Developer container, developing device, process unit, and image forming apparatus

89058552

DEVELOPER CONTAINER, DEVELOPING DEVICE, PROCESS UNIT, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

Related Applications

This application is a divisional of Canadian Patent Application No. 3,040,950, which in turn is a divisional of Canadian Patent Application No. 2,910,240, which in turn is a divisional of Canadian Patent Application No. 2,851,099, which is a divisional of Canadian National Phase Patent Application Serial No. 2,812,067 filed July 27, 2012.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a developer container that contains developer, a developing device, a process unit, and an image forming apparatus that include the developer container.

BACKGROUND ART

For an image forming apparatus, such as a copier, a printer, a facsimile, and a compound machine thereof, a scheme has been known such that, for example, a developing device, a charging device, and a photoconductor are integrally formed as an image forming unit, and the image forming unit is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus. Such a scheme has been adopted for many products because of its advantage that maintenance of the apparatus can be easily performed by replacing the unit with another one by a user. Types of such an image forming unit include an image forming unit where a developer container for containing developer, such

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 .76311-27D2 as toner, is integrally formed with the image forming unit, and an image forming unit where a developer container is separately formed from the image forming.unit.

For the case of the former, when the stored 5 developer runs out, the image forming unit is replaced with a new unit. This case is advantageous in that the developing device and the photoconductor can be replaced together with the used developer container, and thereby easing the replacement tasks. .

On the other hand, for the case of the latter, when the stored developer runs out, only the developer container is replaced with a new one. In this case, the developing device and the photoconductor can be continuously used without being replaced, provided that IS their longevities have not been reached. Backed by an increasing interest in consideration of environmental impact, the configuration where the developer container can separately’be replaced is becoming the mainstream.

In the configuration where the developer 20 container is separately attached and detached, it may be required to position, a position of a discharge opening of the developer container with a position of a supply opening of the developing device. Therefore, in general,, a guide unit for guiding the developer container during attaching 25 or -detaching the developer container and a positioning

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 •76311-27D2 portion for positioning the developer container with respect to the main body of the image forcing apparatus are provided on the exterior surface of the developer container·.

Further, there is a developer container that includes a conveyance screw for conveying the developer inside the developer container and an agitator for agitating the developer. In .such a developer container, a driving force to the conveyance screw and the agitator 10 is generally obtained from a driving source disposed in the main body of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, gears are provided on the exterior of such type of a developer container, so as to transfer the driving force from the driving source in the main body of the image forming apparatus to the conveyance screw and the agitator (cf., Patent Document 1 (Japanese Registered Patent No.

4283070) and Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 2006-139069)).

When the gears are’provided on the exterior of 20 the. developer container as described above, it may be required to prevent the guide unit for guiding the developer container during attaching or detaching of .the developer container from interfering with the gears. Therefore, there is a restriction On the layout that the ’ 25 guide unit attached to the developer container is placed

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 . 76311-27D2 at a position that is separated from a position where the gears are provided. In this case, the size of the developer container becomes large accordingly. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to downsize the device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure may provide a developer container that improves a degree of freedom in designing a layout of a guide unit that can be downsized, and a developing device, a process unit, and an image forming apparatus that include the developer container.

In another aspect, there is provided a developer container configured to be detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body. The developer container includes a container body configured to store developer; a discharge opening configured to discharge the developer inside the container body; a rotator configured to be rotationally driven in the container body; a sequence of gears disposed on an external side of the container body, the sequence of gears including plural gears configured to transmit a driving torque to the rotator; and a container guiding portion configured to guide the

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 • 76311-27D2 . L f· developer container toward the image forming apparatus in a direction in which the developer container is attached to the image forming apparatus, wherein the- container L * · guiding portion guides the developer container by fitting with a main-body side guiding portion disposed in the image forming apparatus. A first gear included' in the sequence of gears is configured to be moved between an operating position where'the first gear engages with a second gear and transmits a torque and -a retracted position where the first gear is retracted from the operating position. On a surface on which the container guide portion is disposed,. a part of the container guide portion or all the container guide portion is configured to be disposed within a projected area of the first gear being disposed at the IS operating position.

In the above configuration, a gear in the sequence of -the gears is movable between the operating position and the retracted position. Therefore, even if the part of or all the guide portion at the developer 20 container is disposed within the projection area of the gear placed at the operating position,-the main body side guiding portion at the image forming apparatus main body can be prevented from interfering with the sequence of the gears during attaching or detaching-of the developer container. Further, according to some embodiments.

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

89058552 since the degree of freedom on designing the layout of the container guide portion at the developer container is improved, the developer container can be downsized.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a removable device to be detachably attached to an apparatus main body, the removable device comprising: a container body to store developer; a discharge opening to discharge the developer inside the container body; a shutter to open and close the discharge opening, wherein the shutter is rotatably attached to the container body; a rotator to be rotationally driven in the container body; a gear to transmit a driving torque to the rotator; and a torque transmission gear that is movable between a first position in which the torque transmission gear is engaged with the gear and a second position in which the torque transmission gear is disengaged with the gear, wherein the shutter is to be linked to movement of the torque transmission gear.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a removable device to be detachably attached to an apparatus main body, the removable device comprising: a container body to store developer; a discharge opening to discharge the developer inside the container body; an internal shutter to open and close the discharge opening; an external shutter to open and close the discharge opening, the external shutter being disposed at an outer side with respect to the internal shutter; an agitator to agitate the developer inside the container body; an agitating drive gear that is attached to the agitator; a torque transmission gear that is movable between a first position in which the torque transmission gear is engaged with the agitating drive gear and a second position

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

89058552

6a in which the torque transmission gear is disengaged with the agitating gear; wherein the torque transmission gear moves in accordance with operation of the external shutter to open and close the discharge opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a developing device and a toner cartridge;

FIG. 3 is an external view of the toner cartridge;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where an upper case and a gear cover are removed from the toner cartridge;

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state where the gear cover of the toner cartridge is removed;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state where the gear cover of the toner cartridge is removed;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a gear holder;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge where the toner cartridge is cut at a position of a conveyance screw in a direction of an axis of the conveyance screw;

FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of the

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 •76311-27D2 vicinity of a discharge opening in a state where the discharge opening is opened;

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the discharge opening in a state where the 5 discharge opening is closed;

FIG. 10A is a diagram showing a state where an inside shutter is opened by a driving unit;

FIG. 10B is a diagram showing a state where the inside shutter is closed by the driving unit;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the inside shutter and the driving unit, viewed from outside;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a gear cover, viewed from a front side of the gear cover;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the gear cover, 15 viewed from a rear side of the gear cover;

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the toner cartridge, viewed from a side of the gear cover;

FIG. IS is a perspective view showing an internal structure of one of side walls of a main body of 20 the image forming apparatus;

FIG. 16 is an enlarged view of a supply opening.;

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a state where the discharge opening and the supply opening are connected;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing an 25 internal structure of the other side wall of the main body

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 ’76311-27D2 of the image forming apparatus;

FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 19C are diagrams illustrating an operation of attaching the toner cartridge to the image forming apparatus main body and an operation 5 of detaching the toner cartridge from the main body;

; FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a state . where a torque transmission, gear is disposed at an operating position;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a state 10 .where the discharge opening is opened;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a state where the torque transmission gear is disposed at a retracted position;

FIG*. 23 is a perspective view showing a state 15 where the discharge opening is closed;

FIG- 24 is a diagram illustrating a position where a return opening is provided;

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the conveyance screw;

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a relationship among widths of an developer discharging opening, the· discharge opening, and the supply opening;

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a force applied to the toner cartridge;

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the toner

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 i

+ - cartridge in a state where the toner cartridge is attached to the main, body of the image forming apparatus, viewed from a bottom side of the toner cartridge; L i FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of a toner cartridge according to a comparative example in a state where the toner cartridge is attached to thé image forming apparatus, viewed from a bottom side of the toner cartridge;

FIG. 30 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a state where an upper cover is opened;

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a state where the upper cover and an internal cover, are opened; and

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a configuration where an apparatus main body protrusion is attached t° a process unit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS 1Y, IM, -IC, IBk Process units

Photoconductor (latent image supporting body)

Developing device

22 Internal shutter

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2

Inner opening

Return opening

Tension spring {biasing member)

Internal shutter protrusion.

40 Developer housing

Developing roller (developer supporting body)

Supply opening

Toner cartridge (developer container)

52 Discharge opening

Conveyance screw (conveyor) .

Agitator

External shutter

Conveyance driv.e gear (driving force transmitter)

Agitating drive gear (second driving, force transmitter)

Roof portion

Toner conveyance passage (developer conveyance passage)

Second return opening

Container body

71b Gear holder protrusion (pushed portion}

100 Image forming apparatus main body

101 Protrusion or horizontal protrusion (main

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 •76311-27D2 body side guiding portion)

102 Apparatus main body protrusion (a main body side pushing portion)

109 Upper cover (first cover)

113 Moving’ member '· 116 Internal cover (second cover)

120 Container mounting portion

130 Unit mounting portion

200 Agitation region

KI width of inner opening

K2 Width of discharge-opening

K3 Width of supply opening

Description o£ Embodiments

IS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are explained based on the accompanying figures. in the figures for illustrating the embodiments, the same reference numerals are attached to .members or components having the same functions or the same shapes, as long as they can be identified. By attaching the same reference numerals, once the member or the component is explained’, duplicated explanations for the members.or the components having the same reference numerals are omitted.

First embodiment

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2

Hereinafter, an overall configuration and operations of a color laser printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention are explained by referring to FIG. 1. However, the embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. The configuration according to the embodiment may be applied to a monochrome printer, other printers, a' copier, a facsimile machine, and an image forming apparatus that is a combined machine thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, four process units 1Y, IM,

IC, and IBk are detachably attached to an apparatus main body of the color laser printer (image forming apparatus main body) 100 as image forming units. The process units 1Y, IM, IC, and IBk has the same configurations, except that the process unit 1Y stores yellow (Ÿ) toner, the process unit IM stores magenta (M) toner, the process unit IC stores cyan (C) toner,, and the process unit IBk stores black (Bk) toner. The different colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black correspond to color decomposition components of a color image.

Specifically, each of the process units 1Y, 1M, IC, and IBk includes, at least, a phptoconductor 2 having a drum-like shape as a latent image supporting body; a charging device including a charging roller 3 for electrically charging a surface of the'photoconductor 2;

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 ‘76311-27D2 a developing device 4 that supplies the toner to a latent image on· the photoconductor 2; and a cleaning device including a cleaning blade 5 for cleaning the surface of the photoconductor 2. In FIG- 1» the reference numerals 5 are only attached to the photoconductor 2, the charging roller 3-, the developing device 4, and the cleaning blade included'in the yellow process unit 1Y. In other proéess units IM, IC, and IBk, the reference numerals are omitted. Further, in the first embodiment, single-component developer formed of toner particles is utilized as the developer. . However, the developer is not limited to this, and the developer may be dual-component developer formed of the toner particles and carrier particles.

Above the four developing devices 4 included in the process units 1Y, IM, IC, and IBk, respectively, corresponding four toner cartridges 50 are disposed. The four toner cartridges 50 are utilized as developer containers that store the corresponding four colors of toner to be supplied to the corresponding four developing devices 4. In the first embodiment, à partition board 108 · included in the apparatus main body 100 is disposed between the four developing devices 4 and the corresponding four toner cartridges 50. The four toner cartridges 50 are detachably attached to four mounting portions. 106 formed in the partition board 108.

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 *76311-2702

In the upper vicinity of the toner cartridges 50, an exposure unit 6 is disposed. The exposure unit 6 .irradiates the surfaces of the photoconductors 2 included in the corresponding process units 1Y, IM, IC, and IBfc.

The exposure unit 6 includes, at least, a light source, apolygorrmirror, an f-theta lens, and a reflecting mirror. The exposure unit 6 irradiates laser beams onto the surfaces of the corresponding photoconductors 2 based on image ' data.

An upper cover 109 is provided at an upper portion of the apparatus main body 100. The upper cover 109. is openable and closable in the vertical direction as the upper cover 109 is pivoted around a fulcrum 110. The above-described exposure unit 6 is attached to the upper cover 109. Therefore, when the upper coyer 109 is opened, the exposure unit 6 can be retracted from the upper vicinity of the toner cartridges SO. In this state, the toner cartridges 50 can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100 through an upper opening.

A transfer unit 7 is disposed below the process units 1Y, IM, IC, and IBk. The process unit 7 includes an intermediate transfer belt 8 that acts as a transfer body. The intermediate transfer belt 8 is formed of an endless belt. The intermediate transfer belt 8 is suspended around a driving roller 9 and a driven roller

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 ’76311-27D2

10, which act as supporting body members. As the driving roller 9 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in the figure_z the intermediate transfer belt 8 circulates (rotates) in the direction indicated by the arrow in the 5 figure.

t Four primary transfer rollers 11 are disposed at positions facing the corresponding four photoconductors 2. The primary transfer rollers 11 are pressing'an inner .circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 8 at the corresponding positions. Primary transfer nips are formed at the portions where the pressed portions of the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the corresponding photoconductors 2 contact each other. The primary transfer rollers 11-are 15 connected to a power supply (not shown), and predetermined direct-current voltages (DC) and/or alternating-current voltages (AC) are applied to the corresponding primary transfer rollers 11.

A secondary transfer roller 12 is disposed at 20 a position facing the driving roller 9 as a secondary transfer unit. The secondary transfer roller 12 is pressing an outer circumferential surface of the •intermediate transfer belt 8. A secondary transfer nip is formed-at a portion where the secondary transfer roller 25 12 contacts the intermediate transfer belt 8. Similar to

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 •76311-27D2 the primary transfer rollers 11, the secondary transfer roller 12 is connected to the power supply {not shown), and a predetermined direct-current voltage (DC) and/or alternating-current- voltage (AC) is applied to the secondary transfer roller 12.

A belt cleaning unit 13 is disposed on the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate transfer belt 8 at the rightmost side. A waste toner transfer hose (not shown) extending from the belt cleaning unit 13 is connected to an inlet opening of a waste toner container 14 disposed below the transfer unit 7.

A paper feed cassette 15 is disposed at a lower portion of the appartus main body 100. The paper feed cassette 15 stores recording media S such as sheets of paper or OHP sheets. The paper feed cassette 15 includes a paper feed roller 16 that sends out the recording media S stored in the paper feed cassette 15. On the other hand, a pair of paper discharge rollers 17 for discharging the recording media to the outside is disposed at an upper portion of the apparatus main body 100. Additionally, a paper discharge tray 18 for stocking the recording media discharged by the paper discharge rollers 17 is disposed on the upper cover 109.

A conveyance path R is provided in the apparatus main body 100. The conveyance path R is for

I**-Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 conveying the recording media s from the paper feed cassette 15 to the paper discharge tray 18 through the secondary transfer nip. In the conveyance path R, a pair of registration rollers 19 is disposed at an upstream side 5 of the position of the secondary transfer roller 12 in the recording medium conveyance direction. The pair of. registration rollers 19 is a conveyance unit for conveying the recording medium while adjusting the conveyance timing. Further, a fixing unit 20 is disposed at a downstream side 10 of the position of the secondary transfer roller 12 in the recording medium transfer direction.

The above-described image forming apparatus operates as follows. Namely, when the image forming operation is started, the photoconductors 2 of the

IS corresponding process units 1Y, IM, IC, and lBk are rotationally driven in the clockwise direction in FIG'. 1, and the surfaces of the photoconductors 2 are uniformly charged in a predetermined polarity by the corresponding charging rollers 3. The exposure unit 6 irradiates laser 20 beams onto the charged surfaces of the corresponding photoconductors 2 based on image information of a document read by an image reading unit (not shown}, and thereby forming electrostatic latent images on the surfaces of the corresponding photoconductors 2. At this time, the image 25 information exposed onto the corresponding photoconductor

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 ¹⁸ ' xs single-color image information corresponding to one of the yellow image information, the magenta image information, the cyan image information, and the black image information, which are formed by color decomposing the image information. When the toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent images formed on the photoconductors 2 by the corresponding developing devices 4, the electrostatic latent images are visualized as toner images.

Subsequently, the driving roller 9 suspending the intermediate transfer· belt 8 is rotationally driven, and thereby causing the intermediate transfer belt 8 to be circulated in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Further, when constant voltages having the polarities opposite to the charging polarity of the toner are applied to the corresponding primary transfer rollers 11, or when voltages to which the constant-current control is applied and which have the polarities opposite to the charging polarity of the toner are applied to the corresponding primary transfer rollers 11, transfer electric fields are formed at the primary transfer nips between the primary transfer rollers 11 and the corresponding photoconductoxs 2. The toner images in the corresponding colors are sequentially superposed and transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 by the transfer electric

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 •76311-27D2 fields formed at the corresponding primary transfer nips. In this manner, the intermediate transfer belt 8 supports a full color toner image on its surface. Further, the toner that has not been transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 8 and remaining on the corresponding . photoconductors 2 is removed by the corresponding cleaning blades 5.

On the other hand, in the paper feed cassette 15, a stored recording medium S is sent out toward the conveyance path R by the rotation of the paper feed roller 16. After the recording medium s has been sent out toward the conveyance path R; the registration rollers 19 adjust the conveyance timing and send out the recording medium S to the secondary transfer nip between the secondary transfer roller 12 and the intermediate transfer belt 8. At this time, a transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity of the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is applied to the secondary transfer roller 12, and thereby forming a transfer electric field at the secondary transfer nip. Then the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is collectively transferred onto the recording medium S by the transfer electric field formed at the secondary transfer nip. Further, after the transfer of the image has been completed, 25 the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 8

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 ’76311-27D2 is removed by the belt cleaning unit 13. The removed toner is conveyed to the waste toner container .14 and collected·.

Subsequently, the recording medium s on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the 5 fixing unit 20, and the fixing unit 20 fixes the toner image onto the -recording medium S. Then, the recording medium S is ejected outside the device by a pair, of the paper discharge- rollers 17, and stocked on the paper discharge tray IB.

The image forming operations for forming a full color image on a recording medium have been explained above. However, a single-color image may be formed by using any one of the four process units 1Y, IM, 1C, and IBk.

Similarly, a dual-color image or a triple-color image may 15 be formed by -using two or three process units.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the above-described developing device and the above-described toner cartridge. As shown in FIG. 2; the developing device 4 includes, at least, a developer housing 20 40 for storing toner; a ‘developing roller 41 that acts as a developer supporting body fox supporting body toner; a‘ supply roller 42 that acts as a developer supply member for supplying toner to the developing roller 41; a developing blade 43 that acts as a regulating member for 25 regulating an amount of toner supported on the developing

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 •76311-27D2 roller 41; two conveyance screws 44 and 45 that act· as conveyors for conveying toner; and two light guide members.

An internal portion of the developer housing 40 is divided into a- first region Bl· corresponding to the upper side in the figure and a second region. B2 corresponding to the lower side in the figure by a partition member 48. Communication openings 48a are provided at both end portions of the partition member 4B (the near side and the-far side in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of'.FIG. 2). Namely, the first region El and the second region E2 are connected at the portions where the corresponding two communication openings 48a are formed.

The conveyance screw 44 and the two light guide members 46 and 47 are included inside the first region El.

On the other hand, the conveyance screw 45 and the supply roller 42 are· included inside the second region E2. Further, the developing roller 41 and the developing blade 4 3’are disposed at an opening of the second region E2 facing the photoconductor 2.

The conveyance screw 44 includes a rotational shaft 440. A spiral-shaped blade 441 is attached to art outer circumference of the rotational shaft 440.

Similarly, the conveyance screw 45 includes a rotational shaft'450, and a spiral-shaped blade 4SI is attached to 25 an outer circumference of the rotational shaft 4 50.· When

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 the conveyance screws 44 and 45 rotate, the conveyance screws-44 and 45 convey toner along the directions of the corresponding shafts 440 and 450. The toner conveyance direction by the conveyance screw 44 and the toner conveyance direction by the conveyance screw 45 are· opposite to each other.

The above-described developing.roller 41 includes a shaft formed of a metal and an' electrically-conductive rubber disposed around the shaft.

In the first embodiment, the shaft has an outer diameter of 6 non, the electrically-conductive rubber has an outer diameter of 12 mm and a rubber hardness Hs of 75. A volume resistivity value of the electrically-conductive rubber is adjusted to be within a range from about 10^s Q to 10⁷

Q. As the electrically-conductive rubber, for example, an electrically-conductive urethane rubber and a silicone rubber may be used. The developing roller 41 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2, and conveys the developer supported on its surface to the positions facing the developing blade 43 and the photoconductor 2.

As the supply roller 42, usually, a sponge roller is utilized. As a sponge roller, it is preferable to use a roller formed by adhering foamed polyurethane, which has been adjusted to be semi-conductiVe by mixing carbon, around a metal shaft. In the first embodiment,

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 the shaft has an outer diameter of 6 nun_r and the - sponge portion has an^-outer diameter of 12 mm. The supply roller 42 contacts the developing roller ,41. . .The nip portion formed by contacting the supply roller 42 to the developing 5 roller 41 is usually adjusted to be within a range from about 1 mm to 3 mm. In the first embodiment, the nip is 2 mm. The supply roller 42 rotates in a direction opposite to the direction in which the developing roller 41 rotates

- (the clockwise direction in PIG. 2), and thereby'the supply roller 42 efficiently supplies the toner inside the developer housing 40 to the surface layer of the developing roller 41. In the first embodiment, a fine toner supply function is ensured by setting a rotational speed ratio >

between the developing roller 41 and the supply roller 42 • 15 to be 1.

The developing blade 43 is, for example, a metal plate formed of stainless steel (SOS) or thie like and having thickness of about 0.1 mm. The developing blade 43 contacts the surface of the developing roller 41 at its tip side. The control, by the developing blade 43, of the amount.of the toner on the developing roller 41 can. be regarded as a very important parameter fox stabilizing the developing characteristic and for obtaining fine image quality. Therefore,-in a usual product, the abutment pressure of the developing blade 43 with respect to the

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

6311-27 D2 developing roller 41 is strictly adjusted to be within a range from 20 N/m to 60 N/m, and the position of the nip portion is strictly controlled to be 0.5 ran plus minus 0,5 mm from the tip of the developing blade 43. Here, these parameters are arbitrary determined depending on characteristics of the toner to be .used, the developing roller, and the supply roller. In the first embodiment,· the developing blade 43 is formed of a stainless steel (SOS) plate^: having thickness of 0.1 mm, the abutment pressure is set to be 45 N/m, the position of the hip portion is set to-be 0.2 ram from the tip of the developing blade 43, and the length (free length) from the supported end tô the free end (the tip) of the developing blade 43 is set to be 14 mm. In this manner a stable thin layer of the toner can be formed on the developing roller 41.

The two light guide members 46 and 47 are formed of a material having fine optical transparency. For example, when a resin is' utilized as the material, it is preferable to use an acrylic material having a high degree of transparency or a polycarbonate (PC) resin material having, a high degree of transparency. Additionally, optical glass may be utilized as a material of the light guide members 46 and 47. With the optical glass, a better optical characteristic can be obtained. Alternatively, optical fibers can be utilized as materials- of the light

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 *76311-2702 guide members 46 and 47. When the optical fibers are utilized, the degree of freedom on designing optical paths formed of the light guide members 46.and 47 is improved.

One end portion of the light guide member 46

S .is exposed outside the developer housing 40.· Similarly, one end portion of the light guide member' 47 is exposed outside the developer housing 40. In a state where the process unit is-attached to the image forming apparatus main body 100, a light emitting element (not shown) faces the exposed end portion of the light guide member 46. On the other hand, a light receiving element (not shown) faces the exposed end portion of the light guide member 47. The light emitting element and the light receiving element are attached to the main body side and function as a,toner amount detection unit. In a state where the light emitting element and the light receiving element face the· corresponding exposed end portions of the .light guide members 46 and 47, a light path for guiding light from the light emitting element to the light receiving element through the light guide members 46 and 47 is formed.

Namely; the light emitted from the light emitting element is guided inside the developer housing 40 through the light guide member 46, and subsequently the light is guided to the light receiving element through the light guide member 25 47. Further, in the developer housing 40, a predetermined

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2:

²⁶ί ϊ

space is provided between end portions of the light guide members 46 and 47 that face each other.

·' ί

The toner cartridge SO includes,-at least, a1 container body 70 that includes therein a toner storing space 51 for storing toner; a discharge opening 52 for discharging thie toner inside the container body 70; a conveyance screw 53 that functions as a conveyor for· conveying the toner inside the container body 70 to the discharge opening 52; and an agitator 54 agitates the toner inside the toner-storing space 51. The discharge opening is disposed at a lower portion of the container body

70. On-the other hand, a supply opening 49 is formed at corresponding mounting portion 106 of the partition board 108, to which the toner cartridge 50 is attached. The 15 supply opening 49 is connected to the discharge opening

52.

The conveyance screw 53 is formed by attaching

a. spiral-shaped blade 531 around an.outer circumference of a rotational shaft 530. The agitator 54 is formed by 20 attaching a deformable blade 541having a planer shape to a rotational shaft 540. The rotational shaft 540 is arranged in parallel with the rotational shaft 530 of the conveyance screw 53. The blade 541 of the agitator 54 is formed of a flexible material such as a PET film. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, by forming a bottom surface 501 of the

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 27 · container body 70 to be an arc shape along a rotational trajectory of the blade 541, an amount of the toner that is not moved by the blade 541 and remains inside the toner storing space 51 can be reduced.

δ In the first embodiment,.the cartridge 50 can •be individually attached to the apparatus main body 100. However, the configuration of the cartridge 50 is not limited to this configuration. For example, the toner cartridge 50 may integrally be formed together with the 10 developing device 4 and the photocdnductor 2 so that the toner cartridge 50 can be replaced as a process unit. Alternatively, the toner cartridge 50 may integrally be formed together with the developing device 4'so that the toner cartridge 50 can be replaced as a developing unit.

In such a case, the toner cartridge 50 can be directly attached.to an upper portion of .the developing device 4, by removing the .above-described partition board 108 and providing the mounting portion 106. at the upper portion of the developing -device 4.

Developing operations of the above-described developing device are explained while referring to FIG. 2. When it is directed to start image forming operations and the developing roller 41 and the supply roller 42 start rotating, toner is supplied to the surface of the ‘ developing roller 41 by the supply roller 42. When the

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 toner supported on the developing roller 41 passes through the nip portion between the developing roller 41 and the developing blade 43, thickness of the toner layer is regulated while the toner is frictionally charged. When 5 the toner on the developing roller 41 is conveyed to the position facing the photoconductor 2 (developing area), the toner electrostatically transfers onto the photoconductor 2 and the toner image is formed.

Next, toner supplying operations for supplying the toner to the developing device are explained. Thé toner is supplied to the developing .device, when the amount of the toner in the developer housing 40 becomes less than or equal to a predetermined reference, value. Specifically, when the amount of the toner in the developer housing 40 is greater than the predetermined reference value, the toner exists at the space between the.end portions of the two light guide members 46 and 47, where the light'guide members 46 and 47 are facing each other . Thus, the light path between the end portions is blocked by the toner and the light does not reach the light receiving element. Subsequently, when the toner in the developer housing 40 is consumed and the amount of the toner becomes-less than or equal to the predetermined reference value, the toner does not exist at the space between the end portions of the two light guide members 46 and 47 where ·

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 the two light guide members 46 and 47 are facing each other, and the light· passes through the space between the end portions. When the light that passes through the space between the end portions is detected, it is instructed to· 5 supply toner.

When it is instructed to supply the toner, the conveyance screw 53 in the toner cartridge 50 rotates. Then the toner .is conveyed toward the discharge opening 52, and thereby, the toner is supplied from the discharge

IO opening 52 to the first region El in the developer housing 40. Further, in the first embodiment, when the conveyance screw 53 in the toner cartridge 50. starts rotating,’ the agitator 54 starts rotating at the same time. -The toner inside the toner cartridge'50 is agitated and conveyed toward the conveyance screw 53 by the rotation of’the agitator 54. After that, when the amount of .the toner in the developer housing 40 becomes .greater than the predetermined reference value by the supply of the toner (namely, when the light path between the two light guide members 46 and 47 is blocked by the toner) _f the rotational drivings of the conveyance screw 53 and the agitator 54 axe stopped and the supply of the toner is terminated.

On the other hand, in the developer housing 40, when the toner is supplied, the conveyance screw 44 disposéd in the first region Bl and the conveyance screw

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 '7 6311-27 D2 ³⁰ disposed in the second region E2 rotate, and the toner is conveyed in the directions opposite to. each other in the corresponding regions El and E2. The toner conveyed to an end portion in a downstream side in the toner conveyance direction in the region El is passed through the first communication opening 48a formed at the end portion of the partition member 48 and sent into the region E2. Similarly, the toner conveyed to an end portion in a downstream side in the toner conveyance direction in .the region E2 is passed through the second communication opening 48 a, which is the other communication opening 48a formed at the other end portion of the partition member 48, and sent into the region El. The toner sent into the region E2 is conveyed by the conveyance screw 45 in the

IS region E2, and the toner, is passed through the second communication opening 48a and sent into the region El. Similarly, the toner sent into the region El is conveyed by the conveyance screw 44 in the region El, and the toner is passed through the first communication opening 48a and sent into the region £2. By repeating these operations, the toner circulates in the first region El and in the. second region £2, and new toner that bas been supplied, is mixed with the toner that has already existed in the developer housing 40.

In this manner, in the first embodiment, the

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 state of the toner (the ratio of the new toner in the toner) is homogenized, and a failure such as unevenness in color and greasing can be prevented from occurring.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an external appearance of the above-described toner cartridge. As. shown in FIG. 3, the container body 70 of the toner cartridge 50 includes an upper case 55 and a lower case 56. The conveyance screw 53 and the agitator 54 are stored in an internal space formed by joining the upper case 55 and the lower case 56. As a method of joining the upper case .55 and the lower case- 56, a welding method such as vibration welding or ultrasonic welding, or a bonding method utilizing a two-faced adhesive, tape or an adhesion bond may be used.

a gear cover 57 is disposed at a side surface placed at an end in the longitudinal direction of the upper case 55 and the lower case 56. Plural gears are stored inside the gear cover 57 as a transmission unit for transmitting driving forces to the conveyance screw 53 and the agitator 54. The gears are covered by the gear cover 57 so as to prevent a user or the like from erroneously touching the gear during a replacement process for replacing the toner cartridge 50.

The gear cover 57 includes an information storing medium 58. The information storing medium 58

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 stores information regarding, the toner cartridge 50 such as a color of the toner stored in the toner cartridge 50. The information storing medium 58 includes plural connecting terminals. When the plural connecting terminals are^-electrically connected to an information reading unit (not^- shown) disposed at the image forming apparatus main body 100, the information reading unit can read the information regarding the toner cartridge 50 and can update the information stored in the information storing medium 58.

A cap member 59 for sealing a supply opening of the toner cartridge 50 for supplying toner into the toner storing space 51 and an external shutter 60 for opening and closing the discharge opening 52 from outside axe disposed at the end of the toner, cartridge 50 where the gear cover 57 is provided. The shape of the external shutter 60 is a plate roùnded along, the surface where the discharge opening 52 is disposed. The cap member 59 is attached so as to prevent the toner from leaking through the supply opening of the toner cartridge 50, after the toner has been supplied inside the toner cartridge 50 through the supply opening. The external shutter 60 is rotatably attached to the container body 70. . The discharge opening 52 is switched between an open state and a closed state by the rotation of the external shutter’ 60.

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 *76311-27D2

A grip 61 is arranged on an upper’ surface of a center in the longitudinal direction of the container body 70. The grip 61 is formed of, for example, a flexible member which is made of a material such as polypropylene or polyethylene. When the toner cartridge 50 is replaced, the user*or the like can easily attach and detach the toner cartridge 50 by holding the grip 61.

FIG. 4 shows a state where the upper case 55 and thé gear cover 57 are removed from the toner cartridge

50. In FIG. 4, the reference numerals 62, 63, and 64 are the· plural gears stored .inside the above-described gear cover 57. Hmong these gears, the gear indicated by the reference numeral 62 is a conveying drive gear attached to the rotational shaft 530 of the conveyance screw.53, which protrudes from the side surface at the end of the lower case 56. The gear indicated by the reference numeral 63 is an agitating drive gear attached to the rotational shaft 540 of thé agitator 54, which protrudes from the side surface at the end of the lower case 56. The gear indicated by the reference numeral .64 is a torque transmission gear that transmits a rotational torque while engaging with thé conveying drive gear 62 and the agitating drive gear 63.These gears 62, 63, and 64 are driving force transmitter to interlock the conveyance screw 53 with the agitator 54.

Bearings 80 and 81 (cf. FIG. 28) are disposed

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 ’7631Ï-27D2 at partions where the rotational shaft 530 of the conveyance' screw 53 and the rotational shaft 540 of the agitator.54 are passed through the lower case 56. The hearing members ·80 and 81 support the corresponding

S rotational shafts 530 and 540.' The bearings .80 and 81 have sealing functions for preventing the.toner from leaking through the portions where the rotational shaft 530 and the conveyançe screw 53 are passed through the lower case 56. For the sealing functions of the corresponding bearings 80 and 81, for example, G-seals nay be utilized. The G-seal is sealing made of a rubber having a. substantially G—shape. The G-seal secures a shaft in a radial direction by an elastic sealing lip that is integrally formed with a ring main body at an inner circumferential portion of the.ring main body. Further, as a bearing that is less expensive than the bearing for which the G-seal is utilized, a bearing formed by combining a .sponge having high hardness and a resin bearing such as POM may be utilized..

In the first embodiment, whèn the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100,' the conveying drive gear 62 engages with a main body side drive gear 105 (cf. FIG. 15), which is included in the apparatus main body 100. When the main body side drive gear 105 is rotationally driven in this condition, the

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 conveying drive gear 62, the torque transmission gear 64, and the agitating drive gear 63 rotate in the corresponding directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 4, and thereby the conveyance screw 53 and the agitator 54 rotate.

Further, the conveying drive gear 62 in the first embodiment is formed as a two stage gear having a large diameter gear and a small diameter gear. The torque transmission gear 64 engages with the large diameter gear, and the main body side drive gear 105 engages with the small 10 diameter gear.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the above-described toner cartridge SO is further explained in .detail. FIGS. 5 and 6‘are side views showing the toner cartridge 50 in a state where .the gear cover 57 is removed.

In the first embodiment, the torque transmission gear 64 is moveable between an operating position where the torque transmission gear 64 engages with other gears 62 and 63 to transmit a torque as shown in FXG. 5 and a retracted position where the torque transmission gear 64 is retracted from the .operating position as shown in FIG. 6.

Specifically, the torque transmission gear 64 is arranged in a gear holder 71. The gear holder 71 can pivot around the rotational shaft 530 of the conveyance screw 53 (or the conveying drive gear 62}, while being centered on the 25 rotational shaft 530. The position of the torque

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 '76311-27D2 r

?

transmission gear 64 is switched between the operating position that is shown in FIG. 5 and the retracted position that is shown in· FIG. 6 by the pivot of the gear holder r

71.

In the first embodiment, a sequence of gears is formed by the three gears 62, 63, and 64. However, the sequence of gears may be formed by two gears or four or more gears. Further, plural gears included in the sequence of gears may be moved between the operating 10 position and the retracted position.

.As shown in FIG. :7, the external shutter 60 is integrally formed with the gear holder 71. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5’ and 6, when the gear holder 71 pivots, the external shutter 60 also pivots around the rotational 15 shaft 530 of the conveyance screw 53_r while being centered on the rotational shaft 530. In this case, as shown in FIG.

5, the discharge opening. 52 is opened by the external shutter 60 in a state where the torque transmission gear 64 is disposed at the operating position. On the other 20 hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the discharge opening 52 is closed by’the external shutter 60-in a state where the torque' transmission gear 64 is disposed at the retracted position. In other words, the external shutter is formed to be linked to the movement of the torque transmission gear 64 between 25 the operating position and the retracted position.

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2

37.

Further, as shown, in FIGS. 5 and 6,’. one end of a tension spring 72 that functions as a biasing member is hooked on a first hook 71a disposed at the gear holder 71. The first hook 71a is adjacent to the torque transmission

S gear 64. The other end of the tension spring 72 is hooked to a second hook 70a disposed at a side surface of the upper case 55. The gear holder 71 is biased by a tension (a bias force) from the tension spring 72, so as to remove the torque transmission.gear 64 from the agitating drive gear

63. Therefore, in a state where an external force does not .act-on the gear holder 71, as shown in FIG. 6, the gear holder 71 is pulled upward by. the tension spring 72, and the torque transmission gear 64 is disposed at the retracted position.

Further, the gear holder 71 includes a gear holder protrusion 71b as a pushed portion disposed at a position where an apparatus main body protrusion 102 as a main body side pushing portion included in the mounting portion 106 of the apparatus main body 100 contacts and pushes up the gear holder protrusion 71b (cf. FIG. 15·), when the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100. The shape of the apparatus main body protrusion 102 is a plate extending vertically from the bottom of the mounting portion 106 near the supply opening

115 as shown in Fig. 16.

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 ί f

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge 50 in which the toner cartridge 50 is cut at the

Ï position of the conveyance screw 53 perpendicular to the f direction of the rotational shaft 530. As shown in FIG.

8, an internal shutter 22 is disposed inside the container body 70.·· The internal shutter 22 is for opening and closing the discharge opening 52 from inside. As · described, in the first embodiment, a double shutter configuration is adopted such that it includes the internal shutter 22 for opening and closing the discharge opening from Inside and the external shutter 60 fop opening ana closing the discharge opening 52 from outside.

The internal· shutter 22 is formed to have a cylindrical shape. An inner opening 23 is formed on a peripheral wall of the internal shutter 22. The state of the discharge opening 52 can be switched between an open state where the inner opening 23 overlaps with the discharge opening 52 and a closed state where the peripheral wall of the internal shutter 22 overlaps with the discharge opening 5? (a state where the inner opening does not overlap with the discharge opening 52).

A downstream portion in the toner conveyance direction of the conveyance screw S3 is placed inside the internal shutter 22. An internal space of the internal shutter 22 is a toner conveyance passage 66 as a developer

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 '76311-27D2 conveyance passage where the toner is conveyed by the toner conveyance screw 53.

Further, the internal shutter 22 includes a return opening 24 for returning the toner that has not been

S discharged from the discharge opening 52 from the interior of the internal shutter 22 (toner conveyance passage 66) to the interior of the toner storing space 51. The return opening 24 is disposed at a downstream side of the inner opening 23 in the toner conveyance direction.

A roof portion 65 having a half-cylinder shape is disposed on an outer circumferential side of the internal shutter 22. The internal shutter.22 is supported so that it can be pivoted between the roof portion 65 and an internal surface of the container body 70. Here, the internal shutter 22 may be rotatably supported by cantilevering one end of the internal shutter 22, without providing the roof portion. However, by providing the roof portion 65, the interior surface of the cylinder functions as a bearing, and the rotating position of the internal shutter 22 can be stabilized. Further, the roof portion 65 includes a second return opening 67 that is arranged at a position corresponding to the return opening 24 of the internal shutter 22.

Further, cylindrical sealing members 25 are 25 disposed at a space between the outer circumferential

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 surface of the internal shutter 22 and the internal circumferential surface of the roof portion 65 and a space between the internal circumferential surface of the.

• ¢internal shutter 22 and the internal wall surface of the container body 70, so as to prevent the toner from leaking from these spaces.

FIG. 9A is a diagram showing a cross-section I-I in FIG. 8. FIG. 9A shows an open state where the inner opening 23 over-laps with the discharge opening 52. On the other hand, FIG. 9B shows a closed state where the inner opening 23 does not overlap with the discharge opening 52. As shown in FIG. 9A,’the return opening 24 formed in the internal shutter 22 is extending in the circumferential direction of the internal shutter 22. The return opening

24 has an opening that is larger than an opening of the inner opening 23 in the circumferential direction. By forming the return opening 24 of the internal shutter 22 in this way, a part of the return portion 24 of the internal shutter 22 can be overlapped with the second return opening

67 of the roof portion 65, regardless of the return opening being in the open state shown in FIG. 9A or in the closed state shown in FIG. 9B.

FIG. 10A is a diagram showing a state where the internal shutter 22 is opened by a driving unit. FIG. 10B 25 is a diagram showing a state where the internal shutter

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 is closed. Further, FIG- .11 is a perspective view of the internal shutter and.the driving unit, which are viewed from outside. In .FIGS. 10 and 11, the gear cover 57 and the gears such as the conveying driving gear 62 are removed 5 from the toner cartridge 50. Herein after, the driving unit of the internal shutter 22 is explained, based on FIGS. 10 and 11. .

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the internal shutter 22 is driven, for example, by a tension spring 26 10 that functions as a biasing member that applies a bias to the internal shutter- 22 attached to the toner- cartridge 50, an internal shutter protrusion 27 formed on the internal shutter 22, and a moving member 113 that is disposed in the mounting portion 106’of the apparatus main 15 body 100 and that can be moved in the horizontal direction.

The internal shutter protrusion 27 is formed at an end of the internal shutter 22 that is exposed from the lower case 56. The internal shutter protrusion 27. protrudes in the axis direction of’the internal shutter 20 22. The tension spring 26. is hooked to the internal shutter protrusion 27 and a hook 70b. Tn other words, the tension spring 26 is disposed between the toner container 50 and the internal shutter 22.

The moving member 113 is a longitudinally 25 shaped member extending in’the horizontal direction. The

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 moving member 113 is movably attached to the apparatus main body 100.· The moving member 113 is formed’to be reciprocated in the horizontal direction.by a driving unit arranged in the apparatus main body 100. As a driving unit of the moving member 113, it is preferable to use a device having a^rsmall fluctuation in the moving amount, such as a solenoid or a cam mechanism. Further, the moving member 113 has a convex'shape 114 that can abut to the internal shutter protrusion 27.

Subsequently, the opening and closing operations of the internal shutter 22 are explained while . referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B. As shown in FIG.’ 10A, when the moving, member 113 is moved in the left direction in the figure, the convex shape 114 of the moving member 113 presses the internal shutter protrusion 27 against the bias force from the tension spring 26, and thereby pivoting the internal shutter 22 in the clockwise direction in the figure· As a consequence, the inner opening 23 is arranged to face downwardly in the figure, and the inner opening

23 is opened as shown in FIG. 9A.

Contrary to this, when the moving member 11-3 is moved in the right direction as shown in FIG. 10B, there is no force to press the internal shutter protrusion 27. Thus, the internal shutter 22 pivots in the .25 counterclockwise direction’in the figure by the bias force

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 ’76311-27D2 of the tension spring 2G. Consequently, the inner opening 23 is directed in the right direction in the figure, and • the inner opening 23 is closed as shown in FIG. 9B.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the gear cover

57, which is viewed from the front side. As shown in FIG.

12, a groove 73 is disposed in the vertical direction on the outer surface of the gear cover 57 (front surface). When the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, the groove 73 cooperates with a protrusion

101 (cf. FIG. 15) as a main body side portion protruded horizontally- from the inner side surface of .the mounting portion 106 of the apparatus .main body 100, and thereby the groove 73 functions to guide the toner cartridge 50 in the direction in which the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100 and functions to position the toner cartridge 50 with respect to the position of the apparatus main body 100. Hereinafter the protrusion 101 is named a horizontal protrusion 101 for the convenience. Specifically, in the groove 73, a range from the lower end to a part next to the upper narrowing width is a container guiding portion 73a having the function for guiding, and the upper narrowing width is a container positioning portion 73b having the function for positioning. The lower end f the container guiding-portion 73a opens downward. The open width of the container guiding portion

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2

73a at the lower end is set to be large, and the upper part of the container guiding portion 73a.is formed such that its width gradually narrows toward the container positioning portion 73b.

Further, a positioning convex 79 is formed at the front side of the gear cover 57. The positioning convex 79 functions as another container guiding portion and another container positioning portion of the toner cartridge 50 with respect to the mounting portion 106 of the apparatus main body 100. The positioning convex 79 cooperates with a main.'body groove ·103 (cf. .FIG. 15) disposed in the apparatus main body 100, and thereby the positioning cohvex 79 functions to guide the toner cartridge 50 in the direction in which the toner cartridge

50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100 and functions to position the toner cartridge 50 with respect to the position of the apparatus main body 100. In this manner, in the first embodiment, the position of the toner cartridge 50 is positioned with the apparatus main body

100 by using the two positions, namely, the container positioning portion 73b and the positioning convex 79 shown in FIG. 12.

FIG 13 is a perspective view of the gear cover

57, which is viewed from the rear side. As shown in FIG. 25 13, a boss 76 for positioning is protruding in the rear

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 side of the gear cover 57. When the gear cover 57 is attached to the case 55 and 56, the boss 76 is inserted into an elongate hole 77 (cf. FIG- 5, a rectangular hole) disposed at a side surface of the upper case 55. In this 5 manner, the gear cover 57 is positioned with-the upper case

55. The gear cover 57 is attached to the case 55 and 56 by engaging elastically deformable engagement pieces arranged, on a surrounding edge of the gear cover 57 with pawls arranged in the corresponding counter parts of the 10 end of the cases 55 and 56.

Further, a hole 78 is formed in the rear side of the gear cover 57. The end of the rotational shaft 530 that is a part of the conveyance screw 53 and protrudes from the lower case 56 is inserted into the hole 78. Namely, 15 the gear cover 57 is positioned with the lower case 56 by supporting the rotational shaft 530 with the hole 78. In this manner, in the first embodiment, the cases 55 'and 56 are positioned with the gear cover 57.by the.two positioning, namely, by the boss 76 and the hole 78 shown in FIG. 13.

Specifically, the upper case-55 is positioned with the gear cover 57 by the boss 76 shown in FIG. 13. Similarly, the lower case 56 is positioned with the gear cover 57 by the hole 78 shown in FIG. 13..

As described above, in the first embodiment, 25 the two positioning portions for positioning the gear cover

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 ’76311-27D2 ' 57 in the apparatus main body 100 are arranged in.the front side of the gear cover 57, and the two positioning portions for positioning the gear cover 57 on the cases 55 and 56 are arranged in the· rear side of the gear cover 57. The 5 two positioning portions in the front side of the gear cover 57 are disposed at the same or almost the same locations at which the correspohding two positioning portions in the rear side of the gear cover 57 are disposed. Specifically, the boss 76 shown in FIG. 13 is disposed in the vicinity of the rear side of the container positioning portion 73b of the groove 73 shown in FIG. 12, and the hole 78 shown in FIG. 13 is disposed at the rear side of the positioning convex 79 shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the toner cartridge 50, which is viewed from the side of the gear cover 57. In FIG. 14, projected areas of the corresponding gears 62, 63, and 64 on the outer surface of the gear cover 57 are shown by the dashed lines. Here, the groove 73 is disposed on the outer surface of the .gear cover 57. The area shown by the réference symbol J is the projected area of the torque transmission gear 64 disposed at the operating position, and the area shown by the reference symbol U is the projected area of the torque transmission gear 64 disposed at the retracted position. In this manner, 25 in the first embodiment, a part of the container guiding

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 portion 73a of the groove 73 is positioned within the projected area J of the torque transmission gear 64 disposed at the operating position. Here, the whole of the container guiding portion 73a may be positioned within the projected area J of the torque transmission gear 64 disposed at the operating position. On the other hand, the container positioning portion 73b having a smaller width is required to be positioned outside the projected area J of the torque transmission gear 64 disposed at the operating position.

Hereinafter, the configuration·of the apparatus main body 100 is explained. As shown in FIG. 15, the plural mounting portions 106 for mounting the toner cartridges 50 for the corresponding colors are arranged in the apparatus main body 100. For each of the toner cartridges 50, the corresponding mounting portion 106 is provided. Namely, there are four mounting portions 106.

In FIG. 15, the two toner cartridges 50 are mounted on the corresponding two mounting portions 106 among the four mounting portions 106. The' correspondence between the toner cartridges 50 and the mounting portions 106 is determined by colors of the toner inside the corresponding toner cartridges 50.

Each of the mounting portions 106 includes the 25 apparatus main body protrusion 102 that protrudes upwardly.

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 '76311-27D2

When the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, the apparatus main body protrusion 102 pushes up the gear holder protrusion 71b (cf. -FIG. 7) of the gear holder 71.

S Four connecting terminals 104 of the information reading unit are disposed .on an interior surface of one of side walls 111 shown in FIG. 15- When the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, thèse connecting terminals 104 are connected to 10 the corresponding connecting terminals of the information storing medium 58 disposed in the-gear cover’57 of the toner cartridge'50.

Further,· the horizontal protrusions 101 that protrude in the horizontal direction are disposed on the 15 interior surface of the side wall 111 of the mounting portion 106 of the apparatus main body 100. Each of the horizontal protrusions 101 cooperates with the groove 73 disposed on the gear cover 57 (cf. FIG. 12), and thereby functions as a main body side guiding portion that guides 20 the toner cartridge 50 in the direction in which the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100 and functions as a main body side positioning portion for positioning the toner cartridge 50 in the apparatus main body.100.

Further, for each of the mounting portions'106,

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 a main body groove 103 is vertically disposed on theinterior surface of the side wall 111 of the apparatus main body 100 as a main body side guiding portion and a main body side positioning portion, other than the above-described horizontal protrusion 101. An upper end 103a of each of the apparatus main body grooves .103 opens upward. The positioning convex 79 (cf. FIG. 12) formed on the toner cartridge .50 can be inserted into the upper end .portion 103a, which is opened. On the other hand, a receiving portion for receiving the positioning convex 79 is formed at a lower-end 103b of the main body-groove 103. Namely, the lower end 103b of the main body groove 103 functions as the main body side positioning portion for positioning the positioning convex 79, and the range from the top end 103a to the lower end 103b of . the main body groove 103.excluding the lower end 103b functions as. the main body side guiding portion for guiding the positioning convex 79.

Further, the main body side drive gear 105 is 20 disposed in the vicinity of the lower end 103b of each of the main body grooves 103. The main body side drive gear 105 is rotationally driven by a driving source disposed in the apparatus main body 100. Further, when the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, 25 the main body side drive gear 105 engages with the conveying

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-2702 drive gear 62 (cf. FIG. 5).

The moving member 113 for rotationally driving the internal shutter 22 is disposed in the apparatus main body 100. As shown in FIG. 15, the moving member 113 has 5 plural convex shapes 114 that abut the protrusions 27 of the corresponding toner cartridges 50.

As shown in FIG. 16, a sealing member 115 is disposed at a flange of the supply opening 49 arranged in the apparatus.main body 100. Therefore, as shown in FIG.

17, in a state where the discharge opening 52 and the supply opening -49 areconnected, the sealing member 115 is disposed between the two openings 49 and 52. In this manner, the space between the two openings 49 and 52 is sealed, and thereby preventing the toner from scattering 15 within the apparatus.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an internal structure of the apparatus main body 100 at a side that is opposite to the side shown in FIG. 15. As shown in FIG. 18, for each of the mounting portions 106, a biasing member

107 is disposed at a side wall 112. The biasing member

107 biases the toner cartridge 50 toward the side wall 111 (opposite side of the side wall 112). In the first embodiment, the biasing member 107 is formed of a flat spring.

Hereinafter, operations for attaching and

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 ’76311-27D2 ?

F detaching the tones cartridge SO are explained, while referring to FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 19C. When the toner cartridge 50 is to be attached to the apparatus main body Γ

100, the upper cover 109 (cf. FIG. 1) of the apparatus-main body 100 is opened so that the toner cartridge SO can be mounted on the mounting portion 106. Then, the toner cartridge 50 is held, and as shown in FIG. 19A, the toner cartridge 50 is inserted into the upper opening portion of the apparatus main body 100 toward the mounting portion 10 106, which is disposed at a lower side.

When the toner cartridge 50 is inserted inside the apparatus main body 100, the positioning convex 79 formed on the cartridge 50 is fitted on the main body groove 103, as shown in FIG. 19B. In this manner, by fitting the 15 positioning convex 79 on the main body groove 103, the positioning convex 79 cooperates with the main body groove 103, and thereby the toner cartridge 50 is inserted into the apparatus main body 100 while being guided by the main body groove 103. When the toner cartridge 50 is further inserteddownward, the horizontal protrusion 101 disposed in the apparatus main body 100 is fitted on the groove 73 disposed on the toner cartridge 50. Thus·, the toner cartridge 50 is also guided by the fitting between the horizontal protrusion 101 and the groove.73.

Further, when the toner cartridge SO is mounted

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 '76311-27D2

F ίon the mounting portion 106, as shown in FIG. 19C, the positioning convex 79 on the toner cartridge 50 abuts the lower end (the receiving portion) of the main body groove p

103. The position of the toner cartridge 50 is aligned by the abutment. Specifically, the fitting between the positioning convex 79 and the lower end of the main body groove 103 regulates the downward movement of the toner cartridge 50· and the movement of the toner cartridge 50 in the horizontal direction along the side wall 111 (the horizontal direction in FIG. 19C).

Further,· when the toner cartridge 50 is mounted on the mounting portion 106, the horizontal protrusion 101 in the apparatus main body 100 is fitted on the container positioning portion 73b where the width of the groove 73 is small- The toner cartridge 50 is also positioned by the fitting between the horizontal protrusion 101 and the container positioning portion 73b. Specifically, the fitting between the horizontal protrusion 101 and the container positioning portion 73b regulates the movement of the toner cartridge 50 in the rotational direction centered on the positioning convex 79.

Further, at the end of the toner cartridge 50 . that is opposite to the side of the toner cartridge 50 where the toner cartridge 50 is positioned by the horizontal protrusion 101 and the groove 73, the biasing member· 107

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 (cf. FIG. 18) disposed in the apparatus main body 100 biases the toner cartridge toward the side wall 111 on which the horizontal protrusion 101 of the apparatus main body 100 and the like are disposed. The bias force regulates the 5 movement of the toner cartridge 50 in the direction perpendicular to the side wall 111 of the apparatus main body 100 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 19Ç), and thereby preventing the positioning convex 79 from being come out of the main body groove-103 and 10 preventing the horizontal protrusion 101 from being come out of the container positioning portion 73b. Especially, in the first embodiment, the biasing member 107 ensures that the plural connecting terminals of the information storing medium 50 are pressed to the corresponding

IS connecting terminals on the main body. Namely, the biasing member 107 is also responsible for ensuring the electrical connections between the connecting terminals.

As shown in FIG. 19C, when the toner cartridge is mounted on the mounting portion 106, the apparatus 20 main body protrusion 102 pushes up the gear holder protrusion 71b. By this, the gear holder 71 pivots in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 19C against the tension (the bias force) of the tension spring 72, and the torque transmission gear 64 is disposed at the position 25 where the torque transmission gear 64 engages with the

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 '76311-27D2 έ agitating drive gear 63. Further, when the gear holder 71 pivots, the external shutter 60 which is integrally formed with the gear holder 71 pivots, and the outer f.

circumferential of the discharge opening 52 is opened.

However, in this case (in the case where the toner cartridge is modhted on the main body), the internal shutter 22 is kept closed. The effect of maintaining this closed state is explained. -In the sequence of the processes, the external shutter 60 is opened. However, there is a moment 10 at which the discharge opening 52 of the toner cartridge is not connected to the supply opening 49 of the main body. In such a case, the toner may leak downward without the double-shutter structure. However, since the internal shutter 22 is kept dosed, the tonet does not leak.

Incidentally,· when the torque transmission gear 64 moves to the operating position, since the horizontal protrusion

101 has already passed through the area that overlaps with the operating position on the groove 73 at a time in which the torque transmission gear 64 approaches to the groove 20 73, the torque transmission gear 6'4 does not interfere with the horizontal protrusion 101.

Rs described above, when the torque transmission gear 64 moves to the operating position and engages with the agitating drive gear 63, the conveyance 25 screw 53 and the agitator 54 are coupled and in a state

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 '76311-27D2 in which the drive can be transmitted. At the same time, the external shutter 60 which is integrally formed with the gear holder 71 pivots from the position shown in FÏG. 19B to the position shown in FIG. 19C, and the discharge 5 opening 52 is opened. The opened, exhaust opening 52 is connected with the supply opening 49 at. the side of the apparatus main body 100.

Subsequently, the internal shutter 22 is opened. Specifically, .the moving member driving unit, 10 such as the solenoid or the cam mechanism, moves the moving member 113, while triggered by the closing of the upper cover 109. For example, when the printer is turned on, the moving member 113 moves toward the left direction in the figure and opens the internal shutter 22, as shown in 15 FIG. 10A. With this, both the internal shutter 22 and the external shutter .60 are opened, and the toner can be discharged from the discharge opening.52. .

FIG. 20 shows a state where the torque · transmission gear 64 is disposed at the operating position.

FIG- 21 shows a state where the discharge opening 52 is opened. In FIG. 20, the gear cover 57 is not shown.

Further, as shown in FIG. 19C, when the toner cartridge 50 is mounted on the mounting unit 106, the conveying drive gear 62' engages with the main body side 25 drive gear 105. When the main body side drive gear 105

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 ’76311-27D2 is. rotationally driven by a driving source (not shown) in this state, the driving force is transmitted to the conveyance screw 53 and the agitator 54 through the conveying drive gear 62, the torque transmission gear 64, 5 and the agitating drive gear 63, and the conveyance screw and th'e agitator 54 are rotationally driven. With this, the toner is supplied from the opened exhaust opening 52 to the developing device through the supply opening 49.

Further, when the toner cartridge 50 is mounted 10 on the mounting unit 106, the connecting terminals of the information storing medium 58 at the side of the toner cartridge 50 are connected to the corresponding connecting terminals 104 of the information reading device at the side of the apparatus main body 100. with this, the information 15 regarding the. toner cartridge 50 can be read, or the information stored in the information storing medium 5B can be updated.

When the toner cartridge SO is removed from the apparatus main body 100, first, the internal shutter 22 20 is closed. Specifically, when the upper cover 109 is opened (cf. FIG. 1), the moving member driving unit cooperatively moves, and as shown in FIG. 10B, the moving member 113 is moved to the right direction in the figure, and thereby the internal shutter 22 is closed.

Subsequently, when the toner cartridge 50 is

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 lifted up, as shown in FIG. 19B, the pushing up of the gear holder protrusion 71b by the apparatus main body protrusion 102 is released, and the gear holder 71 is pivoted by the tension (bias force) from the tension spring 72 and is returned to its original position. The torque transmission gear.64 is disposed at the retracted position where the torque transmission gear 64 is separated from the agitating.drive gear 63, in accordance with the pivot of the gear holder 71. Incidentally, at this time, the horizontal protrusion 101 passes through the area which overlaps with the operating position on the groove 73. However, since the torque transmission gear 64 has already been retracted from the operating position on the groove 73 àt the time at which the horizontal protrusion 101 reaches the area, the horizontal protrusion 101 does not interfere with the torque transmission gear 64,.

Further, as shown in FIG. 19B, when the gear holder 71 is pivoted to its original position, the external shutter 60 is pivoted accordingly, and the discharge opening 52 is closed. With this, the internal shutter 22, which tends to become unclean due to the connection with the supply opening 49, is covered with the external shutter 60. Consequently, the likelihood that the hand of the user becomes unclean by contacting the shutter portion is lowered. Since the internal shutter 22 and the external

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 shutter 60 are closed, the resistance against the scattering of the .toner from the discharge opening 52 is significantly improved.

FIG. 22 shows a state where the torque transmission gear 64 is disposed at the retracted position. FIG. 23^:shows a state where the discharge opening 52 is closed. In FIG. 22, the gear cover. 57 is not shown.

As described above, in the'first .embodiment, the user or the like is prevented from contacting the gears .by covering the gears with thé gear cover 57. However, since a part of the conveying drive gear 62 is exposed from ·«· the lower portion of the gear cover 57 so that the conveying drive gear 62 can be engaged with the main body s'ide drive gear 105, it is possible^-that the user or the like contacts the conveying drive gear 62 during a replacement process of the toner cartridge 50. For example, if the user or the like rotates the conveying drive gear 62 when the toner cartridge 50 has been detached from the apparatus main body 100, the conveyance screw 53 rotates and the toner-is conveyed. In this manner, if the toner clogs in the internal shutter 22 and a load is generated,, it is possible that the toner is deteriorated and the conveyance screw 53 and the container body 70 are broken.

However, in the first embodiment, the return opening 24 is disposed in the internal shutter 22, and the

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 *76311-27D2 second return opening 67 is disposed in the roof portion 65. Thus, even if the toner is conveyed by the conveyance screw 53, the toner can be returned to the toner storing space 51 through the return openings 24 and 67. Namely, as shown in FIG. 9B, when the toner cartridge 50 is detached, the discharge opening 52 is closed. However, since a portion of the return opening 24 of the internal shutter is overlapped with the second return opening 67 of the roof portion 65, the toner inside the-internal shutter 22 can be returned through the return openings 24 and 67. The width of the second return opening 67 is wider than the width: of the return opening 24 so that the second return opening 67 can.overlap the both positions of the return opening 24, the side position and the lower position as shown in

Figs 9a and 9b. In this manner, the load applied to the toner inside the internal shutter 22 can be decreased. Thus, the toner can be prevented from being deteriorated, and the conveyance screw 53 and the container body 70'are prevented from being broken.

Further’, in the first embodiment, when the toner cartridge 50 is detached from-the apparatus main-body 100, the torque transmission gear 64 is moved to the retracted position, as shown in’FIG. 19A. Thus, the conveyance drive gear 62 is disengaged from the agitating drive gear 63. Therefore, if the user or the like rotates

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 the conveying drive gear 62 in this state, the conveyance screw-S3 and the agitator 54 are not cooperatively driven. Therefore, the condensing load, which is caused by excessive feeding of the toner toward the return opening 5 24, is prevented from being· applied to the toner.

Hereinafter a detailed reason is described. When the discharge opening 52 is closed, if the conveyance screw 53 and agitator 54 are cooperatively driven, the condensing load to the toner may be exceeded than the reduction effort 10 by the return opening 24. The amount of the toner fed toward the return opening 24 may exceed the returnable amount However, in the first embodiment, the toner conveyance screw 53 and the agitator 54 have configurations such that they axe not cooperatively driven when the toner cartridge 15 50 is detached from the apparatus main body 100. Therefore, the condensing load, which is caused by excessive feeding of the toner toward .the return opening 24, is prevented from being applied to the toner.

As described above, according to the first 20 embodiment of the present invention, failures caused by users'· unconscious rotation of the conveyance screw 53 in the state where the toner cartridge SO is detached from the apparatus main body 100, such as deterioration of the toner and damages to the components, can be suppressed.

Therefore, a high-quality and highly reliable image

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311_T27D2 forming apparatus can. be provided. .

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the user or the like rotates the conveying drive gear 62 has been explained as an example. However, when the 5 agitating drive gear 63 is exposed from the gear cover' 57, for the convenience of the layout, for example, the agitating drive gear 63 may be driven. In such a’case, the agitator is rotated, but the rotation of the conveyance screw 53 can be avoided. Therefore, the toner can be prevented from being fed to the vicinity of the discharge opening 52,· which is a narrow cylindrical space, and to the return opening 24, and the.load, which is caused by the conveyance screw 53 being driven when the toner cartridge 50 has been detached from the apparatus main body 15 100, can be prevented from being applied to the toner.

Further, the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment demonstrates the following functions and effects. The return openings 24. and 67 function not only in a state where the toner cartridge 50 is detached.from the main body 100 but also in a state where the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100. Namely, as shown in FIG. 9A, even when the toner· cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100 and the discharge opening 52 is opened, the 25 portion of the return opening 24 of the internal shutter

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 ’76311-27D2 overlaps with the second return opening 67 of the roof portion 65. Thus, the toner inside the internal shutter 22 can be returned through the return openings 24 and 67. Especially, while the discharge opening 52 is being clogged, 5 it is possible that the toner is accumulated and the load is applied. Even in such a case, the toner can be returned to the toner storing space 51 through the return openings 24 and 67., and thereby the load applied to the toner can be decreased.· In this manner, even in the state where the10 toner cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, thè failures such as the deterioration of the toner and the damages to the components can be suppressed.

Further, it is preferable that the posit.ion where the second return opening 67 is formed in the roof portion 65 is located outside the agitating region 200 of the agitator 54, as shown in. FIG. 24. When the' second return opening 67 is disposed within the agitating region 200, specifically, when the second return opening 67 is disposed on the peripheral wall at the right side of the roof portion 65, it is possible that the toner discharged from the second return opening 67- is pushed back by the agitator 54. Therefore, by disposing the second return opening 67 outside the agitating region 200, the toner can be smoothly discharged to the toner storing space 51 through the second return opening 67.

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 •76311-27D2 63

Further, as shown in FIG. 25, the direction of the blade 153b on an end portion of the conveyance screw 53 at a downstream side in the toner conveyance direction may be set to be opposite to the direction of the blade 5 153 on the portion of the conveyance screw 53 other than the end portion, so that the toner is returned from the end portion of the conveyance screw. 53 in the toner conveyance direction to the return opening 24. With this configuration, a flow is generated at the side closer to the end portion of the conveyance screw 53 than the return opening. The flow·actively. returns the toner that has passed through the return opening 24 back into the return opening 24. As a consequence, the accumulation of the toner at the side of the end portion can be suppressed, and damages to the conveyance screw 53 or to the container body 70 due to the load from the accumulated' toner can be avoided.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 25, a first pitch of the blade 153a at a first portion XI between 20 the return opening 24 and the inner opening 23 is set to be smaller than a second pitch of the blade 153a at a second portion X2 at an upstream side of the inner opening 23 in the toner conveyance direction. With this configuration, the toner conveyance speed at the downstream side of the discharge opening 52 becomes slower than the toner.

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 conveyance speed at the upstream side of the discharge opening 52. The toner passing the discharge opening 52 is jammed and the following toner is facilitated to go out from the discharge opening 52.

Further, in the first embodiment, the torque transmission gear 64 is movable between the operating position shown in FIG, 19B and the retracted position shown in FIG. 19C, as explained above. Therefore, the horizontal protrusion 101 of the. apparatus main body 100 is prevented from interfering with the torque transmission gear 64 during the attaching operation and the detaching operation of the toner cartridge 50. As a consequence, a part^-of the container guiding portion 73a or all the container guiding portion 73a can be, disposed at the operating position of the torque transmission gear 64 (within the projected area J shown in FIG. 14), thereby improving the degree of freedom on designing the layout of the guide mechanism of the toner cartridge -50, compared to that of the conventional cases.

For example, in.a conventional configuration of the toner cartridge 50 having the sequence of the plural gears 62, 63, and 64, which are connected as shown in FIG.

14, it is required-to dispose the groove .73 at the. left side in the figure with respect to the projected area of 25 the conveying drive gear 62 or at the right side in the

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2

65I i τι figure with respect to the projected area of the agitating drive gear 63, so-as to arrange the groove 73 while avoiding

Lthe sequence of the gears. Alternatively, the sequence of1 the gears· may be disposed as the groove .73 overlaps the sequence of the gears by extending the length of the toner cartridge 50 in the longitudinal direction Q. The above tw.o types of arrangements, are accompanied by the growth in the size of the toner cartridge 50, which is not related to the storage volume of the toner cartridge 50. Thus, 10 the product may become less attractive by adopting such an arrangement.

On the other hand, with the configuration according to the first embodiment, the groove 73 can· be disposed at a space between the projected area of the 15 conveying drive gear 62 and the projected .area of'the agitating drive gear 63. In such a configuration, it looks as if the groove 73 and the sequence·of the gears were overlapped,· when the groove 73 and the sequence of the gears are viewed in the longitudinal direction of the toner 20 cartridge 50. With the configuration according to the first embodiment, the degree*of freedom on designing the layout of the guide mechanism is improved, and the toner cartridge 50 can be downsized compared to a toner cartridge having a conventional configuration.

Especially, in the configuration of the first

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 embodiment shown in FIG. 14, it may be required to arrange the groove 73 as if the groove 73 penetrated the sequence of the gears, based on the following reasons. First, in the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 14, it is preferable that the disposed position of the information storing medium 58 be at an upper portion of the toner cartridge. 50 (the position that is separated from the discharge opening 52 in the diagonal direction, when the shape of the gear cover 57 is regarded substantially as a rectangle shape), which is far from the discharge opening 52, so that it becomes difficult to dirty the terminal surface of the information recording medium 58 with the toner. Second, it is preferable that the disposed position.of the container positioning portion 73b of the groove 73 be in the vicinity of the information recording medium 58, so as to improve the positioning accuracy of the information, recording medium 58; Consequently, the container positioning portion 73b of the groove 73 is disposed at an area above the sequence of the gears. Thus, in the scheme in which the toner cartridge 50 is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100 in the vertical direction, as in the case of the first embodiment, the groove 73 may be required to be extended downwardly from the area above the sequence of the gears.

Consequently, the groove 73 is arranged as’ if the groove

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 '76311-27D2

67Fr—

S penetrated the sequence of the. gears.

Especially, by applying the configuration;

according to the first embodiment, for example, to the;

configuration shown in FIG. 14, the groove 73 can be disposed at the space between the projected area of the conveying drive gear 62 and the projected area of the agitating drive gear 63. Therefore, the downsizing of the toner cartridge can be expected.

Further, as described above, in the configuration according to the first embodiment, the positioning accuracy of the Information, storing medium S8 with respect to the contacting terminals of the information reading device disposed in the apparatus main body 100 is improved by arranging the container positioning portion

73b in the vicinity of the information storing medium 58.

With this, the electrical connection between the information storing medium 58 and the information reading device can be ensured. In addition, since the positioning accuracy of the information storing medium 58 is improved, 20 the sizes of the contacting terminals of the information storing medium 58 and those of the information reading device can be reduced. Usually, gold plating has been ‘ applied to such contacting terminals, so as to prevent the contacting terminals from being corroded. By reducing the sizes of the contacting terminals, the amount of the gold

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 '76311-27D2 plating can be ’decreased; and thereby the producing cost can be reduced.

Further, in the first embodiment, the positioning unit formed on the front side of the gear cover

57 for positioning the toner cartridge 50 with respect to the apparatus main body 100 (the container positioning portion 73b of the groove 73 and the positioning convex 79} and the positioning unit formed on the rear- side of the gear cover 57 for positioning the gear cover 57 .with’ respect to the case 55 and 56 are disposed at the same

- positions of at almost the· same positions on the front side and on the rear side of the gear cover 57. In addition, the positioning convex 7 9 on thè front side and the hole 78 on the- rear side are the main reference positions of the corresponding positioning portions of the main body. The container positioning portion 73b on the front side and the boss .76 in the vicinity of the position of the container positioning portion 73b on. the rear’side are the sub-reference positions of the corresponding positioning portions of the main body. In this manner, in the first embodiment, the main reference positions for the positioning on the front side of the gear cover 57 and for the positioning on the rear side of the gear cover 57 are arranged at the same corresponding positions on the front side and on the rear side. Similarly, the sub-reference

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 positions for the positioning on the front side of the gear cover 57 and for the positioning on the rear side of the gear cover 57 are arranged at almost the same corresponding positions on the front side and on the rear side. When the paper surfaces of FIG. 19A through FIG. 19C are regarded as reference planes, the distance between the two main reference positions is minimized (equal to 0 mm) because both center spots of the two main reference positions are same. Similarly, the distance between the two sub-reference positions is minimized (almost equal to 0 nun). The gear cover 57 has been adopted so as to. protect· the gears. However, with the above configuration, the effect of adopting the gear cover 57, namely, variations in dimensions during the positioning of the container body

70 with respect to the apparatus main body 100 through the gear cover 57 can be suppressed. Consequently, even if the toner cartridges 50 are produced in a large quantity, all the produced toner cartridges SO can be accurately positioned with respect to the corresponding device main.

bodies 100.

Further, in the first embodiment, since the lower end of the groove 73 of the toner cartridge 50 has a large width, the horizontal protrusion 101 can be easily inserted into the groove 73 from the lower end. In addition, the groove 73 is formed so that the width of- the

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 •76311-27D2 groove 73 gradually becomes smaller toward the container positioning portion 73b. . Therefore, the horizontal protrusion 101 can be smoothly guided to the container positioning portion 73b, and the toner cartridge SO can 5 be accurately positioned with respect to the apparatus main ' body 100 by the fit between the container positioning portion 13b having the small width and the horizontal protrusion 101 at the position of the container positioning portion 73b. .

IO .Further, in the first embodiment, the timing at which the internal shutter· 22 is-.opened is set to be after the completion of mounting the toner cartridge 50. With such a setting, the toner can be prevented from scattering from the toner cartridge 50. Namely, when the 15 toner cartridge 50 is to be mounted on the apparatus main body 100, the external shutter 60 is opened in accordance with the mounting operation, while the’internal shutter 22 is still closed. Therefore, the toner is. prevented from being scattered prior to the connection between the discharge opening 52 and the supply opening 49 being established. The timing of opening the external shutter 60 is set to be the timing prior to the completion of the mounting of th.e toner·cartridge 50 so as to avoid the. interference between the external shutter 60 and the supply opening 49 during the mounting operation.

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2

Further, when the toner cartridge SO is removed from the apparatus main body 100, the internal shutter 22 is closed at the time at which the toner cartridge 50 is still mounted on the apparatus main body 100. In this 5 manner, the internal toner can be prevented from scattering during the. removing operation. In addition, since the external shutter 60 is closed in accordance with the removing operation, even if the toner has been adhered inside the discharge-opening 52, the toner is not scattered.

In this manner, in the first embodiment, by adopting the double shutter .structure, including the internal shutter 22 and the external shutter 60, the scattering of the toner from the discharge opening 52 during the attaching . operation and the detaching operation of the toner cartridge 50 is surely prevented.

Further, in the first embodiment, when the toner cartridge 50 is to be removed from the apparatus main body 100, since the external shutter 60 automatically closes the discharge opening 52 in accordance with .the 20 removing operation, the leakage of the toner and the scattering of the toner from the discharge opening 52, which are caused by the external shutter 60 being left open, can be prevented.

Incidentally, a configuration has 26 conventionally been known in which a rack and pinion

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 mechanism is adopted as a driving unit for driving a cylindrical rotational shutter in accordance with an attaching operation and a detaching operation of a toner cartridge (cf. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-42567) .

However, in this case, .there is a problem, that the guide unit of^τ the toner cartridge may be required to be formed with a high precision, so that the rack and the pinion smoothly engages with each other during the attaching operation of the toner cartridge.

Contrary to this, in thé first embodiment, it suffices that the apparatus main body protrusion 102 pushes up the gear holder protrusion 71b. Here, the gear holder protrusion 71b is integrally formed with the external shutter.60. Therefore, the position of the apparatus main body protrusion 102 can be roughly set. Further, a guide unit for guiding the toner cartridge during an attaching operation may have a simple configuration.. Therefore, the configuration according to the first embodiment is simpler than the configuration in which the conventional’ rack and pinion mechanism is utilized.

The tension spring 26 and the moving member 113 shown in FIG. 11 are utilized as the driving unit of the internal s.hutter 22. On the other hand, the tension spring 72 and the apparatus main body protrusion 102 shown in PIGS.

2’5 19A - 19C are utilized as the driving unit of the external

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 shutter 60. Namely, in the first embodiment, the driving unit of'the internal shutter 22 and the driving unit of the external shutter 60 are provided as different individual driving units. Thus, in case one of the internal shutter 22 and the external shutter .60 does not operate' due to an erroneous operation during the replacing operation of the toner cartridge 50 or a malfunction of the apparatus main body 100, the other shutter operates, and thereby the discharge opening 52 can be closed. In this manner, the likelihood- that the toner is scattered from the discharge opening 52 due to malfunctioning of both the internal shutter 22 and the external- shutter 60 can be lowered.

In FIG. 26, the width of the inner opening 23- formed in the internal shutter 22 is indicated as KI. The width of the discharge opening 52 is indicated as K2. Thé width of the supply opening 49 is indicated as K3. It is preferable that Kl, K2, and K3-satisfy the inequality KI < K2 < K3. By adjusting the relationship among the widths of the openings Kl; K2, and K3, it can be ensured that the toner is supplied to the supply opening 49.

FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a force applied to the toner cartridge 50 during transmission of a rotational torque. As shown in FIG. 27, when the main body 25 side drive gear 105 rotates in the counterclockwise

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 direction in the figure, a force-is generated in the direction indicated by the arrow F at a torque transmitting spot G where the main body side drive gear 105 engages with the conveying drive gear 62. Then,· a rotational load, •5 which is applied to the conveying drive gear 62 when the toner stored inside the toner cartridge 50 is agitated and conveyed, resists the force F. Consequently, a torque (moment) in the direction indicated by the arrow W is applied to the whole toner cartridge 50. Here, the torque is centered on the positioning convex 79, which has been positioned in place. However,., as described above,, since the movement of the toner cartridge- 50 in the rotational direction centered on the positioning convex 79 is regulated by the fit between the horizontal protrusion 101 and the container positioning portion 73b of the groove 73, the toner cartridge 50 is not rotated by the torque. Especially, in the first embodiment, a length tl from the center of the positioning convex 79 to a portion at which the protruding portion receives the acting force (one of a pair of portions Included in the container positioning portion 73b, which is closer to the positioning convex 79), is about 6.4 times as much as a length L2 from the center of the positioning convex 79 to the torque transmitting spot G. Thus, the length LI is sufficiently large, and, consequently, a rotation resistant property (positional

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 stability) of thé toner cartridge 50 is fine. Inside the gear cover 57, a passing area is provided, at which the torque transmission gear 64 passes through when the torque transmission gear 64 is moved. However, across the passing area, the container guiding portion 73a is extended vertically downward from the container positioning portion 73b disposed above, and the entrance, portion where the horizontal protrusion 101 of the apparatus main body 100 is inserted into is disposed in the vicinity of the bottom portion of the toner cartridge 50 (the space between the conveying drive gear-62 and the agitating drive gear 63) . With this configuration, when the user attaches the toner cartridge 50 to the apparatus main body 100, the user can easily fit the horizontal protrusion 101 into the entrance portion of the container guiding portion 73a, and the user can smoothly perform the subsequent setting operations. Such a rotation resistant property and ease of attaching the toner cartridge 50 to the apparatus main body 100 are attributable to the positional relationship among Che positioning convex 19 (namely, the center of the conveying drive gear 62, whish is related to the external shutter 60), the container positioning portion 73b, and the container guiding portion 73a. The moving mechanism establishes the positional arrangement of the torque transmission gear 64 such that the torque transmission gear

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 does not interfere with the positioning convex 79, the container positioning portion 73b, and the container

F~ guiding portion 73a. The embodiment of the present I invention ha.s been developed in conjunction with the moving

5' mechanism.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge 50, when the toner cartridge 50 is attached to the apparatus main body 100 and viewed from a bottom side. As shown in FIG. 28', the torque transmitting spot Gof the conveying transmission gear 62 is disposed at a position between a spot a that has been positioned iq place by the main body groove 103 and the positioning convex 79 and a spot β that has been positioned in place by the container positioning portion 73b on the toner cartridge 50 and the horizontal protrusion 101 of the apparatus main body 100 in the longitudinal direction Q of the toner cartridge 50 (or the direction of the rotational shaft 530 of the conveyance screw 53). Namely, On the gear cover 57, the positioning convex 79 is disposed at one side and the container positioning portion 73b is disposed at the opposite side via the torque transmitting spot G, which can be regarded as a reference position, in the longitudinal direction Q.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of a toner · cartridge according to a comparative example, which is

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 attached to the apparatus main body 100 and viewed from a bottom side. Unlike the above-described embodiment, in the comparative example, the spot a that has been positioned in place by the main body groove 103 and the 5 positioning convex 79 and the spot β that has been positioned in place by the container positioning portion 73b on the toner cartridge 50 and the horizontal protrusion 101 of the apparatus main body 100 are disposed at the same side (the upper side in the figure) in the longitudinal 10 direction Q of the toner cartridge 50 with respect to the torque transmitting spot G of the-conveying drive gear 62. The configuration is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, except for that. . Namely, in the comparative example shown in FIG. 29, the toner cartridge 50 is positioned in place by one side in the longitudinal direction Q.

In this case, when a force in the direction indicated by the arrow F is generated at the torque transmitting spot Gby the rotation of the'.main body side 20 drive gear 105, since the toner cartridge 50 is positioned in place by the one side in the longitudinal direction Q with respect to the torque transmitting spot G, it is possible that the toner cartridge 50 is twisted between one end and the other end of the toner cartridge 50 in the 25 longitudinal direction Q. Especially, in the toner •LX»*· X

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 cartridge 50 according to the embodiment, the end that is opposite to the end where the sequence of the gears are disposed is not positioned in place, but the end is only biased by the biasing member 107 in the longitudinal direction Q. Therefore, it is likely that the position of the toner cartridge 50 is shifted at the side of the end in the direction which crosses the longitudinal direction Q.

In the first embodiment, the container positioning portions (the positioned spots a and β) are disposed at both sides in the longitudinal direction Q with respect to the torque transmitting spot G, as shown in FIG.

28. Therefore, even if the toner cartridge 50 receives the force F at the torque transmitting spot G, the toner 15 cartridge 50 can effectively suppress that the toner cartridge 50 is twisted between one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction Q of the toner cartridge 50. With this configuration, the toner cartridge 50 can be positioned with respect to the apparatus main body 100 with 20 a high precision.

Second embodiment

FIGS. 30 through 33 show a configuration of the image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment.

Hereinafter, portions of the image forming apparatus

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04 '76311-27D2 according to the second embodiment that are different from the corresponding portions of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment are explained.

As shown in FIG. 30, the image forming apparatus includes an upper cover 109 as a first cover that is disposed at an upper portion of the apparatus main body 100; a container mounting portion 120 on which the toner cartridges 50 can be mounted when the upper cover 109 is opened; an internal cover 116 as a second cover that is disposed inside the apparatus main body 100 (below the container mounting portion' 120J - and that is-openable and closeable; and a unit mounting portion 130 to which the process units 1Y, IM, IC, and IBk can be detachably attached when the internal cover 116 is opened. FIG- 31 shows a state of the image forming apparatus where the upper cover 109 is opened. FIG. 32 shows a state of the image forming apparatus where the internal cover 116 is opened.

Specifically, the internal cover 115 is attached to the apparatus main body 100, so that the internal cover 116 is openable and closeable in the vertical direction when the internal cover pivots with respect to the apparatus main body 100 while being centered on a fulcrum 117. The toner cartridges 50 storing yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner, respectively, can be mounted on the internal cover 116.

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 î

g Similar to the first embodiment, plural mounting portions 106 (cf. FIG. 15) for mounting the toner cartridges 50 for i— the corresponding colors are formed on an upper surface ’ of the internal cover 116 (the mounting portions 106 are not shown in FIGS. 30-32). As .shown in FIG. 31, in the state where the upper cover 109 is opened, the toner cartridges 50 can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 100.

As well as the first embodiment, the external shutter 60 of the second embodiment also starts to be opened by the .pushing up of the apparatus-main body. protrusion 102 in the middle of mounting operation of the toner cartridge 50, as described in Fig.l9C.. Further, as well as the first embodiment, when the upper cover 109 is closed, the internal shutter 22 of the.second embodiment is opened by the moving member 113(not shown in Fig.30-32), which is driven by the driving unit such as a solenoid or a cam mechanism, as described in Fig.-10B.

The process units 1Y, IM, IC, and 1BK for the 20 corresponding colors are stored inside (below) the .

internal cover 116. Therefore, when the process units 1Y, IM, IC, and IBk are attached or detached, both the upper cover 109 and the internal cover 116 are opened, as shown in FIG. 32. Further, plural exposure units 6 (LED units) 25 for exposing the corresponding photoconductors 2 are

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 swingably held on a bottom surface of the internal cover 116. The exposure units 6 are moved by a guiding unit (not shown) between closer positions in the vicinity of the corresponding photoconductors 2 and retracted positions 5 disposed above the corresponding closer positions in accordance with an opening operation and a closing operation of the internal cover 116, while avoiding interfering with the process units 1Y, 'IM, IC, ahd IBk.

With the above-described configuration, when

IQ the internal cover 116 is opened, the toner cartridges 50 can be retracted from upper positions of the corresponding process units 1Y, 1M, IC, and IBk, while the toner cartridges 50 are kept attached-to the internal cover 116. Therefore, the process units 3Ύ, IM, IC, and IBk can be 15 attached to and detached from the device main body without removing the toner cartridges 50. In this manner, operability during replacing processes of the process units 50 can be improved, and the likelihood that the toner is scattered from the toner cartridges 50 into the apparatus main body 100 can be lowered.

On the other hand, in the state of the image forming apparatus where the internal cover 116 is closed, it is not possible to visually recognize the process units 1Y, IM, IC, and IBk. Therefore, when the process units 25 for the corresponding plural colors are to be

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 simultaneously replaced, it is possible that the upper cover 109 and the internal cover 116 are closed, without attaching some of the process units. In case the process units are not attached, the toner will be scattered in the 5 apparatus main body 100, when the discharge openings 52 of the corresponding toner cartridges 50 are opened.

•In order to prevent such scattering of the toner, as shown in FIG. 33, the apparatus main body protrusions 102 for opening the corresponding external shutters 60 are provided on the corresponding process units 1Y, IM, IC, and IBk. -Accordingly, insertion holes.118 for inserting the corresponding apparatus main body portions 102 are formed in the internal cover 116. With this, configuration, when the process units 1Y, IM, IC, and IBk are attached to the apparatus main body 100 and the internal cover 116 is closed, the apparatus main body protrusions 102 are inserted into the corresponding insertion holes 118 of the internal cover 116.

With such a configuration, the apparatus main 20 body protrusion 102 for opening the external shutter 60 does not exist at a portion on which the process unit is not mounted. Therefore, when the internal cover 116 is closed without attaching a process unit, the external shutter 60 is not opened at the portion on which the process unit is not mounted. Thus, the scattering of the toner

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04

76311-27D2 can be prevented.

Each of the insertion holes 118 formed in the internal cover 116 has a size that is sufficient for inserting the apparatus main body protrusion 102. Namely, 5 in this case, the size of the insertion hole 118 can .be reduced, compared to a case where a conventional configuration, in which the above-described’ rack and· pinion mechanism is adopted, is implemented. Therefore, sufficient strength of the internal cover 116 can be 10 ensured.

The second embodiment of the present invention has been explained above, based on FIGS. 30 - 33. However, for the components of the configuration according to the second embodiment which are the same as the corresponding 15 components of the configuration according to the first embodiment, the same functions and the same effects can be obtained.

According to the above embodiments, at least, the following configurations are disclosed.

A developer container is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body. The developer container includes a container body configured to store developer;

a discharge opening configured to discharge

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76311-27D2 the developer inside the container body to a developing device;

a rotator configured to be rotationally driven in the container body; and a sequence of gears disposed on an external side of the container body, the sequence of gears including plural gears configured to transmit a driving torque to the rotator, wherein thecontainer body includes · a developer storing space configured to store the developer; and a developer conveyance passage configured to guide the developer stored.in the container body toward the discharge opening, wherein the rotator includes a conveyor disposed inside the developer conveyance passage and configured to convey the developer to the discharge opening; and an agitator disposed inside the developer storing space and configured to agitate the developer, wherein the sequence of gears includes a driving force transmitter configured to interlock the conveyorwith the agitator, wherein, when the developer container is detached from a mounting portion of the image forming

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76311-27D2 apparatus main body, the driving force transmitter is configured to release interlocking between the conveyor and the agitator, and wherein the developer container further includes.a first return opening configured to return the developer, which has not been discharged from the discharge opening, from -the developer conveyance passage to the developer storing space.

The driving force transmitter may include a conveying drive gear attached to the conveyor;

an agitz^lng drive gear attached to the agitator; and a torque transmission gear configured to engage with the conveying drive gear and the agitating drive gear and configured to transmit a rotational torque.

The torque transmission gear may be configured to be moved, between an operating position where the torque transmission gear engages with the- agitating drive gear 20 and transmits the torque and an retracted position where the torque transmission gear is retracted from the operating position.

The container body may include an internal shutter disposed inside the container body and having a cylindrical shape, the internal

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76311-27D2 .shutter including an inner opening disposed.on a circumferential wall of the internal shutter and configured to discharge the developer.

When the internal shutter pivots around an axis

S of the cylindrical, shape, the internal shutter is configured to switch between an open state where the inner opening of the internal shutter overlaps with.fhe discharge opening and a closed state where the circumferential wall of the internal shutter overlaps with the discharge opening.

The first return opening may be disposed on the circumferential wall of the internal’ shutter.

The inner opening may be disposed at an • upstream side of the first return opening in a developer 15 conveyance .direction.

The container body may include a roof portion disposed on an outer circumferential side of the internal shutter and configured to rotatably support the internal shutter.

In the roof portion, a second return openingmay be formed.

The first return opening may be extended in a circumferential direction of the internal shutter so that a part of the first return opening overlaps with the second 25 return opening, regardless of whether the discharge

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76311-27D2 opening is opened or closed by the internal shutter. The second return opening may be disposed outside an agitating region of the agitator.

The developer container may further includes 6 a first biasing member disposed between the developer container and the internal shutter and configured· to apply a first bias force to the internal, shutter in a direction to close the discharge opening. The internal shutter may be arranged in the mounting portion· so as to be abutted by a moving member movably disposed in the image forming .apparatus main body.

With such a configuration, when the moving member abuts the internal shutter and causes the internal shutter to be pivoted, the intérnal shutter is switched to the open 15· state.

In the developer container, the container body may include an external shutter disposed on an outer side of the container body and configured to open and close the discharge opening.

The external shutter may engage with a second biasing member configured to apply a second bias force to the external shutter in a direction to close the. discharge opening.

The external shutter may include a pushed portion configured to be pushed by a main body side pushing

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76311-27D2 .

portion disposed in the mounting portion of the apparatus main body, when the developer container is attached to the Counting portion.

The discharge opening may be configured to be 5 opened, when the main body side pushing portion pushes the pushed portion of the external shutter and drives the external shutter.

• The developer container may further include an internal shutter disposed inside the' container body and configured to open and.close the discharge opening;· and an external shutter disposed outside the J · '· · container body and configured to open and.close the discharge opening.

The internal shutter may be configured to be driven by a first driving unit and the external shutter may be configured to be driven by a second.driving unit, the first driving unit and the second driving unit being different from each other.

With such a configuration, when the container body is attached to the image'forming apparatus main body; the external shutter is Opened in accordance with an attaching operation, and subsequently the internal shutter is opened after the attaching operation is.

completed.

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76311-27D2

Further, when the container body is detached from the image forming apparatus main body, the internal shutter is closed while the container body is still attached to the main body, and subsequently the external shutter is closed in accordance with a detaching operation.

⁷ The developer container may further include an external shutter disposed outside the· container' body and configured to open and close the discharge opening.

IQ The external shutter may be configured to move the torque transmission gear to the operating position in accordance with an operation to open the discharge opening.

The external shutter may be configured to move the torque transmission gear to' the retracted position in 15 accordance with an operation to close the discharge opening.

In the developer container, a first width KI of the inner opening formed in the internal shutter, a second width K2 of the discharge opening and a third wi.dth

K3 of a supply opening of the developing device configured to be connectable to the discharge opening may satisfy ah inequality Kl < K2 < K3.

According to the embodiments, there' is provided a developing device which operates in an image forming apparatus. The developing device includes

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76311-27D2 a developer housing configured to store developer;

a developer supporting body configured to support the developer inside the developer housing and configured to supply the developer to a latent image On a latent ⁷image supporting body in the image forming apparatus;

a mounting portion formed on the developing device; and the developer container configured to be detachably attached to the developing device..

With such a configuration, when the developer container is detached from the mounting portion, of the developing device, the driving force transmitter releases 15 interlocking between the conveyor and the agitator.

According to the embodiments, there is provided a process unit configured to be. detachably . attached to an image forming apparatus main body. The process unit includes a latent image supporting body configured to support a latent image on a surface thereof; and the developing device configured to supply developer to the latent image on the latent image supporting body.

According to the embodiment, there'is provided p*

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76311-27D2 an image forming apparatus including a latent image supporting body;

a developing device configured to supply the developer to a latent image on the latent image supporting 5 body;· the developer container configured to store the developer and configured to supply the developer to the developing device;

a mounting portion formed in the image forming 10 apparatus main body and configured to be mounted on by the developer container;· and a main body side drive gear disposed in the image forming apparatus and configured to be driven by a driving source in the image forming apparatus, wherein the sequence of geats engages with the main body side drive gear and is transmitted the driving torque by the main.body side drive gear.

According to the embodiment, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a process unit configured to be detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body, the process unit including a latent image supporting body configured to support a latent image on a surface thereof and a. developing device configured to supply developer to 25 the latent image on the latent image supporting body;

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76311-27D2 the developer container configured to store the developer and configured to supply tha developer to the developing device; and· a main body side drive gear disposed in the 5 image forming apparatus and configured to fee driven by a driving source in the image forming apparatus, wherein the sequence of gears engages with the main body side drive gear and is transmitted the driving torque by the main body side drive gear. .

The inage forming apparatus may further include a first cover disposed in the image forming apparatus and configured to be opened and closed;

a container mounting portion configured to 15 attach and detach the developer container, when the first cover is opened;

a second cover disposed inside the image forming apparatus and configured to be opened and closed, the second cover being disposed below the container mounting portion; and a unit mounting portion configured to attach and detach the process unit, when the second cover is opened, wherein, when the process unit is attached to 25 the unit mounting portion and the second cover is closed,

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76311-27D2 · · t . the main body side pushing portion disposed in the process unit is configured to be inserted into the container ΐ mounting portion from the second cover. î

In the above, the developer, container, the · developing device, the process unit, and the image forming apparatus have been explained by the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and improvements may be made within the scope of the present invention. For 10 example, the number, the shape, and the .position of each of the components may be modified without departing, .from* the scope of the present invention.

Date reçue / Date received 2021-11-04