JP5771552B2 - Developer container, developing device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a developer container, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus.

  Conventionally, in image formation in which a latent image formed on an electrostatic latent image carrier is visualized by developing with toner, such as an electrophotographic copying machine, image recording apparatus, printer, facsimile machine, etc., toner is stored. A developing device to which a toner container is attached is used. In such a developing device, when a developing operation is not performed, the toner supply port formed in the toner storage container is closed (soaked) with a shutter member so that unnecessary toner does not enter the developing device. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part for explaining a method of attaching a shutter member to a conventional toner storage container.

  In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes a toner cartridge as a toner storage container, and reference numeral 107 denotes a shutter accommodating portion formed at the lower end of the toner cartridge 101, which is a portion that rotatably accommodates a shutter member 102 that is a substantially cylindrical member. It is. The shutter member 102 has an opening in at least a part of its cylindrical side wall, and a toner supply port is also formed in the lower surface of the cylindrical side wall of the shutter accommodating portion 107. When the shutter member 102 rotates and its opening coincides with the toner supply port formed on the side wall of the shutter housing portion 107, the toner stored in the toner cartridge 101 falls downward through the toner supply port. When the cylindrical side wall of the shutter member 102 closes the toner supply port of the shutter accommodating portion 107, the supply of the toner accommodated in the toner cartridge 101 is stopped.

  In addition, a circular shutter insertion port 104 communicating with the inside of the shutter accommodating portion 107 is formed on the side surface of the toner cartridge 101. The shutter member 102 is moved relative to the toner cartridge 101 in the direction indicated by the arrow, and is inserted into the shutter accommodating portion 107 through the shutter insertion port 104 and attached. The operation lever attachment portion 108 formed at one end of the main body of the shutter member 102 is formed so as to protrude from the side surface of the toner cartridge 101 in a state where the shutter member 102 is accommodated in the shutter accommodation portion 107. .

  A groove-like recess 103 that makes one round of the outer peripheral surface is formed on the cylindrical side wall at the end of the shutter member 102 on the side of the operation lever mounting portion 108. A ring-shaped seal sponge 106 is accommodated in the recess 103 and is fixedly bonded to the recess 103 by, for example, a double-sided adhesive tape. Further, the outer diameter of the seal sponge 106 accommodated in the recess 103 is larger than the inner diameter of the cylindrical inner peripheral surface 105 of the shutter insertion port 104. As a result, the gap between the cylindrical side wall of the shutter member 102 accommodated in the shutter accommodating portion 107 and the inner peripheral surface 105 of the shutter insertion opening 104 is sealed by the seal sponge 106, so that the toner is inserted into the shutter insertion opening. Leakage from 104 is prevented.

JP 2009-31374 A

  However, in the conventional developing device, when the shutter member 102 is inserted into the shutter accommodating portion 107 through the shutter insertion port 104, the outer peripheral portion of the seal sponge 106 bonded and fixed in the concave portion 103 is the shutter member 102. Since it protrudes from the cylindrical side wall, it is caught by the inner peripheral surface 105 of the shutter insertion port 104, and is deformed, damaged, or missing. Therefore, the seal between the cylindrical side wall of the shutter member 102 accommodated in the shutter accommodating portion 107 and the inner peripheral surface 105 of the shutter insertion port 104 becomes incomplete, and from there, the toner cartridge 101 can be There was a problem of toner leakage.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems by forming a convex portion projecting inward in an opening formed on a side surface of the developer container, and providing a step portion at a portion corresponding to the convex portion of the shutter member. Provided is a developer container, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus that can reliably prevent leakage of the developer to the outside by disposing a seal member between the convex portion and the step portion. The purpose is to do.

Therefore, in the developer storage container of the present invention, the developer is stored inside, the first opening for discharging the developer to the outside, the second opening formed on the side surface, and the first opening A developer container having a shutter member capable of shielding (opening) the opening, wherein the shutter member protrudes to the outside through a main body portion accommodated in the developer container and the second opening. a protrusion which, the body portion and a stepped portion formed on the connecting portion between the projecting portion, the sealing member is mounted on the projecting portion, the second opening extends inwardly, the includes a convex portion facing the stepped portion, said sealing member is positioned between the stepped portion and the convex portion, and abuts against said stepped portion and the convex portion, the convex portion from a side of the protrusion, It said sealing member, Ru are arranged in order of the step portion.

  According to the present invention, the convex portion protruding inward is formed in the opening formed on the side surface of the developer container, the step portion is formed in the portion corresponding to the convex portion of the shutter member, and the convex portion and the step portion are formed. A seal member is arranged between the two portions. Thereby, leakage of the developer from the developer storage container to the outside can be reliably prevented.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is principal part sectional drawing explaining the method to attach the shutter member to the conventional toner storage container. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a developing device provided in an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of a side cross section of the toner cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and is an enlarged view of the left end in FIG. 7. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of a side cross-section of the toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is an enlarged view of the right end in FIG. 7. FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a toner cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is a principal part enlarged view of the shutter member in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a main part of a side cross section of a toner cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the developing device provided in the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing.

  In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a printer as an image forming apparatus, which includes an image forming unit 20 as a developing device and a fixing device 40 as a fixing device. The image forming unit 20 forms a toner image as a developer image on the medium, and the fixing device 40 fixes the toner image on the medium. The image forming apparatus is, for example, a printer, a facsimile machine, a copier, etc., and forms a monochrome or color image on a medium such as a printing paper, an envelope, an OHP (Over Head Projector) sheet, or roll paper by an electrophotographic method. Any type of device may be used as long as it is a device that can be used. However, the description here assumes that the printer 10 forms a color image. In this case, the image forming units 20 corresponding to the respective colors of black (K), yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) are sequentially arranged along the medium transport direction (left direction in FIG. 3). It is arranged.

  Reference numeral 60 denotes a medium storage unit disposed in the lower part of the main body of the printer 10, and the medium storage unit 60 includes a medium cassette for storing a single sheet (cut sheet) -like medium. The medium is fed one by one from the medium cassette by the paper feed roller, sent to the medium transport path, sent to the registration roller, and transport is temporarily stopped by the resist roller in a stopped state. The registration roller detects the leading edge of the medium in the traveling direction, once stops the medium, and then sends the medium in accordance with the image forming timing of the image forming unit 20.

  Subsequently, when the registration roller is rotated, the medium is sent to the conveyance belt of the transfer belt unit 30. The medium sent to the transport belt is given an electrostatic charge by an attracting device (not shown), and is attracted to the transport belt by electrostatic force, and then transported by the transport belt. Meanwhile, in the image forming unit 20, an electrostatic latent image formed by an LED (Light Emitting Diode) head 22 as an exposure device is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 as an electrostatic latent image carrier by the image forming unit 20. Development is performed to form toner images of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan.

  Then, the black, yellow, magenta and cyan toner images are transferred from the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 to the medium by the electrostatic force of the transfer roller to form a color toner image. The medium on which the color toner image has been transferred is then sent to the fixing device 40 and passes between the heating roller and the pressure roller of the fixing device 40, during which the color toner image is fixed on the paper, A color image is recorded. The paper on which the color image is recorded is conveyed by the discharge roller 23 and discharged onto a stacker formed on the upper part of the printer 10 main body.

  Each of the image forming units 20 includes an image drum unit 21 as a developing device and a toner cartridge 12 as a developer storage container that can be attached to and detached from the image drum unit 21. The image drum unit 21 includes a photosensitive drum 11, a charging roller 13 as a charging device that uniformly and uniformly charges the photosensitive drum 11, and a developer on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. A developing roller 14 serving as a toner carrying member that supplies toner and develops an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 formed by the LED head 22 to form a toner image of each color, and a toner storage that stores the toner A toner supply roller 15 for supplying toner in the toner storage chamber 24 to the developing roller 14, a developing blade 16 as a toner layer regulating member for uniformly thinning the toner on the developing roller 14, and a photosensitive member. And a cleaning blade 17 as a toner removing member for removing unnecessary toner remaining on the surface of the body drum 11.

  The toner cartridge 12 is a container for storing toner therein, and a toner supply port 41 serving as a first opening is formed in a cylindrical side wall or bottom wall at a lower portion thereof. A shutter member 46 having a substantially cylindrical shape is rotatably accommodated in the toner cartridge 12, and a toner opening 34 formed on the cylindrical side wall of the shutter member 46 is connected to the toner supply port 41. When they match, the toner stored in the toner cartridge 12 falls through the toner supply port 41 and is supplied to the toner storage chamber 24.

  Next, the configuration of the toner cartridge 12 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge in the embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 1.

  In the figure, reference numeral 25 denotes an outer cartridge, which is a first frame that forms the main body of the toner cartridge 12. The inner part of the outer cartridge 25 is divided into a toner container 35 and a waste toner container 36 by a partition wall 42. The toner storage unit 35 is a toner storage chamber for storing unused toner. On the other hand, the waste toner storage unit 36 is a waste toner storage chamber for storing waste toner removed by the cleaning blade 17 and transported by a collecting mechanism (not shown).

  Reference numeral 43 denotes a mounting hole (second wall) as a second opening formed on the side surface of the toner cartridge 12. Specifically, the mounting hole 43 is a circular opening formed on one end face in the longitudinal direction of the outer cartridge 25. And the convex part 44 which protrudes inside is formed in the internal peripheral surface of the said mounting hole 43. As shown in FIG. The convex portion 44 is a flange-shaped protrusion that is formed over the entire inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 43 and extends in the center direction of the circle.

  A side wall or a bottom wall in the lower portion of the outer cartridge 25 has a cylindrical side wall shape, and a toner supply port 41 that is an elongated opening is formed so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the outer cartridge 25. The toner supply port 41 may be divided into a plurality of parts in the longitudinal direction of the outer cartridge 25.

  The shutter member 46 is a member having a substantially cylindrical shape, and is a cylindrical supply port opening / closing member that opens and closes the toner supply port 41. The shutter member 46 includes a toner opening 34 that is an elongated opening formed in a cylindrical side wall so as to extend in the longitudinal direction, and a toner blocking portion disposed adjacent to the toner opening 34. 33. As shown in FIG. 4, the toner opening 34 is an opening for opening the toner supply port 41 when the toner supply port 41 of the outer cartridge 25 coincides with the toner supply port 41 and allowing the toner to pass therethrough. 6 is a shielding plate for closing the toner supply port 41 and blocking the toner when it coincides with the toner supply port 41 of the outer cartridge 25, as shown in FIG.

  The shutter member 46 includes a main body portion 46a accommodated in the outer cartridge 25, and a cylindrical operation lever attachment portion 31 further extending from one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 46a. The operation lever attachment portion 31 is a protrusion that protrudes outward of the outer cartridge 25 through the attachment hole 43 in a state where the shutter member 46 is accommodated and attached in the outer cartridge 25. A toner filling port 32 is formed in the operation lever mounting portion 31. The toner filling port 32 is a through-hole extending in the longitudinal direction and is an opening for filling toner into the outer cartridge 25 and is sealed by a cap 52 which is a lid (lid) body.

  Further, a stepped portion 27 is formed at a connection portion between the main body portion 46 a of the shutter member 46 and the operation lever mounting portion 31. The step portion 27 is a step formed when the outer diameter of the operation lever attachment portion 31 is smaller than the outer diameter of the main body portion 46a. A seal sponge 47 as a seal member is fitted on the outer periphery of the operation lever mounting portion 31 and attached. The seal sponge 47 is a ring-shaped member made of urethane foam, and in a state where the shutter member 46 is accommodated and attached in the outer cartridge 25, the seal sponge 47 is interposed between the step portion 27 and the convex portion 44 of the attachment hole 43. Located in.

  An operation lever 51 as a shutter operation member is attached to the outer periphery of the operation lever attachment portion 31 that protrudes outward from the outer cartridge 25 in a state where the shutter member 46 is housed and attached in the outer cartridge 25. . The operation lever 51 is a member for rotating the shutter member 46 to switch between opening and closing of the toner supply port 41 of the outer cartridge 25. The fixing portion 37 that is a protrusion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the operating lever mounting portion 31 is fitted into the fixing hole 38 that is a through hole formed in the operating lever 51, whereby the operating lever 51 Is fixed to the operating lever mounting portion 31.

  Reference numeral 26 denotes a side plate as a second frame that forms a side end portion of the toner cartridge 12, and is attached to the outer cartridge 25 after the shutter member 46 is accommodated in the outer cartridge 25. In addition, on the inner surface of the side plate 26, a regulation rib 45 as a protrusion is disposed.

  Next, a method for assembling the toner cartridge 12 will be described.

  7 is a side sectional view of the toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a side of the toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the main part of the cross section, and is an enlarged view of the left end in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the main part of the side cross section of the toner cartridge in the first embodiment of the present invention. .

First, the ring-shaped seal sponge 47 is fitted on the outer periphery of the operation lever mounting portion 31, moved toward the step portion 27 (to the right in FIG. 5), and brought into contact with the step portion 27. Here, when the inner diameter of the seal sponge 47 is d1, and the outer diameter of the operation lever mounting portion 31 is d2,
d1 <d2
The relationship is established. Therefore, since the seal sponge 47 is stretched by being fitted to the outer periphery of the operation lever attachment portion 31, a contraction force is generated by the elasticity of the seal sponge 47 and is held by the operation lever attachment portion 31.

  Subsequently, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 5, the shutter member 46 is inserted into the outer cartridge 25 from the end surface of the outer cartridge 25 opposite to the end surface where the mounting hole 43 is formed. Then, the toner supply port 41 of the outer cartridge 25 is closed by the toner blocking portion 33 of the shutter member 46. Further, the operation lever attachment portion 31 protrudes outward of the outer cartridge 25 through the attachment hole 43.

  Subsequently, the side plate 26 is attached to the end surface of the outer cartridge 25 opposite to the end surface where the attachment hole 43 is formed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the positioning portion 54 formed on the side plate 26 contacts the longitudinal end of the shutter member 46 on the opposite side of the operation lever mounting portion 31 in the main body portion 46a. The displacement of the shutter member 46 in the longitudinal direction (lateral direction in FIG. 7) is restricted.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the regulation rib 45 of the side plate 26 and the arc surface of the partition wall 42 are in contact with or close to the outer periphery of the cylindrical side wall of the main body 46 a of the shutter member 46. The movement of the shutter member 46 that is separated from the toner supply port 41 of the cartridge 25, that is, the radial displacement of the shutter member 46 is restricted.

  Furthermore, since the operation lever attachment portion 31 is inserted into the attachment hole 43, the radial displacement of the shutter member 46 is restricted.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the convex portion 44 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 43 is connected to the main body portion 46 a and the operation lever mounting portion 31 in the shutter member 46 via the seal sponge 47. Therefore, the displacement of the shutter member 46 in the longitudinal direction is restricted.

  Subsequently, the operation lever 51 is attached to the operation lever attachment portion 31. In this case, the operating lever 51 and the operating lever mounting portion 31 are fixed by fitting the fixing portion 37 of the operating lever mounting portion 31 into the fixing hole 38 of the operating lever 51.

  Finally, after the toner cartridge 12 is filled with toner from the toner filling port 32, the toner filling port 32 is sealed with a cap 52, whereby the assembly of the toner cartridge 12 is completed.

  Next, the operation of the image forming unit 20 having the above configuration will be described. Here, only the operation of opening and closing the toner supply port 41 of the toner cartridge 12 by the shutter member 46 will be described, and description of other operations will be omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in a state where the toner cartridge 12 is a single unit, that is, a state where it is not attached to the image drum unit 21, the shutter member 46 is in the closed position, and the toner supply port 41 of the outer cartridge 25 It is closed by the blocking part 33, that is, closed.

  Subsequently, after the toner cartridge 12 is mounted on the image drum unit 21, the operation lever 51 is operated to rotate the shutter member 46 to the open position. As a result, as shown in FIG. 4, the toner release port 34 of the shutter member 46 coincides with the toner supply port 41 of the outer cartridge 25, and the toner supply port 41 is opened. Then, the toner stored in the toner cartridge 12 falls through the toner supply port 41 and is supplied to the toner storage chamber 24.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 8, the outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the seal sponge 47 mounted on the outer periphery of the operation lever mounting portion 31 of the shutter member 46 and the inner periphery of the mounting hole 43 at a position corresponding to the seal sponge 47. The inner diameter of the surface is the same, and the outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the seal sponge 47 is set to a plus tolerance. Further, the convex portion 44 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 43 and the step portion 27 formed at the connection portion between the main body portion 46 a and the operation lever mounting portion 31 in the shutter member 46 face each other. Further, since the positioning portion 54 formed on the side plate 26 is in contact with the longitudinal end of the shutter member 46 on the side opposite to the operation lever mounting portion 31 in the main body 46a, the shutter member 46 in the right direction in FIG. Displacement is regulated. That is, the interval between the convex portion 44 and the step portion 27 is restricted.

  At this time, the distance d between the inner surface (right side in FIG. 8) of the convex portion 44 and the stepped portion 27 is smaller than the thickness t of the seal sponge 47. Thus, the seal sponge 47 abuts against the inner surface of the convex portion 44 and the stepped portion 27 and is crushed by the amount t-d, whereby the outer cartridge 25 and the shutter member 46 are Seal between.

  As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the convex portion 44 that protrudes inward is formed in the mounting hole 43 formed on the side surface of the toner cartridge 12, and a step portion is formed at a portion corresponding to the convex portion 44 in the shutter member 46. 27, and a seal sponge 47 is disposed between the convex portion 44 and the step portion 27. More specifically, a convex portion 44 extending in the center direction of the circle is formed in the mounting hole 43 of the outer cartridge 25, and a step portion 27 is formed in the shutter member 46 at a portion facing the inside of the convex portion 44. The seal sponge 47 attached to the shutter member 46 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the convex portion 44 and the step portion 27.

  This makes it possible to seal between the outer cartridge 25 and the shutter member 46 by bringing the surfaces that do not slide when the shutter member 46 is inserted into the outer cartridge 25 into contact with each other. . Therefore, the seal sponge 47 is not caught on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 43, and the seal sponge 47 is not deformed, damaged, or lost. It can be surely prevented.

  In the present embodiment, when the seal sponge 47 is attached to the shutter member 46, the contact pressure between the seal sponge 47 and the inner peripheral surface of the seal sponge 47 and the outer peripheral surface of the operation lever mounting portion 31 of the shutter member 46. However, the same effect can be obtained by using a member in which the stepped portion 27 of the shutter member 46 and the side surface of the seal sponge 47 are bonded and fixed with a double-sided tape.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, about what has the same structure as 1st Embodiment, the description is abbreviate | omitted by providing the same code | symbol. The description of the same operation and the same effect as those of the first embodiment is also omitted.

  FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a toner cartridge according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a main part of a shutter member according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of a side cross section of the toner cartridge in the embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in the drawing, a pressure rib 56 is disposed on the step portion 27 of the shutter member 46. The pressure ribs 56 are protrusions formed on the stepped portion 27 and are arranged at a plurality of locations on the circumference.

  When the assembly of the toner cartridge 12 is completed, as shown in FIG. 12, the seal sponge 47 mounted on the outer periphery of the operation lever mounting portion 31 of the shutter member 46 as in the first embodiment. The outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the seal sponge 47 is the same as the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 43 at a position corresponding to the seal sponge 47, and the outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the seal sponge 47 is set to a plus tolerance. Further, the convex portion 44 formed on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 43 and the step portion 27 formed at the connection portion between the main body portion 46 a and the operation lever mounting portion 31 in the shutter member 46 face each other.

  At this time, the distance d between the inner surface (right side in FIG. 12) of the convex portion 44 and the stepped portion 27 is smaller than the thickness of the seal sponge 47. Thus, the seal sponge 47 abuts against the inner surface of the convex portion 44 and the step portion 27 and is crushed to seal between the outer cartridge 25 and the shutter member 46.

  In the present embodiment, the seal sponge 47 is further crushed by the plurality of pressure ribs 56 formed on the step portion 27 of the shutter member 46, so that the space between the outer cartridge 25 and the shutter member 46 is more reliable. Sealed.

  As described above, in the present exemplary embodiment, the convex portion 44 that protrudes inward is formed in the mounting hole 43 formed on the side surface of the toner cartridge 12, and a step portion is formed at a portion corresponding to the convex portion 44 in the shutter member 46. 27, and a seal sponge 47 is disposed between the convex portion 44 and the step portion 27. More specifically, a convex portion 44 extending in the center direction of the circle is formed in the mounting hole 43 of the outer cartridge 25, and a step portion 27 is formed in the shutter member 46 at a portion facing the inside of the convex portion 44. The seal sponge 47 attached to the shutter member 46 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the convex portion 44 and the step portion 27.

  Accordingly, the surfaces that do not slide when the shutter member 46 is inserted into the outer cartridge 25 can be brought into contact with each other to seal between the outer cartridge 25 and the shutter member 46. Therefore, the seal sponge 47 is not caught on the inner peripheral surface of the mounting hole 43, and the seal sponge 47 is not deformed, damaged, or lost. It can be surely prevented.

  Further, since the plurality of pressure ribs 56 are formed on the step portion 27 of the shutter member 46, the seal sponge 47 is further crushed by the pressure ribs 56. Therefore, it is possible to perform reliable sealing without being affected by the dimensional accuracy and assembly accuracy of each component, and it is possible to more reliably prevent toner leakage to the outside.

  In the present embodiment, only the example in which the pressure rib 56 is disposed on the step portion 27 of the shutter member 46 has been described. However, the pressure rib 56 is disposed on the inner surface of the convex portion 44 of the outer cartridge 25. Even if it is provided, the same effect can be obtained. Further, only the example in which the pressure ribs 56 are disposed at a plurality of locations on the circumference has been described, but the same effect can be obtained even if the pressure ribs 56 are disposed over the entire circumference of the circumference. Can do.

  Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments, only the case where the image forming apparatus is a printer has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to a printer, and a copier, a facsimile machine, and a combination thereof. The present invention can also be applied to a multifunction machine.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change variously based on the meaning of this invention, and does not exclude them from the scope of the present invention.

  The present invention can be used in a developer container, a developing device, and an image forming apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Printer 12 Toner cartridge 20 Image forming unit 25 Outer cartridge 26 Side plate 27 Step part 31 Operation lever attachment part 41 Toner supply port 43 Attachment hole 44 Convex part 45 Restriction rib 46 Shutter member 46a Main part 47 Seal sponge 51 Pressure rib

Claims (7)

(A) It has a first opening for storing the developer inside and discharging the developer to the outside, a second opening formed on a side surface, and a shutter member capable of shielding the first opening. A developer container,
(B) said shutter member is formed in the connecting portion of the main body portion that is accommodated in the developer accommodating container, and a projection projecting to the outside through the second opening, and the projecting portion and the body portion A stepped portion, and a seal member is attached to the protruding portion,
(C) the second opening includes a convex portion extending inward and facing the stepped portion;
; (D) sealing member is positioned between the stepped portion and the convex portion, and abuts against said stepped portion and the convex portion,
(E) the projections from the side of the projecting portion, the sealing member, the developer accommodating container, wherein Rukoto are arranged in order of the step portion. A first frame including the first opening and the second opening, and a second frame attached to a side surface of the first frame opposite to the side surface where the second opening is formed. And
Protrusions provided in said second frame body, by abutting the end portion opposite to the protruding portion of the main body portion of the shutter member, to claim 1 for regulating the distance between the stepped portion and the convex portion The developer container as described. 3. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion is disposed on a surface of the convex portion or the step portion that contacts the seal member. 4. A shutter operation member that performs an operation for rotating the shutter member is attached to the protrusion.
The shutter member, the developer container according to any one of claims 1 to 3 for opening and closing the first opening by rotating. The developer storage container according to claim 1, wherein the developer storage container is assembled by inserting the shutter member from a side surface opposite to the side surface on which the second opening is formed. A developing device having a developer accommodating container according to any one of claims 1-5. An image forming apparatus equipped with the developing device according to claim 6 .

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