HK1198779B - A removable device, a developer container and an image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Detachable device, developer container, and imaging device

This application is a divisional application of the invention patent application with an international application date of June 13, 2011, national application number 201180004581.0, and a date of entry into the Chinese national phase on May 18, 2012.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copier, a printer, a fax machine or a multifunction peripheral (MFP); a detachable device and a developer container detachably mounted therein; and an information storage device mounted therein.

Background Art

Conventionally, in imaging devices such as copiers, a technology of detachably mounting a detachable device such as a developer container (a toner bottle, a toner storage container, or an ink cartridge) or a process cartridge on a main body of the imaging device has been commonly used (for example, Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2009-69417; Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2006-209060, and Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-196629).

The detachable device is equipped with an information storage device (information recording unit or non-volatile memory) such as an ID chip that stores information to be exchanged with the imaging device main body. When the detachable device is attached to the imaging device main body, information (e.g., the year, month, and day of manufacture of the detachable device; the manufacturing lot number; or the color or type of toner) is stored in the information storage device and transferred to the control unit of the imaging device main body. Alternatively, information (e.g., information on the usage history of the imaging device) is transferred from the imaging device main body to the information storage device, thereby enabling quality control of the imaging device main body and the detachable device to be performed.

Patent Document 1 discloses a contact-type information storage device (information recording unit). Specifically, in this contact-type information storage device (ID chip), when a detachable device (toner storage container) is attached to the imaging device body, metal pads (terminals) come into contact with body-side terminals of a connector mounted within the imaging device body. As a result, information can be exchanged between the detachable device's information storage device and the imaging device's control unit (body-side information recording unit).

In addition, a supply opening for allowing the stored toner to flow out to the outside is installed in the developer container. The opening is kept closed before it is loaded on the developing device to prevent the toner from scattering or leaking.

As a structure for achieving the above-mentioned need, a structure has been proposed in which a valve is installed for opening and closing an opening installed in the toner container. In addition, as a structure of the valve, a flat plate-shaped valve that is movable in a direction crossing the toner container and the outlet has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-066638).

However, the above-mentioned conventional technology has the following problems.

As a first problem, a conventional contact type information storage device may be electrically damaged because a circuit of the information storage device is not sufficiently grounded and thus becomes electrically floating when a detachable device is attached to or detached from a device body.

The present invention is proposed in view of the first problem mentioned above, and provides an information storage device, a detachable device, a developer container and an imaging device, wherein even if a contact-type information storage device is installed in a detachable device that is detachably installed in the main body of the imaging device, it is difficult for electrical damage to occur in the information storage device.

As a second problem, in conventional contact-type information storage devices, there is a problem that the contact portion thereof is misaligned (contact failure) due to incorrect positioning of the terminals (metal pads) installed in the information storage device and the terminals of the imaging device body. This problem becomes more serious when the terminals of the information storage device are relatively small.

The present invention is proposed in view of the second problem mentioned above, and provides a detachable device, a developer container and an imaging device, wherein, even when a contact-type information storage device is installed on a detachable device that is detachably installed in the main body of the imaging device, contact failure caused by failure in positioning of the main body side terminal of the connector with the main body of the imaging device is unlikely to occur.

The third issue is that, in recent years, toners with small particle diameters have been used to improve resolution. Improving filter function to cope with the use of such toners increases material and processing costs. Specifically, when using foamable materials, it is necessary to specify the mesh fineness that prevents toner from passing through, the so-called foaming degree. However, as the mesh fineness increases, the flexibility tends to decrease. This trend makes it difficult to keep up with the movement of the valve, and the sealing performance deteriorates.

The present invention improves the shutter mechanism of a conventional toner supply device. The improved invention provides a developer storage container and an image forming apparatus having a structure capable of reliably preventing toner from leaking from the developer storage container, which is replaced at low cost through mounting/dismounting operations.

Summary of the Invention

In the present invention, a "processing cartridge" is defined as a detachable device that is constructed so that at least one of a charging unit for charging an image carrier, a developing unit (developing device) for developing a latent image formed on the image carrier, and a cleaning unit for cleaning the surface of the image carrier is formed integrally with the image carrier and is detachably mounted on the imaging device body.

In addition, in the present invention, "almost rectangular metal plates" are defined to include both approximately rectangular and rectangular ones. Therefore, rectangular metal plates in which all or part of the angles are chamfered or rounded are also included in the approximately rectangular metal plates.

The effects of the present invention on the first problem are as follows. The present invention can provide an information storage device, a detachable device, a developer container, and an image forming apparatus, wherein even when a contact-type information storage device is mounted on a detachable device detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus main body, electrical damage is unlikely to occur, because a grounding terminal is formed in a hole or groove formed in a substrate of the information storage device, and the grounding terminal engages with a main body-side grounding terminal formed in a protruding portion of the image forming apparatus main body.

The present invention has the following effects on the second problem. In the present invention, the contact-type information storage device is retained on the retaining portion so as to be movable on a virtual plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement in which the terminal approaches and comes into contact with the main body-side terminal. Thus, the present invention can provide a detachable device, a developer container, and an imaging device, wherein, even when the contact-type information storage device is mounted in a detachable device that is detachably mounted on the imaging device main body, contact failure caused by positioning failure with the main body-side terminal of the imaging device main body is less likely to occur.

The effects of the present invention on the third problem are as follows: According to the present invention, adhesion can be ensured by causing riding up when colliding with a rib provided on the peripheral edge of the discharge opening.

Thus, by utilizing the shutter as an existing component for opening/closing the discharge opening, it is possible to reliably prevent the toner from leaking from the ejection opening without adding a special structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG1 is a diagram showing the overall structure of an imaging apparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG2 is a cross-sectional view showing an imaging unit;

3 is a schematic diagram showing a state of a toner container installed in a toner supply device;

4 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the toner container is installed in the toner container storage unit;

5 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which one toner container is installed in the toner container storage unit;

6 is a side view showing a state in which the toner container is installed in the toner container storage unit;

7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cover portion is installed in the cover receiving portion;

8 is a perspective view showing a cap receiving portion of the toner container storage unit;

FIG9 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the front end portion of the bottle receiving portion;

10 is a rear view showing a state in which the capping portion is set to the bottle receiving portion in the regular toner container;

11 is a rear view showing a state in which the capping portion is set to the bottle receiving portion in the irregular toner container;

12 is a perspective view showing a setting of the cover receiving portion of the cover portion;

13 is a front view showing a state in which the cover portion is set to receive the cover portion;

14A is a rear view showing a cover receiving portion, and FIG. 14B is a partial enlarged view showing the vicinity of the contact groove enclosed by a dotted line within the cover receiving portion of FIG. 14A ;

FIG15 is a perspective view showing the cover receiving portion from obliquely below;

FIG16 is a perspective view showing a connector;

17 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the information storage device of the cover portion is set to the connector of the cover receiving portion;

FIG18 is a perspective view showing a toner container from obliquely below;

FIG19 is a side view showing a toner container;

FIG20 is a perspective view showing the cap portion side of the toner container from obliquely below;

Figure 21 is a front view showing the toner container from the cap portion side;

22 is a perspective view showing a state in which the shutter member of the toner container closes the toner discharge opening;

23 is a perspective view showing a state in which the shutter member of the toner container opens the toner discharge opening;

24A to 24C are schematic diagrams illustrating the opening operation of the shutter member in conjunction with the mounting operation of the toner container on the toner container storage unit;

FIG25 is a perspective view showing a shutter member;

FIG26 is another perspective view showing the shutter member;

FIG27 is a perspective view showing a state in which the information storage device is taken out;

28 is a six-sided view showing a holding member of the information storage device;

FIG29 is a three-dimensional view showing an information storage device;

FIG30 is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a cap portion of a toner container;

31 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a toner container according to a second embodiment;

FIG32 is a rear view showing the cap portion within the toner container of FIG31;

FIG33 is a perspective view showing the retaining cover engaged with the retaining element;

34 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the information storage device of the toner container according to the third embodiment is set to the connector of the cap receiving portion;

35 is a three-side view showing a substrate of an information storage device according to a fourth embodiment;

36 is a three-side view showing a substrate of an information storage device according to a fifth embodiment;

FIG37 is a perspective view showing an information storage device, a holding member, and a connector;

38 is a perspective view showing a state where the information storage device is engaged with the connector;

39A and 39B are schematic diagrams showing a circuit of an information storage device and a circuit of a connector;

40A and 40B are front views showing an information storage device;

FIG41 is a diagram showing an information storage device during an inspection process;

42A and 42B are perspective views showing a toner container according to a sixth embodiment;

Figure 43 is a front view of the toner container showing that the panel is not installed;

44 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner container in which an information storage device and a panel are mounted;

45 is a view showing a state in which the information storage device is inserted into the connector;

46A and 46B are perspective views showing another form of a toner container;

47A to 47C are views showing another form of a toner container;

48 is an exploded perspective view showing a toner container according to a seventh embodiment;

FIG49 is a cross-sectional view showing the toner container of FIG48;

FIG50 is a perspective view showing an imaging apparatus according to an eighth embodiment;

51A and 51B are diagrams illustrating the installation of the toner cartridge of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 50 , FIG. 51A being a cross-sectional view and FIG. 51B being a bottom view;

FIG52 is a perspective view showing an imaging apparatus according to a ninth embodiment;

53 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a connector is connected to the information storage device in the imaging apparatus of FIG. 52 ;

54 is a perspective view showing an ink cartridge according to a tenth embodiment;

FIG55 is a top view showing an image forming apparatus in which the ink cartridge of FIG54 is installed;

56 is a perspective view showing a connector of an imaging apparatus according to a tenth embodiment;

FIG57 is a three-sided view showing an information storage device in contact with the connector of FIG56;

FIG58 is a three-dimensional view showing another form of information storage device;

59 is a perspective view showing a toner container according to a twelfth embodiment;

60 is an enlarged perspective view showing the structure of an information storage device and a holding member according to a twelfth embodiment;

61 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of an information storage device and a holding member according to a twelfth embodiment;

62 is an enlarged perspective view showing a fixed state between an information storage device and a holding member according to a twelfth embodiment;

63 is an enlarged perspective view showing a fixed state between an information storage device and a holding member according to a thirteenth embodiment;

64 is an enlarged perspective view showing the structure of an information storage device and a holding member according to a thirteenth embodiment;

65 is an enlarged perspective view showing a fixed state between an information storage device and a holding member according to a fourteenth embodiment;

66 is an enlarged perspective view showing the structure of an information storage device and a holding member according to a fourteenth embodiment;

FIG67 is a cross-sectional view showing the cover portion shown in FIG18;

Fig. 68 is a perspective view of the shutter as viewed from the bottom surface thereof, for explaining the structure of the shutter used in the cover portion shown in Fig. 18;

69A and 69B are views corresponding to FIG. 18 for explaining the open/close state of the shutter shown in 69A and 69B;

70A to 70C are views for explaining the structure of the shutter shown in FIGS. 69A and 69B ;

71A to 71C are views showing an open state of the shutter shown in FIGS. 70A to 70C and a cross-sectional view of the state;

FIG72 is a plan view for explaining the relationship between the main body side shutter closing mechanism and the shutter;

73 is a plan view showing a state of the main body side shutter closing mechanism shown in FIG 72;

74 is a plan view showing a state of the main body side shutter closing mechanism which has changed from the state shown in FIG 73;

75A to 75D are views for explaining the positional relationship between the toner discharge opening and the shutter and the sealing state of the sealing material;

76A and 76B are views showing the structure of an information storage device used in a sixteenth embodiment;

FIG77 is a perspective view of the receiving side of the cover forming part of the electrical connection portion with the information storage device;

FIG78 is a perspective view showing a common electronic substrate including a shutter connected to an information storage device;

79 is a view for explaining a connection state between the information storage device used in the sixteenth embodiment and the connector on the cover receiving portion side;

80 is a perspective view as seen from the right front side in the insertion direction of the cover in a state where the shutter is closed, for explaining an improvement related to the structure of the cover portion according to the seventeenth embodiment;

FIG81 is a perspective view from the left front side in the insertion direction of the cover shown in FIG80;

FIG82 is an exploded perspective view of the cover portion shown in FIG80;

FIG83 is a perspective view showing a modification of the main portion of the cover portion shown in FIG80;

Fig. 84 is a plan view for explaining one aspect of the main body side shutter closing mechanism targeting on the cover portion;

FIG85 is a plan view showing the main body side shutter closing mechanism shown in FIG84;

86 is a plan view showing a state of the main body side shutter closing mechanism which has been changed from the state shown in FIG. 85 ;

FIG87 is a three-dimensional view showing a modification of the base plate shown in FIG36; and

88A to 88C are plan views showing another modification of the substrate shown in FIG. 36 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and thus repeated description thereof will be appropriately simplified or omitted.

First embodiment

A first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 30 .

First, the structure and operation of the entire imaging apparatus are described.

As shown in Figure 1, in the colorant container storage unit 70 above the imaging device main body 100, colorant containers 32Y, 32M, 32C and 32K (developer containers) are detachably (replaceably) installed as four detachable devices corresponding to respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan and black) (also see Figures 3 to 5).

The intermediate transfer unit 15 is provided below the toner container storage unit 70. Image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K corresponding to respective colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) are arranged in a row facing the intermediate transfer belt 8 of the intermediate transfer unit 15.

Toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K are provided under the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K, respectively, which are detachable devices (developer containers). The toners stored in the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K are supplied (fed) to the inner sides of the developing devices of the imaging units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K, respectively, by the toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K.

2 , the image forming unit 6Y corresponding to yellow includes a photosensitive drum 1Y, a charging unit 4Y provided around the photosensitive drum 1Y, a developing device 5Y (developing portion), a cleaning unit 2Y, a neutralization unit (not shown), etc. An image forming process (charging process, exposure process, developing process, transfer process, and cleaning process) is performed on the photosensitive drum 1Y, and thus a yellow image is formed on the photosensitive drum 1Y.

The remaining three imaging units 6M, 6C, and 6K have almost the same structure as the imaging unit 6Y corresponding to yellow, except that the color of the toner used is different. Hereinafter, the description of the remaining three imaging units 6M, 6C, and 6K will be appropriately omitted and will be described in conjunction with the imaging unit 6Y corresponding to yellow.

2, the photosensitive drum 1Y is rotationally driven by a driving motor (not shown) in the clockwise direction in FIG2. The surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y is uniformly charged at the position of the charging unit 4Y (charging process).

Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches an irradiation position of the laser light L emitted from the exposure unit 7 (see FIG. 1 ), and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to yellow is formed by exposure scanning at this position.

Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches a position facing the developing device 5Y, and the electrostatic latent image is developed at this position, so that a yellow toner image is formed (developing process).

Next, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches a position facing the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the primary transfer bias roller 9Y, and the toner image on the photosensitive drum 1Y is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 8 at this position (primary transfer process). At this time, a small amount of untransferred toner remains on the photosensitive drum 1Y.

Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches a position facing the cleaning unit 2Y, and the untransferred toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1Y is mechanically collected by the cleaning blade 2a at this position (cleaning process).

Finally, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1Y reaches the position of a neutralization unit (not shown) of the surface, and the residual potential on the photosensitive drum 1Y is eliminated at this position.

Thus, a series of image forming processes performed on the photosensitive drum 1Y ends.

The above-described image forming process is similarly performed in the other image forming units 6M, 6C, and 6K in the same manner as in the yellow image forming unit 6Y. That is, laser light L based on image information is irradiated onto the photosensitive drums of the image forming units 6M, 6C, and 6K from the exposure unit 7 provided below the image forming units. Specifically, the exposure unit 7 emits laser light L from a light source and irradiates the photosensitive drums with the laser light L through a plurality of optical elements while scanning the laser light L with a rotationally driven polygon mirror.

Thereafter, the toner images of the respective colors formed on the respective photosensitive drums by the developing process are transferred in a superimposed manner onto the intermediate transfer belt 8. As a result, a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8.

1 , the intermediate transfer unit 15 includes an intermediate transfer belt 8, four primary transfer bias rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K, a secondary transfer bias roller 12, a plurality of tension rollers, an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit, etc. The intermediate transfer belt 8 is stretched and supported by a plurality of roller members, and moves endlessly in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 as one roller member 12 is driven and rotated.

Four primary transfer bias rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 8 with the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, respectively, to form a primary transfer nip. A transfer bias having a polarity opposite to that of the toner is applied to the primary transfer bias rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K.

The intermediate transfer belt 8 moves in the direction of the arrow and passes through the primary transfer nips of the primary transfer bias rollers 9Y, 9M, 9C, and 9K in sequence. The toner images of the corresponding colors on the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are primarily transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 8 in a superimposed manner.

Afterward, the intermediate transfer belt 8, onto which the corresponding color toner images have been transferred in a superimposed manner, reaches a position facing the secondary transfer roller 19. At this position, the secondary transfer bias roller 12 and the secondary transfer roller 19 sandwich the intermediate transfer belt 8, forming a secondary transfer nip. The four-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is transferred to a recording medium P, such as a transfer sheet, that has been transported to the secondary transfer nip position. At this point, untransferred toner that has not yet been transferred to the recording medium P remains on the intermediate transfer belt 8.

Thereafter, the intermediate transfer belt 8 reaches a position of an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit (not shown) where untransferred toner on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is collected.

As a result, a series of transfer processes performed on the intermediate transfer belt 8 is completed.

The recording medium P conveyed to the secondary transfer nip position is conveyed from a paper feed unit 26 provided below the apparatus body 100 by a paper feed roller 27 , a pair of resist rollers 28 , and the like.

Specifically, a plurality of recording media P such as transfer sheets are stored in a stacked manner in the paper feed unit 26. If the paper feed roller 27 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG.

The recording medium P fed to the pair of resist rollers 28 stops at the nip between them, at which point the resist rollers 28 have stopped rotating. Synchronously with the timing of the color image on the intermediate transfer belt 8, the pair of resist rollers 28 are rotated, and the recording medium P is conveyed toward the secondary transfer nip. Consequently, a desired color image is transferred onto the recording medium P.

Thereafter, the recording medium P onto which the color image has been transferred at the secondary nip position is conveyed to the position of the fixing device 20. At this position, the color image transferred to the surface is fixed to the recording medium P by the heat and pressure of the fixing belt and the pressure roller.

Thereafter, the recording medium P passes between the rollers of a pair of eject rollers 29 and is then ejected to the outside of the apparatus. The recording medium P ejected to the outside of the apparatus by the pair of eject rollers 29 is sequentially stacked in the stacking unit 30 as an output image.

Thus, a series of imaging processes are completed in the imaging device.

2 , the structure and operation of the developing device in the imaging unit will be described in further detail.

The developing device 5Y includes a developing roller 51Y facing the photosensitive drum 1Y, a scraper 52Y facing the developing roller 51Y, two conveying screws disposed within developer storage units 53Y and 54Y, and a density detection sensor 56Y for detecting the density of the toner contained within the developer. The developing roller 51Y is configured with a magnet fixedly disposed within it and a sleeve that rotates around the magnet. A two-component developer G consisting of a carrier and toner is stored in the developer storage units 53Y and 54Y. The developer storage unit 54Y communicates with the toner drop conveying path 64Y via an opening formed therein.

The developing device 5Y having the above-described structure operates as follows.

The sleeve of the developing roller 51Y rotates in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2. The developer G supported on the developing roller 51Y by the magnetic field formed by the magnet moves on the developing roller 51Y as the sleeve rotates.

The developer G inside the developing device 5Y is adjusted so that the ratio of toner contained in the developer (toner density) is within a predetermined range. Specifically, as the toner inside the developing device 5Y is consumed, the toner stored in the toner container 32Y is supplied to the inside of the developer storage unit 54Y by the toner supply device 60Y (see, for example, FIG. 3 ). The structure and operation of the toner supply device will be described in detail later.

Thereafter, the toner supplied to the inside of the developer storage unit 54Y circulates through the two developer storage units 53Y and 54Y while being mixed and stirred together with the developer G by the two conveying screws 55Y (moving in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2 ). The toner in the developer G is attracted to the carrier by frictional electrification with the carrier and is supported on the developing roller 51Y together with the carrier by the magnetic force formed on the developing roller 51Y.

The developer G supported on the developing roller 51Y is transported in the direction of the arrow in Figure 2 and then reaches the position of the scraper 52Y. At this position, the developer G on the developing roller 51Y is adjusted to an appropriate amount of developer and then transported to a position facing the photosensitive drum 1Y (development area). The toner is attracted to the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1Y by the magnetic field formed in the development area. Thereafter, as the sleeve rotates, the developer G remaining on the developing roller 51Y reaches above the developer storage unit 53Y and leaves the developing roller 51Y at this position.

Next, the toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K are described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 .

3 , as the toner in the developing device of the corresponding color is consumed, the toner inside the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C and 32K installed in the toner container storage unit 70 of the apparatus body 100 is appropriately supplied to the inside of the developing device through the toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C and 60K installed for each toner color respectively.

The four toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K and the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K (developer containers) have substantially the same structure, except that the toner colors used in the image forming process are different. Therefore, the description will focus on the toner supply device 60Y and toner container 32Y corresponding to yellow, and the description of the toner supply devices 60M, 60C, and 60K and the toner containers 32M, 32C, and 32K corresponding to the remaining colors will be omitted as appropriate.

1 , if a main body cover (not shown) mounted on the front side of the apparatus main body 100 (on the front side perpendicular to the paper in FIG. 1 ) is opened, the toner container storage unit 70 (insertion opening 71) is exposed. The toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K (developer containers) are mounted/removed to/from the front side of the apparatus main body 100 in a state where the longitudinal direction of the toner containers is horizontal (mounting/removing operation in which the longitudinal direction of the toner containers is the mounting/removing direction).

As shown in FIG4 , when the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K are mounted to the toner container storage unit 70 of the apparatus main body 100 (moved in the direction of arrow Q), in association with the mounting operation, the shutter members 34 d of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K move, and the toner discharge openings W (discharge openings) are opened, so that the toner supply openings 73 w (see, for example, FIG3 ) of the toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K communicate with the toner discharge openings W. The toner stored in the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K is discharged from the toner discharge openings W and stored in the toner tank unit 61Y through the toner supply openings w of the toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K.

Referring to the schematic diagram of FIG3 , the toner container 32Y includes a cap 32Y, which is a substantially cylindrical toner bottle and is normally non-rotatably held within the toner container storage unit 70, and a container body 33Y (bottle body). The cap 32Y has a gear 33c integrally formed therein. The container body 33Y is relatively rotatably held by the cap 34Y and can be driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG3 by a drive unit 91 (including a drive motor, a drive gear 81, etc.). As the container body 33Y rotates, the toner stored within the toner container 32Y (container body) is conveyed longitudinally (from left to right in FIG3 ) by a protrusion 33b spirally formed on the inner circumference of the container body 33Y, and the toner is discharged from the toner discharge opening W of the cap 34Y. That is, as the container body 33Y of the toner container 32Y is appropriately rotationally driven by the drive unit 91, toner is appropriately supplied to the toner tank unit 61Y. In addition, when each of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K reaches the end of its life (when the stored toner is almost consumed and becomes empty), it is replaced with a new one.

3 , the toner supply devices 60Y, 60M, 60C, and 60K include a toner container storage unit 70 , a toner box unit 61Y, a toner conveying screw 62Y, a stirring member 65Y, a toner end sensor 66Y, a driving unit 91 , and the like.

The toner box unit 61Y is provided below the toner discharge opening W of the toner container 32Y and stores the toner discharged from the toner discharge opening W of the toner container 32Y. The bottom of the toner box unit 61Y is connected to the upstream portion of the toner conveying screw 62Y.

A toner end sensor 66Y, which detects when the toner stored in the toner tank unit 61Y has fallen below a predetermined amount, is mounted on the wall of the toner tank unit 61Y (at a predetermined height from the bottom). A piezoelectric sensor or the like is used as the toner end sensor 66Y. When the control unit 90 detects that the toner stored in the toner tank unit 61Y has fallen below a predetermined amount (toner end detection) via the toner end sensor 66Y, the drive unit 91, under the control of the control unit 90, rotates the container body 33Y of the toner container 32Y for a predetermined period of time, thereby supplying toner to the toner tank unit 61Y. Furthermore, if toner end detection by the toner end sensor 66Y is not released despite repeated execution of this control, it is recognized that there is no toner in the toner container 32Y, and a message requesting replacement of the toner container 32Y is displayed on the display unit (not shown) of the device body 100.

Furthermore, a stirring element 65Y is mounted in the center of the toner tank unit 61Y (near the toner end sensor 66Y) to prevent the toner stored in the toner tank unit 61Y from clumping. The stirring element 65Y has a flexible member mounted on a shaft portion and rotates clockwise in FIG. 3 to agitate the toner inside the toner tank unit 61Y. Furthermore, the front end of the flexible member of the stirring element 65Y comes into sliding contact with the detection surface of the toner end sensor 66Y during the rotation cycle, thereby preventing toner from adhering to the detection surface of the toner end sensor 66Y and thereby reducing detection accuracy.

Although not shown, the toner conveying screw 62Y conveys the toner stored in the toner tank unit 61Y obliquely upward. Specifically, the toner conveying screw 62Y linearly conveys the toner from the bottom (lowest point) of the toner tank unit 61Y toward the top of the developing device 5Y. The toner conveyed by the toner conveying screw 62Y falls due to its own weight through the toner drop conveying path (e.g., see FIG. 2 ) and is conveyed to the inside of the developing device 5Y (developer storage unit 54Y).

4 , the toner container storage unit 70 mainly includes a cap receiving portion 73 for holding the cap portion 34Y of the toner container 32Y; a bottle receiving portion 72 (container body carrier) for holding the container body 33Y of the toner container 32Y; and an insertion opening 71, which serves as an insertion opening during the installation operation of the toner container 32Y.

Next, the toner container storage unit 70 (the bottle receiving portion 72 and the cap receiving portion 73 ) will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 17 .

First, as described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 , a bottle receiving portion 72, a cap receiving portion 73, and an insertion opening 71 (not shown in Figure 5 ) are formed in the toner container storage unit 70. With the longitudinal direction horizontal and the longitudinal direction representing the mounting direction, and the cap portion 34Y at the head of the container body 33Y, the toner container 32Y is installed in the toner container storage unit 70 via the insertion opening 71 by the user grasping the grip portion 33d. The toner container 32Y inserted through the insertion opening 71 is pushed toward the cap receiving portion 73 by the user while sliding on the bottle receiving surface 72a of the bottle receiving portion 72 (see, for example, Figures 5 , 6 , and 9 ). Referring to Figure 6 , the bottle receiving surface 72a is formed in the bottle receiving portion 72 for each color, and the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K corresponding to the corresponding colors are inserted (in the direction indicated by the white arrow). 8 , bottle receiving portions 73Y, 73M, 73C, and 73K are formed for each color within the cap receiving portion 73, and the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K corresponding to the corresponding colors are inserted (in the direction of the white arrow). In this position, the cap receiving portion is held non-rotatably.

5 and 24A , a bottle receiving surface 72 a , a stopper release push portion 72 b , and the like are formed in the bottle receiving portion 72 of the toner container storage unit 70 .

The bottle receiving surface 72a functions as a sliding surface of the toner container 32Y at the time of mounting/detaching operation of the toner container 32Y and functions as a holding unit of the rotationally drivable container body 33Y after the toner container 32Y has been completely set.

5, the stopper release push portion 72b is a trapezoidal rib formed on the bottle receiving surface 72a (downstream of the toner container 32Y in the mounting direction). Referring to FIG24, in conjunction with the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y, the stopper release push portion 72b pushes up the stopper release portion 34d21 of the shutter member 34d and releases the contact state between the stopper portion 34d22 and the contact portion 34n5 (allowing the opening operation of the shutter member 34d).

14A, 14B and 15, in the cap receiving portion 73 of the toner container storage unit 70, a main reference pin 73a, a secondary reference pin 73b, a contact groove 73m, a lateral groove 73h, a wall portion 73g, a through hole 73f and the like are provided.

20 and 21. The cap portion 34Y is positioned in the cap receiving portion 73.

7 , the primary reference pin 73 a is formed to be longer in the longitudinal direction than the secondary reference pin 73 b (the positions of the reference surfaces of the base portion formed on the same plane). Furthermore, the primary reference pin 73 a has a tapered front end. Thus, when the toner container 32Y is mounted in the cap receiving portion 73 in the longitudinal direction, the toner container 32Y can be smoothly mounted in the cap receiving portion 73.

14A, 14B, and 15, a contact groove 73m is formed in the inner wall of the cap receiving portion 73 in a groove-like shape on the upstream side of the front end portion of the main reference pin 73a in the mounting direction. A guide rail portion 34e extending longitudinally on the upper outer circumference of the cap portion 34Y of the toner container 32Y, which will be described later, is fitted into the contact groove 73m before the main reference pin 73a is inserted into the positioning hole 34a.

12 and 15 , a transverse groove 73h formed to extend in the longitudinal direction and penetrate toward the outer circumferential side of the cover receiving portion 73 is formed in a bilaterally symmetrical relationship on each of both sides of the inner wall of the cover receiving portion 73. Furthermore, referring to Figures 12 and 13 , a cover receiving clamping member 73r having an almost pentagonal shape when viewed from the top and a groove portion 73r1 (formed to connect with the transverse groove 73h) when viewed in the longitudinal direction are provided in a bilaterally symmetrical relationship on the outer circumferential side of the cover receiving portion 73.

The cover portion clamping member 73r is formed of a separate member from the cover receiving portion 73. It fits into a groove formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cover receiving portion 73 and is urged by a torsion coil spring provided thereon with the cylindrical axis as the center. As a result, the lateral groove 73h is connected to the groove portion 73r1 of the cover portion clamping member 73r, and a pair of deeper left and right groove portions are distinctly formed.

In the case of attaching or detaching the toner container 32Y, the lateral protrusion 34c formed in the cap portion 34Y pushes and passes through the cap portion sandwiching member 73r, which is urged by the torsion coil spring 93 inside the above-mentioned deeper groove portion (the one of the groove portions 73r1 formed integrally with the lateral groove 73h). Thus, the user who performs attachment/detachment of the toner container 32Y to/from the image forming apparatus main body 100 (cap receiving portion 73) can feel a click feeling in synchronization with the attachment/detachment operation and perform the attachment/detachment operation of the toner container 32Y at an optimum speed (acceleration) other than the half-hearted speed.

14A and 15, on the inner wall surface of the cover receiving portion 73 (the wall surface that rises in the vertical direction on the inner side of the device direction), a through hole 73f is formed, which has a shape obtained by connecting and overlapping the edge lines of the square hole and the elliptical hole extending in the vertical direction. The connector 73e (for example, see Figure 16) to be described later is installed to be exposed to the inner wall side of the cover receiving portion 73 through the through hole 73f (for example, see Figure 17). When the colorant container 32Y is installed on the cover receiving portion 73 (device body 100), the connector 73e forms a surface contact with the ID chip 35 provided at the front end of the cover portion 34Y, and thus information communication can be carried out between the ID chip 35 and the device body 100 (control unit 90).

Next, the mounting form of the connector 73e on the cap receiving portion 73 of the toner container storage unit 70 will be described.

Four connectors 73e are provided in the cap receiving portion 73, corresponding to the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K of the respective colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Referring to FIG8 , the four connectors 73e are arranged in a row on a single rectangular common circuit board 95. Specifically, the connectors 73e can be fixed to the common circuit board 95 by fitting a retaining fitting (not shown) formed on the bottom of the connector 73e into a hole (not shown) formed in the common circuit board 95.

8 and 17 , with the four connectors 73e inserted into the inner side of the cover receiving portion 73 through the through-holes 73f, the common circuit board 95 to which the four connectors 73e are fixed is installed and fixed along the arrangement direction of the four cover receiving portions 73K, 73C, 73M, and 73Y. Specifically, four screws 99 are screwed into the internal thread portions 73x formed under the outer wall portions of the four cover receiving portions 73K, 73C, 73M, and 73Y through holes formed in the common circuit board 95, and the common circuit board 95 is screwed into the cover receiving portion 73 from the outside.

The structure and operation of the connector 73e will be described below.

16 , the connector 73e includes a connector body 73e1, four body side terminals 73e2, two positioning pins 73e3 (positioning protrusions), etc. The four body side terminals 73e2 of the connector 73e are respectively flat (linear) metal elements, one terminal side serving as a fixed terminal and the other terminal side serving as a free end, and are fixed to the connector body 73e1. The four body side terminals 73e2 have a bent portion (a portion serving as a contact point with the metal pad 35a serving as a metal plate) that bends toward the ID chip 35 side at its other end side. By the mounting operation of the cover portion 34Y onto the cover receiving portion 73, the bending direction of the body side terminal 73e2 is offset in the -X direction of FIG16 , and while gradually increasing the contact pressure on the metal pad 35a (metal plate) of the ID chip 35 provided in the cover portion 34Y, it slides from the longitudinal center portion toward the left side of FIG29 (near the first virtual line S1).

As shown in FIG. 16 , the front end portion of the positioning pin 73 e 2 has a tapered shape so that engagement with the groove 35 b 1 of the ID chip 35 can be performed smoothly.

14A, 14B, 15, and 17, wall portion 73g is installed to surround the lower portion and side portions of through-hole 73f, in which connector 73e is installed. Forming wall portion 73g prevents toner from scattering outside from near the toner discharge opening W of toner container 32Y, as the scattered toner is blocked by wall portion 73g, making it difficult for the scattered toner to directly adhere to connector 73e and ID chip 35. Consequently, connection failures between connector 73e (main body-side terminal 73e2) and ID chip 35 (metal pad 35a) due to scattered toner can be suppressed.

Required information is exchanged between the ID chips 35 (information storage device) of the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K and the connector 73e of the device body 100. The information communicated between the two sides includes information such as the manufacturing quantity, manufacturing date, and number of times the toner container or ID chip has been recycled; information such as the toner capacity, batch, and color; and information such as the usage history of the imaging device body 100. Electronic information is stored in the ID chip 35 (information storage device) before it is installed in the imaging device body 100 (or information received from the device body 100 after it is installed). The ID chip 35 (information storage device) will be described in more detail later.

Next, the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K are described in detail with reference to FIGS. 18 to 30 .

18 to 20, the toner container 32Y mainly includes a container body 33Y (bottle body) and a cap portion 34Y provided at the head thereof. In addition, an ID chip 35 as an information storage device or the like is detachably mounted on the cap portion 34Y of the toner container 32Y.

The head of the container body 33Y is provided with a gear 33c and an opening A that rotates integrally with the container body 33Y, on one end side in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in FIG. 30 ) (see, for example, FIG. 19 and FIG. 30 ). The opening A is provided at the head of the container body 33Y (a position that becomes the front side during the mounting operation) and discharges the toner stored in the container body 33Y toward the space (hollow space, see, for example, FIG. 30 ) inside the cap portion 34Y.

Furthermore, as the toner is consumed on the image forming apparatus main body side, the toner is conveyed from the inside of the container body 33Y to the hollow space inside the cap portion 34Y (rotational drive of the container body 33Y) as appropriate.

The gear 33c meshes with a drive gear 81 provided within the toner container storage unit 70 of the apparatus main body 100, and rotationally drives the container main body 33Y about the rotation axis. Specifically, the gear 33c is exposed through a recessed hole 34x (see, for example, FIG. 18 ) formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cap portion 34Y, which will be described later, and meshes with the drive gear 81 of the apparatus main body 100 at a position of engagement that is obliquely downward in FIG. 3 and FIG. 21 . Furthermore, the driving force is transmitted from the drive gear 81 to the gear 33c, and the container main body 33Y rotates clockwise in FIG. 21 . In this first embodiment, the drive gear 81 and the gear 33c are spur gears.

18 , a grip portion 33 d is provided on the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the container body 33Y (at the rear end portion in the mounting direction) to be gripped by the user when performing mounting/removal operations of the toner container 32Y. The user mounts the toner container 32Y on the image forming apparatus body 100 while holding the grip portion 33 d (the toner container 32Y moves in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 18 ).

Furthermore, on the outer circumferential surface of the container body 33Y, a spiral protrusion 33b (a spiral groove when viewed from the outer circumferential surface side) is provided. The spiral protrusion 33b rotationally drives the container body 33Y in a predetermined direction, and discharges the toner through the opening A. The container body 33Y having the above-described structure can be formed by a blow molding process together with the gear 33c and the gripping portion 33d provided on its circumferential surface.

Referring to Figure 30 , in the toner container 32Y according to the first embodiment, a stirring member 33f, which rotates together with the container body 33Y, is engaged in the bottle mouth portion 33a (opening A), as shown in Figure 19 . The stirring member 33f is a rod-shaped member that extends from the hollow space inside the cap portion 34Y toward the inside of the container body 33Y. Since the stirring member 33f rotates together with the opening A of the container body 33Y, the efficiency of toner discharge from the opening A is improved.

19 and 30, an engaging portion 33j (flange portion) is formed around the opening A of the container body 33Y so as to be in a circle around the outer circumference. This engaging portion 33j engages with a claw portion 34j (see, for example, FIG. 21) of the cover portion 34Y to connect the two elements 33Y and 34Y to each other. As described above, the container body 33Y is rotatably fitted in the cover portion 34Y.

Furthermore, referring to Figures 19 and 30 , the head portion 33Yc of the container body 33Y (near the location where the gear 33c is formed) is formed to have an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the storage portion 33Ya (where the spiral protrusion 33b is formed), which holds the toner. Within the container body 33Y, a pumping portion 33Yb (the portion surrounded by alternating long and short dashes in Figure 20 ) is formed between the head portion 33Yc and the storage portion 33Ya. This pumping portion 33Yb is formed to protrude inward from its inner circumferential surface. As the container body 33Y rotates, the toner conveyed toward the opening A by the spiral protrusion 33b is pumped by the pumping portion 33Yb to the smaller diameter portion of the head portion 33Yc. The toner pumped to the smaller diameter portion of the head portion 33Yc is then discharged from the opening A toward the hollow space of the capping portion 34Y while being stirred by the stirring element 33f.

20 to 23, an ID chip 35 (information storage means), a shutter member 34d, a shutter seal 36, and the like are mounted in the cap portion 34Y of the toner container 32Y.

22 , the capping portion 34Y has a structure in which a generally cylindrical portion (a large diameter cylindrical portion 34Y1, a medium diameter cylindrical portion 34Y2, and a small diameter cylindrical portion 34Y3) whose outer diameter and inner diameter decrease in three stages from the container body 33Y side toward the valve element 34d side is combined with a box-shaped portion (a large width box-shaped portion 34Y11 and a narrow width box-shaped portion 34Y12) which is arranged at the bottom and in which the width in the horizontal direction decreases in two stages.

An insertion portion 34z (e.g., see FIG. 30 ) including a portion of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 34Y1, the medium-diameter cylindrical portion 34Y2, the wide-width box-shaped portion 34Y11, and the narrow-width box-shaped portion 34Y12 is formed within the cap portion 34Y. A portion of the head portion 33Yc and the pumping portion 33Yb of the container body 33Y are inserted into the insertion portion 34z. Referring to FIG. 30 , within the insertion portion 34z, the medium-diameter cylindrical portion 34Y2 is formed so that its inner diameter D is smaller than the distal end diameter of the gear 33c and is larger than the outer diameter of the opening A of the container body 33Y. Furthermore, the small-diameter cylindrical portion 34Y3 is formed so that its inner diameter B is smaller than the inner diameter D of the medium-diameter cylindrical portion 34Y2 and is smaller than the outer diameter of the opening A.

An annular cap seal 37 (elastic seal) whose opening diameter is substantially the same as the inner diameter B is attached to the annular vertical wall surface (the surface facing the circumference of the opening A of the container body 33Y) connecting the medium-diameter cylindrical portion 34Y2 and the small-diameter cylindrical portion 34Y3 using double-sided tape. A portion of the head portion 33Yc and the pumping portion 33Yb are inserted into the insertion portion 34z, so that the edge of the opening A of the head portion 33Yc of the container body 33Y contacts and bites into the cap seal 37. With the above-described structure, functional portions such as a portion of the gear 33c (excluding the portion exposed from the recessed hole 34x) and the connection portion between the cap portion 34Y and the container body 33Y are covered by the large-diameter cylindrical portion 34Y1. For this reason, even when the colorant container 32Y is held alone by the user, the user can be prevented from touching the functional parts, and even if an unexpected external force (for example, an accidental collision) is applied to the colorant container 32Y, the colorant can be prevented from leaking from the connecting part or the tooth surface of the gear 33c can be damaged. In addition, since the annular cover seal 37 is very excellent in sliding properties and surface elasticity, even if the container body 33Y rotates while biting into the annular cover seal 37, the colorant will not leak due to a gap between the container body 33Y and the cover part 34Y. As the material of the cover seal 37, a polyurethane sheet with high density, fine and uniform structure of high-density microcells is used, which is different from ordinary soft polyurethane foam (PUR). As a result, compared with the case of using ordinary PUR, the cover seal 37 has less sinking, and the sealing properties between the container body 33Y and the cover part 34Y can be maintained for a long time.

23 and 30 , a toner drop path C is provided inside the narrow box-shaped portion 34Y12 located below the small-diameter cylindrical portion 34Y3 of the capping portion 34Y. This toner drop path C has a hexagonal opening for vertically discharging toner discharged from the opening A of the container body 33Y downwardly to the outside of the container (where it falls under its own weight). The toner drop path C has a predetermined flow area with a hexagonal cross-section and connects the lower circumferential surface inside the small-diameter cylindrical portion 34Y3 to the toner discharge opening W (discharge opening). Toner discharged from the opening area A of the container body 33Y to the inside of the small-diameter cylindrical portion 34Y3 of the capping portion 34Y falls through the hexagonal toner drop path C under its own weight and is then smoothly discharged from the toner discharge opening W to the outside of the container (the toner tank portion 61Y).

On the bottom of the narrow width box-shaped portion 34Y12, a portion of the valve element 34d (main valve portion 34d1) for performing opening/closing of the colorant discharge opening W in conjunction with the operation of installing the colorant container 32Y to the colorant container storage unit 70/removing the colorant container 32Y from the colorant container storage unit 70 is maintained to be slidable.

Figures 22 and 23 illustrate the operation of the shutter member 34d as it begins to open the toner discharge opening W and then fully opens. Figures 24(A) to 24(C) are schematic diagrams illustrating the opening operation of the shutter member 23d (the shutter deforming portion 34d2) at this time. Furthermore, Figures 25 and 26 are perspective views of the shutter member 34d. In Figures 24(B) and 24(C), the capping portion 34Y, the cap receiving portion 73, and the bottle receiving portion 72 shown in Figure 24(A) are partially omitted.

22 to 26, the valve element 34d is formed of a resin material such as polystyrene, and mainly includes a plate-shaped main valve portion 34d1 and a valve deformation portion 34d2, which protrudes from the main valve portion 34d1, is thinner in thickness than the main valve portion 34d1, and has elasticity.

25 and 26 , in the main shutter portion 34d1 of the shutter member 34d, vertical walls 34d13 (vertical walls extending parallel to the direction in which the toner container 32Y is mounted) are formed on both side ends, and shutter sliders 34d12 having a plurality of protrusions protruding from the vertical walls 34d13 are formed on both side ends. The shutter sliders 34d12 include sliding protrusions 34d12a protruding from the inner side surface of the vertical walls 34d13, L-shaped engaging protrusions 34d12b protruding from the outer side surface of the vertical walls 34d13, and a pair of prismatic portions 34d12c protruding from the same outer side surface as the engaging protrusions 34d12b and extending from the main body of the main shutter portion 34d1 toward the wide-width box-shaped portion 34Y11. At the same time, a pair of sliding grooves 34t (see, for example, FIG. 23 ) are formed in the narrow box-shaped portion 34Y12 of the cover portion 34Y by ribs. The pair of sliding grooves 34t extend longitudinally on both side walls. The sliding protrusions 34d12a fit into the sliding grooves 34t, and thus the main shutter portion 34d1 of the shutter member 34d is slidably supported in the cover portion 34Y.

Furthermore, a shutter seal 36 is attached to the inner surface of the main shutter portion 34d1 (the surface facing the toner discharge opening W) as a sealing member. The shutter seal 36 is a thin, parallelepiped-shaped elastic seal. Similar to the cap seal 37, a high-density micro-cell polyurethane sheet is used as the material, given its surface elasticity and sliding properties. For this reason, even if the shutter member 34d is repeatedly opened and closed, the sealing properties of the toner discharge opening W can be maintained while the shutter member 34d is sealing the toner discharge opening W.

The sliding projection 34d12a of the shutter slider 34d12 fits into the sliding groove 34t of the narrow box-shaped portion 34Y12 (cap portion 34Y). Furthermore, in this state, the shutter seal 36 is sandwiched between the hexagonal protrusion 34r (see, for example, FIG. 23 ), which projects downwardly from the edge of the hexagonal toner discharge opening W of the narrow box-shaped portion 34Y12, and the main shutter portion 34d1, and the shutter seal 36 is slightly compressed. In this state, the shutter element 34d moves along the sliding groove 34t, thereby causing the main shutter portion 34d1 to open or close the toner discharge opening W while suppressing toner leakage. Furthermore, when the main shutter portion 34d1 (shutter element 34d) has closed the toner discharge opening W, toner leakage between the main shutter portion 34d1 and the toner discharge opening W is prevented.

Specifically, the shutter member 34d moves in the longitudinal direction from the cap portion 34Y side to the container body 33Y side (moves leftward in FIG. 30 ) to open the toner discharge opening W, and moves in the longitudinal direction from the container body 33Y side to the cap portion 34Y side (moves rightward in FIG. 30 ) to close the toner discharge opening W. The opening/closing operation of the shutter member 34d (opening/closing operation of the toner discharge opening W) is performed in conjunction with the operation of mounting/detaching the toner container 32Y to/from the toner container storage unit 70 in the longitudinal direction.

Referring to Figures 25 and 26, the shutter deforming portion 34d2 of the shutter element 34d is integrally formed with the main shutter portion 34d1 and has a plate thickness thinner than that of the main shutter portion 34d1, as described above. The shutter deforming portion 34d2 primarily comprises two elongated flat plate portions 34d23 extending from the end face of the main shutter portion 34d1 on the container body 33Y, and a plate-like member 34d24 extending in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to connect the two flat plate portions 34d23 to each other at the front end portion (free end). The shutter deforming portion 34d2 is formed to elastically deform in the vertical direction from the fixed end (connection portion) with the main shutter portion 34d1, which serves as a reference point. A stopper portion 34d22 is formed at the front end portion (free end) of the two flat plate portions 34d23 to secure the shutter element 34d, thereby preventing the toner discharge opening W from accidentally opening, as will be described later. On the bottom side of the plate-like element 34d24, a stopper release portion 34d21 is formed, which is a fixed inclined protrusion (having a triangular cross-section) that protrudes downward in the vertical direction in the shape of a peak and cooperates with the stopper release push portion 72b of the cover receiving portion 73 to release the valve element 34d, as will be described later.

Referring to Figures 22 and 23, a valve storage portion 34n is formed within the wide-width box-shaped portion 34Y11 located below the large-diameter cylindrical portion 34Y1 of the cover portion 34Y. This valve storage portion 34n stores the valve deformed portion 34d2 inside when the valve is open. Of the four side surfaces of the wide-width box-shaped portion 34Y11, the two side surfaces facing each other in the longitudinal direction (directions of arrows in Figure 22) are open. In particular, within the side surfaces forming the toner discharge opening W, a portion of the wall surface is formed at both ends of the bottom side, but the majority of the wall surface functions as an opening 34n1 extending horizontally. Opening 34n1 is formed so that both the side surface and the bottom surface of the wide-width box-shaped portion 34Y11 on the toner discharge opening W side are cut away. Within the edge portion of opening 34n1, the edge portion formed vertically from the bottom surface of the wide-width box-shaped portion 34Y11 becomes a contact portion 34n5.

The stopper portion 34d22 of the shutter deformed portion 34d2 is a wall portion formed at the farthest end of the shutter deformed portion 34d2 in the opening direction (the front end of the shutter deformed portion 34d2 away from the main shutter deformed portion 34d2). The stopper portion 34d22 of the shutter deformed portion 34d2 comes into contact with the contact portion 34n5, thereby restricting the shutter member 34d from moving in the direction of opening the toner discharge opening W from a state in which the toner discharge opening W is closed. Specifically, when the toner container 32Y is in the detached state (not yet set in the apparatus main body 100), the stopper portion 34d22 of the shutter member 34d comes into contact with the contact portion 34n5, preventing the shutter member 34d from moving in the opening direction and thereby opening the toner discharge opening W.

At the same time, in conjunction with the installation operation of the toner container 32Y onto the toner container storage unit 70, the stopper release portion 32d21 comes into contact with the stopper release push portion 72b (see, for example, Figures 5 and 24) formed in the bottle receiving portion 72 and is pushed upward by the stopper release push portion 72b (due to the upward application of external force). The shutter deforming portion 34d2 then elastically deforms upward, and the stopper portion 34d22 also deflects upward. As a result, the contact between the stopper portion 34d22 and the contact portion 34n5 is released, allowing the shutter member 34d to move in the opening direction.

24(A) to 24(C), the operation of the shutter member 34d in conjunction with the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y to the toner container storage unit 70 will be described in detail. The operation of the shutter member 34d in FIG24(A) to 24(C) corresponds to the position of the shutter member 34d in FIG22 and FIG23, respectively.

As shown in FIG24 , the toner container 32Y begins its installation operation (moving leftward in FIG24 ). When the stopper release portion 34d21 of the shutter member 34d does not reach the position of the stopper release push portion 72b formed in the bottle receiving portion 72 (see, for example, FIG5 ), the stopper portion 34d22 of the shutter member 34d comes into contact with the contact portion 34n5, thereby restricting the movement of the shutter member 34d in the opening direction. Furthermore, a brush 72f is provided on the upper surface of the bottle receiving portion 72 on the side of the cap receiving portion 73 near the stopper release push portion 72b, rubbing against the bottom surface of the shutter member 34d and removing contaminants. In particular, the brush 72f is very effective in cleaning loose toner adhering to the bottom surface of the shutter member 34d during the installation/removal operation of the toner container 32Y.

Thereafter, when the toner container 32Y is mounted, as shown in FIG24(B), the stopper releasing portion 34d21 is pushed up by the stopper releasing pushing portion 72b, and as a result, the shutter deforming portion 34d2 is elastically deformed from the connecting portion (the portion enclosed by the alternating long and short dashes) serving as a reference point. As a result, the contact between the stopper portion 34d22 and the contact portion 34n5 is released, and thus, the shutter member 34d can relatively move in the opening direction.

Afterward, the shutter element 34d comes into contact with the wall portion surrounding the toner supply opening 73w of the cap receiving portion 73 (indicated as the contact position in the figure), thereby restricting its movement within the toner container storage unit 70 (cap receiving portion 73) (the shutter element 34d absolutely does not move in the longitudinal direction). However, as the toner container 32Y moves in the installation direction, the shutter element 34d moves relative to the toner discharge opening W in the opening direction. Specifically, as shown in Figure 24(C), the shutter element 34d moves relative to the container body 33Y, causing the deformed shutter portion 34d2 to be stored within the shutter storage portion 34n. As a result, the movement of the shutter element 34d in the opening direction completely completes the opening of the toner discharge opening W. Furthermore, the toner discharge opening W overlaps with the toner supply opening 73w of the cap receiving portion 73, forming a complete toner supply passage from the toner container 32Y to the toner supply device. At this time, the stopper release portion 34d21 of the shutter element 34d is stored in the groove 34n6 (see, for example, Figures 22 and 23) which is an extension of the opening 34n1 of the cover storage portion 34n. This prevents the shutter deformed portion 34d2 stored in the shutter storage portion 34n from being kept in a greatly elastically deformed state due to the contact between the stopper release portion 34d21 and the shutter storage portion 34n.

As described above, in the toner container 32Y according to the first embodiment, the shutter deforming portion 34d2, which elastically deforms from the connection position with the main shutter portion 34d1 serving as a reference point, is provided in the shutter member 34d. Furthermore, the stopper portion 34d22, which restricts movement of the shutter member 34d in the opening direction, and the stopper releasing portion 34d21, which releases the stopper portion 34d22, are provided in the shutter deforming portion 34d2. Consequently, the shutter member 34d does not arbitrarily open the toner discharge opening W when the toner container 32Y is removed. Instead, the shutter member 34d opens the toner discharge opening W only when the toner container 32Y is set in the image forming apparatus main body 100 in conjunction with its installation operation.

The operation of the L-shaped engaging protrusion 34d12b associated with the opening/closing of the shutter will be described below.

As shown in Figure 25, L-shaped engaging protrusions 34d12b are formed on both side end portions of the main valve portion 34d1. Meanwhile, although not shown, as shown in the drawings of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Specification No. 2011-9782, a pair of pushing elements are mounted on the bottom surface inside the cover receiving portion 73, facing the pair of engaging protrusions 34d12b. The pair of pushing elements are L-shaped levers (with a core shaft serving as the center of rotation formed near the L-shaped curved portion), each symmetrically shaped, with an arm portion on one side thereof being pushed by a torsion coil spring. When the colorant container 32Y (covering portion 34Y) is installed in the cover receiving portion 73, the arm portion on the other end side of the pushing element engages with the engaging protrusion 34d12b and applies a pushing force in the direction that blocks the opening of the valve member 34d. The user pushes the colorant container 32Y with a force that overcomes the pushing force of the pushing element, quickly opening the valve member 34d. As a result, the state in which the toner discharge opening W is not aligned with the toner supply opening 73w of the cap receiving portion 73 occurs only momentarily, and leakage of toner from between the toner discharge opening W and the toner supply opening 73w can be suppressed.

On the other hand, when the toner container 32Y (cap portion 34Y) is removed from the cap receiving portion 73, the arm portion of the pushing member is pushed toward the mounting direction, pushing the engaging projection 34d12b. The user attempts to pull out the toner container 32Y by overcoming the pushing force of the pushing member, thereby rapidly closing the shutter member 34d. As a result, similar to the opening operation, toner leakage from between the toner discharge opening W and the toner supply opening 73w can be suppressed.

20, 21, and 30, a first positioning hole 34a is formed in the upper portion (top portion) of the cap portion 34Y, extending longitudinally from an end surface of the cap portion 34Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The first positioning hole 34a serves as a primary positioning reference for the cap portion 34Y within the imaging device main body 100. Specifically, in conjunction with the installation operation of the toner container 32Y in the toner container storage unit 70 along the longitudinal direction, a primary reference pin 73a (e.g., see Figures 14A, 14B, and 17) serving as the cap receiving portion 73 fits within the first positioning hole 34a of the cap portion 34Y.

A second positioning hole 34b is formed in the lower portion (bottom) of the cap portion 34Y, extending longitudinally from an end surface of the cap portion 34Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, so as not to reach the toner discharge opening W. This second positioning hole 34b serves as a secondary positioning reference for the cap portion 34Y within the imaging device body 100. Specifically, in conjunction with the installation of the toner container 32Y longitudinally within the toner container storage unit 70, a secondary positioning pin 73b (e.g., see Figures 14A, 14B, and 17) serving as a positioning pin for the cap receiving portion 73 engages within the second positioning hole 34b of the cap portion 34Y. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 21, the second positioning hole 34b is elongated in the vertical direction (this longitudinal direction has a different meaning from the longitudinal direction of the toner container 32Y described elsewhere).

The positioning of the cap portion 34Y within the toner container storage unit 70 is achieved by the two positioning holes 34a and 34b having the above-described structure.

Referring to Figure 30 , the hole depth of the first positioning hole 34a is set to be greater than the hole depth of the second positioning hole 34b. The longitudinal length of the primary reference pin 73a is set to be greater than the longitudinal length of the secondary reference pin 73b. During the installation operation of the toner container 32Y into the toner container storage unit 70 (the cover receiving portion 73) along the longitudinal direction, the primary reference pin 73a initially engages with the first positioning hole 34a, which serves as the primary positioning reference, and then the secondary reference pin 73b begins to engage with the second positioning hole 34b, which serves as the secondary positioning reference, allowing the toner container 32Y to be smoothly installed in the toner container storage unit 70 (the cover receiving portion 73). In addition, since the longitudinally long first positioning hole 34a is located at the top of the cover 34Y (the portion not embedded in the toner), it has no effect on the toner's transport characteristics (flow characteristics) within the cover 34Y. A second positioning hole 34b which is short in the longitudinal direction is formed on the bottom of the sealing portion 34Y, but fully performs the function as a secondary positioning reference because it can be set using a small space from the end face of the sealing portion 34Y to the colorant discharge opening W.

20 , a guide rail portion 34e is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cover portion 34Y, above the first positioning hole 34a, so as to extend in the axial direction of the first positioning hole 34a. The guide rail portion 34e protrudes upward from the outer circumferential surface of the cover portion 34Y in the vertical direction so as to be line-symmetrical with respect to a virtual vertical line passing through the hole center of the first positioning hole 34a when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (a cross section parallel to the front view of FIG. 21 ), and extends in the longitudinal direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 21 ). Before the main reference pin 73a is inserted into the positioning hole 34a, the guide rail portion 34e is fitted into a contact groove 73m (recessed portion) formed in the form of a groove in the inner wall of the cover receiving portion 73 above the main reference pin 73a from the upstream side farther than the front end portion of the main reference pin 73a along the installation direction, and during the installation operation to the imaging device main body 100 (cover receiving portion 73), the posture of the cover portion 34Y in the horizontal direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is restricted. In addition, at the front end of the guide rail portion 34e, a protrusion 34e1 is formed, which protrudes slightly from the end face of the first positioning hole 34a in the longitudinal direction. The protrusion 34e1 is formed into a cone as shown in Figure 20. The guide rail portion 34e enters the contact groove 73m formed on the cover receiving portion 73, and thus the cover portion 34Y is guided to the inner side of the cover receiving portion 73. Thus, when the cover part 34Y is installed on the cover receiving part 73, in the first positioning hole 34a, the conical protrusion 34e1 fits into the contact groove 73m before the first positioning hole 34a fits into the main reference pin 73a, and therefore, the cover part 34Y is smoothly installed in the cover receiving part 73.

20 and 21 , lateral protrusions 34c for limiting the posture of the cover portion 34Y in the rotational direction within the imaging device body 100 (cover receiving portion 73) are formed on both side portions of the cover portion 34Y. The lateral protrusions 34c protrude from the outer circumferential surface of the cover portion 34Y to both sides in the lateral direction so as to be arranged on a virtual horizontal line passing through the center of a virtual line segment connecting the center of the first positioning hole 34a and the center of the second positioning hole 34b when viewed in a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and extend in the longitudinal direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 21 ). The two lateral protrusions 34c engage with the lateral groove 73h and the groove portion 73r1, for example, as shown in FIG. 12 , and are squeezed at the same time, and are pushed back in the cover receiving portion 73 in the direction opposite to the push of the cover portion clamping element 73r (for example, see FIG. 12 ). Thus, the cover part 34Y is mounted on or removed from the cover receiving part 73 while the posture of the cover part 34Y in the rotational direction is constrained, and the posture of the cover part 34Y in the rotational direction is constrained in the state where the cover part 34Y is mounted on the cover receiving part 73.

In further detail, the front end of the transverse protrusion 34c in the longitudinal direction (installation direction) is formed into a tapered shape, as shown in Figure 20. Here, when the cover portion 34Y is installed in the cover receiving portion 73, the guide portion 34e first fits into the contact groove 73m, and then the two transverse protrusions 34c with tapered front ends fit into the transverse groove 73h and the groove portion 73r1. As a result, the cover portion 34Y is smoothly installed in the cover receiving portion 73 while the posture of the cover portion 34Y is controlled with a high degree of certainty.

Referring to Figures 20 and 21 , raised portions 34g and 34h are provided at both ends of the bottom of the capping portion 34Y to ensure compatibility with the toner container 32Y (developer container). Specifically, raised portions 34g and 34h are provided on the upper surface of a flat scraper member extending laterally from the bottom of the capping portion 34Y, projecting upward. When the toner container 32Y is correctly installed in the toner container storage unit 70 (when the toner container 32Y is properly installed in the toner container storage unit 70), the raised portions 34g and 34h are configured to fit into the fitting portion 72m (formed in the bottle receiving portion 72 of the toner container storage unit 70).

Specifically, although not shown, the protrusions 34g and 34h are provided at different positions depending on the color of the toner stored in the toner container (container body). Specifically, assuming that the front end in the mounting direction of the toner container 32Y when mounted on the image forming apparatus 100 is the front portion, the protrusions 34g and 34h are provided so that their protruding positions do not overlap when viewed from the front, and are provided at different positions depending on the color. The raised portions 34g and 34h corresponding to the cyan colorant container are formed at positions that only fit within the cyan fitting portion 72m of the colorant container storage unit 70, the raised portions 34g and 34h corresponding to the magenta colorant container are formed at positions that only fit within the magenta fitting portion 72m of the colorant container storage unit 70, the raised portions 34g and 34h corresponding to the yellow colorant container are formed at positions that only fit within the yellow fitting portion 72m of the colorant container storage unit 70, and the raised portions 34g and 34h corresponding to the black colorant container are formed at positions that only fit within the black fitting portion 72m of the colorant container storage unit 70.

The above structure prevents a problem in which a toner container of a different color (e.g., a yellow toner container) is set in a toner container storage unit of a predetermined color (e.g., a cyan toner container storage unit), and thus an image of the predetermined color cannot be formed. In other words, the toner container is prevented from being mistakenly set in the toner container storage unit.

FIG10 shows a state in which the toner container 32Y is correctly mounted on the toner container storage unit 70. The protruding portions 34g and 34h of the cap portion 34Y do not interfere with the mating portion 72m of the bottle receiving portion 72. FIG11 shows a state in which the toner container 32Y is incorrectly mounted on the toner container storage unit 70. The protruding portions 34g and 34h of the cap portion 34Y interfere with the mating portion 72m of the bottle receiving portion 72.

The ID chip 35 (information storage device) which is a feature of the toner container 32Y (detachable device) according to the present first embodiment will be described in detail below.

Referring to Figure 20, on the end face of the cover portion 34Y, an ID chip 35 as an information storage device in which various electronic information is stored is installed at the position of the retaining element 34k, which is installed between the first positioning hole 34a and the second positioning hole 34b. The ID chip 35 is configured to be connected to the connector 73e of the cover receiving portion 73 when the cover portion 34Y is installed to the colorant container storage unit (cover receiving portion 73) (for example, see Figures 3 and 17). Specifically, when the cover portion 34Y is installed on the colorant container storage unit 70 (cover receiving portion 73), the multiple metal pads 35a (metal plate) of the ID chip 35 are in contact with the multiple main body side terminals 73e2 of the connector 73e. When the cover portion 34Y is retained in the cover receiving portion 73, the ID chip 35 communicates with the control unit 90 through the connector 73e (wired line communication), as shown in Figure 3.

27 to 29 , in the present first embodiment, a holding mechanism mounted on a toner container 32Y (detachable device) detachably mounted on the imaging apparatus main body 100 includes an ID chip 35 as an information storage device, a holding member 34 k as a holding portion, etc. The ID chip 35 as the information storage device held by the holding mechanism includes a substrate 35 b, an information storage unit 35 c, metal pads 35 a (metal plate) as a plurality of terminals, and the like.

Referring to Figure 29, the information storage unit 35c is an electronic circuit that stores various information exchanged between the control unit 90 of the imaging device body 100 and the toner container 32Y. In Figure 29, the information storage unit 35c is shown as a box-shaped structure with hatching for simplicity, but corresponds to components such as a memory IC, a capacitor for noise reduction, and a resistor. The information storage unit 35c is provided on the rear surface side of the substrate 35b (the side facing the end face of the cover portion 34Y) and is electrically connected to all or some of the metal pads 35a, which are multiple metal plates.

The metal pads 35a as a plurality of terminals come into contact with the plurality of main body side terminals 73e2 of the connector 73e installed in the cover receiving portion 73 (device body 100), and exchange electrical signals related to information with the imaging device body 100 (control unit 90). The plurality of metal pads 35a are arranged on the front surface side of the substrate 35b (the side facing the cover receiving portion 73). In addition, the plurality of metal pads 35a are formed into an almost rectangular shape and are arranged in the lateral direction thereof with gaps therebetween (Z direction (vertical direction) in FIG. 29 ).

On the substrate 35b on which the information storage unit 35c and the metal pads 35a are provided, positioning grooves 35b1 (having a shape obtained by dividing the circumference of an ellipse into two halves by a straight line) are formed at both ends in the vertical direction. The positioning grooves 35b1 fit into positioning pins 73e3 (e.g., see Figures 16 and 17), which are cylindrical positioning protrusions installed in the connector 73e (imaging device body 100), and serve to position the plurality of metal pads 35a on the plurality of body-side terminals 73e2.

The ID chip 35 (information storage device) having the above-described structure is held in a holding member 34k (holding portion) configured to be detachable from the cover portion 34Y.

The retaining element 34k (retaining portion) retains the contact type ID chip 35 (information storage device) so as to be able to move on a virtual plane (a virtual plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement) that intersects the direction of movement (the direction of the arrow in FIG17 ), in which the metal pad 35a (terminal) approaches and contacts the main body side terminal 73e2.

Specifically, in this first embodiment, the retaining element 34k retains the ID chip 35 (substrate 35b) so that it can move on a virtual plane (XZ plane in FIG. 20 ) that is orthogonal to the direction in which the colorant container 32Y is mounted on or removed from the imaging device body 100. That is, the ID chip 35 (substrate 35b) is configured to be able to freely move to a certain extent (approximately 1 mm) on the XZ plane of FIG. 20 while being retained by the retaining element 34k (cover portion 34Y). Specifically, the ID chip 35 (substrate 35b) is loosely retained to a certain extent on the inside of the box-shaped retaining element 34k (retaining mechanism). That is, the ID chip 35 is retained on the inside of the retaining element 34k with a predetermined gap between the ID chip 35 and the side wall. 28 and 29 , the ID chip 35 is held so that a small gap Δt (for example, Δt+t is approximately 0.85 to 1.05 mm) is formed inside the retaining element 34t in the ±Y direction (the thickness t of the substrate 35b (approximately 0.8 mm)). For this reason, the substrate 35b can be erected to cross orthogonally to a certain extent in the insertion direction of the positioning pin 73e3. Thereby, the following problem is prevented, namely: the substrate 35b lies down excessively in the insertion direction of the positioning pin 73e3, the positioning pin 73e3 is gripped by the groove 35b1, and therefore, the positioning pin 73e3 cannot fit into the groove 35b1.

Through the above-mentioned structure, even if the size of the imaging device 100 or the colorant container 32Y is reduced and the multiple metal pads 35a (terminals) on the substrate 35b are closely arranged so that the size of the ID chip 35 mounted thereon is reduced, it is difficult for contact failure to occur due to positioning failure between the multiple metal pads 35a and the main body side terminal 73e2 of the connector 73e, regardless of whether the dimensional accuracy or assembly accuracy of the relevant components is high or low.

Specifically, with reference to Figure 17, if the installation operation of the cover portion 34Y of the colorant container 32Y on the cover receiving portion 73 is carried out, the positioning pins 73a and 73b are inserted into the positioning holes 34a and 34b, and thus the cover portion 34Y is positioned in the cover receiving portion 73. If the installation operation of the cover portion 34Y is further carried out, the positioning pin 73e2 of the connector 73e (see, for example, Figures 16 and 17) is inserted into the groove 35b1 of the substrate 35b of the ID chip 35, and the substrate 35b (plural metal pads 35a) is positioned relative to the connector 73e (plural main body side terminals 73e2). In further detail, the positioning pin 73e3 comes into contact with the edge portion (or inner surface) of the groove 35b1, so that the movement of the substrate 35b is restricted. At this time, since the ID chip 35 (substrate 35b) having the groove 35b1 formed therein is configured to be movable within the XZ plane of the retaining element 34k, the tolerances for the permissible dimensional accuracy or assembly accuracy of the components involved in mass production can be large. Therefore, during alignment between the toner container 32Y and the imaging device body 100, even if the position of the groove 35b1 is initially misaligned with the positioning pin 73e3, the ID chip 35 (substrate 35b) is constrained by the tapered tip of the positioning pin 73e3 and moves within the XZ plane. Consequently, the cylindrical portion of the positioning pin 73e3 can fit within the groove 35b1. In other words, regardless of alignment between the toner container 32Y and the imaging device body 100, the cylindrical portion of the positioning pin 73e3 can fit within the groove 35b1. Consequently, contact failure caused by positioning errors between the multiple metal pads 35a and the main body-side terminal 73e2 of the connector 73e is less likely to occur.

27, a retaining element 34k serving as a retaining portion is detachably constructed on the cover portion 34Y and is a box-shaped element having an insertion opening 34k1 formed on an upper side thereof through which the ID chip 35 can be inserted or separated.

In detail, when the retaining mechanism is assembled onto the cover portion 34Y, the ID chip 35 (information storage device) is first inserted into the retaining element 34k through the insertion opening 34k1 (movement in the direction of the arrow in Figure 27). Thereafter, the retaining element 34k (retaining portion) on which the ID chip 35 is mounted moves in the direction of the arrow in Figure 27 and is press-fitted into the recessed portion of the cover portion 34Y. At this time, the retaining element 34k is fixed and retained in a position that contacts the base portion 34q (set in a position that does not contact the substrate 35b), which is set in the recessed portion of the cover portion 34Y. In addition, when the ID chip 35 is ejected from the cover portion 34Y, an operation opposite to the above process is performed. The base portion 34q is a rib that stands on the inside of the recessed portion of the cover portion 34Y along the installation direction of the colorant container 32Y (or toward the retaining element 34k) and is set at a position outside the place where the positioning pin 73e3 of the connector 73e is to be inserted.

In this first embodiment, the retaining element 34k is press-fitted and fixed to the recessed portion of the cover part 34Y, but the retaining element 34k can be installed in and screwed to the recessed portion of the cover part 34Y. Specifically, a flaky rib with a hole protrudes from the side wall of the retaining element 34k, and an internal thread portion is formed in the end face of the cover part 34Y. The retaining element 34k is installed in the recessed portion of the cover part 34Y, and in a state where the flaky rib of the retaining element 34k is in contact with the end face of the cover part 34Y, the screw is screwed into the internal thread portion of the cover part 34Y through the hole of the rib associated with the retaining element 34k. Even under this structure, the retaining element 34k can be relatively easily installed on or removed from the cover part 34Y.

As described above, since the ID chip 35 (substrate 35b) is configured to be mounted on or removed from the cover portion 34Y, the efficiency of assembling the ID chip (substrate 35b) to the toner container 32Y, which is a detachable device, is increased, and at the same time, the efficiency of the removal operation of the ID chip 35 (substrate 35b) when the toner container 32Y is recovered is increased. In particular, in this first embodiment, the substrate 35b of the ID chip 35 is a small substrate having a size of approximately 12mm×8mm to 15mm×10mm. If data input/output (data input/output when the probe terminal comes into contact with the metal pad 35a) is to be performed with the substrate 35b mounted on the cover portion 34Y during the manufacturing process, such work may be difficult to perform on the complex-shaped cover portion 34Y, and processing time may increase. Therefore, in this first embodiment, the ID chip 35 (substrate 35b) is constructed to be detachable, and this has a great effect because data input/output operations can be performed individually on the ID chip 35 (or for each holding element 34k) if necessary.

17 and 27, in the cover portion 34Y, there is formed an erection member 34f that blocks the insertion opening 34k1 in a state where the holding member 34k is mounted to the recessed portion.

Thus, a problem is prevented in which the ID chip 35 falls out of the insertion opening 34k1 of the holding member 34k after the ID chip 35 (holding member 34k) is mounted on the cover portion 34Y.

Referring to Figure 28, a first facing portion 34k4 and a second facing portion 34k5 are formed inside the retaining element 34k (box-shaped element). The first facing portion 34k4 faces the first plane of the substrate 35b (see Figure 29, the surface where the multiple metal pads 35a are located) and is formed to contact and slide only on the peripheral area of the first plane where the metal pads 35a are not located, so as not to interfere with the metal pads 35a. The second facing portion 34k5 faces the second plane of the substrate 35b (see Figure 29, the surface where the information storage unit 35c is located) and is formed to slide on a portion of the second plane so as not to interfere with the information storage unit 35c. Thus, inside the retaining element 34k, the ID chip 35 can move freely in the XZ plane (freely move on the facing portions 34k4 and 34k5) without falling off the retaining element 34k and without damaging the metal pads 35a or the information storage unit 35c.

In addition, openings 34k2 and 34k3 are formed on the front surface and the rear surface of the retaining element 34k, respectively. The first opening 34k2 is formed to allow a plurality of metal pads 35a and the positioning groove 35b1 to be exposed on the side facing the connector 73e, even when the substrate 35b moves to a certain extent on the XZ plane. Thus, in coordination with the movement of the substrate 35b on the XZ plane, the positioning pin 73e3 and the groove 35b1 can engage with each other, and the metal pad 35a and the main body side terminal 73e2 can be connected to each other (form contact). In addition, even when the substrate 35b moves to a certain extent on the XZ plane, the second opening 34k3 allows the information storage unit 35c to be exposed on the side of the recessed portion facing the cover portion 34Y.

With reference to Figure 28, the opening 34k2 formed on the front surface of the retaining element 34k is formed so that the left side has a convex shape and the right side has a concave shape. Thus, the area surrounded by the dotted line in Figure 28 acts as a hook (stopper) that prevents the ID chip 35 from falling from the opening 34k2.

FIG. 29 is a three-dimensional view showing the ID chip 35. FIG.

As shown in FIG29 , in the ID chip 35, metal pads 35a, which are four metal plates, are arranged on a line along the Z direction on the first plane of the substrate 35b. The metal pads 35a have a multilayer structure, having three layers of copper, nickel, and metal, which are arranged in this order from the substrate 35b side. The metal layer is relatively expensive as a surface layer, but is provided to prevent oxidation. The metal pads 35a are formed by electric field evaporation on the substrate 35b that has been shielded in advance.

Positioning grooves 35b1 are formed at both ends of the four metal pads 35a along the arrangement direction (Z direction) to sandwich the four metal pads 35a. In this first embodiment, a first virtual straight line S1 passing through the center of each groove 35b1 and parallel to the arrangement direction of the multiple metal pads 35a is configured so as not to overlap with a second virtual straight line S2 connecting the centers of the multiple metal pads 35a along the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the first virtual straight line S1 connecting the two positioning grooves 35b1 (a virtual line connecting the centers of the initial slots of each groove 35b1, each groove 35b1 having the shape of one half of the slot when it is split in half longitudinally) is configured so as not to overlap with the second virtual straight line S2 connecting the centers of the multiple metal pads 35a along the longitudinal direction. In other words, within each groove 35b1, the virtual straight line S1 connecting the portion that is most indented into the inner side of the substrate 35b is positioned so as not to overlap with the virtual straight line S2. Furthermore, the virtual straight line S1 is configured to be substantially parallel to the virtual straight line S2.

In this first embodiment, the dimensions a to f in Figure 29 are set to 6.2mm, 5.2mm, 1.5mm, 2mm, 6mm and 11.7mm respectively. In terms of the resistance characteristics (rigidity) of overcoming shear force, the substrate 35b with a small area size is smaller in deflection, even if an external force is applied and is relatively large. In this first embodiment, the ID chip 35 is maintained so as to be movable inside the retaining element 34k, and the following positioning method is adopted, wherein, when the ID chip 35 has a large area size, the positioning pin 73e3 is inserted into the groove 35b1 and is easy to be caught (wherein the positioning pin 73e3 enters the groove 35b1 obliquely rather than vertically, and the sliding load between the groove 35b1 and the positioning pin 73e3 increases, and therefore the substrate 35b deflects and does not move). However, since the substrate 35b has a small area size, the rigidity increases, and therefore such a positioning method is implemented, wherein it is difficult to cause deflection, which can cause jamming. In addition, the spacing between the metal pads 35a in the substrate 35b is narrow, but contact failure between the metal pads 35a and the main body side terminal 73e2 can be prevented by high-precision positioning accompanying the movement of the substrate 35b in the XZ plane, and therefore, the area size of the expensive metal pad 35a having the metal layer can be suppressed to the minimum area size.

FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view showing the connector 73 e on the apparatus main body 100 side.

Referring to Figure 16, the four main body side terminals 73e2 in the connector 73e are plate-shaped (linear) metal elements, one end of which serves as a fixed end and the other end as a free end, and are fixed to and supported by the connector main body 73e1. A curved portion is formed on the other end side of the four main body side terminals 73e2, which bends toward the ID chip 35 (toner container 32Y). In other words, the main body side terminals 73e2 bend toward the ID chip 35 like a knee (or a boomerang). The curved portion of the main body side terminal 73e2 serves as a contact point with the metal pad 35a.

As the cover portion 34Y (toner container 32Y) is installed on the cover receiving portion 73, the bent portion of the main body side terminal 73e2 comes into contact with the almost central portion of the metal pad 35a in the longitudinal direction. Then, as the installation operation of the cover portion 34Y is further performed, the ID chip 35 (substrate 35b) approaches the connector 73e side, and the main body side terminal 73e2 is deformed, so that the bent portion of the main body side terminal 73e2 approaches the first virtual straight line S1, while being squeezed and elastically deformed by the metal pad 35a (a state in which the bent knee is stretched). That is, as the cover portion 34Y is installed, the bent portion of the main body side terminal 73e2 slides longitudinally from the central portion toward the left side in FIG. 29 (approaching the first virtual straight line S1), while gradually increasing the contact pressure on the metal pad 35a.

Through the above structure, depending on whether the dimensional accuracy or assembly accuracy of the relevant parts is high or low (dimensional variation), even if the position of the cover portion 34Y (metal pad 35a) in the longitudinal direction (Y direction) is not aligned with the cover receiving portion 73 (main body side terminal 73e2), the contact failure between the main body side terminal 73e2 and the metal pad 35a can be highly prevented. Finally, since the main body side terminal 73e2 and the metal pad 35a come into contact with each other at the position where the positioning pin 73e2 engages the groove 35b1 (near the first virtual straight line S1), the distance between the positioning portion and the contact portion can be reduced. As a result, the accuracy of the contact position between the main body side terminal 73e2 and the metal pad 35a is improved.

Furthermore, in the present first embodiment, the plurality of metal pads 35 a are provided on a line whose arrangement direction is the vertical direction.

As a result, the positioning direction of the cover 34Y in the cover receiving portion 73 (the arrangement direction of the positioning pins 73a and 73b and the positioning holes 34a and 34b) is the same as the positioning direction of the connector 73e and the substrate 35b (the arrangement direction of the positioning pin 73e1 and the groove 35b1), and therefore contact failure between the main body side terminal 73e2 and the metal pad 35a is difficult to occur.

21, the positioning holes 34a and 34b of the cover portion 34Y are formed at positions separated from each other in the vertical direction to sandwich the ID chip 35 (information storage device). A third virtual straight line S3 connecting the centers of the two positioning holes 34a and 34b is constructed to be parallel to the first virtual straight line S1 connecting the two grooves 35b1.

As described above, the ID chip 35 is set to be fixed between the first positioning hole 34a (primary reference) and the second positioning hole 34b (secondary reference), and the position of the ID chip 35 relative to the cover receiving portion 73 is determined with high precision. Thus, communication failure caused by the misalignment between the connector 73e and the ID chip 35 can be suppressed. In particular, since the positioning direction of the cover portion 34Y in the cover receiving portion 73 (the arrangement direction of the positioning pins 73a and 73b and the positioning holes 34a and 34b) is the same as the positioning direction of the connector 73e and the substrate 35b (the arrangement direction of the positioning pin 73e2 and the groove 35b1), the positioning operation of the colorant container 32Y on the imaging device body 100 helps to make the positioning of the substrate 35b on the connector 73e easier. As a result, there is an effect that contact failure between the main body side terminal 73e2 and the metal pad 35a is difficult to occur.

Furthermore, when the mounting operation of the toner container 32Y to the toner container storage unit 70 is performed, the components of the bottle receiving portion 72 and the cap receiving portion 73 are related to the cap portion 34Y as follows:

First, the capping part 34Y slides on the bottle receiving surface 72a, and thereafter, the guide portion 34e of the capping part 34Y is fitted into the engaging groove 73m of the capping receiving part 73, the lateral protrusion 34c of the capping part 34Y is fitted into the lateral groove 73h and the groove portion 73r1 of the capping receiving part 73, and the posture of the capping part 73Y in the vertical and horizontal directions within the capping receiving part 73 is constrained. At this time, the shaking of the capping part 34Y before it is inserted into the capping receiving part 73 is prevented by the capping part clamping element 73r. The first positioning hole 34a of the capping part 34Y is fitted into the main reference pin 73a of the capping receiving part 73, thereby performing the positioning of the main reference. Thereafter, the second positioning hole 34b of the capping part 34Y is fitted into the secondary reference pin 73b of the capping receiving part 73, and thus, the main and secondary positioning are completed. Furthermore, at the same time as the positioning is completed, the contact state between the stopper portion 34d22 of the valve element 34d of the cover portion 34Y and the contact portion 34n5 is released by the stopper release push portion 72b, and the posture of the valve element 34d and the cover portion 34Y in the cover receiving portion 73 is determined by the main body side valve closing mechanism (not shown). In this state, the opening operation of the valve element 34d is performed. The colorant discharge opening W opened in the cover portion 34Y is connected to the colorant supply opening 73w of the cover receiving portion 73. The groove 35b1 of the ID chip 35 of the cover portion 34Y is engaged with the positioning pin 73e3 of the connector 73e of the device body 100, the position of the ID chip 35 in the cover portion 34Y is determined, and the multiple metal pads 35a of the ID chip 35 are respectively in contact with the multiple main body side terminals 73e2 of the connector 73e with high certainty. Thus, the cap portion 34Y (toner container 32Y) is set in the cap receiving portion 73 (toner container storage unit 70). At this time, the gear 33c of the container body 33Y meshes with the drive gear 81 of the apparatus body 100.

Meanwhile, when the toner container 32Y is withdrawn (detached) from the toner container storage unit 70 (cap receiving portion 73), a process opposite to that at the time of installation is performed.

As described above, in the imaging device according to this first embodiment, as the user performs an action of moving the colorant container 32Y in the longitudinal direction while grasping the gripping portion 33d (excluding the opening/closing operation of the main body cover), the opening/closing operation of the colorant discharge opening W by the valve element 34d is also performed in coordination with this operation, and the installation operation and disassembly operation of the colorant container 32Y are completed.

Furthermore, in the toner container 32Y according to this first embodiment, the toner discharge opening W having a relatively large opening area size is vertically arranged downward, and thus the toner can be discharged such that it falls directly from the toner discharge opening W by its own weight.

Furthermore, since the toner container 32Y is not placed from above the toner container storage unit 70 (apparatus main body 100), but is attached or detached from the front surface of the toner container storage unit 70 (apparatus main body 100), the degree of freedom of layout above the toner container storage unit 70 increases. For example, even if a scanner (document reading portion) is provided just above the toner supply device, operability and utility at the time of attachment/detachment of the toner container 32Y are not deteriorated.

Furthermore, since the toner container 32Y is arranged in the apparatus body 100 so that the longitudinal direction is the horizontal direction, this has no effect on the overall layout of the image forming apparatus in the height direction. The toner capacity of the toner container 32Y is increased, and thus the frequency of replacement can be reduced.

As described above, in the present first embodiment, the contact-type ID chip 35 (information storage device) is held on the holding member 34k (holding portion) so as to be movable on a virtual plane substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the metal pad 34a (terminal) approaches and contacts the main body-side terminal 73e2. Thus, even if the contact-type ID chip 35 (information storage device) is mounted on the toner container 32Y (detachable device) that is detachably mounted on the imaging device main body 100, contact failure due to positioning failure with the main body-side terminal 73e2 of the connector 73e of the imaging device main body 100 is unlikely to occur.

Second embodiment

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 31 to 33 .

Figure 31 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a toner container 232Y according to the second embodiment. Figure 32 is a rear view of a cap portion 234Y of the toner container 232Y, and Figure 33 is a perspective view of a retaining cap 234k8 fitted into a retaining member 234k.

The toner container 32Y according to the present second embodiment is different from that of the first embodiment in the structure of a holding member 234k in a holding mechanism for holding an information storage device.

Similar to the first embodiment, the toner container 232Y according to the second embodiment includes a container body 33Y and a cap portion 234Y. An ID chip 35 as an information storage device is detachably attached to the cap portion 234Y.

In the cover portion 234Y according to the present second embodiment, a holding member 234k in which an opening 34k2 exposing a portion of the ID chip 35 (the metal pad 35a and the groove 35b1) is formed is integrally formed.

The ID chip 35 is inserted from the inner side of the cover portion 234Y in the direction of the arrow in FIG31 and is set at the position of the retaining element 234k. In a state where the ID chip 35 is set at the position of the retaining element 234k, the retaining cover 234k8 is inserted from the inner side of the cover portion 345Y in the direction of the arrow in FIG31 and is fitted onto the retaining element 234k (state of FIG32).

In the retaining cover 234k8, the base portion 234q fitted to the retaining element 234k is arranged so as not to come into contact with the substrate 35b.

In addition, the cover 234k8 is kept tightly mounted on the inner wall of the sealing portion 234Y without a gap to prevent the colorant leaked from the colorant container 232Y from adhering to the ID chip 35.

Even in the present second embodiment, the ID chip 35 (substrate 35b) is held within the holding member 234k (and the holding cover 234k8) so as to be movable in the XZ plane.

As described above, similar to the first embodiment, even in this second embodiment, the contact-type ID chip 35 (information storage device) is held on the holding member 234k (holding portion) so as to be movable on a virtual plane substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the metal pad 35a (terminal) approaches and contacts the main body-side terminal 73e2. Thus, even if the contact-type ID chip 35 (information storage device) is mounted on the toner container 232Y (detachable device) that is detachably mounted on the imaging device main body 100, contact failure due to positioning failure with the main body-side terminal 73d2 of the connector 73e of the imaging device main body 100 is unlikely to occur.

Third embodiment

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 34 .

Fig. 34 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the information storage device 35 of the toner container 32Y according to the third embodiment is set to the connector 73e of the cap receiving portion 73. Fig. 34 is a view corresponding to Fig. 27 in the first embodiment.

The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a cushioning material 334k10 is installed inside the retaining element 34k, and the structure of the wall portion 373g of the cover receiving portion 373 is different.

Similar to the above-described embodiment, the toner container 332Y according to the third embodiment includes a container body 33Y and a cover portion 34Y. An ID chip 35 serving as an information storage device is detachably mounted within the cover portion 34Y. Furthermore, the ID chip 35 is held in a retaining member 34k so as to be movable in the XZ plane.

In the third embodiment, a cushioning material 334k10 is provided between the inner wall (second facing portion 34k5) of the retaining element 34k and the substrate 35b. The cushioning material 334k10 is made of an elastic material such as foamed polyurethane, and a low-friction material is adhered to the portion facing the substrate 35b. Thus, damage to the substrate 35b that occurs when the positioning pin 73e3 engages with the groove 35b1 can be reduced without hindering the movement of the ID chip 35 (substrate 35b) in the XZ plane.

In the present third embodiment, the wall portion 373g of the cover receiving portion 373 is installed to surround the four sides of the connector 73e. In order to cope with this, a recessed portion for avoiding interference with the wall portion 373g is formed in the cover portion 34Y. By setting the wall portion 373g as described above, even if the toner is scattered to the outside from the vicinity of the toner discharge opening W of the toner container 332Y, the scattered toner is difficult to directly adhere to the connector 73e or the ID chip 35. Thus, contact failure (communication failure) caused by the scattered toner between the connector 73e (main body side terminal 73e2) and the ID chip 35 (metal pad 35a) can be prevented.

As described above, similar to the above-described embodiment, even in the present third embodiment, the contact-type ID chip 35 (information storage device) is held on the holding member 34k (holding portion) so as to be movable within a virtual plane substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the metal pad 35a (terminal) close to and in contact with the main body-side terminal 73e2. Thus, even if the contact-type ID chip 35 (information storage device) is mounted on the toner container 332Y (detachable device) that is detachably mounted in the imaging device main body 100, contact failure due to positioning failure with the main body-side terminal 73e2 of the connector 73e of the imaging device main body 100 is unlikely to occur.

Fourth embodiment

A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 35 .

Fig. 35 is a three-dimensional view showing a substrate 435b of an information storage device 435 according to the fourth embodiment. Fig. 35 corresponds to Figs. 14A and 14B in the first embodiment.

Similar to the above-described embodiment, the toner container 432Y according to the fourth embodiment also includes a container body 33Y and a cover portion 34Y. An ID chip 435, which serves as an information storage device, is detachably mounted within the cover portion 34Y. Furthermore, the ID chip 435 is held within a retaining member 34k so as to be movable in the XZ plane.

In the substrate 435b of the ID chip 435 according to this fourth embodiment, positioning holes 435b11 and 435b12 are provided instead of the positioning groove 35b1 in the above-described embodiment. During the installation operation of the colorant container 432Y, the substrate 435b moves freely in the XZ plane, and the positioning holes 435b11 and 435b12 engage with the positioning pins 73e3 of the connector 73e. Specifically, the edges of the holes 435b11 and 435b12 contact the positioning pins 73e3 and constrain the movement of the substrate 435b. This makes it difficult for contact failures caused by positioning failures between the multiple metal pads 35a and the main body-side terminals 73e2 of the connector 73e to occur.

In this fourth embodiment, due to the fact that the base plate 435b is positioned on the lower side of the retaining element 34k due to its weight just before the positioning holes 435b11 and 435b12 engage with the positioning pin 73e2, a circular hole 435b11 is formed in the lower portion of the base plate 435b, and an elliptical hole 435b12 is formed in the upper portion of the base plate 435b. The circular hole 435b11 in the lower portion is picked up by the positioning pin 73e2, thereby raising the base plate 435b and smoothly inserting the positioning pin 73e3 into the other elliptical hole (hole 435b12). If the hole in the lower portion were an elliptical hole and the hole in the upper portion were a circular hole, the base plate 435b would not be raised by the positioning pin 73e3, and the positioning pin 73e3 would have difficulty inserting into the circular hole in the upper portion.

In the fourth embodiment, two positioning holes 435b11 and 435b12 are formed in the substrate 35b of the ID chip 35. On the other hand, in the substrate 435b of the ID chip 435, one may be formed by the positioning hole 435b11 (or 435b12) and the other may be formed by the positioning groove 35b1 (already described in the previous embodiment). Even in this case, the same effect as in the fourth embodiment can be obtained.

As described above, similar to the above-described embodiment, even in this fourth embodiment, the contact-type ID chip 435 (information storage device) is held within the retaining member 34k (retaining portion) so as to be movable on a virtual plane perpendicular to the direction of movement of the metal pad 35a (terminal) approaching and contacting the main body-side terminal 73e2. Thus, even when the contact-type ID chip 435 (information storage device) is mounted on the toner container (detachable device) that is detachably mounted to the imaging device main body 100, contact failure due to positioning failure with the main body-side terminal 73e2 of the connector 73e of the imaging device main body 100 is unlikely to occur.

Fifth embodiment

A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 36 to 41.

Figure 36 is a three-dimensional view of the substrate of the information storage device 535 according to the fifth embodiment, corresponding to Figure 29 in the first embodiment. Figure 37 is a perspective view showing the information storage device 535, the retaining element 534k (534k25), and the connector 573e, and is a perspective view illustrating the relative positional relationship between the three elements 534k (534k25), 535, and 573e. Figure 38 is a perspective view illustrating the condition in which the information storage device 535 is engaged with the connector 573e. Figures 39A and 39B are circuit diagrams illustrating the circuitry of the information storage device 535 and the circuitry of the connector 573e. Figure 40A is a front view illustrating the condition in which the information storage device 535 is retained on the connector 573e, and Figure 40B is a front view illustrating the condition in which the information storage device 535 is rotated on the positioning hole 535b21. Figure 41 is a view showing the information storage device 535 in contact with the probe 400 during inspection during factory manufacturing.

The fifth embodiment differs from the first to fourth embodiments in that only one positioning hole 535b21 is formed in the substrate 535b of the information storage device 535, and the positioning hole 535b21 is arranged between multiple rectangular metal pads 35a1, 35a2 and 35a3 (metal pads).

36, according to the fifth embodiment, the ID chip 535 as the information storage device has a positioning hole 535b21, which is formed at an upper position away from the center of gravity of the substrate 535b along the vertical direction. The grounding metal terminal 535d is provided on the inner surface of the hole 535b21 and surrounds the hole 535b21. In the fifth embodiment, the metal terminal 535d formed on the surface of the substrate 535b includes two protrusions 535d1, which are formed to extend horizontally from the annular portion.

Furthermore, the rectangular metal pad 35a1 is mounted above the positioning hole 535b21 in the vertical direction, and the two rectangular metal pads 35a2 and 35a3 are mounted below the positioning hole 535b21 in the vertical direction.

In addition, on the rear side of the substrate 535b (the side facing the cover portion 34Y), a protruding element 535e made of a resin material such as epoxy resin and having a substantially hemispherical shape or an inverted frying pan shape is provided, which covers the information storage unit. In the present fifth embodiment, although depending on the shape of the substrate 535b or the structure/layout of the rear surface, such as the protective element 535e, by providing the hole 535b21 above the protective element 535e, the protective element may include an information storage device such as an integrated circuit (IC) and is the heaviest component, thereby completing the positional relationship in which the hole 535b21 is vertically provided above the center of gravity of the ID chip 535. Specifically, with reference to FIG40A, the ID chip 535 (information storage device) according to the present fifth embodiment is formed so that the center position of the positioning hole 535b21 is at a distance Za above the center of gravity of the ID chip 535.

37 , the connector 573e includes a connector body 573e21 made of resin and in the form of a hollow box, and a positioning pin 573e23 (positioning protrusion) is provided on the connector body 573e21 so as to stand in the horizontal direction. The positioning pin is a hollow cylinder with a tapered tip. The main body side grounding terminal 573e25 (grounding terminal) is mounted within the positioning pin 573e23. The main body side grounding terminal 573e25 is a plate-like (or linear) metal element that is partially stored within the hollow portion of the positioning pin 573e23 formed integrally with the connector 573e21 and has a bent portion that is exposed from a slit-like opening formed in a portion of the circumferential surface of the hollow cylinder and protrudes from the cylindrical outer circumferential surface. In addition, one main body side terminal 573e2 is vertically mounted above the positioning pin 573e23 (main body side grounding terminal 573e25), and two main body side terminals 573e2 are vertically mounted below the positioning pin 573e23 (main body side grounding terminal 573e23). The main body side terminal 573e2 is a plate-shaped (or linear) metal member and is formed in almost the same direction as the above embodiment, except for the different mounting positions.

In addition, a pair of guide members, sway prevention members 573e24, protrude from the right and left sides of the positioning pin 573e23. The guide members include a pair of plates whose tips have inner tapered surfaces facing each other and guide both sides of the ID chip 535 to stand upright.

Similar to the above-described embodiment, the retaining element 534k (retaining portion) is fixed to the toner container 523Y and is positioned between the connector 573a and the ID chip 535. The retaining element 534k has almost the same function as in the above-described embodiment (a function for detachably retaining the ID chip 35). Referring to Figure 37, the retaining element 534k according to the present fifth embodiment has a first facing portion 534k24, which is constructed to be linearly symmetrical about the central axis in the vertical direction and is formed to cover an area from the two upper corners of the ID chip 535 to both sides of the hole 535b21. The retaining element 534k is formed to cover the lower portion of the substrate 535b farther than the lowest metal pad 35a3, and by the above-described structure, the ID chip 535 is prevented from falling from the retaining element 534k.

Furthermore, an opening is formed in the first facing portion 534k24 of the retaining member 534k, including the area facing the four main body-side terminals 573e2 and 573e25 of the connector 573e. Specifically, an opening 534k22 is formed in the retaining member 534k, which is open to the portion corresponding to the pair of anti-sway members 573e24. When the toner container 532Y is mounted, the positioning pin 573e23 is inserted into the opening 534k22, after which the pair of anti-sway members 573e24 (a pair of guide members) are also inserted into the retaining member 534k through the opening 534k22.

The second facing portion 534k25 in a plate-like form facing the rear surface of the ID chip 535 (one side of the holding element 535e) is fixed to the holding element 534k by bonding or snap-fitting (not shown). The second facing portion 534k25 includes an opening 534k26 similar to the opening 534k22, and thus can avoid interference with the holding element 535e or the inserted rocking prevention element 573e24. At the same time, when the positioning pin 573e23 is inserted into the hole 535b21 of the ID chip 535, the ID chip 535 is pushed, but since the second facing portion 534k25 supports the substrate 535b from the rear side, the contact condition between the terminals can be maintained.

FIG38 is a schematic perspective view showing a condition in which the positioning of the connector 573e and the ID chip 535 is completed on the device main body 100 side. This condition is that the toner container 532Y according to the fifth embodiment is mounted on the device main body 100, and the main body side terminals 573e2 and 573e25 are connected to the metal pads 35a1 to 35a3 and the ground terminal 535d. In FIG38 , for ease of understanding, the retaining element 534k (534k25) between the connector 573e and the ID chip 535 and the metal pads 35a1 to 35a3 are omitted.

When the toner container 532Y is mounted on the imaging device body, the main and auxiliary positioning holes 34a and 34b of the cover portion 534Y are engaged with the main and auxiliary positioning pins 73a and 73b of the cover receiving portion 73, and the positioning of the cover portion 534Y is performed. This installation operation is the same as the installation operation of the first embodiment. After the position of the cover portion 534Y is determined, the hole 535b21 of the ID chip 535 is engaged with the positioning pin 573e23 so as to be picked up by the tapered tip of the positioning pin 573e23 of the connector 573e. As a result, the position of the ID chip 535 in the horizontal and vertical directions is simultaneously determined. In addition, as shown in Figure 40A, the swing prevention element 573e24 (a pair of guide elements) of the connector 573e, which includes a pair of plates, is inserted into the lower edge portion, which is located on the right and left sides of the substrate 535b and in the lower area farther than the center of the hole 535b21. At this time, there is a possibility that the posture of the ID chip is misaligned as shown in Figure 40B. Even in this case, if the inner tapered surface of the plate comes into contact with the lower edge portion, it will cause the substrate 535b to rotate in the direction for making the posture vertical by the action of the center of gravity, and the misalignment of the posture in the rotation direction (rotation in the direction of the arrow of Figure 40B) is corrected (it becomes the condition shown in Figure 40A). Thus, the positioning of the ID chip 535 is completed. At this time, a part of the ground terminal 535d of the ID chip 535 (corresponding to the part of the inner surface of the hole 535b21) comes into contact with the main body side ground terminal 573e25 of the positioning pin 573e23, as shown in Figure 38, and the ID chip 535 is grounded (conducted). In addition, after grounding, the three metal pads 35a (35a1, 35a2 and 35a3) of the ID chip 535 are also respectively connected to the three main body side terminals 573e2 of the connector 573e, and therefore, information can be transmitted between the ID chip 535 and the main body side connector 573e (device body 100).

As described above, in the present fifth embodiment, by incorporating concepts such as concepts (1) to (5) described below, a high-precision positioning mechanism is realized with a low-cost structure.

(1) For the ID chip 535 to be positioned, only one positioning hole 535b21 is required. Therefore, during the manufacturing process, the drilling processing time of the substrate 535b becomes shorter than that of the ID chip of the two positioning hole type, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

(2) The main body side ground terminal 573e25 is integrally mounted on the side circumferential surface of the positioning pin 573e23. Thus, the distance between the positioning pin 573e23 and the main body side ground terminal 573e25 becomes true zero (0), and the positional accuracy of the ground terminal 535d relative to the main body side terminal 573e25 can be improved.

(3) In the installation-completed condition of FIG38 , the positional relationship between the positioning hole 535b21 and the curved portion of the main body-side terminal 573e2 is adjusted so that the hole center of the hole 535b21 matches the line of the curved portions (connecting portions) of the three main body-side terminals 573e2 connected to the connector 573e. Thus, the distance from the hole 535b21, which serves as the positioning portion, to the contact portion in the horizontal direction is reduced to almost 0 mm. As a result, when the three metal pads 35a1, 35a2, and 35a3 come into contact with the main body-side terminal 573e2, the accuracy of positioning is improved.

(4) A plurality of metal pads 35a1, 35a2, and 35a3 are in a straight line, and the positioning hole 535b21 is arranged at any one of the two spaces formed between two of the three straight pads. Thus, compared with an ID chip in another arrangement form in which the hole is arranged on the lower side or upper side of the outer side of the row of the plurality of metal pads 35a1, 35a2, and 35a3, the distance from the center of the positioning hole 535b21 to the farthest metal pad 35a (corresponding to the arm length of the pendulum) can be reduced. Specifically, in other types, the arm length becomes the distance corresponding to the distance from the center hole to the three metal pads. However, in this fifth embodiment, the arm length can be the distance corresponding to two metal pads. Since the arm length of the pendulum is shortened, even if the parallelism of the farthest metal pad 35a on the main body side terminal 73e2 is misaligned due to, for example, variations in mass production, the misalignment can be close to minimum.

(5) When the user stores the toner container in some space outside the imaging device, foreign matter may enter the retaining element 534k and thus the clamping position between the ID chip 535 and the facing portions 534k24 and 534k25 may remain misaligned. In this regard, in the present fifth embodiment, the positional relationship between the hole 535b21 and the center of gravity of the ID chip 535 is improved. The hole 535b21 is arranged vertically above the center of gravity of the ID chip 535. Thus, when a pair of swing prevention elements 573e24 are inserted under the hole 535b21 serving as the rotation center, the substrate 535b contacts the tapered tip of the swing prevention element 573e24. Then, the posture of the ID chip 535 is caused to rotate in the vertical direction by gravity and is corrected to be upright. As a result, even if there is one positioning hole 535b21, the positional accuracy of the plurality of metal pads 35a1, 35a2, and 35a3 on the plurality of main body side terminals 573e2 can be increased at the same time.

Depending on the planned production volume, the durability of the conductivity inspection device may be subject to tolerance. In this case, the inspection can be performed using an inspection device with a structure similar to that of the connector of imaging device 100, namely, by inserting a conductive probe into a hole in which ground terminal 535d is formed. In this case, as in the improved ID chip shown in Figure 87, a round ground terminal without protrusion 535d1 can be used. This also applies to manufacturing methods that omit the conductivity inspection based on improvements in the production process. With this improvement, the area of metal components can be reduced, and manufacturing costs can be lowered. Figure 87 shows an ID chip of a type in which no protective element is provided on the IC circuit on the rear surface, thus exposing the IC circuit. If the manufacturing environment and other factors allow for the elimination of protective elements, this type of ID chip can be used to reduce costs. While any layout is acceptable, as long as the IC circuit is kept outside the left and right areas required for smooth sliding, it is preferred to place a relatively large IC on the lower portion, so that the center of gravity is located lower.

In addition, if the ground conductive probe is a pin type, as shown in Figure 88A, it is possible to provide a protrusion with which the ground probe 401 contacts. In order to facilitate ground inspection, the improvement shown in Figure 88B can be adopted, which has a probe contact portion with an increased size. This is particularly useful in manual inspection. The improvement shown in Figure 88C can also be adopted, which does not have a circular frame but a square frame. Any of the improvements in Figures 88A, 88B and 88C can be freely designed as long as the outer circumferential area of the terminal formed in the hole is avoided from the two left and right sliding areas. The rear surface of the ID chip in Figures 88A, 88B and 88C can be covered or exposed by a protective element.

As described in concepts (1) to (5) above, any one of the five concepts can provide various functional effects, and even if such an inexpensive structure in which the area size of the metal pad 35a becomes minimized is adopted, the positioning accuracy between multiple terminals 35a1, 35a2, 35a3 and 535d including the ground terminal at the ID chip 535 and the multiple main body side terminals 573e2 and 573e25 can be highly increased.

Furthermore, in the present fifth embodiment, concepts and functional effects different from those described above will be described.

First, each metal pad 35a1, 35a2, and 35a3 is described. The metal pad 35a1 at the highest position receives the clock signal for communication control. When a serial communication method is adopted and ^I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) is adopted as a serial bus, the metal pad 35a1 forms a signal line, and a serial clock (SCL) is input when the signal line is connected to the main body side connector. The serial communication method is low-speed but low-cost due to sequential data transmission. The metal pad 35a1 corresponds to the terminal for clock signal input. Since the clock signal flows in one direction, it is expected that if a short circuit occurs between the metal pad 35a1 and the Vcc (power supply or metal pad 35a3) described later rather than between other terminals and Vcc, the ID chip 535 will be broken down. Therefore, in order to prevent the ID chip 535 from being broken down, the metal pad 35a1 is arranged further away from Vcc. This is because if a short circuit occurs between the metal pad 35a1 and GND (ground terminal 535d), the possibility of breakdown is reduced.

Metal pad 35a2 also uses a serial communication method, employing ^I²C as a serial bus, and forms a signal line. When the signal line is connected to the main body side connector, serial data (SDA) is input/output to the signal line. Because this pad has a bidirectional input/output mechanism, the possibility of ID chip 535 being broken down due to a short circuit is lower than that of the unidirectional input metal pad 35a1.

The metal pad 35a3 forms a power input portion (Vcc), to which a 5V voltage or a 3.3V voltage is input when it is connected to the main body side connector. In order to reduce the risk of breakdown of the entire device due to a short circuit between the power supply and GND, the serial data input terminal (metal pad 35a2) is arranged between GND (ground terminal 535d) and the serial clock input terminal (metal pad 35a1). As shown in Figure 36, Vcc or metal pad 35a3 overlaps with the protection element 535e, which is on the back side of the ID chip, so that the substrate 535b is between the two; therefore, the metal pad 35a3 is close to the IC drive circuit included in the protection element 535e. With this arrangement, a short and thick wire can be used as a power line, which achieves a stable power supply operation (= suppressing malfunctions due to noise).

Next, the concept for grounding is described. During the installation operation of the colorant container 532Y, the ground terminal 535d of the ID chip 535 comes into contact with the main body side ground terminal 573e25 of the positioning pin 573e23 (connector 573e), and then the three metal pads 35a1, 35a2, and 35a3 of the ID chip 535 come into contact with the three main body side terminals 573e2 of the connector 573e. That is, during the removal operation of the colorant container 532Y, the contact between the three metal pads 35a1, 35a2, and 35a3 of the ID chip 535 and the three main body side terminals 573e2 of the connector 73e is released, and then the ground terminal 535d of the ID chip 535 is released from the contact condition with the main body side terminal 573e25 of the positioning pin 573e23 (connector 573e) (separated from it). Specifically, referring to FIG39A , the contact start position in the main body side ground terminal 573e25 in the connector 573e is closer to the ID chip 535 side than the three main body side terminals 573e2.

With the above-described structure, during the mounting operation of the toner container 532Y, the metal pads 35a1, 35a2, and 35a3 are always connected to the main body side terminal 573e2 under the condition that the ID chip 535 is grounded, and during the removal operation of the toner container 532Y, the metal pads 35a1, 35a2, and 35a3 are always separated from (released from) the main body side terminal 573e2 under the condition that the ID chip 535 is grounded. Thus, the circuit at the ID chip 535 is prevented from being disconnected from the ground and thus becoming electrically floating, and thus, the ID chip 535 is less likely to be electrically damaged.

In detail, when the circuit at the ID chip 535 is not grounded and becomes electrically floating, the circuit becomes grounded with a very large impedance. If the static electricity generated when the metal pad 535a makes contact with or separates from the main body side terminal 573e2 flows slightly into the circuit, a voltage equal to the impedance multiplied by the current is generated. The high voltage causes the insulation breakdown inside the IC in the ID chip 535, and thus the IC is broken down. When the contact starting positions of the three main body side terminals 573e2 and the main body side ground terminal 573e25 on the ID chip 535 are formed at the same position relative to the connector 573e, as shown in Figure 39B, this problem is likely to occur.

On the other hand, in the present fifth embodiment, the bent portion of the main body side ground terminal 573e25 exposed from the slit-shaped opening of the positioning pin 573e23 is arranged closer to the ID chip 535 than the bent portion of the main body side terminal 73e2 that protrudes most toward the ID chip 535. Therefore, since the ground is connected first at the time of contact and disconnected last at the time of separation, the impedance is always theoretically zero, and even if static electricity flows into the inside of the circuit, insulation breakdown inside the IC is prevented.

Furthermore, in the ID chip 535 (information storage device) according to the present fifth embodiment, two protruding portions 535d1 are provided on a portion of the outer circumference of the ground terminal 535d, as described with reference to FIG. 36 .

Because the protrusion 535d1 is provided on the front surface of the substrate 535b of the ID chip 535, as described above, the contact operation of the conductivity inspection probes can be easily performed during the inspection process (the process of inspecting the ID chip 535 for defects) during manufacturing at the factory. Specifically, as shown in FIG41 , the tips of the multiple probes 401 of the conductivity inspection device 400 are pressed against the metal pad 35a and ground terminal 535d of the ID chip 535 placed on the inspection table. At this time, because the protrusion 535d1 of the ground terminal 535d has an area sufficient to contact the tips of the probes 401, a conductivity inspection failure caused by contact failure of the probes 401 can be prevented. Furthermore, because the conductivity inspection is performed by pressing the tips of the probes 401 downward against the ground terminal 535d (protrusion 535d1), the resistance characteristics of the probes can be improved during repeated inspections compared to a case where the conductivity inspection is performed by inserting the probes 401 into the holes 535b2. This also prevents wear of the holes 535b21 of the ID chip 535 due to the conductivity inspection.

Within the wedge-shaped, widened remaining space between annular ground terminal 535d and rectangular metal pads 35a1 and 35a2, protruding portion 535d1 has a horizontal boundary (borderline) that contacts the outer circumference of the ring and is arranged parallel to metal pads 35a1, 35a2, and 35a3. This prevents protruding portion 535d1 from protruding vertically, preventing it from protruding to the left side of the first facing portion 534k24 (which protrudes horizontally) and into the sliding area. As a result, the size of substrate 535b is not increased, and during manufacturing, as many substrates 535b as possible can be obtained from substrate material of standard dimensions. Furthermore, the cost of ID chip 535 can be suppressed.

As described above, similar to the above-described embodiment, even in the present fifth embodiment, the contact-type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is held on the retaining element 534k (retaining portion) so as to be movable on a virtual plane substantially orthogonal to the direction of movement of the metal pads 35a1, 35a2, and 35a3 (terminals) approaching and contacting the main body side terminal 573e2. Therefore, even if the contact-type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is mounted on the toner container 532Y (detachable device) detachably mounted on the imaging device main body 100, contact failure caused by failure in positioning with the main body side terminal 573e2 of the connector 573e is unlikely to occur.

In addition, in this fifth embodiment, even when the contact type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is mounted on the colorant container 532Y (detachable device) that is detachably mounted on the imaging device body 100, the ID chip 535 is difficult to be electrically damaged because the grounding terminal 535d that engages with the main body side grounding terminal 573e25 formed in the positioning pin 573e23 (protruding portion) of the connector 573e (imaging device body 100) is formed in a hole 535b2 formed in the substrate 535b of the ID chip 535.

Sixth embodiment

A sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 42A to 47C.

Figures 42A and 42B are perspective views showing a toner container 632Y according to the sixth embodiment. In particular, Figure 42A is an exploded view showing a state in which the ID chip 535 described in the fifth embodiment is not installed, and Figure 42B is a view showing a state in which the ID chip 535 is installed. Figure 43 is a front view showing the toner container 632Y without the panel 634p installed, and is a view corresponding to Figure 21 in the first embodiment. Figure 44 is a cross-sectional view showing the main parts of the toner container 632Y in which the ID chip 535 and the panel 634p are installed. Figure 45 is a view showing a state in which the ID chip 535 is inserted into the connector 573e.

In the sixth embodiment, the ID chip 535 as the information storage device is the same as that in the fifth embodiment. The difference between the sixth embodiment and the fifth embodiment is that the ID chip 535 is loosely held in a recessed portion provided in the cover portion 634Y and is movably shielded by the panel 634p, and the remaining structure is the same as that in the fifth embodiment.

Similar to the above-described embodiment, the toner container 632Y according to the sixth embodiment includes a container body 33Y and a cap portion 634Y. An ID chip 535 as information storage means is detachably mounted in the cap portion 634Y.

42A and 42B , in the sixth embodiment, the ID chip 535 is not mounted in the cover portion 634Y in a state where it is loosely inserted into the retaining element 534k, and the fall prevention panel 634p is threadedly connected to the cover portion 634Y in a state where the ID chip 535 is loosely retained in a recessed portion (wherein the base portion 634q is formed) formed in the cover portion 634Y.

In detail, with reference to Figures 42A and 43, a recessed portion for holding the ID chip 535 so that it can move in the XZ plane is formed on the end face of the cover portion 634Y. In the recessed portion, a base portion 634q is formed, which is in surface contact with a portion of the ID chip 535. In a state where the ID chip 535 is loosely held in the recessed portion of the cover portion 634Y, a panel 634p for preventing the ID chip 535 from falling from the recessed portion is installed. With reference to Figures 42B, 43 and 44, the panel 634p is screwed in a state where the metal pads 35a1, 35a2 and 35a3, the positioning hole 535b21 (ground terminal 535d) and the like of the ID chip 535 formed similarly to the fifth embodiment are exposed, so as to form contact with a portion of the substrate 35b of the ID chip 35.

In further detail, within the cover portion 634Y, a positioning pin 634s1 for positioning the panel 634p is formed on the right side of the recessed portion, and a threaded hole 634s2 for threading the panel 634p is formed on the left side of the recessed portion, with the recessed portion sandwiched between the two. Simultaneously, in the panel 634p, a positioning hole 634p1 is formed at a position corresponding to the positioning pin 634s1, and a hole 634p2 for passing the screw 680 is formed at a position corresponding to the threaded hole 634s2. A contact portion 634p3 is formed on the lower portion of the panel 634p, which contacts the outer circumferential edge of the second positioning hole 34 and serves as a rotation stop. The position of the panel 634p relative to the cover portion 634Y is determined by the positioning hole 634p1 and the contact portion 634p3 for rotation stop. Screw 680 is screwed into threaded hole 634s2 formed in cover portion 634Y through hole 634p2 formed in panel 634p, thereby fixing panel 634p to cover portion 634Y. Thus, ID chip 535 does not fall off cover portion 634Y and remains on cover portion 634Y so as to be movable within the XZ plane. Referring to FIG45 , similar to the fifth embodiment, as the toner container 632Y is installed, positioning hole 535b21 (ground terminal 535d) of ID chip 535 engages positioning pin 573e23 (main body side ground terminal 573e25) of connector 573e of device main body 100. Thereafter, main body side terminal 573e2 of connector 573e comes into contact with metal pads 35a1, 35a2, and 35a3 of ID chip 535, thereby completing electrical contact between connector 573e and ID chip 535. In this case, since the ID chip 535 in the cap portion 634Y of the toner container 632Y is held movable within the XZ plane, similar to the above-described embodiment, contact failure due to positioning failure with the main body-side terminals 73e2 and 573e25 of the connector 573e of the device main body 100 is unlikely to occur. In a normal state, due to gravity, the ID chip 535 remains lowered to the lower side of the recessed portion of the cap portion 534Y, and the center position of the hole 535b21 of the ID chip 535 is offset downward from the axial center position of the positioning pin 573e23, as in the case of the leftmost of the three ID chips 535, as shown in FIG45 .

Then, when the installation operation of the colorant container 632Y starts and the ID chip 535 comes into contact with the positioning pin 573e23, the ID chip 535 moves upward (in the Z direction) (is dug up) so that the hole 535b21 follows the tapered front end portion of the positioning pin 573e23, the hole 535b21 fits onto the positioning pin 573e23, and finally, the main body side terminal 573e2 comes into contact with the metal pads 35a1, 35a2 and 35a3.

In the present sixth embodiment, the panel 634 p has been fixed to (threaded onto) the cover portion 34Y by means of screws 680 .

On the other hand, as shown in Figures 46A and 46B, the panel 734p can be fixed to the cover portion 734Y by snap-fitting. In detail, as shown in Figure 46A, multiple snap-fit fixing engagement portions 734p2 are formed on the outer circumference of the panel 734p, and snap-fit fixing engagement portions 734s2 are formed at corresponding positions in the cover portion 734Y. As shown in Figure 46B, with the ID chip 535 loosely inserted into the recessed portion of the cover portion 734Y, the panel 734p is snap-fitted to the cover portion 734Y. In further detail, while aligning the hole 734p3 formed in the panel 734p with the positioning boss portion 734s3 formed in the cover portion 734Y, the engagement portion 734p2 of the panel 734p engages with the engagement portion 734s2 of the cover portion 734Y, and the panel 734p is positioned and fixed to the cover portion 734Y. Even in the case of such a structure, the same effects as in the sixth embodiment can be obtained.

Furthermore, in the sixth embodiment, since the panel 634p (panel 734p shown in Figures 46A and 46B) can be replaced again even after being assembled, the toner container can be manufactured by the following steps: the toner container and the panel manufactured by a foreign partner company are first imported into the country, and then, before or after the process of filling the toner container with toner, the ID chip 535 purchased from another company is assembled and the toner information is input into the ID chip 535. Thus, the manufacturing process of the toner container can be performed efficiently.

Furthermore, by replacing the ID chip 535 from the toner container or removing the ID chip 535, rewriting the information, and reattaching the ID chip 535 to the cap portion, a recycling process can be performed in which a used toner container is collected from the market and refilled with toner after cleaning it. Thus, a toner container reuse process can be efficiently performed.

However, referring to FIG47C (FIG. 47C is a cross-sectional view showing the cover portion 834Y on which the ID chip 535 is mounted), when it is necessary to increase the assembly strength between the panel 834p and the cover portion 834Y without removing the ID chip 535, only the positioning boss 734s3 (for example, see FIG46A and FIG46B) can be provided in the cover portion without providing a shape for threaded connection or a shape for snap fit. Then, after the ID chip 535 and the panel 834p are assembled in the cover portion 834Y, the front end of the positioning boss 734s3 can be heat-melted to fix the panel 834p to the cover portion 834Y, or an adhesive can be applied between the panel 834p and the cover portion 834Y to fix the panel 834p to the cover portion 834Y.

As described above, in the sixth embodiment, the contact-type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is held within the cover portion 634Y, 734Y, or 834Y so as to be movable on a virtual plane substantially orthogonal to the direction of movement of the metal pads 35a1, 35a2, 35a3 (terminals) approaching and contacting the main body-side terminal 573e2. Thus, even if the contact-type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is mounted on the toner container 632Y, 732Y, or 832Y (detachable device) that is detachably mounted on the imaging device main body 100, contact failure due to positioning failure with the main body-side terminal 573e2 of the connector 573e of the imaging device main body 100 is unlikely to occur.

In addition, even in this sixth embodiment, similar to the fifth embodiment, even if the contact type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is mounted on the colorant container 632Y (detachable device) that is detachably mounted on the imaging device body 100, because the grounding terminal 535d that engages with the main body side grounding terminal 573e25 formed in the positioning pin 573e23 (protruding portion) of the connector 573e (imaging device body 100) is formed in a hole 535b21 formed in the substrate 535b of the ID chip 535, the ID chip 535 is difficult to be electrically damaged.

Figures 47A and 47B are views showing a colorant container 932Y of another embodiment. In particular, Figure 47A is a front view showing the cover portion 934Y on which the ID chip 535 is mounted, and Figure 47B is a front view showing the cover portion 934Y and the ID chip 535 before the ID chip 535 is mounted. In the colorant container 932Y shown in Figures 47A and 47B, unlike the above-mentioned embodiment, the ID chip 535 (information storage device) is fixed and retained on the cover portion 934Y (retained so as to be immovable in the XZ direction). Specifically, the recessed portion of the cover portion 934Y (the portion surrounded by the dotted line in Figure 47B) is formed into a shape according to the outer circumferential shape of the ID chip 535, so that the ID chip 535 can fit into it (even if it vibrates, it can fit into it with a dimensional variation range of a fitting tolerance of up to about 0.3 mm). In this case, unlike the above-described embodiment, the ID chip 535 cannot move in the XZ plane, but the effects of concepts (1) to (4) in concepts (1) to (5) described in the fifth embodiment can be obtained. That is, since a positioning hole 535b21 in which the ground terminal 535d is formed is installed in the ID chip 535, the effects described in the fifth embodiment can be obtained.

Seventh embodiment

The seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 48 and 49. Figure 48 is an exploded perspective view showing a toner container 1032Y according to the seventh embodiment, and Figure 49 is a cross-sectional view showing the toner container 1032Y.

The colorant container according to this seventh embodiment is different from the above-mentioned embodiment in which the container body 33Y is rotatably retained in the colorant container storage unit 70 in that the container body 1033Y is combined with any one of the sealing parts 634Y, 734Y, 834Y and 934Y shown in the sixth embodiment and is non-rotatably retained in the colorant container storage unit 70 together with the sealing part.

48 and 49, similar to the above-described embodiment, the toner container 1032Y according to the seventh embodiment mainly includes a container body 1033Y (bottle body) and a capping portion 634Y (or other forms of capping portions 734Y, 834Y, or 934Y) mounted on the head thereof. Below, the capping portion according to the seventh embodiment will be described using the capping portion 634Y described with reference to FIGS. 42A and 42B in the sixth embodiment.

Unlike the above-described embodiments, in the toner container 1032Y according to the seventh embodiment, the container body 1033Y (bottle body) is fixed to the cap portion 634Y by a fixing method, for example, it is adhered (welded) or joined to the cap portion 634Y. In other words, the toner body 1033Y is fixed to the cap portion 634Y in a non-rotatable manner.

Unlike the aforementioned embodiments, the container body 1033Y according to this seventh embodiment does not have spiral protrusions formed on its circumferential surface. Furthermore, the gear 33c in the aforementioned embodiments is not integrally formed with the container body 1033Y, and the gear element 1042Y is rotatably mounted to the container body 1033Y and the cap portion 634Y together with the stirring element 33f. Inside the container body 1033Y, unlike the aforementioned embodiments, a conveying element 1041Y for conveying the toner stored in the container body 1033Y toward the opening A is formed such that one end of the conveying element is fixed to the gear 1042Y, while the other end is rotatably supported by a bearing 1033d1 of the container body 1033Y, as will be described later.

The cap portion 634Y has substantially the same structure as that in the fifth embodiment, except that it is non-rotatably bonded or fixed to the container body 1033Y.

The stirring member 33f has almost the same structure, form, and function as in the above-described embodiment, except that it is not fixed to the container body 1033Y but is held only on the gear 1042Y.

Refer to Figures 48 and 49 for further detailed description.

48 , even in the seventh embodiment, a gripping portion 1033d is provided on the other longitudinal end of the container body 1033Y (on the longitudinal side opposite to one end of the mounting cap 634Y and at the end at the rear side of the mounting direction on the apparatus body 100). This gripping portion 1033d is gripped by the user when performing mounting/removal operations of the toner container 1032Y. A through hole is formed within the gripping portion 1033d, connecting the inside and outside of the container body 1033Y. A cap member 1049Y formed of a deformable, flexible resin, such as polypropylene or polyethylene, is detachably mounted in this through hole. Cap member 1049Y is used, for example, when filling the inside of the toner container 1032Y (container body 1033Y) with toner (or when cleaning it) during manufacturing or recycling. The cover member 1049Y is removed from the toner container 1032Y when filling toner (purging), and is attached to the container body 1033Y after the toner filling is completed.

49 , the conveying element 1041Y mounted on the inner side of the container body 1033Y is formed so that a thin flexible stirring element 1041Yb formed of a material such as mylar (trade name: polyester film) is adhered to the shaft portion 1041Ya, and a stirring element 1041Yc is formed on the opposite side. On the shaft portion 1041Ya of the conveying element 1041Y, the end portion on one end side in the longitudinal direction is engaged with and fixed to a connecting portion 1033f20 mounted at a position at the rotation center of the stirring element 33f. The end portion on the other side in the longitudinal direction is rotatably supported on a bearing portion 1033d1 (the bearing portion is a base portion of the gripping portion 1033d and is formed to be inserted into the container body 1033Y). While the container body 1033Y and the cap portion 634Y are held non-rotatably within the toner container storage unit 70, the stirring element 33f receives a driving force from the drive unit 91 and rotates together with the gear member 1042Y. Consequently, the conveying member 1041Y, which is connected to the stirring element 33f at the position of the connecting portion 1033f20, also rotates. Consequently, the toner stored in the container body 1044Y is stirred by the stirring force of the stirring element 1041Yc installed in the conveying member 1041Y, and the toner stored in the container body 1033Y is conveyed in the axial direction toward the cap portion 1034Y by the conveying force of the flexible stirring element 1041Yb installed in the conveying member 1041Y.

The flexible stirring element 1041Yb of the conveying element 1041Y includes cutouts 1041Yb1 formed at multiple locations (six locations in the present seventh embodiment) in the longitudinal direction. As a result, as the conveying element 1041Y rotates, the front end of the flexible stirring element 1041Yb (the free end side not supported by the shaft portion 1041Ya) slides against the inner circumferential surface of the container body 1033Y, and the flexible stirring element 1041Yb rotates in an appropriately twisted and bent state, causing the toner stored in the container body 1033Y to be stirred and conveyed axially toward the right in FIG. 49 .

As described above, even in the toner container 1032Y according to the present seventh embodiment, similarly to the above-described embodiments, toner is discharged from the toner discharge opening W of the cap portion 1034Y.

Here, the gear member 1042Y is rotatably mounted to the container body 1033Y.

Specifically, a gear engaging portion (a claw portion into which a snap fit is formed) (not shown) formed in the gear element 1042Y is caught in a flange portion (in which a protrusion 1033e, which will be described later, is formed) formed so as to surround the outer circumferential surface of the bottle mouth portion 1033a of the container body 1033Y, and thus, the gear element 1042Y is rotatably held on the container body 1033Y. In addition, a gear portion (spur gear) is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the gear element 1042Y, and when the toner container 1032Y is set on the apparatus body 100, the gear portion meshes with the drive gear 81 of the apparatus body 100.

A sealing material is provided between the gear element 1042 and the end face of the bottle mouth portion 1033a to prevent toner from leaking outside the toner container 1032Y. The sealing material is made of a foamed elastic material, such as foamed polyurethane, and is formed into a ring shape to be bitten into the end face of the bottle mouth portion 1033a and bonded to the gear element 1042Y. When the gear element 1042Y is attached to the container body 1033Y, the sealing material is pressed against the open end face of the bottle mouth portion 1033a, thereby ensuring a secure seal between the two elements 1033Y and 1042Y.

The gear element 1042Y is not fixed to the cover part 1034Y, but is rotatably held on the claw part 34j of the cover part 634Y. The method of holding the gear element 1042Y on the cover part 634Y is similar to the method of holding the cover part 34Y on the bottle mouth part 33a of the container body 33Y described in the above embodiment. That is, the claw part 34j of the cover part 634Y engages with the flange-shaped engaging protrusion 1033j, which is arranged to form a circle around the outer circumference of the gear element 1042Y, and the gear element 1042Y is rotatably supported on the cover part 1034Y. Through the above structure, the container body 1033Y is connected to the cover part 634Y via the gear 1042Y. In addition, in order to prevent the container body 1034Y from rotating on the sealing part 634Y, the protrusion 1033e formed near the bottle mouth part 1033a of the container body 1033Y is engaged with the groove 1034t formed on the side surface of the sealing part 634Y, acting as a rotation stopper.

Furthermore, within the cap portion 634Y, a cap seal made of a foamed elastic material is adhered to the compressed portion of the end face of the gear element 1042Y (the end face on the side opposite to the container body 1033Y). This prevents toner from leaking between the gear element 1042Y and the cap portion 634Y.

The stirring member 33f is bonded to the inner surface of the gear member 1042Y. Furthermore, the shaft portion 1041Ya (end portion on one end side) of the conveying member 1041Y is connected to the connecting portion 1033f20 of the stirring member 33f, as described above.

As described above, even in the present seventh embodiment, similar to the above-described embodiments, the contact-type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is held within the cover portion 634Y so as to be movable on a virtual plane substantially orthogonal to the direction of movement of the metal pads 35a1, 35a2, 35a3 (terminals) approaching and contacting the main body-side terminal 573e2. Thus, even when the contact-type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is mounted on the toner container 1032Y (detachable device) detachably mounted on the imaging device main body 100, contact failure due to positioning failure with the main body-side terminal 573e2 of the connector 573e of the imaging device main body 100 is unlikely to occur.

In addition, in this seventh embodiment, for example, the sealing portion 634Y described with reference to Figures 42A and 42B in the sixth embodiment has been used as the sealing portion of the colorant container, but, as the sealing portion in this seventh embodiment, the sealing portion 734Y described with reference to Figures 46A and 46B in the sixth embodiment may be used; the sealing portion 834Y described with reference to Figure 47C in the sixth embodiment may be used; or the sealing portion 934Y described with reference to Figures 47A and 47B in the sixth embodiment may be used.

In addition, even in this seventh embodiment, similar to the fifth and sixth embodiments, even when the contact type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is mounted on a colorant container (detachable device) that is detachably mounted on the imaging device body 100, because the grounding terminal 535d that engages with the main body side grounding terminal 573e23 formed in the positioning pin 573e23 of the connector 573e (imaging device body 100) is formed in a hole 535b21 formed in the substrate 535b of the ID chip 535, the ID chip 535 is difficult to be electrically damaged.

Eighth embodiment

An eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 50 to 51B.

FIG50 is an exploded perspective view showing an image forming apparatus 1100 according to an eighth embodiment, FIG51A is a cross-sectional view showing a portion of a toner cartridge 1106Y installed in the image forming apparatus, and FIG51B is a bottom view showing a portion of the toner cartridge 1106Y. In FIG50 to FIG51B , the toner discharge mechanism and the positioning mechanism for operating the toner cartridge are omitted.

The imaging device 1100 according to this eighth embodiment is different from the above-mentioned embodiment in which the colorant container 532Y, 632Y, 732Y, 832Y, 932Y or 1032Y in which the ID chip 535 is installed is installed in the device body 100 in the horizontal direction when the longitudinal direction is the installation direction, in that the colorant card box 1106Y in which the ID chip 535 is installed is installed on the device body 1100 from above.

50, the image forming apparatus 1100 according to the eighth embodiment is configured so that the toner cartridges 1106Y, 1106M, 1106C, and 1106K as four detachable devices are mounted or detached from the top. FIG50 shows a state in which three toner cartridges 1106M, 1106C, and 1106K other than the yellow toner cartridge 1106Y have been mounted on the apparatus main body 1100.

The toner cartridges 1106Y, 1106M, 1106C, and 1106K are attached to or detached from the attachment portion of the apparatus main body 1100 in a state where the main body cover 1110 (main body door) is opened as shown in FIG. 50 .

Meanwhile, the toner cartridges 1106Y, 1106M, 1106C, and 1106K include openings with shutters, and store toner of the corresponding color (single-component developer) therein. The openings are located at positions facing the lower side of the developing device. Referring to Figures 51A and 51B , an ID chip 535 (information storage device) is movably held in the horizontal direction (the paper direction in Figure 51B ) by a holding member 1134k on the lower surface of the longitudinal end portion of the toner cartridges 1106Y, 1106M, 1106C, and 1106K.

With the metal pads 35a1, 35a2, and 35a3, positioning hole 535b21 (ground terminal 535d), and other components of ID chip 535 exposed, as in the fifth embodiment, retaining member 1134k is screwed onto toner cartridge 1106Y to contact a portion of substrate 535b of ID chip 535. Specifically, the hole of retaining member 1134k engages with a boss portion 1181 formed in the end of toner cartridge 1106Y, screw 1180 is screwed into a threaded hole formed on the opposite side, and ID chip 535 is sandwiched between boss portion 1181 of toner cartridge 1106Y and the hole formed in retaining member 1134k. Retaining member 1134k is then secured to toner cartridge 1106Y. This prevents ID chip 535 from falling out of toner cartridge 1106Y and allows it to be moved within a horizontal plane. 50 , as toner cartridge 1106Y is mounted on apparatus body 1100 from above, positioning pin 573e23 (main body ground terminal 573e25) of connector 573e, mounted within the mounting portion of apparatus body 1100, engages positioning hole 535b21 (ground terminal 535d) of ID chip 535. Thereafter, main body terminal 73e2 of connector 573e comes into contact with metal pads 35a1, 35a2, and 35a3 of ID chip 535, completing electrical contact between connector 573e and ID chip 535. In this case, since ID chip 535 within toner cartridge 1106Y is held movable within a horizontal plane, similar to the aforementioned embodiment, contact failure due to positioning failure with main body terminals 73e2 and 573e25 of connector 573e of apparatus body 1100 is less likely to occur.

As described above, in the eighth embodiment, the contact-type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is held on the toner cartridge 1106Y so as to be movable on a virtual plane substantially orthogonal to the direction of movement of the metal pads 35a1, 35a2, 35a3 (terminals) approaching and contacting the main body-side terminal 573e2. Thus, even when the contact-type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is mounted on the toner cartridge 1106Y (detachable device) that is detachably mounted on the imaging device main body 1100, contact failure due to positioning failure with the main body-side terminal 73e2 of the connector 573e of the imaging device main body 1100 is unlikely to occur.

In addition, even in this eighth embodiment, similar to the fifth to seventh embodiments, even when the contact type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is mounted on a colorant container (detachable device) that is detachably mounted on the imaging device body 1100, because the grounding terminal 535d that engages with the main body side grounding terminal 573e25 formed in the positioning pin 573e23 (protruding portion) of the connector 573e (imaging device body 1100) is formed in a hole 535b21 formed in the substrate 535b of the ID chip 535, the ID chip 535 is difficult to be electrically damaged.

Ninth embodiment

A ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 52 and 53 .

Figure 52 is a perspective view showing an imaging device according to the ninth embodiment and corresponds to Figure 50 in the eighth embodiment. Figure 53 is a schematic diagram showing a state where the connector 573e is connected to the ID chip 535 with the main body cover 1210 of the device main body 1200 being closed.

The imaging device 1200 according to this ninth embodiment differs from that according to the eighth embodiment in that the ID chip 535 is mounted on the upper surface of the processing box 1206Y instead of on the colorant card box, and the connector 573e is mounted to the main body cover 1210 of the device body 1200.

52, the image forming apparatus 1200 according to the ninth embodiment is configured so that the process cartridges 1206Y, 1206M, 1206C, and 1206K are attached or detached from the top as four detachable devices. FIG52 shows a state in which three process cartridges 1206M, 1206C, and 1206K other than the yellow process cartridge 1206Y have been attached to the apparatus main body 1200.

The process cartridges 1206Y, 1206M, 1206C, and 1206K are mounted to or removed from the mounting portion of the apparatus main body 1200 in a state where the main body cover 1210 (main body door) is open as shown in FIG52. In the ninth embodiment, LED units 1207Y, 1207M, 1207C, and 1207K for performing an exposure process are mounted in the main body cover 1210 at positions corresponding to the four process cartridges 1206Y, 1206M, 1206C, and 1206K, respectively (in FIG52, two LED units 1207Y and 1207M are omitted). Referring to FIG53, when the main body cover 1210 is closed, the LED unit 1207Y moves to a position facing the photosensitive drum 1201Y for the electrostatic latent image in the process cartridge 1206Y.

Meanwhile, in each of the process cartridges 1206Y, 1206M, 1206C, and 1206K, a photosensitive drum, a charging unit, a developing unit, and a cleaning unit are integrally formed, and toner (single-component developer) of the corresponding color is stored inside the developing unit. Referring to FIG52 , on the upper surface of the end portion of the process cartridges 1206Y, 1206M, 1206C, and 1206K in the longitudinal direction, an ID chip 535 (information storage device) is held by a holding member (not shown) (or a panel) so as to be movable in the horizontal direction (in the vertical direction and left-right direction of the paper surface of FIG53 ).

In a state where the metal pads 35a1, 35a2, and 35a3 of the ID chip 535, the positioning hole 535b21 (ground terminal 535b), etc. are exposed, similar to the formation in the fifth embodiment, the retaining element is screwed onto the outer cover of the processing box 1206Y to contact a portion of the substrate 535b of the ID chip 535. Thus, the ID chip 535 does not fall from the processing box 1206Y and is maintained to be movable on a horizontal plane. Referring to Figure 52, accompanying the installation operation of the processing box 1206Y on the device body 1200 from above (the installation operation accompanying the closing operation of the main body cover 1210), the positioning pin 573e23 (main body side ground terminal 573e25) is fitted into the positioning hole 535b21 (ground terminal 535d) of the ID chip 535. Thereafter, the main body side terminals 73e2 of the connector 573e come into contact with the metal pads 35a1, 35a2, 35a3 of the ID chip 535, and complete the electrical contact between the connector 573e and the ID chip 535. In this case, since the ID chip 535 in the process cartridge 1206Y is held so as to be movable within the horizontal plane, similarly to the above-described embodiment, contact failure due to positioning failure with the main body side terminals 537e2 and 573e25 of the connector 573e of the apparatus main body 1200 is unlikely to occur.

Furthermore, in this ninth embodiment, referring to Figure 53 , LED unit 1207Y (with the end portion in which connector 573e is mounted) is mounted on main body cover 1210 via support arm 1211 so as to be rotatable (swingable) in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in Figure 53 . LED unit 1207Y is urged by compression spring 1212 mounted inside support arm 1211. When main body cover 1210 is closed, the four LED units are mounted on the process cartridge by swinging and overcoming the thrust from the process cartridge side, as shown in Figure 53 , the necks of LED units 1207Y swing along the wall of process cartridge 1206Y and are guided to a predetermined position. Simultaneously, connector 573e also moves closer to ID chip 5335 and is positioned similarly to the fifth to eighth embodiments. Consequently, due to the urging force of compression spring 1212, connector 573e comes into contact with ID chip 535 of process cartridge 1206Y mounted on the mounting portion of device body 1200 with appropriate force.

As described above, in the present ninth embodiment, the contact-type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is held on the processing cartridge 1206Y so as to be movable on a virtual plane substantially orthogonal to the direction of movement of the metal pads 35a1, 35a2, 35a3 (terminals) approaching and contacting the main body-side terminal 573e2. Thus, even if the contact-type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is mounted on the processing cartridge 1206Y (detachable device) detachably mounted on the imaging device main body 1200, contact failure due to failure in positioning with the main body-side terminal 573e2 of the connector 573e of the imaging device main body 1200 is unlikely to occur.

In addition, in this ninth embodiment, even when the contact type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is installed on the processing box 1206Y (detachable device) that is detachably installed on the imaging device body 1200, the ID chip 535 is difficult to be electrically damaged because the grounding terminal 535d that engages with the main body side grounding terminal 573e25 formed in the positioning pin 573e23 (protruding portion) of the connector 573e (imaging device body 1200) is formed in a hole 535b21 formed in the substrate 535b of the ID chip 535.

Tenth embodiment

A tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 54 and 55.

Figure 54 is a perspective view showing an ink cartridge 1306Y (developer container) according to the tenth embodiment, and Figure 55 is a front view showing an inkjet printer 1300 as an imaging device, in which ink cartridges 1306Y, 1306M, 1306C and 1306K are installed.

The image forming apparatus 1300 according to the present tenth embodiment is different from the above-described embodiments in that an ink cartridge 1306Y is mounted to the apparatus body 1300 from the side, and the ink cartridge 1306Y has a side surface on which an ID chip 535 is mounted.

55 , an image forming apparatus 1300 (inkjet printer) according to the tenth embodiment includes: a carriage 1301 including recording heads 1301a and 1301b and moving in the direction of the double-headed arrow; a guide rod 1302; a supply pipe 1303 for supplying ink from ink cartridges 1306Y, 1306M, 1306C, and 1306K of corresponding colors to a sub-tank of the carriage 1301; a conveyor belt 1304 for conveying a recording medium P in the direction of the arrow, and the like. The ink cartridges 1306Y, 1306M, 1306C, and 1306K of corresponding colors (removable devices) are removably mounted to a mounting portion provided at an end portion of the apparatus main body 1300 (the vertical direction in FIG. 55 is the mounting/removal direction).

In addition, the main structure of the imaging apparatus 1300 is the same as that described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-234801, and is already publicly known, and therefore, a detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

54 , in an ink cartridge 1306Y (in which an ink bag 1307 is stored inside) as a detachable device, an ID chip 535 (information storage device) held on a retaining element 1334k so as to be movable in the XZ direction is mounted on a recessed portion 1308 formed on a side surface thereof.

The holding element 1334k and the ID chip 535 have a structure similar to that in the fifth embodiment. That is, in a state where the metal pads 35a1, 35a2, 35a3, the positioning hole 535b21 (ground terminal 535d) and the like of the ID chip 535 are exposed, the holding element 1334k is fitted into the recessed portion 1308 of the ink cartridge 1306Y. Thus, the ID chip 535 does not fall off the ink cartridge 1306Y and is held in the holding element 1334k so as to be movable in the XZ plane. Referring to Figure 54, accompanying the installation operation on the device body 1300, the positioning pin 573e23 (main body side ground terminal 573e25) of the connector 573e installed in the device body 1300 is fitted into the positioning hole 535b21 (ground terminal 535d) of the ID chip 535. Thereafter, the main body side terminals 73e2 of the connector 573ed come into contact with the metal pads 35a1, 35a2, 35a3 of the ID chip 535, and complete the electrical contact between the connector 573e and the ID chip 535. In this case, since the ID chip 535 in the ink cartridge 1306Y is held so as to be movable in the XZ plane, similar to the above-described embodiment, contact failure due to positioning failure with the main body side terminals 573e2 and 573e25 of the connector 573e of the apparatus main body 1300 is unlikely to occur.

As described above, in the present tenth embodiment, the contact type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is held on the ink cartridge 1306Y by the holding element 1334k so as to be movable on a virtual plane that is substantially orthogonal to the direction of movement of the metal pads 35a1, 35a2, 35a3 (terminals) approaching and contacting the main body side terminal 573e. Therefore, even if the contact type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is mounted on the ink cartridge 1306Y (detachable device) that is detachably mounted on the imaging device main body 1300, it is difficult for contact failure to occur due to failure in positioning with the main body side terminal 573e2 of the connector 573e of the imaging device main body 1300.

In addition, even in this tenth embodiment, even if the contact type ID chip 535 (information storage device) is mounted on the ink cartridge 1306Y (detachable device) detachably mounted on the imaging device body 1300, because the grounding terminal 535d that engages with the main body side grounding terminal 573e25 formed in the positioning pin 573e23 (protruding portion) of the connector 573e (imaging device body 1300) is formed in a hole 535b21 formed in the substrate 535b of the ID chip 535, the ID chip 535 is difficult to be electrically damaged.

Eleventh embodiment

An eleventh embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 56 to 58.

Figure 56 shows the connector 1473e of the imaging device according to the eleventh embodiment, and is a view corresponding to Figure 16 of the first embodiment, Figure 57 is a three-sided view of the ID chip 1435 as an information storage device, which makes contact with the connector 1473e of Figure 56, and Figure 57 is a view corresponding to Figure 29 of the first embodiment, and Figure 58 is a three-sided view of the ID chip 1535 as another form of information storage device, and is a view corresponding to Figure 35 in the fourth embodiment.

The eleventh embodiment differs from the first and fourth embodiments in that the main body side grounding terminal 1473e5 is installed in the positioning pin 1473e3 of the connector 1473e, and the metal grounding terminal 1435d or 1535d (grounding terminal) in contact with the main body side grounding terminal 1473e5 is installed on the ID chip 1435 or 1535.

Referring to Figure 56, in the imaging device according to this eleventh embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, a connector 1473e is installed, which includes a connector body 1473e1, four body side terminals 1473e2, two positioning pins 1473e3 (positioning protrusions), a snap-fitting part 1473e4, etc.

In the connector 1473e according to this eleventh embodiment, the main body side terminal 1473e5 (ground terminal) is installed on the inner side of the positioning pin 1473e3 (the part that comes into contact with the groove 1435b1 or the hole 1535b11 of the ID chip 1435).

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 57 , in the ID chip 1435 (substrate 1435 b ) according to the present eleventh embodiment, metal ground terminals 1435 d (ground terminals) are mounted on inner surfaces of the two grooves 1435 b 1 and surround the two grooves 1435 b 1 .

With the above-described structure, during the toner container mounting operation, the ground terminal 1435d of the ID chip 1435 comes into contact with the main body-side ground terminal 1473e5 (e.g., see FIG. 56 ) of the positioning pin 1473e3 (connector 1473e), and then the four metal pads 35a of the ID chip 1435 come into contact with the four main body-side terminals 1473e2 of the connector 1473e. That is, during the toner container removal operation, the contact between the four metal pads 35a of the ID chip 1435 and the four main body-side terminals 1473e2 of the connector 1473e is released, and then the ground terminal 1435d of the ID chip 1435 is released (separated) from the contact state with the main body-side ground terminal 1473e5 of the positioning pin 1473e3 (connector 1473e). Specifically, the main body side ground terminal 1473e5 in the connector 1473e has a contact start position closer to the ID chip 1435 side than the four main body side terminals 1473e2.

With the above structure, during the installation of the toner container, the metal pad 35a is always connected to the main body side terminal 1473e2 with the ID chip 1435 grounded, and during the removal of the toner container, the metal pad 35a is always separated from (released from contact with) the main body side terminal 1473e2 with the ID chip 1435 grounded. This prevents the circuit at the ID chip 1435 from being disconnected from the ground, and thus, the ID chip 1435 is less likely to be electrically damaged.

Also similar to the relationship between the ID chip according to the first embodiment and the ID chip according to the fourth embodiment, the ID chip 1435 shown in FIG. 57 can be replaced with the ID chip 1535 shown in FIG. 58 .

In detail, referring to FIG. 58 , in the ID chip 1535 , a metal ground terminal 1535 d (ground terminal) is mounted on an inner surface of a positioning hole 1535 b 11 and surrounds the positioning hole 1535 b 11 .

With the above-described structure, during the toner container mounting operation, the ground terminal 1535d of the ID chip 1535 comes into contact with the main body-side ground terminal 1473e5 (e.g., see FIG. 56 ) of the positioning pin 1473e3 (connector 1473e), and then the four metal pads 35a of the ID chip 1535 come into contact with the four main body-side terminals 1473e2 of the connector 1473e. That is, during the toner container removal operation, the contact between the four metal pads 35a of the ID chip 1535 and the four main body-side terminals 1473e2 of the connector 1473e is released, and then the ground terminal 1535d of the ID chip 1535 is released (separated) from the contact state with the main body-side ground terminal 1473e5 of the positioning pin 1473e3 (connector 1473e). Specifically, the main body side ground terminal 1473e5 in the connector 1473e has a contact start position closer to the ID chip 1535 side than the four main body side terminals 1473e2.

With the above structure, during the installation operation of the toner container, the metal pad 35a always starts to connect to the main body side terminal 1473e2 with the ID chip 1535 grounded, and during the removal operation of the toner container, the metal pad 35a always starts to separate from (release from contact with) the main body side terminal 1473e2 with the ID chip 1535 grounded. This prevents the circuit at the ID chip 1535 from being disconnected from the ground and thus becoming electrically floating, and thus, the ID chip 1535 is less likely to be damaged by electricity.

As described above, even in this eleventh embodiment, the contact type ID chip 1435 or 1535 (information storage device) is held on the retaining element 34k (retaining portion) so as to be movable on a virtual plane substantially orthogonal to the direction of movement of the metal pad 35a (terminal) approaching and contacting the main body side terminal 1473e2.

Thus, even when the contact type ID chip 1435 or 1535 (information storage device) is installed on a colorant container (detachable device) that is detachably mounted on the imaging device body, contact failure due to failure in positioning of the main body side terminal 1473e2 of the connector 1473e with the imaging device body is unlikely to occur.

As described above, in this eleventh embodiment, even when the contact type ID chip 1435 or 1535 (information storage device) is mounted on a colorant container (detachable device) that is detachably mounted on the imaging device body, because the grounding terminal 1435d or 1535d that engages with the main body side grounding terminal 1473e5 formed in the positioning pin 1473e3 (protruding portion) of the connector 1473e (imaging device body 100) is formed in the groove 1435b1 or the hole 1535b11 formed in the substrate 1435b or 1535b of the ID chip 1435 or 1535, the ID chip 1435 or 1535 is difficult to be electrically damaged.

Twelfth embodiment

A twelfth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 59 to 62.

FIG59 is a perspective view showing a toner container 1632Y as a detachable device according to the twelfth embodiment. The toner container 1632Y includes a container body 1633Y having the same structure as the container body 33Y, a cover portion 1634Y that covers a toner discharge opening (not shown) formed in the container body 1633Y from the outside, an ID chip as an information storage device attached to the front end of the cover portion 1634Y, and a holding mechanism 1635 that holds the ID chip. For example, the ID chip 535 described in the fifth embodiment can be used as the ID chip.

The toner container 1632Y relates to a toner supply device of a toner suction and conveying type that can be mounted on and dismounted from Japanese Patent No. 4396946 or U.S. Patent No. 7835675. That is, in addition to the ID chip, the holding mechanism, and the communication method of the ID chip, the toner container and the toner supply device disclosed in the relevant patent are adopted. With respect to the positioning structure that allows mounting and dismounting provided in the toner container and the supply device, and the aspect for driving the toner main body, reference is made to the relevant patent. The difference between the toner container of this embodiment and the toner container of Japanese Patent No. 4396946 or U.S. Patent No. 7835675 will be described below. The difference between the toner supply device of this embodiment and Japanese Patent No. 4396946 or U.S. Patent No. 7835675 is that the former adopts a contact communication method, while the latter adopts a non-contact communication method (the so-called RFID method). Thus, as the former main body side connector, the connector 573e of Figures 37, 38 and 45 described with reference to the fifth embodiment is set at a position facing the colorant container cap end face of the colorant supply device of Japanese Patent No. 4396946 or US Patent No. 7835675.

As shown in FIG. 60 , the positioning hole 535 b 21 is formed in the ID chip 535 , and for example, a positioning pin 573 e 23 of a connector installed in the apparatus body is inserted into the positioning hole 535 b 21 .

The holding mechanism 1635 includes a holding portion 1635A that holds the ID chip 535 in a manner movable in the XZ directions, and a holding cover 1635B as a cover member that is detachably fitted into the holding portion 1635A.

As shown in FIG61 , the retaining portion 1635A includes: a recessed portion 1635Aa formed on the ID chip mounting surface 1634Ya, which is vertically flat and formed at the front end of the cover portion 1634Y; a base portion 1635q formed in the recessed portion 1635Aa, in which the ID chip 535 is mounted; and a substantially frame-shaped ID chip mounting wall portion 1635Ab formed to surround the recessed portion 1635Aa and the base portion 1635q from the outside. The ID chip mounting wall portion 1635Ab is formed to protrude further outward from the ID chip mounting surface 1634Ya than the base portion 1635q. The ID chip mounting wall portion 1635Ab has a size capable of storing an ID chip 535 in a clearly rectangular form, and retains the ID chip 535 so that it can move in the XZ directions when the ID chip 535 is placed. That is, the ID chip 535 is installed in the base portion 1635q but is not fixed to the cover portion 1634Y. When installed in the base portion 1635q, the ID chip 535 is installed with a gap with the ID chip installation wall portion 1635Ab formed to surround the ID chip 535 from the outside.

On the ID chip mounting surface 1634Ya, holding bosses 1615a and 1615b for mounting the holding cover 1635B are formed to protrude from the ID chip mounting surface 1634Ya. The positioning bosses 1615a and 1615b are formed integrally with the cap portion 1634Y by resin.

The retaining cover 1635B is mounted and fixed to the retaining portion 1635A by a welding fixing method (e.g., thermal caulking), as described below, and the ID chip is set in the retaining portion 1635A. The central portion of the retaining cover 1635B is provided with an opening 1635Bc, which allows the contact points (not shown) and the positioning holes 535b21 of the ID chip 535 to be exposed to the outside, and allows the connector terminals (not shown) and the positioning pins 573e23 of the connector to be inserted therethrough. The retaining cover 1635B is configured to sandwich the IC chip 535 set on the inner side of the ID chip mounting wall portion 1635Ab together with the ID chip mounting wall portion 1635Ab so that the ID chip 535 does not separate. Above and below the retaining cover 1635B, mounting holes 1635Ba and 1635Bb are formed at positions corresponding to the positioning bosses 1615a and 1615b.

In this structure, when the ID chip 535 is mounted on the cover part 1634Y, the rear surface of the ID chip 535 comes into contact with the base part 1635q, so that its position in the depth direction is determined. Along with it, thanks to the ID chip mounting wall part 1635Ab, the upper, lower, left and right positioning is achieved by surrounding. The retaining cover 1635B overlaps the ID chip mounting wall part 1635Ab in the direction facing the ID chip mounting wall part 1635Ab, and the positioning bosses 1615a and 1615b are inserted into the mounting holes 1635Ba and 1635Bb. Thus, the ID chip 535 is positioned in a state covered by the retaining cover 1635B, and is mounted and retained on the cover part 1634Y. In this state, the ID chip 535 is mounted on the ID chip mounting surface 1634Ya of the cover part 1634Y, but is not directly fixed to the cover part 1634Y. That is, the ID chip 535 is mounted on the cover portion 1634Y through the ID chip mounting wall portion 1635Ab formed on the ID chip mounting surface 1634Ya.

The present embodiment is characterized by a method for fixing the holding cover 1635B and the cover portion 1634Y. In the present embodiment, a welding method is adopted as a method for fixing the holding cover 1635B and the cover portion 1634Y.

Since the retaining cover 1635B is retained so that the positioning bosses 1615a and 1615b formed on the side of the cover portion 1634Y are inserted into the mounting holes 1635Ba and 1635Bb, as described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in Figure 62, the retaining cover 1635B is fixed to the cover portion 1634Y by thermal caulking. In Figure 62, reference numeral 1640 represents a caulking portion (fixing portion). For example, the fixing bosses 1615a and 1615b shown in Figure 61 have a size that protrudes from the mounting holes 1635Ba and 1635Bb. The positioning bosses 1615a and 1615b are heated by a heating element, such as a heatable soldering iron, and the caulking portion 1640 is formed by squeezing them and thermally deforming them while melting the bosses by heating. Thus, the retaining cover 1635B can be fastened and fixed to the cover portion 1634Y.

In this embodiment, as a fixing method between the retaining cover 1635B and the sealing portion 1634Y, fixation by heat caulking has been described, but other welding fixing methods such as ultrasonic welding, as well as resin welding methods, may be used as a fixing method between the retaining cover 1635B and the sealing portion 1634Y without being limited to this embodiment.

Thirteenth embodiment

The thirteenth embodiment will be described in detail with reference to Figures 63 and 64.

In this embodiment, the retaining cover 1635B is not fixed by a process such as hot caulking, but is fixed by a fastening method using fasteners. The remaining parts of the colorant container and the form of the colorant supply device are the same as those in the twelfth embodiment. In this embodiment, the retaining cover 1635B is fixed to the sealing portion 1634Y so that the fasteners 1650a and 1650b are inserted into the mounting holes 1635Ba and 1635Bb formed in the retaining cover 1635B, which allow the positioning bosses 1615a and 1615b to be inserted therein and screwed into the ID chip mounting surface 1634Ya. For example, when threaded fixing is performed using a self-tapping screw, the self-tapping screw can form a thread groove in the relative hole as it is screwed into the relative hole serving as the fasteners 1650a and 1650b, and all that needs to be done is to form a tubular guide hole (corresponding to 1651a and 1651b in Figure 64) in the ID chip mounting surface 1634Ya.

As another embodiment, for example, there are cases where retaining cap 1635B is attached to capping member 1634Y without retaining an ID chip, and the resulting product is then shipped from a toner container manufacturing plant. Retaining cap 1635B is then removed from another plant, the ID chip is set therein, and retaining cap 1635B is reattached to capping member 1634Y. Alternatively, there are cases where a used toner container is recycled. In such cases, if the attachment/detachment of retaining cap 1635B is repeated within a specific range, the aforementioned tubular guide hole is preferable. However, if five or six or more times of installation/removal are desired, and the stability of the fastening force in each case should be taken into consideration, it is preferred that threaded holes 1651a and 1651b are formed in advance in the ID chip mounting surface 1634Ya, and that screws are screwed into the threaded holes 1651a and 1651b through the mounting holes 1635Ba and 1635Bb to correspond to the pitch of the threaded holes 1651 and 1651b as the fasteners 1650a and 1650b, to perform fixing, as shown in FIG64. In this embodiment, the fasteners 1650a and 1650b can be fixed at two positions below and above the retaining cover 1635B, but can also be fixed at one position or multiple positions. In addition, the fastening elements 1650a and 1650b can be installed on the left and right sides of the retaining cover 1635B instead of the upper and lower sides, and are not limited to this embodiment in terms of number and position.

Fourteenth embodiment

A fourteenth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to Figures 65 and 66.

In this embodiment, the retaining cover is characterized in that it is not fastened and fixed to the capping portion 1634Y by a process such as caulking or fasteners, but is fixed by a fitting method using claw members. The remaining parts of the toner container and the form of the toner supply device are the same as those in the twelfth embodiment.

The retaining cover 1635C according to the present embodiment basically has the same structure as the retaining cover 1635B. Specifically, the mounting holes 1635Ba and 1635Bb are eliminated from the retaining cover 1635B, and the hook portions 1636a and 1636b are formed on the upper portion 1635Ca and the lower portion 1635Cb instead. The hook portions 1636a and 1636b pass through until the opening 1636Cc formed in the middle. Like the opening 1635Bc, the opening 1635Cc allows the contact point (not shown) and the positioning hole 535b21 of the ID chip 535 to be exposed to the outside, and allows the connector terminal (not shown) and the positioning pin 573e23 of the connector to pass through it.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 66, the cover portion 1634Y is provided with claw portions 1637a and 1637b as engaging portions, which enter the inner sides of the hook portions 1636a and 1636b and engage with the hook portions 1636a and 1636b. In this embodiment, the claw portions 1637a and 1637b are formed so as to be respectively provided on the upper and lower portions of the ID chip mounting wall portion 1635Ab covered with the retaining cover 1635C. The claw portions 1637a and 1637b have inclined surfaces 1637a1 and 1637b1 formed on the insertion side and are configured to guide the retaining cover 1635C to the top of the claw portion 1637a when the retaining cover 1635C is aligned and installed.

With this structure, when the ID chip 535 is set in the ID chip mounting wall portion 1635Ab and the retaining cover 1635C is moved toward the ID chip mounting wall portion 1635Ab to overlap on the ID chip mounting wall portion 1635Ab, the claw portion 1637a formed in the ID chip mounting wall portion 1635Ab on the side of the cover portion 1634Y enters the inner side of the hook portions 1636a and 1636b formed in the retaining cover 1635C, and the retaining cover 1635C can be fixed to the cover portion 1634Y by fitting between the two sides.

In this embodiment, the hook portions 1636a and 1636b are engaged with the claw portions 1637a and 1637b at two locations on the upper and lower portions of the retaining cover 1635C, but they may be engaged at the left and right portions of the retaining cover 1635C, or at the upper, lower, left, and right portions, rather than the upper and lower portions. The engagement positions and number are not limited to this embodiment.

In the thirteenth and fourteenth embodiments, the method of fastening or fitting the retaining cover 1635C to or from the capping portion 1634Y has been described. However, as another fixing method, the retaining cover may be fixed to the ID chip mounting wall portion 1635Ab by bonding, for example. In this case, the cover member preferably has sufficient adhesive strength to prevent it from falling off when the toner container 1632Y is removed from the device body, and the type of adhesive and the bonding area are not particularly limited.

In the twelfth to fourteenth embodiments, even in any one of the embodiments, even if the ID chip 535 as a contact-type information storage device is installed on the colorant container 1632Y, contact failure due to unsatisfactory positioning of the terminal of the connector relative to the device body is unlikely to occur.

Fifteenth embodiment

In the toner container according to any one of the first to seventh embodiments, the inventive portion (shutter mechanism) for solving the third problem described above will be described again as a fifteenth embodiment.

The stopper release push portion 72b in FIG5 will be described with reference to FIG18 and subsequent figures. The stopper release push portion 72b is a portion that opens the toner discharge opening W by shifting the shutter 34d provided in the cap portion 34Y from a closed state to an open state in conjunction with the insertion (installation) operation of the developer storage containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K. The stopper release push portion 72b is configured with a trapezoidal rib that protrudes upward from the upper surface of the bottle receiving surface 72a toward the shutter.

18 and 20 illustrate the entire structure of the developer storage containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K (see FIG. 18 ) and details of cap portions provided in the containers (see FIG. 20 ).

In Figure 18, the developer storage container 32Y mainly includes a container body 33Y (bottle body) and a capping portion 34 (bottle cap) provided at the head thereof. In addition, an ID chip 35 or the like as an information storage device is detachably mounted in the capping portion 34Y of the developer storage container 32Y.

In the above-mentioned portion, the structure shown in FIG. 20 is used for the position where the ID chip 35 is mounted, so that the ID chip 35 can be mounted.

On the front end surface of the cover portion 34Y, as shown in FIG20 , first and second positioning holes 34a and 34b that can engage with first and second positioning pins (not shown) provided in the cover receiving portion 73 are provided at two positions in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction).

Between the first and second positioning holes 34a and 34b, a rectangular recessed portion 34t is formed. The rectangular recessed portion has a shape that can be connected to the connector provided in the developer container storage unit 70 (see Figure 5) and extends in the vertical direction, as shown in Figures 67 and 68. Inside the recessed portion, as shown in Figure 67, a retaining member 34k on which an ID chip can be mounted is mounted. Reference numeral 33f shown in Figure 67 denotes a stirring member having a stirring portion positioned inside the cover and rotating in conjunction with a gear to be described later.

The mounting position of the retaining member 34k is vertically higher than the position of the toner discharge opening W, which is opened or closed by the shutter 34d, as will be described later with reference to Figures 70A to 70C (in Figure 67 , for convenience, this position is shown as having a height H between the bottom 34t1 of the recessed portion 34t and the toner discharge opening W). Therefore, the retaining member 34k can be separated from the toner discharge opening W. Furthermore, a raised wall is provided on the peripheral edge of the rectangular recessed portion. This ensures that a portion of the recessed portion 34t is unlikely to overlap a portion of the toner discharge opening W in the lateral direction. In other words, the bottom 34t1 of the recessed portion 34t does not approach the toner discharge opening W. This prevents a portion of the toner discharge opening W from being filled with the bottom 34t1, thereby preventing toner discharge from being blocked. Furthermore, even if toner leaks and spills out of the toner discharge opening of developer storage container 32Y, the spilled toner will not reach the connector under its own weight, and the spilled toner will not be blocked by the raised wall. Consequently, contact failure caused by toner adhering to the connector can be prevented, and communication failure can be prevented. The recessed portion 34t is provided on the side of the first positioning hole 34a.

20, as shown in FIG67, the gear 33Y and the opening A that rotate integrally with the container body 33Y are provided on one end side in the longitudinal direction (left-right direction in FIG67).

The opening A is located at the head portion at the front side when the container body 33Y is mounted, and allows the toner stored in the container body 33Y to be discharged toward the hollow space portion B inside the cap portion 34Y.

Furthermore, as the toner is consumed on the image forming apparatus main body side, toner conveyance from the inside of the container body 33Y to the hollow space B inside the cap portion 34Y (rotational driving of the container body 33Y) is appropriately performed.

Next, the structure of the cap portion 34Y of the developer storage container 32Y will be described below with reference to Figures 20, 67 and 68.

In the cap portion 34Y of the developer storage container 32Y, an ID chip 35 (information storage means), a shutter member 34d, and a shutter seal 36 are mounted.

As shown in FIG68, the cover portion 34Y has a structure in which a substantially cylindrical main body is combined with a box-shaped portion, in which the outer diameter and inner diameter decrease in three stages (large, medium, and small) from the container main body 33Y side toward the shutter member 34d side, and the box-shaped portion is provided at the bottom, wherein the width in the horizontal direction decreases in two stages (wide width and narrow width). The cover portion 34Y includes an insertion portion including a large diameter portion and a medium diameter portion of the cylindrical portion and a wide box-shaped portion 34n.

In the large diameter portion of the cover portion 34Y, a cutout hole 34P0 is formed, which is formed so that a part of the outer periphery is removed and a part of the teeth of the gear 33c is exposed to the outside as shown in Figure 68.

In the insertion portion, in FIG68, the peripheral portion 34P1 adjacent to the cutout hole 34P0 in the axial direction has a smaller outer diameter than the peripheral portion 34P2 not adjacent to the cutout hole 34P0 in the circumferential direction. In FIG68, for convenience, D1 and D2 representing the outer diameters are added to the reference numerals of the peripheral portions 34P1 and 34P2, and the relationship between the outer diameters is D1 < D2.

As described above, the peripheral portion adjacent to the cutout hole 34P0 of the insertion portion in the axial direction has a larger outer diameter than the other portions. Therefore, the tooth surface of the gear meshing with the gear 33c, which is exposed to the outside through the cutout hole 34P0, is less likely to interfere with the outer peripheral portion of the insertion portion in the axial direction. As a result, the meshing operation of the gear 33c with the gear moving in the axial direction can be performed smoothly without interference from a portion of the insertion portion.

68 and 81, FIG81 shows a seventeenth embodiment to be described later, which is a modification in which the main parts are shared with the structure shown in FIG68, and reference numeral 34YG0 denotes a retaining portion constituted by a stepped portion at the front end side of the guide rail 34YG. The retaining portion 34YG0 is a portion that is struck by a sliding protrusion 34d1c (see FIG70A to FIG70C) provided on the side of the shutter 34d, preventing the shutter 34d from moving further forward, thereby retaining the shutter 34d, as will be described later.

As shown in detail in Figure 81, an upper rail rib 34SG is provided on the guide rail 34YG at a predetermined distance from the guide rail 34YG and in parallel with the guide rail 34YG. The upper rail rib 34SG prevents the sandwiched portion of the main body side shutter closing mechanism 73d (see Figure 72) shown in Figure 72 and subsequent figures from entering between the cylindrical circumferential surface of the cover 34Y and the guide rail 34YG.

On the upper surface of the guide rail 34YG, a valve protrusion 34YG2 including a protrusion is provided at a position reached before the valve 34d hits the retaining portion 34YG0 (see FIG81). The valve protrusion 34YG2 serves as a portion that restricts the movement of the valve 34d when the valve 34d is in a closed state.

The insertion/removal (installation/disassembly) operation of the developer storage container 33Y can be performed by the user grasping a gripping portion which is provided at the rear end portion of the container body 33Y along the insertion (installation) direction and is indicated by reference numeral 33d in FIG. 18 .

The narrow width box-shaped portion 34Y1 is formed in the small diameter cylindrical portion of the cap portion 34Y, and on the inner side of the box-shaped portion 34Y1, as shown in Figure 69B, a toner discharge opening W for discharging the toner discharged from the opening A of the container body 33Y in the vertical direction (falling by its own weight) to the lower side, that is, the outside of the container, is provided so as to communicate with the hollow space portion B, as shown in Figure 67.

As shown in FIG69B , the toner discharge opening W is formed into a hexagonal shape, one of the polygonal shapes, with a predetermined flow area. The toner discharge opening W connects the lower circumferential surface of the space B inside the small-diameter cylindrical portion with the toner discharge opening W (discharge opening). Consequently, toner discharged from the opening A of the container body 33Y into the space B inside the small-diameter cylindrical portion of the cap portion 34Y falls through the hexagonal toner discharge opening W under its own weight and is then smoothly discharged to the outside of the container (toner tank portion 61Y).

As shown in Figures 67 and 69B, a rib W1 is formed along the peripheral edge of the opening in the toner discharge opening W. This rib W1 projects toward the sealing material of the shutter 34d, as will be described later. The rib W1 has the function of folding and lifting up the end of the sealing material 36, as will be described later, the function of improving the adhesion of the sealing material 36 by press-contacting with a portion other than the end, and the function of blocking toner that is about to leak from the toner discharge opening W.

In Figures 69A and 69B, in the bottom of the narrow width box-shaped portion 34Y1 provided in the lower portion of the covering portion 34Y, a valve 34d for opening and closing the toner discharge opening W in conjunction with the installation/disassembly operation of the developer storage container 32Y on the developer storage container storage unit 70 is maintained in a slidable manner.

The shutter 34d is a characteristic portion of the present invention and has the following structure which will be described with reference to Figures 70A and 70B. In addition, Figure 70A is a perspective view of the shutter as seen from the bottom surface side, and Figure 70B is a perspective view of the shutter 34d as seen from the top surface side.

The valve 34d is made of a resin material such as polyethylene, and mainly includes a plate-shaped main valve portion 34d1 and a valve deformation portion 34d2, which protrudes from the main valve portion 34d1, is thinner in thickness than the main valve portion 34d1, and has elasticity.

In the main shutter portion 34d1, vertical walls 34d1a erected at both side ends of the plate portion and a pair of shutter sliders 34d12 having protrusions protruding from the vertical walls are provided.

The vertical wall 34d12 includes a pair of sliding protrusions 34d1c and an L-shaped engaging protrusion 34d1b, wherein the sliding protrusions are arranged on the inner surface of the vertical wall to protrude facing each other, and the L-shaped engaging protrusions are arranged on the outer surface on the side opposite to the sliding protrusion 34d1c.

The engaging protrusion 34d1b is formed so that a plate portion extending in the shutter moving direction exists on the upper surface, and a protrusion 34d1b1 engaging with a sandwiching portion to be described later extends downward from a portion located on the front side of the plate portion along the insertion direction of the developer storage container.

The shutter slider 34d12 includes a pair of prism portions that are arranged to protrude from the surface on the same side as the engaging protrusion 34d1b of the vertical wall 34d1a and extend toward the rear side in the direction in which the shutter 34d closes the colorant discharge opening W as shown by the arrow.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG70B, a protrusion 34d1b1 provided in the engaging protrusion portion 34d1b is provided at a position offset from the front end surface of the main shutter portion 34d1 (a position where a portion corresponding to the distance indicated by the symbol S1 in FIG70B is removed). As described in FIG72 and subsequent figures, the protrusion 34d1b1 is a portion that serves to prevent interference when one of the sandwiching portions 73d2 (see FIG72) provided in the main body-side shutter closing mechanism 73d starts to rotate.

In the valve 34d, the valve deformation portion 34d2 is constructed in a cantilever shape, and the inner inclined portion of the base connected to the main valve portion 34d1 is formed by an arc-shaped curved portion (the shape represented by the symbol R in Figures 70A and 70B), and serves to avoid stress concentration during deflection deformation.

Furthermore, the shutter deforming portion 34d2 is formed so that a portion of the base located on the main shutter portion 34d1 side becomes a horizontal surface (the portion indicated by symbol S2 in FIG70C ), and the remaining portion is inclined from the front end of the horizontal surface shown in FIG70C . The engaging protrusion 34d1b is omitted in FIG70C . In this structure, unlike the case where the inclined base of the shutter deforming portion 34d2 is directly connected to the main shutter portion 34d1, stress concentration at the connection point between the inclined base of the shutter deforming portion 34d2 and the main shutter portion 34d1 can be avoided when the shutter deforming portion 34d2 oscillates.

The shutter deforming portion 34d2 is configured with a cantilever-shaped piece portion (a portion having a length indicated by a symbol L in FIG70A ) extending to the rear side along the insertion direction of the developer storage container as the bottom end of the main shutter portion 34d1. The shutter deforming portion 34d2 is inclined so that it extends downward from the bottom end side to the rear side along the insertion direction.

The free ends of the shutter deforming portion 34d2 are integrated by a connecting plate portion 34d2a that laterally bridges them. A stopper release portion 34d21 is provided in the center portion of the connecting plate portion 34d2a along the bridging direction, facing the stopper release push portion 72b (see FIG5 ). This stopper release push portion is constructed with a trapezoidal rib provided on one side of the cap receiving portion 73. As will be described later, stopper portions 34d22 are provided on both sides of the bridging direction to secure the shutter 34d and prevent the toner discharge opening W from being inadvertently opened.

The stopper release portion 34d21 is formed with a triangular cross-section. By operating on the stopper release push portion 72b (see FIG. 5 ) provided on the side of the cap receiving portion 73, the stopper release portion 34d21 shifts the shutter deforming portion 34d2 from an inclined state to a horizontal state, thereby releasing the engagement between the stopper portion 34d22 and the engagement end surface 34n1 (see FIG. 69A and FIG. 69B ) located within the wide box-shaped portion 34n at the bottom of the cap portion 34Y. This allows the shutter 34d to move in the direction of opening or closing the toner discharge opening W.

The engaging end surface 34n1 positioned within the large width box-shaped portion 34n is provided as a portion for restricting the shutter 34d from moving in a direction to open the toner discharge opening W in a state in which the toner discharge opening W is closed.

Figures 71B and 71C are diagrams explaining the relationship between the engaging end surface 34n1 and the stopper portion 34d22 on the shutter deformed portion 34d2 side. When closing the toner discharge opening W, as shown in Figure 71C , since the shutter deformed portion 34d2 on the shutter side is initially tilted, the stopper portion 34d22 positioned at the tilted free end surface faces the engaging end surface 34n1, and the shutter 34d cannot move independently. Consequently, the toner discharge opening W is maintained in a state that prevents it from being inadvertently opened.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 69B and 71B, when the shutter 34d moves in the direction of opening the toner discharge opening W, the front end 34d1d of the main shutter portion 34d1 in the direction of movement contacts the engagement end surface 34n1, thereby determining the movement position of the main shutter portion 34d1. Figure 71C shows a situation where the shutter 34d has already moved in the direction of closing the toner discharge opening W. In this case, the free end of the shutter deforming portion 34d2 becomes inclined, causing the stopper portion 34d22 located at the free end to come into surface contact with the engagement end surface 34n1. Consequently, the movement of the shutter 34d is prevented unless the stopper release portion 34d21 is pushed upward.

The sealing material 36 is formed of a parallelepiped attached to the main valve portion 34d1. As the sealing material 36 strikes the rib W1 shown in Figure 67, the end portion folds and rises, and the portion other than the end portion comes into contact with the rib W1, thereby deflecting and deforming toward the toner discharge opening W in a frictional state. The sealing material 36 is an elastic seal made of a flexible material. A high-density micro-cell polyurethane sheet is used as this material, taking into account the sliding properties and elasticity of the surface.

The sealing material 36 has a length (indicated by symbol L1 in FIG. 70A ) by which the front end of the sealing material 36 in the direction in which the shutter 34 d closes the toner discharge opening W protrudes further to the outside than the front end of the main shutter portion 34 d 1. This protruding front end portion is a portion that easily rises (riding up) when it strikes the rib W1 provided on the peripheral edge of the toner discharge opening W.

The shutter 34d is stored inside the large-width box-shaped portion 34n positioned at the lower portion of the large-diameter cylindrical portion of the cover portion 34Y and is slidably movable.

Of the four side walls of the wide box-shaped portion 34n, two walls facing each other in the longitudinal direction (the axial direction of the cap cylinder) are open. Specifically, since the wall is partially left at the corner on the bottom side, an opening extending horizontally is formed on most of the wall on the toner discharge opening W side. This opening is formed so that both the side and bottom surfaces of the wide box-shaped portion 34n along the longitudinal direction on the toner discharge opening W side are cut.

At the same time, in Figures 20, 68, 69A, 69B and 71A, lateral protrusions 34c for limiting the posture of the cover part 34Y along the rotation direction in the imaging device body 100 (cover receiving part 73) are respectively formed on both side parts of the cover part 34Y.

The lateral protrusions 34c are positioned on both sides at right angles within the circumferential surface of the medium-diameter cylindrical portion in the same plane as the column direction of the positioning holes 34a, have a triangular shape in a plan view, and their tops are located at a position away from the circumferential surface of the medium-diameter cylindrical portion from the head to the rear side of the covering portion 34Y.

In the inclined surface of the lateral protrusion 34c, the rising edge angle of the inclined piece located behind the top is larger than the rising edge angle of the inclined piece located before the top on the head side of the cover portion 34Y.

The inclined member at the head is provided on the side of the cover receiving portion 73 and is movable by the urging of a spring while the lateral protrusion 34c contacts the thrust member (not shown) undergoing the rolling action. Specifically, when pushing against the thrust member, if the portion of the so-called inclined plane with a small inclination angle faces the thrust member, the inclined plane can enter the thrust member without any resistance. If the top of the inclined plane exceeds the thrust member, the inclined surface on the rear side engages the thrust member, and the resistance to movement from the thrust member suddenly decreases immediately after passing the thrust member, and a sense of resistance, a so-called click, is generated when the thrust member is engaged.

In the present embodiment, among the laterally protruding inclined pieces, the angle of the inclined piece on the head side is set to 30 degrees, while the angle of the inclined piece on the rear side is set to 45 degrees.

In Figures 20, 68, 69A, 69B and 71A to 71C, reference numerals 34g and 34h are raised portions, which are provided on both ends of the bottom of the capping portion 34Y and are used to ensure incompatibility of the developer storage container 32Y (developer storage container).

The raised portions 34g and 34h are portions for determining whether the developer storage container is correctly mounted on the developer storage container storage unit 70. If the mating state in the mating portion (not shown) provided on the developer storage container storage unit 70 side is normal, the developer storage container storing a predetermined color of toner and designated at a predetermined position is mounted at that position and can be determined to have been correctly mounted. Thus, erroneous operation, so-called missetting, in which the developer storage container is not mounted in the predetermined mounting portion due to the color of toner stored in the developer storage container, can be prevented.

At the same time, the shutter 34d can be kept in a state where the toner discharge opening W is closed by the main body side shutter closing mechanism 73d, as shown in Figures 72 to 75D. The main body side shutter closing mechanism 73d is provided to solve the problem of the toner container 32Y being withdrawn from the apparatus main body 100 while the toner discharge opening W is not completely closed, for example, when replacing the developer storage container.

In Figure 72, the main body side shutter closing mechanism 73d (shutter sandwiching mechanism) is provided at the bottom inside the cap receiving portion 73 and on the upstream side of the toner discharge opening W in the mounting direction of the developer storage container 32Y.

In FIG. 72 , the main body side shutter closing mechanism 73 d is a pair of horseshoe-shaped members which are arranged to face each other in the left-right direction of FIG. 72 and are constructed to be rotatable on a support shaft 73 d 3 in which a torsion coil spring is installed.

The main body side shutter closing mechanism 73 d (shutter sandwiching mechanism) includes a first sandwiching portion 73 d 1 formed on one end side and a second sandwiching portion 73 d 2 formed on the other end side.

In the sandwiching portion, during the opening/closing operation of the shutter 34d in the developer storage container 32Y, the engaging protrusion 34d1b of the shutter 34d is sandwiched by the second sandwiching member 73d2, and the vertical surface (the surface where the front end of the departure line of the symbol 34YG in Figure 73 is located) of the guide rail 34YG of the capping portion 34Y (see Figures 68, 69A, 69B and 71A to 71C) is sandwiched by the first sandwiching member 73d1 (the state shown in Figure 73). During the opening/closing operation of the shutter 34d, the posture of the shutter of the cap receiving portion 73 and the capping portion 34Y is determined, thereby enabling smooth opening/closing operation.

72 to 74 are diagrams showing the operation of the main body side shutter closing mechanism 73d (shutter clamping mechanism) when opening or closing the shutter 34d.

During the opening operation of the valve 34d, as shown in Figure 72, accompanied by the installation operation of the developer storage container 32Y in the direction of the white arrow, the first clamping element 73d1 first comes into contact with the front end 34YG1 of the guide rail 34YG of the valve 34d (see Figures 68, 69A, 69B and 71A to 71C), and then, as described later, the second clamping element 73d2 comes into contact with the protrusion 34d1b1 positioned in the engaging protrusion 34d1b of the valve 34d.

As shown in FIG. 73 , when the mounting operation of the developer storage container 32Y is performed in the direction of the white arrow, the main body side shutter closing mechanism 73 d (shutter sandwiching mechanism) rotates on the supporting shaft portion 73 d 3 .

When the main body side valve closing mechanism 73d rotates, the first clamping element 73d1 clamps the vertical surface of the guide rail 34YG of the sealing part 34Y (the surface where the front end part of the departure line of the symbol 34YG in Figure 73 is located), and the second clamping element 73d2 clamps the side wall surface by forming a surface contact with the side wall surface of the main valve part 34d1 where the bottom end of the engaging protrusion 32d1b is located, and engages with the protrusion 34d1b1 positioned in the engaging protrusion part 34d1b1 of the valve 34d.

After that, although not shown, the shutter 34d comes into contact with a wall portion formed around the toner supply opening on the side of the cap receiving portion 73, and thus stops moving in the mounting direction. Then, the vertical surface of the guide rail 34YG is sandwiched by the first sandwiching portion 73d1, and the movement of the shutter 34d in the cap receiving portion 73 is restricted (the shutter 34d absolutely does not move in the longitudinal direction).

When the developer storage container 32Y moves in the mounting direction while the movement of the shutter 34d is restricted, the shutter 34d, whose movement in the mounting direction is restricted, moves in a direction relative to the movement of the cap portion 34Y in the mounting direction. Furthermore, when the cap portion 34Y moves further toward the front side in the mounting direction than the shutter 34d, whose movement is restricted, the toner discharge opening W is opened, as shown in FIG74 .

At this time, as shown in Figure 74, the vertical surface of the cover portion 34Y is sandwiched by the first sandwiching member 73d1, and the protrusion 34d1b1 positioned in the engaging protrusion portion 34d1b of the shutter 34d is engaged by the second sandwiching member 73d2. Since the opening operation of the shutter 34d is performed in the state where the shutter 34d is sandwiched, the posture of the shutter 34d and the cover portion 34Y in the cover receiving portion 73 is determined, so that the opening/closing operation can be performed smoothly.

Meanwhile, when the developer storage container 32Y is withdrawn (separated) from the developer storage container storage unit 70 (cap receiving portion 73), the operation is performed in the reverse order of the above installation process. That is, along with the closing operation of the shutter 34d, the operation of the main body side shutter closing mechanism 73d (shutter clamping mechanism) is performed in the order of Figures 74, 73 and 72.

75A to 75D , the sealing state of the sealing member 36 on the toner discharge opening W at the time of the opening/closing operation of the shutter will be described with respect to the movement position of the shutter 34 d .

Figure 75A shows a state in which the toner discharge opening W of the cap 34 is closed by the shutter 34d. In this state, since the developer storage container is not loaded into the cap receiving portion 73, the shutter 34d closes the toner discharge opening W. The seal material 36 is in press contact with the rib W1 located at the peripheral edge of the toner discharge opening W, maintaining the shutter 34d in close contact with the toner discharge opening W. The dashed line in Figure 75A indicates a state in which the stopper release portion 34d21 of the shutter 34d is pushed upward by the stopper release push portion 72b on the cap receiving portion 73 side. The shutter deformable portion 34d2 is deflected and deformed from its initial state to a horizontal position. The stopper portion 34d22 located at the free end of the shutter deformable portion 34d2 is released from engagement with the engagement end surface 34n1 located within the wide-width box-shaped portion 34n, on the bottom side of the cap portion 34Y, as shown in Figures 69A and 69B.

As shown in Figures 72 to 74 , the shutter 34d can be moved until the engaging projection 34d1b on the shutter 34d side is clamped by the second clamping member 73d2 of the main body shutter closing mechanism 73d. As shown in Figure 72 , the shutter 34d is restricted from moving in the installation direction, while the cap 34Y can move in the installation direction, opening the toner discharge opening W and achieving the state shown in Figure 75B . Figure 75B shows the developer storage container inserted into the cap receiving portion 73.

FIG75C shows the state of the portion indicated by symbol C in FIG75B , that is, the state immediately before the toner container starts the detachment operation from the main body during operation, and the shutter 34 d starts closing the toner discharge opening W. In FIG75C , when the shutter 34 d further moves in the direction of closing the toner discharge opening W, the corner (ridge portion) of the sealing material 36 on the leading end side hits the rib W1 located at the peripheral edge of the toner discharge opening W and is caught (straddled) between the rib W1 and the upper sealing surface.

FIG75D shows a state where the toner discharge opening is completely closed by the shutter 34d. When the closing is complete, the corner of the front end side of the sealing material 36 is caught in the rib W1 and in close contact with the rib W1 side. When the cap portion 34Y is viewed from the front, the front end surface of the sealing material 36 is pulled by the caught ridge portion, deforming it and rising to cover the contact portion between the rib W1 and the sealing material 36.

As a result, since the toner discharge opening W is sealed by the sealing material 36 before the developer storage container is completely mounted, the toner can be prevented from inadvertently leaking from the toner discharge opening W.

The shutter mechanism according to the fifteenth embodiment is an invention for solving the third problem described above. In this embodiment, by providing a rib W1 on the peripheral edge of the toner discharge opening W, which is an existing component, and by providing a portion of the sealing material that is caught by colliding with the rib W1, which is the existing sealing material, adhesion to the toner discharge opening is increased without adding any other components, thereby preventing toner leakage with a high degree of certainty.

In particular, since the toner discharge opening W has a hexagonal shape, the leading end of the sealing material 36 receives the load that causes rolling up intensively and is easily rolled up. Furthermore, rolling up can be achieved while reducing sliding resistance along the entire end portion that is continuous with the top of the hexagon on which the load is concentrated. Consequently, adhesion can be ensured along the entire peripheral edge of the toner discharge opening W.

Sixteenth embodiment

Next, an embodiment in which an ID chip is mounted in the developer storage container according to the fifteenth embodiment will be described as another aspect.

In this embodiment, a connector is provided on the cap receiving side to electrically connect to the ID chip 2035 shown in Figures 76A and 76B, thereby improving the matching of the connection position and preventing contact failure caused by toner at the connection position. This structure will be described below.

Figures 76A and 76B are front views showing the structure of the ID chip 2035 and the colorant container 2032Y in which the ID chip 2035 is installed. In the same figure, the ID chip 2035 is constructed so that relative to the central part of the rectangular terminal board body, the terminal 2035a is arranged on the right side, and the non-contact communication area (antenna part) 2035b, such as a wireless type, is arranged on the left side (see Figure 76A). Since contact type and non-contact type are provided, there are the following advantages. For writing on the ID chip during assembly in the colorant container factory or during the toner filling process, during the assembly line operation, the toner information, etc. is written to the ID chip through non-contact communication. Thereby, the manufacturing speed can be significantly improved, and therefore a cheap toner container with low manufacturing cost can be produced. At the same time, inside the imaging device, a cheap non-contact electronic substrate can be used on the main body side communication device, thereby contributing to the cost reduction of the imaging device.

Next, the mounting structure of the ID chip on the toner container according to the sixteenth embodiment will be described. The ID chip 2035 has a semicircular groove 2035d on the center portion. As shown in Figure 76B, the ID chip 2035 is held on the front end face of the cover portion 2034Y of the toner container 2032Y so as to be slightly movable in the horizontal direction as the longitudinal direction. As a holding method, at the position of the groove 2035d, the ID chip 2035 is sandwiched and held between two flange pins 2034f, which are set almost at the center of the relevant front end face. The gap between the two flange pins 2034f is larger than the shortest width between the two grooves 2035d, and therefore, the ID chip is held on the cover portion 2034Y with a gap.

At the same time, in the cover receiving portion 2073 of the developer storage container storage unit 70, as will be described later, a through hole and a wall portion 2073g exposing a connector 2073e (not shown in Figure 77 for convenience) serving as an electrical connection portion on the ID chip 2035 are provided, as shown in Figure 77.

The wall portion 2073g is a portion for shielding a surrounding area of a connector 2073e to be described later, and blocks toner from entering the connector 2073e when the connector 2073e to be described later is exposed through the through-hole 2073f.

The through hole 2073f is a position that allows the connector 2073e provided on the common electronic substrate to be described later in FIG. 78 to be exposed and face the ID chip 2035.

Figure 78 shows the structure of a connector 2073e provided in a common electronic substrate. In the same structure, the connector 2073e includes a plurality of terminal plates 2073e1 provided in a connector body 2073e0. As the terminal plates 2073e1, a curved flexible metal plate having excellent electrical conductivity is used.

In the connector 2073e, a structure for positioning when contacting with the ID chip 2035 is provided, which will be described below.

In Figure 78, the wall portion 2073g shown in Figure 77 is provided on the surrounding area of the terminal board 2073e1 provided in the connector 2073e or on a part thereof, and a positioning pin 2073e3 is formed on a part of the wall portion 2073g, which can be fitted into the positioning holes 2035b and 2035c (see Figures 76A and 76B) provided on the side of the ID chip 2035.

Positioning holes 2035b and 2035c are used to contact and position the terminal plate 273e1 at the connector 2073e with the terminal 2035a on the ID chip 2035 side. In order to make it easier to fit the positioning pin 2073e3, one is formed by a round hole and the other is formed by a long hole. In Figure 79 to be described later, the flange pin 2034f is fixed to the recessed portion 2035a and protrudes from the retaining element 2034k. Reference numeral 34q represents the base of the retaining element 2034k.

In the state shown in Figure 79, the connector 2073e on the common electronic substrate side is connected to the ID chip 2035. In Figure 79, when the capping portion 2034Y of the developer storage container is inserted into the cap receiving portion 2073, the positioning pins 73a and 73b on the cap receiving portion 2073 side are inserted into the positioning holes 34a and 34b in the capping portion 2034Y, and thus, the capping portion 2034Y is positioned in the cap receiving portion 2073.

When the cover portion 2034Y is further inserted, the positioning pin 2073e3 of the connector 2073e moves to the inside of the positioning holes 2035b and 2035c at the ID chip 2035, and therefore, the position of the terminal 2035a1 on the ID chip 2035 side matches the position of the terminal plate 2073e1 at the connector 2073e, thereby preventing contact failure caused by positioning mismatch.

As the cover portion 2034Y is inserted, the wall portion 2073g positioned around the connector 2073e covers not only the surrounding area of the connector 2073e but also the surrounding area of the ID chip 2035, as shown by the alternating long and two short dash lines in Figure 79. In addition, the ID chip 2035 is mounted in an upper position away from the toner discharge opening W. Thus, it is possible to prevent the toner scattered from the toner discharge opening W from adhering to the contact position between the terminals.

Seventeenth embodiment

Next, as a seventeenth embodiment, a toner container in which two technologies of the shutter structure mentioned in the toner container according to the fifteenth embodiment and the ID chip 535 according to the fifth embodiment are installed will be described.

The target structure is the same structure as the main body side shutter closing mechanism 73d that has been described in Figures 73 to 75D.

FIG80 is a perspective view of the cover 2134Y as seen from the front right side in the insertion direction, with the shutter 34d closed, and FIG81 is a perspective view of the cover 2134Y as seen from the front left side in the insertion direction, with the shutter 34d open. These figures differ from the previous figures in the following points:

In FIG80, unlike the structure shown in FIG67, a front cover 2134P for preventing the ID chip 535 loaded in the recessed portion 34t from falling is provided on the front surface of the cover 2134Y.

The structure for attaching the front cover 2134P includes a thermal caulking pin 2134P10 provided on the front surface of the cover 2134Y below the center of the front surface, and a pair of main and auxiliary reference pins 734S3 provided at different positions from the thermal caulking pin 2134P10 while sandwiching the recessed portion 34t, as shown in Figure 82. After the front surface cover 2134P is fixed, the thermal caulking pin 2134P10 is in a state where the front end is crushed by the clamp while being heated, but a state in which it is not crushed is shown in Figures 82 to 86.

In the front surface cover 2134P, holes into which the pins 2134P10 and 734S3 are inserted and an opening for exposing a portion of the ID chip 535 to the outside are formed respectively.

By fitting the main reference pin 734S3 and the auxiliary reference pin 734S3 therein and inserting the thermal caulking pin 2134P10 therein, the front surface cover 2134P is positioned with the ID chip 535 exposed to the outside. The thermal caulking pin 2134P10 is heated and compressed, so that the front surface cover 2134P is fixed to the front surface of the cover 2134Y.

In the hole, on the front surface cover 2134P side, a pin is fitted, one of the reference pins fits into a circular hole, and the other fits into a long hole, the length of which is horizontal. In addition, the insertion hole of the thermal caulking pin 2134P10 has a diameter slightly larger than the thermal caulking pin 2134P10.

By the fixed state, even if the colorant container 2132Y is inserted into or separated from the colorant container storage unit, the ID chip 535 does not fall off, and communication or electrical connection of the ID chip exposed to the outside through the opening can be performed.

Meanwhile, the structure related to the main body side shutter closing mechanism 73d includes a guide rail 2134YG provided at the side surface of the narrow width box-shaped portion 34Y1 of the cover 2134Y.

The guide rail 2134YG has a different structure from the guide rail 34YG shown in, for example, FIG68. As shown in FIG80 and FIG81, the guide rail 2134YG includes a protrusion 2134YG3 that protrudes further forward than the front end surface of the narrow box-shaped portion 34Y1 and has a protrusion that bends toward the center. The protrusions 2134YG3 are symmetrically provided on both sides of the narrow box-shaped portion 34Y1.

Furthermore, as a structure different from that of the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG83 , a recessed portion having an outer diameter smaller than that of the medium-diameter cylindrical portion 34Y2 is formed on the circumferential surface of the medium-diameter cylindrical portion 34Y2 at a position (a position indicated by reference numeral 2134P3) facing the engaging protrusion 34d12b of the shutter 34d. The circumferential surface 2134P3 forming the recessed portion is configured so as not to interfere with the rotation of the clamping member 73d2 provided in the main body-side shutter closing mechanism 73d.

In this structure, when the cover 2134Y is loaded into the cover receiving portion 73 of the apparatus main body in the same process as shown in Figures 72 to 74, the cover 2134Y is sandwiched by the main body side shutter closing mechanism 73d. Figures 84 to 86 are views corresponding to Figures 72 to 74, which show the installation state of the cover portion 34Y used in the above structure.

At the time of the opening operation of the shutter 34d, first, as shown in FIG. 84 , accompanying the loading operation of the developer storage container 32Y in the direction of the white arrow, the first sandwiching member 73d1 comes into contact with the protruding portion 2134YG3.

Thereafter, as shown in Figure 85, when the mounting operation of the developer storage container 32Y is performed in the direction of the white arrow, the main body side shutter closing mechanism 73d (shutter clamping mechanism) is pushed by the protruding portion 2134YG3 and thus rotates on the support shaft portion 73d3.

When the main body side valve closing mechanism 73d rotates, the first clamping element 73d1 clamps the vertical surface of the guide rail 2134YG extending from the protruding part 2134YG3, and the second clamping element 73d2 clamps the side wall surface of the main valve part 34d1 and engages with the protrusion 34d1b1 positioned in the engaging protrusion 34d1b of the valve 34d.

Thereafter, the shutter 34d comes into contact with a wall portion (not shown) formed around the toner supply opening on the side of the cap receiving portion 73, and thus stops moving in the mounting direction. At this time, the vertical surface of the guide rail 2134YG is sandwiched by the first sandwiching portion 73d1.

When the toner container 2132Y moves in the installation direction while the shutter 34d is stopped, the shutter 34d, whose movement is stopped in the installation direction, moves relative to the toner container 2132Y when viewed from the cover 2134Y, and the narrow box-shaped portion 34Y12 of the cover 2134Y moves further forward in the installation direction than the shutter member 34d. As shown in FIG86 , this relative movement opens the toner discharge opening W.

At this time, as shown in Figure 74, the vertical surface of the cover portion 2134Y is sandwiched by the first sandwiching member 73d1, and the protrusion 34d1b1 positioned in the engaging protrusion 34d1b of the shutter 34d is engaged by the second sandwiching member 73d2. Since the opening operation of the shutter 34d is performed in the state where the shutter 34d is sandwiched, the posture of the shutter 34d and the cover portion 2134Y in the cover receiving portion 73 is determined, and thus the opening/closing operation of the shutter 34d can be performed smoothly.

Meanwhile, when the developer storage container 2132Y is withdrawn (separated) from the developer storage container storage unit 70 (cap receiving portion 73), the operation is performed in the reverse order of the installation process. That is, along with the closing operation of the shutter 34d, the operation of the main body side shutter closing mechanism 73d (shutter clamping mechanism) is performed in the order of Figures 86, 85, and 84.

In the structure shown in FIG81 , since the protrusion 2134YG3 at the front end of the guide rail 2134YG protrudes further forward from the front surface of the narrow box-shaped portion 34Y12, the timing at which the main body-side shutter closing mechanism 73d begins to rotate is delayed. Specifically, since the protrusion 2134YG3 protrudes outward from the front surface of the narrow box-shaped portion 34Y12, when the cover portion 2134Y is withdrawn, the rotation of the first clamping portion 73d1 is prevented by the protrusion 2134YG3 for a longer period of time, and the shutter 34d remains clamped for a longer period of time than in a case where the protrusion 2134YG3 is not provided.

When the cover portion 2134Y moves in the withdrawal direction, the first sandwiching portion 73d1 faces the engaging protrusion 34d1 of the shutter 34d, and is held in an unrotated state. For this reason, the protrusion 2134YG3 is set so that the main body-side shutter closing mechanism 73d can be held in an unrotated state until the shutter 34d is completely closed. When the shutter 34d completely closes the toner discharge opening W, the guide rail 2134YG is released from being sandwiched between the first sandwiching portion 73d1.

Since the engaging protrusion 34d1b on the valve side is clamped by the second clamping portion 73d2 before the colorant discharge opening W is completely closed by the valve 34d, when the cover 34Y moves in the withdrawal direction, the valve 34d passes through the colorant discharge opening W in a clamped state and thus closes the colorant discharge opening W.

Next, characteristic aspects of the toner used in the developer supply device are described as follows:

As the toners contained in the toner containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K, the toners are formed so that the following relationship is true:

3≤Dv≤8 (1)

1.00≤Dv/Dn≤1.40 (2)

Where Dv (μm) represents the volume average particle size, and Dn (μm) represents the number average particle size. Toner particles are selected based on the image pattern during development, maintaining excellent image quality and satisfactory developing performance even when the toner is stirred for extended periods in the developing device. Furthermore, toner can be efficiently and reliably transported without obstructing the toner supply path.

The volume average particle diameter and number average particle diameter of the toner can be measured by using a typical apparatus such as a Coulter Counter type particle diameter distribution measuring apparatus: Coulter Counter-TA-II (manufactured by Coulter Electronics Limited); or Coulter Multisizer II (manufactured by Coulter Electronics Limited).

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the toner contained in developer storage containers 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K uses substantially spherical toner formed so that the shape factor SF-1 is within the range of 100 to 180 and the shape factor SF-2 is within the range of 100 to 180. As a result, high transfer efficiency can be maintained, and a decrease in cleaning performance can be suppressed. Furthermore, toner can be efficiently and reliably conveyed without clogging the toner supply path, such as pipe 71.

Here, the shape factor SF-1 represents the spherical shape of the toner particles and is obtained by the following equation:

SF-1＝(M2/S)×(100π/4)

In the above equation, M is the maximum particle diameter in the projection plane of the toner particle (the maximum particle diameter among the non-uniform particle diameters), and S is the projected area of the toner particle. Therefore, a toner particle having a shape factor SF-1 of 100 is a perfect sphere, and as it becomes larger than 100, the sphericity decreases.

The shape factor SF-2 represents the irregular shape of the toner particles and is obtained by the following equation:

SF-2＝(N2/S)×(100/4π)

In the above equation, N is the perimeter of the projection plane of the toner particle, and S is the projected area of the toner particle. Therefore, a toner particle having a shape factor SF-2 of 100 has no irregularities, while as it exceeds 100, irregularities become larger.

The shape factor SF-1 and the shape factor SF-2 are obtained by photographing toner particles with a scanning electron microscope S-800 (manufactured by Hitachi Ltd.) and analyzing the photographs of the toner particles by an image analyzer LUSEX3 (manufactured by Nireco Corp.).

In the first to eighth and eleventh to seventeenth embodiments, only toner (single-component toner) is contained in the toner containers (denoted by 32Y, 32M, 32C, and 32K) serving as developer containers. However, in an image forming apparatus that appropriately supplies a two-component developer consisting of toner and carrier, the two-component developer may be contained in the toner containers (developer containers). Even in these cases, similar effects to those of the above-described embodiments can be achieved.

In the first to eighth embodiments and the eleventh to seventeenth embodiments, some or all of the image forming units 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K may be replaced with process cartridges, and even in this case, the same effects as in the above embodiments can be obtained.

Furthermore, in the first to sixth embodiments and the eleventh to seventeenth embodiments, by configuring the container body 33Y to be rotatable, a structure has been formed so that the toner contained in the container body 33Y is conveyed toward the opening A. On the other hand, as in the seventh embodiment described with reference to Figures 48 and 49 , the toner contained in the container body 1033Y can be conveyed toward the opening A, so that the container body 1033Y is configured to be non-rotatably held together with the cap portion 1034Y in the toner container storage unit 70, and a conveying member (for example, a conveying member including a plurality of conveying blade members mounted on a shaft portion and rotating in a predetermined direction) that conveys the toner toward the opening A is installed inside the container body 1033Y. Even in this case, the same effects as in the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, in the substrate (denoted as 35b or 535b) of the ID chip (marked as 35 or 535), a plurality of metal pads 35a have been arranged in rows in the vertical direction so that the positions in the longitudinal direction are not staggered. On the other hand, in the substrate of the ID chip, a plurality of metal pads 35a can be arranged along the vertical direction so that the positions in the longitudinal direction are alternately staggered in a zigzag form. In this case, in order to follow the metal pads 35a arranged in a zigzag shape, a plurality of main body side terminals (marked as 73e2 or 573e2) in the connector (marked as 73e or 573e) are also arranged in a zigzag form. Even in this case, the same effect as in the above-mentioned embodiment can be obtained.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention has been applied to an ID chip (information storage device) provided in a toner container 32Y (developer container), etc., which is detachably mounted on the imaging device main body 100, etc. as a detachable device. However, the application of the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to any other detachable device detachably mounted on the imaging device main body 100, etc., as long as the information storage device is mounted on a detachable device similar to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the imaging device 100 shown in FIG1 , even if the information storage device is mounted on the process cartridges 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K as detachable devices, the fixing device 20 (fixing unit) as a detachable device, the intermediate transfer unit 15 as a detachable device, etc., the present invention can be applied to them similarly to the above-described embodiment. Even in these cases, the same effects as in the above-described embodiment can be achieved.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it is obvious that the above-described embodiment can be appropriately changed in addition to what has been suggested in the above-described embodiment. In addition, the number, position, shape, etc. of the constituent elements are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed to the number, position, shape, etc. suitable for implementing the present invention.

In this disclosure, there is another invention corresponding to the fifteenth to seventeenth embodiments for solving the third problem. This can be summarized in the form of claims as follows:

1. A developer storage container detachably mounted on an image forming apparatus, comprising:

a cap portion provided with a toner discharge opening configured to discharge the toner to the outside of the developer storage container in a vertical direction; and

a shutter held on the cap portion and configured to move along an outer surface of the cap portion to open and close the toner discharge opening,

wherein a sealing material is provided on a surface of the shutter, the sealing material being deformable and made of a flexible material, the surface facing the toner discharge opening, and

When the shutter moves in a direction in which the shutter moves to close the toner discharge opening, the front end of the sealing material in this direction is rolled up toward the toner discharge opening so that the front end comes into close contact with the peripheral edge of the toner discharge opening.

2. A developer storage container as described in claim 1, wherein a rib protruding toward the sealing material is provided on the peripheral edge of the colorant discharge opening and hits the sealing material to cause the sealing material to roll up when the valve moves in the direction in which the valve moves to close the colorant discharge opening, so that the front end is in close contact with the peripheral edge of the colorant discharge opening.

3. A developer storage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a front end of the sealing material in a direction in which the shutter moves to close the toner discharge opening protrudes from one end of the shutter toward the direction, and the front end is used as a portion to be deformed and rolled up.

4. The developer storage container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the toner discharge opening is a polygonal opening.

5 . The developer storage container according to claim 4 , wherein the toner discharge opening has a hexagonal shape in a plan view having an apex facing a front end side of the sealing material.

6. The developer storage container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the shutter is provided with a cantilever-shaped shutter deforming portion, the shutter deforming portion having a bottom end at a surface on which the sealing material is provided, extending to a rear side in a direction in which the shutter moves to close the toner discharge opening, and having a free end inclined downward in a vertical direction, and

In which, the free end of the valve deformation part is provided with a coupling release part and a stopper part, and the coupling release part is capable of running on the coupling release pushing part, which has a protruding rib, and the protruding rib is provided in the sealing receiving part of the developer storage container storage unit provided in the imaging device where the sealing part is installed, and the stopper part is engaged with the coupling end face formed at the bottom of the sealing part at the position of maintaining the sealing part, and in the process of the sealing part moving in the direction of opening the colorant discharge opening, the coupling release part runs on the protruding rib, so that the valve deformation part is deformed from the state where the valve deformation part extends along the inclined direction to the state where the valve deformation part extends horizontally, and the engagement of the stopper part is released from the coupling end face, and the valve is allowed to move to the position where the valve opens the colorant discharge opening.

7. A developer storage container as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein an information storage container is provided in the sealing portion at a position away from the colorant discharge opening in the vertical direction, and the information storage device is configured to be installed in a rectangular recessed portion, which is formed between a pair of positioning portions, and the pair of positioning portions are arranged on the end face of the sealing portion in the vertical direction, and the recessed portion is provided in the end face of the sealing portion, at an upper position away from the colorant discharge opening in the vertical direction.

8. An imaging device comprising:

A developer storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments for purposes of complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be limited thereby, but should be construed to cover all modifications and alternative constructions which may be made by one skilled in the art falling fully within the teachings set forth herein.

Claims (18)

1. A detachable device configured to be detachably mounted within an imaging device body and to hold an information storage device, comprising: The information storage device includes: An information storage unit that stores information communicated between the imaging device body and the detachable device; The terminal makes contact with the main body side terminal installed inside the imaging device body and communicates information with the imaging device body; A substrate, which holds information storage units and terminals, and includes at least one of holes and recesses that allow protrusions mounted within the imaging device body to be inserted therein. The information storage device is movable in at least one direction on a virtual plane that intersects the direction of movement of the terminal approaching and contacting the main body side terminal. 2. The detachable device as described in claim 1, The detachable device holds the information storage device via a retainer. The retainer includes: The first facing portion faces the first plane on the substrate on which the terminal is mounted. The second facing portion faces the second plane of the substrate, the second plane being opposite to the first plane and on which information storage units are mounted; and An opening, which is formed as a terminal exposed on the side facing the body side terminal, and a hole or groove. 3. The detachable device as described in claim 2, Wherein, the first facing portion is formed as part of a first plane and is slidable on the first facing portion; The second facing portion is formed such that a portion of the second plane is slidable on the second facing portion. The terminal is a plurality of such terminals, each terminal comprising one of a plurality of metal plates arranged laterally therebetween with gaps between them; There are multiple main body side terminals, each including one of multiple plate-shaped or linear metal elements. Each metal element is fixed and supported on the main body of the imaging device, such that one end is formed as a fixed end and the other end is formed as a free end, and has a curved portion on one side of the other end that bends toward the detachable device. A first virtual straight line passing through the center of the hole or groove and parallel to the direction in which the plurality of metal plates are arranged is configured to be positioned so as not to overlap with a second virtual straight line connecting the centers of the plurality of metal plates in their longitudinal direction. When the plurality of metal plates approach and contact the plurality of main body side terminals, the plurality of main body side terminals deform, causing the curved portions that become the contact points between the plurality of main body side terminals and the plurality of metal plates to approach the first virtual straight line, while being squeezed and elastically deformed by the plurality of metal plates. In this configuration, the plurality of metal plates are arranged such that, with the detachable device mounted on the main body of the imaging equipment, the direction of the arrangement of the plurality of metal plates is vertical. The holes or grooves include two holes or two grooves, which are formed at both ends of the direction in which the plurality of metal plates are arranged, such that the plurality of metal plates are sandwiched between the two holes or the two grooves. 4. The detachable device as described in claim 3, It also includes positioning holes that engage with positioning pins installed within the imaging device body and are formed at positions that are vertically separated from each other, such that when the detachable device is mounted on the imaging device body, the information storage device is sandwiched between the positioning holes. The third virtual line connecting the centers of the two positioning holes is constructed to be parallel to the first virtual line. 5. The detachable device as described in claim 2, The retainer is configured to be detachably mounted within the detachable device and includes an insertion opening through which the information storage device is inserted. 6. The detachable device as described in claim 1 or 2, The detachable device is one of the following: a developer container that contains toner inside, a processing box that contains toner inside, and an ink cartridge that contains ink inside. 7. A developer container, detachably mounted in an imaging device body in a horizontal longitudinal position, comprising: A cylindrical container body, the cylindrical container body including an opening formed at one end in the longitudinal direction, and configured such that the developer stored therein is conveyed toward the opening; A cap, into which the opening of the container body is inserted, and the cap includes a discharge opening for discharging developer that has already been discharged from the opening of the container body to the outside of the developer container, the discharge opening being located at the bottom; and A valve, which is held inside the bottom of the cap and moves along the outer surface of the cap, opens/closes the toner discharge opening. The cover includes a retainer mounted on one end along the longitudinal direction and holding the information storage device. The information storage device includes: An information storage unit that stores information communicated between the imaging device body and the developer container; A terminal that makes contact with a body-side terminal mounted within the imaging device body and communicates information with the imaging device body; and A substrate, which holds information storage units and terminals, and includes at least one of holes and recesses that allow protrusions mounted within the imaging device body to be inserted therein. The information storage device is movable in at least one direction on a virtual plane that intersects the direction of movement of the terminal approaching and contacting the main body side terminal. 8. The developer container as described in claim 7, The retainer includes: The first facing portion faces the first plane on the substrate on which the terminal is mounted. The second facing portion faces the second plane of the substrate, the second plane being opposite to the first plane and on which information storage units are mounted; and An opening, which is formed as a terminal exposed on the side facing the body, and a hole or groove. 9. The developer container as claimed in claim 8, Wherein, the first facing portion is formed as part of a first plane and is slidable on the first facing portion; The second facing portion is formed such that a portion of the second plane is slidable on the second facing portion. 10. The developer container as claimed in claim 7, The terminal is a plurality of such terminals, each terminal comprising one of a plurality of metal plates arranged laterally therebetween with gaps between them; There are multiple body-side terminals, each including one of multiple plate-shaped or linear metal elements. Each metal element is fixed and supported on the imaging device body, such that one end is formed as a fixed end and the other end is formed as a free end, and has a curved portion on one side of the other end that bends toward the developer container. The hole or groove consists of two holes or two grooves, each formed at one of the two ends of the direction in which the plurality of metal plates are arranged, such that the plurality of metal plates are sandwiched between the two holes or two grooves. A first virtual straight line connecting two holes or two grooves is configured to be positioned so as not to overlap with a second virtual straight line connecting the plurality of metal plates at their longitudinal center, and When the plurality of metal plates approach and contact the plurality of main body side terminals, the plurality of main body side terminals deform, such that the curved portion that becomes the contact point between the plurality of main body side terminals and the plurality of metal plates approaches the first virtual straight line, and is simultaneously squeezed and elastically deformed by the plurality of metal plates. 11. The developer container as claimed in claim 10, The plurality of metal plates are arranged such that, with the developer container mounted on the main body of the imaging device, the direction of the arrangement of the plurality of metal plates is vertical. 12. The developer container as described in claim 10 or 11, The first virtual line is constructed to be parallel to the second virtual line. 13. The developer container as claimed in claim 10, The cap further includes two positioning holes, each formed at one of the two ends in the vertical direction, such that when the developer container is mounted on the imaging device body, the information storage device is sandwiched between the two positioning holes. The third virtual line connecting the centers of the two positioning holes is constructed to be parallel to the first virtual line. 14. The developer container as claimed in claim 7, The retainer is configured to be detachably mounted within the cover and includes an insertion opening through which the information storage device is inserted. The cover includes a support element that blocks the insertion opening while the element is installed inside the cover. 15. The developer container as claimed in claim 7, The developer is a toner. 16. The developer container as claimed in claim 7, The developer is a two-component developer containing a toner and a carrier. 17. An imaging device, comprising: The detachable device as described in any one of claims 1 to 6 is installed within the main body of the imaging device. 18. An imaging device, comprising: The developer container as described in any one of claims 7 to 16, wherein the developer container is installed within the body of the imaging device.