JP3493576B2 - Developing device and developer container mounted thereon - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image into a toner image in an image forming machine such as an electrostatic copying machine, a printer or a facsimile, and more specifically, a developing housing and an opening of the developing housing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a developer accommodating container mounted so as to cover a part of a portion, and more specifically, to a developing device including a developer accommodating container accommodating a start developer composed of toner and carrier particles, and a developer accommodating container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming machine, for example, an electrostatic copying machine, a developing method using a developer composed of toner and carrier particles for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum. The device has been widely put into practical use. The developing device includes a developing housing for containing a developer,
It is provided with a developer applying means for applying the developer in the developing housing to the electrostatic latent image, and a developer stirring / conveying mechanism for stirring the developer in the developing housing and conveying it in a predetermined direction. In such a developing device, if the developer is stored in the developing housing before the image forming machine is used for the first time, the developing housing is used when the image forming machine is conveyed or when the image forming unit including the developing device is conveyed. The developer contained inside leaks out. Therefore, a developer accommodating container accommodating a so-called start developer is installed in advance in the developing housing, and the start developer accommodated in the developer accommodating container is stored in the developing housing before the image forming machine is first used. The developing device for supplying the toner has been widely put into practical use.

The developer accommodating container has a container body having a developer discharge port at a lower end thereof, an annular flange extending outward from a peripheral edge of the discharge port, and a detachable mount on the lower surface of the container body. And a seal film member for closing the discharge port. The seal film member includes a seal portion removably attached to the lower surface from the front side to the rear side in the longitudinal direction of the container body, and an inversion superposition portion which is continuous with the seal portion and is inverted at the rear side to reach the front side. , And the peeling gripping portion formed continuously with the inverted overlapping portion. When the grip portion is pulled forward with respect to the lower surface of the container main body in the longitudinal direction which is the peeling direction of the seal portion, the inverted polymer portion is pulled forward relative to the seal portion, and the seal film member is The seal portion is peeled off and the discharge port is opened.

An upper wall having a developer dropping opening is disposed above the developer agitating and conveying mechanism of the developing housing. An elastic seal member made of urethane foam or the like is provided on the upper surface of the upper wall around the developer dropping opening. The developer accommodating container is mounted on the upper wall so that the lower surface of the flange is pressed against the upper surface of the elastic seal member with the seal film member interposed therebetween. More specifically, a plurality of mounting screw holes are provided in the longitudinal direction in the upper wall of the developing housing at both outer sides in the width direction of the developer dropping opening and further outside the elastic seal member. Has been formed. Plural mounting boss portions are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction on the flanges on both sides in the width direction of the developer accommodating container, and mounting holes are formed in each of the mounting boss portions. The lower surface of the flange of the developer accommodating container is formed so as to be positioned on the same plane, but the lower surface of each of the mounting boss portions is formed so as to extend below the lower surface by a predetermined height. This structure has a function of restricting the amount of compression of the flange of the developer container with respect to the elastic seal member arranged on the upper wall when the developer container is mounted on the upper wall. Align each mounting hole of the mounting boss of the flange of the developer container with the corresponding mounting screw hole on the upper wall of the developing housing, and fasten it with a screw to keep the developer container above the developing housing. Mounted on the wall. The developer discharge port of the developer accommodating container is positioned in alignment with the developer dropping opening on the upper wall of the developing housing. When the developer accommodating container is attached to the developing housing, the gripping part is pulled forward with respect to the lower surface of the container main body in the longitudinal direction which is the peeling direction of the seal part. When the seal film member is pulled relatively forward, the seal portion of the seal film member is peeled off and the developer discharge port is opened. The developer contained in the container body is dropped into the developing housing through the developer discharge port and the developer dropping opening on the upper wall of the developing housing.

[0005]

In the conventional developing device described above, the mounting of the developer container on the upper wall of the developing housing is performed by using a plurality of screws as described above. Since it is configured like this, it is necessary to align the mounting hole with the mounting screw hole and fix the screw,
In addition, the number of parts increases. As a result, the above-described conventional developing device has a problem that the mounting operation of the developer storage container is relatively difficult and the manufacturing cost is high. As means for solving the above problems, a channel between the upper wall of the developing housing and an outer position on one side in the width direction of the developer dropping opening, which is further outside the elastic seal member, is provided between the channel and the upper wall. On the other hand, on the lower end of one side wall of the container body of the developer accommodating container corresponding to the above-mentioned engaging part, the outer part is formed on the upper side of the flange with a predetermined distance from the flange. There is also disclosed a developing device configured to form a locking portion projecting inward. In this developing device, the developer accommodating container has a width direction of the developer accommodating container in which one side in the width direction of the developer accommodating container is fitted to the engaging portion of the upper wall of the developing housing with the flange and the locking portion. The other side is attached to the developing housing by screwing it with a plurality of screws as described above. However, even in this developing device, since the mounting of the developer accommodating container on the other side in the width direction is configured to be performed by using a plurality of screws, the above problems can be said to be sufficiently solved. No, it still exists.

An object of the present invention is to enable the developer accommodating container to be mounted on the developing housing easily and surely without using any screws. As a result, the mounting work is facilitated and the number of parts is reduced. And to provide a novel developing device which enables cost reduction.

Another object of the present invention is to enable easy and reliable mounting to the developing housing without using screws. As a result, mounting work can be facilitated, the number of parts can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced. Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel developer storage container.

[0008]

According to one aspect of the present invention, a developing device is provided with a developer applying means at one end in the width direction.
The bottom wall and the front longitudinal edge of the bottom wall
From the front side wall and the rear side edge in the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall
The rear side wall that extends in one direction and the other end in the width direction of the bottom wall,
In the width direction, which is located on the opposite side to the image agent applying means,
The width of the front and rear sidewalls that extends upward from the other end
And a developing housing having an end wall connected to the other end of the developing housing ; and a developer accommodating container mounted so as to cover a part of the opening in the housing ;
Front and rear upright walls are formed on the front and rear side walls of the housing so as to extend upright from the upper end surface and extend in a direction approaching each other. The front upright wall has front locking slits and the rear upright wall has a longitudinal direction. Kokakaritome slit rear is opened, is formed so as to extend in the longitudinal direction, the upper end surface of the end wall, the longitudinal central region is one of the locking bosses upstanding from the upper end face forming And a plurality of locking upright hook portions are formed at the other end in the width direction at intervals in the longitudinal direction, and the locking upright hook portions extend in the longitudinal direction with walls facing each other in the vertical direction. And has a locking slit that is open at the rear in the longitudinal direction,
The container includes a container body having a developer discharge port at a lower end, an annular flange extending outward from a peripheral edge of the discharge port, and a seal detachably attached to a lower surface of the container body to close the discharge port. and a film member, a flange, the longitudinal front and rear end portions of one side portion in the <br/> width direction of the container, furan
The front and rear engaged portions that extend outward from one side edge of the one side portion of the flange are formed, and the flange width direction of the container.
One engaged hole is formed in the central region of the other side portion in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of engaged hook portions are formed in the other side edge portion of the other side portion at intervals in the longitudinal direction. The locked hook portion has a locked notch that has walls facing each other in the width direction and that extends in the longitudinal direction and that is open at the front in the longitudinal direction. Part to the front locking slit, the rear locked part to the rear locking slit, the locked notch of the locked hook part to the locking slit of the corresponding locking upright hook part,
Provided is a developing device, wherein the locked holes are respectively locked to locking bosses and mounted on the housing.

The upper end surface of the end wall of the housing and the upper end surfaces of the front side wall and the rear side wall in the region from the upper end surface of the end wall to the corresponding upright wall are mutually opposite. It is formed so as to extend continuously and is positioned substantially on the same plane, and the other end in the width direction at the upper end surface of the end wall.
Upright ribs are formed at the end portions so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the upper end surface, and the upright ribs have a constant height with respect to the plane, and the upper end surfaces of the upright ribs are on a plane parallel to the plane. Elastic seal members are disposed on the upper end faces of the front and rear side walls and one end in the width direction of the upper end faces of the end walls , and the upper faces of the elastic seal members exceed the height of the upright ribs. The locking upright hook portions are formed so that each of the locking upright hook portions is formed so as to stand upright from the upper end surface of the upright rib, and defines the locking slit formed in the locking upright hook portion. The upper surface of the lower wall of the wall opposed to the up-down direction is positioned substantially flush with the upper end surface of the upright rib, and the height of the locking boss from the upper end surface of the end wall is Formed higher than height, the lower surface of the flange of the container being substantially coplanar Positioned, in a state in which the container is attached to the housing, the lower surface of a part of said other side edge portion of the container flange, said of the housing
The lower surface of the container flange, which is placed on the upper end surface of the upright rib formed on the upper end surface of the end wall and faces the upper surface of the elastic seal member, is pressed against the upper surface of the elastic seal member with the seal film member interposed therebetween. Preferably. The width of the longitudinal central region on the upper end surface of the end wall of the housing is formed wider than the width of the other region, and the flange of the container is formed to have a plate shape having a substantially predetermined thickness.
The width of the central region in the longitudinal direction on the other side of the flange is formed to be wider than the width of the other region on the other side, and in the central region, between the locked hole and the container body. It is preferable that a slit extending in the longitudinal direction is formed. The front locked portion of the container is inserted into a longitudinal rear end portion of the front locking slit of the housing, and the rear locked portion of the container is partially inserted into the rear end portion of the rear locking slit of the housing. moving the container while being longitudinally forwardly, the engaging notches of the locking hook portion of the container Kiga, of the housing, engaging the locking slits bets corresponding engaging upstanding hook portion The lower surface of the central region on the other side of the flange of the container is the central region on the other side edge side in the width direction of the container with respect to the slit. Is positioned on the upper end surface of the locking boss and is elastically deformed so as to curve relatively upward with the upper end surface of the locking boss as a fulcrum, and the locked hole is aligned rearward in the longitudinal direction of the locking boss. It is preferable to be positioned as. The rear locking slit of the rear upright wall of the housing and the locking slit of the locking upright hook portion have a closed end in the front in the longitudinal direction, and the locked notch in each of the locked hook portions of the flange of the container. Has a closed end at the rear in the longitudinal direction, and when the container is moved further forward, the rear locked portion of the container is brought into contact with the closed end of the rear locking slit of the housing, The locked notch of the locked hook portion is locked to the locking slit of the corresponding locking upright hook portion of the housing, and the closed end of one of the locked cutouts corresponds to the locked slit. The locking slit is brought into contact with the closed end, and the locked hole of the container is locked by the locking boss of the housing to stop the forward movement of the container with respect to the housing in the longitudinal direction. Preferably, the container is mounted in place on the housing. Arbitrariness. The seal film member of the container is
A seal portion removably attached to the lower surface from the front side to the rear side in the longitudinal direction of the container body, an inversion superposition portion which is continuous with the sealing portion and turns over at the back side to reach the front side, and an inversion superposition portion A peeling grip portion formed continuously, and in a state where the container is mounted on the housing, the gripping portion is in a peeling direction of the seal portion with respect to the lower surface of the container body. When it is pulled forward in the longitudinal direction, the reversal overlapping portion is pulled forward relative to the seal portion, and the seal film member is peeled off the seal portion and the discharge port is opened to be accommodated in the container body. The developer is configured to be dropped into the housing, and the relative movement direction with respect to the housing when the container is mounted in the housing is specified to be a direction relatively opposite to the peeling direction. Been That, it is preferable.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a developer application hand
The development housing has a step at one end in the width direction.
The bottom wall , the front side wall extending upward from the longitudinal front side edge of the bottom wall, and the rear side wall extending upward from the longitudinal rear side edge of the bottom wall.
And the other end of the bottom wall in the width direction, which is opposite to the developer applying means.
And extend upward from the other end in the width direction located on the opposite side in the width direction.
And the other end in the width direction on the front and rear side walls.
And a front and rear upright walls, which extend from the upper end surface in an upright direction and extend in a direction approaching each other, are formed on front and rear side walls of the housing. is the pre-locking slit, the rear upstanding wall Kokakaritome slit longitudinally rearward is opened, is formed so as to extend in the longitudinal direction, the upper end surface of the end wall, in the longitudinal center region One locking boss standing upright from the upper end surface is formed, and a plurality of locking upright hook portions are formed at the other end in the width direction at intervals in the longitudinal direction. Developer container having a wall facing each other and extending in the longitudinal direction and having a locking slit that is open at the rear side in the longitudinal direction and is mounted so as to cover a part of the opening in the housing. And a container body having a developer discharge port at the lower end An annular flange extending out outwardly from the periphery of the exhaust outlet, is releasably attached to the lower surface of the container body and a seal film member closing the exhaust outlet, the flange, in the width direction of the container Front and rear engaged portions that extend outward from one side edge portion of the one side portion of the flange are formed at the longitudinal front and rear ends of the one side portion , and the length of the other side portion of the flange in the width direction of the container is formed. One locked hole is formed in the central area of the direction and the other side is
A plurality of locked hook portions are formed in the other side edge portion at intervals in the longitudinal direction, and the locked hook portions have walls facing each other in the width direction and extend in the longitudinal direction. The front notch has a front notch, the front notch has a front notch, the rear notch has a rear notch, and the hook has a notch notch. Is configured to be mounted on the housing by being locked to the locking slit of the corresponding locking upright hook portion and the locked hole to the locking boss, respectively. A container is provided.

The flange is formed such that its lower surface is positioned substantially in the same plane and has a substantially plate shape having a predetermined thickness, and the central region of the other side of the flange is It is preferable that a slit extending in the longitudinal direction be formed between the locked hole and the container body. The seal film member includes a seal portion removably attached to the lower surface from the front side to the rear side in the longitudinal direction of the container body, and an inversion superposition portion which is continuous with the seal portion and is inverted at the rear side to reach the front side. , A peeling gripping portion formed continuously with the inversion polymerized portion, the gripping portion, with respect to the lower surface of the container body, is pulled forward in the longitudinal direction which is the peeling direction of the seal portion, It is preferable that the reverse polymerized portion is pulled forward relative to the seal portion, and the seal film member is peeled off the seal portion to open the discharge port.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of a developing device constructed according to the present invention and a developer accommodating container mounted therein will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of the image forming unit 100. The image forming unit 100 is
The developing device 2, the photosensitive drum 4, the cleaning device 6, the charging device 8 and the like are provided and are detachably attached to an electrostatic copying machine (not shown). With the image forming unit 100 mounted on the electrostatic copying machine, the photosensitive drum 4 is rotationally driven clockwise in FIG. 1 by a driving unit (not shown), and is uniformly charged by the charger 8. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the image by exposing an image by an appropriate method known per se. This electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image by the developing device 2 in the developing area. This toner image is transferred to a sheet member such as plain paper in the transfer area and then fixed by a fixing device (not shown) to obtain a copy of the image. The residual toner on the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 6a of the cleaning device 6 in the cleaning area, and is discharged and collected by the toner collecting spiral member 6b into a toner collecting container (not shown).

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the developing device 2 includes a developing housing 10. For example, the developing housing 10 which can be integrally formed from a suitable synthetic resin such as ABS has a bottom wall 12, a front side wall 14 extending upward from a front side edge in the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall 12, and a rear side in the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall 12. It includes a rear side wall 16 extending upward from the side edge, and a rear end wall 18 extending upward from the widthwise rear end of the bottom wall 12 and connected to the rear ends of the front side wall 14 and the rear side wall 16. Incidentally, in the present specification, the longitudinal direction of the developing housing 10 refers to FIG.
In Fig. 1, the front and back directions of the paper surface are shown, and the front side or front side in the longitudinal direction indicates the direction toward the front side or front side of the paper surface in Fig. 1, and the back side or rear side in the longitudinal direction means the back side or back side of the paper surface in Fig. 1. It shall indicate the direction to go.
Further, the width direction of the developing housing 10 indicates the left-right direction in FIG. 1, the front side or front side in the width direction indicates the direction toward the left side or the left side in FIG. 1, and the rear side or rear side in the width direction indicates In FIG. 1, the direction toward the right side or the right side is shown. The same applies to other figures.

The bottom wall 12 of the developing housing 6 includes the bottom wall 1
A partition wall 19 is integrally formed that extends upward from 2 and extends in the longitudinal direction at a predetermined height. Predetermined intervals are defined between the front end of the partition wall 19 in the longitudinal direction and the front side wall 14, and between the rear end of the partition wall 19 in the longitudinal direction and the rear side wall 16, respectively. A developer applying unit 20 is arranged at the foremost portion in the width direction of the developing housing 10. The developer applying means 20 comprises a cylindrical sleeve member 22 extending substantially horizontally in the longitudinal direction, and a stationary permanent magnet member 24 disposed in the sleeve member 22. The sleeve member 22 is made of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum and is rotatably mounted, and the stationary permanent magnet member 24 is fixed at a predetermined angular position. A rotary shaft (not shown) is fixed to the sleeve member 22,
It is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 1 by a driving means (not shown). In addition, between the front side wall 14 and the rear side wall 16 of the developing housing 10, a spike cutting plate 26 is disposed in parallel with the peripheral surface of the sleeve member 22 in parallel. The amount of the developer held on the peripheral surface of the member 22 and conveyed to the developing area is regulated.

A developer stirring / conveying mechanism is disposed behind the developer applying means 20. The developer agitating / conveying mechanism includes agitating / conveying members 30 and 32 each having a rotating shaft and a spiral blade, and an agitating / conveying member 34 including a rotating shaft and a plurality of plate blades.
It has and. The agitating / conveying members 30 and 32 are disposed on both sides in the width direction with the partition wall 19 of the developing housing 10 interposed therebetween, and extend between the front side wall 14 and the rear side wall 16 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction along the bottom wall 12, respectively. It is rotatably supported. The agitating / conveying member 30 is rotationally driven counterclockwise in FIG. 1 by a driving unit (not shown), and conveys the developer from the front side to the rear side in the longitudinal direction while stirring. The agitating / conveying member 32 is rotationally driven clockwise in FIG. 1 by a driving unit (not shown), and conveys the developer from the rear side to the front side in the longitudinal direction while stirring. Therefore, the developer is on both sides of the partition 19 and the partition 1
It is circulated and conveyed while being agitated between the developer transfer openings formed between the both longitudinal ends of 9 and the corresponding front and rear side walls 14 and 16. The toner contained in the developer is triboelectrically charged.

The stirring and conveying member 34 is rotatable between the front and rear side walls 14 and 16 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction along the bottom wall 12 between the stirring and conveying member 32 and the developer applying means 20. Supported by. In the agitating / conveying member 34, a plurality of plate blades extending outward in the radial direction at intervals in the circumferential direction are formed in a central area of the rotating shaft in the axial direction, and spiral blades are formed in both end areas of the rotating shaft. Further, one plate blade extending outward in the radial direction is formed in an intermediate region between the central region and the both end regions. The central area corresponds to the image forming area on the sleeve member 22 and the photosensitive drum 4. Agitating and transporting member 3 configured as described above
4 is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 by a driving means (not shown). The plurality of plate blades arranged in the central region of the stirring and conveying member 34 are
The developer existing on the downstream side in the rotation direction from the position facing the photoconductor drum 4 is conveyed to the stirring and conveying member 32 side, and the developer on the stirring and conveying member 32 side is conveyed to the sleeve member 22.
Is conveyed upstream of the position facing the bristle cutting plate 26 in the rotational direction. Further, the spiral blades arranged in both end regions of the stirring and conveying member 34 move the developer existing in both end regions of the stirring and conveying member 34 toward the inner side in the axial direction, and plate blades arranged in each of the intermediate regions. Acts so as to return the developer moved by the spiral blade to the stirring and conveying member 34.

The front end portions 14A and 16A of the front side wall 14 and the rear side wall 16 in the developing housing 10 of the developing device 2 in the width direction extend upward from their respective upper end surfaces and extend in a direction approaching each other. It is configured. At the rear ends in the width direction of the front end portions 14A and 16A of the front side wall 14 and the rear side wall 16, the front side wall 14
Further, a front upright wall 36 and a rear upright wall 38 are formed which extend upright from the upper end surface of the rear side wall 16 and extend in directions approaching each other. Therefore, the front upright wall 36 and the rear upright wall 38.
Is the front end portions 14A and 16 of the front side wall 14 and the rear side wall 16.
Part of A. In addition, between the front end portions 14A and 16A of the front side wall 14 and the rear side wall 16, a spike cutting cover 27 is attached, and a sheet-like seal member 28 is provided at a front end portion of the spike cutting cover 27 in the width direction. It is installed. The sheet-shaped sealing member 28 can be formed of a sheet member made of an appropriate flexible synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate. The free end portion of the sheet-shaped sealing member 28 in the width direction is in contact with the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 4.

The front upright wall 36 is formed so as to extend slightly forward from the front end in the longitudinal direction of the front side wall 14. A front locking slit 40 is formed in the front upright wall 36 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction. Front locking slit 40
Has walls facing each other with a certain gap in the up-down direction, and is forward in the longitudinal direction (specifically, the front upright wall 36).
Is formed so as to have a closed end on the rear side in the longitudinal direction. A rear locking slit 42 is formed in the rear upright wall 38 so as to extend in the longitudinal direction. The rear locking slit 42 has walls facing each other with a certain gap in the vertical direction, and the rear in the longitudinal direction (specifically, the rear end of the rear upright wall 38 in the longitudinal direction) is opened, and the longitudinal length is increased. It is formed to have a closed end in the front of the direction.

The upper end surface of the rear end wall 18 of the developing housing 10 and the upper end surfaces of the front side wall 14 and the rear side wall 16 from the upper end surface of the rear end wall 18 correspond to the front upright wall 36 and the rear upright wall, respectively. The upper end surfaces in the areas up to 38 are formed so as to extend continuously to each other and are positioned substantially in the same plane. The upper end surfaces of the rear end wall 18, the front side wall 14, and the rear side wall 16 are respectively the upper surface of a flange portion extending rearward in the width direction from the upper end portion of the rear end wall 18, and the longitudinal direction from the upper end portion of the front side wall 14. It is formed in cooperation with the upper surface of the flange portion extending forward in the direction and the upper surface of the flange portion extending rearward in the longitudinal direction from the upper end portion of the rear side wall 16. The height from the plane to the lower wall surface of the front locking slit 40 and the height from the plane to the lower wall surface of the rear locking slit 42 are substantially equal to each other. The width of the central region in the longitudinal direction on the upper end surface of the rear end wall 18 of the developing housing 10 is formed wider than the width of other regions on the upper end surface.
An upright rib 44 is formed on the upper end surface of the rear end wall 18 at the rear end portion in the width direction so as to extend continuously in the longitudinal direction of the upper end surface (in the embodiment, the upper portion). It is formed so as to continuously extend over the entire area of the end face in the longitudinal direction). The upstanding ribs 44 are configured to have a constant height with respect to the common plane in which the upper end surface of the rear end wall 18 and the upper end surfaces of the front side wall 14 and the rear side wall 16 are located. The upper end surface of the upright rib 44 is positioned on a plane parallel to the plane.

In the central area in the longitudinal direction on the upper end surface of the rear end wall 18, at a position near the rear end portion in the width direction (a position relatively close to the upright rib 44), the member 1 stands upright from the upper end surface. Individual locking bosses 46 are formed. The locking boss 46 is in the shape of a pin having a circular cross section, and the peripheral edge of the upper end is chamfered. The height of the locking boss 46 from the upper end surface of the rear end wall 18 is higher than the height of the upright ribs 44. In this embodiment, this difference in height is formed to be slightly larger than the thickness of the flange 62 of the container 60 described later (in some embodiments, it is formed to be substantially the same or slightly smaller). On the upper end surfaces of the front side wall 14 and the rear side wall 16 and the upper end surface of the rear end wall 18, the front end portion in the width direction, more specifically, the position closer to the front end portion in the width direction than the locking boss 46 is. A band-shaped elastic seal member 48 having a predetermined thickness and width is provided (see FIGS. 1 and 5; not shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). The upper surface of the elastic seal member 48, which may be made of elastic synthetic rubber such as urethane foam, has an upright rib 44 formed on the upper end surface of the rear end wall 18.
The thickness is defined so that it exists slightly above the height of the.

On the upright rib 44 of the rear end wall 18, a plurality of locking upright hook portions 50 are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction. Each of the locking upright hook portions 50 is formed to be upright from the upper end surface of the upright rib 44. Each of the locking upright hook portions 50 has a locking slit 52. Each locking slit 52 of the locking upright hook portion 50
Are formed so as to have walls facing each other with a certain gap in the up-down direction, extend in the longitudinal direction, have an opening at the rear in the longitudinal direction, and have a closed end at the front in the longitudinal direction. The upper surfaces of the lower walls of the vertically facing walls defining each of the locking slits 52 are positioned substantially flush with the upper end surfaces of the upright ribs 44. The lower surface of the upper wall of the locking slit 52 in each of the locking upright hook portions 50 is formed at the open rear end thereof so as to form an inclined surface that extends upward toward the rear in the longitudinal direction. Has been done.

The developing device 2 is provided with a developer accommodating container 6 mounted so as to cover a part of the opening of the developing housing 10.
Contains 0. In the following description, “container 6
“0” is an abbreviation for the developer container 60. With reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the container 60 includes a container body 61,
An annular flange 62 and a seal film member 63 are provided. The container body 61 and the annular flange 62 in the container 60 can be integrally formed from an appropriate synthetic resin such as ABS. The container body 61 has a developer discharge port 61a having a substantially rectangular shape at the lower end thereof, and a developer filling port 61b is formed on the rear end wall in the longitudinal direction. The peripheral edge portion of the developer filling opening 61b is defined by a cylindrical portion extending rearward in the longitudinal direction from the rear end wall. The annular flange 62, which has a generally elongated rectangular shape as a whole, is formed to extend outward from the peripheral edge of the developer discharge port 61a, and is formed to have a plate shape having a substantially predetermined thickness. From the top surface, the longitudinal front and rear ends (in the embodiment, the corners formed between the one side and the longitudinal front and rear ends) of the annular flange 62 on one side in the width direction of the container 60 are provided. A front engaged portion 62a and a rear engaged portion 62b which are upright and extend outward from one edge portion are formed. The thickness of the front locked portion 62a is defined so that it can be inserted into the front locking slit 40 formed in the front upright wall 36 of the developing housing 10 and can slide along the front locking slit 40, and the thickness of the rear locked portion 62b. Is the developing housing 10
It is defined so that it can be inserted into a rear locking slit 42 formed in the rear upright wall 38 and can slide along the rear locking slit 42. An upright portion 62c is formed on the one side edge of the flange 62 over the entire lengthwise direction of the one side edge. Upright 62
The outer side surface of c in the width direction defines the outer side surface of one side edge of the container 60 in the width direction.

The width of the longitudinal center region of the flange 62 of the container 60 on the other side in the width direction of the container 60 is formed wider than the width of the other region on the other side.
The lower surface of the flange 62, which defines the substantially lower surface of the container 60, is positioned substantially coplanar. Flange 6
In the central portion area in the longitudinal direction of the other side portion of No. 2, one locked hole 6 is provided at a position closer to the other side edge in the width direction.
4 are formed. A slit 65 that linearly extends in the longitudinal direction between the locked hole 64 and the corresponding side portion of the container body 61 is formed in the central region in the longitudinal direction of the other side portion of the flange 62. There is. A plurality of locked hook portions 66 are provided on the other side edge portion of the other side portion of the flange 62.
Are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction. Each of the locked hook portions 66 has a locked notch 66a. Each of the locked notches 66a of the locked hook portion 66 has walls facing each other with a constant gap in the width direction, extends in the longitudinal direction, and is opened at the front in the longitudinal direction to extend in the longitudinal direction. It is formed to have a closed end at the rear. The inner side surface of the widthwise outer side wall of each of the locked notches 66a in each of the locked hook portions 66 has a front end portion on the open side thereof.
It is formed to have an inclined surface that extends outward in the width direction toward the front in the longitudinal direction.

The seal film member 63 is detachably attached to the lower surface of the container body 61 and is attached to the developer discharge port 61a.
Is configured to close. More specifically, the seal film member 63, which has a width larger than the width of the developer discharge port 61a and can be formed of an appropriate synthetic resin having a thickness of about 0.1 mm, is provided in the container body 61. A seal portion 63a that is detachably attached to the lower surface from the front side to the rear side in the longitudinal direction, an inverted overlapping portion 63b that is continuous with the seal portion 63a and that is inverted at the rear side and reaches the front side, and an inverted overlapping portion 63b. The peeling-off gripping part 6 formed continuously with
3c and 3c. The seal portion 63a is detachably attached to the lower surface of the container body 61 by welding or adhesion. As described above, the seal film member 63 is the container body 6
1 and the developer discharge port 61a is closed,
A developer filling port 61b formed on the rear end wall of the container body 61
Therefore, the start developer 68 is filled in the container body 61. When the start developer 68 is filled in a predetermined amount, the container 60 is configured by fitting and closing the plug 61c in the developer filling port 61b. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 69 is a toner filling port formed at the front end portion of the flange 62 of the container 60 in the longitudinal direction, and the seal portion 6 is provided.
It is closed by 3a.

In the container 60, the front locked portion 62a is in the front locking slit 40 of the developing housing 10, and the rear locked portion 62b is.
Is locked to the rear locking slit 42 of the developing housing 10, and the locked notch 66a of the locked hook portion 66 is locked to the locking slit 52 of the corresponding locking upright hook portion 50 of the developing housing 10. The holes 64 are engaged with the engaging bosses 46 of the developing housing 10 and are detachably attached to the developing housing 10.

More specifically with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, 6 and 7, when the container 60 is mounted on the developing housing 10, first, the front engaged portion 62a of the container 60 is first.
Is inserted (locked) into the rear end portion in the longitudinal direction of the front locking slit 40 of the developing housing 10, and the rear locked portion 6 of the container 60 is inserted.
A part of the front side 2b in the longitudinal direction is inserted (locked) into the rear end of the rear locking slit 42 of the developing housing 10. When the container 60 is slightly moved forward in the longitudinal direction in this state, the locked notch 66a of the locked hook portion 66 of the container 60 is locked by the corresponding locking upright hook portion 50 of the developing housing 10. Locked at the rear end of the slit 52,
The lower surface of the central area on the other side of the flange 62 of the container 60 on the other side edge in the width direction with respect to the slit 65 has its lower surface on the upper end surface of the locking boss 46 of the developing housing 10. It is positioned and elastically deformed so as to curve relatively upward with the upper end surface of the locking boss 46 as a fulcrum, and the locked hole 64 is provided with the locking boss 4.
Aligned behind 6 (see FIG. 6). The elastic deformation of the central region on the other side of the flange 62 of the container 60 is easily allowed without giving an excessive load to the central region of the flange 62 due to the formation of the slit 65, The flange 62 is prevented from being damaged and the container 60 is easily attached to the developing housing 10.

When the container 60 is moved further forward, the rear engaged portion 62b of the container 60 is brought into contact with the closed end of the rear engaging slit 42 of the developing housing 10 and the engaged hook portion 66 of the container 60. Of the locked notch 66a of the developing housing 10 is locked to the locking slit 52 of the corresponding locking upright hook portion 50 of the developing housing 10 and any of the locked notch 66 is locked.
The closed end of a is brought into contact with the closed end of the corresponding locking slit 52 (see FIG. 7). Further, the locked hole 6 of the container 60
4 is locked by the locking boss 46 of the developing housing 10 to stop the movement of the container 60 forward in the longitudinal direction with respect to the developing housing 10 (see FIG. 7). The container 60 is mounted at a predetermined position of the developing housing 10 (see FIG. 8).

Positioning of the container 60 with respect to the developing housing 10 and prevention of movement in the longitudinal direction rearward are possible by locking the locked hole 64 of the container 60 with the locking boss 46 of the developing housing 10. To prevent the container 60 from moving forward in the longitudinal direction with respect to the developing housing 10, the container 60 is prevented.
Any one of the locked notches 66 of the locked hook portion 66
The closed end of a is brought into contact with the closed end of the locking slit 52 of the corresponding locking upright hook portion 50 of the developing housing 10, and the rear engaged portion 62b of the container 60 is rear engaged with the developing housing 10. This is made possible by abutting the closed end of the stop slit 42. To prevent the container 60 from moving in the width direction, the locked hole 64 of the container 60 prevents the container 60 from moving.
Being locked to the locking boss 46 of 0, the container 60
The locked notch 66a of the locked hook portion 66 is locked to the locking slit 52 of the corresponding locking upright hook portion 50 of the developing housing 10, and the container 60.
The outer side in the width direction of the upright portion 62a formed on the flange 62 is brought into contact with the facing surfaces of the front upright wall 36 and the rear upright wall 38 of the developing housing 10. In order to prevent the container 60 from moving in the vertical direction with respect to the developing housing 10, the front locked portion 62a and the rear locked portion 62b of the container 60 are locked by the corresponding front locking slit 40 and rear locking of the developing housing 10. Being inserted into the slit 42, each of the locked notches 66a of the locked hook portion 66 of the container 60 is locked to the locking slit 52 of the corresponding locking upright hook portion 50 of the developing housing 10. What is done is done by. When the container 60 is mounted on the developing housing 10, the lower surface of the partial area of the flange 62 of the container 60 on the other side edge is an upright rib 44 formed on the upper end surface of the rear end wall 18 of the developing housing 10. Placed on the upper end surface of the container (see FIG. 8) and the container 6
The lower surface of the flange 62 of 0 facing the upper surface of the elastic seal member 48 is pressed against the upper surface of the elastic seal member 48 with the seal film member 63 interposed therebetween (see FIGS. 1 and 5).
As a result, the periphery of the developer discharge port 61a of the container 60 is sufficiently reliably sealed.

As can be easily understood from the above description, the mounting of the container 60 to the developing housing 10 is performed by the container 6
The front locked portions 62a and the rear locked portions 62b of 0 are inserted into the corresponding front locking slits 40 and rear locking slits 42 of the developing housing 10 to temporarily mount the developing housing 10, and then the container. 60 to the developing housing 10
On the other hand, by simply moving the developing housing 10 and the container 60 forward in the longitudinal direction, the container 60 is
The developing housing 10 is mounted at a predetermined position. Since the developing device 10 according to the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to easily and surely mount the container 60 to the developing housing 10 without using any screw, and as a result, the mounting work can be performed. It facilitates, reduces the number of parts, and reduces the cost. Further, since the container 60 according to the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to easily and surely mount the developing housing 10 on the developing housing 10 without using any screw, and as a result, the mounting work is facilitated. This makes it possible to reduce the number of parts and cost.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 5, the image forming unit 100 including the developing device 2 configured as described above is
As described above, it is mounted on the electrostatic copying machine (not shown) and delivered to the user. When the copying machine is used, the start developer 68 contained in the container 60 is supplied into the developing housing 10. That is, the operator holds the grip portion 63c of the seal film member 63 attached to the container 60 against the lower surface of the container body 61 by the seal portion 6c.
3a is a peeling direction of the above-mentioned longitudinal direction front (FIG. 5).
When pulled to the left), the inverted overlapping portion 63b is pulled forward relative to the seal portion 63a. The seal film member 63 has its seal portion 63a peeled off, and the developer discharge port 61a is opened. The start developer 68 contained in the container body 61 is dropped into the developing housing 10. The toner filling port 69 formed on the flange 62 of the container 60 is opened to allow replenishment of toner after consumption of a predetermined amount. Further, as will be easily understood from the above description, the relative movement direction with respect to the developing housing 10 when the container 60 is mounted in the developing housing 10 is a direction relatively opposite to the peeling direction of the seal portion 63a. Since the seal portion 63a is not peeled off when the container 60 is mounted on the developing housing 10, the sealed state of the developer discharge port 61a of the seal film member 63 is damaged. There is no. Further, as described above, the developing housing 10 of the container 60 is used.
In order to prevent forward movement in the longitudinal direction with respect to, the closed end of the locked notch 66a of one of the locked hook portions 66 of the container 60 is engaged with the corresponding locking upright hook portion 50 of the developing housing 10. The container 62 is brought into contact with the closed end of the stop slit 52, and the rear engaged portion 62b of the container 60 is attached to the developing housing 10.
By being brought into contact with the closed end of the rear locking slit 42, it is possible for the operator to
As described above, the grip portion 63c of the seal film member 63
Even when the seal portion 63a is pulled forward in the longitudinal direction, which is the peeling direction, the mounting position of the container 60 with respect to the developing housing 10 is not displaced. Again container 60
Is configured to be prevented from moving in substantially any direction with respect to the developing housing 10, so that the container 60 is displaced even when replenishing the toner after the predetermined amount is consumed through the toner filling port 69. Is reliably prevented.

By supplying the start developer 68 into the developing housing 10 as described above, the copying machine (not shown) is ready for its operation and can perform the copying operation. In addition, including the developing action by the developing device 2,
The copying operation by the copying machine may use a known operation, and since it does not form the feature of the present invention, the description thereof will be omitted. The copying machine may be purchased again by the user after copying 100,000 sheets, for example, and some of the copying machines may be reused with parts replaced. When the copier is reused, the developer in the developing housing 10 may be discarded and the container 60 may be replaced with a new one. Further, the developer in the developing housing 10 may be replaced and the container 60 may be reused. In any case, the container 60 attached to the developing housing 10 is
It is removed from the developing housing 10. To remove the container 60, the central region of the flange 62 is elastically deformed so as to curve upward from the developing housing 10,
This is easily performed by moving the container 60 rearward in the longitudinal direction with respect to the developing housing 10.

In the above embodiment, the front engaged portion 62a and the rear engaged portion 62b formed at the longitudinal front and rear ends on one side in the width direction of the flange 62 of the container 60.
Is formed so as to stand upright from the upper surface of the flange 62 and extend outward from one side edge portion.
And / or there is another embodiment in which the rear locked portion 62b is formed so as to extend outward from the one side edge portion without standing upright from the upper surface of the flange 62.

[0034]

Since the developing device according to the present invention is constructed as described above, the developer accommodating container can be easily and surely mounted on the developing housing without using screws. As a result, the mounting work can be facilitated, the number of parts can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced. Further, since the developer accommodating container according to the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to easily and surely mount the developer housing to the developing housing without using any screw, and as a result, the mounting work is facilitated. It enables reduction of the number of parts and cost reduction.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an image forming unit including an embodiment of a developing device configured according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a developing housing of a developing device included in the image forming unit shown in FIG. 1, viewed from a certain angle.

3 is a perspective view of the developing housing shown in FIG. 2 viewed from an angle different from that in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a developer accommodating container mounted in the developing housing shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

5 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view showing a state where the developer accommodating container shown in FIG. 4 is attached to a developing housing.

FIG. 6 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a part of an operation mode in which the developer accommodating container shown in FIG. 4 is being mounted in a developing housing.

FIG. 7 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the developer accommodating container shown in FIG. 4 is attached to a developing housing.

FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view of the image forming unit shown in FIG. 1 with a part omitted.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Development device 10 Development housing 12 bottom wall 14 Front wall 16 Rear wall 18 Rear wall 36 Front erect wall 38 Rear upright wall 40 Front locking slit 42 Rear locking slit 44 Upright rib 50 Locking upright hook 52 Locking slit 60 developer container 61 Container body 61a Developer discharge port 62 flange 62a Front locked part 62b Rear locked portion 63 Seal film member 63a Seal part 63b Inversion stacking section 63c Peeling grip 64 Locked hole 65 slits 66 Locked hook 66a Locked notch

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Takahisa Nakaue, 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka City Kyocera Mita Co., Ltd. (72) Kenichi Tanabe 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka No. 28 Kyocera Mita Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Toshiyuki Nakamura 1-2-2 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka City Kyocera Mita Co., Ltd. (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15 / 08 112 B65D 83/06

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. A developer applying means is provided at one end in the width direction.
A developing housing that is, a bottom wall, longitudinal direction of the bottom wall
The front side wall extends upward from the front side edge and the rear side in the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall.
At the rear side wall extending upward from the side edge and the other end in the width direction of the bottom wall
Located on the opposite side of the developer application means in the width direction.
Extending upward from the other end in the width direction to the front and rear side walls.
Kicking a developing housing with an end wall which is connected to the other end in the width direction; and a developer accommodating container is mounted so as to cover a part of the opening in the housing; in the developing apparatus comprising, said housing The front and rear side walls of the front and rear walls are formed with front and rear upright walls that extend from the upper end surface and extend in a direction approaching each other.The front upright wall has a front locking slit, and the rear upright wall has a longitudinal rear side. The opened rear locking slit is formed to extend in the longitudinal direction, and one locking boss standing upright from the upper end surface of the end wall is formed in the longitudinal center region. A plurality of locking upright hook portions are formed at the other end in the width direction at intervals in the longitudinal direction, and the locking upright hook portions extend in the longitudinal direction with walls facing each other in the vertical direction. There is a locking slit that is open at the rear in the longitudinal direction, and Is a container body having a developer discharge port at its lower end, an annular flange extending outward from the periphery of the discharge port, and a seal film member removably attached to the lower surface of the container body to close the discharge port. with bets, the flanges in the longitudinal direction front and rear end portions of one side portion in the <br/> width direction of the container, furan
The front and rear engaged portions that extend outward from one side edge of the one side portion of the flange are formed, and the flange width direction of the container.
One engaged hole is formed in the central region of the other side portion in the longitudinal direction, and a plurality of engaged hook portions are formed in the other side edge portion of the other side portion at intervals in the longitudinal direction. The locked hook portion has a locked notch that has walls facing each other in the width direction and that extends in the longitudinal direction and that is open at the front in the longitudinal direction. Part to the front locking slit, the rear locked part to the rear locking slit, the locked notch of the locked hook part to the locking slit of the corresponding locking upright hook part,
The developing device, wherein the locked holes are respectively locked to the locking bosses and mounted on the housing. 2. The upper end surface of the end wall of the housing and the upper end surfaces of the front side wall and the rear side wall, from the upper end surface of the end wall ,
The upper end surface in the region up to the corresponding upright wall is formed so as to extend continuously to each other and is positioned substantially in the same plane, and the width direction of the upper end surface of the end wall in the width direction .
An upright rib is formed at the other end so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the upper end face, the upright rib has a constant height with respect to the plane, and the upper end face of the upright rib is a plane parallel to the plane. Elastic seal members are disposed on the upper end faces of the front and rear side walls and the upper end faces of the end walls in the width direction , and the upper faces of the elastic seal members have upright ribs. The thickness of the locking upright hook portions is defined so that the locking upright hook portions are located above the height of the upright ribs, and each of the locking upright hook portions is formed to stand upright from the upper end surface of the upright rib. The upper surface of the lower wall of the vertically opposed wall defining the stop slit is positioned substantially flush with the upper end surface of the upright rib, and the height of the locking boss from the upper end surface of the end wall. Is formed to be higher than the height of the upright rib, and the lower surface of the flange of the container is substantially the same. Positioned on a plane, in a state in which the container is attached to the housing, the lower surface of a part of said other side edge portion of the flange of the container, of the housing
The lower surface of the flange of the container facing the upper surface of the elastic seal member is placed on the upper surface of the upright rib formed on the upper end surface of the end wall , and the lower surface of the flange of the container faces the upper surface of the elastic seal member with the seal film member interposed therebetween. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developing device is pressed. 3. The width of the central region in the longitudinal direction of the upper end surface of the end wall of the housing is formed to be wider than the width of other regions, and the flange of the container has a plate shape having a substantially predetermined thickness. The width of the central region in the longitudinal direction on the other side of the flange is wider than the width of the other region on the other side, and the locked hole and the container are formed in the central region. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein a slit extending in the longitudinal direction between the main body and the main body is formed. 4. A front locked portion of the container is inserted into a longitudinal rear end portion of a front locking slit of the housing, and a rear locked portion of the container is a rear end of the rear locking slit of the housing. When the container is moved forward in the longitudinal direction in a state that the container is partially inserted, the locked notch of the locked hook part of the container is locked by the corresponding upright hook part of the housing. slit door
Locked to, a said central region of said other side of said container flange, to the slit, the width direction of the container
The central region of the other edge of the housing has its lower surface positioned on the upper end surface of the locking boss of the housing and is elastically deformed so as to curve relatively upward with the upper end surface of the locking boss as a fulcrum. The developing device according to claim 3, wherein the locked hole is aligned with and positioned behind the locking boss in the longitudinal direction. 5. The rear locking slit of the rear upright wall of the housing and the locking slit of the vertical locking hook portion have a closed end in the front in the longitudinal direction, and each of the locked hook portions of the flange of the container. The locked notch has a closed end on the rear side in the longitudinal direction, and when the container is moved further forward, the rear locked portion of the container comes into contact with the closed end of the rear locking slit of the housing. The locked notch of the locked hook portion of the container is
The housing is locked in the locking slit of the corresponding locking upright hook portion, and the closed end of any locked cutout is brought into contact with the closed end of the corresponding locking slit, Further, the locked hole of the container is locked by the locking boss of the housing to stop the forward movement of the container in the longitudinal direction with respect to the housing, and the container is mounted at a predetermined position of the housing. The developing device according to claim 4. 6. The seal film member of the container comprises a seal portion removably attached to the lower surface from the front side to the rear side in the longitudinal direction of the container body, and the seal portion is continuous with the seal portion and inverted at the rear side. In the state in which the container is attached to the housing, the inverted polymerized portion reaching the front side and the peeling gripping portion formed continuously with the inverted polymerized portion are provided.
When the grip portion is pulled forward with respect to the lower surface of the container main body in the longitudinal direction which is the peeling direction of the seal portion, the inverted polymer portion is pulled forward relative to the seal portion, and the seal film member The seal portion is peeled off, the discharge port is opened, and the developer accommodated in the container body is configured to drop into the housing, and relative to the housing when the container is attached to the housing. 6. The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the moving direction is defined to be a direction relatively opposite to the peeling direction. 7. A developer applying means is provided at one end in the width direction.
A developing housing that is, a bottom wall, longitudinal direction of the bottom wall
The front side wall extends upward from the front side edge and the rear side in the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall.
At the rear side wall extending upward from the side edge and the other end in the width direction of the bottom wall
Located on the opposite side of the developer application means in the width direction.
Available from the width direction of the other end to the side wall及 beauty rear wall before extending upwardly that
A developing housing having an end wall connected to the other end in the width direction , and front and rear uprights that extend from the upper end surface to the front and rear side walls of the housing and extend in a direction approaching each other. wall is formed, before locking slit before the upright wall, the rear upstanding wall Kokakaritome slit longitudinally rearward is opened, is formed so as to extend in the longitudinal direction, the upper end surface of the end wall In the central area of the longitudinal direction, one locking boss standing upright from the upper end surface is formed, and at the other end in the width direction, a plurality of locking upright hook portions are formed at intervals in the longitudinal direction. The locking upright hook portion has a part of an opening portion in the housing of the developing device having a locking slit which has walls facing each other in the up-down direction and which extends in the longitudinal direction and whose rear in the longitudinal direction is opened. It is a developer storage container that is installed so as to cover it. A container body having an image agent discharge port, an annular flange extending outward from the periphery of the discharge port, and a seal film member removably attached to the lower surface of the container body to close the discharge port, of the flange, you in the width direction of the container
One side of the flange is
The engaged portion front and rear extending out outwardly from one side edge portion is formed in part, the flange, the longitudinal central region of the other side in the width direction of the container is one of the engaging holes formed And a plurality of locked hook portions are formed in the other side edge portion of the other side portion at intervals in the longitudinal direction, and the locked hook portions have walls facing each other in the width direction and Has a locked notch that extends to the front and is opened in the front in the longitudinal direction. The front locked part is the front locking slit, the rear locked part is the rear locking slit, and the locked hook part is The locked notch is configured to be mounted on the housing by being locked to the locking slit of the corresponding locking upright hook portion and the locked hole to the locking boss, respectively. Characteristic developer storage container. 8. The flange is formed such that its lower surface is positioned substantially in the same plane and has a substantially plate-like shape having a predetermined thickness, and is formed in the central region of the other side of the flange. The slit has a slit extending in the longitudinal direction between the locked hole and the container body.
The developer container described. 9. The seal film member comprises a seal portion removably attached to the lower surface from the front side to the rear side in the longitudinal direction of the container body, and a seal portion which is continuous with the seal portion and is reversed at the rear side to the front side. It is composed of a reverse overlapping portion that reaches and a peeling gripping portion that is formed continuously with the reverse overlapping portion, and that the gripping portion is a peeling direction of the sealing portion with respect to the lower surface of the container body in the longitudinal direction. When it is pulled forward, the inverted overlapping portion is pulled forward relative to the seal portion, the seal film member peels off the seal portion, and the discharge port is opened.
The developer container according to claim 7.