JP2006064794A - Toner cartridge and toner conveying means used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner cartridge capable of finishing up toner in a cartridge case utmost without being left. <P>SOLUTION: The toner cartridge has a flexible cleaning piece 87 radially extending from either edge of a base edge section 88 fixed to a rotary shaft 42, such that its leading edge extends in the form of a band along the central axis of the rotary shaft 42. The leading edge of the cleaning piece 87 slides over the second groove 20 of a bottom wall as the rotary shaft 42 rotates, and scrapes remaining toner on the second groove 20 so that it falls into the second groove 20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner cartridge used for supplying toner to a developing device in an electrostatic image forming machine such as an electrostatic printing machine, a copying machine, and a facsimile, and a toner conveying means used for the toner cartridge. About.

  As is well known, an electrostatic image forming machine is provided with a developing device that applies toner to an electrostatic latent image and develops the toner image. The developing device includes a housing having a developing chamber in which a developer (a one-component developer composed only of toner or a two-component developer composed of toner and carrier particles) is accommodated. The housing is provided with developer application means for applying the developer to the electrostatic latent image to be developed. Further, a toner cartridge for replenishing the toner consumed by performing the development into the developing chamber is detachably mounted on the housing.

  A conventional toner cartridge described in Patent Document 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The bottom wall 8 of the cartridge case 2 has a first groove 18 and a second groove 20 extending in parallel. A discharge opening 24 is formed in the first groove 18 so as to be biased toward one edge. A first toner conveying means 30 for conveying the toner existing on the first groove portion 18 in the direction from the other end edge toward the one end edge; a rotating shaft 42 extending along the second groove portion 20; And a second toner conveying means 32 composed of a flexible conveying piece 44 fixed to the toner. A plurality of slits 60 that are inclined and extended toward the other end edge from the front end edge toward the base end edge are formed in the transport piece 44 at intervals in the central axis direction of the rotation shaft 42.

  When the toner cartridge configured as described above is mounted at a required position of the developing device main body, and the drive source is energized to rotate the developer applying means (not shown) disposed in the developing device, As shown by arrows in FIGS. 10 and 11, the first toner conveying means 30 in the toner cartridge is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 10, and the second toner conveying means 32 is rotated clockwise in FIG. I'm damned. When the first toner conveying means 30 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 10, the toner existing on the first groove portion 18 is moved from the other end edge to the one end edge by the conveying action of the spiral blade 36, that is, In FIG. 11, it is conveyed in the direction from right to left. When the second toner conveying means 32 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 10, the conveying piece 44 slides on the second groove 20 to remove the toner present on the second groove 20 from the first toner. It is conveyed toward the groove 18. In addition, since a plurality of slits 60 are formed in the conveying piece 44 so as to incline toward the other end edge from the front end edge toward the base end edge, the slits are slid when rubbing on the second groove portion 20. As shown in FIG. 11, the conveyance piece 44 bends in a direction perpendicular to the slit 60 as a bend line, and the toner existing on the second groove portion 20 is directed from the other end edge toward the one end edge, as shown in FIG. 11. That is, it is also conveyed in the direction from right to left in FIG.

According to the toner cartridge, the first groove portion 18 and the second groove portion 20 are substantially free of toner at one end portion (that is, the end portion on which the discharge opening 24 is placed). The occurrence of a situation in which a considerable amount of toner remains in the other end portions of the 18 and the second groove portions 20 is avoided or suppressed. Accordingly, the toner detector that detects the depletion of the toner in the cartridge case 2 in the vicinity of the discharge opening 24 erroneously detects the toner depletion even though a considerable amount of toner is present in the cartridge case 2. This is avoided or suppressed.
JP 2002-6610 (paragraph 0019, FIG. 2, FIG. 4)

  However, in the above conventional toner cartridge, the conveying piece 44 does not slide on the second groove 20 in the gap portion of the slit 60 of the conveying piece 44. In other words, since the toner on the second groove portion 20 cannot be scraped off at that portion, when the residual toner in the cartridge case 2 decreases, the leading edge of the conveying piece 44 is placed on the second groove portion 20. A phenomenon occurs in which the toner remains in a streak shape with a width corresponding to the gap of the slit 60 (see FIG. 11). As time passes, the toner sticks to the second groove portion 20 and cannot be removed by convection of the toner, so that there is a problem that the toner is lost without being used up.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge and a toner conveying means that can use up the toner in the cartridge case without leaving it to the maximum extent.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention is defined by a bottom wall, both side walls extending upward from both side edges of the bottom wall, both end walls extending upward from both end edges of the bottom wall, and an upper wall closing the upper surface, The bottom wall has a first groove portion and a second groove portion extending in parallel, and the first groove portion is provided with a discharge opening formed so as to be biased toward one end edge. The groove portion of the bottom wall has an arcuate shape projecting downward, and the first groove portion of the bottom wall for transporting toner present on the first groove portion of the bottom wall to the discharge opening. First toner transporting means extending along the second wall, a rotating shaft extending along the second groove portion of the bottom wall, and a base edge fixed to the rotating shaft, extending in the radial direction. A plurality of slits extending from the leading edge toward the proximal edge The flexible conveying piece is formed at intervals in the central axis direction of the rotating shaft, and the tip of the conveying piece slides on the second groove portion of the bottom wall according to the rotation of the rotating shaft. And a second toner conveying means for rubbing and conveying the toner existing on the second groove portion toward the first groove portion, and a base edge fixed to the rotating shaft. A flexible cleaning piece extending in a radial direction from one end portion and the other end portion of the portion and extending in a strip shape in the direction of the central axis of the rotating shaft, and according to the rotation of the rotating shaft, The tip of the cleaning piece rubs on the second groove portion of the bottom wall to scrape off toner remaining on the second groove portion.

  And the said conveyance piece and the said cleaning piece are integrally formed from the synthetic resin sheet | seat or film, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  A plurality of slits extending in a radial direction from the rotating shaft and a base edge portion fixed to the rotating shaft and extending from the distal end edge toward the other end edge side toward the proximal end edge; In a toner conveying means used in a toner cartridge composed of a flexible conveying piece formed at an interval in the central axis direction of the rotating shaft, a base edge fixed to one end and the other end of the rotating shaft A flexible cleaning piece is provided that extends in a radial direction from the portion and has a tip edge extending in a band shape in the direction of the central axis of the rotating shaft.

  And the said conveyance piece and the said cleaning piece are integrally formed from the synthetic resin sheet | seat or film, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  According to the present invention, the cleaning piece slides on the second groove portion with its entire length in the central axis direction and the toner on the second groove portion is always scraped off, so that the amount of residual toner in the cartridge case is reduced. However, the phenomenon that the toner remains in a streak shape with a width corresponding to the gap of the slit at the leading edge of the conveying piece on the second groove is avoided. Therefore, the toner in the cartridge case can be used up without leaving the maximum.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a toner cartridge configured according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 to 4, the toner cartridge constructed according to the present invention includes a cartridge case 2. The cartridge case 2 includes a case body 4 and a lid body 6. The case body 4, which has a box shape with the upper surface opened, has a bottom wall 8, side walls 10 and 12, and both end walls 14 and 16. One side wall 10 extends substantially vertically upward from one side edge of the bottom wall 8, and the other side wall 12 extends obliquely outwardly from the other side edge of the bottom wall 8 upward. The one end wall 14 extends substantially vertically upward from one end edge of the bottom wall 8, and the other end wall 16 extends substantially vertically upward from the other end edge of the bottom wall 8. As clearly understood by referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the bottom wall 8 has a first groove portion 18 and a second groove portion 20 extending in parallel. The cross-sectional shape of the first groove portion 18 is an arc shape protruding downward, and its radius of curvature is relatively small. The cross-sectional shape of the second groove portion 20 is also an arc shape protruding downward, and its radius of curvature is relatively large. The first groove portion 18 of the bottom wall 8 is provided with a protruding area 22 that is biased toward one end edge (left end edge in FIG. 4) and protrudes downward. The cross-sectional shape of the projecting region 22 is also an arc shape projecting downward, and is concentric with the non-projecting region. A discharge opening 24, which may be rectangular, is formed in the protruding area 22 formed in the first groove 18 so as to be biased toward one end edge thereof. A circular opening (not shown) is formed in the one end wall 14, and a cylindrical protrusion 26 (see FIG. 3) protruding outward from the peripheral edge of the circular opening is formed. The cartridge case 2 is filled with toner through the cylindrical protrusion 26 and the circular opening, and after the required amount of toner is filled, a closing member 28 is fixed to the cylindrical protrusion 26 and the circular opening is closed. The lid 6 is fixed to the case body 4 by an appropriate means such as ultrasonic welding, and defines an upper wall 29 that closes the upper surface.

  The description will be continued with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. In the cartridge case 2, the first toner conveying means 30 extending along the first groove portion 18 of the bottom wall 8 and the first toner conveying means 30 are provided. A second toner conveying means 32 extending along the second groove 20 of the bottom wall 8 is disposed. The first toner conveying means 30 is composed of a rotating spiral blade member having a central shaft portion 34 and a spiral blade 36, and is rotatably mounted between both end walls 14 and 16 of the case body 4. A non-spiral portion 38 is formed at one end of the central shaft portion 34. One end of the central shaft portion 34 protrudes through the end wall 16, and the input gear 40 is fixed to the protruding end portion. The second toner conveying means 32 includes a rotating shaft 42 and a conveying piece 44 fixed to the rotating shaft 42, and the rotating shaft 42 is rotatably mounted between both end walls 14 and 16 of the case body 4. ing. One end of the rotating shaft 42 protrudes through the end wall 16, and an input gear 46 is fixed to the protruding end. The input gear 46 is meshed with the input gear 40.

  The second toner conveying means 32 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the main portion of the rotating shaft 42 has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape. On one side of the rotating shaft 42, a ridge 47 is formed which continuously extends on one side edge and both end edges, and a substantially flat mounting surface 48 is defined in the ridge 47. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the conveying piece 44 that can be formed from a flexible plate-like piece includes a base edge portion 50 positioned on the mounting surface 48 of the rotating shaft 42, and the base edge portion. 50 and a main portion 52 extending in the radial direction. Suitable materials for forming the transport piece 44 include, for example, a polyethylene terephthalate sheet or film, or a synthetic resin sheet or film. Four holes 49 are formed in the base edge portion 50 of the conveying piece 44 at intervals in the direction of the central axis of the rotary shaft 42, and the fastening member 51 (see FIG. 4) is passed through the holes 49 of the rotary shaft 42. By fixing to the mounting surface 48, the base edge portion 50 of the transport piece 44 is fixed to the mounting surface 48 of the rotating shaft 42. One end edge 54 of the main portion 52 of the conveying piece 44 extends substantially perpendicularly to the central axis of the rotating shaft 42. The other end edge 56 of the main portion 52 is formed with a rectangular protrusion 58 that protrudes outward from the intermediate portion in the radial direction. In the region from the base edge 50 to the protrusion 58, the other end edge is formed. 56 extends substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the rotating shaft 42, and in the region from the protrusion 58 to the tip edge, it inclines toward the tip edge toward the one edge 54, in other words, from the tip edge to the base end. It is inclined and extended toward the other end edge 56 toward the edge. As shown in FIG. 4, the protruding portion 58 formed at the other end edge 56 of the conveying piece 44 is a non-spiral portion formed at the end of the rotating spiral blade member that constitutes the first toner conveying means 30. 38.

  The transport piece 44 is formed with a plurality of slits 60 extending at an appropriate interval in the direction of the central axis of the rotary shaft 42 from the leading edge to the base edge and extending toward the other edge 56. ing. In the illustrated embodiment, four slits 60 extending in an inclined manner are formed, and each of the slits 60 extends from the leading edge to the vicinity of the base edge 50. The inclination angle α of each of the slits 60 with respect to the central axis of the rotation shaft 42 may be about 50 to 70 degrees. Similarly, the inclination angle α on the front end side of the other end edge 56 of the transport piece 44 may be about 50 to 70 degrees. In the illustrated embodiment, in addition to the four slits 60 extending in an inclined manner, one slit 62 extending substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the rotating shaft 42 is formed adjacent to the one end edge 54. Yes.

  The elongated protrusion 47 is provided with a long hole (not shown) along the central axis direction of the rotation shaft 42. On the other hand, the cleaning piece 87 that can be formed from a flexible plate-shaped piece includes, as shown in FIG. 5B, a base edge portion 88 positioned on the mounting surface 48 of the rotating shaft 42, and the base edge portion. A support portion 89 extending in a radial direction from one end portion and the other end portion of 88, and a main portion 90 supported by the support portion 89 and extending in a band shape in the direction of the central axis of the rotating shaft 42. A window-shaped gap 91 is provided between the base edge portion 88 and the main portion 90. In other words, the main portion 90 is formed at a position spaced a predetermined distance from the base edge portion 88 in the radial direction of the rotation shaft 42. Suitable materials for forming the cleaning piece 87 include, for example, a polyethylene terephthalate sheet or film and a synthetic resin sheet or film. Four holes 92 are formed in the base edge portion 88 of the cleaning piece 87 at intervals in the direction of the central axis of the rotating shaft 42, and the cleaning piece 87 is passed through the long hole provided in the protrusion 47. The fastening member 51 (see FIG. 4) is fixed to the mounting surface 48 of the rotating shaft 42 through the hole 92, whereby the base edge portion 88 of the cleaning piece 87 is fixed to the mounting surface 48 of the rotating shaft 42. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, the cleaning piece 87 and the conveying piece 44 have base edges 50 and 88 that overlap each other on the mounting surface 48, and the main parts 52 and 90 have radii of the rotating shaft 42. They are mounted in an arrangement that is 180 degrees opposite to each other.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, it is the same shape as what is shown in FIG. 7, and a conveyance piece and a cleaning piece are integrally formed as a conveyance cleaning piece 93 with the sheet | seat or film made from a polyethylene terephthalate, or the sheet | seat or film made from a synthetic resin. You can also. In this way, the material cost can be reduced, and the labor for mounting is omitted, and the manufacturing process of the second toner conveying means 32 is simplified.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the conveyance piece main portion 52 and the cleaning piece main portion 90 are arranged on the same side in the radial direction of the rotation shaft 42, and the conveyance piece and the cleaning piece are used as the conveyance cleaning piece 93. It can also be integrally formed. That is, in the main portion 52 of the transport piece, by providing one slit 63 extending perpendicularly to the central axis of the rotating shaft 42 in the same manner as the slit 62 between the slit 62 and the one end edge 54, A support portion 89 on one end side of the cleaning piece is formed, and the support portion 89 on the other end side of the cleaning piece is formed to extend substantially perpendicularly from the protruding portion 58 of the conveying piece, and is supported by the support portion 89 and the rotation A main portion 90 extending in a strip shape in the central axis direction of the shaft 42 is formed. The gap 91 is located between the leading edge of the main portion 52 of the conveying piece and the rear edge of the main portion 90 of the cleaning piece, and is narrower than in the case of FIG. Since it is connected to 60, 62, 63, the slits 60, 62, 63 and the gap 91 can be provided simultaneously by punching the sheet or film once with a mold. In this way, the conveyance cleaning piece 93 can be made compact, and in the embodiment in which the cleaning piece and the conveyance piece are back-to-back as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the length for inserting the cleaning piece into the protrusion 47 is long. Although a hole is necessary, such a long hole is not necessary in this shape, and the manufacturing cost of the second toner conveying means 32 can be reduced.

  Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 2 and 4 and FIG. 6, a cartridge shutter 64 is disposed in the cartridge case 2. As clearly shown in FIG. 6, the cartridge shutter 64 includes a shutter member 66 and a connecting member 68. The shutter member 66 has both end portions 70 and 72 having a cylindrical shape. Two flanges 74 having substantially triangular protrusions are formed on one end portion 70. The main portion 76 of the shutter member 66 has an arc shape whose cross-sectional shape extends over an angle range of approximately 200 degrees. The main portion 76 of the shutter member 66 is formed with a passing opening 78 that may be rectangular. The size of the passage opening 78 may be substantially the same as the discharge opening 24 formed in the case body 4. A seal member 80 (see FIG. 2) that may be a rectangular shape extending along the passage opening 78 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the main portion 76 of the shutter member 66. Conveniently, the size of the sealing member 80, which can be formed from a flexible material such as sponge, is somewhat larger than the discharge opening 24. One end portion of the connecting member 68 has a relatively small diameter, and a plurality of locking pieces 82 are formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. A locking groove 84 extending in a diameter shape is formed at the other end of the connecting member 68. As can be understood by referring to FIG. 4, the shutter member 66 is disposed in the protruding region 22 in the first groove portion 18 of the bottom wall 8, and the first toner conveying means 30 penetrates both ends of the shutter member 66. And extend. One end portion of the connecting member 68 is caused to enter the one end portion 70 of the shutter member 66 through a through hole formed in the one end wall 14 of the case body 4. A locking piece (not shown) corresponding to the locking piece 82 of the connecting member 68 is formed in the one end portion 70 of the shutter member 66, and the connecting member 68 is provided in the one end portion 70 of the shutter member 66. When the one end is inserted, the locking piece 82 of the connecting member 68 and the locking piece of the shutter member 66 are elastically deformed and connected to each other, and thus the connecting member 68 is fixed to the shutter member 66. The The other end of the connecting member 68, that is, the end where the locking groove 84 is formed protrudes outward from the one end wall 14 of the case body 4.

  As clearly shown in FIG. 3, a pair of locked means 86 is disposed on one side wall 10 of the case body 4 at an interval in the width direction. Each of the locked means 86 may have a hook shape.

  When the above-described toner cartridge is mounted at a required position of the developing device main body, the locking means (not shown) provided in the developing device main body is engaged with the locked means 86 provided in the cartridge case 2. Thus, the toner cartridge is locked in the mounting position. Further, a member connected to an operation lever (not shown) provided in the developing device main body is engaged with a locking groove 84 of the connecting member 68 of the cartridge shutter 64 in the toner cartridge. Thereafter, when the operation lever is operated as required, the cartridge shutter 64 is rotated to an angular position where the passage opening 78 formed in the shutter member 66 is aligned with the discharge opening 24 formed in the case body 4. . Therefore, the toner is discharged from the cartridge case 2 through the discharge opening 24 and the passage opening 78 and supplied to the developing device main body. The developing device main body has a toner detector (not shown) for detecting whether or not toner is present in a predetermined portion of the second groove portion 20 in the bottom wall 8 of the cartridge case 2, for example, a portion adjacent to the discharge opening 24. Is not provided). Such a toner detector may be of the magnetic detection type well known to those skilled in the art.

  Further, when the toner cartridge is mounted at a required position of the developing device main body, an interlocking gear (not shown) disposed in the developing device main body is engaged with the input gear 46 of the toner cartridge, and the second toner transport is performed. The means 32 is connected to a drive source (not shown) via the input gear 46 and the interlocking gear, and the first toner conveying means 30 is connected to the drive source via the input gear 40, the input gear 46 and the interlocking gear. Connected. Therefore, when the drive source is energized to rotate the developer applying means (not shown) disposed in the developing device, as shown by the arrows in FIGS. The toner conveying means 30 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2, and the second toner conveying means 32 is rotated clockwise in FIG. When the first toner conveying means 30 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 2, the toner existing on the first groove portion 18 from the other end edge toward the one end edge by the conveying action of the spiral blade 36, that is, In FIG. 4, it is conveyed in the direction from right to left. When the second toner conveying means 32 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 2, the conveying piece 44 slides on the second groove 20 to remove the toner present on the second groove 20 from the first toner. It is conveyed toward the groove 18. In addition, since a plurality of slits 60 are formed in the conveying piece 44 so as to incline toward the other end edge from the front end edge toward the base end edge, the slits are slid when rubbing on the second groove portion 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the conveying piece 44 bends with a direction perpendicular to the slit 60 as a bend line, as shown in FIG. 4, and the toner present on the second groove 20 is directed from the end edge toward the one end edge, That is, the sheet is also conveyed in the direction from right to left in FIG.

  At the same time, as shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning piece 87 slides on the second groove 20 with the entire length in the central axis direction, and the toner on the second groove 20 is scraped off. Even if the amount of residual toner decreases, a phenomenon in which toner remains in a streak shape with a width corresponding to the gap of the slit 60 at the leading edge of the transport piece 44 on the second groove portion 20 is avoided. Accordingly, the toner in the cartridge case 2 can be used up without leaving the maximum.

  The present invention can be used in electrostatic image forming machines such as electrostatic printing machines, copying machines, and facsimile machines.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a toner cartridge configured according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the toner cartridge of FIG. 1 as viewed from below. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the toner cartridge of FIG. 1 with a lid member omitted. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a transport piece (a) and a cleaning piece (b) used in the second toner transport means of the toner cartridge of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing a cartridge shutter of the toner cartridge of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an arrangement relationship in a mounted state of a conveying piece and a cleaning piece used in the second toner conveying means of the toner cartridge of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example in which a transport piece and a cleaning piece used in the second toner transport unit of the toner cartridge of FIG. 1 are integrally formed. FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating another example in which a transport piece and a cleaning piece used in the second toner transport unit of the toner cartridge of FIG. 1 are integrally formed. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional toner cartridge disclosed in Patent Document 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a conventional toner cartridge disclosed in Patent Document 1 with a lid member omitted.

Explanation of symbols

2 Cartridge Case 4 Case Body 6 Lid 8 Bottom Wall 18 First Groove 20 Second Groove 22 Projection Area 24 Discharge Opening 29 Upper Wall 30 First Toner Conveying Means 32 Second Toner Conveying Means 42 Second Toner Rotating shaft of transport means 44 Transport piece of second toner transport means 60 Slit and extending slit 87 Cleaning piece of second toner transport means 93 Transport cleaning piece of second toner transport means

Claims (4)

A bottom wall, both side walls extending upward from both side edges of the bottom wall, both end walls extending upward from both end edges of the bottom wall, and a top wall closing the top surface, the bottom walls extending in parallel; The first groove portion is provided with a discharge opening formed so as to be biased toward one end edge, and the cross-sectional shape of the second groove portion protrudes downward. An arcuate cartridge case and a first extending along the first groove portion of the bottom wall for conveying toner present on the first groove portion of the bottom wall to a discharge opening; Toner conveying means, a rotating shaft extending along the second groove portion of the bottom wall, and a base edge fixed to the rotating shaft in a radial direction and extending from the tip edge to the base edge A plurality of slits extending toward the center are spaced in the direction of the central axis of the rotating shaft. The flexible conveying piece is formed, and the tip of the conveying piece rubs on the second groove portion of the bottom wall in accordance with the rotation of the rotation shaft, and on the second groove portion. A toner cartridge comprising: a second toner conveying unit configured to convey the existing toner toward the first groove portion;
A flexible cleaning piece that extends in a radial direction from one end and the other end of a base edge fixed to the rotating shaft, and whose tip edge extends in a band shape in the central axis direction of the rotating shaft, A toner cartridge characterized in that the tip of the cleaning piece rubs on the second groove of the bottom wall in accordance with the rotation of the rotating shaft, and scrapes off the toner remaining on the second groove. .   The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the conveying piece and the cleaning piece are integrally formed from a synthetic resin sheet or film. The rotating shaft and a plurality of slits extending in a radial direction from a base edge portion fixed to the rotating shaft and extending obliquely toward the other end edge from the tip edge toward the base edge In a toner conveying means used for a toner cartridge composed of a flexible conveying piece formed at intervals in the central axis direction of
A flexible cleaning piece is provided that extends in a radial direction from a base edge portion fixed to one end and the other end of the rotary shaft, and whose tip edge extends in a band shape in the central axis direction of the rotary shaft. A toner conveying means.   4. The toner conveying means according to claim 3, wherein the conveying piece and the cleaning piece are integrally formed from a synthetic resin sheet or film.

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