HK1185151B

HK1185151B - Developer replenishing container, developer replenishing system, and image formation device

Info

Publication number: HK1185151B
Application number: HK13112477.2A
Authority: HK
Inventors: Okino Ayatomo; Nagashima Toshiaki; Murakami Katsuya; Tazawa Fumio; Yamada Yusuke
Original assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2010-09-29
Filing date: 2011-09-29
Publication date: 2018-03-29

Description

Developer supply container, developer supply system, and image forming apparatus

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus, a developer supply system including a developer receiving apparatus and a developer supply container, and an image forming apparatus.

The developer supply container and the developer supply system are used for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a printer, or a complex machine having a plurality of functions of such machines.

Background

Generally, an image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic type (e.g., an electrophotographic copying machine) uses a developer (toner) of fine particles. In such an image forming apparatus, developer (toner) is supplied from a developer supply container in response to developer consumption resulting from an image forming operation.

For a conventional developer supply container, a type of supplying toner using air is known.

For example, japanese laid-open patent application Hei10-268641 and japanese laid-open patent application 2000-199994 use an air feeding type in which a screw pump and an air pump are provided between a toner accommodating case and a developing device, and toner is fed from the toner accommodating case upward toward the developing device by pressure by these pumps.

In addition, japanese laid-open patent application Hei10-268641 and japanese laid-open patent application 2000-199994 use a filter (ventilation member) disposed in front of the developing device for separating the toner and the air from each other because when a mixture of the toner and the air is supplied into the developing device, the toner will blow out of the developing device, resulting in deterioration of image quality.

However, with the devices disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent application Hei10-268641 and Japanese laid-open patent application 2000-199994, problems to be described later may arise due to the use of the air feed type to feed the toner by pressure.

Here, the filter must allow air to be discharged, but prevent toner from passing through, and therefore, clogging of the filter cannot be avoided.

Therefore, the air pressure is applied to the filter in one direction, that is, only in the air discharge direction, in the structure using the air feeding type (in which the toner is supplied by pressure) disclosed in Japanese laid-open patent application Hei10-268641 and Japanese laid-open patent application 2000-199994, and therefore the filter will be clogged with the toner in a short time. Therefore, the discharge function of the filter is impaired, and toner may blow out of the developing device, which results in deterioration of image quality.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a developer supply container and a developer supply system in which clogging of a ventilation member with developer can be suppressed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a developer supply container and an image forming apparatus in which deterioration of image quality due to clogging of a ventilation member with developer can be suppressed.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Disclosure of Invention

A first aspect provides a developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus including a developer receiving portion for receiving a developer and a ventilation member for allowing the developer receiving portion to ventilate in and out, the developer supply container comprising: a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a discharge opening for allowing the developer to be discharged from the developer accommodating portion toward the developer receiving portion; a drive input portion for receiving a driving force from the developer receiving apparatus; and a pump section capable of being driven by the driving force received by the driving input section to repeatedly alternately perform a discharge operation and a suction operation through the discharge opening.

A second aspect provides a developer supply system including a developer receiving apparatus and a developer supply container detachably mountable to the developer receiving apparatus, wherein: the developer receiving apparatus includes: a developer receiving portion for receiving a developer; a ventilation member for allowing the developer receiving portion to ventilate in and out; and a driver for applying a driving force to the developer supply container; and the developer supply container includes: a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a discharge opening for allowing the developer to be discharged from the developer accommodating portion toward the developer receiving portion; a drive input portion for receiving a driving force from the developer receiving apparatus; and a pump section capable of being driven by the driving force received by the driving input section to repeatedly alternately perform a discharge operation and a suction operation through the discharge opening.

A third aspect provides a developer supply container detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus provided with a developer receiving apparatus including a developer receiving portion for receiving a developer and a ventilation member for allowing the developer receiving portion to ventilate in and out, the developer supply container comprising: a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a discharge opening for allowing the developer to be discharged from the developer accommodating portion toward the developer receiving portion; a driving input part for receiving a driving force from the image forming apparatus; and a pump portion capable of being driven by a driving force received by the driving input portion so as to cause air to repeatedly and alternately flow out of and into the developer receiving portion through the discharge opening.

A fourth aspect provides an image forming apparatus comprising a developer receiving apparatus and a developer supply container detachably mountable to said developer receiving apparatus, wherein: the developer receiving apparatus includes: a developer receiving portion for receiving a developer; a ventilation member for allowing the developer receiving portion to ventilate in and out; and a driver for applying a driving force to the developer supply container; and the developer supply container includes: a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a discharge opening for allowing the developer to be discharged from the developer accommodating portion toward the developer receiving portion; and a pump portion capable of being driven by a driving force received by the driving input portion so as to cause air to repeatedly and alternately flow out of and into the developer receiving portion through the discharge opening.

A fifth aspect provides a developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus including a developer receiving portion for receiving a developer and a ventilation member for allowing the developer receiving portion to ventilate in and out, the developer supply container comprising: a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer having a density of not less than 4.3x10^-4kg·cm²/s²And not more than 4.14x10^-3kg·cm²/s²The flow energy of (a); a pinhole for allowing the developer to be discharged from the developer accommodating portion, an area of the discharge opening being not more than 12.6mm²(ii) a A drive input portion for receiving a driving force from the developer replenishing apparatus; and an air flow generating mechanism for repeatedly and alternately generating the air flow inwardly and outwardly through the needle hole.

A sixth aspect provides a developer supply system comprising a developer receiving apparatus and a developer supply container detachably mountable to said developer receiving apparatus, wherein: the developer receiving apparatus includes: a developer receiving portion for receiving a developer; a ventilation member for allowing the developer receiving portion to ventilate in and out; and a driver for applying a driving force to the developer supply container; and the developer supply container includes: a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer having a density of not less than 4.3x10^-4kg·cm²/s²And not more than 4.14x10^-3kg·cm²/s²The flow energy of (a); a pinhole for allowing the developer to be discharged from the developer accommodating portion, an area of the discharge opening being not more than 12.6mm²(ii) a A drive input portion for receiving a driving force from the developer replenishing apparatus; and an air flow generating mechanism for the heavyThe complex sum alternately creates an air flow inward and outward through the pinholes.

A seventh aspect provides a developer supply container detachably mountable to a developer receiving apparatus including a developer receiving portion for receiving a developer and a ventilation member for allowing the developer receiving portion to ventilate in and out, the developer supply container comprising: a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer having a density of not less than 4.3x10^-4kg·cm²/s²And not more than 4.14x10^-3kg·cm²/s²The flow energy of (a); a pinhole for allowing the developer to be discharged from the developer accommodating portion, an area of the discharge opening being not more than 12.6mm²(ii) a A drive input portion for receiving a driving force from the developer replenishing apparatus; and an air flow generating mechanism for repeatedly and alternately generating the air flow inwardly and outwardly through the needle hole.

An eighth aspect provides a developer supply system comprising a developer receiving apparatus and a developer supply container detachably mountable to said developer receiving apparatus, wherein: the developer receiving apparatus includes: a developer receiving portion for receiving a developer; a ventilation member for allowing the developer receiving portion to ventilate in and out; and a driver for applying a driving force to the developer supply container; and the developer supply container includes: a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer having a density of not less than 4.3x10^-4kg·cm²/s²And not more than 4.14x10^-3kg·cm²/s²The flow energy of (a); a pinhole for allowing the developer to be discharged from the developer accommodating portion, an area of the discharge opening being not more than 12.6mm²(ii) a A drive input portion for receiving a driving force from the developer replenishing apparatus; an air flow generating mechanism for repeatedly and alternately generating air flows inward and outward through the needle holes so as to repeatedly and alternately cause inward and outward flows through the ventilation member.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of an example of an image forming apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a developer receiving apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the developer receiving apparatus of fig. 3 viewed in a different direction.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the developer receiving apparatus of fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the function and structure of the control device.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the supply operation.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing a mounted state of the developer receiving apparatus and the developer supply container without the hopper.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing the developer supply container.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the developer supply container.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the developer supply container in which the discharge opening and the inclined surface are connected.

Part (a) of fig. 12 is a perspective view of a blade used in the apparatus for measuring flowable energy, and part (b) is a schematic view of the measuring apparatus.

Fig. 13 is a graph showing the relationship between the diameter of the discharge opening and the discharge amount.

Fig. 14 is a graph showing the relationship between the amount of charge and the amount of discharge in the container.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a part showing an operating state of the developer supply container and the developer receiving apparatus.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the developer supply container and the developer receiving apparatus.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view of the developer supply container and the developer receiving apparatus.

Fig. 18 is a sectional view of the developer supply container and the developer receiving apparatus.

Fig. 19 shows changes in internal pressure of the developer accommodating portion in the apparatus and system of the present invention.

Part (a) of fig. 20 is a block diagram showing a developer supply system (embodiment 1) used in a test; and part (b) is a schematic diagram showing a phenomenon in the developer supply container.

Part (a) of fig. 21 is a block diagram showing a developer supply system (comparative example) used in a test; and part (b) is a schematic diagram showing a phenomenon in the developer supply container.

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to embodiment 2.

Fig. 23 is a sectional view of the developer supply container of fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to embodiment 3.

Fig. 25 is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to embodiment 3.

Fig. 26 is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to embodiment 3.

Fig. 27 is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to embodiment 4.

Fig. 28 is a cut-away perspective view of a developer supply container according to embodiment 4.

Fig. 29 is a partial sectional view of a developer supply container according to embodiment 4.

Fig. 30 is a sectional view according to another example of embodiment 4.

Part (a) of fig. 31 is a front view of the mounting portion; part (b) is a partially enlarged perspective view of the inside of the mounting portion; and part (c) is a partial sectional view of the developer receiving apparatus.

Part (a) of fig. 32 is a perspective view showing a developer supply container according to embodiment 5; part (b) is a perspective view showing a state around the discharge opening; and parts (c) and (d) are a front view and a sectional view showing a state in which the developer supply container is mounted to the mounting part of the developer receiving apparatus.

Part (a) of fig. 33 is a perspective view of a developer accommodating portion, and part (b) is a sectional perspective view of a developer supply container; part (c) is a cross-sectional view of the inner surface of the flange portion; and part (d) is a sectional view of the developer supply container according to embodiment 5.

Fig. 34 is a sectional view showing the performance of the suction and discharge operation of the pump portion in the developer supply container according to embodiment 5.

Fig. 35 is a development view of a cam groove structure of the developer supply container.

Fig. 36 is a development view of an example of a cam groove structure of the developer supply container.

Fig. 37 is a development view of an example of a cam groove structure of the developer supply container.

Fig. 38 is a development view of an example of a cam groove structure of the developer supply container.

Fig. 39 is a development view of an example of a cam groove structure of the developer supply container.

Fig. 40 is a development view of an example of a cam groove structure of the developer supply container.

Fig. 41 is a development view of an example of a cam groove structure of the developer supply container.

Fig. 42 is a graph showing a change in the internal pressure of the developer supply container.

Part (a) of fig. 43 is a perspective view showing the structure of a developer supply container according to embodiment 6, and part (b) is a sectional view showing the structure of the developer supply container.

Fig. 44 is a sectional view showing the structure of a developer supply container according to embodiment 7.

Part (a) of fig. 45 is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to embodiment 8; part (b) is a sectional view of the developer supply container; part (c) is a perspective view of the cam gear; and part (d) is an enlarged view of the rotationally meshing portion of the cam gear.

Part (a) of fig. 46 is a perspective view showing the structure of a developer supply container according to embodiment 9; and part (b) is a sectional view showing the structure of the developer supply container.

Part (a) of fig. 47 is a perspective view showing the structure of the developer supply container according to embodiment 10, and part (b) is a sectional view showing the structure of the developer supply container.

Parts (a) - (d) of fig. 48 show the operation of the drive conversion mechanism.

Part (a) of fig. 49 is a perspective view of a developer supply container according to embodiment 11; and parts (b) and (c) show the operation of the drive conversion mechanism.

Part (a) of fig. 50 is a sectional perspective view showing the structure of a developer supply container according to embodiment 12; and parts (b) and (c) are sectional views showing the suction and discharge operations of the pump part.

Part (a) of fig. 51 is a perspective view showing another example of the developer supply container according to embodiment 12, and part (b) shows a connecting portion of the developer supply container.

Part (a) of fig. 52 is a sectional perspective view showing the structure of the developer supply container according to embodiment 12, and parts (b) and (c) are sectional views showing the suction and discharge operations of the pump part.

Part (a) of fig. 53 is a perspective view showing the structure of a developer supply container according to embodiment 14; part (b) is a perspective view showing a section of the structure of the developer supply container; part (c) shows a structure of an end portion of the developer accommodating portion; and portions (d) and (e) show the performance of the suction and discharge operations of the pump portion.

Part (a) of fig. 54 is a perspective view showing the structure of a developer supply container according to embodiment 15; part (b) is a perspective view showing the structure of the flange portion; and part (c) is a perspective view showing the structure of the cylindrical part.

Parts (a) and (b) of fig. 55 are sectional views showing the suction and discharge operations of the pump portion of the developer supply container according to example 15.

Fig. 56 shows the structure of a pump portion of a developer supply container according to embodiment 15.

Parts (a) and (b) of fig. 57 are schematic sectional views of the developer supply container according to embodiment 16.

Parts (a) and (b) of fig. 58 are perspective views of a cylindrical part and a flange part of a developer supply container according to embodiment 17.

Parts (a) and (b) of fig. 59 are partially cut-away perspective views of a developer supply container according to embodiment 17.

Fig. 60 is a time chart showing the relationship between the operating state of the pump according to embodiment 17 and the opening and closing timings of the rotatable shutter.

Fig. 61 is a perspective view showing a partial cross section of a developer supply container according to embodiment 18.

Parts (a) - (c) of fig. 62 are partial sectional views showing the operation state of the pump part according to example 18.

Fig. 63 is a time chart showing the relationship between the operating state of the pump according to embodiment 18 and the opening and closing timings of the stop valve.

Part (a) of fig. 64 is a partial perspective view of a developer supply container according to embodiment 19; part (b) is a perspective view of the flange portion; and part (c) is a sectional view of the developer supply container.

Part (a) of fig. 65 is a perspective view showing the structure of a developer supply container according to embodiment 20; and part (b) is a cut-away perspective view of the developer supply container.

Fig. 66 is a partially cut-away perspective view showing the structure of a developer supply container according to embodiment 20.

Part (a) of fig. 67 is a perspective view showing a section of the developer supply container provided with the agitating bar, and part (b) is a sectional view of the developer supply container.

Fig. 68 is a perspective view of a section of the developer supply container showing a seal member between a flange portion and a cylindrical portion.

Part (a) of fig. 69 is an exploded perspective view of the developer supply container; and part (b) is a perspective view of the developer supply container.

FIG. 70 is a perspective view of the container body.

Part (a) of fig. 71 is a perspective view of the upper flange portion (top side); and part (b) is a perspective view of the upper flange part (lower side).

FIG. 72 is a perspective view of the lower flange portion (top side); part (b) is a perspective view of the lower flange part (lower side); and part (c) is a front view of the lower flange portion.

Fig. 73 is a top plan view (a) and a perspective view (b) of the shutter.

Fig. 74 is a perspective view (a) and a front view (b) of the pump.

Fig. 75 is a (top side) perspective view (a) and a (lower side) perspective view (b) of the reciprocating member.

Fig. 76 is a (top side) perspective view (a) and a (lower side) perspective view (b) of the cover.

Part (a) of fig. 77 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the developer receiving apparatus; and part (b) is a perspective view of the developer receiving portion.

Detailed Description

The developer supply container, the developer supply system, and the image forming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail below. In the following description, the respective structures of the developer supply container may be replaced by other known structures having similar functions within the scope of the concept of the present invention unless otherwise specified. In other words, the present invention is not limited to the specific structures of the embodiments to be described below unless otherwise specified.

Example 1

First, the basic structure of the image forming apparatus will be described, and then a developer receiving apparatus and a developer supply container constituting a developer supply system used in the image forming apparatus will be described.

Image forming apparatus

The structure of a copying machine (electrophotographic image forming apparatus) using an electrophotographic type process, which is an example of an image forming apparatus using a developer receiving apparatus to which a developer supply container (so-called toner cartridge) is detachably mountable, will be described below with reference to fig. 1.

In the drawings, 100 denotes a main assembly of a copying machine (main assembly of an image forming apparatus or main assembly of an apparatus). 101 denotes an original, which is disposed on an original supporting platen glass 102. A light image corresponding to image information of an original is imaged on an electrophotographic photosensitive member 104 (photosensitive member) by a lens Ln of an optical portion 103 and a plurality of mirrors M, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is visualized by a dry developing device (one-component developing device) 201a with toner (one-component magnetic toner) as a developer (dry powder).

In this embodiment, a single-component magnetic toner is used as the developer to be supplied from the developer supply container 1, but the present invention is not limited to this example, but includes other examples that will be described later.

Specifically, in the case of using a one-component developing device (which uses a one-component non-magnetic toner), the one-component non-magnetic toner is supplied as a developer. Further, in the case of using a two-component developing device (which uses a two-component developer containing a magnetic carrier and a nonmagnetic toner mixed), the nonmagnetic toner is supplied as the developer. In this case, both the nonmagnetic toner and the magnetic carrier can be supplied as the developer.

105-108 denote a cartridge accommodating the recording material (sheet) S. Among the sheets S stacked in the cassettes 105 and 108, an optimum cassette is selected in accordance with the sheet size of the original 101 or information input by an operator (user) from a liquid crystal operation portion of the copying machine. The recording material is not limited to a paper sheet, but an OHP sheet or another material may be used as needed.

One sheet S fed by the separation and feed devices 105A to 108A is fed to the registration roller 110 along the feeding portion 109 and is fed at timing synchronized with the rotation of the photosensitive member 104 and the scanning of the optical portion 103. 111 and 112 denote a transfer charger and a separation charger. The developer image formed on the photosensitive member 104 is transferred onto the sheet S by a transfer charger 111. Then, the sheet S bearing the developed image (toner image) transferred thereon is separated from the photosensitive member 104 by a separation charger 112.

Then, the sheet S fed by the feeding portion 113 is heated and pressed in the fixing portion 114 to fix the image developed on the sheet, and then passes through the discharging/reversing portion 115 in the case of the one-sided copy mode, and is then discharged to the discharge tray 117 by the discharge roller 116.

In the case of the duplex copy mode, the sheet S enters the discharge/reverse portion 115, and a part thereof is once pushed out of the apparatus outside by the discharge roller 116. The trailing end of the sheet S passes through the flapper 118, and the flapper 118 is controlled while the sheet S is still being nipped by the discharge rollers 116, the discharge rollers 116 being reversely rotated, so that the sheet S is re-fed into the apparatus. Then, the sheet S is fed to the registration rollers 110 by the re-feeding portions 119, 120, then conveyed along a path similar to the case of the one-sided copy mode, and discharged to the discharge tray 117.

In the main assembly 100 of the apparatus, around the photosensitive member 104, there are provided image forming process apparatuses such as a developing device 201a as a developing means, a cleaner portion 202 as a cleaning means, and a main charger 203 as a charging means. The developing device 201 develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member 104 by the optical portion 103 in accordance with image information of the original 101 by depositing a developer on the latent image. The primary charger 203 uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive member to form a desired electrostatic image on the photosensitive member 104. The cleaner portion 202 removes the developer remaining on the photosensitive member 104.

Fig. 2 is an external appearance of the image forming apparatus. When the replacement front cover 40 (the replacement front cover 40 is a part of the housing of the image forming apparatus) is opened by an operator, a part of the developer receiving apparatus 8, which will be described later, is exposed.

By inserting the developer supply container 1 into the developer receiving apparatus 8, the developer supply container 1 is set in a state of supplying the developer into the developer receiving apparatus 8. On the other hand, when the operator replaces the developer supply container 1, an operation reverse to the operation for mounting will be performed, by which the developer supply container 1 is taken out from the developer receiving apparatus 8, and a new developer supply container 1 is set. The front cover 40 for replacement is a cover dedicated to mounting and dismounting (replacement) of the developer supply container 1, and is opened and closed only for mounting and dismounting the developer supply container 1. In the maintenance operation of the main assembly 100 for the apparatus, the front cover 100C is opened and closed.

Developer receiving apparatus

The developer receiving apparatus 8 will be described below with reference to fig. 3, 4 and 5. Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the developer receiving apparatus 8. Fig. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the developer receiving apparatus 8 as seen from the rear side of fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the developer receiving apparatus 8.

The developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with a mounting portion (mounting space) on which the developer supply container 1 is detachably mounted (detachably mounted). It is also provided with a developer receiving opening (developer receiving hole) for receiving developer discharged from a discharge opening (discharge port) of the developer supply container 1 described later. The diameter of the developer receiving opening 8a is desirably substantially the same as the diameter of the discharge opening 1c of the developer supply container 1 from the viewpoint of preventing the developer from contaminating the inside of the mounting portion 8f as much as possible. When the developer receiving opening 8a and the discharge opening 1c are the same diameter, it is possible to avoid the deposition of the developer on the inner surface other than the developer receiving opening and the discharge opening and the resulting contamination.

In this example, the developer receiving opening 8a is a minute opening (pinhole) corresponding to the discharge opening 1c of the developer supply container 1, and has a diameter of about

An L-shaped positioning guide (holding member) 8b for fixing the position of the developer supply container 1 is also provided so that the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 on the mounting portion 8f is indicated by an arrow a. The direction in which the developer supply container 1 is removed from the mounting portion 8f is opposite to the direction of arrow a.

Further, the lower portion of the developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with a hopper 8g serving as a developer receiving portion for temporarily accumulating the developer. The hopper 8g is provided with: a spiral portion 11 for feeding the developer into a developer hopper portion 201a, the developer hopper portion 201a being a part of the developing device 201; and an opening 8e, the opening 8e being in fluid communication with the developer hopper portion 201 a.

As shown in fig. 4, 5, the hopper 8g is provided with an opening closed by a filter 8m serving as an air vent member. The filter 8m substantially prevents the toner from leaking to the outside of the hopper 8g while allowing the hopper 8g to ventilate. Therefore, the internal pressure of the hopper 8g can be easily increased, and therefore, deterioration of image quality can be prevented. Therefore, even when another filter is provided on the developer supply container 1 for another purpose, the filter 8m is provided on the side of the hopper 8 g. In addition, it is preferable to provide the filter 8m, and thereafter, even if a small amount of air enters and exits through the filter provided on the developer supply container 1, the toner-air mixture is discharged, so that the influence of the small amount of air can be ignored.

The problem when the filter 8m is not provided will be described below.

In this example, the hopper 8g is sealed except for the developer receiving opening 8a and an opening 8e (this opening 8e is a communication opening connectable with the developing device), as shown in fig. 17, for the purpose of preventing the developer from scattering to the outside of the hopper 8 g. During image formation, the lower portion inside the hopper 8g is filled with developer.

Therefore, when air is fed together with the developer from the developer supply container 1 to be described later, the pressure of the air layer in the upper portion in the hopper 8g rises, and therefore the developer and/or the air may be accidentally pushed out through the opening 8 e.

When air is discharged through the opening 8e together with the developer, the internal pressure of the developing device rises, and there arises a problem that the developer is blown out at the end portion (fig. 1) of the developing roller 201f, or the T/D ratio (mixing ratio of the developer to the developer plus the carrier) in the developing device is unexpectedly increased, particularly in the case of development using the two-component developer. This problem causes contamination of the developer or deterioration of image quality in the image forming apparatus, and improvement is desired.

For this purpose, in this example, the hopper 8g is provided with a filter 8m, which filter 8m has, together with the opening, a function of studying the pressure.

The filter 8m may be any as long as it allows air to pass therethrough but allows the developer to hardly pass therethrough, that is, it can separate air and the developer. More specifically, this example uses PRECISE (trade name, available from Asahi Kasei Fibers Co., Ltd., Japan), which is made of a spunbonded nonwoven fabric and has an average pore size of 5 (. mu.m) and an air resistance of 2.5 (sec) (according to the Gurley method specified in JIS-P8117). This is not essential and it can be made of nylon or paper. Further, another example is a resin material or a metal or the like provided with a large number of fine pores.

It is preferable for the mounting position of the filter 8m to be above the surface of the developer powder in the hopper 8g and to be able to allow contact with the toner-air mixture discharged from the developer supply container 1. When it is lower than the powder surface, the filter 8m will be trapped in the developer, thereby impairing the ventilation characteristic of the filter 8 m.

In this embodiment, the volume of the hopper 8g is 130cm³。

As described previously, the developing device 201 of fig. 1 develops an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member 104 in accordance with image information of the original 101 with a developer. The developing device 201 is provided with a developing roller 201f in addition to the developer hopper portion 201 a.

The developer hopper portion 201a is provided with an agitating member 201c for agitating the developer supplied from the developer supply container 1. The developer stirred by the stirring member 201c is fed to the feeding member 201e through the feeding member 201 d.

The developer sequentially fed by the feeding members 201e, 201b is carried on the developing roller 201f, and finally reaches the photosensitive member 104.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the developer receiving apparatus 8 is further provided with a lock member 9 and a gear 10, which constitute a driving mechanism for driving the developer supply container 1 to be described later.

The locking member 9 is locked with a locking portion 3 (to be described later), and the locking portion 3 serves as a drive input portion of the developer supply container 1 when the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8.

The locking member 9 is loosely fitted in an elongated hole portion 8c formed in a mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8, and is movable in upward and downward directions in the drawing with respect to the mounting portion 8 f. The locking member 9 is in the form of a circular rod structure, and is provided with a tapered portion 9d at a free end in view of easy insertion into a locking portion 3 (fig. 9) of the developer supply container 1 to be described later.

A locking portion 9a (an engaging portion engageable with the locking portion 3) of the locking member 9 is connected to a rail portion 9b shown in fig. 4, and a side portion of the rail portion 9b is held by a guide portion 8d of the developer receiving apparatus 8 and is movable in upward and downward directions in the drawing.

The track portion 9b is provided with a gear portion 9c, which gear portion 9c meshes with the gear 10. The gear 10 is connected to a driving motor 500. By the control device 600 (this control device 600 performs control such that the rotational movement direction of the drive motor 500 provided in the image forming apparatus 100 is periodically reversed), the lock member 9 reciprocates in the upward and downward direction in the drawing along the elongated hole 8 c.

(developer supply control of developer receiving apparatus)

The developer supply control by the developer receiving apparatus 8 will be described below with reference to fig. 6 and 7. Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing the function and structure of the control device 600, and fig. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of the supply operation.

In this example, the amount of developer (developer level) temporarily accumulated in the hopper 8g is limited so that the developer does not flow backward from the developer receiving apparatus 8 into the developer supply container 1 by a suction operation of the developer supply container 1 to be described later. For this reason, in this example, a developer sensor 8k (fig. 5) is provided to detect the amount of developer accommodated in the hopper 8 g. As shown in fig. 6, the control device 600 controls the operation/non-operation of the drive motor 500 in accordance with the output of the developer sensor 8k, by which developer contained in the hopper 8g does not exceed a predetermined amount. The flow of the control sequence therefor will be described below. First, as shown in fig. 7, the developer sensor 8k checks the amount of developer accommodated in the hopper 8 g. When the amount of accommodated developer detected by the developer sensor 8k is recognized as being less than a predetermined amount, that is, when the developer sensor 8k does not detect the developer, the drive motor 500 is actuated to perform the developer feeding operation for a predetermined period of time (S101).

When the amount of the accommodated developer detected by the developer sensor 8k is recognized as reaching the predetermined amount due to the developer feeding operation, that is, when the developer is detected by the developer sensor 8k, the driving motor 500 stops driving so as to stop the developer feeding operation (S102). By stopping the supply operation, a series of developer supply steps is completed.

These developer supply steps are repeatedly performed each time the amount of the accommodated developer in the hopper 8g becomes smaller than a predetermined amount due to the developer consumed by the image forming operation.

In this example, the developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 is temporarily stored in the hopper 8g and then supplied into the developing device 201, but the following structure of the developer receiving apparatus can be used.

Particularly in the case of a low-speed image forming apparatus 100, the main assembly needs to be compact and low-cost. In this case, it is desirable that the developer is directly supplied to the developing device 201, as shown in fig. 8. More specifically, the hopper 8g described above is omitted, and the developer is directly supplied from the developer supply container 1 into the developing device 201 a. Fig. 8 shows an example of using the two-component developing device 201 as the developer receiving apparatus.

The developing device 201 includes: an agitation chamber into which the developer is supplied; and a developer chamber for supplying the developer to the developing roller 201f, wherein the stirring chamber and the developer chamber are provided with a spiral portion 201d, the spiral portion 201d being rotatable in a direction such that the developer is fed in directions opposite to each other. The agitation chamber and the developer chamber communicate with each other in opposite longitudinal end portions, and the two-component developer circulates in both chambers.

The stirring chamber is provided with a magnetic sensor 201g for detecting the toner content of the developer, and the control device 600 controls the operation of the driving motor 500 according to the detection result of the magnetic sensor 201 g. In this case, the developer supplied from the developer supply container is a nonmagnetic toner or a nonmagnetic toner plus a magnetic carrier.

The developing device 201 is provided with a filter 201m serving as a ventilation member. The filter 201m has a structure similar to the filter 8m described above. By providing this filter, it is possible to prevent contamination of the developer in the image forming apparatus with the dye and/or deterioration of the quality of the image to be formed due to blowing of the toner from the end portion (fig. 8) of the developing roller 201f due to the rise of the internal pressure of the developing device.

In this embodiment, as described later, the developer in the developer supply container 1 can hardly be discharged through the discharge opening 1c by only gravity, but the developer is discharged by the discharging operation of the pump portion 2, and therefore variation in the discharge amount can be suppressed. Therefore, the developer supply container 1 to be described later can be used for the example of fig. 8 without the hopper 8 g.

Developer supply container

The structure of the developer supply container 1 according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to fig. 9 and 10. Fig. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the developer supply container 1. Fig. 10 is a schematic sectional view of the developer supply container 1.

As shown in fig. 9, the developer supply container 1 has a container body 1a, and the container body 1a serves as a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer. A developer accommodating space is denoted by 1b in fig. 10, and the developer is accommodated in the container body 1a in this developer accommodating space 1 b. In this example, the developer accommodating space 1b serving as the developer accommodating portion is a space in the container body 1a plus an internal space in the pump portion 2. In this example, the developer accommodating space 1b accommodates the toner, which is a dry powder having a volume average particle size of 5 μm to 6 μm.

In this embodiment, the pump section is a variable volume positive displacement pump section 2. More specifically, the pump portion 2 has a bellows-shaped expansion and contraction portion 2a (bellows portion, expansion and contraction member), and the expansion and contraction portion 2a can be contracted and expanded by the driving force received from the developer receiving apparatus 8.

As shown in fig. 9 and 10, the bellows-like pump portion 2 of this example is folded so as to provide alternating and periodic ridges and bottoms, and is collapsible and expandable. When this is the bellows pump 2 in this example, the volume change amount can be reduced with respect to the change in the expansion and contraction amount, and therefore a stable volume change can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the entire volume of the developer accommodating space 1b is 480cm³The volume of the pump section 2 is 160cm³(in the free state of the expansion and contraction portion 2 a), and in this example,the pumping operation is performed in the pump section 2 from the length of the free state in the expansion direction.

The volume change amount caused by the expansion and contraction of the expansion and contraction portion 2a of the pump portion 2 is 15cm³The total volume at maximum expansion of the pump section 2 is 495cm³。

The developer supply container 1 is filled with 240g of developer.

The driving motor 500 for driving the locking member 9 is controlled by the control means 600 so as to provide 90cm³Volume change speed per second. The volume change amount and the volume change speed may be appropriately selected in consideration of the required discharge amount of the developer receiving apparatus 8.

The pump portion 2 in this example is a bellows pump, but other pumps may be used when the amount of air (pressure) in the developer accommodating space 1b can be changed. For example, the pump part 2 may be a uniaxial eccentric screw pump. In this case, an opening for suction and discharge of the uniaxial eccentric screw pump is required. Such an opening requires an additional filter or the like in addition to the above-described filter 8m in order to prevent the developer from leaking therethrough. In addition, the uniaxial eccentric screw pump requires a very high torque to operate, and thus a load to the main assembly 100 of the image forming apparatus increases. Therefore, a bellows pump is preferable because it does not have these problems.

The developer accommodating space 1b may be only an inner space of the pump portion 2. In this case, the pump portion 2 serves as the developer accommodating space 1b at the same time.

The connecting portion 2b of the pump portion 2 and the connecting portion 1i of the container body 1a are integrated by welding so as to prevent the developer from leaking, that is, to maintain the sealing property of the developer accommodating space 1 b.

The developer supply container 1 is provided with a lock portion 3 as a drive input portion (drive force receiving portion, drive coupling portion, engaging portion) engageable with a drive mechanism of the developer receiving apparatus 8 and receiving a drive force for driving the pump portion 2 from the drive mechanism.

More specifically, the locking portion 3 engageable with the locking member 9 of the developer receiving apparatus 8 is mounted on the upper end of the pump portion 2. The locking portion 3 is provided with a locking hole 3a in the central portion, as shown in fig. 9. When the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the mounting portion 8f (fig. 3), the locking member 9 is inserted into the locking hole 3a, thereby integrating them (providing a slight play for easy insertion). As shown in fig. 9, the relative distance between the locking portion 3 and the locking member 9 in the arrow p direction and the arrow q direction (which are the expanding and contracting directions of the expanding and contracting portion 2 a) is fixed. Preferably, the pump portion 2 and the locking portion 3 are molded in one piece using an injection molding method or a blow molding method.

The locking portion 3 thus substantially integrated with the locking member 9 receives a driving force for expanding and contracting the expanding and contracting portion 2a of the pump portion 2 from the locking member 9. Therefore, the expansion and contraction portion 2a of the pump portion 2 expands and contracts by the vertical movement of the locking member 9.

The pump portion 2 functions as an air flow generating mechanism for alternately and repeatedly generating an air flow into the developer supply container through the discharge opening 1c and an air flow to the outside of the developer supply container by a driving force received by the locking portion 3 serving as a drive input portion.

In this embodiment, the round bar locking member 9 and the round hole locking portion 3 are made substantially integral, but other structures may be used as long as the relative position therebetween can be fixed with respect to the expansion and contraction direction (the arrow p direction and the arrow q direction) of the expansion and contraction portion 2 a. For example, the locking portion 3 is a rod-like member, and the locking member 9 is a locking hole; the cross-sectional shape of the locking portion 3 and the locking part 9 may be triangular, rectangular or other polygonal shape, or may be oval, star-shaped or other shape. Alternatively, other known locking structures may be used.

In a flange portion 1g at a bottom end portion of the container body 1a, a discharge opening 1c for allowing the developer in the developer accommodating space 1b to be discharged to the outside of the developer supply container 1 is provided. The discharge opening 1c will be described in detail below.

As shown in fig. 10, the inclined surface 1f is formed toward the discharge opening 1c in the lower portion of the container body 1a, and the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating space 1b slides downward on the inclined surface 1f toward the vicinity of the discharge opening 1c by gravity. In this embodiment, the inclination angle of the inclined surface 1f (the angle with respect to a horizontal surface in a state where the developer supply container 1 is set in the developer receiving apparatus 8) is larger than the rest angle of the toner (developer).

As for the structure of the peripheral portion of the discharge opening 1c, as shown in fig. 10, the structure of the connecting portion between the discharge opening 1c and the inside of the container body 1a may be flat (1W in fig. 10), or as shown in fig. 11, the discharge opening 1c may be connected with the inclined surface 1 f.

The flat structure shown in fig. 10 provides high space efficiency in the height direction of the developer supply container 1, and the structure (shown in fig. 11) connected to the inclined surface 1f causes the remaining developer to decrease because the developer left on the inclined surface 1f falls toward the discharge opening 1 c. As described above, the structure of the peripheral portion of the discharge opening 1c may be appropriately selected according to the circumstances.

The flat structure shown in fig. 10 is used in this embodiment.

The developer supply container 1 is in fluid communication with the outside of the developer supply container 1 only through the discharge opening 1c, and is substantially sealed except for the discharge opening 1 c.

A shutter mechanism for opening and closing the discharge opening 1c will be described below with reference to fig. 3 and 10.

A seal member 4 of an elastic material is fixed by adhesion to the bottom surface of the flange portion 1g so as to surround the periphery of the discharge opening 1c, thereby preventing leakage of the developer. A shutter for sealing the discharge opening 1c is provided to compress the seal member 4 between the shutter 5 and the lower surface of the flange portion 1 g. The shutter 5 is normally urged in the closing direction by a spring (not shown) as an urging member (by an expansion force of the spring).

The shutter 5 is opened in association with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 by abutting against an end surface of an abutting portion 8h (fig. 3) formed on the developer receiving apparatus 8 and contracting the spring. At this time, the flange portion 1g of the developer supply container 1 is inserted between the abutting portion 8h and the positioning guide 8b in the developer receiving apparatus 8, so that the side surface 1k (fig. 9) of the developer supply container 1 abuts on the stopper portion 8i of the developer receiving apparatus 8. The position of the developer supply container 1 in the mounting direction (a direction) relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8 is thus determined (fig. 17).

The flange portion 1g is thus guided by the positioning guide 8b, and when the insertion operation of the developer supply container 1 is completed, the discharge opening 1c and the developer receiving opening 8a are aligned with each other.

Further, when the insertion operation of the developer supply container 1 is completed, the space between the discharge opening 1c and the receiving opening 8a is sealed by the sealing member 4 (fig. 17) so as to prevent the developer from leaking to the outside.

By the insertion operation of the developer supply container 1, the locking member 9 is inserted into the locking hole 3a of the locking portion 3 of the developer supply container 1 so that they are integrated.

At this time, its position is determined by the L-shaped portion of the positioning guide 8b in a direction (up-down direction in fig. 3) perpendicular to the mounting direction (a direction) of the developer supply container 1 with respect to the developer receiving apparatus 8. The flange portion 1g as a positioning portion also serves to prevent the developer supply container 1 from moving in the up-down direction (reciprocating direction of the pump portion 2).

The operations up to this point are a series of mounting steps for the developer supply container 1. The mounting step is ended by the operator closing the front cover 40.

The steps for detaching the developer supply container 1 from the developer receiving apparatus 8 are reverse to those in the mounting step. The steps for detaching the developer supply container 1 from the developer receiving apparatus 8 are reverse to those in the mounting step.

More specifically, the replacement front cover 40 is opened, and the developer supply container 1 is detached from the mounting portion 8 f. At this time, the state of interference by the abutting portion 8h is released, whereby the shutter 5 is closed by a spring (not shown).

In this example, a state (a reduced pressure state, a negative pressure state) in which the internal pressure of the container body 1a (the developer accommodating space 1 b) is lower than the ambient pressure (the external air pressure) and a state (a compressed state, a positive pressure state) in which the internal pressure is higher than the ambient pressure are alternately repeated at a predetermined cycle period. Here, the ambient pressure (external air pressure) is a pressure under ambient conditions in which the developer supply container 1 is located. Therefore, the developer is discharged through the discharge opening 1c by changing the pressure (internal pressure) of the container body 1 a. In this example, it is cycled at 480-³Change (reciprocate) in between.

The material of the container body 1 is preferably such that it provides sufficient rigidity to avoid collision or extreme expansion.

Therefore, this example uses a polystyrene resin material as the material of the developer container body 1a, and uses a polypropylene resin material as the material of the pump portion 2.

As the material of the container body 1a, other resin materials such as ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin material), polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene may be used as long as they have sufficient durability against pressure. Alternatively, they may be metals.

As the material of the pump portion 2, any material can be used as long as it can expand and contract enough to change the internal pressure of the space in the developer accommodating space 1b by the volume change. Examples include thinner formed ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin material), polystyrene, polyester, polyethylene materials. Alternatively, other expandable and contractible materials, such as rubber, may be used.

When the thicknesses of the pump portion 2b and the container body 1a are appropriately controlled, they may be integrally molded from the same material by an injection molding method, a blow molding method, or the like.

In this example, the developer supply container 1 is in fluid communication with the outside only through the discharge opening 1c, and therefore it is substantially sealed from the outside except for the discharge opening 1 c. That is, the developer is discharged through the discharge opening 1c by compressing and decompressing the inside of the developer supply container 1, and therefore, sealing characteristics are desired to maintain stable discharge performance.

On the other hand, it has a tendency that the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 may suddenly change due to a sudden change in the ambient conditions during transportation (air transportation) and/or when not used for a long time. For example, when the apparatus is used in an area at high altitude, or when the developer supply container 1 held at a low ambient temperature position is conveyed to a room at high ambient temperature, the inside of the developer supply container 1 may be pressurized compared to the ambient air pressure. In this case, the container may be deformed, and/or the developer may be splashed out (when the container is unsealed).

Therefore, in this example, the developer supply container 1 is provided with a diameterIs provided with a filter. The filter is TEMISH (registered trademark) available from Nitto Denko Kabushiki Kaisha in japan, and it is provided with a feature of preventing the developer from leaking to the outside, but allows air to pass between the inside and the outside of the container. Here, in this example, although such a countermeasure is taken, it is against the suction through the discharge opening 1c by the pump portion 2The influence of the operation and the discharging operation can be ignored, and therefore, the sealing property of the developer supply container 1 remains effective.

Discharge opening of developer supply container

In this example, the size of the discharge opening 1c of the developer supply container 1 is selected such that the developer cannot be sufficiently discharged by only gravity in the orientation of the developer supply container 1 for supplying the developer into the developer receiving apparatus 8. The opening size of the discharge opening 1c is so small that the discharge of the developer from the developer supply container by only gravity is insufficient, and therefore, the opening is hereinafter referred to as a pinhole. In other words, the opening is dimensioned such that the discharge opening 1c is substantially blocked. This is expected to be advantageous in the following point:

1) the developer is not easily leaked through the discharge opening 1 c;

2) it is possible to suppress excessive discharge of the developer when the discharge opening 1c is opened; and

3) the discharge of the developer can mainly depend on the discharge operation of the pump portion.

The inventors have studied that the size of the discharge opening 1c is not sufficient to sufficiently discharge the toner by only gravity. The verification test (measurement method) and standard will be described below.

Preparing a rectangular parallelepiped container of a predetermined volume in which a discharge opening (circular shape) is formed at a central portion of a bottom portion and which is filled with 200g of developer; then sealing the filling opening and blocking the discharge opening; in this state, the container is shaken sufficiently to loosen the developer. The volume of the rectangular container is 1000cm³The length is 90mm, the width is 92mm, and the height is 120 mm.

Then, the discharge opening was opened as soon as possible in a state where the discharge opening was facing downward, and the amount of developer discharged through the discharge opening was measured. At this time, the rectangular parallelepiped vessel is completely sealed except for the discharge opening. In addition, the validation test was performed under the conditions of a temperature of 24 ℃ and a relative humidity of 55%.

With these processes, the discharge amount is measured while changing the kind of developer and the size of the discharge opening. In this example, when the amount of the discharged developer does not exceed 2g, the amount is negligible, and therefore, it is considered that the size of the discharge opening at this time is insufficient to sufficiently discharge the developer by only gravity.

The developers used in the validation tests are shown in table 1. The kind of the developer is a one-component magnetic toner, a non-magnetic toner of a developing device for a two-component developer, and a mixture of the non-magnetic toner and a magnetic carrier.

As for the characteristic values indicating the characteristics of the developer, a resting angle indicating flowability and a flow energy indicating ease of loosening of the developer layer, which are measured by a powder flow analysis apparatus (powder rheometer FT4 available from freeman technology), were measured.

TABLE 1

The measurement method for flow energy will be described below with reference to fig. 12. Here, fig. 12 is a schematic view of an apparatus for measuring flow energy.

The principle of the powder flowability analysis device is that a blade moves in a powder sample and measures the energy required for the blade to move in the powder, i.e., the flow energy. The blade is of the propeller type and when it rotates it moves simultaneously in the direction of the axis of rotation, so that the free end of the blade moves helically.

The propeller type blade 51 is made of SUS (type = C210), has a diameter of 48mm, and is smoothly twisted in the counterclockwise direction. More specifically, the rotation axis extends from the center of the blade of 48mm × 10mm in the normal direction with respect to the rotation plane of the blade, the twist angle of the blade at the opposite outermost edge portion (position 24mm from the rotation axis) is 70 °, and the twist angle at the position 12mm from the rotation axis is 35 °.

The flow energy is the total energy provided by integrating the sum of the rotational torque and the vertical load with time as the helical rotary blade 51 enters and advances in the powder layer. The value thus obtained indicates the ease of loosening of the developer powder layer, with a larger flow energy meaning less likely to loosen and a smaller flow energy meaning more likely to loosen.

In this measurement, as shown in FIG. 12, the developer T was filled into the cylindrical container 53 up to a powder surface height of 70mm (L2 in FIG. 12), the cylindrical container 53 having a diameter of 50mm(volume =200cc, L1 (fig. 12) =50 mm), which is a standard component of a device. The charge amount is regulated according to the bulk density of the developer to be measured. A vane 54 of 48mm phi (which vane 54 is a standard component) is advanced into the powder bed and displays the energy required to advance from a depth of 10mm to a depth of 30 mm.

The setting conditions at the time of measurement were: the rotational speed of the blade 51 (tip speed = peripheral speed of the outermost edge portion of the blade) was 60 mm/s; the advancing speed of the blade into the powder layer in the vertical direction is such that an angle θ (spiral angle) formed between the trajectory of the outermost edge portion of the blade 51 during advancement and the surface of the powder layer is 10 °; the advancing speed into the powder layer in the vertical direction was 11mm/s (advancing speed of the blade in the vertical direction in the powder layer = (rotational speed of the blade) xtan (helix angle x pi/180)); and the measurement was performed under the conditions of a temperature of 24 ℃ and a relative humidity of 55%.

The bulk density of the developer when the flow energy of the developer was measured was close to the bulk density in the test for verifying the relationship between the discharge amount of the developer and the size of the discharge opening, was stable and varied little, more specifically, was regulated to 0.5g/cm³。

For the developer (table 1), a verification test was performed by thus measuring the flow energy. Fig. 13 is a graph showing a relationship between the diameter of the discharge opening and the discharge amount for the respective developers.

It has been confirmed from the verification result shown in fig. 13 that the diameter of the discharge opening is smallNot more than 4mm (opening area of 12.6 mm)²(circumferential ratio = 3.14)), the discharge amount through the discharge opening is not more than 2g for each of the developers a to E. When diameter of the discharge openingWhen it exceeds 4mm, the discharge amount sharply increases.

When the developer (bulk density is 0.5 g/cm)³) Is not less than 4.3x10^-4kg-m²/s²(J) And not more than 4.14x10^-3kg-m²/s²(J) When the diameter of the discharge opening is smallPreferably not more than 4mm (opening area of 12.6 mm)²）。

As for the bulk density of the developer, the developer has been sufficiently loosened and fluidized in the validation test, and therefore, the bulk density is lower than the bulk density expected in the normal use condition (the retention state), that is, the measurement is performed in a condition in which the developer is more easily discharged than in the normal use condition.

A verification test was conducted on the developer A for which the discharge amount was the largest among the results of FIG. 13, in which the charge amount in the container was varied within a range of 30-300g while the diameter of the discharge opening was made to be the largestConstant 4 mm. The verification results are shown in FIG. 12And (b) in (a). It has been confirmed from the results of fig. 13 that the discharge amount through the discharge opening hardly changes even when the charging amount of the developer changes.

It has been confirmed from the foregoing that by making the diameter of the discharge openingNot more than 4mm (area of 12.6 mm)²) In a state where the discharge opening is directed downward (into an assumed supply posture in the developer receiving apparatus 201), the developer cannot be sufficiently discharged from the discharge opening by only gravity, regardless of the kind or the state of the bulk density of the developer.

On the other hand, the lower limit of the size of the discharge opening 1c is preferably such that the developer (one-component magnetic toner, one-component non-magnetic toner, two-component non-magnetic toner, or two-component magnetic carrier) to be supplied from the developer supply container 1 can at least pass through. More specifically, the discharge opening is preferably larger than the particle size (volume average particle size in the case of toner, number average particle size in the case of carrier) of the developer contained in the developer supply container 1. For example, when the supplied developer includes a two-component non-magnetic toner and a two-component magnetic carrier, it is preferable that the discharge opening is larger than a larger particle size, that is, the number average particle size of the two-component magnetic carrier.

Specifically, when the supplied developer includes a two-component non-magnetic toner having a volume average particle size of 5.5 μm and a two-component magnetic carrier having a number average particle size of 40 μm, the diameter of the discharge opening 1c is preferably not less than 0.05mm (the opening area is 0.002 mm)²). Specifically, when the supplied developer includes a two-component non-magnetic toner having a volume average particle size of 5.5 μm and a two-component magnetic carrier having a number average particle size of 40 μm, the diameter of the discharge opening 1c is preferably not less than 0.05mm (the opening area is 0.002 mm)²）。

However, when the size of the discharge opening 1c is too close to the particle size of the developerAt this time, the energy required for discharging a desired amount from the developer supply container 1 (i.e., the energy required for operating the pump portion 2) is large. It may cause a limitation in the manufacture of the developer supply container 1. When the discharge opening 1c is formed in a resin material part using an injection molding method, the durability of the metal mold part forming the discharge opening 1c portion must be high. As can be seen from the foregoing, the diameter of the discharge opening 3aPreferably not less than 0.5mm.

In this example, the configuration of the discharge opening 1c is circular, but this is not necessarily so. Square, rectangular, oval, or a combination of straight and curved lines, etc. may also be used as long as the open area does not exceed 12.6mm²，12.6mm²Is the open area corresponding to a diameter of 4 mm.

However, in a configuration having the same opening area, the circular discharge opening has a minimum peripheral edge length, which will be contaminated by deposition of the developer. Therefore, the amount of developer dispersed by the opening and closing operation of the shutter 5 is small, and thus contamination is reduced. Further, with the circular discharge opening, the resistance during discharge is also small, and the discharge characteristic is high. Therefore, the structure of the discharge opening 1c is preferably circular, which is well balanced between the discharge amount and the prevention of contamination.

As is apparent from the foregoing, the size of the discharge opening 1c is preferably such that in a state where the discharge opening 1c is oriented downward (into an assumed feeding posture in the developer receiving apparatus 8), the developer cannot be sufficiently discharged by only gravity. More specifically, the diameter of the discharge opening 1cNot less than 0.05mm (opening area of 0.002 mm)²) And not more than 4mm (opening area of 12.6 mm)²). And, the diameter of the discharge opening 1cPreferably not less than 0.5mm (opening area of 0.2 mm)²) And not more than 4mm (opening area of 12.6 mm)²). In this example, according to the previous study, the discharge opening 1c is circular, the diameter of the opening being such thatIs 2 mm.

In this example, the number of the discharge openings 1c is 1, but this is not necessarily so, and there may be a plurality of discharge openings 1c whose opening areas satisfy the above-described range in total. For example, instead of having a 2mm diameterUsing two developer receiving openings 8a each having a diameter of 0.7mmThe discharge opening 3 a. However, in this case, the developer discharge amount per unit time will be reduced, and therefore, has a diameter of 2mmIs preferred, is the one discharge opening 1 c.

Developer supplying step

The developer supply step by the pump portion will be described below with reference to fig. 15 to 18. Fig. 15 is a schematic perspective view of the expansion and contraction portion 2a of the pump portion 2 when contracted. Fig. 16 is a schematic perspective view of the expansion and contraction portion 2a of the pump portion 2 when expanded. Fig. 17 is a schematic sectional view when the expansion and contraction portion 2a of the pump portion 2 contracts. Fig. 18 is a schematic sectional view when the expansion and contraction portion 2a of the pump portion 2 is expanded.

In this example, as described later, the drive conversion of the rotational force is performed by the drive conversion mechanism so that the suction step (suction operation through the discharge opening 3 a) and the discharge step (discharge operation through the discharge opening 3 a) are alternately repeated. The suction step and the discharge step will be described below.

The principle of developer discharge using a pump will be described below.

The principle of operation of the expansion and contraction part 2a of the pump part 2 is the same as described above. Briefly, as shown in fig. 10, the lower end of the expanding and contracting portion 2a is connected to the container body 1 a. The container body 1a is prevented from moving in the p-direction and in the q-direction by the positioning guide 8b of the developer supply apparatus 8 by the flange portion 1g at the lower end (fig. 9). Therefore, the vertical position of the lower end of the expanding and contracting portion 2a connected to the container body 1a is fixed with respect to the developer receiving apparatus 8.

On the other hand, the upper end of the expansion and contraction portion 2a is engaged with the locking member 9 by the locking portion 3, and is reciprocated in the p-direction and in the q-direction by the vertical movement of the locking member 9.

Since the lower end of the expanding and contracting portion 2a of the pump portion 2 is fixed, the portion above the lower end expands and contracts.

The expansion and contraction operations (the discharge operation and the suction operation) of the expansion and contraction portion 2a of the pump portion 2 and the discharge of the developer will be described below.

Discharge operation

The discharge operation through the discharge opening 1c will be described first.

By the downward movement of the locking member 9, the upper end of the expanding and contracting portion 2a is moved in the p direction (the expanding and contracting portion is contracted), whereby the discharging operation is performed. More specifically, by the discharging operation, the volume of the developer accommodating space 1b is reduced. At this time, the inside of the container body 1a is sealed except for the discharge opening 1c, and therefore, until the developer is discharged, the discharge opening 1c is substantially blocked or closed by the developer, so that the volume of the developer accommodating space 1b is reduced to increase the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1 b. Therefore, the volume of the developer accommodating space 1b is reduced, so that the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b is increased.

Then, the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b becomes higher than the pressure in the hopper 8g (substantially equal to the ambient pressure). Therefore, as shown in fig. 17, the developer T is pushed out by the air pressure due to the pressure difference (pressure difference with respect to the ambient pressure). Thus, the developer T is discharged from the developer accommodating space 1b into the hopper 8 g. The arrows in fig. 17 indicate the direction of the force exerted on the developer T in the developer accommodating space 1 b.

Then, the air in the developer accommodating space 1b is also discharged together with the developer, and therefore the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b is lowered.

Further, by the discharging operation, the toner-air mixture flows from the developer supply container 1 into the developer receiving apparatus 8 side, wherein air in the toner-air mixture passes through the filter 8m provided in the hopper 8g to the outside of the developer receiving apparatus 8, as indicated by an arrow a in fig. 17. Therefore, the internal pressure of the developer receiving apparatus 8 (i.e., the hopper 8 g) can be suppressed from rising. At this time, the separated developer is deposited on the filter 8 m.

Inhalation operation

The suction operation through the discharge opening 1c will be described below.

By the upward movement of the locking member 9, the upper end of the expanding and contracting portion 2a of the pump portion 2 is moved in the P direction (expanding and contracting portion expanding) to perform the suction operation. More specifically, the volume of the developer accommodating space 1b increases with the suction operation. At this time, the inside of the container body 1a is sealed except for the discharge opening 1c, and the discharge opening 1c is blocked by the developer and is substantially closed. Therefore, as the volume in the developer accommodating space 1b increases, the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b decreases.

At this time, the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b becomes lower than the internal pressure in the hopper 8g (substantially equal to the ambient pressure). Therefore, as shown in fig. 18, the air in the upper portion of the hopper 8g enters the developer accommodating space 1b through the discharge opening 1c by the pressure difference between the developer accommodating space 1b and the hopper 8 g. The arrows in fig. 18 indicate the directions of the forces exerted on the developer T in the developer accommodating space 1 b. The ellipse Z in fig. 18 schematically shows air sucked from the hopper 8 g.

At this time, air is sucked from the outside on the developer receiving apparatus 8 side, and therefore the developer in the vicinity of the discharge opening 1c can become loose. More specifically, the air immersed in the developer powder existing near the discharge opening 1c and fluidized reduces the bulk density of the developer powder.

Thus, the developer T is not clogged or blocked in the discharge opening 3a by fluidization of the developer T, so that the developer can be smoothly discharged through the discharge opening 3a in a discharge operation to be described later. Therefore, the amount (per unit time) of the developer T discharged through the discharge opening 3a can be kept at a substantially constant level for a long time.

By the suction operation of the developer supply container, air is sucked from the developer receiving apparatus 8 into the developer supply container 1, and the hopper 8g is applied with pressure in the direction (B direction in fig. 18) in which air enters from the outside of the hopper 8g through the filter 8 m.

Therefore, in the suction operation of the developer supply container, an air flow (in the direction B in fig. 18) is generated in the filter 8m, which is opposite to the direction in the discharge operation of the developer supply container. Therefore, the developer deposited on the filter 8m in the discharging operation of the developer supply container is removed into the hopper 8g (backwashing effect), and therefore the filter 8m can be prevented from being clogged with the developer.

In this way, by using the developer supply container 1 of this example, the developer deposited on the filter 8m can be removed by the backwashing effect during the suction operation, and therefore the filter 8m can be kept in a refresh state for a long time. In other words, the developer does not continue to accumulate on the filter 8m, and therefore, deterioration in image quality due to deterioration in the filter ring function of the filter 8m can be prevented. Therefore, the filter 8m does not need to be replaced, and therefore, an increase in cost due to the filter replacement can be saved.

Further, in this example, the suction operation and the discharge operation of the developer supply container through the discharge opening 21a are alternately repeated, and therefore the discharge operation and the suction operation of the hopper 8g through the filter 8m are also alternately repeated. Therefore, the filter 8m itself vibrates with respect to the main body of the hopper 8g in accordance with the discharge operation and the suction operation, and therefore, the developer dusting effect and the backwashing effect can be provided by the vibration.

Variation of internal pressure of developer accommodating portion

A verification test was performed on the change in the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1. The verification test will be described below.

The developer is charged such that the developer accommodating space 1b in the developer supply container 1 is filled with the developer; when the pump part 2 is at 15cm³The change in the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 is measured while expanding and contracting within the range of the volume change. The internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 was measured using a pressure gauge (AP-C40, available from Kabushiki Kaisha KEYENCE) attached to the developer supply container 1.

Fig. 19 shows a pressure change when the pump portion 2 expands and contracts in a state where the shutter 5 of the developer supply container 1 filled with the developer is opened (and thus in a state of communicating with the outside air).

In fig. 19, the abscissa represents time, and the ordinate represents relative pressure (+ is a positive pressure side, -is a negative pressure side) in the developer supply container 1 with respect to the ambient pressure (reference (0)).

When the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 is made negative with respect to the external ambient pressure by increasing the volume of the developer supply container 1, air is sucked through the discharge opening 1c by the pressure difference. When the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 is positive with respect to the external ambient pressure by the reduction in the volume of the developer supply container 1, pressure is applied to the internal developer by the pressure difference. At this time, the internal pressure is lowered in accordance with the discharged developer and air.

Through the verification test, it has been confirmed that by increasing the volume of the developer supply container 1, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 becomes negative with respect to the external ambient pressure, and air is sucked by the pressure difference. Further, it has been confirmed that by reducing the volume of the developer supply container 1, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 becomes positive with respect to the external ambient pressure, and pressure is applied to the internal developer to cause the developer to be discharged. In the verification test, the absolute value of the negative pressure was 1.3kPa, and the absolute value of the positive pressure was 3.0 kPa.

As described previously, with the structure of the developer supply container 1 of this example, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 is alternately switched between the negative pressure and the positive pressure by the suction operation and the discharge operation of the pump portion 2b, and the developer is appropriately discharged.

As described above, in this example, there is provided a simple and easy pump capable of performing the suction operation and the discharge operation of the developer supply container 1, by which the discharge of the developer by air can be stably performed while providing the effect that the developer is loosened by air.

In other words, with the structure of this example, even when the size of the discharge opening 1c is very small, a high discharge performance can be ensured without applying a large stress to the developer because the developer can pass through the discharge opening 1c in a state where the bulk density is small due to fluidization.

Further, in this example, the inside of the positive displacement pump portion 2 is used as a developer accommodating space, and therefore, when the internal pressure is reduced by increasing the volume of the pump portion 2, an additional developer accommodating space can be formed. Therefore, even when the inside of the pump portion 2 is filled with the developer, the bulk density can be reduced by immersing air into the developer powder (the developer can be fluidized). Therefore, the developer can be filled into the developer supply container 1 at a higher density than the conventional art.

In the foregoing, the inner space in the pump portion 2 is used as the developer accommodating space 1b, but in the alternative, a filter that allows air to pass but prevents toner from passing may be provided to be partitioned between the pump portion 2 and the developer accommodating space 1 b. However, the form of the embodiment is preferable because an additional developer accommodating space can be provided when the volume of the pump is increased.

Developer loosening effect in the suction step

The developer loosening effect produced by the suction operation through the discharge opening 3a in the suction step was verified. When the developer loosening effect by the suction operation through the discharge opening 3a is significant, a lower discharge pressure (smaller volume change of the pump) is sufficient to immediately start the discharge of the developer from the developer supply container 1 in the subsequent discharge step. This validation will demonstrate a significant improvement in developer loosening in this example structure. As will be described in detail below.

Part (a) of fig. 20 and part (a) of fig. 21 are block diagrams schematically showing the configuration of the developer supply system used in the verification test. Part (b) of fig. 20 and part (b) of fig. 21 are schematic diagrams showing a phenomenon occurring in the developer supply container. The system of fig. 20 simulates this example, and the developer supply container C is provided with a developer accommodating portion C1 and a pump portion P. By the expansion and contraction operation of the pump portion P, a suction operation and a discharge operation through a discharge opening (discharge opening 1C (not shown) of this example) of the developer supply container C are alternately performed to discharge the developer into the hopper H. On the other hand, the system of fig. 21 is a comparative example in which a pump portion P is provided on the developer receiving apparatus side, and by the expansion and contraction operation of the pump portion P, the operation of supplying air into the developer accommodating portion C1 and the operation of sucking in from the developer accommodating portion C1 are alternately performed to discharge the developer into the hopper H. In fig. 20, 21, the developer accommodating section C1 has the same internal volume, the hopper H has the same internal volume, and the pump section P has the same internal volume (volume change amount).

First, 200g of developer was filled into the developer supply container C.

Then, the developer supply container C was shaken for 15 minutes in consideration of the state after the conveyance, and then it was connected to the hopper H.

The pump portion P is operated, and the internal pressure peak in the suction operation is measured as a condition of the suction step requiring immediate start of developer discharge in the discharge step. In the case of fig. 20, the start position of the operation of the pump portion P corresponds to 480cm of the developer accommodating portion C1³And in the case of fig. 21, the starting position of the operation of the pump portion P corresponds to 480cm of the hopper H³The volume of (a).

In the test of the structure of fig. 21, the hopper H was charged with 200g of developer in advance so as to make the air volume state the same as the structure of fig. 20. The internal pressures of the developer accommodating portion C1 and the hopper H were measured by a pressure gauge (AP-C40, available from Kabushiki Kaisha KEYENCE) connected to the developer accommodating portion C1.

As a verification result, according to the system of this example shown in the simulation fig. 20, when the absolute value of the peak value of the internal pressure (negative pressure) at the time of the suction operation is at least 1.0kPa, the developer discharge can be immediately started in the subsequent discharge step. On the other hand, in the comparative example system shown in fig. 21, unless the peak value of the internal pressure (positive pressure) at the time of the suction operation is at least 1.7kPa in absolute value, the developer discharge cannot be started immediately in the subsequent discharge step.

It has been confirmed that when the system of fig. 20 similar to the example is used, the suction is performed as the volume of the pump portion P increases, and therefore the internal pressure of the developer supply container C can be lower (negative pressure side) than the ambient pressure (pressure outside the container), and therefore the dissolving effect of the developer is significantly high. This is because, as shown in part (b) of fig. 14, the volume of the developer accommodating portion C1 expanded with the pump portion P increases provides a state in which the pressure of the upper partial air layer of the developer layer T is lowered (relative to the ambient pressure). For this reason, since the pressure is reduced, a force is applied in a direction to increase the volume of the developer layer T (wavy line arrow), and therefore the developer layer can be loosened efficiently. Moreover, in the system of fig. 20, air is sucked from the outside into the developer supply container C1 (white arrow) by decompression, and the developer layer T is also dissolved when the air reaches the air layer R, so it is a very good system. As evidence of the loosening of the developer in the developer supply container C in the experiment, it was confirmed that the apparent volume of the entire developer increased (the height of the developer increased) in the suction operation.

In the case of the system of the comparative example shown in fig. 21, the internal pressure of the developer supply container C is raised up to the positive pressure (higher than the ambient pressure) due to the operation of air supply to the developer supply container C, and therefore, the developer is aggregated, and the developer dissolving effect cannot be obtained. This is because, as shown in part (b) in fig. 21, air is forcibly supplied from the outside of the developer supply container C, and therefore the air layer R above the developer layer T becomes positive with respect to the ambient pressure. For this reason, a force is applied in a direction of reducing the volume of the developer layer T due to the pressure (wavy line arrow), and thus the developer layer T is jammed. In fact, a phenomenon has been confirmed in which the apparent volume of the entire developer in the developer supply container C is increased at the time of the suction operation in this comparative example. There is a tendency for the system of fig. 21 that the jamming of the developer layer T makes it impossible to properly perform the subsequent developer discharging step.

In order to prevent the developer layer T from being jammed by the pressure of the air layer R, it is considered to provide a vent hole having a filter or the like at a position corresponding to the air layer R, thereby reducing the pressure rise. However, in this case, the pressure of the air layer R is increased by the flow resistance of the filter or the like. However, in this case, the pressure of the air layer R is increased by the flow resistance of the filter or the like. Even if the pressure rise is eliminated, the loosening effect by the above-described pressure-reduced state of the air layer R cannot be provided.

As described previously, the important role of the suction operation of the discharge opening with the increase in the volume of the pump portion by using the system of this example has been confirmed.

As described above, by repeating the alternate suction operation and discharge operation of the pump portion 2, the developer can be discharged through the discharge opening 1c of the developer supply container 1. That is, in this example, the discharging operation and the sucking operation are not performed in parallel or simultaneously but are alternately repeated, and therefore, the energy required for discharging the developer can be minimized.

The pump 2 repeats the discharge operation and the suction operation alternately, and due to the rapid changeover of the alternate operation, as shown in this embodiment, the number of times of the backwashing action for the filter 8m per unit time increases, so the backwashing effect can be effectively used.

On the other hand, in the case where the developer receiving apparatus includes separate air supply pump and suction pump, it is necessary to control the operations of the two pumps, and further it is not easy to quickly alternate the air supply and suction.

In this example, one pump efficiently discharges the developer, and therefore the structure of the developer discharge mechanism can be simplified.

In the foregoing, the discharge operation and the suction operation of the pump are alternately repeated to discharge the developer with high efficiency, but in an alternative configuration, the discharge operation or the suction operation is temporarily stopped and then resumed.

For example, the discharge operation of the pump does not monotonously proceed, but the compression operation may be stopped once in the middle and then the discharge is resumed. The same is true for the suction operation. Each operation may be performed in multiple stages as long as the discharge amount and the discharge speed are sufficient. The suction operation is still required after the multi-stage discharge operation, and they are repeated.

In this example, the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b is lowered to suck air through the discharge opening 1c to loosen the developer. On the other hand, in the above-described conventional example, the developer is loosened by supplying air from outside the developer supply container 1 into the developer accommodating space 1b, but at this time, the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b is in a compressed state due to the aggregation of the developer. This example is preferable because the developer loosens in a pressure-reduced state in which the developer is not easily aggregated.

Developer loosening effect at the start of supply

A verification test has been conducted to confirm the backwashing effect, that is, to suppress clogging of the filter 8m serving as the ventilation member by alternately repeating the discharge operation and the suction operation of the developer supply container with respect to the developer receiving apparatus.

Specific test methods will be described below. The filter 8m used in this verification had an air resistance (determined by the Gurley method specified in JIS-P8117) of 2.5 (seconds) and had a flow rate of 900 (mm)²) Size (area). The pump 2 was operated at 480cm cycle time of about 0.3 seconds³And 495cm³To reciprocate therebetween. The procedure is as follows.

(1) Developer (200 g) was filled into the developer supply container.

(2) The developer supply container is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus, and the developer is supplied into the empty hopper 8g until the developer sensor 8k is activated.

(3) The image forming operation is performed while supplying the developer from the hopper 8g into the developing device (discharging the developer through the opening 8e by rotating the spiral portion 11). The amount of developer in the hopper 8g is reduced, and in response to detection by the developer sensor 8k, the drive gear 300 is rotated so as to supply the developer from the developer supply container into the hopper 8 g.

(4) Operation (3) is repeated until the developer supply container becomes empty.

(5) The empty developer supply container is taken out, and a new developer supply container is mounted.

Steps (3) to (5) are repeated 20 times (until 20 developer supply containers are used up). The results are shown in Table 2.

In table 2, "G" indicates that the toner-air mixture is discharged from the hopper 8G to the developing device substantially without any intention; "N" indicates that the toner-air mixture is discharged from the hopper 8g to the developing device to such an extent that the image quality is deteriorated. The comparative example uses a type in which the developer is supplied from the developer supply container to the developer receiving apparatus by pressure, unlike this embodiment. More specifically, as shown in fig. 9, the bellows-shaped pump 2 is provided with an opening, and a valve for opening and closing the opening is provided inside the pump 2. The valve is opened when the pump is extended so as to suck air from the outside into the developer supply container, and is closed when the pump is contracted so as to prevent air from being discharged from the developer supply container to the outside. The operation state of the pump is the same as that of the embodiment.

Therefore, when the pump is pulled, air is drawn into the developer supply container from the outside, and therefore, no air flow in the direction from the developer receiving apparatus to the developer supply container is generated, and there is no backwashing effect for the ventilation member (filter), and only the operation of intermittently discharging from the developer supply container to the developer receiving apparatus is performed. The operation state of the pump 2 is the same as the embodiment.

TABLE 2

G: the developer is not discharged from the hopper 8g unexpectedly

N: the developer is discharged unexpectedly from the hopper 8g

As shown in table 2, no problem occurred by the end with the structure of this example, but with the comparative example of the pressure-feed type, the toner-air mixture was discharged to the developing device after 10 containers.

This is considered to be because in the pressure feed type, the developer continuously accumulates on the filter 8m and destroys the filtering function at the 10 th container.

On the other hand, in this embodiment, the discharge operation and the suction operation are alternately repeated, so that clogging of the filter is suppressed by the backwashing effect, and deterioration in image quality is not seen.

Example 2

The structure of embodiment 2 will be described below with reference to fig. 22 and 23. Fig. 22 is a schematic perspective view of the developer supply container 1, and fig. 23 is a schematic sectional view of the developer supply container 1. In this example, the structure of the pump is different from that in embodiment 1, and the other structure is substantially the same as that in embodiment 1. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals as in embodiment 1 are assigned to elements having corresponding functions in this embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In this example, as shown in fig. 22, 23, a plunger type pump is used in place of the bellows-shaped positive displacement pump in embodiment 1. More specifically, the plunger-type pump of this example includes an inner cylindrical portion 1h and an outer cylindrical portion 6, the outer cylindrical portion 6 extending outside the outer surface of the inner cylindrical portion 1h and being movable relative to the inner cylindrical portion 1 h. The upper surface of the outer cylindrical portion 6 is provided with a locking portion 3, and the locking portion 3 is fixed by adhesion, similarly to embodiment 1. More specifically, the locking portion 3 fixed on the upper surface of the outer cylindrical portion 6 receives the locking member 9 of the developer receiving apparatus 8, which are thus substantially integrated, and the outer cylindrical portion 6 is movable (reciprocating) in the up-down direction together with the locking member 9.

The inner cylindrical portion 1h is connected to the container body 1a, and its inner space serves as a developer accommodating space 1 b.

In order to prevent air from leaking through the gap between the inner cylindrical portion 1h and the outer cylindrical portion 6 (so as to prevent the developer from leaking by maintaining the sealing property), a sealing member (elastic seal 7) is fixed by being bonded on the outer surface of the inner cylindrical portion 1 h. The elastic seal member 7 is compressed between the inner cylindrical portion 1h and the outer cylindrical portion 6.

Therefore, by reciprocating the outer cylindrical portion 6 in the arrow p direction and the arrow q direction with respect to the container body 1a (inner cylindrical portion 1 h) immovably fixed to the developer receiving apparatus 8, the volume of the developer accommodating space 1b can be changed (increased and decreased). That is, the internal pressure of the developer accommodating space 1b can be alternately repeated between the negative pressure state and the positive pressure state.

Therefore, also in this example, one pump is sufficient to perform the suction operation and the discharge operation, and therefore the structure of the developer discharge mechanism can be simplified. In addition, a reduced pressure state (negative pressure state) can be provided in the developer accommodating and supplying container by the suction operation through the discharge opening, and therefore the developer can be effectively loosened.

Also in this example, a backwashing effect can be provided to the ventilation member (filter), and therefore the function of the filter can be maintained for a long time.

In this example, the configuration of the outer cylindrical portion 6 is cylindrical, but may be other shapes, such as a rectangular cross-section. In this case, it is preferable that the configuration of the inner cylindrical portion 1h corresponds to the configuration of the outer cylindrical portion 6. The pump is not limited to the plunger type pump, but may be a piston pump.

When the pump of this example is used, a sealing structure is required to prevent the developer from leaking through the gap between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, resulting in a complicated structure, and a large driving force is required to drive the pump portion, so embodiment 1 is preferable.

Example 3

The structure of embodiment 3 will be described below with reference to fig. 24 and 25. Fig. 24 is a perspective view of the appearance when the pump portion 12 of the developer supply container 1 according to this embodiment is in the expanded state, and fig. 25 is a perspective view of the appearance when the pump portion 12 of the developer supply container 1 is in the contracted state. In this example, the structure of the pump is different from that in embodiment 1, and the other structure is substantially the same as that in embodiment 1. In the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals as in embodiment 1 are assigned to elements having corresponding functions in this embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In this example, as shown in fig. 24 and 25, instead of the bellows pump having the folded portion of embodiment 1, a film-like pump portion 12 having no folded portion, which is capable of expansion and contraction, is used. The film-like portion of the pump portion 12 is made of rubber. The material of the film-like portion of the pump portion 12 may be a flexible material, such as a resin film, instead of rubber.

The film-like pump portion 12 is connected to the container body 1a, and its internal space serves as a developer accommodating space 1 b. The upper portion of the film-like pump portion 12 is provided with the locking portion 3 fixed thereto by adhesion, similarly to the foregoing embodiment. Thus, the pump portion 12 can be alternately repeatedly expanded and contracted by the vertical movement of the locking member 9.

Thus, also in this example, one pump is sufficient to perform the suction operation and the discharge operation, and therefore the structure of the developer discharge mechanism can be simplified. In addition, a pressure-reduced state (negative pressure state) can be provided in the developer supply container by the suction operation through the discharge opening, and therefore the developer can be effectively loosened.

In the case of this example, as shown in fig. 26, it is preferable that a plate-like member 13 having higher rigidity than the film-like portion is mounted on the upper surface of the film-like portion of the pump portion 12, and the holding member 3 is provided on the plate-like member 13. With such a structure, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the volume change amount of the pump portion 12 due to only deformation in the vicinity of the lock portion 3 of the pump portion 12. That is, the followability of the pump section 12 to the vertical movement of the locking member 9 can be improved, and therefore the expansion and contraction of the pump section 12 can be efficiently performed. Therefore, the discharge characteristic of the developer can be improved. Further, by suppressing the reduction of the volume change amount of the pump 12, the backwashing effect for the ventilation member (filter 8 m) (fig. 17 and 18) is highly effective.

Example 4

The structure of embodiment 4 will be described below with reference to fig. 27 to 29. Fig. 27 is a perspective view of the appearance of the developer supply container 1, fig. 28 is a sectional perspective view of the developer supply container 1, and fig. 29 is a partial sectional view of the developer supply container 1. In this example, the structure is different from that in embodiment 1 only in the structure of the developer accommodating space, and the other structures are substantially the same. Therefore, in the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals as in embodiment 1 are assigned to elements having corresponding functions in this embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

As shown in fig. 27, 28, the developer supply container 1 of this example includes two members, namely, a portion X including the container body 1a and the pump portion 2, and a portion Y including the cylindrical portion 14. The structure of the portion X of the developer supply container 1 is substantially the same as that in embodiment 1, and therefore, detailed description thereof is omitted.

Structure of developer supply container

In the developer supply container 1 of this example, compared with embodiment 1, the cylindrical portion 14 is connected to the discharge portion (in which the discharge opening 1c is formed) side of the portion X by the cylindrical portion 14.

The cylindrical portion (rotatable developer accommodating portion) 14 has a closed end at one longitudinal end thereof and an open end at the other end (the open end being connected to the opening of the portion X), and the space therebetween is a developer accommodating space 1 b. In this example, the inner space of the container body 1a, the inner space of the pump portion 2, and the inner space of the cylindrical portion 14 are all the developer accommodating space 1b, and therefore a large amount of developer can be accommodated. In this example, the cylindrical portion 14 as the rotatable developer accommodating portion has a circular sectional configuration, but the circular shape is not a limitation of the present invention. For example, the cross-sectional configuration of the rotatable developer accommodating portion may be a non-circular configuration, such as a polygonal configuration, as long as the rotational movement is not hindered during the developer feeding operation.

The inside of the cylindrical portion 14 is provided with a screw feeding projection (feeding portion) 14a, and the screw feeding projection 14a has a function of feeding the internal developer contained therein toward the portion X (discharge opening 1 c) when the cylindrical portion 14 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow R.

Further, the inside of the cylindrical portion 14 is provided with a receiving and feeding member (feeding portion) 16 for receiving the developer fed by the feeding projection 14a and supplying it to the portion X side by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 14 in the direction of the arrow R (the rotation axis extends substantially in the horizontal direction), the moving member standing from the inside of the cylindrical portion 14. The receiving and feeding member 16 is provided with a plate-like portion 16a for scooping up the developer and inclined projections 16b for feeding (guiding) the developer scooped up by the plate-like portion 16a toward the portion X, the inclined projections 16b being provided on respective sides of the plate-like portion 16 a. The plate-like portion 16a is provided with through holes 16c for allowing the developer to pass in both directions, so as to improve the agitating property for the developer.

In addition, a gear portion 14b as a drive input mechanism is fixed by adhesion to an outer surface at the other longitudinal end (with respect to the feeding direction of the developer) of the cylindrical portion 14. When the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8, the gear portion 14b meshes with a drive gear (drive portion) 300 serving as a drive mechanism provided in the developer receiving apparatus 8. When rotational force is input from the drive gear 300 to the gear portion 14b as the driving force receiving portion, the cylindrical portion 14 rotates in the direction of arrow R (fig. 28). The gear portion 14b is not limiting to the present invention, and other drive input mechanisms (e.g., a belt or a friction wheel) may be used as long as it can rotate the cylindrical portion 14.

As shown in fig. 29, one longitudinal end (downstream end with respect to the developer feeding direction) of the cylindrical portion 14 is provided with a connecting portion 14c as a connecting pipe for connecting with the portion X. The above-mentioned inclined projection 16b extends to the vicinity of the connecting portion 14 c. Therefore, the developer fed by the inclined projection 16b will be prevented as much as possible from falling down toward the bottom side of the cylindrical portion 14 again, so that the developer is properly supplied to the connecting portion 14 c.

The cylindrical portion 14 rotates as described above, but in contrast, the container body 1a and the pump portion 2 are connected to the cylindrical portion 14 by the flange portion 1g so that the container body 1a and the pump portion 2 are not rotatable relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8 (are not rotatable in the rotational axis direction of the cylindrical portion 14, and are not movable in the rotational movement direction), similarly to embodiment 1. Thus, the cylindrical portion 14 can rotate relative to the container body 1 a.

An annular elastic seal member 15 is provided between the cylindrical portion 14 and the container body 1a, and is compressed by a predetermined amount between the cylindrical portion 14 and the container body 1 a. Thereby, the developer is prevented from leaking during the rotation of the cylindrical portion 14. In addition, this structure can maintain the sealing property, and therefore the loosening and discharging effects of the pump portion 2 are exerted to the developer without loss. The developer supply container 1 has no opening (except the discharge opening 1 c) for substantial fluid communication between the inside and the outside.

Developer supplying step

The developer supplying step will be described below.

When the operator inserts the developer supply container 1 into the developer receiving apparatus 8, similarly to embodiment 1, the locking portion 3 of the developer supply container 1 is locked with the locking member 9 of the developer receiving apparatus 8, and the gear portion 14b of the developer supply container 1 is engaged with the drive gear 300 of the developer receiving apparatus 8.

Then, the driving gear 300 is rotated by another driving motor (not shown) for rotation, and the locking member 9 is driven in the vertical direction by the above-described driving motor 500. Then, the cylindrical portion 14 is rotated in the direction of the arrow R, whereby the developer therein is fed to the receiving and feeding member 16 through the feeding projection 14 a. In addition, by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 14 in the direction R, the receiving and feeding member 16 scoops up the developer and feeds it into the connecting portion 14 c. The developer fed from the connecting portion 14c into the container body 1a is discharged from the discharge opening 1c by the expansion and contraction operation of the pump portion 2, similarly to embodiment 1. There are a series of developer supply container 1 mounting steps and developer supply steps. Here, the developer supply container 1 is replaced, and the operator takes out the developer supply container 1 from the developer receiving apparatus 8 and inserts and installs a new developer supply container 1.

In the case of a vertical container having a developer accommodating space 1b that is long in the vertical direction, when the capacity of the developer supply container 1 is increased to increase the charging amount, the developer is concentrated near the discharge opening 1c due to its weight. Therefore, the developer near the discharge opening 1c tends to be pressed, thereby causing difficulty in suction and discharge through the discharge opening 1 c. In this case, in order to loosen the pressed developer by suction through the discharge opening 1c or to discharge the developer by discharge, the internal pressure (negative pressure/positive pressure) of the developer accommodating space 1b must be increased by increasing the volume change amount of the pump portion 2. It is necessary to increase the driving force or drive of the pump portion 2, and the load to the image forming apparatus main assembly 100 may be excessive.

However, according to this embodiment, the container body 1a and the portion X of the pump portion 2 are arranged in the horizontal direction, and therefore, the thickness of the developer layer above the discharge opening 1c of the container body 1a can be thinner than in the structure of fig. 9. Thus, the developer is not easily pressed by gravity, and therefore, the developer can be stably discharged without a load to the image forming apparatus main assembly 100.

As described above, with the structure of this example, providing the cylindrical portion 14 will effectively realize a large capacity of developer supply container 1 without a load to the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.

Thus, also in this example, one pump is sufficient to perform the suction operation and the discharge operation, and therefore the structure of the developer discharge mechanism can be simplified.

The developer feeding mechanism in the cylindrical portion 14 is not limited to the present invention, and the developer supply container 1 may be vibrated or rocked, or may be another mechanism. Specifically, the structure of fig. 30 can be used.

As shown in fig. 30, the cylindrical portion 14 itself is substantially immovable (with a slight play) relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8, and the feeding member 17 is provided in the cylindrical portion, and the feeding member 17 effectively feeds the developer by rotation relative to the cylindrical portion 14, instead of the feeding projection 14 a.

The feeding member 17 includes a shaft portion 17a and a flexible feeding blade 17b, and the flexible feeding blade 17b is fixed to the shaft portion 17 a. The feeding blade 17b is provided at a free end portion having an inclined portion S that is inclined with respect to the axial direction of the shaft portion 17 a. Therefore, it is possible to feed the developer toward the portion X while agitating the developer in the cylindrical portion 14.

One longitudinal end surface of the cylindrical portion 14 is provided with a coupling portion 14e as a rotational driving force receiving portion, and the coupling portion 14e is operatively coupled with a coupling member (not shown) of the developer receiving apparatus 8, through which a rotational force can be transmitted. The coupling portion 14e is coaxially coupled with the shaft portion 17a of the feeding member 17 to transmit the rotational force to the shaft portion 17 a.

By a rotational force applied from a connecting member (not shown) of the developer receiving apparatus 8, the feeding blade 7b fixed on the shaft portion 17a is rotated so that the developer in the cylindrical portion 14 is fed toward the portion X while being stirred.

However, with the modified example shown in fig. 30, the stress applied to the developer in the developer feeding step tends to be large, and the driving torque is also large, and therefore, the structure of the embodiment is preferable.

Therefore, also in this example, one pump is sufficient to perform the suction operation and the discharge operation, and therefore the structure of the developer discharge mechanism can be simplified. In addition, a pressure-reduced state (negative pressure state) can be provided in the developer supply container by the suction operation through the discharge opening, and therefore, the developer can be loosened efficiently.

Also in this example, a backwashing effect can be provided to the ventilation member (filter), and therefore, the function of the filter can be maintained for a long time.

Example 5

The structure of embodiment 5 will be described below with reference to fig. 31 to 33. Part (a) of fig. 31 is a front view of the developer receiving apparatus 8 as seen in the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1, and (b) is a perspective view of the inside of the developer receiving apparatus 8. Part (a) of fig. 32 is a perspective view of the entire developer supply container 1 and (b) is a partial enlarged view of the vicinity of the discharge opening 21a of the developer supply container 1; and (c) - (d) are front and sectional views showing a state in which the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the mounting portion 8 f. Part (a) of fig. 33 is a perspective view of the developer accommodating portion 20, (b) is a partial sectional view showing the inside of the developer supply container 1, and (c) is a sectional view of the flange portion 21; and (d) is a sectional view showing the developer supply container 1.

In embodiment 1 described above, the pump expands and contracts by vertically moving the locking member 9 of the developer receiving apparatus 8, but the obvious difference of the present example is that the developer supply container 1 receives only the rotational force from the developer receiving apparatus 8. Otherwise, the structure is similar to the foregoing embodiment, and therefore, the same reference numerals as those of the foregoing embodiment are assigned to elements having corresponding functions in the present embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted for the sake of brevity.

Specifically, in this example, the rotational force input from the developer receiving apparatus 8 is converted into a force in the reciprocating direction of the pump, and the converted force is transmitted to the pump.

The structures of the developer receiving apparatus 8 and the developer supply container 1 will be described in detail below.

Developer replenishing apparatus

The developer receiving apparatus 8 will be described below with reference to fig. 31. The developer receiving apparatus 8 includes a mounting portion (mounting space) 8f, and the developer supply container 1 is detachably mountable on the mounting portion 8 f. As shown in part (b) of fig. 31, the developer supply container 1 may be mounted on the mounting portion 8f in the direction indicated by the arrow M. Therefore, the longitudinal direction (rotational axis direction) of the developer supply container 1 is substantially the same as the direction of the arrow M. The direction of the arrow M is substantially parallel to a direction (to be described later) indicated by X of part (b) of fig. 33. In addition, the direction in which the developer supply container 1 is detached from the mounting portion 8f is opposite to the direction of arrow M.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 31, the mounting portion 8f is provided with a rotation regulating portion (holding mechanism) 29 for restricting movement of the flange portion 21 in the rotational movement direction by abutting against the flange portion 21 (fig. 32) of the developer supply container 1 when the developer supply container 1 is mounted. Further, as shown in part (b) of fig. 31, the mounting portion 8f is provided with a regulating portion (holding mechanism) 30 for regulating the movement of the flange portion 21 in the rotational axis direction by locking with the flange portion 21 of the developer supply container 1 when the developer supply container 1 is mounted. The rotational axis direction regulating portion 30 is elastically deformed by interference with the flange portion 21, and then, when the interference with the flange portion 21 is released, it elastically recovers so as to lock the flange portion 21 (resin material snap lock mechanism).

Further, the mounting portion 8f is provided with a developer receiving opening (developer receiving hole) 13 for receiving the developer discharged from the developer supply container 1, and the developer receiving opening is in fluid communication with a discharge opening (discharge port) 21a (fig. 33) of the developer supply container 1 when the developer supply container 1 is mounted thereon, as will be described later. The developer is supplied from the discharge opening 21a of the developer supply container 1 to the developing device 8 through the developer receiving opening 31. In this embodiment, the diameter of the developer receiving opening 31Approximately 2mm, which is the same as the diameter of the discharge opening 21a, in order to prevent contamination by the developer in the mounting portion 8f as much as possible.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 31, the mounting portion 8f is provided with a drive gear 300 serving as a drive mechanism (driver). The drive gear 300 receives a rotational force from the drive motor 500 through the drive gear group, and is used to apply the rotational force to the developer supply container 1, which developer supply container 1 is provided in the mounting portion 8 f.

As shown in fig. 32, the drive motor 500 is controlled by a control device (CPU) 600.

In this instance, the driving gear 300 may be rotated in one direction in order to simplify the control of the driving motor 500. The control device 600 controls only ON and OFF of the drive motor 500. This simplifies the driving mechanism for the developer replenishing apparatus 8, compared to a structure in which forward and backward driving forces are provided by periodically rotating the driving motor 500 (driving gear 300) in the forward and backward directions.

Developer supply container

The structure of the developer supply container 1, which developer supply container 1 is a constituent element of the developer supply system, will be described below with reference to fig. 32 and 33.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 32, the developer supply container 1 includes a developer accommodating portion 20 (container body), the developer accommodating portion 20 having a hollow cylindrical inner space for accommodating the developer. In this example, the cylindrical portion 20k and the pump portion 20b serve as the developer accommodating portion 20. Also, the developer supply container 1 is provided with a flange portion 21 (non-rotatable portion) at one end of the developer accommodating portion 20 with respect to the longitudinal direction (developer supply direction). The developer accommodating portion 20 is rotatable relative to the flange portion 21.

In this example, as shown in part (d) of fig. 33, the total length L1 of the cylindrical portion 20k serving as the developer accommodating portion is about 300mm, and the outer diameter R1 is about 70 mm. The total length L2 of the pump portion 20b (which is in a state of maximum expansion in the expandable range in use) is about 50mm, and the length L3 of the region where the gear portion 20a of the flange portion 21 is provided is about 20 mm. The length L4 of the area of the discharge portion 21h serving as the developer discharge portion was about 25 mm. The maximum outer diameter R2 of the pump portion 20b (in a state of maximum expansion in the expandable range in the radial direction in use) was about 65mm, and the total volume capacity of accommodating the developer in the developer supply container 1 was 1250cm³. In this example, the developer can be accommodated in the cylindrical portion 20k and the pump portion 20b and additionally in the discharge portion 21h, that is, they serve as a developer accommodating portion.

As shown in fig. 32, 33, in this example, in a state where the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8, the cylindrical portion 20k and the discharging portion 21h are substantially in a straight line in the horizontal direction. That is, the cylindrical portion 20k has a sufficiently long length in the horizontal direction compared to the length in the vertical direction, and one end portion in the horizontal direction is connected to the discharge portion 21 h. For this reason, the suction and discharge operations can be performed smoothly as compared with the case where the cylindrical portion 20k is above the discharge portion 21h in the state where the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8. This is because the amount of toner existing above the discharge opening 21a is smaller, and therefore the developer in the vicinity of the discharge opening 21a is less compressed. Therefore, in the suction operation, air can be easily sucked from the hopper 8g, and therefore, the backwashing effect for the ventilating member (filter) can be more effective.

As shown in part (b) of fig. 32, the flange portion 21 is provided with a hollow discharge portion (developer discharge chamber) 21h for temporarily storing the developer that has been fed from the inside (developer accommodating chamber inside) 20 of the developer accommodating portion (see parts (b) and (c) of fig. 33 as needed). The bottom portion of the discharge portion 21h is provided with a small discharge opening 21a for allowing the developer to be discharged to the outside of the developer supply container 1, that is, for supplying the developer into the developer receiving apparatus 8. The size of the discharge opening 21a is as described above.

The inner shape of the bottom portion of the interior of the discharge portion 21h (the interior of the developer discharge chamber) is similar to a hopper converging toward the discharge opening 21a in order to reduce the amount of developer remaining therein as much as possible (see parts (b) and (c) of fig. 34, when necessary).

The flange portion 21 is provided with a shutter 26 for opening and closing the discharge opening 21 a. The shutter 26 is disposed at such a position that, when the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the mounting portion 8f, it abuts on an abutting portion 8h (see part (b) of fig. 31, if necessary) provided in the mounting portion 8 f. Therefore, the shutter 26 slides relative to the developer supply container 1 in the rotational axis direction of the developer accommodating portion 20 (opposite to the direction of the arrow M) in accordance with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1 on the mounting portion 8 f. Therefore, the discharge opening 21a is exposed through the shutter 26, thereby completing the opening operation.

At this time, the discharge opening 21a is positionally aligned with the developer receiving opening 31 of the mounting portion 8f, so that they are in fluid communication with each other, thereby enabling the supply of the developer from the developer supply container 1.

The flange portion 21 is configured such that it is substantially stationary when the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8.

More specifically, as shown in part (c) of fig. 32, the flange portion 21 is regulated (prevented) from rotating in the rotational direction about the rotational axis of the developer accommodating portion 20 by a rotational movement direction regulating portion 29 provided in the mounting portion 8 f. In other words, the flange portion 21 is held such that it is substantially unable to rotate (although it can rotate in play) by the developer receiving apparatus 8.

Also, the flange portion 21 is locked by the rotational axis direction regulating portion 30 provided in the mounting portion 8f in accordance with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1. More specifically, the flange portion 21 is brought into contact with the rotation axis direction regulating portion 30 in the mounting operation process of the developer supply container 1 so as to elastically deform the rotation axis direction regulating portion 30. Then, the flange portion 21 abuts on the inner wall portion 28a (portion (d) of fig. 32), which inner wall portion 28a is a stopper provided in the mounting portion 8f, whereby the mounting step of the developer supply container 1 is completed. At this time, substantially at the same time as the completion of the mounting, the interference of the flange portion 21 is released, thereby releasing the elastic deformation of the regulating portion 30.

Therefore, as shown in part (d) of fig. 32, the rotation axis direction regulating portion 30 is locked with an edge portion (serving as a locking portion) of the flange portion 21, thereby substantially preventing (regulating) the movement in the rotation axis direction (the rotation axis direction of the developer accommodating portion 20). In this case, a slight and negligible movement can be performed within the play.

As described previously, in this example, the flange portion 21 is held by the rotational axis direction regulating portion 30 of the developer receiving apparatus 8 so that it does not move in the rotational axis direction of the developer accommodating portion 20. Also, the flange portion 21 is held by the rotational movement direction regulating portion 29 of the developer receiving apparatus 8 so that it does not rotate in the rotational movement direction of the developer accommodating portion 20.

When the operator takes out the developer supply container 1 from the mounting portion 8f, the rotational axis direction regulating portion 30 is elastically deformed by the flange portion 21 so as to be released from the flange portion 21. The rotational axis direction of the developer accommodating portion 20 is substantially coaxial with the rotational axis direction of the gear portion 20a (fig. 33).

Therefore, in a state where the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8, the discharge portion 21h provided in the flange portion 21 substantially prevents the movement of the developer accommodating portion 20 in the axial direction and in the rotational movement direction (allows movement within play).

On the other hand, the developer accommodating portion 20 is not restricted by the developer receiving apparatus 8 in the rotational movement direction and is therefore rotatable in the developer supplying step. However, the movement of the developer accommodating portion 20 in the rotational axis direction is substantially prevented (movement within play is allowed) by the flange portion 21.

Pump part

The pump section (reciprocatable pump) 20b, the volume of which is changed by the reciprocation, will be described below with reference to fig. 33 and 34. Part (a) of fig. 34 is a sectional view of the developer supply container 1 in which the pump portion 20b is expanded to the maximum extent in the operation of the developer supply step, and part (b) of fig. 34 is a sectional view of the developer supply container 1 in which the pump portion 20b is compressed to the maximum extent in the operation of the developer supply step.

The pump portion 20b of this example serves as a suction and discharge mechanism for alternately repeating a suction operation and a discharge operation through the discharge opening 21 a.

As shown in part (b) of fig. 33, the pump portion 20b is disposed between the discharge portion 21h and the cylindrical portion 20k, and is fixedly connected to the cylindrical portion 20 k. Therefore, the pump portion 20b is rotatable integrally with the cylindrical portion 20 k.

In the pump portion 20b of this example, the developer can be accommodated therein. The developer accommodating space in the pump portion 20b has an important function of fluidizing the developer in the suction operation, as described later.

In this example, the pump portion 20b is a positive displacement pump (bellows pump) of a resin material in which its volume is changed with reciprocating motion. More specifically, as shown in fig. 33 (a) - (b), the bellows pump includes periodic and alternating ridges and bottoms. The pump portion 20b repeats compression and expansion alternately by the driving force received from the developer receiving apparatus 8. In this example, the change in volume of the pump section 20b by expansion and contraction is 15cm³(cc). As shown in part (d) of fig. 33, the overall length L2 (maximum expanded state in the expanded and contracted range in operation) of the pump portion 20b is about 50mm, and the maximum outer diameter (maximum state in the expanded and contracted range in operation) of the pump portion 20b is about 65 mm.

By using such a pump portion 20b, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 (the developer accommodating portion 20 and the discharging portion 21 h) higher than the ambient pressure and the internal pressure lower than the ambient pressure are alternately and repeatedly generated at a predetermined cycle period (about 0.9 seconds in this example). The ambient pressure is the pressure of the ambient condition to which the developer supply container 1 is subjected. Therefore, the developer in the discharge portion 21h can be efficiently discharged through the small-diameter discharge opening 21a (having a diameter of about 2 mm).

As shown in part (b) of fig. 33, the pump portion 20b is connected with the discharge portion 21h rotatable relative thereto in a state where the end on the side of the discharge portion 21h is pressed against the annular seal member 27 provided on the inner surface of the flange portion 21.

Thus, the pump portion 20b is slidingly rotated on the seal member 27, and therefore, the developer does not leak from the pump portion 20b during the rotation, and the sealing property is maintained. Thus, the air appropriately enters and exits through the discharge opening 21 during the supplying operation, and the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 (the pump portion 20b, the developer accommodating portion 20, and the discharge portion 21 h) is appropriately changed.

Drive transmission mechanism

Next, a drive receiving mechanism (drive input portion, drive force receiving portion) of the developer supply container 1 for receiving a drive force for rotating the feeding portion 20c from the developer receiving apparatus 8 will be described.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 33, the developer supply container 1 is provided with a gear portion 20a, and this gear portion 20a functions as a drive receiving mechanism (drive input portion, drive force receiving portion) which can be engaged with (drive-connected to) a drive gear 300 (functions as a drive portion, drive mechanism) of the developer receiving apparatus 8. The gear portion 20a is fixed to one longitudinal end portion of the pump portion 20 b. Therefore, the gear portion 20a, the pump portion 20b, and the cylindrical portion 20k can rotate integrally.

Therefore, the rotational force input from the drive gear 300 to the gear portion 20a is transmitted to the cylindrical portion 20k (the feeding portion 20 c) of the pump portion 20 b.

In other words, in this example, the pump portion 20b functions as a drive transmission mechanism for transmitting the rotational force input to the gear portion 20a to the feeding portion 20c of the developer accommodating portion 20.

Therefore, the bellows-like pump portion 20b of this example is made of a resin material having high resistance to twisting or twisting about the axis within limits that do not adversely affect the expansion and contraction operations.

In this example, the gear portion 20a is provided at one longitudinal end portion (developer feeding direction) of the developer accommodating portion 20, that is, at the side end portion of the discharging portion 21h, but this is not essential, and for example, it may be provided in the other longitudinal end portion, that is, the rearmost portion, of the developer accommodating portion 2. In this case, the driving gear 300 is disposed at a corresponding position.

In this example, a gear mechanism is used as a drive connection mechanism between the drive input portion of the developer supply container 1 and the driver of the developer receiving apparatus 8, but this is not essential, and a known connection mechanism may be used, for example. More specifically, in this case, the structure may be such that a non-circular notch is provided in the bottom surface of one longitudinal end portion (the right-hand side end surface in (d) of fig. 33) as the drive input portion, and accordingly, a projection having a shape corresponding to the notch serves as the driver for the developer receiving apparatus 8, so that they are drive-connected to each other.

Drive conversion mechanism

A drive conversion mechanism (drive conversion portion) for the developer supply container 1 will be described below.

The developer supply container 1 is provided with a cam mechanism for converting a rotational force received by the gear portion 20a for rotating the feeding portion 20c into a force in the reciprocating direction of the pump portion 20 b. That is, in this example, an example in which a cam mechanism is used as the drive conversion mechanism will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this example, and other structures (such as embodiment 6) may be used.

In this example, one drive receiving portion (gear portion 20 a) receives a driving force for driving the feeding portion 20c and the pump portion 20b, and the rotational force received by the gear portion 20a is converted into a reciprocating force on the developer supply container 1 side.

Due to this structure, the structure of the drive input mechanism for the developer supply container 1 is simplified as compared with the case where the developer supply container 1 is provided with two separate drive input portions. In addition, the drive is received by a single drive gear of the developer receiving apparatus 8, and therefore the drive mechanism of the developer receiving apparatus 8 is also simplified.

In the case of receiving the reciprocating force from the developer receiving apparatus 8, the driving connection between the developer receiving apparatus 8 and the developer supply container 1 is liable to be inappropriate, and therefore the pump portion 20b is not driven. More specifically, when the developer supply container 1 is taken out from the image forming apparatus 100 and then mounted again, the pump portion 20b may not be reciprocated appropriately.

For example, when the driving input to the pump section 20b is stopped in a state where the pump section 20b is compressed from the normal length, the pump section 20b spontaneously returns to the normal length when the developer supply container is taken out. In this case, when the developer supply container 1 is taken out, the position of the drive input portion for the pump portion 20b is changed although the stop position of the drive output portion on the image forming apparatus 100 side remains unchanged. Therefore, the drive connection is not properly established between the drive output section on the image forming apparatus 100 side and the pump section 20b drive input section on the developer supply container 1 side, and therefore, the pump section 20b cannot reciprocate. At this time, the developer supply cannot be performed, and image formation will not be performed sooner or later.

Such a problem may similarly arise when the expansion and contraction state of the pump portion 20b is changed by the user while the developer supply container 1 is outside the apparatus.

Such a problem similarly arises when the developer supply container 1 is replaced with a new one.

The structure of this example is substantially free of such problems. As will be described in detail below.

As shown in fig. 33 and 34, the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 20k of the developer accommodating portion 20 is provided with a plurality of cam projections 20d substantially regularly spaced in the circumferential direction, and these cam projections 20d function as rotatable portions. More specifically, the two cam projections 20d are arranged on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 20k at diametrically opposite positions, that is, at positions opposed by approximately 180 °.

The number of the cam projections 20d may be at least one. However, this easily generates torque in the drive conversion mechanism or the like due to resistance when the pump portion 20b expands or contracts, and thus disturbs smooth reciprocating motion, so it is preferable that a plurality of cam projections be provided so as to maintain a relationship with the structure of the cam groove 21b (to be described later).

On the other hand, a cam groove 21b which engages with the cam boss 20d is formed in the inner surface of the flange portion 21 over the entire periphery, and it functions as a follower portion. The cam groove 21b will be described below with reference to fig. 35. In fig. 35, An arrow An indicates the rotational movement direction of the cylindrical portion 20k (the movement direction of the cam projection 20 d), An arrow B indicates the expansion direction of the pump portion 20B, and An arrow C indicates the compression direction of the pump portion 20B. In fig. 40, An arrow An indicates the rotational movement direction of the cylindrical portion 20k (the movement direction of the cam projection 20 d), An arrow B indicates the expansion direction of the pump portion 20B, and An arrow C indicates the compression direction of the pump portion 20B. Here, An angle α is formed between the cam groove 21c and the rotational movement direction An of the cylindrical portion 20k, and An angle β is formed between the cam groove 21d and the rotational movement direction a. Further, the amplitude of the cam groove in the expansion and contraction direction B, C of the pump portion 20b (= the expansion and contraction length of the pump portion 20 b) is L.

As shown in fig. 35 showing the cam groove 21b in an expanded view, a groove portion 21c inclined from the cylindrical portion 20k side toward the discharge portion 21h side and a groove portion 21d inclined from the discharge portion 21h side toward the cylindrical portion 20k side are alternately connected. In this example, the relationship between the angles of the cam grooves 21c, 21d is α = β.

Therefore, in this example, the cam boss 20d and the cam groove 21b function as a drive transmission mechanism to the pump portion 20 b. More specifically, the cam boss 20d and the cam groove 21b function as a mechanism for converting the rotational force received by the gear portion 20a from the drive gear 300 into a force in the reciprocating direction of the pump portion 20b (a force in the rotational axis direction of the cylindrical portion 20 k) and for transmitting the force to the pump portion 20 b.

More specifically, the cylindrical portion 20k rotates together with the pump portion 20b by the rotational force input to the gear portion 20a from the drive gear 300, and the cam boss 20d rotates by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20 k. Therefore, the pump portion 20b reciprocates together with the cylindrical portion 20k in the rotational axis direction (X direction of fig. 33) by the cam groove 21b engaging with the cam boss 20 d. The direction of arrow X is substantially parallel to the direction of arrow M of fig. 31 and 32.

In other words, the cam boss 20d and the cam groove 21b convert the rotational force input from the drive gear 300 so that the state in which the pump portion 20b is expanded (part (a) of fig. 34) and the state in which the pump portion 20b is contracted (part (b) of fig. 34) are alternately repeated.

Therefore, in this example, the pump portion 20b rotates together with the cylindrical portion 20k, and therefore, when the developer in the cylindrical portion 20k moves in the pump portion 20b, the developer can be stirred (loosened) by the rotation of the pump portion 20 b. In this example, the pump portion 20b is disposed between the cylindrical portion 20k and the discharge portion 21h, and therefore, an agitation action can be exerted on the developer fed to the discharge portion 21h, which is more advantageous.

Also, as described above, in this example, the cylindrical portion 20k reciprocates together with the pump portion 20b, and therefore, the reciprocating motion of the cylindrical portion 20k can agitate (loosen) the developer inside the cylindrical portion 20 k.

Set state of drive conversion mechanism

In this example, the drive conversion mechanism performs drive conversion such that the amount (per unit time) of the developer fed to the discharging portion 21h by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k is larger than the discharge amount (per unit time) discharged from the discharging portion 21h to the developer receiving apparatus 8 by the pump action.

This is because when the developer discharging power of the pump portion 20b is higher than the developer feeding power of the feeding portion 20c to the discharging portion 21h, the amount of the developer existing in the discharging portion 21h is gradually reduced. In other words, it avoids an extension of the time period required for supplying the developer from the developer supply container 1 to the developer receiving apparatus 8.

In the drive conversion mechanism of this example, the developer feeding amount to the discharging portion 21h by the feeding portion 20c is 2.0g/s, and the developer discharging amount to be discharged by the pump portion 20b is 1.2 g/s.

Further, in the drive conversion mechanism of this example, the drive conversion causes the pump portion 20b to reciprocate a plurality of times per one full rotation of the cylindrical portion 20 k. This is due to the following reason.

In the structure in which the cylindrical portion 20k rotates inside the developer receiving apparatus 8, it is preferable that the drive motor 500 be provided at an output required to make the cylindrical portion 20k constantly rotate stably. However, from the viewpoint of reducing the power consumption as much as possible in the image forming apparatus 100, it is preferable to minimize the output of the drive motor 500. The output required for driving the motor 500 is calculated from the rotational torque and the rotational frequency of the cylindrical portion 20k, and therefore, in order to reduce the output of the driving motor 500, the rotational frequency of the cylindrical portion 20k will be minimized.

However, in the case of this example, when the rotational frequency of the cylindrical portion 20k is lowered, the number of operations per unit time of the pump portion 20b is reduced, and therefore, the amount of developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 (per unit time) is reduced. In other words, the amount of developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 may not be sufficient to quickly satisfy the developer supply amount required by the main assembly of the image forming apparatus 100.

When the volume change amount of the pump portion 20b is increased, the developer discharge amount per unit cycle of the pump portion 20b can be increased, and thus the requirements of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus 100 can be satisfied, but this causes the following problems.

When the volume change amount of the pump portion 20b increases, the peak value of the internal pressure (positive pressure) of the developer supply container 1 in the discharging step increases, and therefore, the load required for the reciprocating movement of the pump portion 20b increases. In addition, at this time, clogging of the ventilation member (filter) in the discharge operation is larger.

Thus, in this example, the pump section 20b operates for a number of cycle periods per full revolution of the cylindrical section 20 k. Thus, the developer discharge amount per unit time can be increased without increasing the volume change amount of the pump portion 20b, as compared with the case where the pump portion 20b operates for one cycle period per one full rotation of the cylindrical portion 20 k. The rotational frequency of the cylindrical portion 20k can be reduced corresponding to an increase in the discharge amount of the developer.

The effect of performing a plurality of cycles per one full revolution of the cylindrical portion 20k has been tested for verification. In this test, the developer is filled into the developer supply container 1, and the developer discharge amount and the rotation torque of the cylindrical portion 20k are measured. Then, the output (= rotational torque x rotational frequency) of the drive motor 500 required to rotate the cylindrical portion 20k is calculated from the rotational torque of the cylindrical portion 20k and the preset rotational frequency of the cylindrical portion 20 k. The test conditions were: the number of operations of the pump section 20b per one full revolution of the cylindrical section 20k was 2, the rotational frequency of the cylindrical section 20k was 30rpm, and the volume change of the pump section 20b was 15cm³。

As a result of the verification test, the developer discharge amount from the developer supply container 1 was about 1.2 g/s. As a result of the calculation, the rotation torque (average torque in the normal state) of the cylinder portion 20k is 0.64N · m, and the output of the drive motor 500 is about 2W (motor load (W) =0.1047x rotation torque (N · m) x rotation frequency (rpm), where 0.1047 is a unit conversion coefficient).

A comparative experiment was performed in which the number of operations of the pump section 20b per one full revolution of the cylindrical section 20k was 1, the rotational frequency of the cylindrical section 20k was 60rpm, and the other conditions were the same as the above experiment. In other words, the developer discharge amount was the same as the above test, i.e., about 1.2 g/s.

As a result of the comparative test, the rotation torque of the cylindrical portion 20k (average torque in the normal state) was 0.66N · m and the output of the drive motor 500 was about 4W by calculation.

It has been confirmed from these experiments that the pump section 20b preferably performs a plurality of cycles per one full revolution of the cylindrical section 20 k. In other words, it has been confirmed that by doing so, the discharge performance of the developer supply container 1 can be maintained at a low rotational frequency of the cylindrical portion 20 k. With the structure of this example, the output required for driving the motor 500 can be low, and therefore the energy consumption of the main assembly of the image forming apparatus 100 can be reduced.

Further, with the structure of this example, the volume change amount does not increase, and therefore, the clogging degree of the ventilation member (filter) in the discharge operation does not change, and moreover, the number of switching times per unit time between the suction operation and the discharge operation increases, whereby the number of backwashing actions increases, and therefore the backwashing effect is more effective.

Position of drive switching mechanism

As shown in fig. 33 and 4, in this example, a drive conversion mechanism (a cam mechanism constituted by the cam projection 20d and the cam groove 21 b) is provided outside the developer accommodating portion 20. More specifically, the drive conversion mechanism is disposed at a position separated from the inner space of the cylindrical portion 20k, the pump portion 20b, and the flange portion 21 so that the drive conversion mechanism does not come into contact with the developer accommodated inside the cylindrical portion 20k, the pump portion 20b, and the flange portion 21.

In this way, it is possible to avoid a problem that may occur when the drive conversion mechanism is provided in the internal space of the developer accommodating portion 20. More specifically, the problem is that particles of the developer are subjected to heat and pressure to be softened due to the developer entering portion of the drive conversion mechanism, which generates slippage, and therefore, they are aggregated into lumps (coarse particles), or they enter the conversion mechanism to cause an increase in torque. These problems can be avoided.

Principle of discharging developer by pump section

Next, a step of partially supplying the developer by the pump will be described with reference to fig. 34.

In this example, as described later, the drive conversion of the rotational force is performed by the drive conversion mechanism so that the suction step (suction operation through the discharge opening 21 a) and the discharge step (discharge operation through the discharge opening 21 a) are alternately repeated. The suction step and the discharge step will be described below.

Step of inhalation

First, the suction step (suction operation through the discharge opening 21 a) is described.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 34, the suction operation is performed by expanding the pump portion 20b in the direction indicated by the arrow ω using the above-described drive conversion mechanism (cam mechanism). More specifically, by the suction operation, the volume of the portion (the pump portion 20b, the cylindrical portion 20k, and the flange portion 21) of the developer supply container 1 capable of accommodating the developer is increased.

At this time, the developer supply container 1 is substantially sealed except for the discharge opening 21a, and the discharge opening 21a is substantially blocked by the developer T. Therefore, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 decreases as the volume of the portion of the developer supply container 1 capable of accommodating the developer T increases.

At this time, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 is lower than the ambient pressure (external air pressure). Therefore, air outside the developer supply container 1 enters the developer supply container 1 through the discharge opening 21a by a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the developer supply container 1.

At this time, air is sucked from the outside of the developer supply container 1, and therefore, the developer T in the vicinity of the discharge opening 21a can be loosened (fluidized). More specifically, since air is immersed in the developer powder present in the vicinity of the discharge opening 21a, the bulk density of the developer powder T is reduced, and the developer is fluidized.

As a result, air is drawn into the developer supply container 1 through the discharge opening 21a, and therefore the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 varies around the ambient pressure (external air pressure), although the volume of the developer supply container 1 increases.

Thus, the developer T is not jammed or jammed in the discharge opening 21a by fluidization of the developer T, so that the developer can be smoothly discharged through the discharge opening 21a in a discharging operation (to be described later). Therefore, the amount of the developer T discharged through the discharge opening 21a (per unit time) can be maintained at a substantially constant level for a long time.

Discharging step

The discharging step (discharging operation through the discharge opening 21 a) will be described below.

As shown in part (b) of fig. 34, the discharge operation is performed by compressing the pump part 20b in the direction indicated by the arrow γ by the above-described drive conversion mechanism (cam mechanism). More specifically, by the discharging operation, the volume of the portion (the pump portion 20b, the cylindrical portion 20k, and the flange portion 21) of the developer supply container 1 capable of accommodating the developer is reduced. At this time, the developer supply container 1 is substantially sealed except for the discharge opening 21a, and the discharge opening 21a is substantially blocked by the developer T until the developer is discharged. Therefore, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 increases as the volume of the portion of the developer supply container 1 capable of accommodating the developer T decreases.

Since the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 is higher than the ambient pressure (external air pressure), the developer T is pushed out by the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the developer supply container 1, as shown in part (b) of fig. 34. That is, the developer T is discharged from the developer supply container 1 into the developer receiving apparatus 8. That is, the developer T is discharged from the developer supply container 1 into the developer replenishing apparatus 8.

Then, the air in the developer supply container 1 is also discharged together with the developer T, and therefore, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 is lowered.

As described above, according to this example, the discharge of the developer can be efficiently performed using one reciprocating type pump, and therefore the mechanism for the developer discharge can be simplified.

Conditions for setting cam groove

Next, a variation example of the setting condition of the cam groove 21b will be described with reference to fig. 36 to 41. Fig. 36 to 41 are developed views of the cam groove 3 b. The influence on the operating state of the pump portion 20b when the structure of the cam groove 21b is changed will be described below with reference to the development views of fig. 36 to 41.

Here, in each of fig. 36 to 41, an arrow a indicates a rotational movement direction of the developer accommodating portion 20 (a movement direction of the cam projection 20 d); arrow B indicates the direction of expansion of the pump portion 20B; and arrow C indicates the compression direction of the pump portion 20 b. Further, a groove portion of the cam groove 21b for causing the pump portion 20b to compress is denoted as a cam groove 21c, and a groove portion for causing the pump portion 20b to expand is denoted as a cam groove 21 d. Also, An angle formed between the cam groove 21c and the rotational movement direction An of the developer accommodating portion 20 is α; an angle formed between the cam groove 21d and the rotational movement direction An is β; the amplitude of the cam groove in the expansion and contraction direction B, C of the pump section 20b (the expansion and contraction length of the pump section 20 b) is L.

The expansion and contraction length L of the pump portion 20b will be described first.

For example, when the expansion and contraction length L is shortened, the volume change amount of the pump portion 20b is reduced, and thus the pressure difference from the outside air pressure is reduced. Then, the pressure applied to the developer in the developer supply container 1 is reduced, and therefore, the amount of developer discharged from the developer supply container 1 per one cycle period (one reciprocating movement, that is, one expansion and contraction operation of the pump portion 20 b) is reduced.

In view of this, as shown in fig. 36, when the amplitude L 'is selected to satisfy L' < L under the condition that the angles α and β are constant, the amount of the developer discharged when the pump portion 20b reciprocates once can be reduced as compared with the structure of fig. 35. In contrast, if L' > L, the developer discharge amount can be increased.

As for the angles α and β of the cam grooves, for example, when the angle is increased, if the rotation speed of the developer accommodating section 20 is constant, the moving distance of the cam projection 20d is increased when the developer accommodating section 20 rotates for a constant time, and therefore, the expansion and contraction speed of the pump section 20b is increased.

On the other hand, when the cam projection 20d moves in the cam groove 21b, the resistance received from the cam groove 21b is large, and thus the torque required for rotating the developer accommodating portion 20 increases.

Therefore, as shown in fig. 37, if the angle β ' of the cam groove 21d is selected to satisfy α ' > α and β ' > β, and the expansion and contraction length L is not changed, the expansion and contraction speed of the pump portion 20b can be increased as compared with the structure of fig. 40. Therefore, the number of times of the expansion and contraction operations of the pump portion 20b per one rotation of the developer accommodating portion 20 can be increased. Moreover, since the flow rate of air entering the developer supply container 1 through the discharge opening 21a is increased, the loosening effect on the developer existing in the vicinity of the discharge opening 21a is improved. By increasing the number of times of expansion and contraction of the pump portion 20b, the number of times of suction operation per unit time is increased, so that the number of times of backwashing action is increased, and therefore the backwashing effect is more effective.

In contrast, if the selection satisfies α '< α and β' < β, the rotation torque of the developer accommodating portion 20 can be reduced. When a developer having a higher flowability is used, for example, the expansion of the pump portion 20b tends to cause air to enter through the discharge opening 21a so as to blow out the developer existing in the vicinity of the discharge opening 21 a. Therefore, the developer may not be sufficiently accumulated in the discharge portion 21h, and thus the developer discharge amount is reduced. In this case, by reducing the expansion speed of the pump portion 20b according to the selection, the blowing out of the developer can be suppressed, so that the discharge power can be increased.

As shown in fig. 43, if the angle of the cam groove 21b is selected to satisfy α < β, the expansion speed of the pump section 20b can be increased compared to the compression speed. In contrast, as shown in fig. 40, when the angle α > the angle β, the expansion speed of the pump portion 20b can be reduced compared to the compression speed.

For example, when the developer is in a highly jammed state, the operating force of the pump portion 20b is larger in the compression stroke of the pump portion 20b than in the expansion stroke thereof. Therefore, the rotation torque of the developer accommodating portion 20 tends to be higher in the compression stroke of the pump portion 20 b. However, in this case, if the cam groove 21b is configured as shown in fig. 38, the developer loosening effect in the expansion stroke of the pump portion 20b can be improved as compared with the structure of fig. 40. In addition, the resistance that the cam boss 20d receives from the cam groove 21b is small in the compression stroke, and therefore the rotational torque in the compression of the pump portion 20b can be suppressed from increasing.

In this case, by the ventilation means (filter), air can be sucked in the backwashing direction at a higher flow rate than in the suction operation, and therefore the backwashing effect is more effective.

As shown in fig. 39, a cam groove 21e substantially parallel to the rotational movement direction (arrow An in the drawing) of the developer accommodating section 20 may be provided between the cam grooves 21c, 21 d. In this case, when the cam boss 20d moves in the cam groove 21e, the cam does not function, and therefore, it is possible to provide a step in which the pump section 20b does not perform the expansion and contraction operation.

By so doing, if a process is provided in which the pump portion 20b is stationary in the inflated state, the developer loosening effect is improved, and thereafter, in the initial stage of discharge, the developer is always present in the vicinity of the discharge opening 21a, and the pressure-reduced state in the developer supply container 1 is maintained in the stationary stage.

On the other hand, in the last part of the discharge, the developer is not sufficiently stored in the discharge portion 21h because the amount of the developer inside the developer supply container 1 is small, and because the developer existing in the vicinity of the discharge opening 21a is blown off by the air entering through the discharge opening 21 a.

In other words, the developer discharge amount tends to gradually decrease, but even in this case, the discharge portion 21h can be sufficiently filled with the developer by continuing to feed the developer by rotating the developer accommodating portion 20 in the stationary stage in the inflated state. Therefore, a stable developer discharge amount can be maintained until the developer supply container 1 is emptied.

Further, in the structure of fig. 35, by making the expansion and contraction length L of the cam groove longer, the developer discharge amount per one cycle of the pump portion 20b can be increased. However, in this case, the volume change amount of the pump portion 20b increases, and thus the pressure difference from the outside air pressure also increases. Therefore, the driving force required for driving the pump portion 20b also increases, and therefore there is a tendency that the driving load required for the developer receiving apparatus 8 is excessively large.

In this case, in order to increase the developer discharge amount per one cycle of the pump portion 20b without causing this problem, the angle of the cam groove 21b is selected to satisfy α > β, whereby the compression speed of the pump portion 20b can be increased as compared with the expansion speed, as shown in fig. 40.

A verification test was performed on the structure of fig. 40.

In the experiment, the developer was filled into the developer supply container 1 having the cam groove 21b shown in fig. 40, and the change in the volume of the pump portion 20b was performed in the order of the compression operation followed by the expansion operation, so as to discharge the developer; and the discharge amount is measured. The test conditions were: the pump portion 20b has a volume variation of 50cm³The compression speed of the pump section 20b is 180cm³S, expansion speed of the pump section 20b is 60cm³And s. The cycle period of operation of the pump section 20b is about 1.1 seconds.

The developer discharge amount was measured in the case of the structure of fig. 35. However, the compression speed and the expansion speed of the pump section 20b are 90cm³And the volume change amount of the pump portion 20b and one cycle period of the pump portion 20b are the same as in the example of fig. 40.

The results of the validation test will be described below. Part (a) of fig. 42 shows the change in the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 in the change in the volume of the pump portion 2 b. In part (a) of fig. 42, the abscissa represents time, and the ordinate represents the relative pressure (+ positive pressure side, -negative pressure side) with respect to the ambient pressure (reference (0)) in the developer supply container 1. Solid lines and broken lines are used for the developer supply container 1 having the cam groove 21b of fig. 40 and the cam groove 21b of fig. 35, respectively.

In the compression operation of the pump section 20b, in both examples, the internal pressure rises with the lapse of time and reaches a peak at the completion of the compression operation. At this time, the pressure in the developer supply container 1 changes within a positive range with respect to the ambient pressure (external air pressure), so the internal developer is pressurized, and the developer is discharged through the discharge opening 21 a.

Subsequently, in the expansion operation of the pump portion 20b, in both examples, the volume of the pump portion 20b is increased, so that the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 is decreased. At this time, the pressure in the developer supply container 1 changes from a positive pressure to a negative pressure with respect to the ambient pressure (external air pressure), and the pressure continues to be applied to the internal developer until air is sucked through the discharge opening 21a, and therefore, the developer is discharged through the discharge opening 21 a.

That is, in the volume change of the pump portion 20b, when the developer supply container 1 is in a positive pressure state, that is, when the internal developer is pressurized, the developer is discharged, and therefore, the developer discharge amount increases with the time-integrated amount of the pressure in the volume change of the pump portion 20 b.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 42, the peak pressure at the time of completion of the compression operation of the pump section 2b is 5.7kPa for the structure of fig. 40 and 5.4kPa for the structure of fig. 35, which is higher in the structure of fig. 40, although the volume change amount of the pump section 20b is the same. This is because the inside of the developer supply container 1 is sharply pressurized by increasing the compression speed of the pump portion 20b, and the developer is immediately collected to the discharge opening 21a, and thus the discharge resistance at the time of discharging the developer through the discharge opening 21a becomes large. This tendency is evident because the discharge opening 3a has a smaller diameter in both examples. Since the time required for one cycle period of the pump section is the same in both examples, as shown in (a) of fig. 42, the time integral amount of the pressure is larger in the example of fig. 40.

Table 3 below shows measurement data of the developer discharge amount operated per one cycle of the pump portion 20 b.

TABLE 3

	Developer discharge amount (g)
		FIG. 35 is a schematic view of a	3.4
FIG. 40	3.7
		FIG. 41	4.5

As shown in table 3, the developer discharge amount was 3.7g in the structure of fig. 40, and 3.4g in the structure of fig. 35, that is, it was larger in the case of the structure of fig. 40. From these results and the results shown in part (a) of fig. 42, it has been confirmed that the developer discharge amount per one cycle period of the pump portion 20b increases with the time-integrated amount of the pressure.

From the foregoing, the developer discharge amount per one cycle period of the pump portion 20b can be increased by making the compression speed of the pump portion 20b higher than the expansion speed and making the peak pressure in the compression operation of the pump portion 20b higher, as shown in fig. 40.

Another method for increasing the developer discharge amount per one cycle period of the pump portion 20b will be described below.

With the cam groove 21b shown in fig. 41, similarly to the case of fig. 39, a cam groove 21e substantially parallel to the rotational movement direction of the developer accommodating portion 20 is provided between the cam groove 21c and the cam groove 21 d. However, in the case of the cam groove 21b shown in fig. 41, the cam groove 21e is provided at a position where the operation of the pump portion 20b is stopped in a state where the pump portion 20b is compressed after the compression operation of the pump portion 20b in the circulation period of the pump portion 20 b.

With the structure of fig. 41, the developer discharge amount was similarly measured. In a proof test therefor, the compression speed and the expansion speed of the pump section 20b were 180cm³And/s, other conditions are the same as in the example of fig. 40.

The results of the validation test will be described below. Part (b) of fig. 42 shows a change in the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 in the expansion and contraction operation of the pump portion 2 b. Solid lines and broken lines are used for the developer supply container 1 having the cam groove 21b of fig. 41 and the developer supply container 1 having the cam groove 21b of fig. 40, respectively.

Also in the case of fig. 41, the internal pressure rises with the lapse of time during the compression operation of the pump portion 20b, and reaches a peak when the compression operation is completed. At this time, similarly to fig. 40, the pressure in the developer supply container 1 varies within a positive range, and therefore the internal developer is discharged. In the example of fig. 41, the compression speed of the pump section 20b is the same as that of the example of fig. 40, and therefore, the peak pressure at the time of completion of the compression operation of the pump section 20b is 5.7kPa, which is equal to that of the example of fig. 40.

Subsequently, when the pump portion 20b is stopped in the compressed state, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 gradually decreases. This is because the pressure generated by the compression operation of the pump portion 2b remains after the operation of the pump portion 2b is stopped, and the internal developer and air are discharged by the pressure. However, the internal pressure can be maintained at a higher level than in the case where the expansion operation is started immediately after the compression operation is completed, and therefore, a larger amount of developer is discharged in the process.

When the expansion operation is then started, similarly to the example of fig. 40, the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 is lowered, and the developer is discharged until the pressure in the developer supply container 1 becomes a negative value because the internal developer continues to be pressurized.

When the time-integrated values of the pressures are compared, as shown in part (b) of fig. 42, it is larger in the case of fig. 41 because the higher internal pressure is maintained in the stationary phase of the pump portion 20b under the condition that the duration in the unit cycle period of the pump portion 20b is the same in these examples.

As shown in table 3, the measured developer discharge amount per one cycle period of the pump portion 20b was 4.5g in the case of fig. 41, which was larger than the case (3.7 g) of fig. 40. It has been confirmed from the results of table 3 and the results shown in part (b) of fig. 42 that the developer discharge amount per one cycle period of the pump portion 20b increases with the time-integrated amount of the pressure.

Therefore, in the example of fig. 41, after the compression operation, the operation of the pump portion 20b is stopped in the compressed state. Therefore, in the compression operation of the pump portion 2b, the peak pressure in the developer supply container 1 is high, and the pressure is maintained at a level as high as possible, whereby the developer discharge amount per one cycle of the pump portion 20b can be further increased.

As described above, by changing the structure of the cam groove 21b, the discharge power of the developer supply container 1 can be adjusted, and therefore, the apparatus of this embodiment can respond to the amount of developer required by the developer receiving apparatus 8, the characteristics of the developer used, and the like.

In fig. 35 to 41, the discharge operation and the suction operation of the pump portion 20b are alternately performed, but the discharge operation and/or the suction operation may be temporarily stopped in the middle, and may be restarted a predetermined time after the discharge operation and/or the suction operation.

For example, it is optional that the discharge operation of the pump section 20b is not monotonously performed, but the compression operation of the pump section is temporarily stopped in the middle, and then the compression operation is performed for discharge. The same is true for the suction operation. Also, the discharging operation and/or the sucking operation may be of a multi-stage type as long as the developer discharging amount and the discharging speed are satisfied. Therefore, even when the discharge operation and/or the suction operation are divided into a plurality of stages, it is still the case that the discharge operation and the suction operation are alternately repeated.

As shown in fig. 67, an agitation bar 20x extending in the axial direction of the cylindrical portion 20k may be provided on the inner surface of the gear 20a so as to pass through a position directly above the discharge opening 21 a. Here, part (a) of fig. 67 is a perspective view showing the inside of the developer supply container, and (b) is a sectional view of the developer supply container.

The stirring rod 20x rotates integrally with the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k, whereby the developer layer present at a position directly above the discharge opening 21a becomes loose. Therefore, even if the bulk density of the developer layer in the discharge portion 21h is high, the developer can be discharged after being loosened. In other words, the above-described developer loosening effect caused by the suction operation (decompression) of the pump can be enhanced.

The position of the stirring rod 20x with respect to the rotational movement direction of the cylindrical portion 20k is as follows. Preferably, the stirring rod 20x is positioned such that it is closest to the discharge opening 21a at the timing during contraction of the pump portion 20b, or it is closest to the discharge opening 21a at the timing during expansion of the pump portion 20 b. This is because the loosening effect on the developer on the discharge opening 21a during the operation of the pump 20b is thus high.

Further, by providing the agitating bar 20x, the developer on the discharge opening 21a can be loosened more during the suction operation, so that the amount of air sucked through the discharge opening 21a during the suction operation is increased accordingly. Therefore, the amount of air flowing through the air-breather member (filter) in the backwashing direction during the suction operation increases, and therefore the backwashing effect is more effective.

As described above, also in this embodiment, one pump is sufficient to perform the suction operation and the discharge operation, and therefore the structure of the developer discharge mechanism can be simplified. In addition, by the suction operation through the discharge opening, a pressure-reduced state (negative pressure state) can be provided in the developer supply container, and therefore the developer can be loosened efficiently.

Further, in this example, the driving force for rotating the feeding portion (the spiral projection 20 c) and the driving force for reciprocating the pump portion (the bellows-shaped pump portion 20 b) are received by a single drive input portion (the gear portion 20 a). Therefore, the structure of the drive input mechanism of the developer supply container can be simplified. In addition, by providing a single driving mechanism (driving gear 300) in the developer receiving apparatus, a driving force is applied to the developer supply container, and therefore the driving mechanism for the developer receiving apparatus can be simplified. Further, the developer supply container can be positioned with respect to the developer receiving apparatus using a simple and easy mechanism.

With the structure of this example, the rotational force received from the developer receiving apparatus for rotating the feeding portion is converted by the drive conversion mechanism of the developer supply container, whereby the pump portion can be reciprocated appropriately. In other words, in the system in which the developer supply container receives the reciprocating force from the developer receiving apparatus, the proper driving of the pump portion is ensured.

Example 6

The structure of embodiment 6 will be described below with reference to fig. 43 (parts (a) and (b)). Part (a) of fig. 43 is a schematic perspective view of the developer supply container 1, part (b) of fig. 43 is a schematic sectional view showing a state in which the pump portion 20b is expanded, and (c) is a schematic perspective view around the regulating member 56. In this example, the same reference numerals as in the foregoing embodiment are assigned to elements having corresponding functions in this embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In this example, the drive conversion mechanism (cam mechanism) is provided together with the pump portion 20b at a position separated from the cylindrical portion 20k with respect to the rotational axis direction of the developer supply container 1, which is obviously different from embodiment 5. The other structure is substantially similar to that of embodiment 5.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 43, in this example, the cylindrical portion 20k that feeds the developer toward the discharge portion 21h by rotating includes a cylindrical portion 20k1 and a cylindrical portion 20k 2. The pump portion 20b is disposed between the cylindrical portion 20k1 and the cylindrical portion 20k 2.

A cam flange portion 15 serving as a drive conversion mechanism is provided at a position corresponding to the pump portion 20 b. The inner surface of the cam flange portion 15 is provided with a cam groove 15a extending over the entire periphery, as in embodiment 5. On the other hand, the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 20k2 is provided with a cam boss 20d serving as a drive conversion mechanism, and is locked with the cam groove 15 a.

Further, the developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with a portion similar to the rotational movement direction regulating portion 29 (fig. 31) serving as a holding portion for the cam flange portion 15 so as to prevent rotation. Also, the developer receiving apparatus 8 is provided with a portion similar to the rotational movement direction regulating portion 30 (fig. 31) which serves as a holding portion for the cam flange portion 15 so as to prevent rotation.

Therefore, when the rotational force is input to the gear portion 20a, the pump portion 20b reciprocates in the ω and γ directions together with the cylindrical portion 20k 2.

In addition, also in the case where the pump portion 20b is arranged at the position of the divided cylindrical portion, the pump portion 20b can reciprocate by the rotational driving force received from the developer receiving apparatus 8, as in embodiment 5.

Here, the structure of embodiment 5 (in which the pump portion 20b is directly connected to the discharge portion 21 h) is preferable from the viewpoint of enabling the pumping action of the pump portion 20b to be efficiently applied to the developer stored in the discharge portion 21 h.

In addition, the present embodiment requires an additional cam flange portion (drive conversion mechanism) 15, which must be held substantially stationary by the developer receiving apparatus 8. Moreover, this embodiment requires an additional mechanism for restricting the movement of the cam flange portion 15 in the rotational axis direction of the cylindrical portion 20k in the developer receiving apparatus 8. Therefore, in view of such complexity, the structure of embodiment 5 using the flange portion 21 is preferable.

This is because in embodiment 5, the flange portion 21 is supported by the developer receiving apparatus 8 so as to make the position of the discharge opening 21a substantially stationary, and one of the cam mechanisms constituting the drive conversion mechanism is provided in the flange portion 21. That is, the drive conversion mechanism is simplified in this way.

Example 7

The structure of embodiment 7 will be described with reference to fig. 44. In this example, the same reference numerals as in the foregoing embodiment are assigned to elements having corresponding functions in the present embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

This example is clearly different from embodiment 5 in that a drive conversion mechanism (cam mechanism) is provided at the upstream end of the developer supply container 1 with respect to the developer feeding direction, and the developer in the cylindrical portion 20k is fed using the stirring member 20 m. The other structure is substantially similar to that of embodiment 5.

As shown in fig. 51, in this example, the stirring member 20m is provided in the cylindrical portion 2kt as a feeding portion, and rotates relative to the cylindrical portion 20 k. The stirring member 20m is rotated relative to the cylindrical portion 20k fixed non-rotatably on the developer receiving apparatus 8 by the rotational force received by the gear portion 20a, whereby the developer is fed toward the discharging portion 21h in the rotational axis direction while being stirred. More specifically, the stirring member 20m is provided with a shaft portion and a feeding blade portion fixed to the shaft portion.

In this example, a gear portion 20a as a drive input portion is provided at one longitudinal end portion (right-hand side in fig. 44) of the developer supply container 1, the gear portion 20a being coaxially connected with the stirring member 20 m.

In addition, a hollow cam flange portion 21i integral with the gear portion 20a is provided at one longitudinal end portion of the developer supply container (right-hand side in fig. 44) so as to rotate coaxially with the gear portion 20 a. The cam flange portion 21i is provided with a cam groove 21b, the cam groove 21b extending in the inner surface over the entire inner periphery, and the cam groove 21b is engaged with two cam projections 20d provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 20k and at substantially diametrically opposite positions, respectively.

One end portion (discharge portion 21h side) of the cylindrical portion 20k is fixed to the pump portion 20b, and the pump portion 20b is fixed at one end portion thereof (discharge portion 21h side) to the flange portion 21. They are fixed by welding methods. Therefore, in a state of being mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8, the pump portion 20b and the cylindrical portion 20k are substantially non-rotatable with respect to the flange portion 21.

Also in this example, similarly to embodiment 5, when the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8, the flange portion 21 (the discharging portion 21 h) is prevented from moving in the rotational movement direction and the rotational axis direction by the developer receiving apparatus 8.

Therefore, when a rotational force is input from the developer receiving apparatus 8 to the gear portion 20a, the cam flange portion 21i rotates together with the stirring member 20 m. Accordingly, the cam boss 20d is driven by the cam groove 21b of the cam flange portion 21i to reciprocate the cylindrical portion 20k in the rotational axis direction, thereby expanding and contracting the pump portion 20 b.

Thus, by the rotation of the stirring member 20m, the developer is fed to the discharging portion 21h, and the developer in the discharging portion 21h is finally discharged through the discharging opening 21a by the suction and discharge operation of the pump portion 20 b.

In addition, in the structure of this example, similarly to embodiments 5 to 6, the rotation operation of the stirring member 20m provided in the cylindrical portion 20k and the reciprocation of the pump portion 20b can be performed by the rotational force received by the gear portion 20a from the developer receiving apparatus 8.

In the case of this example, the stress applied to the developer at the cylindrical portion 20t in the developer feeding step tends to be large, and the driving torque is relatively large, and from such a viewpoint, the structures of embodiment 5 and embodiment 6 are preferable.

Example 8

The structure of embodiment 8 will be described below with reference to fig. 45 (parts (a) - (e)). Part (a) of fig. 45 is a schematic perspective view of the developer supply container 1, (b) is an enlarged sectional view of the developer supply container 1, and (c) - (d) are enlarged perspective views of the cam portion. In this example, the same reference numerals as in the foregoing embodiment are assigned to elements having corresponding functions in this embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

This example is basically the same as embodiment 5 except that the pump portion 20b is made non-rotatable by the developer receiving apparatus 8.

In this example, as shown in parts (a) and (b) of fig. 45, the relay section 20f is provided between the pump section 20b and the cylindrical section 20k of the developer accommodating section 20. The relay section 20f is provided on its outer surface with two cam projections 20d at positions substantially diametrically opposite to each other, and one end thereof (the discharge section 21h side) is connected to and fixed to the pump section 20b (welding method).

The other end (the discharge portion 21h side) of the pump portion 20b is fixed to the flange portion 21 (welding method), and in a state where it is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8, it is substantially non-rotatable.

The seal member 27 is compressed between the cylindrical portion 20k and the relay portion 20f, and the cylindrical portion 20k is integrated so as to be rotatable with respect to the relay portion 20 f. The outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion 20k is provided with a rotation receiving portion (projection) 20g for receiving a rotational force from the cam gear portion 7, as will be described later.

On the other hand, a cylindrical cam gear portion 7 is provided so as to cover the outer surface of the relay portion 20 f. The cam gear portion 7 is engaged with the flange portion 21 so as to be substantially stationary (allowing movement within the play limit) and rotatable relative to the flange portion 21.

As shown in part (c) of fig. 45, the cam gear portion 7 is provided with: a gear portion 7a as a drive input portion for receiving a rotational force from the developer receiving apparatus 8; and a cam groove 7b, the cam groove 7b being engaged with the cam boss 20 d. In addition, as shown in part (d) of fig. 45, the cam gear portion 7 is provided with a rotation engaging portion (notch) 7c that engages with the rotation receiving portion 20g so as to rotate together with the cylindrical portion 20 k. Therefore, with the above-described engagement relationship, the rotation engaging portion (notch) 7c is allowed to move in the rotational axis direction relative to the rotation receiving portion 20g, but it can be rotated integrally in the rotational movement direction.

The developer supply step of the developer supply container 1 in this example will be described below.

When the gear portion 7a receives the rotational force from the drive gear 300 of the developer receiving apparatus 8 and the cam gear portion 7 rotates, the cam gear portion 7 rotates together with the cylindrical portion 20k due to the meshing relationship with the rotation receiving portion 20g by the rotation meshing portion 7 c. That is, the rotation engaging portion 7c and the rotation receiving portion 20g serve to transmit the rotational force received by the gear portion 7a from the developer receiving apparatus 8 to the cylindrical portion 20k (feeding portion 20 c).

On the other hand, similar to embodiments 5 to 7, when the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8, the flange portion 21 is non-rotatably supported by the developer receiving apparatus 8, and therefore, the pump portion 20b and the relay portion 20f fixed to the flange portion 21 are also non-rotatable. In addition, the movement of the flange portion 21 in the rotational axis direction is prevented by the developer receiving apparatus 8.

Therefore, when the cam gear portion 7 rotates, a cam action is generated between the cam groove 7b of the cam gear portion 7 and the cam boss 20d of the relay portion 20 f. Therefore, the rotational force input from the developer receiving apparatus 8 to the gear portion 7a is converted into a force that causes the relay portion 20f and the cylindrical portion 20k to reciprocate in the rotational axis direction of the developer accommodating portion 20. Therefore, the pump portion 20b fixed to the flange portion 21 at one end position (left side in part (b) of fig. 45) with respect to the reciprocating direction expands and contracts in association with the reciprocating movement of the relay portion 20f and the cylindrical portion 20k, thereby performing a pump operation.

In this way, by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k, the developer is fed to the discharging portion 21h through the feeding portion 20c, and the developer in the discharging portion 21h is finally discharged through the discharging opening 21a by the suction and discharge operation of the pump portion 20 b.

In addition, in this example, the rotational force received from the developer receiving apparatus 8 is transmitted and simultaneously converted into a force that rotates the cylindrical portion 20k and a force that reciprocates (expands and contracts) the pump portion 20b in the rotational axis direction.

Therefore, also in this example, similarly to embodiments 5 to 7, by the rotational force received from the developer receiving apparatus 8, the rotating operation of the cylindrical portion 20k (feeding portion 20 c) and the reciprocating movement of the pump portion 20b can be performed.

Example 9

Embodiment 9 will be described below with reference to parts (a) and (b) of fig. 46. Part (a) of fig. 46 is a schematic perspective view of the developer supply container 1, and part (b) is an enlarged sectional view of the developer supply container. In this example, the same reference numerals as those of the foregoing embodiments are assigned to elements having corresponding functions in the present embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

The example differs clearly from example 5 in that: the rotational force received from the drive gear 300 of the developer receiving apparatus 8 is converted into a reciprocating force for reciprocating the pump portion 20b, and then the reciprocating force is converted into a rotational force by which the cylindrical portion 20k is rotated.

In this example, as shown in part (b) of fig. 46, the relay portion 20f is provided between the pump portion 20b and the cylindrical portion 20 k. The relay section 20f includes two cam projections 20d at substantially diametrically opposite positions, and one end sides (discharge section 21h sides) thereof are connected to and fixed to the pump section 20b by a welding method.

One end (the discharge portion 21h side) of the pump portion 20b is fixed to the flange portion 21 (welding method), and in a state where it is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8, it is substantially non-rotatable.

The seal member 27 is compressed between one end portion of the cylindrical portion 20k and the relay portion 20f, and the cylindrical portion 20k is integrated so that it can rotate relative to the relay portion 20 f. The outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion 20k is provided with two cam projections 20i at substantially diametrically opposite positions, respectively.

On the other hand, the cylindrical cam gear portion 7 is provided so as to cover the outer surfaces of the pump portion 20b and the relay portion 20 f. The cam gear portion 7 is engaged so that it is not movable relative to the flange portion 21 in the rotational axis direction of the cylindrical portion 20k, but it is rotatable relative to the flange portion 21. Similarly to embodiment 8, the cam gear portion 7 is provided with: a gear portion 7a as a drive input portion for receiving a rotational force from the developer receiving apparatus 8; and a cam groove 18b, the cam groove 18b being engaged with the cam boss 20 d.

Further, a cam flange portion 15 is provided, and the cam flange portion 15 covers the outer surfaces of the relay portion 20f and the cylindrical portion 20 k. When the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8, the cam flange portion 15 is substantially immovable. The cam flange portion 15 is provided with a cam boss 20i and a cam groove 15 a.

The developer supply step in this example will be described below.

The gear portion 7a receives a rotational force from the drive gear 300 of the developer receiving apparatus 8, by which the cam gear portion 7 is rotated. The gear portion 18a receives a rotational force from the drive gear 300 of the developer replenishing apparatus 8, by which the cam gear portion 18 is rotated. Then, since the pump section 20b and the relay section 20f are non-rotatably held by the flange section 21, a cam action is produced between the cam groove 7b of the cam gear section 7 and the cam boss 20d of the relay section 20 f.

More specifically, the rotational force input from the developer receiving apparatus 8 to the gear portion 7a is converted into a reciprocating force that reciprocates the relay portion 20f in the rotational axis direction of the cylindrical portion 20 k. Therefore, the pump portion 20b fixed at one end (left side of the portion (b) of fig. 46) with respect to the reciprocating direction on the flange portion 21 expands and contracts in association with the reciprocating movement of the relay portion 20f, thereby performing a pump operation.

When the relay portion 20f reciprocates, the cam action works between the cam groove 15a of the cam flange portion 15 and the cam boss 20i, whereby the force in the rotational axis direction is converted into the force in the rotational movement direction, and the force is transmitted to the cylindrical portion 20 k. Thus, the cylindrical portion 20k (the feeding portion 20 c) rotates. In this way, by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k, the developer is fed to the discharging portion 21h through the feeding portion 20c, and the developer in the discharging portion 21h is finally discharged through the discharging opening 21a by the suction and discharge operation of the pump portion 20 b.

In addition, in this example, the rotational force received from the developer receiving apparatus 8 is converted into a force that causes the pump portion 20b to reciprocate (expand and contract operation) in the rotational axis direction, and then, the force is converted into a force that causes the cylindrical portion 20k to rotate, and is transmitted.

Therefore, also in this example, similarly to embodiments 5 to 8, by the rotational force received from the developer receiving apparatus 8, the rotating operation of the cylindrical portion 20k (feeding portion 20 c) and the reciprocating movement of the pump portion 20b can be performed.

However, in this example, the rotational force input from the developer receiving apparatus 8 is converted into the reciprocating force and then into the force in the rotational movement direction, with the result that the structure of the drive conversion mechanism is complicated, and therefore, embodiments 5 to 8 which do not require re-conversion are preferable.

Example 10

Embodiment 10 will be described below with reference to parts (a) - (b) of fig. 47 and (a) - (d) of fig. 48. Part (a) of fig. 47 is a schematic perspective view of the developer supply container, part (b) is an enlarged sectional view of the developer supply container 1, and parts (a) - (d) of fig. 48 are enlarged views of the drive conversion mechanism. In parts (a) - (d) of fig. 48, the gear ring 60 and the rotary engagement portion 8b are shown as always assuming a top position to better illustrate their operation. In this example, the same reference numerals as those of the foregoing embodiments are assigned to elements having corresponding functions in the present embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In this example, the drive conversion mechanism uses a helical gear as compared with the foregoing example.

As shown in part (b) of fig. 47, the relay portion 20f is provided between the pump portion 20b and the cylindrical portion 20 k. The relay portion 20f is provided with an engaging projection 20h, and the engaging projection 20h is engaged with a connecting portion 62 (described later).

The seal member 27 is compressed between the discharge portion 21h side top of the cylindrical portion 20k and the relay portion 20f, and the cylindrical portion 20k may be integrated so as to be rotatable with respect to the relay portion 20 f. An outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion 20k is provided with a rotation receiving portion (projection) 20g for receiving a rotational force from a gear ring 60 (to be described later).

On the other hand, a cylindrical gear ring 60 is provided to cover the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 20 k. The gear ring 60 is rotatable relative to the flange portion 21.

As shown in parts (a) and (b) of fig. 47, the gear ring 60 includes: a gear portion 60a for transmitting a rotational force to a bevel gear 61 (described later); and a rotation engaging portion (notch) 60b for engaging with the rotation receiving portion 20g so as to rotate together with the cylindrical portion 20 k. Through the above-described engagement relationship, the rotation engaging portion (notch) 60b can move in the rotational axis direction relative to the rotation receiving portion 20g, but it can rotate integrally in the rotational movement direction.

On the outer surface of the flange portion 21, a helical gear 61 is provided rotatably with respect to the flange portion 21. Also, the helical gear 61 and the engaging protrusion 20h are connected by the connecting portion 62.

The developer supply step of the developer supply container 1 will be described below.

When the cylindrical portion 20k is rotated by the gear portion 20a of the developer accommodating portion 20 receiving the rotational force from the drive gear 300 of the developer receiving apparatus 8, the gear ring 60 is rotated together with the cylindrical portion 20k because the cylindrical portion 20k is engaged with the gear ring 60 by the receiving portion 20 g. That is, the rotation receiving portion 20g and the rotation engaging portion 60b serve to transmit the rotational force input from the developer receiving apparatus 8 to the gear portion 20a and to the gear ring 60.

On the other hand, when the gear ring 60 rotates, the rotational force is transmitted from the gear portion 60a to the helical gear 61, so that the helical gear 61 rotates. The rotation of the helical gear 61 is converted into the reciprocating motion of the engaging protrusion 20h by the connecting portion 62, as shown in parts (a) to (d) of fig. 48. Thereby, the relay section 20f having the engaging projection 20h reciprocates. Therefore, the pump section 20b expands and contracts in association with the reciprocating motion of the relay section 20f so as to perform a pump operation.

Therefore, also in this example, similarly to embodiments 5 to 9, by receiving the rotational force from the developer receiving apparatus 8, the rotation operation of the cylindrical portion 20k (feeding portion 20 c) and the reciprocating movement of the pump portion 20b can be performed.

In the case of the drive conversion mechanism using a helical gear, the number of parts is increased, and therefore the structures of embodiments 5 to 9 are preferable.

Example 11

The structure of embodiment 11 will be described below with reference to fig. 49 (parts (a) - (c)). Part (a) of fig. 49 is an enlarged perspective view of the drive conversion mechanism, and (b) - (c) are enlarged views thereof as seen from the top. In this example, the same reference numerals as in the foregoing embodiment are assigned to elements having corresponding functions in this embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In parts (b) and (c) of fig. 49, the gear ring 60 and the rotation engaging part 60b are schematically shown at the top for convenience of illustrating the operation.

In this embodiment, the drive conversion mechanism includes a magnet (magnetic field generating means), which is significantly different from the other embodiments.

As shown in fig. 49 (fig. 48, when necessary), the helical gear 61 is provided with a magnet in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the engaging projection 20h of the relay portion 20f is provided with a bar magnet 64, the magnetic pole of which bar magnet 64 is directed to the magnet 63. The rectangular parallelepiped magnet 63 has an N-pole at one longitudinal end thereof and an S-pole at the other end thereof, and its orientation is changed as the helical gear 61 rotates. The bar magnet 64 has an S pole at one longitudinal end adjacent to the outside of the container and an N pole at the other end, which is movable in the direction of the rotation axis. The magnet 64 is non-rotatable by means of an elongated guide groove formed in the outer peripheral surface of the flange portion 21.

With such a structure, when the magnet 63 is rotated by the rotation of the helical gear 61, the magnetic poles face the magnet and are exchanged, and thus attraction and repulsion are alternately repeated between the magnet 63 and the magnet 64. Therefore, the pump section 20b fixed to the relay section 20f reciprocates in the rotational axis direction.

As described above, also in this embodiment, one pump is sufficient to perform the suction operation and the discharge operation, and therefore the structure of the developer discharge mechanism can be simplified. Moreover, by the suction operation through the discharge opening, a pressure-reduced state (negative pressure state) can be provided in the developer supply container, and therefore the developer can be loosened efficiently.

As described previously, in this embodiment, similarly to embodiments 5 to 10, both the rotation operation of the feeding portion 20c (cylindrical portion 20 k) and the reciprocation of the pump portion 20b are performed by the rotational force received from the developer receiving apparatus 8.

In this example, the helical gear 61 is provided with a magnet, but this is not necessarily so, and other means using magnetic force (magnetic field) may be applied.

From the viewpoint of certainty of drive switching, embodiments 5 to 10 are preferable. In the case where the developer contained in the developer supply container 1 is a magnetic developer (one-component magnetic toner, two-component magnetic carrier), there is a tendency that the developer is trapped in the container inner wall portion near the magnet. Thus, the amount of developer remaining in the developer supply container 1 may be large, and from this viewpoint, the structures of examples 5 to 10 are preferable.

Example 12

Embodiment 12 will be described below with reference to parts (a) - (c) of fig. 50 and parts (a) - (b) of fig. 51. Part (a) of fig. 50 is a schematic view showing the inside of the developer supply container 1, (b) is a sectional view of a state where the pump portion 20b is expanded to the maximum in the developer supply step, and (c) is a sectional view of the developer supply container 1 where the pump portion 20b is compressed to the maximum in the developer supply step. Part (a) of fig. 51 is a schematic view showing the inside of the developer supply container 1, (b) is a perspective view of the rear end portion of the cylindrical portion 20k, and (c) is a schematic perspective view around the regulating member 56. In this example, the same reference numerals as in the foregoing embodiment are assigned to elements having corresponding functions in this embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

The structure of this embodiment differs significantly from the above embodiment in that: the pump portion 20b is provided at the front end portion of the developer supply container 1, and the pump portion 20b has no function of transmitting the rotational force received from the drive gear 300 to the cylindrical portion 20 k. More specifically, the pump portion 20b is disposed outside the drive conversion path of the drive conversion mechanism, that is, outside the drive transmission path extending from the connecting portion 20s (portion (b) of fig. 58) which connecting portion 20s receives the rotational force from the drive gear 300 to the cam groove 20 n.

The use of this structure is made in consideration of such a situation that, with the structure of embodiment 5, after the rotational force input from the drive gear 300 is transmitted to the cylindrical portion 20k through the pump portion 20b, it is converted into the reciprocating force, and therefore, the pump portion 20b always receives the rotational movement direction force in the developer supplying step operation. There is a tendency that the pump portion 20b is twisted in the rotational movement direction in the developer supplying step, thereby impairing the pump function. Which will be described in detail below.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 50, an opening portion of one end portion (discharge portion 21h side) of the pump portion 20b is fixed on the flange portion 21 (welding method), and the pump portion 20b is substantially not rotatable relative to the flange portion 21 when the container is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8.

On the other hand, the cam flange portion 15 is provided so as to cover the outer surface of the flange portion 21 and/or the cylindrical portion 20k, and this cam flange portion 15 functions as a drive conversion mechanism. As shown in fig. 50, the inner surface of the cam flange portion 15 is provided with two cam projections 15a at diametrically opposite positions, respectively. In addition, the cam flange portion 15 is fixed to a closed side (a side opposite to the discharge portion 21 h) of the pump portion 20 b.

On the other hand, the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 20k is provided with a cam groove 20n, the cam groove 20n serves as a drive conversion mechanism, the cam groove 20n extends over the entire periphery, and the cam boss 15a engages with the cam groove 20 n.

Also, in this embodiment, unlike embodiment 5, as shown in part (b) of fig. 51, one end surface (upstream side with respect to the developer feeding direction) of a cylindrical portion 20k is provided with a non-circular (rectangular in this example) convex connecting portion 20a serving as a drive input portion. On the other hand, the developer receiving apparatus 8 includes a non-circular (rectangular) female coupling portion for driving coupling with the male coupling portion 20a to apply a rotational force. Similarly to embodiment 5, the female connecting portion 20s is driven by the drive motor 500.

In addition, similarly to embodiment 5, the flange portion 21 is prevented from moving in the rotational axis direction and from moving in the rotational movement direction by the developer receiving apparatus 8. On the other hand, the cylindrical portion 20k is connected to the flange portion 21 by a seal member 27, and the cylindrical portion 20k is rotatable with respect to the flange portion 21. The seal member 27 is a sliding type seal member which prevents air (developer) from leaking in and out between the cylindrical portion 20k and the flange portion 21 (within a range that does not affect supply of the developer using the pump portion 20 b), and allows the cylindrical portion 20k to rotate. It will be appreciated that the backwashing effect of the aeration means (filter) is not adversely affected.

The developer supply container 1 is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8, and then the cylindrical portion 20k receives a rotational force from the female coupling portion of the developer receiving apparatus 8, by which the cam groove 20n is rotated.

Therefore, the cam flange portion 15 is reciprocated in the rotational axis direction relative to the flange portion 21 and the cylindrical portion 20k by the cam boss 15a engaging with the cam groove 20n, while the cylindrical portion 20k and the flange portion 21 are prevented from moving in the rotational axis direction by the developer receiving apparatus 8.

Since the cam flange portion 15 and the pump portion 20b are fixed to each other, the pump portion 20b reciprocates together with the cam flange portion 15 (arrow ω direction and arrow γ direction). Accordingly, as shown in parts (b) and (c) of fig. 50, the pump part 20b expands and contracts in association with the reciprocating motion of the cam flange part 15, thereby performing a pumping operation.

In addition, also in this example, similarly to the above-described embodiments 5 to 11, in the developer supply container 1, the rotational force received from the developer receiving apparatus 8 is converted into the force to operate the pump portion 20b, so that the pump portion 20b can be operated appropriately.

In addition, the rotational force received from the developer receiving apparatus 8 is converted into the reciprocating force without using the pump portion 20b, thereby preventing the pump portion 20b from being damaged due to twisting in the rotational movement direction. Therefore, there is no need to increase the strength of the pump portion 20b, the thickness of the pump portion 20b can be small, and its material can be an inexpensive material.

In the foregoing example, the pump portion 20b is provided at the front end of the developer supply container 1, but with this structure, a cam mechanism (drive switching portion) and/or a shutter for opening and closing the developer supply container 1 may be used. Examples of such variations will be described in detail below.

Developer supply container

A modified example of the developer supply container 1 which is locally different (although the position of the pump portion 20b is the same) will be described below with reference to fig. 69. Part (a) of fig. 69 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the developer supply container 1, and part (b) of fig. 69 is a schematic perspective view of the developer supply container 1. Here, in part (b) of fig. 69, the cover 92 is partially broken for better illustration.

Part (a) of fig. 77 is an enlarged perspective view of the developer receiving apparatus 8, the developer supply container 1 being mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8, and part (b) is a perspective view of the developer receiving portion 39 in this modified example.

The developer supply container 1 of this modified example is mainly different from the structure of embodiment 12 in that a cam mechanism portion for expanding and contracting the pump portion and a cover member covering the pump portion and the cam mechanism portion are provided. Also, the mechanism of the attachment portion for attaching and detaching the developer supply container 1 to and from the developer receiving apparatus 8 is different, and these different points will be described in detail below. Other structures are similar to those described above, and therefore their description is omitted.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 69, the developer supply container 1 mainly includes a developer accommodating portion 20, a flange portion 25, a shutter 5, a pump portion 2, a reciprocating member 38, and a cover 24. The developer supply container 1 is rotated in the direction of arrow R in the developer receiving apparatus 8 about a rotation axis P shown in part (b) of fig. 69, whereby the developer is supplied into the developer receiving apparatus 8. The respective elements of the developer supply container 1 will be described in detail below.

Container body

Fig. 70 is a perspective view of the developer accommodating portion 20 as the container body. The developer accommodating portion (developer feeding chamber) 20 includes a hollow cylindrical portion 20k, and the hollow cylindrical portion 20k is capable of accommodating the developer, as shown in fig. 70. The cylindrical portion 20k is provided with a spiral feed groove 20c for feeding the developer in the cylindrical portion 20k toward the discharge opening by rotating in the direction of the arrow R about the rotation axis P.

As shown in fig. 70, a cam groove 20n and a drive receiving portion (drive input portion, gear portion) 20a for receiving drive from the developer receiving apparatus are integrally formed on the entire outer periphery at one end of the developer accommodating portion 20. In this example, the cam groove 20n and the gear portion 20a are formed integrally with the developer accommodating portion 20, but the cam groove 20n or the gear portion 20a may be formed as a non-integral member and may be mounted on the developer accommodating portion 20.

In this example, the developer contained in the developer containing portion 20 is toner particles having a volume average particle size of 5 μm to 6 μm, and the developer containing space for the developer is not limited to the developer containing portion 20 but is an internal space including the flange portion 25 and the pump portion 93.

Flange part

The flange portion 25 will be described with reference to fig. 69. As shown in part (b) of fig. 69, the flange portion (developer discharge chamber) 25 is rotatable about the rotation axis P relative to the developer accommodating portion 20. Therefore, when the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8, the flange portion 25 is supported so as not to be rotatable in the direction of arrow R with respect to the mounting portion 8f (portion (a) of fig. 77).

The flange portion 25 is provided with an a discharge opening 25a4 (fig. 71). In addition, as shown in part (a) of fig. 69, the flange portion 25 includes an upper flange portion 25a and a lower flange portion 25b for easy assembly. As described later, the flange portion 25 is provided with the pump portion 2, the reciprocating member (cam arm) 38, the shutter 5, and the cover 24.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 69, the pump portion 2 is screwed with one end of the upper flange portion 25a, and the developer accommodating portion 20 is connected with the other end portion by a sealing member (not shown). The reciprocating member 38 as an arm member is disposed at a position across the pump portion 2 from the flange, and an engaging projection 38b (fig. 75, as a cam projection) provided on the reciprocating member 38 is fitted in the cam groove 20n of the developer accommodating portion 20.

Also, the shutter 5 is inserted in the gap between the upper flange portion 25a and the lower flange portion 25 b. In order to improve the appearance and protect the reciprocating member 38 and the pump section 2, a cover 24 covering the entire flange section 25, the pump section 2, and the reciprocating member 38 is installed, as shown in part (b) of fig. 69.

Upper flange part

Fig. 71 is an enlarged view of the upper flange portion 25 a. Part (a) of fig. 71 is a perspective view of the upper flange portion 25a when viewed obliquely from the upper portion, and part (b) of fig. 71 is a perspective view of the upper flange portion 25a when viewed obliquely from the bottom.

The upper flange portion 25a includes: a pump connecting portion 25a1 (screws not shown), which is shown in part (a) of fig. 71, to which the pump portion 2 is screwed with the pump connecting portion 25a 1; a container body connecting portion 25a2, shown in part (b) of fig. 71, to which the developer accommodating portion 20 is connected with the container body connecting portion 25a 2; and a storage portion 25a3, indicated in part (a) of fig. 71, for storing the developer fed from the developer accommodating portion 20. As shown in part (b) of fig. 71, there are provided: a discharge opening (opening) 25a4 for allowing the developer to be discharged from the storage portion 25a3 into the developer receiving apparatus 8; and an opening seal 25a5, the opening seal 25a5 forming a connecting portion 25a6 connected to the developer receiving portion 39 ((b) of fig. 77) provided in the developer receiving apparatus 8.

The opening seal 25a5 is stuck to the bottom surface of the upper flange portion 25a by double-coated adhesive tape, and is clamped by the shutter 5 (described later) and the flange portion 25a, so as to prevent leakage of the developer through the discharge opening 25a 4. In this example, discharge opening 25a4 is provided in opening seal 25a5, opening seal 25a5 is not integral with flange portion 25a, but discharge opening 25a4 may be provided directly in upper flange portion 25 a.

In this example, the discharge opening 25a4 is provided in the lower surface of the developer supply container 1, that is, the lower surface of the upper flange portion 25a, but the coupling structure of this example can also be realized when it is provided to the side (other than the upstream-side end surface or the downstream-side end surface) with respect to the direction in which the developer receiving apparatus 8 is mounted and dismounted with respect to the developer supply container 1. The position of the discharge opening 25a4 can be appropriately selected. The operation of connection between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 in this example will be described below.

Lower flange part

Fig. 72 shows the lower flange portion 25 b. Part (a) of fig. 72 is a perspective view of the lower flange portion when viewed obliquely from the upper position, part (b) of fig. 72 is a perspective view of the lower flange portion 25b when viewed obliquely from the lower position, and part (c) of fig. 72 is a front view.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 72, the lower flange portion 25b is provided with a shutter insertion portion 25b1 into which the shutter 5 (fig. 73) is inserted in the shutter insertion portion 25b 1. The lower flange portion 25b is provided with engaging portions 25b2, 25b4 (fig. 77) engageable with the developer receiving portion 39.

The engaging portions 25b2, 25b4 cause the developer receiving portion 39 to move toward the developer supply container 1 in accordance with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1, thereby establishing a connected state in which the developer can be supplied from the developer supply container 1 to the developer receiving portion 39. The engaging portions 25b2, 25b4 enable the developer receiving portion 39 to be spaced apart from the developer supply container 1 so that the connection between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving portion 39 is broken with the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1.

The first engaging portion 25b2 of the engaging portions 25b2, 25b4 moves the developer receiving portion 39 in a direction crossing the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 for enabling an opening operation of the developer receiving portion 39. In this example, the first engaging portion 25b2 moves the developer receiving portion 39 toward the developer supply container 1 to cause the developer receiving portion 39 to be connected with the connecting portion 25a6 formed in a portion of the opening seal 25a5 of the developer supply container 1 in accordance with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1. The first engaging portion 25b2 extends in a direction intersecting the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1.

The first engaging portion 25b2 performs a guiding operation to move the developer receiving portion 39 in a direction crossing the direction of removal of the developer supply container 1, thereby resealing the developer receiving portion 39 in accordance with the removal operation of the developer supply container 1. In this example, the first engaging portion 25b2 performs guiding so that the developer receiving portion 39 is spaced downward from the developer supply container 1, thereby disconnecting the connected state between the developer receiving portion 39 and the connecting portion 25a6 of the developer supply container 1 with the detaching operation of the developer supply container 1.

On the other hand, during the movement of the developer supply container 1 relative to the shutter 5 (described later), that is, during the movement of the developer receiving opening 39a from the connecting portion 25a6 toward the discharge opening 25a4, the second engaging portion 25b4 maintains the connected state between the opening seal 25a5 and the main assembly seal 41 provided in the developer receiving opening 39a, so that the discharge opening 25a4 communicates with the developer receiving opening 39a of the developer receiving portion 39 in accompaniment with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1. The second engaging portion 25b4 extends in parallel with the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1.

During the movement of the developer supply container 1 relative to the shutter 5, that is, during the movement of the developer receiving port 39a from the discharge opening 25a4 to the connecting portion 25a6, the second engaging portion 25b4 maintains the connection between the main assembly seal 41 and the opening seal 25a5, so that the discharge opening 25a4 is resealed in accompaniment with the removal operation of the developer supply container 1.

The lower flange portion 25b is provided with a regulating rib (regulating portion) 25b3 (portion (a) of fig. 72) for preventing or allowing elastic deformation of a supporting portion 5d (to be described later) of the shutter 5 in accordance with an attaching or detaching operation of the developer supply container 1 with respect to the developer receiving apparatus 8. The regulating rib 25b3 projects upward from the insertion surface of the shutter insertion portion 25b1, and extends in the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1. In addition, as shown in part (b) of fig. 72, a protection portion 25b5 is provided to prevent the shutter 5 from being damaged during transportation and/or erroneous manipulation by an operator. In a state where the shutter 5 is inserted into the shutter insertion portion 25b1, the lower flange portion 25b is integrated with the upper flange portion 25 a.

Gate plate

Fig. 73 shows the shutter 5 serving as an opening and closing mechanism. Part (a) of fig. 73 is a top plan view of the shutter 5, and part (b) of fig. 73 is a perspective view of the shutter 5 when viewed obliquely from an upper position.

The shutter 5 is movable relative to the developer supply container 1 to open and close the discharge opening 25a4 in accordance with the mounting operation and the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1. The shutter 5 is provided with: a developer seal portion 5a for preventing leakage of the developer through the discharge opening 25a4 when the developer supply container 1 is not mounted on the mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8; and a sliding surface 5i that slides on the shutter insertion portion 25b1 of the lower flange portion 25b on the rear side (back side) of the developer sealing portion 5 a.

The shutter 5 is provided with stopper portions (holding portions) 5b, 5c, the stopper portions 5b, 5c being held by shutter stopper portions 8n, 8p (part (a) of fig. 77) of the developer receiving apparatus 8 following mounting and dismounting operations of the developer supply container 1 to move the developer supply container 1 relative to the shutter 5. At the time of the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1, the first stopper portion 5b of the stopper portions 5b, 5c is engaged with the first shutter stopper portion 8n of the developer receiving apparatus 8, so as to fix the position of the shutter 5 relative to the developer receiving apparatus 8. At the time of the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1, the second stopper portion 5c is engaged with the second shutter stopper portion 8p of the developer receiving apparatus 8.

The shutter 5 is provided with a support portion 5d so that the stopper portions 5b, 5c are movable. The supporting portion 5d extends from the developer sealing portion 5a, and is elastically deformable so as to movably support the first stopper portion 5b and the second stopper portion 5 c. The first stopper portion 5b is inclined such that an angle α formed between the first stopper portion 5b and the support portion 5d is an acute angle. In contrast, the second stopper portion 5c is inclined such that an angle β formed between the second stopper portion 5c and the support portion 5d is an obtuse angle.

When the developer supply container 1 is not mounted on the mounting portion 8f of the developer receiving apparatus 8, the developer sealing portion 5a of the shutter 5 is provided with a locking projection 5e at a position downstream of the position opposite to the discharge opening 25a4 with respect to the mounting direction. The contact amount of the locking projection 5e with respect to the opening seal 25a5 (part (b) of fig. 71) is larger than that of the developer sealing portion 5a, so that the static friction force between the shutter 5 and the opening seal 25a5 is large. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the shutter 5 from being accidentally moved (moved) due to vibration during transportation or the like. It is possible to prevent the shutter 5 from being accidentally moved (displaced) due to vibration during transportation or the like. The entire developer sealing portion 5a may correspond to the amount of contact between the locking projection 5e and the opening seal 25a5, but in this case, the kinetic friction force with respect to the opening seal 25a5 when the shutter 5 is moved is larger than when the locking projection 5e is provided, and therefore, the operating force required when the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the developer replenishing apparatus 8 is large, which is not preferable from the viewpoint of usability. Therefore, it is desirable to provide the locking projection 5e in the component as in this example.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 73, the shutter 5 is provided with a shutter opening (communication port) 5f for communicating with the discharge opening 25a 4. The opening 5f of the shutter has a diameter of about 2mm in order to minimize contamination by the developer leaked at the time of opening and closing the shutter 5 when the developer supply container 1 is attached to and detached from the developer receiving apparatus 8.

According to this modified example, by using the engaging portions 25b2, 25b4 provided on the lower flange portion 25b, the developer receiving portion 39 can be attached and detached in the vertical direction (which intersects with the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 on the developer receiving apparatus 8). Using such a shutter opening and closing mechanism will effectively prevent the developer contamination of the downstream end surface Y (part (b) of fig. 69) with respect to the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 by a simple and space-saving structure. In addition, the main assembly seal 41 can be prevented from dragging on the protecting portion 25b5 of the lower flange portion 25b or the lower surface (sliding surface) 5i of the shutter to be contaminated by the developer.

In other words, according to this modified example, with the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1, it is possible to establish satisfactory connection between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 with minimum contamination by the developer. Similarly, with the dismounting operation of the developer supply container 1, it is possible to perform spacing and resealing between the developer supply container 1 and the developer receiving apparatus 8 with a minimum of contamination by the developer.

Pump part

Fig. 74 shows the pump portion 2 serving as an air flow generating portion. Part (a) of fig. 74 is a perspective view of the pump portion 93, and part (b) is a front view of the pump portion 93. The pump section 2 is operated by the driving force received by the drive receiving section (drive input section) 20a so as to alternately produce a state in which the internal pressure of the developer accommodating section 20 is lower than the ambient pressure and a state in which the internal pressure is higher than the ambient pressure.

Also in this example, the pump portion 93 is provided as a part of the developer supply container 1 so as to stably discharge the developer from the smaller discharge opening 25a 4. The pump portion 2 is a positive displacement pump of variable volume. More specifically, the pump includes bellows-like expansion and contraction members. By the expansion and contraction operation of the pump portion 2, the pressure in the developer supply container 1 is varied, and the developer is discharged by the pressure. More specifically, when the pump portion 2 contracts, the inside of the developer supply container 1 is pressurized to cause the developer to be discharged through the discharge opening 25a 4. When the pump portion 2 expands, the interior of the developer supply container 1 is decompressed, so that air is drawn in from the outside through the discharge opening 25a 4. By the intake of air, the developer in the vicinity of the discharge opening 25a4 and/or the storage portion 25a3 becomes loose, so that the subsequent discharge is made smooth. By repeating the above expansion and contraction operations, the developer is discharged.

As shown in part (b) of fig. 74, the pump portion 2 of this modified example has a bellows-like expansion and contraction portion (bellows portion, expansion and contraction member) 2a in which ridges and bottoms are periodically provided. The expansion and contraction portion 2a expands and contracts in the directions of arrows An and B. When the pump portion 2 is a bellows pump portion as in this example, the volume change amount can be reduced with respect to the change in the expansion and contraction amount, and therefore a stable volume change can be achieved.

Further, in this example, the material of the pump portion 2 is a polypropylene resin material (PP), but this is not necessarily so. The material of the pump portion 2 may be any material as long as it can provide the expansion and contraction function and can change the internal pressure of the developer accommodating portion by the volume change. Examples include thin ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer resin material), polystyrene, polyester, polyethylene materials formed. Alternatively, other expandable and contractible materials, such as rubber, may be used.

In addition, as shown in part (a) of fig. 74, the open end side of the pump portion 2 is provided with a connecting portion 2b connectable with the upper flange portion 25 a. Here, the connecting portion 2b is a screw thread. Further, as shown in part (b) of fig. 74, the other end part side is provided with a reciprocating member engaging part 2c, and the reciprocating member engaging part 2c engages with the reciprocating member 38 so as to move in synchronization with the reciprocating member 38 (to be described later).

Reciprocating motion part

Fig. 75 shows the reciprocating member 38. Part (a) of fig. 75 is a perspective view of the reciprocating member 38 when viewed obliquely from the upper position, and part (b) is a perspective view of the reciprocating member 38 when viewed obliquely from the lower position.

As shown in part (b) of fig. 75, the reciprocating member (cam arm) 38 serving as a member of the drive converting portion is provided with a pump engaging portion 38a, and the pump engaging portion 38a is engaged with the reciprocating member engaging portion 2c provided on the pump portion 2 so as to change the volume of the pump portion 2, as described above.

Further, as shown in part (a) and part (b) of fig. 75, the reciprocating member 38 is provided with an engaging projection 38b as a cam projection (serving as a drive converting portion) fitted into the above-described cam groove 20n (fig. 69) when the container is assembled. An engagement projection 38b is provided at the free end portion of the arm 38c, extending from the vicinity of the pump engagement portion 38 a.

The reciprocating member 38 is prevented from rotational displacement about the axis P (part (b) of fig. 69) of the arm 38c by a reciprocating member holding portion 24b (fig. 76) of the cover 24 (to be described later). Therefore, when the developer accommodating portion 20 receives the drive from the gear portion 20a and rotates integrally with the cam groove 20n by the drive gear 300, the reciprocating member 38 reciprocates in the directions of the arrows An and B by the action of the engaging projection 38B fitted into the cam groove 20n and the reciprocating member holding portion 24B of the cover 24. Along with this operation, the pump section 2 engaged by the pump engaging section 38a of the reciprocating member 38 and the reciprocating member engaging section 2c expands and contracts in the directions of arrows An and B.

Cover

Fig. 76 shows the cover 24. Part (a) of fig. 76 is a perspective view of the cover 24 when viewed obliquely from the upper position, and part (b) is a perspective view when viewed obliquely from the lower position.

As shown in part (b) of fig. 69, a cover 24 is provided in order to protect the reciprocating member 38 and/or the pump portion 2. In more detail, as shown in part (b) of fig. 69, the cover 24 is provided integrally with the upper flange portion 25a and/or the lower flange portion 25b and the like by a mechanism (not shown) so as to cover the entire flange portion 25, the pump portion 2 and the reciprocating member 38.

The cover 24 is provided with a guide groove 24a along which a rib-shaped insertion guide (not shown) of the developer receiving apparatus 8 extending in the mounting direction of the developer supply container 1 is guided. Further, the cover 24 is provided with the reciprocating member holding portion 24b for regulating the rotational displacement of the reciprocating member 38 about the axis P (part (b) of fig. 69), as described above.

Also in this modified example, a backwashing effect for the ventilation member (filter) can be provided, and therefore the function of the filter can be maintained for a long time.

Moreover, according to this modified example, it is possible to simplify the mechanism for attaching and detaching the developer supply container 1 to and from the developer receiving portion 39 by moving the developer receiving portion 39. More specifically, a drive source and/or a drive transmission mechanism for moving the entire developing device upward is not necessary, and therefore, it is possible to avoid the structure of the image forming apparatus side from being complicated and/or the cost from being increased due to the increase in the number of components. This is because a large space is required to avoid interference with the developing device when the entire developing device moves vertically, but such a space is not required according to this modified example.

In the structure of this example, the pump portion 20b is not provided between the discharge portion 21h and the cylindrical portion 20k as in examples 5 to 11, but is arranged at a position apart from the cylindrical portion 20k of the discharge portion 21h, and therefore, the amount of developer left in the developer supply container 1 can be reduced.

As shown in (a) of fig. 51, one usable alternative is that the inner space of the pump portion 20b is not used as the developer accommodating space, and the filter 65 is partitioned between the pump portion 20b and the discharge portion 21 h. Here, the filter has a characteristic that air easily passes through but toner does not substantially pass through. With such a structure, when the pump portion 20b is compressed, the developer in the concave portion of the bellows portion is not subjected to stress. However, the structures of parts (a) to (c) of fig. 50 are preferable from the viewpoint that an additional developer accommodating space (that is, an additional space through which developer can move is provided) can be formed in the expansion stroke of the pump part 20b, so that the developer is easily loosened.

Example 13

The structure of embodiment 13 will be described below with reference to fig. 52 (parts (a) - (d)). Parts (a) - (c) of fig. 52 are enlarged sectional views of the developer supply container 1. In parts (a) - (c) of fig. 52, the structure other than the pump is substantially the same as that shown in fig. 50 and 51, and thus detailed description is omitted here.

In this example, the pump has no alternating peak folded portion and bottom folded portion, but it has a film-like pump portion 12, and the film-like pump portion 12 can be expanded and contracted substantially without folded portions, as shown in fig. 52.

In this embodiment, the film-like pump portion 12 is made of rubber, but this is not necessarily so, and a flexible material such as a resin film may be used.

With such a structure, when the cam flange portion 15 reciprocates in the rotational axis direction, the film-like pump portion 12 reciprocates together with the cam flange portion 15. Therefore, as shown in parts (b) and (c) of fig. 52, the film-like pump portion 12 expands and contracts in association with the reciprocating motion of the cam flange portion 15 in the arrow ω and the arrow γ directions, thereby performing the pumping operation.

Also in this embodiment, similarly to embodiments 5 to 12, the rotational force received from the developer replenishing apparatus 8 is converted into a force that effectively operates the pump portion 12 in the developer supply container 1, and therefore the pump portion 12 can be appropriately operated.

Example 14

The structure of embodiment 14 will be described below with reference to fig. 53 (parts (a) - (e)). Part (a) of fig. 53 is a schematic perspective view of the developer supply container 1, (b) is an enlarged sectional view of the developer supply container 1, and (c) - (e) are schematic enlarged views of the drive conversion mechanism. In this example, the same reference numerals as in the foregoing embodiment are assigned to elements having corresponding functions in this embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In this example, the pump portion reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the rotation axis, unlike the foregoing embodiments.

Drive conversion mechanism

In this example, as shown in parts (a) to (e) of fig. 53, a bellows-type pump portion 21f is connected at an upper portion of the flange portion 21 (i.e., at the discharge portion 21 h). In addition, a cam boss 21g serving as a drive converting portion is fixed to a tip end portion of the pump portion 21f by adhesion. On the other hand, a cam groove 20e engageable with the cam projection 21g is formed at one longitudinal end surface of the developer accommodating portion 20, and it functions as a drive converting portion.

As shown in part (b) of fig. 53, the developer accommodating portion 20 is fixed to be rotatable relative to the discharge portion 21h in a state where the end portion on the h side of the discharge portion 21h compresses the sealing member 27 provided on the inner surface of the flange portion 21.

Also in this example, both sides (opposite end surfaces with respect to a direction perpendicular to the rotational axis direction x) of the discharge portion 21h are supported by the developer receiving apparatus 8 by the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1. Therefore, the discharging portion 21h is substantially non-rotatable during the developer supplying operation.

In addition, by the mounting operation of the developer supply container 1, the projection 21j provided on the outer bottom surface portion of the discharge portion 21h is locked by the notch provided in the mounting portion 8 f. Therefore, during the developer supplying operation, the discharging portion 21h is fixed to be substantially non-rotatable in the rotational axis direction.

Here, the configuration of the cam groove 20e is an elliptical shape as shown in (c) - (e) of fig. 53, and the distance (minimum distance in the radial direction) of the cam boss 21 moving along the cam groove 20e from the rotation axis of the developer accommodating portion 20 varies.

As shown in (b) of fig. 53, a plate-like partition wall 32 is also provided, the plate-like partition wall 32 effectively feeding the developer fed from the cylindrical portion 20k by the spiral projection (feeding portion) 20c to the discharging portion 21 h. The partition wall 32 substantially divides a part of the developer accommodating portion 20 into two parts, and is rotatable integrally with the developer accommodating portion 20. The partition wall 32 is provided with an inclined projection 32a inclined with respect to the rotational axis direction of the developer supply container 1. The inclined protrusion 32a is connected to an inlet portion of the discharge portion 21 h.

Therefore, the developer fed from the feeding portion 20c is scooped up by the partition wall 32 in association with the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20 k. Then, by further rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k, the developer slides down onto the surface of the partition wall 32 by gravity, and is fed to the discharge portion 21h side by the inclined projection 32 a. The inclined projections 32a are provided on each side of the partition wall 32 so that the developer is fed into the discharge portion 21h every half rotation of the cylindrical portion 20 k.

Developer supplying step

A developer supply step of supplying the developer from the developer supply container 1 in this example will be described below.

When the operator mounts the developer supply container 1 on the developer receiving apparatus 8, the flange portion 21 (discharge portion 21 h) is prevented from moving in the rotational movement direction and in the rotational axis direction by the developer receiving apparatus 8. Further, the pump portion 21f and the cam projection 21g are fixed on the flange portion 21, and are similarly prevented from moving in the rotational movement direction and in the rotational axis direction.

Also, by the rotational force input to the gear portion 20a from the drive gear 300 (fig. 32 and 33), the developer accommodating portion 20 rotates, and therefore the cam groove 20e also rotates. On the other hand, the cam boss 21g fixed so as not to be rotatable receives a force through the cam groove 20e, so that the rotational force input to the gear portion 20a is converted into a force that causes the pump portion 21f to reciprocate substantially vertically. Here, part (d) of fig. 53 shows a state when the pump portion 21f is maximally expanded, that is, the cam boss 21g is at an intersection (point Y in (c) of fig. 53) between the ellipse of the cam groove 20e and the major axis La. Part (e) of fig. 53 shows a state where the pump portion 21f is most contracted, that is, the cam boss 21g is at an intersection (point Z in (c) of fig. 53) between the ellipse of the cam groove 20e and the short axis La.

The state of (d) of fig. 53 and the state of (e) of fig. 53 are alternately repeated at a predetermined cycle period so that the pump portion 21f performs the suction and discharge operations. Thus, the developer is smoothly discharged.

With the cylindrical portion 20k thus rotated, the developer is fed to the discharge portion 21h through the feeding portion 20c and the inclined projection 32a, and the developer in the discharge portion 21h is finally discharged through the discharge opening 21a by the suction and discharge operation of the pump portion 21 f.

In addition, also in this example, similarly to embodiments 5 to 13, by receiving the rotational force from the developer receiving apparatus 8 by the gear portion 20a, the rotating operation of the feeding portion 20c (the cylindrical portion 20 k) and the reciprocating motion of the pump portion 21f can be performed.

Since the pump portion 21f is provided at the top of the discharge portion 21h in this example (in a state where the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8), the amount of the developer inevitably remaining in the pump portion 21f can be minimized as compared with embodiment 5.

In this example, the pump portion 21f is a bellows pump, but it may be replaced by a film pump described in embodiment 13.

In this example, the cam projection 21g as the drive transmission portion is fixed on the upper surface of the pump portion 21f by an adhesive material, but the cam projection 21g is not necessarily fixed on the pump portion 21 f. For example, a known hook engagement may be used, or a round bar-shaped cam projection 21g and a pump portion 3f having a hole (which is engageable with the cam projection 21 g) may be used in combination. With such a structure, similar advantageous effects can be provided.

Example 15

The structure of embodiment 15 will be described with reference to fig. 54 to 56. The structure of embodiment 15 will be described below with reference to fig. 61 to 63. Part (a) of fig. 54 is a schematic perspective view of the developer supply container 1, (b) is a schematic perspective view of the flange portion 21, (c) is a schematic perspective view of the cylindrical portion 20k, parts (a) - (b) of fig. 55 are enlarged sectional views of the developer supply container 1, and fig. 56 is a schematic view of the pump portion 21 f. In this example, the same reference numerals as those of the foregoing embodiments are assigned to elements having corresponding functions in the present embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In this example, the rotational force is converted into a force for the forward operation of the pump portion 21f, and the rotational force is not converted into a force for the backward operation of the pump portion, unlike the foregoing embodiments.

In this example, as shown in fig. 54 to 56, a pump portion 21f of a bellows type is provided at the side of the flange portion 21 in the vicinity of the cylindrical portion 20 k. The outer surface of the cylindrical portion 20k is provided with a gear portion 20a, the gear portion 20a extending over the entire circumference. At the end of the cylindrical portion 20k adjacent to the discharge portion 21h, two compression projections 21 for compressing the pump portion 21f by abutting against the pump portion 21f (by rotation of the cylindrical portion 20 k) are provided at diametrically opposite positions, respectively. The structure of the compression boss 201 on the downstream side with respect to the rotational movement direction is inclined so as to gradually compress the pump portion 21f, thereby reducing the impact when abutting against the pump portion 21 f. On the other hand, the structure of the compression boss 201 on the upstream side with respect to the rotational movement direction is a surface perpendicular to the end surface of the cylindrical portion 20k so as to be substantially parallel to the rotational axis direction of the cylindrical portion 20k, so that the pump portion 21f is instantaneously expanded by its restoring elastic force.

Similarly to embodiment 10, the inside of the cylindrical portion 20k is provided with a plate-like partition wall 32 for feeding the developer fed by the spiral projection 20c to the discharge portion 21 h.

The step of supplying the developer from the developer supply container 1 in this example will be described below.

After the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8, the cylindrical portion 20k as the developer accommodating portion 20 is rotated by the rotational force input from the drive gear 300 to the gear portion 20a, thereby rotating the compression boss 21. At this time, when the compression boss 21 abuts against the pump portion 21f, the pump portion 21f is compressed in the direction of the arrow γ, as shown in part (a) of fig. 55, thereby performing the discharge operation.

On the other hand, when the cylindrical portion 20k continues to rotate until the pump portion 21f is released from the compression boss 21, the pump portion 21f is expanded in the direction of the arrow ω by the self-restoring force as shown in part (b) of fig. 55, so that it is restored to the original shape, thereby performing the suction operation.

The states shown in (a) and (b) of fig. 55 are alternately repeated, whereby the pump portion 21f performs the suction and discharge operations. That is, the developer is smoothly discharged.

With the cylindrical portion 20k thus rotated, the developer is fed to the discharge portion 21h through the spiral projection (feeding portion) 20c and the inclined projection (feeding portion) 32a (fig. 53). The developer in the discharging portion 21h is finally discharged through the discharge opening 21a by the discharging operation of the pump portion 21 f.

Further, in this example, similarly to embodiments 5 to 14, the rotation operation of the developer supply container 1 and the reciprocation of the pump portion 21f can be performed by the rotational force received from the developer replenishing apparatus 8.

In this example, the pump portion 21f is compressed by contact with the compression boss 201 and expanded by the self-restoring force of the pump portion 21f when it is released from the compression boss 21, but the structure may be reversed.

More specifically, when the pump portions 21f come into contact with the compression protrusions 21, they are locked, and by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k, the pump portions 21f are forcibly expanded. By further rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k, the pump portion 21f is released, whereby the pump portion 21f is restored to the original shape by the self-restoring force (restoring elastic force). Therefore, the suction operation and the discharge operation are alternately repeated. With this structure, air can be surely sucked through the discharge opening 21a in the suction operation, and therefore the backwashing effect can be ensured.

In the case of this example, the self-recovery power of the pump portion 21f may be reduced due to the repeated expansion and contraction of the pump portion 21f for a long time, and from such a viewpoint, the structures of embodiments 5 to 14 are preferable. Or this possibility can be avoided by using the structure of fig. 56.

As shown in fig. 56, the compression plate 20q is fixed on the end surface of the pump portion 21f in the vicinity of the cylindrical portion 20 k. A spring 20r serving as an urging member is provided between the outer surface of the flange portion 21 and the compression plate 20q, covering the pump portion 21 f. The spring 20r normally urges the pump portion 21f in the expansion direction.

With this structure, the self-recovery of the pump portion 21f can be assisted when the contact between the compression boss 201 and the pump portion is released, and the suction operation can be surely performed even when the expansion and contraction of the pump portion 21f are repeated for a long time.

In this example, two compression protrusions 201 serving as drive conversion mechanisms are provided at diametrically opposite positions, but this is not necessarily so, and the number thereof may be, for example, one or three. In addition, instead of one compression boss, the following structure may be used as the drive conversion mechanism. For example, the end surface opposite to the pump portion 21f of the cylindrical portion 20k is not configured as a surface perpendicular to the rotation axis of the cylindrical portion 20k as in this example, but as a surface inclined with respect to the rotation axis. In this case, the inclined surface acts on the pump portion 21f so as to be equivalent to the compression boss. In another alternative, the shaft portion extends from the rotation axis toward the pump portion 21f in the rotation axis direction at an end surface of the cylindrical portion 20k opposite to the pump portion 21f, and a swash plate (disc) inclined with respect to the rotation axis of the shaft portion is provided. In this case, the swash plate acts on the pump portion 21f, so it is equivalent to a compression lobe.

With the structure (spring 20 r) shown in fig. 56, air can be sucked through the discharge opening 21a in the suction operation (instead of the structure (no spring) shown in fig. 54), and therefore the backwashing effect for the breather member (filter) can be ensured.

Example 16

The structure of embodiment 16 will be described below with reference to fig. 57 (parts (a) - (b)). Parts (a) and (b) of fig. 57 are sectional views schematically showing the developer supply container 1.

In this example, the pump portion 21f is provided at the cylindrical portion 20k, and the pump portion 21f rotates together with the cylindrical portion 20 k. In addition, in this example, the pump portion 21f is provided with a weight 20v, by which the pump portion 21f reciprocates as it rotates. The other structure of this example is similar to that of embodiment 14 (fig. 53), and detailed description thereof is omitted by assigning the same reference numerals to the corresponding elements.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 57, the cylindrical portion 20k, the flange portion 21, and the pump portion 21f serve as a developer accommodating space of the developer supply container 1. The pump portion 21f is connected to an outer peripheral portion of the cylindrical portion 20k, and the action of the pump portion 21f is generated for the cylindrical portion 20k and the discharge portion 21 h.

The drive conversion mechanism of this example will be described below.

One end surface of the cylindrical portion 20k with respect to the rotational axis direction is provided with a coupling portion (rectangular-shaped projection) 20a serving as a drive input portion, and the coupling portion 20s receives the rotational force from the developer receiving apparatus 8. The weight 20v is fixed on the top of one end of the pump portion 21f with respect to the reciprocating direction. In this example, the weight 20v functions as a drive conversion mechanism.

Therefore, by the integral rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k and the pump portion 21f, the pump portion 21f is expanded and contracted in the up-down direction by the weight of the weight 20 v.

More specifically, in the state of part (a) of fig. 57, the weight is at a higher position than the pump portion 21f, and the pump portion 21f is contracted in the gravity direction (white arrow) by the weight 20 v. At this time, the developer is discharged through the discharge opening 21a (black arrow).

On the other hand, in the state of part (b) of fig. 57, the weight is at a lower position than the pump portion 21f, and the pump portion 21f is expanded in the gravity direction (white arrow) by the weight 20 v. At this time, a suction operation (black arrow) is performed through the discharge opening 21a, whereby the developer becomes loose.

As described above, also in this embodiment, one pump is sufficient to perform the suction operation and the discharge operation, and therefore the structure of the developer discharge mechanism can be simplified. Therefore, in this example, similarly to embodiments 5 to 15, the rotation operation of the developer supply container 1 and the reciprocation of the pump portion 21f can be performed by the rotational force received from the developer replenishing apparatus 8.

Therefore, in this example, similarly to embodiments 5 to 15, the rotation operation of the developer supply container 1 and the reciprocation of the pump portion 21f can be performed by the rotational force received from the developer replenishing apparatus 8.

In the case of this example, the pump portion 21f rotates around the cylindrical portion 20k, and therefore, the space of the mounting portion 8f of the developer replenishing apparatus 8 is large, and therefore the size of the device becomes large, and from such a viewpoint, the structures of embodiments 5 to 15 are preferable.

Example 17

The structure of embodiment 17 will be described with reference to fig. 58 to 60. Part (a) of fig. 58 is a perspective view of the cylindrical portion 20k, and (b) is a perspective view of the flange portion 21. Parts (a) and (b) of fig. 59 are partially cut-away perspective views of the developer supply container 1, with (a) showing a state when the rotatable shutter is opened and (b) showing a state when the rotatable shutter is closed. Fig. 60 is a timing chart showing the relationship between the operation timing of the pump portion 21f and the opening and closing timing of the rotatable shutter. In fig. 60, contraction is a discharge step of the pump portion 21f, and expansion is a suction step of the pump portion 21 f.

In this example, a mechanism for separation between the discharge chamber 21h and the cylindrical portion 20k during the expansion and contraction operation of the pump portion 21f is provided, which is different from the foregoing embodiment. In this example, a mechanism for separation between the discharge chamber 21h and the cylindrical portion 20k during the expansion and contraction operation of the pump portion 21f is provided.

The inside of the discharge portion 21h serves as a developer accommodating portion for receiving the developer fed from the cylindrical portion 20k, as described later. The structure of this example is otherwise substantially the same as that of embodiment 14 (fig. 53), and the description thereof is omitted by assigning the same reference numerals to the corresponding elements.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 58, one longitudinal end surface of the cylindrical portion 20k serves as a rotatable shutter. More specifically, the one longitudinal end surface of the cylindrical portion 20k is provided with a communication opening 20u for discharging the developer to the flange portion 21, and is provided with a closing portion 20 h. The communication opening 20u has a fan shape.

On the other hand, as shown in part (b) of fig. 58, the flange portion 21 is provided with a communication opening 21k for receiving the developer from the cylindrical portion 20 k. The communication opening 21k has a fan shape, similar to the communication opening 20u, and the portion other than it is closed so as to provide a closed portion 21 m.

Parts (a) - (b) of fig. 59 show a state where the cylindrical portion 20k shown in part (a) of fig. 58 and the flange portion 21 shown in part (b) of fig. 58 have been assembled. The outer surfaces of the communication opening 20u and the communication opening 21k are connected to each other so as to compress the seal member 27, and the cylindrical portion 20k is rotatable relative to the stationary flange portion 21.

With such a structure, when the cylindrical portion 20k is relatively rotated by the rotational force received by the gear portion 20a, the relationship between the cylindrical portion 20k and the flange portion 21 is alternately switched between the communication state and the no-passage continuation state.

That is, by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k, the communication opening 20u of the cylindrical portion 20k is aligned with the communication opening 21k of the flange portion 21 (part (a) of fig. 59). By further rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k, the communication opening 20u of the cylindrical portion 20k becomes misaligned with the communication opening 21k, so that the flange portion 21 is closed, whereby the state is converted to the non-communication state (part (b) of fig. 59), in which the flange portion 21 is separated so as to substantially seal the cam portion 21.

A partition mechanism (rotatable shutter) for isolating the discharge portion 21h at least in the expansion and contraction operation of the pump portion 21f is provided for the following reason.

The discharge of the developer from the developer supply container 1 is performed by contracting the pump portion 21f so that the internal pressure of the developer supply container 1 is higher than the ambient pressure. Therefore, if the partition mechanism is not provided, as in the foregoing embodiments 5 to 15, the space in which the internal pressure changes is not limited to the internal space of the flange portion 21 but includes the internal space of the cylindrical portion 20k, and therefore, the amount of change in the volume of the pump portion 21f must be larger.

This is because the ratio of the volume of the internal space of the developer supply container 1 just after the pump portion 21f has contracted to its end to the volume of the internal space of the developer supply container 1 just before the pump portion 21f starts contracting is affected by the internal pressure.

However, when the partition mechanism is provided, air does not move from the flange portion 21 to the cylindrical portion 20k, and therefore it is sufficient to change the pressure of the internal space of the flange portion 21. That is, in the case of the same internal pressure value, the volume change amount of the pump portion 21f can be smaller when the initial volume of the internal space is smaller.

In this example, more specifically, the volume of the discharge portion 21h divided by the rotatable shutter is 40cm³The pump portion 21f has a volume change (reciprocating distance) of 2cm³(it was 15cm in example 5)³). Even with such a small volume change, the developer can be supplied by sufficient suction and discharge effects, similarly to embodiment 5.

As described previously, in this example, the amount of volume change of the pump portion 21f can be minimized as compared with the structures of embodiments 5 to 16. Therefore, the pump portion 21f can be reduced in size. In addition, the distance (volume change amount) through which the pump portion 21f reciprocates can be smaller. In the case where the capacity of the cylindrical portion 20k is large, it is particularly effective to provide such a partition mechanism so as to make the developer charging amount in the developer supply container 1 large.

The developer supplying step in this example will be described below.

In a state where the developer supply container 1 is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8 and the flange portion 21 is fixed, drive is input from the drive gear 300 to the gear portion 20a, the cylindrical portion 20k rotates thereby, and the cam groove 20e rotates. On the other hand, a cam boss 21g fixed to a pump portion 21f (the pump portion 21f is non-rotatably supported by the developer receiving apparatus 8 through a flange portion 21) is moved through the cam groove 20 e. Therefore, by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k, the cylindrical portion 21f reciprocates in the up-down direction.

The timing of the pumping operation (the suction operation and the discharge operation) of the pump portion 21f and the timing of the opening and closing of the rotatable shutter in such a structure will be described below with reference to fig. 60. Fig. 60 is a time chart when the cylindrical portion 20k rotates one full turn. In fig. 60, the contraction means a contraction operation of the pump portion 21f (a discharge operation of the pump portion), the expansion means an expansion operation of the pump portion 21f (a suction operation of the pump portion), and the rest means that the pump portion does not operate. In addition, open means an open state of the rotatable shutter, and closed means a closed state of the rotatable shutter.

As shown in fig. 60, when the communication opening 21k and the communication opening 20u are aligned with each other, the drive conversion mechanism converts the rotational force input to the gear portion 20a so that the pumping operation of the pump portion 21f is stopped. More specifically, in this example, the structure is such that when the communication opening 21k and the communication opening 20u are aligned with each other, the radial distance from the rotational axis of the cylindrical portion 20k to the cam groove 20e is constant, so that the pump portion 21f does not operate even when the cylindrical portion 20k rotates.

At this time, the rotatable shutter is in the open position, and therefore, the developer is fed from the cylindrical portion 20k to the flange portion 21. More specifically, by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k, the developer is scooped up by the partition wall 32, and then, it slides down on the inclined projection 32a by gravity, so that the developer moves to the flange 21 through the communication opening 20u and the communication opening 21 k.

As shown in fig. 60, when a non-communicating state is established (in which the communication opening 21k and the communication opening 20u are not aligned), the drive switching mechanism switches the rotational force input to the gear portion 20b, thereby performing the pumping operation of the pump portion 21 f.

That is, by further rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k, the rotational phase relationship between the communication opening 21k and the communication opening 20u is changed, so that the communication opening 21k is closed by the stopper portion 20h, and thus the internal space of the flange 3 is isolated (non-communicated state).

At this time, by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k, the pump portion 21f reciprocates in a state of remaining in a non-communicated state (the rotatable shutter is in the closed position). More specifically, by the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k, the cam groove 20e rotates, and the radial distance from the rotational axis of the cylindrical portion 20k to the cam groove 20e varies. Thereby, the pump portion 21f performs the pumping operation by the cam action.

Then, by further rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k, the rotational phase between the communication opening 21k and the communication opening 20u is aligned again, thereby establishing a communication state in the flange portion 21.

While these operations are repeated, a step of supplying the developer from the developer supply container 1 is performed.

As described above, also in this embodiment, one pump is sufficient to perform the suction operation and the discharge operation, and therefore the structure of the developer discharge mechanism can be simplified. Moreover, by the suction operation through the discharge opening 21a, a pressure-reduced state (negative pressure state) can be provided in the developer supply container, and therefore the developer can be loosened efficiently.

In addition, also in this embodiment, by the gear portion 20a receiving the rotational force from the developer receiving apparatus 8, the rotating operation of the cylindrical portion 20k and the suction and discharge operation of the pump portion 21f can be performed.

Also, according to the structure of this example, the pump portion 21f can be reduced in size. Also, the volume change amount (reciprocating distance) can be reduced, and therefore, the load required for reciprocating the pump portion 21f can be reduced.

Also, in this example, no additional structure is used to receive the driving force for rotating the rotatable shutter from the developer receiving apparatus 8, but to receive the rotational force for the feeding portion (the cylindrical portion 20k, the spiral projection 20 c), thus simplifying the partitioning mechanism.

As described above, the amount of change in the volume of the pump portion 21f is not dependent on the entire volume of the developer supply container 1 (including the cylindrical portion 20 k), but can be selected using the internal volume of the flange portion 21. Therefore, for example, in the case where the capacity (diameter) of the cylindrical portion 20k is changed when manufacturing developer supply containers having different developer filling capacities, the cost reduction effect can be expected. That is, the flange portion 21 including the pump portion 21f can be used as a common unit, which is assembled with the different kinds of cylindrical portions 2 k. Thus, the number of kinds of metal molds does not need to be increased, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost. In addition, in this example, the pump portion 21f is reciprocated by one cycle in a state where communication between the cylindrical portion 20k and the flange portion 21 is not established, but the pump portion 21f is reciprocated by a plurality of cycles similarly to embodiment 5.

Also, in this example, the discharge portion 21h is isolated throughout the contraction operation and the expansion operation of the pump portion, but this is not necessarily so, and the following selection may be made. When the pump section 21f can be downsized and the volume change amount (reciprocating distance) of the pump section 21f can be reduced, the discharge section 21h can be slightly opened during the contraction operation and the expansion operation of the pump section.

In addition, in this example, the sealing between the flange portion 21 and the cylindrical portion 20k is achieved by the sealing member 27 mounted on the flange portion 21, but the following structure may also be used.

As shown in fig. 68, an elastic layer 27a (lower layer) and a low friction layer 27b (upper layer) (two-layer structure seal) are added between the flange portion 21 and the cylindrical portion 20 k. A sealing function between the non-rotatable flange portion 21 and the rotating cylindrical portion 20k is preferable, so that the developer is prevented from leaking, and an increase in the rotating torque due to the sliding is minimized. The lower layer is an elastic layer having a higher compression characteristic so as to suitably prevent the developer from leaking, and the upper layer is a low friction layer 27b having a higher slidability than the lower layer. In this case, if the leakage of the developer can be prevented only by the two-layer structure seal including the elastic layer 27a and the low friction layer 27b, the seal member 27 (shaft seal) may be omitted. Alternatively, the seal member 27 as a shaft seal may have a two-layer structure.

More specifically, the elastic layer 27a is made of MOLTOPREN (trademark, available from INOAC corporation, japan) having a thickness of 1.5mm, and the low friction layer 27b is made of urethane foam (for example, PORON, trademark, available from INOAC corporation, japan) having a thickness of 1.5 mm.

Therefore, the rise of the rotational torque is suppressed, and in addition, it is possible to change the case where the aggregated material (developer lump) and/or coarse particles (lump of molten developer) affecting the image quality are generated in the sliding portion between the cylindrical portion 20k and the flange 21.

Such a sealing structure may be replaced by the following structure.

That is, the seal member is mounted on the cylindrical portion and on the flange portion. In this case, the sealing member was made of PORON (polyurethane foam) having a thickness of 2.0 mm. With such a structure, the developer can be captured by the cells of the foam member, so that the generation of aggregated materials and/or coarse particles of the developer can be suppressed.

Example 18

The structure of embodiment 18 will be described with reference to fig. 61 to 63. Fig. 61 is a partially cut-away perspective view of the developer supply container 1. Parts (a) to (c) of fig. 62 are partial sectional views showing the operation of the partition mechanism (stop valve 35). Fig. 63 is a timing chart showing the timing of the pumping operation (the contraction operation and the expansion operation) of the pump portion 21f and the opening and closing timing of a stop valve (to be described later). In fig. 63, the contraction means a contraction operation of the pump portion 21f (a discharge operation of the pump portion 21 f), and the expansion means an expansion operation of the pump portion 21f (a suction operation of the pump portion 21 f). In addition, the stop means a stationary state of the pump portion 21 f. In addition, open means an open state of the stop valve 35, and closed means a state when the stop valve 35 is closed.

This example is clearly different from the above-described embodiment in that the stop valve 35 serves as a mechanism for separation between the discharge portion 21h and the cylindrical portion 20k in the expansion and contraction stroke of the pump portion 21 f. The structure of this example in other respects is substantially the same as that of embodiment 12 (fig. 50 and 51), and the description thereof is omitted by assigning the same reference numerals to the corresponding elements. In this example, in the structure of embodiment 12 shown in fig. 50 and 51, the plate-like partition wall 32 of embodiment 14 shown in fig. 60 is provided.

In the above-described embodiment 17, the partition mechanism (rotatable shutter) using the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20k is used, but in this example, the partition mechanism (stop valve) using the reciprocating motion of the pump portion 21f is used. As will be described in detail below.

As shown in fig. 61, the discharge portion 3h is provided between the cylindrical portion 20k and the pump portion 21 f. The wall portion 33 is provided on the cylindrical portion 20k side of the discharge portion 3h, and the discharge opening 21a is provided lower than the left side portion of the wall portion 33 in the drawing. A stop valve 35 and an elastic member (seal member) 34 are provided as a partition mechanism for opening and closing a communication port 33a (fig. 62) formed in the wall portion 33. The stop valve 35 is fixed on one inner end of the pump portion 20b (opposite to the discharge portion 21 h), and reciprocates in the rotational axis direction of the developer supply container 1 by the expansion and contraction operation of the pump portion 21 f. The seal 34 is fixed to the stop valve 35 and moves in accordance with the movement of the stop valve 35.

The operation of the stop valve 35 in the developer supplying step will be described below with reference to parts (a) - (c) of fig. 62 (fig. 63, as needed).

Part (a) of fig. 62 shows the maximum expansion state of the pump section 21f in which the stop valve 35 is spaced apart from the wall section 33 provided between the discharge section 21h and the cylindrical section 20 k. At this time, the developer in the cylindrical portion 20k is fed into the discharge portion 21h through the communication port 33a by the inclined projection 32a with the rotation of the cylindrical portion 20 k.

Then, when the pump portion 21f contracts, the state becomes as shown in (b) of fig. 62. At this time, the seal 34 is in contact with the wall portion 33 to close the communication port 33 a. That is, the discharge portion 21h is isolated from the cylindrical portion 20 k.

When the pump portion 21f is further contracted, the pump portion 21f becomes maximally contracted as shown in part (c) of fig. 62.

In the process from the state shown in part (b) of fig. 62 to the state shown in part (c) of fig. 62, the seal 34 is kept in contact with the wall portion 33, and therefore, the discharge portion 21h is pressurized higher than the ambient pressure (positive pressure), so that the developer is discharged through the discharge opening 21 a.

Then, during the expansion operation of the pump portion 21f from the state shown in (c) of fig. 62 to the state shown in (b) of fig. 62, the seal 34 is kept in contact with the wall portion 33, and therefore, the internal pressure of the discharge portion 21h is reduced to below the ambient pressure (negative pressure). Therefore, the suction operation is performed through the discharge opening 21 a.

When the pump portion 21f is further expanded, it returns to the state shown in part (a) of fig. 62. The foregoing operation is repeated in this example so as to perform the developer supplying step. Thus, in this example, the stop valve 35 is moved with the reciprocating motion of the pump section, and therefore, the stop valve is opened in the initial stage of the contraction operation (discharge operation) and in the final stage of the expansion operation (suction operation) of the pump section 21 f.

The seal 34 will be described in detail below. The seal member 34 is in contact with the wall portion 33 so as to secure the sealing property of the discharge portion 21h and is compressed by the contraction operation of the pump portion 21f, and therefore, it preferably has the sealing property and flexibility. In this example, as a sealing material having such characteristics, a polyurethane foam (trademark: MOLTOPREN, SM-55, thickness of 5 mm) available from Kabushiki Kaisha INOAC corporation of japan was used. The thickness of the seal material in the maximum contracted state of the pump portion 21f was 2mm (the compression amount was 3 mm).

As described previously, the volume change (pumping action) of the discharge portion 21h is substantially limited by the pump portion 21f to the period after the seal member 34 is in contact with the wall portion 33 until it is compressed to 3mm, but the pump portion 21f operates within the range limited by the stop valve 35. Therefore, even when such a stop valve 35 is used, the developer can be stably discharged.

Thus, in this example, similarly to embodiments 5 to 17, by receiving the rotational force from the developer receiving apparatus 8 through the gear portion 20a, the rotating operation of the cylindrical portion 20k and the suction and discharge operation of the pump portion 21f can be performed.

Also, similar to embodiment 17, the pump portion 21f can be reduced in size, and the amount of volume change of the pump portion 21f can be reduced. Cost reduction advantages provided by the common structure of the pump sections can also be expected.

In addition, in this example, the driving force for operating the stop valve 35 is not particularly received from the developer receiving apparatus 8, but the reciprocating force for the pump portion 21f is utilized, so the partition mechanism can be simplified.

Example 19

The structure of embodiment 19 will be described below with reference to parts (a) to (c) of fig. 64. Part (a) of fig. 64 is a partially cut-away perspective view of the developer supply container 1, (b) is a perspective view of the flange portion 21, and (c) is a sectional view of the developer supply container.

This example is clearly different from the foregoing embodiment in that the buffer portion 23 is provided as a mechanism for separation between the discharge chamber 21h and the cylindrical portion 20 k. Otherwise, the structure is substantially the same as that of embodiment 14 (fig. 53), and therefore, detailed description is omitted by assigning the same reference numerals to the corresponding elements.

As shown in part (b) of fig. 64, the buffer portion 23 is non-rotatably fixed to the flange portion 21. The buffer portion 23 is provided with: a receiving opening 23a, the receiving opening 23a being opened upward; and a supply port 23b, the supply port 23b being in fluid communication with the discharge portion 21 h.

As shown in parts (a) and (c) of fig. 64, such a flange portion 21 is mounted on the cylindrical portion 20k so that the buffer portion 23 is in the cylindrical portion 20 k. The cylindrical portion 20k is rotatably connected with the flange portion 21 with respect to the flange portion 21 (the flange portion 21 is immovably supported by the developer receiving apparatus 8). The connection portion is provided with a seal ring to prevent leakage of air or developer.

In addition, in this example, as shown in part (a) of fig. 64, an inclined projection 32a is provided on the partition wall 32 so as to feed the developer toward the receiving opening 23a of the buffer portion 23.

In this example, until the developer supply operation of the developer supply container 1 is completed, the developer in the developer accommodating portion 20 is fed into the buffer portion 23 through the receiving opening 23a by the partition wall 32 and the inclined projection 32a with the rotation of the developer supply container 1.

Therefore, as shown in part (c) of fig. 64, the inner space of the buffer portion 23 is kept filled with the developer.

Therefore, the developer filling the inner space of the buffer portion 23 substantially blocks the movement of air from the cylindrical portion 20k toward the discharge portion 21h, and therefore, the buffer portion 23 functions as a partition mechanism.

Therefore, when the pump section 21f reciprocates, at least the discharge section 21h can be isolated from the cylindrical section 20k, and therefore, the pump section can be downsized, and the change in volume of the pump section can be reduced.

As described above, also in this embodiment, one pump is sufficient to perform the suction operation and the discharge operation, and therefore the structure of the developer discharge mechanism can be simplified. In addition, by the suction operation through the discharge opening 21a, a pressure-reduced state (negative pressure state) can be provided in the developer supply container, and therefore the developer can be loosened efficiently.

Thus, in this example, similarly to embodiments 5 to 18, by the rotational force received from the developer receiving apparatus 8, the rotating operation of the feeding portion 20c (the cylindrical portion 20 k) and the reciprocating movement of the pump portion 21f can be performed.

Also, similar to examples 17 to 18, the pump portion can be downsized, and the volume change amount of the pump portion can be reduced. Also, the pump section can be made common, thereby providing an advantage of cost reduction.

Also, in this example, the developer is used as the partition mechanism, so the partition mechanism can be simplified.

Example 20

The structure of embodiment 20 will be described with reference to fig. 65 to 66. Part (a) of fig. 65 is a perspective view of the developer supply container 1, and (b) is a sectional view of the developer supply container 1, and fig. 66 is a sectional perspective view of the nozzle portion 47.

In this example, the nozzle portion 47 is connected to the pump portion 20b, and the developer is discharged through the discharge opening 21a once drawn into the nozzle portion 47, which is different from the foregoing embodiment. Otherwise, the structure is substantially the same as that in embodiment 14, and detailed description thereof is omitted by assigning the same reference numerals to the respective elements.

As shown in part (a) of fig. 65, the developer supply container 1 includes a flange portion 21 and a developer accommodating portion 20. The developer accommodating portion 20 includes a cylindrical portion 20 k.

In the cylindrical portion 20k, as shown in (b) of fig. 65, the partition wall 32 serving as the feeding portion extends over the entire area in the rotational axis direction. One end surface of the partition wall 32 is provided with a plurality of inclined projections 32a at different positions in the rotational axis direction, and the developer is fed from one end to the other end (side portion near the flange portion 21) with respect to the rotational axis direction. An inclined protrusion 32a is similarly provided on the other end surface of the partition wall 32. In addition, a through hole 32b for allowing the passage of the developer is provided between the adjacent inclined protrusions 32 a. The through hole 32b is used to agitate the developer. The structure of the feeding portion may be a combination of the spiral protrusion 20c and the partition wall 32 in the cylindrical portion 20k for feeding the developer to the flange portion 21, as in the foregoing embodiment. The flange portion 21 including the pump portion 20b will be described below.

The flange portion 21 is rotatably connected to the cylindrical portion 20k through the small diameter portion 49 and the seal member 48. In a state where the container is mounted on the developer receiving apparatus 8, the flange portion 21 is immovably held by the developer receiving apparatus 8 (rotation operation and reciprocation are not allowed).

Further, as shown in part (a) of fig. 66, in the flange portion 21, a supply amount adjusting portion (flow rate adjusting portion) 52 is provided, the supply amount adjusting portion 52 receiving the developer fed from the cylindrical portion 20 k. A nozzle portion 47 is provided in the supply amount adjusting portion 52, the nozzle portion 47 extending from the pump portion 20b toward the discharge opening 21 a. Further, the rotational driving force received by the gear portion 20a is converted into a reciprocating force by the drive conversion mechanism so as to vertically drive the pump portion 20 b. Therefore, by the change in the volume of the pump portion 20b, the nozzle portion 47 sucks the developer into the supply amount adjusting portion 52 and discharges it through the discharge opening 21 a.

The structure for transmitting drive to the pump section 20b will be described below.

As described previously, when the gear portion 20a provided on the cylindrical portion 20k receives the rotational force from the drive gear 300, the cylindrical portion 20k rotates. Further, the rotational force is transmitted to the gear portion 43 through the gear portion 42 provided on the smaller diameter portion 49 of the cylindrical portion 20 k. Here, the gear portion 43 is provided with a shaft portion 44, and the shaft portion 44 is rotatable integrally with the gear portion 43.

One end of the shaft portion 44 is rotatably supported by the housing 46. The shaft 44 is provided with an eccentric cam 45 at a position opposite to the pump portion 20b, and this eccentric cam 45 is rotated along an orbit whose distance from the rotational axis of the shaft 44 is changed by a rotational force transmitted thereto, so that the pump portion 20b is pushed down (reduced in volume). Thereby, the developer in the nozzle portion 47 is discharged through the discharge opening 21 a.

When the pump portion 20b is released from the eccentric cam 45, it is restored to the original position (volume expansion) by its restoring force. By the restoration (volume increase) of the pump portion, the suction operation is performed through the discharge opening 21a, and the developer existing in the vicinity of the discharge opening 21a can be loosened.

By repeating the operation, the developer is sufficiently discharged by the volume change of the pump portion 20 b. As previously described, the pump section 20b may be provided with a biasing member, such as a spring, to assist in recovery (or pushing down).

The hollow cone nozzle portion 47 will be described below. The nozzle portion 47 is provided with an opening 53 in its outer periphery, and the nozzle portion 47 is provided with an ejection outlet 54 at its free end for ejecting the developer toward the discharge opening 21 a.

In the developer supplying step, at least the opening 53 of the nozzle portion 47 can be located in the developer layer in the supply burette portion 52, whereby the pressure generated by the pump portion 20b can be sufficiently applied to the developer in the supply burette portion 52.

That is, the developer (around the nozzle 47) in the supply metering portion 52 functions as a partition mechanism with respect to the cylindrical portion 20k, so that the volume changing effect of the pump portion 20b is exerted to a limited extent, that is, within the supply metering portion 52.

With such a structure, the nozzle portion 47 can provide a similar effect as the partition mechanism of embodiments 17 to 19.

In addition, in this example, similarly to embodiments 5 to 19, by the rotational force received from the developer receiving apparatus 8, the rotation operation of the developer accommodating portion 20 (cylindrical portion 20 k) and the reciprocating movement of the pump portion 20b can be performed. Similar to embodiments 17-19, the pump portion 20b and/or the flange portion 21 can advantageously be made common.

According to this example, the developer and the partition mechanism are not in a sliding relationship as in embodiments 17 to 18, and therefore damage to the developer can be suppressed.

Industrial applicability

According to the present invention, there are provided a developer supply container and a developer supply system capable of suppressing clogging of a ventilation member with developer.

Claims

1. A developer supply system comprising a developer receiving apparatus and a developer supply container detachably mountable to said developer receiving apparatus, wherein:

the developer receiving apparatus includes: a developer receiving portion for receiving a developer; a filter for allowing the developer receiving portion to vent in and out, the filter preventing toner from leaking to the outside of the developer receiving portion; and a driver for applying a driving force to the developer supply container; and

the developer supply container includes: a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer; a discharge opening for allowing the developer to be discharged from the developer accommodating portion toward the developer receiving portion; a drive input portion for receiving a driving force from the developer receiving apparatus; and a pump section capable of being driven by the driving force received by the driving input section so as to repeatedly alternate a discharge operation and a suction operation through the discharge opening and the filter.

2. The developer supply system according to claim 1, wherein: the developer in the developer supply container has a toner density of not less than 4.3x10^-4kg·m²/s²And not more than 4.14x10^-3kg·m²/s²Wherein the area of the discharge opening is not more than 12.6mm²。

3. The developer supply system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: the pump section includes a positive displacement pump having a volume that varies with reciprocating motion.

4. The developer supply system according to claim 3, wherein: as the volume of the chamber increases, the pressure in the developer accommodating portion becomes lower than the ambient pressure so that the discharge opening is substantially blocked by the developer.

5. The developer supply system according to claim 3, wherein: the pump portion comprises a flexible bellows-like pump.

6. A developer supply system according to claim 3, wherein said drive input portion receives a rotational force, said developer supply container comprising: a feeding portion for feeding the developer accommodated in the developer accommodating portion toward the discharge opening by the rotational force received by the drive input portion; a drive converting portion for converting the rotational force received by the drive input portion into a force for operating the pump portion.

7. The developer supply system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, further comprising: a nozzle portion connected to the pump portion, the nozzle portion having an opening at a free end thereof, wherein the opening of the nozzle portion is disposed adjacent the discharge opening.

8. A developer supply system according to claim 7, wherein said nozzle portion is provided with a plurality of such openings around said free end portion.

9. A developer supply system comprising a developer receiving apparatus and a developer supply container detachably mountable to said developer receiving apparatus, wherein:

the developer supply container includes: a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer having a density of not less than 4.3x10^-4kg·m²/s²And not more than 4.14x10^-3kg·m²/s²The flow energy of (a); a pinhole for allowing the developer to be discharged out of the developer accommodating portion, the pinhole having an opening area of not more than 12.6mm²(ii) a A drive input portion for receiving a driving force from the driver; and an air flow generating mechanism for repeatedly and alternately generating air flows inward and outward through the needle hole and the filter.

10. A developer supply system comprising a developer receiving apparatus and a developer supply container detachably mountable to said developer receiving apparatus, wherein:

the developer receiving apparatus includes: a developer receiving portion for receiving a developer; a filter for allowing the developer receiving portion to vent in and out, the filter preventing toner from leaking to the outside of the developer receiving portion; and a driver for applying a driving force to the developer supply container;

the developer supply container includes: a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer having a density of not less than 4.3x10^-4kg·m²/s²And not more than 4.14x10^-3kg·m²/s²The flow energy of (a); a pinhole for allowing the developer to be discharged out of the developer accommodating portion, the pinhole having an opening area of not more than 12.6mm²(ii) a A drive input portion for receiving a driving force from the driver; an air flow generating mechanism for repeatedly alternately generating air flows inward and outward through the pinholes so as to repeatedly alternately induce inward and outward flows through the filter.