the
=
=
length Of an interval SP1 between the end.6urface 306b and
a component.of the. container body 33 located on the
downstream side in the detachment direction Q1 is set such
that the, cover hook 340 can sufficiently rotate and the end
S4 can pass by the first port 3061c, rotational .
displacement of. the cover hook 340 in the opening 3061 is
=
smoothly performed, which is preferable.
That is, the opening 3061 is configured such that when
= =
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the inclined portion 3401a of the protrusion comes in
contact with the opening inclined portion 3061a, the cover
hook 3401 passes through the opening 3061.
[0133] When the cover hook 3401 passes through the
opening 3061 that is provided in an inclined manner on the
cover hook stopper 306 as described above, an engaged state
is obtained, in which the upper surface 3401c of the cover
hook 3401 and the end surface 306b of the cover hook
stopper 3061 face each other while maintaining the state of
being hooked with each other. Therefore, it is possible to
ensure the attached state between the container body 33 and
the container front end cover 34, and simplify the assembly
and attachment.
Further, the width "a" of the first port 3061c of the
opening 3061 is smaller than the width "e" of the upper
surface 3401c of the cover hook 3401, so that even when the
opening 3061 and the cover hook 3401 face each other, the
cover hook 3401 does not easily pass through the opening
3061.
Therefore, for example, when the toner container 32 is
attached to and detached from the toner replenishing device
60, and even if a stress (restoring force) for compressing
the container shutter spring 336 and a stress caused by the
compression of the nozzle shutter spring 613 are applied to
the toner container 32, the container body 33 and the
container front end cover 34 are not detached from each
other. Consequently, it is possible to improve the
operability when the toner container 32 is attached and
detached.
[0134] Ninth Example
FIGS. 48A to 48C illustrate a cover hook and an
opening according to the ninth example. FIG. 48A is a
partially-enlarged perspective view illustrating the
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configurations of the opening 3061 provided on the
container body 33 and a cover hook 3402 which serves as a
protrusion and is provided on the container front end cover
34. FIG. 48B is an enlarged view for explaining the
configuration of the opening 3061. FIG. 48C is an enlarged
view for explaining the configuration of the cover hook
3402.
In the ninth example, a shape of an upstream portion
of the cover hook 3402 in the attachment rotation direction
R differs from that of the eighth example.
[0135] An inclined portion 3402a of the protrusion is an
inclined surface parallel to the opening inclined portion
3061a. A side surface 3402d of the cover hook 3402 is
.
provided so as to be recessed in the attachment rotation
direction R rather than being parallel to the opening
inclined portion 3061a. The recessed portion includes a
first surface 4402a that is continued from the side surface
3402d and parallel to the end surface 306a, and a second
surface 4402b that connects the first surface 4402a and a
bottom surface 3402b of the cover hook 3402, which serves
as a second surface of the protrusion.
In the cover hook 3402, the width of the bottom
surface 3402b of the cover hook 3402 in the attachment
rotation direction R is denoted by "c"; the width of an
upper surface 3402c of the cover hook 3402, which serves as
a first surface of the protrusion, in the attachment
rotation direction R is denoted by "e"; and the thickness
between the bottom surface 3402b and the upper surface
3402c of the cover hook 3402, which is the thickness of the
cover hook 3402, in the attachment/detachment direction is
denoted by "d". In the cover hook 3402, the width "e" of
the upper surface 3402c of the cover hook 3402 is greater
than the width "c" of the bottom surface 3402b of the cover
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hook 3402. The inclined portion 3402a of the protrusion is
provided as an inclined surface inclined downward in the
detachment direction Ql from the upper surface 3402c of the
cover hook 3402 to the bottom surface 3402b of the cover
5 hook 3402.
In the ninth example, the relation of (the thickness
"d" of the cover hook 3402) (the interval "t" of the
opening 3061), the relation of (the width "a" of the first
port 3061c of the opening 3061) < (the width "e" of the
10 upper surface 3402c of the cover hook 3402), and the
relation of (the width "c" of the bottom surface 3402b of
the cover hook 3402) < (the width "b" of the second port
3061d of the opening 3061) are satisfied.
[0136] The entering operation of the cover hook 3402 at
15 the opening 3061 configured as described above will be
described with reference to FIGS. 49A to 49H. As
illustrated in FIG. 49A, when the container front end cover
34 is rotated in the attachment rotation direction R, the
cover hook 3402 moves from the right to the left on the end
20 surface 306a in FIG. 49A. As illustrated in FIGS. 498 and
49C, when the cover hook 3402 is located above the second
port 3061d of the opening 3061, because the relation of
(the width "c" of the bottom surface 3402b of the cover
hook 3402) < (the width "b" of the second port 3061d of the
25 opening 3061) is satisfied, the cover hook 3402 falls while
being elastically deformed and then restored. Accordingly,
as illustrated in FIG. 49D, an end S54 defined by the
bottom surface 3402b and the second surface 4402b of the
cover hook comes in contact with the opposite surface 3061b.
30 [0137] When the end S54 comes in contact with the
opposite surface 3061b, the cover hook 3402 rotates
counterclockwise by using the contact point as a pivot as
illustrated in FIG. 49E. Then, an end S52 defined by the
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inclined portion 3402a and the upper surface 3402c of the
cover hook 3402 passes by the end S3 on the insertion side,
which is defined by the opening inclined portion 3061a and
the end surface 306a located on the downstream side in the
attachment rotation direction R. When the cover hook 3402
further rotates counterclockwise, an end S56 defined by the
side surface 3402d and the first surface 4402a of the cover
hook comes in contact with the end Si of the second port
3061d of the opening 3061 as illustrated in FIG. 49E. Then,
the cover hook 3402 rotates counterclockwise by using the
contact portion as a pivot. At this time, because the
relation of (the thickness "d" of the cover hook 3402)
(the interval "t" of the opening 3061) is satisfied, the
end S56 of the cover hook 3402 is guided by the opposite
surface 3061b and passes through the opening 3061 as
illustrated in FIGS. 49F and 49G. When the end S56 of the
cover hook 3402 passes by the end S5 of the first port
3061c of the opening 3061 located on the upstream side in
the attachment rotation direction R, the upper surface
3402c of the cover hook 3402 and the end surface 306b face
each other as illustrated in FIG. 49H. At this time, if
the length of an interval SP1 between the end surface 306b
and a component of the container body 33 located on the
downstream side in the detachment direction Ql is set such
that the cover hook 3402 can sufficiently rotate and the
end S55 can pass by the first port 3061c, rotational
displacement of the cover hook 3402 in the opening 3061 is
smoothly performed, which is preferable.
[0138] That is, the opening 3061 is configured such that
when the inclined portion 3402a of the protrusion comes in
contact with the opening inclined portion 3061a, the cover
hook 3402 passes through the opening 3061.
[0139] When the cover hook 3402 passes through the
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opening 3061 that is provided in an inclined manner on the
cover hook stopper 306 as described above, an engaged state
is obtained, in which the upper surface 3402c of the cover
hook 3402 and the end surface 306b of the cover hook
stopper 3061 face each other while maintaining the state of
being hooked with each other. Therefore, it is possible to
ensure the attached state between the container body 33 and
the container front end cover 34, and simplify the assembly
and attachment.
Further, the width "a" of the first port 3061c of the
opening 3061 is smaller than the width "e" of the upper
surface 3402c of the cover hook 3402, 'so that even when the
opening 3061 and the cover hook 3402 face each other, the
cover hook 3402 does not easily pass through the opening
3061. Therefore, for example, when the toner container 32
is attached to and detached from the toner replenishing
device 60, and even if a stress (restoring force) for
compressing the container shutter spring 336 or =a stress
caused by the compression of the nozzle shutter spring 613
are applied to the toner container 32, the container body
33 and the container front end cover 34 are not detached
from each other. Consequently, it is possible to improve
the operability when the toner container 32 is attached and
detached.
[0140] Tenth Example
FIGS. 50A to 50C illustrate a cover hook and an
opening according to the tenth example. FIG. 50A is a
partially-enlarged perspective view illustrating the
configurations of the opening 3061 provided on the
container body 33 and a cover hook 3403, which serves as a
protrusion and is provided on the container front end cover
34. FIG. 50B is an enlarged view for explaining the
configuration of the opening 3061. FIG. 50C is an enlarged
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view for explaining the configuration of the cover hook
3403.
In the tenth example, a shape of a recessed portion of
the cover hook 3403 differs from that of the ninth example.
Other configurations are the same as those of the ninth
example, and therefore, detailed explanation thereof will
be omitted.
[0141] The recessed portion includes a first surface
4403a that is continued from a side surface 3403d and
parallel to the end surface 306a, a second surface 4403b
that is continued to a bottom surface 3403b, and a third
surface 4403c that connects the first surface 4403a and the
second surface 4403b. The third surface 4403c has a curved
surface shape.
[0142] The entering operation of the cover hook 3403 at
the opening 3061 is illustrated in FIGS. 51A to 51H. The
entering operation illustrated in FIGS. 51A to 511-1 is the
same as the entering operation illustrated in FIGS. 49A to
49H; therefore, explanation thereof will be omitted.
[0143] Eleventh Example
FIGS. 52A to 52C illustrate a cover hook and an
opening according to the eleventh example. FIG. 52A is a
partially-enlarged perspective view illustrating the
configurations of the opening 3062 provided on the
container body 33 and a cover hook 3404, which serves as a
protrusion and is provided on the container front end cover
34. FIG. 523 is an enlarged view for explaining the
configuration of the opening 3062. FIG. 52C is an enlarged
view for explaining the configuration of the cover hook
3404. The shape of the opening 3062 is the same as that of
the fifth example.
In the eleventh example, the cover hook 3404 includes
an inclined portion 3404a of the protrusion, which is
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inclined in the attachment rotation direction R, on the end
surface serving as an end located on the downstream side in
the attachment rotation direction R. The inclined portion
3404a of the protrusion is an inclined surface with a flat
top surface. A first surface 4404a is provided so as to be
connected to an end of the inclined portion 3404a. The
first surface 4404a includes a standing surface standing in
a direction perpendicular to the attachment rotation
direction R. A bottom surface 3404b of the cover hook 3404,
which serves as a second surface of the protrusion, faces
the end surface 306a. A surface, which is continued from
the inclined portion 3404a of the protrusion and located
opposite to the bottom surface 3404b of the cover hook 3404,
is referred to as an upper surface 3404c of the cover hook
3404. The uppr surface 3404c serves as a first surface of
the protrusion. An inclined surface opposite to the
inclined portion 3404a of the protrusion serves as a side
surface 3404d of the cover hook 3404. A second surface
4404b parallel to the first surface 4404a is provided
between the side surface 3404d and the upper surface 3404c
of the cover hook 3404.
[0144] In the
cover hook 3404, the width of the bottom
surface 3404b of the cover hook 3404 in the attachment
rotation direction R is denoted by "c"; the width of the
upper surface 3404c of the cover hook 3404 in the
attachment rotation direction R is denoted by "e"; and the
thickness between the bottom surface 3404b and the upper
surface 3404c of the cover hook 3404, which is the
thickness of the cover hook 3404, in the
attachment/detachment direction is denoted by "d". In the
cover hook 3404, the width "e" of the upper surface 3404c
of the cover hook 3404 and the width "c" of the bottom
surface 3404b of the cover hook 3404 are the same.
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In the eleventh example, the relation of (the
thickness "d" of the cover hook 3404) (the
interval "t"
of the opening 3062), the relation of (the width "a" of the
first port 3062c of the opening 3062) < (the width "e" of
the upper surface 3404c of the cover hook 3404), and the
relation of _(the width "c" of the bottom surface 3403b of
the cover hook 3403) < (the width "b" of the second port
3062d of the opening 3062) are satisfied.
[0145] The entering operation of the cover hook 3404 at
the opening 3062 configured as described above will be
described with reference to FIGS. 53A to 53G. As
illustrated in FIG. 53A, when the container front end cover
34 is rotated in the attachment rotation direction R, the
cover hook 3404 moves from the right to the left on the end
surface 306a in FIG. 53A. As illustrated in FIG. 53B, when
the cover hook 3404 is located above the second port 3062d
of the opening 3062, because the relation of (the width "c"
of the bottom surface 3404b of the cover hook 3404) < (the
width "b" of the second port 3062d of the opening 3062) is
satisfied, the cover hook 3404 falls in the second port
3062d of the opening 3062 while being elastically deformed
and then restored. The falling continues until the
inclined portion 3404a of the protrusion comes in contact
with the opening inclined portion 3062a as illustrated in
FIG. 530.
When the inclined portion 3404a of the protrusion
comes in contact with the opening inclined portion 3062a,
the cover hook 3404 rotates counterclockwise in the figures
by using an end S74 of the bottom surface 3404b of the
cover hook 3404 located on the upstream side in the
attachment rotation direction R as a pivot on the opposite
surface 3062b. Subsequently, as illustrated in FIG. 53D,
an end S72 defined by the inclined portion 3404a and the
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upper surface 3404c of the cover hook 3404 passes by the
end S13 of the second port 3062d of the opening 3062
located on the downstream side in the attachment rotation
direction R. At this time, because the relation of (the
thickness "d" of the cover hook 3404) (the interval
"t"
of the opening 3062) is satisfied, the end S72 of the cover
hook 3404 comes in contact with the opening inclined
portion 3062a and the cover hook 3404 passes through the
opening 3062 as illustrated in FIG. 53E. At this time, the
cover hook 3404 rotates clockwise by using the contact
portion between the opening inclined portion 3062a and the
end S72 as a pivot. As illustrated in FIG. 53F, the end
374 of the bottom surface 3404b of the cover hook passes by
the end S15 of the first port 3062c located on the upstream
side in the attachment rotation direction R. Accordingly,
the side surface 3404d of the cover hook 3404 rotating
clockwise passes through the first port 3062c, and the
upper surface 3404c of the cover hook 3404 and the end
surface 306b face each other as illustrated in FIG. 53G.
At this time, if the length of an interval SP1 between the
end surface 306b and a component of the container body 33
located on the downstream side in the detachment direction
Ql is set such that the cover hook 3404 can sufficiently
rotate and the end 374 can pass by the first port 3062c,
rotational displacement of the cover hook 3404 in the
opening 3062 is smoothly performed, which is preferable.
That is, the opening 3062 is configured such that the
inclined portion 3404a of the protrusion comes in contact
with the opening inclined portion 3062a, the cover hook
3404 passes through the opening 3062.
[0146] When the cover hook 3404 passes through the
opening 3062 that is provided in an inclined manner on the
cover hook stopper 306 as described above, an engaged state
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4
is obtained, in which the upper surface 3404c of the cover
hook 3404 and the end surface 306b of the cover hook
stopper 3062 face each other while maintaining the state of
being hooked with each other. Therefore, it is possible to
ensure the attached state between the container body 33 and
the container front end cover 34, and simplify the assembly
and attachment.
Further, the width "a" of the first port 3062c of the
opening 3062 is smaller than the width "e" of the upper
surface 3404c of the cover hook 3404, so that even when the
opening 3062 and the cover hook 3404 face each other, the
cover hook 3404 does not easily pass through the opening
3062. Therefore, for example, when the toner container 32
is attached to and detached from the toner replenishing
device 60, and even if a stress (restoring force) for
compressing the container shutter spring 336 and a stress
caused by the compression of the nozzle shutter spring 613
are applied to the toner container 32, the container body
33 and the container front end cover 34 are not detached
from each other. Consequently, it is possible to improve
the operability when the toner container 32 is attached and
detached.
Further, in the eleventh example, because the relation
of (the width "c" of the bottom surface 3404b of the cover
hook 3404) < (the width "b" of the second port 3062d of the
opening 3062) is satisfied, an angle at which the cover
hook 3404 passes through the opening 3062 with respect to
the rotation direction is smaller than that of the fourth
example. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the interval
SP1 as compared to the fourth example.
[0147) In the fourth to the eleventh examples, the
attachment rotation direction R of the container front end
cover 34 with respect to the container body 33 and the
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rotation direction A of the container body 33 with respect
to the container front end cover 34 in the toner container
32 attached to the image forming apparatus are opposite to
each other. Therefore, even when the toner container 32 is
attached to the toner replenishing device 60 and the
container body 33 is rotated, if each of the cover hooks
has passed through each of the openings in the detachment
direction Ql and is maintained in the engaged state, each
of the cover hooks is prevented from coming off from the
cover hook stopper 306. For example, with reference to FIG.
38G, if the container body 33 rotates in the rotation
direction A relative to the container front end cover 34,
the cover hook stopper 306 moves from the left to the right
in the figure. In this case, even if a bottom end of the
opening inclined portion 3061a comes in contact with the
inclined portion 340a of the protrusion, the cover hook
stopper 306 moves upward with the aid of the inclined
surface of the opening inclined portion 3061a. Therefore,
rotation of the container body 33 relative to the container
front end cover 34 is not restricted.
Further, when the container body 33 and the container
front end cover 34 are rotated in the direction opposite to
the assembly direction, and if the container body 33 is
rotated in the rotation direction while being pressed
toward the attachment direction Q, it is possible to easily
guide each of the cover hooks to the inside of each of the
openings from the end surface 306b side. Therefore, the
container body 33 and the container front end cover 34 can
easily be detached when they are separated from each other.
Consequently, the recyclability can be improved.
[0148] In the
fourth to the eleventh examples, the end
surface 306a of the cover hook stopper 306 is assumed as
the same plane except for the openings. However, a portion
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of the end surface 306a on the upstream side in the
rotation direction relative to the opening inclined portion
may be provided so as to be lower in height than an end of
the opening inclined portion on an insertion side in the
detachment direction. In other words, when the cover hook
stopper 306 is viewed with the second port of the opening
facing upward, a portion of the cover stopper 306 on the
upstream side in the rotation direction relative to the
opening is lower in height than the end of the opening
inclined portion on the second port side. In FIGS. 54A to
540, in the configuration of the fourth example, an end
surface 306a1 located on the upstream side in the
attachment rotation direction R relative to the opening
3061 is provided such that the height thereof in the
detachment direction Ql is lower than that of the opening
inclined portion 3061a side.
As described above, if the end surface 306a1 located
on the upstream side in the attachment rotation direction R
relative to the opening 3061 is provided such that the
height thereof in the detachment direction Ql is lower than
that of the opening inclined portion 3061a side, the
inclined portion 340a of the cover hook 340 and the opening
inclined portion 3061a face each other when the container
front end cover 34 is rotated. Therefore, it becomes not
necessary to press the cover hook 340 in the detachment
direction Q1 when the container body 33 and the container
front end cover 34 are assembled, enabling to improve the
operability.
The cover hooks 340, 3401 to 3404 and the opening 3061
to 3064 described in the above described examples can be
used in various combinations. For example, the combination
of the opening 3064 illustrated in FIG. 438 and the cover
hooks 3404 illustrated in FIG. 520 can be used.
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[0149] In the above described examples, the container
body 33 and the container gear 301 are integrally formed.
However, the container body 33 and the container gear 301
may be separately formed depending on the resin material
used for the container body 33. In this case, as
illustrated in FIGS. 12A to 12C, the cover hook stopper 306
is provided on the container gear 301, any of the above
described openings is provided on the cover hook stopper
306 on the container gear 301, and the container gear 301
is attached to the container body 33 in an integrated
manner.
[0150] In the above described examples, the restrictor
and the opening are provided on the container body 33, and
the cover hook is provided on the container front end cover
34. However, an arrangement opposite to those of the
examples may be employed by providing the restrictor and
the opening on the container front end cover 34 and
providing the cover hook on the container body 33. In FIG.
55, the single opening 3061 is provided on the front
surface 34c in the attachment direction so as to face the
hole 34d of the container front end cover 34, the cover
hook stopper 306 is provided on the outer surface 33b of
the container opening 33a of the container body 33 in the
rotation direction (circumferential direction), and the
single cover hook 340 is provided on the cover hook stopper
306.
[0151] In the above described examples, the powder
container of the image forming apparatus has been explained
as an application example of the configuration, which
includes the protrusion of the embodiments, the restrictor
that extends in the rotation direction and that is hooked
on the protrusion, and the opening provided on the
restrictor through which the protrusion can pass in the
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direction perpendicular to the rotation direction.
[0152] However, the present invention is not limited to
the image forming apparatus and the powder container used
in the image forming apparatus. For example, in a
supporting device 2000 as illustrated in FIG. 56A, a
through hole 1034 is provided on a plate-shaped frame 1001
serving as a first member, and a restrictor 1306 is
provided on a bearing 1035 serving as a second member that
is detachably attached to the through hole 1034 of the
= 10 frame 1001 and that rotatably supports a shaft 1033 on
which a gear 1301 is mounted. The restrictor 1306 also
functions as a mounting flange of the bearing 1305. A hook
1340 serving as a protrusion is provided on the restrictor
1306, and an opening 1061, through which the hook 1340 can
pass in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction,
= is provided on the through hole 1034.
With this configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 56B,
the restrictor 1306 of the bearing 1035 is inserted in the
through hole 1034 from a surface 1001a on one side of the
frame 1001 and is then rotated. Accordingly, the hook 1340
passes through the opening 1061 from the surface 1001a to a
surface 1001b on the other side of the frame 1001, and the
hook 1340 is engaged with and attached to the other surface
1001b of the frame 1001, so that the hooked state is
maintained. Therefore, it is possible to ensure the
attached state of the frame 1001 and the bearing 1035.
[0153] While the preferred embodiments of the present
invention are described above, the present invention is not
limited to the specific embodiments. Various modifications
and changes are possible within the scope of the appended
claims unless otherwise specified.
The advantageous effects described in the embodiments
are the preferable effects that may be obtained by the
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present invention, and are not limited to those described
herein.
[0154] According to an embodiment of the present
invention, it is possible to reduce the frequency that
powder is compressed and cohered, so that it is possible to
prevent the powder from precluding movement of the
opening/closing member, which opens and closes an opening
of a nozzle receiver of a powder container, to a closing
position.
[0155] Although the invention has been described with
respect to specific embodiments for a complete and clear
disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited
but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and
alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in
the art that fairly fall within the basic teaching herein
set forth.
[0156] The present invention further includes the
following aspects.
[0157] Aspect A
A nozzle insertion member to be arranged in a powder
container used in an image forming apparatus, the nozzle
insertion member comprising:
a nozzle insertion opening, in and from which a
conveying nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the
powder container is inserted and removed in the image
forming apparatus;
an opening/closing member to move to an opening
position to open the nozzle insertion opening by being
pressed with insertion of the conveying nozzle, and to move
to a closing position to close the nozzle insertion opening
with removal of the conveying nozzle;
a supporter to support the opening/closing member to
guide movement of the opening/closing member to the opening
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position and the closing position; and
a biasing member that is on the supporter to bias the
opening/closing member to the closing position, wherein
the opening/closing member includes a sealing portion
to seal the nozzle insertion opening,
the supporter includes an end surface portion
perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing
member, and
a projection area of the end surface portion in the
moving direction of the opening/closing member is smaller
than a projection area of the sealing portion in the moving
direction of the opening/closing member.
[0158) Aspect B
A nozzle receiver to be arranged in a powder container
used in an image forming apparatus, the nozzle receiver
comprising:
a nozzle receiving opening, in which a conveying
nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder
container is inserted in the image forming apparatus;
an opening/closing member to open and to close the
. nozzle receiVing opening; and
a supporter to support the opening/closing member;
wherein the opening/closing member includes a sealing
portion to seal the nozzle insertion opening,
the supporter includes an end surface portion
perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing
member, and
an area of the end surface portion is smaller than an
area of the sealing portion in a direction perpendicular to
the moving direction of the opening/closing member.
[0159) Aspect C
A nozzle receiver to be arranged in a powder container
used in an image forming apparatus, the nozzle receiver
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comprising:
a nozzle receiving opening, in which a conveying
nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder
container is inserted in the image forming apparatus;
an opening/closing member to open and to close the
nozzle receiving opening; and
a supporter to support the opening/closing member;
wherein the opening/closing member includes a sealing
portion to seal the nozzle insertion opening,
the supporter includes an end surface portion
perpendicular to a moving direction of the opening/closing
member, and
the sealing portion includes an area which overlaps
with the end surface portion in the moving direction and
the other area which does not overlap with the end surface
portion in the moving direction.
[0160] Aspect D
A powder container to be attached to an image forming
apparatus, the powder container comprising:
a powder storage to contain powder;
a holder attached to the powder storage;
a protrusion that is on one of the powder storage and
the holder; and
a restrictor that is on the other one of the powder
storage and the holder and is to restrict the movement of
the protrusion in a longitudinal direction of the powder
storage, wherein
the powder storage is to rotate relative to the holder,
the restrictor includes an opening through which the
protrusion passes when the holder is attached to the powder
storage, and
relations of d t and a < e are satisfied,
where t is an interval of the opening between the
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opening inclined portion and an opposite surface facing the
opening inclined portion,
a is a length of a first port of the opening in the
rotation direction, the first port being located on a
downstream side in a direction in which the protrusion
passes through the opening when the holder is attached to
the powder storage;
d is a thickness of the protrusion in an
attachment/dettachment direction in which the powder
container is attached to and detached from the powder
replenishing device, and
e is a length of a first surface of the protrusion in
the rotation direction, the first surface being a surface
that faces the first port after the protrusion passes
through the opening.
[0161] Aspect E
=
The powder container according to Aspect D, wherein
a relation of c < b is satisfied,
where b is a length of a second port of the opening in
the rotation direction, the second port being located on an
upstream side in the direction in which the protrusion
passes through the opening when the holder is attached to
the powder storage, and
c is a length of a second surface of the protrusion in
the rotation direction, the second surface being a surface
opposite to the first surface of the protrusion.
[0162] Aspect F
The powder container according to Aspect D, wherein
the opening includes, on the second port side, a
guiding portion that is recessed in a detachment direction
in which the powder container is detached from the powder
replenishing device or inclined in the detachment direction,
and
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a relation of c < b is satisfied,
where b is a length of the second port of the opening
including the guiding portion in the rotation direction,
and
c is a length of a second surface of the protrusion in
the rotation direction, the second surface being a surface
opposite to the first surface of the protrusion.
[0163] Aspect G
A supporting device comprising:
a first member that includes a through hole;
a second member that is detachably attached to the
through hole;
a protrusion that is on one of the first member and
the second member; and
a restrictor that is on the other one of the first
member and the second member and on which the protrusion is
hooked, wherein
the first member and the second member are rotatable
relative to each other,
the restrictor extends in a rotation direction and
includes an opening through which the protrusion passes in
a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction.
. (0164] Aspect Al
A nozzle receiver for use in a powder container used
in an image forming apparatus, the nozzle receiver
comprising:
a nozzle receiving opening, in which a conveying
nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder
container is inserted in the image forming apparatus;
a shutter to open and or to close the nozzle receiving
opening; and
a support to support the shutter, wherein
the shutter includes a sealing portion to seal the
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nozzle receiving opening, the sealing portion having an
outer surface which is perpendicular to a moving direction
of the shutter,
= the support includes an end surface portion
perpendicular to a moving direction of the shutter, and
an area of the end surface portion of the support is
smaller than the outer surface receiving of the shutter.
[0165] Aspect A2
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect Al, further
comprising a biasing member that is on the support to bias
the shutter to a closing position, wherein
the shutter moves to an opening position to open the
nozzle receiving opening by being pressed with insertion of
the conveying nozzle.
[0166] Aspect A3
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect Al, wherein
the shutter includes an elongated portion extending
toward the end surface portion of the support, and
the end surface portion includes a through hole into
which the elongated portion is inserted and a tapered
surface at the through hole.
[0167) Aspect A4
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect A2, wherein
the support includes a protrusion that protrudes from the
end surface portion.
[0168] Aspect A5
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect A4, wherein
the protrusion protrudes from the end surface portion in an
opening direction of the shutter.
[0169] Aspect A6
The nozzle insertion member according to Aspect A4,
wherein
the shutter includes a hook to be hooked on the end
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surface portion, and
the protrusion protrudes more than the hook in the
opening direction of the shutter.
[0170] Aspect A7
The nozzle receiver according to any one of Aspects Al
to A6, wherein,
a relation of 1 < Ll/L2 2 is satisfied,
where Li is a distance between the end surface portion
and a rear end surface, which faces to the end surface
portion, of the sealing portion when the shutter is at a
closing position to close the nozzle receiving opening, and
L2 is a distance between the end surface portion and the
rear end surface of the sealing portion when the shutter is
at an opening position to open the nozzle receiving opening.
[0171] Aspect A8
A powder container comprising the nozzle receiver
according to any one of Aspects Al to A7.
[0172] Aspect A9
The powder container according to Aspect AS, further
comprising a portion to contain powder, wherein
the powder includes toner.
[0173] Aspect B1
A nozzle receiver to be arranged in a powder container
used in an image forming apparatus, the nozzle receiver
comprising:
a nozzle receiving opening, in which a conveying
nozzle for conveying powder supplied from the powder
container is inserted in the image forming apparatus;
an opening/closing member to open and to close the
nozzle receiving opening; and
a supporter to support the opening/closing member,
wherein
the opening/closing member includes a sealing portion
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to seal the nozzle insertion opening,
the supporter includes an end surface portion
perpendicular to a moving direction of. the opening/closing
member, and
a projection area of the end surface portion in the
moving direction of the opening/closing member is smaller
than a projection area of the sealing portion in the moving
direction of the'opening/closing member.
[0174] Aspect B2
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect Bl, further
comprising a biasing member that is on the supporter to
bias the opening/closing member to a closing position,
wherein
the opening/closing member moves to an opening
position to open the nozzle receiving opening by being
pressed with insertion of the conveying nozzle.
[0175] Aspect B3
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect B1 or B2,
wherein
the opening/closing member includes an elongated
portion extending toward the end surface portion of the
supporter, and
the end surface portion includes a through hole into
which the elongated portion is inserted and a tapered .
surface at the through hole.
[0176] Aspect B4
The nozzle receiver according to any one of Aspects B1
to 3, wherein the supporter includes a protrusion that
protrudes from the end surface portion.
[0177] Aspect B5
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect claim B4,
wherein the protrusion protrudes from the end surface
portion in an opening direction of the opening/closing
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member.
[0178] Aspect B6
The nozzle receiver according to Aspect B4 or B5,
wherein
the opening/closing member includes a hook to be
hooked on the end surface portion, and
the protrusion protrudes more than the hook in the
opening direction of the opening/closing member.
[0179] Aspect B7
The nozzle receiver according to any one of Aspects B1
to B6, wherein,
a relation of 1 < Ll/L2 2 is satisfied,
where Li is a distance between the end surface portion
and a rear end surface, which faces to the end surface
portion, of the sealing portion when the opening/closing
member is at a closing position to close the nozzle
receiving opening, and L2 is a distance between the end
surface portion and the rear end surface of the sealing
portion when the opening/closing member is at an opening
position to open the nozzle receiving opening.
[0180] Aspect B8
A powder container comprising the nozzle receiver
according to any one of Aspects B1 to B7.
[0181] Aspect B9
The powder container according to Aspect B8, further
comprising a portion to contain powder, wherein
the powder includes toner.
[0182] Aspect 310
The powder container according to Aspect B9, wherein
the powder includes carrier particles.
[0183] Aspect Bll
An image forming apparatus comprising the powder
container according to any one of Aspects 38 to B10.
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[0184] Aspect B12
A powder container to be attached to an image forming
apparatus, the powder container comprising:
a powder storage to contain powder;
a holder attached to the powder storage;
a protrusion that is on one of the powder storage and
the holder; and
a restrictor that is on the other one of the powder
storage and the holder and is to restrict the movement of
the protrusion in a longitudinal direction of the powder
storage, wherein
the powder storage is to rotate relative to the holder,
and
the restrictor includes an opening through which the
protrusion passes when the holder is attached to the powder
storage.
[0185] Aspect B13
The powder container according to Aspect B12, wherein
the protrusion includes an inclined portion that is
inclined in the rotation direction,
the opening includes an opening inclined portion that
is inclined in the same direction as the inclined portion
of the protrusion, and
when the inclined portion of the protrusion comes in
contact with the opening inclined portion, the protrusion
passes through the opening.
[0186] Aspect B14
The powder container according to Aspect B12 or B13,
wherein
the powder storage includes a removable container-side
gear to which a drive force is transmitted, and
the protrusion is on the gear.
[0187] Aspect B15
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The powder container according to Aspect B14, wherein
the powder storage includes powder, and
the powder includes toner.
[0188] Aspect B16
The powder container according to Aspect 315, wherein
the powder includes carrier particles.
[0189] Aspect B17
An image forming apparatus comprising the powder
container according to any one of Aspects B12 to B16.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
Nil 401 32 (Y, M, C, K) TONER CONTAINER
(POWDER
CONTAINER)
33 CONTAINER BODY (POWDER STORAGE)
33a OPENING (CONTAINER OPENING)
33b OUTER SURFACE OF CONTAINER OPENING
33c FRONT END OF CONTAINER OPENING
34 CONTAINER FRONT END COVER
34a GEAR EXPOSING OPENING
34b OUTER SURFACE OF CONTAINER COVER
34d HOLE (THROUGH HOLE)
41 (Y, M, C, K) PHOTOCONDUCTOR (IMAGE BEARER)
42 (Y, M, C, K) CLEANING DEVICE (PHOTOCONDUCTOR
CLEANING DEVICE)
42a CLEANING BLADE
44 (Y, M, C, K) CHARGING ROLLER (CHARGING DEVICE)
46 (Y, M, C, K) . IMAGE FORMING
SECTION (IMAGE
FORMING UNIT)
47 EXPOSING DEVICE
48 INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER BELT
49 (Y, M, C, K) PRIMARY-TRANSFER BIAS ROLLER
= 50 DEVELOPING DEVICE
51 (Y, M, C, K) DEVELOPING ROLLER (DEVELOPER
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BEARER)
52 (Y, M, C, K) DOCTOR BLADE ( DEVELOPER REGULATING
PLATE)
53 (Y, M, C, K) FIRST DEVELOPER ACCOMMODATING
SECTION
54 (Y, M, C, K) SECOND DEVELOPER ACCOMMODATING
SECTION
55 (Y, M, C, K) DEVELOPER CONVEYING SCREW
56 (Y, M, C, K) TONER DENSITY SENSOR
60 (Y, M, C, K) TONER REPLENISHING DEVICE (POWDER
REPLENISHING DEVICE)
64 (Y, M, C, K) TONER DROPPING PASSAGE
7 0 , 2070 TONER CONTAINER HOLDER (CONTAINER HOLDING
SECTION)
71b INSERTION HOLE BASE
85 INTERMEDIATE TRANSFER DEVICE
86 FIXING DEVICE
89 SECONDARY-TRANSFER ROLLER
100 PRINTER (COPIER MAIN BODY, IMAGE FORMING
APPARATUS MAIN BODY)
200 SHEET FEEDER ( SHEET FEED TABLE)
301 CONTAINER GEAR (CONTAINER-SIDE GEAR)
302 SPIRAL RIB (ROTARY CONVEYOR)
303 GRIPPER
304 SCOOPING PORTION
305 FRONT END OPENING
306 COVER HOOK STOPPER (RESTRICTOR)
330, 330' NOZZLE RECEIVER (NOZZLE INSERTION MEMBER)
331 RECEIVING OPENING (NOZZLE INSERTION OPENING)
332 CONTAINER SHUTTER (OPENING/CLOSING MEMBER)
332a SHUTTER HOOK
332c FRONT CYLINDRICAL PORTION (CLOSURE)
332d SLIDE AREA (GLIDING PORTION, SEALING PORTION)
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332da REAR END SURFACE OF SLIDE AREA (REAR END
SURFACE OF GLIDING PORTION, EDGE OF SEALING PORTION)
332e GUIDING ROD (ELONGATED PORTION)
333 CONTAINER SEAL (SEAL)
333a INNER SURFACE OF NOZZLE INSERTION OPENING
334, 334' CONTAINER SHUTTER SUPPORTER (SUPPORTER)
335, 335' SHUTTER REAR END SUPPORTING PORTION (SHUTTER
REAR PORTION)
335a, 335a SHUTTER SIDE
SUPPORTING PORTION (SIDE
PORTION)
335b OPENING OF SHUTTER SUPPORTING PORTION (SHUTTER
SIDE OPENING)
335c END SURFACE PORTION OF SUPPORTER
335ca INNER WALL SURFACE
355cc PROTRUSION
335d REAR END OPENING (THROUGH HOLE)
335da TAPERED SURFACE
336 CONTAINER SHUTTER SPRING (BIASING MEMBER)
339 CONTAINER ENGAGING PORTION
339a GUIDING PROTRUSION
339b GUIDING GROOVE
339c BUMP
339d ENGAGING OPENING (AXIAL RESTRICTOR)
340, 3401 to 3404 COVER HOOK (PROTRUSION)
340b, 3401b, 3402b, 3403b, 3404b BOTTOM SURFACE OF
COVER HOOK (SECOND SURFACE OF PROTRUSION)
340c, 3401c, 3402c, 3403c, 3404c UPPER SURFACE OF
COVER HOOK (FIRST SURFACE OF PROTRUSION)
400 SCANNER (SCANNER SECTION)
500 COPIER (IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS)
601 CONTAINER DRIVING GEAR (APPARATUS MAIN-BODY GEAR)
610 NOZZLE HOLE (POWDER RECEIVING HOLE)
611 CONVEYING NOZZLE
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611a FRONT END (END SURFACE) of CONVEYING NOZZLE
612 NOZZLE SHUTTER (NOZZLE OPENING/CLOSING MEMBER)
613 NOZZLE SHUTTER SPRING (BIASING MEMBER)
614 CONVEYING SCREW (MAIN BODY CONVEYOR)
615 CONTAINER SETTING SECTION (CONTAINER RECEIVING
SECTION)
615a INNER SURFACE OF CONTAINER SETTING SECTION
615c SPRING SECURING SECTION
1001 FIRST MEMBER
. 1034 THROUGH HOLE
1035 SECOND MEMBER
1061 OPENING
1306 HOOK
1340 PROTRUSION
2000 SUPPORTING DEVICE
3061 to 3064 OPENING (NOTCH, CUTOUT)
3061a, 3062a, 3063a, 3064a OPENING INCLINED PORTION
3061b, 3062b, 3063b, 3064b OPPOSITE SURFACE FACING
OPENING INCLINED PORTION
3061c, 3062c, 3063c, 3064c FIRST PORT OF OPENING
(OUTLET PORT, DOWNSTREAM END PORT, OUTLET, OR FIRST PORTION
OF OPENING)
3061d, 3062d, 3063d, 3064d SECOND PORT OF OPENING
(INLET PORT, UPPERSTREAM END PORT, INLET, OR SECOND PORTION
OF OPENING)
3401a to 3404a INCLINED PORTION OF PROTRUSION
4063, 4064 GUIDING PORTION (CONCAVE PORTION,
= DEPRESSED PORTION, RECESS)
DEVELOPER
Q ATTACHMENT DIRECTION
Q1 DETACHMENT DIRECTION
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