DEVELOPER SUPPLYING CONTAINER

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a developer supplying container suitably used for an image forming apparatus, such as a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile, or a multi-function printer, that uses the electrophotography.

Description of the Related Art

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus uses developer that is fine powder. For supplying the developer consumed for forming images on recording materials, a developer supplying container that stores the developer to be supplied is detachably attached to a developer supplying apparatus disposed in an image forming apparatus body. Japanese Patent No. 6025631 disclosures a developer supplying container that includes a developer discharging portion in which a discharging outlet is formed for discharging the developer, and a developer storage portion which stores the developer to be supplied. The developer supplying container is attached to the developer supplying apparatus such that the developer discharging portion does not rotate, and that the developer storage portion rotates with respect to the developer discharging portion. The developer to be supplied is conveyed to the discharging outlet by the rotation of the developer storage portion.

By the way, it has been desired recently that the used developer supplying container be reused. However, since the used developer supplying container may contain residual developer or may be dirt, it is necessary to disassemble and clean the developer supplying container for reusing the developer supplying container. For achieving this, Japanese Patent No. 5582385 discloses a configuration of the assembly of the developer supplying container. In this configuration, in a state where one end portion of the developer storage portion that is opened is inserted in the developer discharging portion, an engaging hook formed on the developer discharging portion catches an engaged portion, so that the developer storage portion is prevented from being disengaged from the developer discharging portion. If the engaged portion is released from the catch performed by the engaging hook, the developer supplying container can be separated into the developer storage portion and the developer discharging portion.

However, for releasing the engaged portion from the catch performed by the engaging hook when separating the developer storage portion and the developer discharging portion from each other, excessive force is easily applied to the developer storage portion and the developer discharging portion. In this case, the developer storage portion and the developer discharging portion may be damaged or deformed, and may become difficult to reuse.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and aims to provide a developer supplying container in which the developer storage portion and the developer discharging portion can be separated from each other without being damaged and deformed in the developer supplying container in which the developer storage portion and the developer discharging portion can be separated from each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a developer supplying container includes a rotary cylindrical accommodating portion including an opening portion formed at one end portion of the accommodating portion in a rotation-axis direction, the accommodating portion being configured to receive rotational driving force and rotate such that developer accommodated in the accommodating portion is conveyed toward the one end portion, and a developer discharging portion including a connection portion and a discharging outlet, the connection portion being a portion that is disposed to cover around the one end portion of the accommodating portion and to which the accommodating portion is connected relatively rotatably with respect to the developer discharging portion, the discharging outlet being configured to discharge developer supplied from the opening portion of the accommodating portion. The connection portion includes a first separation portion and a second separation portion configured to be separated from each other in a direction intersecting with the rotation-axis direction of the accommodating portion, and a connect engaging portion configured to detachably attach the second separation portion to the first separation portion. The accommodating portion includes a first engaging portion formed in an outer circumferential surface of the one end portion covered by the connection portion. At least one of the first separation portion and the second separation portion includes a second engaging portion configured to engage with the first engaging portion in a state where the one end portion of the accommodating portion is covered by the connection portion, and prevent the connection portion from being disconnected from the accommodating portion in the rotation-axis direction.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus to which a developer supplying container of the present embodiment can be applied.

FIG. 2A is a partial cross-sectional view of a developer supplying apparatus.

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of an attachment portion.

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the attachment portion.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the developer supplying container and the developer supplying apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a developer supplying process.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a modification of the developer supplying apparatus.

FIG. 6A is a perspective view illustrating the developer supplying container.

FIG. 6B is a partial enlarged view illustrating a discharging outlet and its surroundings.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view illustrating a part of a cross section of the developer supplying container.

FIG. 7B is a top view illustrating a pump portion expanded to a maximum extent.

FIG. 7C is a top view illustrating the pump portion contracted to a maximum extent.

FIG. 8 is a developed view illustrating a cam-groove shape of the developer supplying container.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view illustrating a flange portion and the developer storage portion engaged with each other.

FIG. 9B is a perspective view illustrating the flange portion and the developer storage portion separated from each other.

FIG. 10A is cross-sectional view illustrating the flange portion and the developer storage portion engaged with each other.

FIG. 10B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a projection portion and a groove portion.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view illustrating one example of a first flange and a second flange fastened to each other via a screw.

FIG. 11B is a front view in which the flange portion is viewed from a rotation-axis direction.

FIG. 11C is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating portions fastened to each other via a screw.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Image Forming Apparatus

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described. First, an image forming apparatus to which a developer supplying container of the present embodiment can be applied will be described with reference to FIG. 1. An image forming apparatus 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 obtains image information by reading a document 101 placed on a document platen glass 102, or by receiving the image information sent from an external apparatus (not illustrated), such as a personal computer, communicatively connected to the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus 100. Then, an optical image corresponding to the obtained image information is formed on an electrophotographic photoreceptor (hereinafter referred to as a photosensitive member 104) by a plurality of mirrors M and a lens Ln of an optical portion 103, so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive member 104. The electrostatic latent image is visualized by a dry development unit (i.e., a one-component development unit) 201a that uses toner (one-component magnetic toner) as the developer.

Note that although the description will be made, in the present embodiment, for an example in which the developer supplied from a developer supplying container 1 is the one-component magnetic toner, the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, a configuration as described below may be used.

Specifically, if a one-component development unit that performs the developing by using one-component nonmagnetic toner is used, the one-component nonmagnetic toner is used as the developer. In another case, a two-component development unit that performs the developing by using two-component developer may be used. The two-component developer is a developer in which the magnetic carrier and the nonmagnetic toner are mixed with each other. In this case, the nonmagnetic toner is supplied as the developer. Note that in this case, the magnetic carrier may be supplied as the developer, in addition to the nonmagnetic toner.

The recording material (hereinafter referred to as sheets) is stored in cassettes 105 to 108, in a state where the recording material is stacked on the cassettes 105 to 108. Among the cassettes 105 to 108, a cassette that stores a sheet P having an appropriate size is selected, based on the information inputted by a user operating an operation portion (not illustrated) disposed in the apparatus body, or on the sheet size of the document 101. Then, the sheet P is conveyed, one by one, from the selected one of the cassettes 105 to 108, by a corresponding one of feed-and-separation apparatuses 105A to 108A. Note that the sheet P may be a sheet material, such as a paper sheet, a plastic film, or a cloth sheet.

The single sheet P conveyed by one of the feed-and-separation apparatuses 105A to 108A is conveyed to a registration roller 110 through a conveyance portion 109. The registration roller 110 conveys the sheet P to a transfer charger 111 in synchronization with the timing of rotation of the photosensitive member 104 and the timing of scanning by the optical portion 103. The transfer charger 111 transfers a toner image formed on the photosensitive member 104 and made of the developer, to the sheet P. Then, a separation charger 112 separates the sheet P, to which the toner image has been transferred, from the photosensitive member 104. After that, the sheet P conveyed by a conveyance portion 113 is heated and pressed in a fixing portion 114. With this operation, the toner image on the sheet P is fixed to the sheet P.

In a case where the single-side printing in which an image is formed on only one side of the sheet P is performed, the sheet P to which the toner image has been fixed passes through a discharge-and-reverse portion 115, and is discharged to a discharging tray 117 by a discharging roller 116. On the other hand, in a case where the double-side printing in which images are formed on both sides of the sheet P is performed, the sheet P having a toner image formed on one side of the sheet P passes through the discharge-and-reverse portion 115, and one portion of the sheet P is temporarily discharged to the outside of the apparatus by the discharging roller 116. After that, when the trailing edge of the sheet P passes through a switching portion 118, the switching portion 118 is controlled, and the discharging roller 116 is rotated in a reverse direction at a timing at which the sheet P remains held by the discharging roller 116. With this operation, the sheet P is sent back into the apparatus body. The sheet P is conveyed to the registration roller 110 through refeeding-and-reconveying portions 119 and 120, then a toner image is fixed to the sheet P as in the single-side printing, and then the sheet P is discharged to the discharging tray 117.

In the image forming apparatus 100 configured as described above, image-forming-process apparatuses, such as the development unit 201a, a cleaner portion 202, and a primary charger 203, are disposed around the photosensitive member 104. Note that the development unit 201a develops an electrostatic latent image, formed on the photosensitive member 104 by the optical portion 103 in accordance with the image information of the document 101, by causing the developer to stick to the electrostatic latent image. In addition, the primary charger 203 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive member 104, for forming a desired electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 104. In addition, the cleaner portion 202 removes the developer left on the photosensitive member 104.

Developer Supplying Apparatus

Next, a developer supplying apparatus 201 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. The developer supplying apparatus 201 is disposed in the image forming apparatus 100, and the developer supplying container 1 is attached to and detached from the developer supplying apparatus 201. FIG. 2A is a partial cross-sectional view of the developer supplying apparatus 201. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of an external appearance of an attachment portion 10 into which the developer supplying container 1 can be inserted, and out of which the developer supplying container 1 can be drawn. FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view of the attachment portion 10. FIG. 3 illustrates a control system and a partially enlarged cross section of the developer supplying container 1 and the developer supplying apparatus 201. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of developer supplying processes performed by the control system.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the developer supplying apparatus 201 includes the attachment portion 10, a hopper 10a, and the development unit 201a. The attachment portion 10 is a portion into which the developer supplying container 1 can be inserted, and out of which the developer supplying container 1 can be drawn. The hopper 10a temporarily stores the developer discharged from the developer supplying container 1. As illustrated in FIG. 2C, the developer supplying container 1 is inserted into the attachment portion 10 in a direction indicated by an arrow M in FIG. 2C. The rotation-axis direction (i.e., the longitudinal direction) of the developer supplying container 1 is almost equal to the insertion direction. Note that the direction in which the developer supplying container 1 is separated from (or drawn out of) the attachment portion 10 is a direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow M in FIG. 2C.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the development unit 201a includes a developing roller 201f, an agitating member 201c, and feeding members 201d and 201e. The developer supplied from the developer supplying container 1 is agitated by the agitating member 201c, fed to the developing roller 201f by the feeding members 201d and 201e, and supplied to the photosensitive member 104 by the developing roller 201f.

Note that the developing roller 201f includes a developing blade 201g and a leak prevention sheet 201h. The developing blade 201g regulates the amount of coating of the developer formed on the roller. The leak prevention sheet 201h is disposed in contact with the developing roller 201f, for preventing the developer from leaking from a space between the development unit 201a and the developing roller 201f.

As illustrated in FIG. 2B, the attachment portion 10 includes a rotational-direction regulation portion (i.e., a holding mechanism) 11. When the developer supplying container 1 is attached to the attachment portion 10, the rotational-direction regulation portion 11 abuts against a flange portion 4 (see FIG. 6A described below) of the developer supplying container 1, and thereby prevents the flange portion 4 from moving in the rotational direction.

The attachment portion 10 includes a developer receiving inlet 13. As illustrated in FIG. 3, when the developer supplying container 1 is attached to the attachment portion 10, the developer receiving inlet 13 communicates with a discharging outlet 4a of the developer supplying container 1, and receives the developer discharged from the developer supplying container 1. The developer discharged from the discharging outlet 4a of the developer supplying container 1 is supplied to the hopper 10a through the developer receiving inlet 13. The hopper 10a includes a conveyance screw 10b, an opening portion 10c, and a developer sensor 10d. The conveyance screw 10b conveys the developer to the development unit 201a. The opening portion 10c communicates with the development unit 201a. The developer sensor 10d detects the amount of developer stored in the hopper 10a. The developer discharged from the developer supplying container 1 is supplied to the development unit 201a by the hopper 10a.

Note that in the present embodiment, the diameter of the developer receiving inlet 13 is set, as a fine hole (i.e., a pinhole), at about 2.5 mm for preventing, as much as possible, the developer from making the interior of the attachment portion 10 dirty. Note that the diameter of the developer receiving inlet 13 may have any value as long as the developer can be discharged from the discharging outlet 4a.

In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the attachment portion 10 includes a driving gear 300 that functions as a driving mechanism (i.e., a driving portion). The driving gear 300 receives the rotational driving force from a driving motor 500 (see FIG. 3) via a driving gear train, and applies the rotational driving force to the developer supplying container 1 that is set in the attachment portion 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the operation of the driving motor 500 is controlled by a controller 600. The controller 600 controls the operation of the driving motor 500, depending on the information on the remaining amount of developer that is sent from the developer sensor 10d. The controller 600 controls not only the driving motor 500, but also the whole of the image forming apparatus 100. The controller 600 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM). The CPU reads a program stored in the ROM and corresponding to a control procedure, and controls each component. The RAM stores work data and input data. The CPU refers to the data stored in the RAM, depending on the above-described program; and controls each component.

Note that in the present embodiment, the driving gear 300 is set so as to rotate in only one direction, for simplifying the control of the driving motor 500. That is, the controller 600 controls only ON (operation)/OFF (non-operation) of the driving motor 500. Thus, the driving mechanism of the developer supplying apparatus 201 can be simplified, compared with a configuration in which the reverse driving force, obtained by periodically switching the rotational direction of the driving motor 500 (or the driving gear 300) between a forward direction and a reverse direction, is applied to the developer supplying container 1.

Method of Attaching and Detaching Developer Supplying Container

Next, a method of attaching and detaching the developer supplying container 1 will be described. First, a user opens a replacement cover (not illustrated) disposed on the attachment portion 10, and inserts the developer supplying container 1 into the attachment portion 10. If the developer supplying container 1 is inserted into the attachment portion 10 by the user until the developer supplying container 1 reaches the back of the attachment portion 10, the attachment of the developer supplying container 1 to the developer supplying apparatus 201 is completed. After that, the user closes the replacement cover. Note that in a state where the developer supplying container 1 is attached to the attachment portion 10, the flange portion 4 of the developer supplying container 1 is held by and fixed to the attachment portion 10.

If the developer supplying container 1 contains almost no developer, a user opens the replacement cover and separates the developer supplying container 1 from the attachment portion 10 (that is, takes the developer supplying container 1 out of the attachment portion 10). Then, the user inserts another developer supplying container 1 filled with the developer, into the attachment portion 10 for attaching the developer supplying container 1 to the attachment portion 10, and closes the replacement cover. In this manner, a user can perform the replacement work of the developer supplying container 1.

Developer Supplying Control Performed by Developer Supplying Apparatus

Next, developer supplying control performed by the developer supplying apparatus 201 will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. 4. The developer supplying control is performed by the controller (CPU) 600 controlling each apparatus. In the present embodiment, the controller 600 controls the operation/non-operation of the driving motor 500, depending on an output signal from the developer sensor 10d, so that the hopper 10a stores less than a predetermined amount of developer.

Specifically, the developer sensor 10d checks the amount of storage of the developer stored in the hopper 10a (S100). If it is determined that the amount of storage of the developer detected by the developer sensor 10d is less than a predetermined amount (S100: No), that is, if the developer has not been detected by the developer sensor 10d, then the controller 600 drives the driving motor 500, and executes the developer supplying operation for a predetermined period of time (S101).

If it is determined as a result of the developer supplying operation that the amount of storage of the developer detected by the developer sensor 10d has reached the predetermined amount (S100: Yes), that is, if the developer has been detected the developer sensor 10d, then the controller 600 stops the driving of the driving motor 500, and stops the developer supplying operation (S102). With the stop of the developer supplying operation, a series of developer supplying processes is completed.

The developer supplying processes as described above are repeated if the developer is consumed in the image formation and the amount of storage of the developer stored in the hopper 10a becomes less than the predetermined amount.

Note that the developer supplying apparatus 201 may not have the above-described configuration in which the developer discharged from the developer supplying container 1 is temporarily stored in the hopper 10a and is then supplied to the development unit 201a. For example, a developer supplying apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 5 may be used.

In the developer supplying apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5, the hopper 10a illustrated in FIG. 3 is not disposed, and the developer is directly supplied from the developer supplying container 1 to a development unit 800. The development unit 800 is a type of development units that performs the image formation by using the two-component developer that contains the nonmagnetic toner and the magnetic carrier. The development unit 800 includes an agitating chamber to which the developer is supplied, and a developing chamber which supplies the developer to a developing sleeve 800a. In addition, an agitating screw 800b is disposed in each of the agitating chamber and the developing chamber, and the direction in which the agitating screw 800b of the agitating chamber conveys the developer and the direction in which the agitating screw 800b of the developing chamber are opposite to each other. Since the agitating chamber and the developing chamber communicate with each other at both end portions of each of the agitating chamber and the developing chamber, the developer is conveyed and circulated in the two chambers. In the agitating chamber, a magnetic sensor 800c is disposed for detecting the toner density of the developer. Thus, the controller 600 controls the operation of the driving motor 500, depending on the detection result obtained by the magnetic sensor 800c. In this configuration, the developer supplied from the developer supplying container 1 is the nonmagnetic toner alone, or is the nonmagnetic toner and the magnetic carrier.

In the developer supplying apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5, the developer stored, or accommodated, in the developer supplying container 1 is hardly discharged from the discharging outlet 4a by the gravitational force. Instead, the developer is discharged from the discharging outlet 4a by the volume-variable operation performed by a pump portion 3a. As a result, the developer can be supplied stably while variations in the amount of discharge are suppressed.

Developer Supplying Container

Next, the developer supplying container 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2C, FIG. 3, and FIGS. 6A to 7C. First, an outline of the developer supplying container 1 of the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 6A is a perspective view illustrating the developer supplying container 1, and FIG. 6B is a partial enlarged view illustrating the discharging outlet 4a and its surroundings of the developer supplying container 1. FIG. 7A is a perspective view illustrating a partial cross-section of the developer supplying container 1. FIG. 7B is a top view illustrating the pump portion 3a expanded to a maximum extent. FIG. 7C is a top view illustrating the pump portion 3a contracted to a maximum extent.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 7A, a cover 400 is attached to the developer supplying container 1. The cover 400 is attached to the developer supplying container 1 so as to cover the whole of the below-described flange portion 4, pump portion 3a, and reciprocating member 3b, for improving the external appearance of the developer supplying container 1 and for protecting the below-described pump portion 3a and reciprocating member 3b. The developer supplying container 1 includes a cylindrical developer storage portion 2 serving as an accommodating portion. The developer storage portion 2 has an internal space that is filled, in advance, with the developer to be supplied. An opening portion 2H is formed at one end portion of the developer storage portion 2 in the rotation-axis direction (i.e., the longitudinal direction), and the developer stored in the developer storage portion 2 is conveyed toward the one end portion having the opening portion 2H by the rotation of the developer storage portion 2. In addition, the developer supplying container 1 includes the flange portion 4 that serves as a developer discharging portion. The flange portion 4 is disposed at the one end portion of the developer storage portion 2, formed on the downstream side in the developer conveyance direction (i.e., a direction indicated by an arrow X). The developer storage portion 2 is relatively rotatable with respect to the flange portion 4. Note that the cross-sectional shape of the developer storage portion 2 may be a non-circular shape if the shape does not affect the rotation operation of the developer storage portion 2 in the developer supplying process. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the developer storage portion 2 may be an ellipse shape or a polygon shape.

Material of Developer Supplying Container

In the present embodiment, the developer is discharged from the discharging outlet 4a by the below-described pump portion 3a changing the volume of the developer supplying container 1. For this reason, it is preferable that the material of the developer supplying container 1 have rigidity that prevents the developer supplying container 1 from significantly shrinking and swelling when the volume of the developer supplying container 1 is changed.

In addition, the developer supplying container 1 of the present embodiment communicates with the outside of the developer supplying container 1 through the discharging outlet 4a alone. Thus, the developer supplying container 1 is hermetically sealed, except for the discharging outlet 4a. In this configuration, the developer is discharged from the discharging outlet 4a by the pump portion 3a decreasing and increasing the volume of the developer supplying container 1. For this reason, it is required to ensure the airtightness of the developer supplying container 1 that can keep the stable discharging performance.

In the present embodiment, the material of a cylindrical portion 2k of the developer storage portion 2 is a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin, the material of a below-described discharging portion 4c of the flange portion 4 is a polystyrene resin, and the material of the pump portion 3a is a polypropylene resin. Note that as to the material used, the material of the cylindrical portion 2k and the discharging portion 4c may be another resin, such as an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) resin, a polyester resin, a polyethylene resin, or a polypropylene resin, if the material can withstand the change in volume of the developer supplying container 1.

Preferably, the material of the pump portion 3a allows the pump portion 3a to expand and contract, which can change the volume of the developer supplying container 1. For example, the pump portion 3a may be made of a thin material of ABS, polystyrene, polyester, or polyethylene. In another case, the pump portion 3a may be made of a material, such as rubber, that can expand and contract. Note that the pump portion 3a, the cylindrical portion 2k, and the discharging portion 4c may be made of the same material if the material allows each of the pump portion 3a, the cylindrical portion 2k, and the discharging portion 4c to function as described above (the material may allow each component to function as described above, with the thickness of the resin material of each component being adjusted, for example). In this case, the pump portion 3a, the cylindrical portion 2k, and the discharging portion 4c may be formed integrally with each other by using a method, such as an injection molding method or a blow molding method.

Hereinafter, the flange portion 4, the cylindrical portion 2k, and the pump portion 3a of the developer supplying container 1 will be described in this order.

Flange Portion

First, an outline of the flange portion 4 will be described. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the flange portion 4 includes a hollow discharging portion 4c that temporarily stores the developer conveyed from the cylindrical portion 2k. One portion of the discharging portion 4c functions as a connection portion which is disposed so as to cover around the one end portion of the developer storage portion 2, and to which the developer storage portion 2 is connected relatively rotatably with respect to the flange portion 4. In the bottom portion of the discharging portion 4c, the discharging outlet 4a is formed for allowing the developer to be discharged from the discharging portion 4c to the outside of the developer supplying container 1. Above the discharging outlet 4a, a developer storing portion 4d is disposed. The developer storing portion 4d can store a predetermined amount of developer to be discharged.

The flange portion 4 also includes a shutter 4b that opens and closes the discharging outlet 4a. When the developer supplying container 1 is attached to the attachment portion 10, the shutter 4b abuts against an abutment portion 21 (see FIG. 2B) disposed in the attachment portion 10. If the shutter 4b abuts against the abutment portion 21, the shutter 4b slides with respect to the developer supplying container 1 along the rotation-axis direction of the cylindrical portion 2k, toward a direction opposite to the developer conveyance direction (i.e., the direction indicated by the arrow X); and thereby opens the discharging outlet 4a. As a result, the position of the discharging outlet 4a becomes equal to the position of the developer receiving inlet 13 (see FIG. 3), so that the discharging outlet 4a communicates with the developer receiving inlet 13 of the attachment portion 10. In this state, the developer can be supplied from the developer supplying container 1.

If the developer supplying container 1 is attached to the attachment portion 10, the flange portion 4 does not move substantially. Specifically, for preventing the flange portion 4 from rotating in the rotational direction of the cylindrical portion 2k, the developer supplying apparatus 201 includes a rotational-direction regulation portion 11 illustrated in FIG. 2B. Thus, in a state where the developer supplying container 1 is attached to the attachment portion 10, the discharging portion 4c formed in the flange portion 4 is also prevented substantially from moving in the rotational direction of the cylindrical portion 2k (although the slight movement, such as the movement caused by the play, is allowed). In contrast, the cylindrical portion 2k is not prevented, by the developer supplying apparatus 201, from rotating in the rotational direction; and rotates in the developer supplying process.

As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the developer storage portion 2 includes a conveyance member 6 that conveys the developer, conveyed from the cylindrical portion 2k to the conveyance member 6 by a helical projection portion (i.e., a conveyance projection) 2c, to the discharging portion 4c. The conveyance member 6 is disposed so as to divide one portion of the developer storage portion 2 into almost two portions, and rotates together with the cylindrical portion 2k. On both sides of the conveyance member 6, a plurality of sloped ribs 6a is disposed. The sloped ribs 6a are sloped toward the discharging portion 4c, with respect to the rotation-axis direction of the cylindrical portion 2k.

In the above-described configuration, the developer conveyed by the conveyance projection 2c is pushed up, in the vertical direction, by the plate-like conveyance member 6 in accordance with the rotation of the cylindrical portion 2k. After that, as the cylindrical portion 2k rotates, the developer slides down on the conveyance member 6 due to the gravitational force, and is delivered to the discharging portion 4c by the sloped ribs 6a. In this configuration, the sloped ribs 6a are disposed on both sides of the conveyance member 6 so that the developer is delivered to the discharging portion 4c every time the cylindrical portion 2k makes a half turn.

Cylindrical Portion

Next, the cylindrical portion 2k will be described. As illustrated in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the conveyance projection 2c is formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 2k. The conveyance projection 2c is a projection formed helically, and functions as a portion that conveys the developer stored in the developer storage portion 2, toward the discharging portion 4c by the rotation of the conveyance projection 2c itself. The cylindrical portion 2k is formed by using the above-described resin material and a blow molding method or the like.

If the volume of the developer supplying container 1 is required to be increased for increasing the volume of developer that fills the developer supplying container 1, the volume of the discharging portion 4c, which serves as a developer storage space, might be increased in a height direction. In such a configuration, however, the gravitational force applied to the developer located in the vicinity of the discharging outlet 4a is increased due to the self weight of the developer. As a result, the developer in the vicinity of the discharging outlet 4a is compressed and made dense, and hinders the pump portion 3a from taking in or discharging air through the discharging outlet 4a (the intake operation and the discharge operation will be described below). In this case, the amount of change of volume of the pump portion 3a has to be further increased for making the developer, compressed and made dense, less dense by using the air taken in through the discharging outlet 4a, or for discharging the developer by using the air to be discharged through the discharging outlet 4a. In this case, however, since the driving force for driving the pump portion 3a is increased, the excessive load may be applied to the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus 100.

For this reason, in the present embodiment, the cylindrical portion 2k is disposed adjacent to the flange portion 4 in the horizontal direction, and the amount of developer that fills the developer supplying container 1 is increased by increasing the volume of the cylindrical portion 2k. In this configuration, the thickness of the developer layer formed on the discharging outlet 4a of the developer supplying container 1 can be made smaller than that in a developer supplying container in which the volume of the discharging portion 4c is increased in a height direction. In addition, since the developer of the developer layer formed by the gravitational force is made less dense, it is not necessary to increase the amount of change of volume of the pump portion 3a. Thus, the driving force for driving the pump portion 3a can be made smaller, and the developer can be discharged stably without applying the excessive load to the apparatus body of the image forming apparatus 100.

Pump Portion

Next, the pump portion 3a that can change its volume in accordance with the reciprocating motion of the pump portion 3a will be described. The pump portion 3a functions as an intake-and-discharge mechanism that alternately performs the intake operation and the discharge operation via the discharging outlet 4a. In other words, the pump portion 3a functions as an airflow generation mechanism that alternately generates the airflow that flows toward the interior of the developer supplying container 1 through the discharging outlet 4a, and the airflow that flows from the developer supplying container 1 toward the outside of the developer supplying container 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the pump portion 3a is disposed downstream of the discharging portion 4c in the developer conveyance direction (i.e., the direction indicated by the arrow X). The pump portion 3a does not rotate because the pump portion 3a is fixed to the discharging portion 4c of the flange portion 4. In addition, the pump portion 3a has a developer storage space formed in the pump portion 3a and capable of storing the developer. The developer storage space formed in the pump portion 3a plays an important role for fluidizing the developer in the below-described intake operation.

In the present embodiment, a volume-variable pump is used as the pump portion 3a. The volume-variable pump is made of resin, and the volume of the pump portion 3a can be varied in accordance with the reciprocating motion of the pump portion 3a. Specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 7B and 7C, a bellows pump is used as the pump portion 3a, and in the bellows pump, a plurality of peak portions and valley portions are formed alternately with each other, at regular intervals. The pump portion 3a is alternately contracted and expanded in a repeated manner by the driving force from the developer supplying apparatus 201. If the pump portion 3a is used, the volume of the developer supplying container 1 can be varied, and can be changed alternately at predetermined intervals. As a result, the developer stored in the discharging portion 4c can be efficiently discharged from the discharging outlet 4a that has a small diameter (e.g., about 2.5 mm).

Driving-Force Receiving Portion

Next, a driving-force receiving portion of the developer supplying container 1 will be described. The driving-force receiving portion receives the rotational driving force, used for rotating the cylindrical portion 2k that includes the conveyance projection 2c, from the developer supplying apparatus 201.

As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the developer supplying container 1 includes a gear portion 2d that engages with, linked with, and driven by the driving gear 300 (that functions as a driving mechanism) of the developer supplying apparatus 201, and that functions as the driving-force receiving portion. The gear portion 2d rotates together with the cylindrical portion 2k. Thus, the cylindrical portion 2k is rotated together with the gear portion 2d by the rotational driving force applied from the driving gear 300 to the gear portion 2d, so that the developer stored in the cylindrical portion 2k can be conveyed to the discharging portion 4c.

Note that the gear portion 2d is disposed downstream of an almost central portion of the developer storage portion 2 in the developer conveyance direction. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the gear portion 2d may be disposed upstream of an almost central portion of the developer storage portion 2 in the X direction. In this case, the driving gear 300 is disposed at a position that corresponds to the position of the gear portion 2d. In the present embodiment, the gear mechanism is used as the driving-and-linking mechanism between the developer supplying container 1 and the developer supplying apparatus 201. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this example. For example, a known coupling mechanism may be used as the driving-and-linking mechanism. Specifically, a non-circular recess portion may be formed in the developer supplying container 1, as the driving-force receiving portion; and a projection portion whose shape corresponds to the shape of the above-described recess portion may be formed as the driving portion of the developer supplying apparatus 201. In this case, the recess portion and the projection portion are linked with and driven by each other.

Driving-Force Conversion Mechanism

Next, a driving-force conversion mechanism of the developer supplying container 1 will be described. Note that the following description will be made, in the present embodiment, for a case where a cam mechanism is used as an example of the driving-force conversion mechanism. As illustrated in FIGS. 7B and 7C, the developer supplying container 1 includes a cam mechanism that functions as the driving-force conversion mechanism. The cam mechanism converts the rotational driving force, received by the gear portion 2d and used for rotating the cylindrical portion 2k, to the force applied in the direction in which the pump portion 3a is reciprocated. That is, in the present embodiment, the rotational driving force received by the gear portion 2d is converted to the power for reciprocating the pump portion 3a, in the developer supplying container 1. In this configuration, the driving force for rotating the cylindrical portion 2k and the driving force for reciprocating the pump portion 3a are received by the single driving-force receiving portion (i.e., the gear portion 2d). Thus, the configuration of the driving-force receiving portion of the developer supplying container 1 can be simplified, compared with the configuration in which two driving-force receiving portions are separately disposed in the developer supplying container 1. In addition, since the gear portion 2d receives the driving force from the single driving gear of the developer supplying apparatus 201, the driving-force output mechanism of the developer supplying apparatus 201 can also be simplified.

In the present embodiment, a reciprocating member 3b is used as a conversion member, via which the rotational driving force is converted to the power for reciprocating the pump portion 3a. Specifically, a cam groove 2e is formed in the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion 2k that rotates via the driving-force receiving portion (i.e., the gear portion 2d) that receives the rotational driving force from the driving gear 300, and the cam groove 2e is engaged with a reciprocating-member projection 3c that projects from an arm portion 3b1 of the reciprocating member 3b. In this configuration, the reciprocating member 3b reciprocates along the groove of the cam groove 2e, in the developer conveyance direction (i.e., the direction indicated by the arrow X) and the direction opposite to the developer conveyance direction. In addition, since an engaging portion 3a1 of the pump portion 3a and a projection portion 3d formed on the reciprocating member 3b are engaged with each other, the reciprocating motion of the reciprocating member 3b becomes the power for reciprocating the pump portion 3a. Note that the reciprocating member 3b itself is prevented from rotating in the rotational direction of the cylindrical portion 2k (although the slight movement, such as the movement caused by the play, is allowed). In this manner, the cylindrical portion 2k is rotated by the rotational driving force applied from the driving gear 300, so that the reciprocating member 3b reciprocates along the cam groove 2e. Thus, the pump portion 3a alternately expands (FIG. 7B) and contracts (FIG. 7C) repeatedly, so that the volume of the developer supplying container 1 can be varied.

Note that as to the arrangement and number of the reciprocating-member projections 3c, at least one reciprocating-member projection 3c has only to be disposed. However, the moment may be produced, for example, in the driving-force conversion mechanism due to the reaction force produced when the pump portion 3a expands and contracts, so that the reciprocating motion may not be performed smoothly. For this reason, it is preferable that a plurality of reciprocating-member projections 3c be disposed for keeping the relationship between the reciprocating-member projections 3c and the shape of the below-described cam groove 2e. In the present embodiment, two reciprocating-member projections 3c are disposed, shifted in phase from each other by about 180°, so as to face each other; and are engaged with the cam groove 2e.

Arrangement and Position of Driving-Force Conversion Mechanism

As illustrated in FIGS. 7B and 7C, in the present embodiment, the driving-force conversion mechanism (i.e., the cam mechanism constituted by the reciprocating-member projection 3c and the cam groove 2e) is disposed outside the developer storage portion 2. That is, the driving-force conversion mechanism is disposed at a position separated from the internal space of the cylindrical portion 2k and the discharging portion 4c so that the driving-force conversion mechanism does not contact the developer stored in the internal space of the cylindrical portion 2k and the discharging portion 4c. With this arrangement, problems that could happen in a case where the driving-force conversion mechanism is disposed in the internal space of the developer storage portion 2 can be prevented. In the problems, if the developer enters a slide portion of the driving-force conversion mechanism, particles of the developer are heated and pressed, so that the particles are softened, and some particles stick to each other into a large lump (i.e., a coarse particle). In addition, if the developer bites the driving-force conversion mechanism, the torque may be increased. Such problems can be prevented by the above-described arrangement.

Cam Groove

FIG. 8 illustrates one example of the shape of the above-described cam groove 2e. In FIG. 8, an arrow A indicates the rotational direction of the developer storage portion 2 (i.e., the direction in which the cam groove 2e moves), an arrow B indicates a direction in which the pump portion 3a expands, and an arrow C indicates a direction in which the pump portion 3a contracts. The cam groove 2e includes a cam groove 2f, a cam groove 2g, and a cam groove 2h. The cam groove 2f is an area used when the pump portion 3a is expanded, the cam groove 2g is an area used when the pump portion 3a is contracted, and the cam groove 2h is an area used when the pump portion 3a is not reciprocated. In the present embodiment, in a state where the reciprocating-member projection 3c of the reciprocating member 3b is moving in the cam groove 2f, the intake operation is performed via the discharging outlet 4a in accordance with the movement of the pump portion 3a (intake process). In addition, in a state where the reciprocating-member projection 3c is moving in the cam groove 2g, the discharge operation is performed via the discharging outlet 4a in accordance with the movement of the pump portion 3a (discharge process). In addition, in a state where the reciprocating-member projection 3c is moving in the cam groove 2h, the pump portion 3a is not moved, and the intake operation and the discharge operation via the discharging outlet 4a are not performed (operation stop process). Hereinafter, the intake process, the discharge process, and the operation stop process will be described in detail.

Intake Process

First, the intake process will be described. If the state of the pump portion 3a is changed by the above-described driving-force conversion mechanism (i.e., the cam mechanism) from a state in which the pump portion 3a is contracted to a maximum extent (FIG. 7C), to a state in which the pump portion 3a is expanded to a maximum extent (FIG. 7B), the intake operation is performed via the discharging outlet 4a. In the intake operation, the volume of the interior (i.e., the cylindrical portion 2k, the discharging portion 4c, and the pump portion 3a) of the developer supplying container 1 is increased. In this operation, the interior of the developer supplying container 1 is hermetically sealed substantially, except for the discharging outlet 4a, and the discharging outlet 4a is substantially covered with the developer. Thus, the internal pressure of the developer supplying container 1 decreases as the volume of the interior of the developer supplying container 1 increases.

In this state, since the internal pressure of the developer supplying container 1 is lower than the atmospheric pressure (or the outside-air pressure), the air outside the developer supplying container 1 is moved into the developer supplying container 1 through the discharging outlet 4a, by the difference in pressure between the inside and the outside of the developer supplying container 1. Since the air is taken in from the outside of the developer supplying container 1 through the discharging outlet 4a, the developer located in the vicinity of the discharging outlet 4a can be made less dense (or can be fluidized). Specifically, the developer can be appropriately fluidized by decreasing the bulk density of the developer located in the vicinity of the discharging outlet 4a, by causing the developer to contain the air. Furthermore, since the air is taken in the developer supplying container 1 through the discharging outlet 4a, the internal pressure of the developer supplying container 1 is kept at or near the atmospheric pressure (or the outside-air pressure) though the volume of the developer supplying container 1 increases.

Since the developer is fluidized in this manner, the developer can be discharged smoothly from the discharging outlet 4a, without the discharging outlet 4a being clogged with the developer. Thus, the amount of developer discharged from the discharging outlet 4a per unit time can be kept almost constant for a long period of time.

Note that even if the state of the pump portion 3a is not changed from a state where the pump portion 3a is contracted to a maximum extent, to a state where the pump portion 3a is expanded to a maximum extent, the intake operation is performed. For example, even if the pump portion 3a stops when the state of the pump portion 3a changes from a state where the pump portion 3a is contracted to a maximum extent, to a state where the pump portion 3a is expanded to a maximum extent, the intake operation is performed if the internal pressure of the developer supplying container 1 is changed. The intake process is performed in a state where the reciprocating-member projection 3c is engaged with the cam groove 2f illustrated in FIG. 8.

Discharge Process

Next, the discharge process will be described. If the state of the pump portion 3a is changed from a state in which the pump portion 3a is expanded to a maximum extent (FIG. 7B), to a state in which the pump portion 3a is contracted to a maximum extent (FIG. 7C), the discharge operation is performed via the discharging outlet 4a. In the discharge operation, the volume of the interior (i.e., the cylindrical portion 2k, the discharging portion 4c, and the pump portion 3a) of the developer supplying container 1 is decreased. In this operation, the interior of the developer supplying container 1 is hermetically sealed substantially, except for the discharging outlet 4a, and the discharging outlet 4a is substantially covered with the developer until the developer is discharged. The internal pressure of the developer supplying container 1 increases as the volume of the interior of the developer supplying container 1 decreases.

In this state, since the internal pressure of the developer supplying container 1 is higher than the atmospheric pressure (or the outside-air pressure), the developer is pushed out from the discharging outlet 4a, by the difference in pressure between the inside and the outside of the developer supplying container 1. That is, the developer is discharged from the developer supplying container 1 to the developer supplying apparatus 201. In addition, since the air inside the developer supplying container 1 is also discharged together with the developer, the internal pressure of the developer supplying container 1 decreases. Thus, in the present embodiment, since the developer can be discharged efficiently by using the single pump portion 3a that reciprocates, the mechanism for discharging the developer can be simplified.

Note that even if the state of the pump portion 3a is not changed from a state where the pump portion 3a is expanded to a maximum extent, to a state where the pump portion 3a is contracted to a maximum extent, the discharge operation is performed. For example, even if the pump portion 3a stops when the state of the pump portion 3a changes from a state where the pump portion 3a is expanded to a maximum extent, to a state where the pump portion 3a is contracted to a maximum extent, the discharge operation is performed if the internal pressure of the developer supplying container 1 is changed. The discharge process is performed in a state where the reciprocating-member projection 3c is engaged with the cam groove 2g illustrated in FIG. 8.

Operation Stop Process

Next, the operation stop process will be described. As described above, in a configuration in which the hopper 10a is not disposed, and the controller 600 controls the operation of the driving motor 500, depending on the detection result by the magnetic sensor 800c, the amount of developer supplied from the developer supplying container 1 directly affects the toner density. Thus, for stabilizing the amount of developer supplied from the developer supplying container 1, it is desirable that the amount of change of the volume of the interior of the developer supplying container 1 be constant every time the volume of the interior of the developer supplying container 1 is changed.

For example, if the cam groove 2e is made for only the discharge process and the intake process, the driving of the motor will be stopped during the discharge process or the intake process. In this case, even after the rotation of the driving motor 500 is stopped, the cylindrical portion 2k is rotated by inertia. Thus, the pump portion 3a also continues to reciprocate in accordance with the movement of the cylindrical portion 2k, and the discharge process or the intake process is performed until the cylindrical portion 2k stops. The distance by which the cylindrical portion 2k is rotated by inertia depends on the rotational speed of the cylindrical portion 2k. In addition, the rotational speed of the cylindrical portion 2k depends on the torque applied to the driving motor 500. Since the torque applied to the driving motor 500 changes depending on the weight (or the amount) of the developer stored in the developer supplying container 1, and the speed of the cylindrical portion 2k may change, it is difficult to make the stop position of the pump portion 3a constant every time the pump portion 3a is stopped.

For this reason, for making the pump portion 3a stop at a predetermined position every time the pump portion 3a is stopped, it is necessary to form an area in the cam groove 2e, in which the pump portion 3a does not reciprocate even when the cylindrical portion 2k rotates. In the present embodiment, the cam groove 2h illustrated in FIG. 8 is formed for preventing the pump portion 3a from reciprocating. The cam groove 2h is a groove area formed in the rotational direction of the cylindrical portion 2k, and has a straight shape that prevents the reciprocating member 3b from moving even if the cylindrical portion 2k rotates. The operation stop process is performed in a state where the reciprocating-member projection 3c is engaged with the cam groove 2h.

If the pump portion 3a does not reciprocate, the developer is not discharged from the discharging outlet 4a (although the developer is allowed to fall from the discharging outlet 4a due to the vibration caused when the cylindrical portion 2k rotates). That is, the cam groove 2h may be sloped toward the rotation-axis direction with respect to the rotational direction if the discharge process and the intake process are not performed via the discharging outlet 4a when the reciprocating-member projection 3c and the cam groove 2h are engaged with each other. In a case where the cam groove 2h is sloped, the reciprocating motion of the pump portion 3a that corresponds to the slope of the cam groove 2h is allowed.

Configuration of Flange Portion

Next, a configuration of the flange portion 4 of the developer supplying container 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A to 10B. As illustrated in FIG. 9A, the developer storage portion 2 is rotatably attached to the flange portion 4 such that the one end portion having the opening portion 2H of the developer storage portion 2 that is opened enters the flange portion 4. The flange portion 4 of the present embodiment includes a first flange 4f that serves as a first separation portion, and a second flange 4g that serves as a second separation portion.

As illustrated in FIG. 9B, the second flange 4g can be detachably attached to the first flange 4f in a direction that crosses the rotation-axis direction of the developer storage portion 2. In addition, the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g are engaged with each other via a flexible engaging hook 4h1. In the present embodiment, the engaging hook 4h1 is formed on the second flange 4g, as a connect engaging portion via which the second flange 4g is detachably engaged with the first flange 4f, and an engaging hole portion 4h2 that engages with the engaging hook 4h1 is formed in the first flange 4f. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, the engaging hook may be formed on the first flange 4f, and the engaging hole portion may be formed in the second flange 4g.

The developer storage portion 2 is rotatably connected to the flange portion 4 in a state where the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g are engaged with each other via the engaging hook 4h1. As illustrated in FIGS. 9B, 10A, and 10B, in the present embodiment, a groove portion 2j having a recess shape, serving as a first engaging portion, and extending in the rotational direction (or the circumferential direction) is formed in an outer circumferential surface of the one end portion of the developer storage portion 2 in the rotation-axis direction. The outer circumferential surface of the one end portion of the developer storage portion 2 faces the second flange 4g. That is, the groove portion 2j is formed in a recessed shape.

On the other hand, a projection portion 4i having a projection shape, serving as a second engaging portion, and extending in the rotational direction is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the second flange 4g. That is, the projection portion 4i is formed in a projected shape. In the present embodiment, the projection portion 4i is formed on only the second flange 4g. Since the projection portion 4i engages with the groove portion 2j, the developer storage portion 2 can be rotatably connected to the flange portion 4 in a state where the developer storage portion 2 is prevented from being disconnected from the flange portion 4. If the engagement between the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g via the engaging hook 4h1 is removed, the second flange 4g is separated from the first flange 4f. Thus, in the present embodiment, the flange portion 4 can be separated into the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g. In a state where the flange portion 4 is separated into the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g, the developer storage portion 2 can be detachably attached to the flange portion 4.

Note that as illustrated in FIG. 10B, the developer storage portion 2 is rotatably connected to the flange portion 4 such that the developer storage portion 2 depresses a ring-shaped flange seal 700 having elasticity and disposed on the inner surface of the flange portion 4. In this structure, since the developer storage portion 2 rotates while sliding on the flange seal 700, the developer stored in the developer storage portion 2 does not leak from the boundary between the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g.

In the present embodiment, the flange portion 4 is separated into two halves, the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g, whose length is nearly half the length of the flange portion 4 in the rotational direction. In other words, the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g have the same length in the circumferential direction, and the length is half the length of the flange portion 4 in the circumferential direction. In this case, the developer storage portion 2 can be attached to the first flange 4f from a direction (hereinafter referred to as a radial direction) that crosses the rotation-axis direction of the developer storage portion 2 attached to the first flange 4f. Thus, the projection portion 4i may not be formed on the second flange 4g alone, and may be formed on at least one of the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g. For example, if the projection portion 4i is formed on the first flange 4f, the developer storage portion 2 is attached to the first flange 4f from the radial direction. When the developer storage portion 2 is attached to the first flange 4f, the projection portion 4i formed on the first flange 4f engages with the groove portion 2j of the developer storage portion 2, and then the second flange 4g is engaged with the first flange 4f via the engaging hook 4h1.

Note that the projection portion 4i has only to be formed on only one of the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g. However, the projection portion 4i may be formed on both of the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g. Preferably, the groove portion 2j is formed in the whole circumference of the outer circumferential surface of the developer storage portion 2. In this case, it is advantageous that the developer storage portion 2 rotates stably with respect to the flange portion 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 10B, in the present embodiment, the groove portion 2j is formed by a first projection portion 2j1 and a second projection portion 2j2, which are spaced from each other in the rotation-axis direction so as to project from the outer circumferential surface of the developer storage portion 2 toward a direction that crosses the rotation-axis direction. In this case, the leading edges of the first projection portion 2j1 and the second projection portion 2j2 slide on the inner circumferential surfaces of the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g when the developer storage portion 2 rotates. However, the groove portion 2j may be formed in the outer circumferential surface of the developer storage portion 2 so as to have a recess shape, without forming the first projection portion 2j1 and the second projection portion 2j2. In this case, the outer circumferential surface of the developer storage portion 2 slide on the inner circumferential surfaces of the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g when the developer storage portion 2 rotates.

In the present embodiment, the projection portion 4i is formed on the first flange 4f and/or the second flange 4g, and the groove portion 2j is formed in the developer storage portion 2. However, the projection portion 4i may be formed on the developer storage portion 2, and the groove portion 2j may be formed in the first flange 4f and/or the second flange 4g.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the flange portion 4 includes the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g, and the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g are engaged with each other via the engaging hook 4h1. For the connection between the developer storage portion 2 and the flange portion 4 in a state where the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g are engaged with each other, the groove portion 2j is formed in the developer storage portion 2 and the projection portion 4i is formed on the second flange 4g. Since the projection portion 4i is engaged with the groove portion 2j, the developer storage portion 2 is prevented from being disconnected from the flange portion 4. If the engagement between the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g via the engaging hook 4h1 is removed, the second flange 4g is separated from the first flange 4f in a direction that crosses the rotation-axis direction of the developer storage portion 2. Thus, if the engagement between the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g via the engaging hook 4h1 is removed, the flange portion 4 is separated into the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g. In addition, in a state where the flange portion 4 is separated into the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g, the developer storage portion 2 can be detachably attached to the flange portion 4. In this case, the flange portion 4 and the developer storage portion 2 can be separated from each other, without the engaging hook 4h1 being broken. Therefore, since the flange portion 4 and the developer storage portion 2 are not damaged and deformed when the flange portion 4 and the developer storage portion 2 are separated from each other in a used developer supplying container 1, the reuse rate of the flange portion 4 and the developer storage portion 2 is increased.

Other Embodiments

In the above-described embodiment, the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g are engaged with each other via the engaging hook 4h1. However, the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g may be engaged with each other via another member other than the above-described engaging hook 4h1 as long as the second flange 4g can be attached to and detached from the first flange 4f. For example, the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g may be fastened to each other via a screw. FIGS. 11A to 11C illustrate one example of a configuration in which the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g are fastened to each other via a screw 9. In this example, one end portion of the second flange 4g in the rotational direction is fastened to the first flange 4f via the screw 9, and the other end portion of the second flange 4g is fastened to the first flange 4f via the above-described engaging hook 4h1 (not illustrated). However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. For example, both end portions of the second flange 4g may be fastened to the first flange 4f via screws 9.

As illustrated in FIGS. 11A to 11C, the second flange 4g can be detachably attached to the first flange 4f in a direction that crosses the rotation-axis direction of the developer storage portion 2, and the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g are fastened to each other via the screw 9. In the present embodiment, a screw hole portion 9a is formed in the second flange 4g, and a through-hole portion 9b is formed in the first flange 4f. The through-hole portion 9b has a diameter that allows a shaft portion 9c of the screw 9 to pass through the first flange 4f, and does not allow the head portion of the screw 9 to pass through the first flange 4f. The first flange 4f and the second flange 4g are fastened to each other via the screw 9 in a state where the through-hole portion 9b of the first flange 4f and the screw hole portion 9a of the second flange 4g are aligned with each other, and in this manner, the developer storage portion 2 is rotatably connected to the flange portion 4. In addition, if the screw 9, via which the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g are fastened to each other, is removed from the flange portion 4, the second flange 4g is separated from the first flange 4f, so that the developer storage portion 2 can be removed from the flange portion 4.

By the way, the developer supplying container 1 may receive a strong impact during the transportation from a factory. In such a case, it is not preferable that the developer storage portion 2 is disconnected from the flange portion 4. For preventing the disconnection of the developer storage portion 2 from the flange portion 4, the above-described engaging hook 4h1 (see FIG. 9B) of the second flange 4g is required to have the strength that allows the engaging hook 4h1 to endure the impact, and that prevents the engaging hook 4h1 from being broken. However, if the strength of the engaging hook 4h1 is increased, the flexibility of the engaging hook 4h1 will be easily deteriorated. As a result, when the second flange 4g is separated from the first flange 4f, the engaging hook 4h1 may be broken and the second flange 4g may be damaged.

For this reason, in a configuration in which the first flange 4f and the second flange 4g are engaged with each other via the engaging hook 4h1, it is preferable that the size of the second flange 4g be smaller than that of the first flange 4f. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, a length Q of the second flange 4g in the circumferential direction is made shorter than half the length of the flange portion 4 in the circumferential direction. In other words, the length Q of the second flange 4g in the circumferential direction is made shorter than the length of the first flange 4f in the circumferential direction. In this case, even if the engaging hook 4h1 is broken when the second flange 4g is separated from the first flange 4f, the first flange 4f can be reused. On the other hand, since the second flange 4g with the broken engaging hook 4h1 cannot be reused, the second flange 4g will be replaced with a new second flange 4g. Since most of the flange portion 4 (i.e., the first flange 4f) can be reused, the cost for the replacement can be preferably reduced.

Note that if the length Q of the second flange 4g in the circumferential direction is shorter, as described above, than the length of the first flange 4f in the circumferential direction, it is difficult to attach the developer storage portion 2 to the first flange 4f from the radial direction. In this case, the developer storage portion 2 is attached to the first flange 4f from the rotation-axis direction of the developer storage portion 2 attached to the first flange 4f. In this case, the projection portion 4i (see FIG. 9B) is formed on only the second flange 4g, and is not formed on the first flange 4f. This is because if the projection portion 4i is formed on the first flange 4f, the developer storage portion 2 will abut against the projection portion 4i of the first flange 4f when the developer storage portion 2 is inserted to the first flange 4f, and it will become difficult to insert the developer storage portion 2 to the first flange 4f until the developer storage portion 2 reaches a proper position.

The present invention can easily separate the developer storage portion and the developer discharging portion from each other without damaging and deforming the developer storage portion and the developer discharging portion, in the developer supplying container in which the developer storage portion and the developer discharging portion can be separated from each other.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-008243, filed Jan. 23, 2023 which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

DEVELOPER SUPPLYING CONTAINER

Information

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CPC

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Abstract

Description

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Priority Claims (1)