JP2018063360A - Toner storage tool and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a rotating part from coming off from a container.SOLUTION: A toner storage tool comprises: a container that stores a toner inside, conveys the toner to an opening provided at one end in a rotational axis direction through its rotation, and is attached to an image forming apparatus body from the one end; a rotating part that is attached to the one end of the container to be rotatable integrally with the container, and receives a turning force transmitted from a driving part of the image forming apparatus body to rotate together with the container; a support part that covers the one end of the container and the periphery of the rotating part around the rotational axis of the container while having a gap with the container, rotatably supports the rotating part, and is positioned to the image forming apparatus body through an attachment operation of the container to the image forming apparatus body; and a projection part that is provided on at least one of the container and the support part, and projects into the gap.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner container and an image forming apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a toner bottle in which a spiral protrusion is provided on the inner peripheral surface, and the toner contained therein is conveyed in the axial direction toward the bottle mouth by rotating.

JP 2000-310901 A

  In the configuration in which the rotating unit is attached to one end of the container containing the toner, the support unit having a gap between the container and the container supports the rotating unit rotatably. When the tilts, the rotating part supported by the support part also tilts with respect to the container, and the rotating part may come off the container. Moreover, in the said structure, when a support part inclines with respect to a container, a load will be applied to a part of container and a container may deform | transform.

  An object of this invention is to suppress that a rotation part remove | deviates from a container compared with the structure which does not have the protrusion part which protrudes in the clearance gap between a container and a support part.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a container that accommodates toner therein, conveys the toner to an opening provided at one end portion in the rotation axis direction by its own rotation, and is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body from the one end side. Between the container and the rotating part that is attached to the one end of the container so as to be rotatable together with the container, and that is rotated with the container by the rotational force transmitted from the driving unit of the image forming apparatus main body. An operation for mounting the container on the image forming apparatus main body, covering the one end side of the container and the periphery of the rotating part around the rotation axis of the container with a gap, and rotatably supporting the rotating part. And a support portion positioned on the image forming apparatus main body, and a protrusion provided in at least one of the container and the support portion and protruding into the gap.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the support portion extends in the rotation axis direction toward the other end portion side of the container with respect to the position where the rotation portion is attached to the container. It is arrange | positioned at the edge part of the extension direction of a part.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the projecting portion is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the support portion and has an arc surface along the outer peripheral surface of the container.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the projecting portion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the container and has an arc surface along the inner peripheral surface of the support portion.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a container that accommodates toner therein, conveys the toner to an opening provided at one end portion in the rotation axis direction by its own rotation, and is attached to the image forming apparatus main body from the one end portion side. The container having a body having a predetermined outer diameter, and a diameter-reduced part that extends from one end of the body and gradually decreases in diameter and includes the one end, and the container The container is attached to one end of the container so as to rotate together with the container, and a rotational force is transmitted from the drive unit of the image forming apparatus main body to rotate together with the container. The image forming apparatus main body is covered by the operation of mounting the container on the image forming apparatus main body, covering the one end side of the container and the periphery of the rotating section around the rotation axis of the container, rotatably supporting the rotating section. A support portion positioned on the support, and the support It is formed, and a extended portion extended to the body portion side beyond the boundary between the reduced diameter portion and said body portion.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus main body, an image holding body provided in the image forming apparatus main body for holding a latent image, and a developing device provided in the image forming apparatus main body for developing the latent image. And a toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which accommodates toner to be supplied to the developing device.

  According to the structure of Claim 1 of this invention, it can suppress that a rotation part remove | deviates from a container compared with the structure which does not have the protrusion part which protrudes in the clearance gap between a container and a support part.

  According to the structure of Claim 2 of this invention, compared with the structure by which the protrusion part is arrange | positioned in the intermediate part of the extension direction of a support part, it can suppress that a rotation part remove | deviates from a container.

  According to the configuration of the third aspect of the present invention, the inclination of the container with respect to the rotating portion at each portion along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the container at the protruding portion, compared to the configuration in which the surface of the protruding portion facing the container is flat. Can be limited.

  According to the configuration of the fourth aspect of the present invention, compared to the configuration in which the surface facing the support portion of the protruding portion is a flat surface, each portion along the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface of the support portion in the protruding portion is relative to the rotating portion. The inclination of the container can be limited.

  According to the structure of Claim 5 of this invention, it can suppress that a rotation part remove | deviates from a container compared with the structure in which a support part covers only a reduced diameter part.

  According to the configuration of the sixth aspect of the present invention, the contamination in the image forming apparatus main body due to the rotation portion being detached from the container is reduced as compared with the configuration having no protruding portion protruding in the gap between the container and the support portion. Can be suppressed.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the configuration of a toner cartridge, a mounting unit, and a motor according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a part of the configuration of the toner cartridge according to the exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a part of the configuration of the toner cartridge according to the exemplary embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the protrusion concerning this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a side view showing a state of an initial mounting state where the toner cartridge according to the exemplary embodiment is mounted on the mounting portion. FIG. 6 is a side view showing a part of the configuration of a toner cartridge according to a first modification. FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating a configuration of a toner cartridge according to a second modification.

  Below, an example of an embodiment concerning the present invention is described based on a drawing.

(Image forming apparatus 10)
First, the configuration of the image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. In the following description, the direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIG. 1 is the apparatus height direction, and the direction indicated by the arrow X is the apparatus width direction. In addition, a direction (indicated by Z) orthogonal to each of the apparatus height direction and the apparatus width direction is defined as an apparatus depth direction. Then, when the image forming apparatus 10 is viewed from the front, the apparatus height direction, the apparatus width direction, and the apparatus depth direction are described as a Y direction, an X direction, and a Z direction. Further, when it is necessary to distinguish one side and the other side in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction, when the image forming apparatus 10 is viewed from the front, the upper side is the Y side, the lower side is the -Y side, and the right side is X side, left side is described as -X side, back side is described as Z side, and front side is described as -Z side.

  The image forming apparatus 10 has an image forming apparatus main body 11 in which each component is provided. In addition, the image forming apparatus 10 includes a conveyance unit 12, an image forming unit 14, a fixing unit 16, and a control unit 18 in the image forming apparatus main body 11 as an example. The transport unit 12 transports a sheet P as an example of a recording medium.

  As an example, the image forming unit 14 includes four image forming units 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K, and a transfer device 15. Further, the image forming unit 14 forms a toner image G on the paper P transported by the transport unit 12 using the toner T. The fixing unit 16 heats and pressurizes the toner image G to fix it on the paper P. The control unit 18 controls the operation of each unit of the image forming apparatus 10.

  Since the image forming units 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K have the same configuration except for the toner T (yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) to be used, the image forming unit 14K will be described below to form an image. The description of the units 14Y, 14M, and 14C is omitted.

  The image forming unit 14K includes a photoconductor 17A as an example of an image carrier, a charging roll 17B, an exposure unit 17C, and a developing device 19. The photoreceptor 17A holds the latent image formed by being charged by the charging roller 17B and exposed by the exposure unit 17C on the outer peripheral surface.

  The developing device 19 includes a box-shaped main body 19A and a developing roll 19B that is rotatably provided in the main body 19A. A developer containing the toner T is stored in the main body 19A. The developing device 19 develops the latent image on the photoreceptor 17A with the toner T by rotating the developing roll 19B. Note that toner T is supplied into the main body 19A from a toner cartridge 30K described later.

  The transfer device 15 transfers the intermediate transfer belt 15A, four primary transfer rolls 15B that transfer the toner image G from the photoconductor 17A to the intermediate transfer belt 15A, and the toner image G of the intermediate transfer belt 15A onto the paper P. It includes a single secondary transfer roll 15C. Then, the transfer device 15 transfers the developed toner image G of the photoreceptor 17A onto the paper P.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 includes toner cartridges 30Y, 30M, 30C, and 30K (hereinafter, referred to as 30Y to 30K) as examples of toner containers. Each of the toner cartridges 30Y to 30K is provided in the image forming apparatus main body 11 corresponding to the toner T (yellow, magenta, cyan, black) to be used.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 10 rotationally drives a mounting portion 22 to which the toner cartridges 30Y to 30K are mounted and a toner bottle 50 and a stirring member 60 described later of the toner cartridges 30Y to 30K. And a motor 28 as an example of the driving unit.

  The toner cartridges 30Y to 30K, the mounting units 22, and the motors 28 have the same configuration. Therefore, hereinafter, the toner cartridge 30K, the mounting unit 22 to which the toner cartridge 30K is mounted, and A motor 28 that rotates and drives a toner bottle 50 and a stirring member 60 described later of the toner cartridge 30K will be described.

(Mounting part 22)
The mounting unit 22 has a function of mounting the toner cartridge 30 </ b> K, and is fixed inside the image forming apparatus main body 11. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the mounting portion 22 includes, as an example, a bottom plate 24, a pair of side plates (not shown) standing upright from the both ends in the X direction of the bottom plate 24 on the Y side (upper side), And has a U-shaped cross section when viewed in the Z direction.

  The bottom plate 24 extends along the XZ plane. The surface (Y side surface) of the bottom plate 24 is a surface on which the toner cartridge 30K is placed with the Z direction as an axial direction. A motor 28 is attached to the Z side end of the bottom plate 24.

  An opening 27 through which the toner T discharged from the toner cartridge 30K passes is formed on the −Z side of the portion of the bottom plate 24 where the motor 28 is attached. The opening 27 penetrates the bottom plate 24 in the vertical direction (Y direction). The opening 27 overlaps a later-described discharge path 41C (see FIG. 3) of the toner cartridge 30K when viewed in the Y direction (up and down direction).

  Further, a recess 26 for opening a shutter 43 (to be described later) of the toner cartridge 30K is formed on the −Z side of the opening 27 in the bottom plate 24. In the mounting portion 22, the toner cartridge 30 </ b> K is moved from the −Z side to the bottom plate 24 to the Z side on the bottom plate 24 and is mounted on the bottom plate 24 of the mounting portion 22.

(Motor 28)
As shown in FIG. 2, the motor 28 includes a main body 28A and a drive shaft 28B that rotates by its own driving force. The drive shaft 28B extends from the main body 28A to the −Z side with the Z direction as the axial direction. At the tip of the drive shaft 28B, a coupling 28C is provided that meshes with a coupling 48 described later of the toner cartridge 30K in the axial direction. The coupling 28 </ b> C meshes with the coupling 48 when the toner cartridge 30 </ b> K is mounted on the mounting portion 22, and the rotational force (driving force) of the motor 28 is transmitted to the coupling 48. In addition, the motor 28 is comprised by the stepping motor as an example.

(Toner cartridge 30K)
The toner cartridge 30K as a whole has a length in the Z direction. Specifically, the toner cartridge 30K includes a toner bottle 50 as an example of a container, an agitation member 60 as an example of a rotating unit, and a support member 40 as an example of a support unit.

(Toner bottle 50)
The toner bottle 50 is made of a resin and is formed in a cylindrical shape having the Z direction as an axial direction. The toner bottle 50 is a bottomed member that is closed on the −Z side and opened on the Z side. That is, the toner bottle 50 is provided with an opening 56D (see FIGS. 3 and 4) at an end (an example of one end) on the Z side, and is closed at an end (an example of the other end) on the −Z side. Yes. The toner bottle 50 contains toner T therein.

  Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the toner bottle 50 includes a bottom wall 55, a peripheral wall 56, and a grip portion 57. The bottom wall 55 is formed in a circular shape when viewed in the Z direction. The peripheral wall 56 extends from the outer peripheral portion of the bottom wall 55 to the Z side along the Z direction, and is formed in a cylindrical shape. Specifically, the peripheral wall 56 includes a trunk portion 56A having a predetermined outer diameter, and a reduced diameter portion 56B that extends from the Z side end of the trunk portion 56A to the Z side and is gradually reduced in diameter. Have. Specifically, the body portion 56 </ b> A constitutes a −Z direction side portion of the peripheral wall 56 and has a constant outer diameter. A boundary portion between the body portion 56A and the reduced diameter portion 56B is a change portion 56C where the change in the outer diameter is started.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a male screw portion 56 </ b> E for attaching the stirring member 60 is formed on the peripheral portion of the Z-side opening 56 </ b> D in the peripheral wall 56.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the peripheral wall 56 is formed with a guide 51 that is spiral and protrudes toward the inside of the peripheral wall 56. As will be described later, the toner bottle 50 is rotated by itself so that the toner T accommodated therein is conveyed to the opening 56D side (−Z side) by the guide portion 51.

  The toner bottle 50 is attached to the attachment portion 22 of the image forming apparatus main body 11 from the end side on the Z side (see FIG. 2). That is, the toner bottle 50 is moved to the Z side and attached to the attachment unit 22.

  The grip portion 57 is a portion that is gripped by an operator when the toner cartridge 30K is mounted on the mounting portion 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the grip portion 57 protrudes from the bottom wall 55 to the −Z side. That is, the gripping portion 57 is provided at the end of the toner bottle 50 on the −Z side.

  The toner bottle 50 is made of high density polyethylene (HDPE) as an example. As another example of the toner bottle 50, for example, a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) resin may be used.

(Stirring member 60)
As shown in FIG. 4, the stirring member 60 is formed in a cylindrical shape having the Z direction as an axial direction. Specifically, the stirring member 60 includes, for example, a peripheral wall 62, a partition wall 64, a shaft portion 66, and a stirring protrusion 68. The peripheral wall 62 is formed in a cylindrical shape extending along the Z direction. As shown in FIG. 3, an internal thread portion 62 </ b> E that meshes with the external thread portion 56 </ b> E is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 62. The agitation member 60 is attached to the end portion on the Z side of the toner bottle 50 so as to be rotatable together with the toner bottle 50 by engaging the female screw portion 62E with the male screw portion 56E of the toner bottle 50. An annular wall 61 formed in an annular shape as viewed in the Z direction is formed at the Z-side end of the peripheral wall 62.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the partition wall 64 is formed in a cross shape that intersects at the center of the peripheral wall 62 when viewed in the Z direction, and includes four walls 64 </ b> A. The partition wall 64 partitions the inside of the peripheral wall 62 into four space portions 63 that allow the toner T of the toner bottle 50 to pass to the Z side.

  The shaft portion 66 extends from the intersecting portion of the partition wall 64 to the Z side with the Z direction as the axial direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a coupling 48 that is axially engaged with the coupling 28 </ b> C of the motor 28 is fixed to the shaft portion 66. When the coupling 48 is engaged with the coupling 28 </ b> C, the rotational force (driving force) of the motor 28 is transmitted to the stirring member 60. Accordingly, the stirring member 60 rotates together with the toner bottle 50 with its own axial direction (Z direction) as the rotation axis direction.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the stirring protrusion 68 is provided on each wall 64 </ b> A of the partition wall 64. The stirring protrusion 68 extends from each wall 64 </ b> A to the Z side with the Z direction as an axial direction, and the wall surface faces the rotation direction of the stirring member 60. The stirring protrusion 68 stirs the toner T that has passed through the four space portions 63 and has flowed into the support member 40 by the rotation of the stirring member 60.

(Supporting member 40)
The support member 40 is made of a resin and is formed in a cylindrical shape having the Z direction as an axial direction. The support member 40 is a bottomed member that is closed on the Z side and opened on the −Z side. The support member 40 is made of ABS resin (acrylonitrile / butadiene / styrene copolymer resin) as an example.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the support member 40 includes a circular wall 42, an outer peripheral wall 44, an inner peripheral wall 41, and a cylindrical portion 49. The circular wall 42 is formed in a circular shape when viewed in the Z direction. A circular hole 42 </ b> A penetrating in the Z direction is formed at the center of the circular wall 42 as viewed in the Z direction. The circular wall 42 rotatably supports the coupling 48 in the circular hole 42A. Thus, the stirring member 60 to which the coupling 48 is fixed and the toner bottle 50 to which the stirring member 60 is attached are rotatably supported by the support member 40. As described above, the support member 40 supports the stirring member 60 and the toner bottle 50 via the coupling 48 at the end on one axial side (Z side).

  The cylindrical portion 49 extends from the circular wall 42 to the Z side with the Z direction as the axial direction. The cylindrical portion 49 is arranged so as to surround the circumference of the circular hole 42A when viewed in the Z direction. A portion of the coupling 48 that engages with the coupling 28 </ b> C is disposed in the cylindrical portion 49.

  The outer peripheral wall 44 extends from the outer peripheral portion of the circular wall 42 to the −Z side along the Z direction, and is formed in a cylindrical shape. Specifically, the outer peripheral wall 44 is located on the −Z side (the −Z side of the toner bottle 50) rather than the position where the stirring member 60 is attached to the toner bottle 50 (the engagement position between the male screw portion 56 </ b> E and the female screw portion 62 </ b> E). End side).

  The outer peripheral wall 44 covers one end of the toner bottle 50 and the periphery of the agitating member 60 around the rotation axis of the toner bottle 50 and the agitating member 60 with a gap 44H between the outer peripheral wall 44 and the toner bottle 50. ing. The gap 44 </ b> H is formed between the inner peripheral surface 44 </ b> A of the outer peripheral wall 44 and the outer peripheral surface 50 </ b> B of the toner bottle 50 on the entire circumference in the circumferential direction of the toner bottle 50.

  The inner peripheral wall 41 extends from the circular wall 42 to the −Z side along the Z direction on the inner peripheral side of the outer peripheral wall 44 and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The internal space of the inner peripheral wall 41 communicates with the internal space of the toner bottle 50 through the space portion 63 of the stirring member 60, and is an inflow space 41R into which the toner T discharged from the toner bottle 50 flows.

  A sealing material 38 is sandwiched between the −Z side end face 41 </ b> B of the inner peripheral wall 41 and the annular wall 61 of the stirring member 60. As shown in FIG. 4, specifically, the sealing material 38 is formed in an annular shape when viewed in the Z direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the sealing material 38 seals between the end surface 41 </ b> B and the annular wall 61, and suppresses the leakage of the toner T from the space. In addition, the sealing material 38 is formed with elastic bodies, such as urethane, as an example.

  A discharge path 41 </ b> C for discharging the toner T in the inflow space 41 </ b> R toward the −Y side to the outside of the outer peripheral wall 44 is formed at the bottom (−Y side portion) of the inner peripheral wall 41. The discharge path 41C is disposed on the bottom (−Y side portion) of the circular wall 42, the opposing wall 41A facing the bottom on the −Z side of the bottom, and the X side and the −X side of the discharge path 41C. Surrounded by a pair of walls 41E.

  A shutter 43 serving as an opening / closing portion is provided on the outer peripheral wall 44 on the outer side (−Y side) of the discharge path 41 </ b> C so as to be opened and closed. The shutter 43 is attached to the outer periphery of the outer peripheral wall 44 so as to be movable along the Z direction between a closed position indicated by a two-dot chain line and an open position indicated by a solid line.

  The shutter 43 is pushed or pulled by the elastic force of an elastic body such as a spring and is located at the closed position. As shown in FIG. 2, the shutter 43 is fitted into the recess 26 of the mounting portion 22 in the mounting operation of moving the toner cartridge 30K to the Z side, and the toner cartridge 30K further moves to the Z side in the fitted state. To move to the open position.

  From this position, a mounting operation for further moving the toner cartridge 30K to the Z side is performed, whereby the coupling 48 meshes with the coupling 28C. As the coupling 48 meshes with the coupling 28 </ b> C, the support member 40 is positioned on the image forming apparatus main body 11 via the mounting portion 22.

(Projection 80)
Here, the inner peripheral surface 44A of the outer peripheral wall 44 of the support member 40 protrudes into a gap 44H between the inner peripheral surface 44A of the outer peripheral wall 44 and the outer peripheral surface 50B of the toner bottle 50, as shown in FIG. A plurality of projections 80 (specifically, for example, three) are formed as an example of the protruding portion.

  The protrusions 80 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the inner peripheral surface 44 </ b> A of the outer peripheral wall 44. Further, the protrusion 80 protrudes inward in the radial direction from the inner peripheral surface 44A, and fills the space of the gap 44H to reduce the gap 44H. A front end surface 80 </ b> A (end surface on the inner side in the radial direction) of the protrusion 80 is an arc surface along the outer peripheral surface 50 </ b> B of the toner bottle 50. The tip surface 80A is not in contact with the outer peripheral surface 50B of the toner bottle 50.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion 80 is disposed at the end portion on the other side (−Z side) of the support member 40 in the axial direction. That is, in the support member 40, the protrusion 80 is provided at the end in the extending direction (−Z side) of the outer peripheral wall 44 extending to the −Z side from the position where the stirring member 60 is attached to the toner bottle 50. .

(Operation according to this embodiment)
In the present embodiment, the toner cartridge 30K is mounted on the mounting unit 22 by moving from the Z side end, that is, the support member 40 side, to the mounting unit 22 of the image forming apparatus main body 11 to the Z side. (See FIG. 2).

  The mounting operation is performed by, for example, the operator gripping the grip portion 57 provided at the end of the toner bottle 50 on the −Z side. For this reason, in the initial mounting state in which the support member 40 is placed on the mounting portion 22 (the state shown in FIG. 6), the end portion on the −Z side of the toner bottle 50 is, for example, the lower side ( -Y side).

  Here, in the configuration (first configuration example) that does not have the protrusion 80 protruding in the gap 44H between the toner bottle 50 and the support member 40, the end portion on the −Z side of the toner bottle 50 is on the lower side (−Y side). When the toner bottle 50 is pushed, the toner bottle 50 is easily inclined with respect to the stirring member 60 supported by the support member 40, and the stirring member 60 is easily detached from the toner bottle 50. In addition, the toner bottle 50 can be pushed not only on the lower side but also in any direction outside the toner bottle 50 in the radial direction (upper side, left and right side, etc.).

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, since the protrusion 80 that protrudes into the gap 44H is provided on the inner peripheral surface 44A of the outer peripheral wall 44 of the support member 40, the protrusion 80 hits the toner bottle 50, so that the support member The inclination of the toner bottle 50 with respect to 40 is limited. For this reason, compared with the first configuration example, the toner bottle 50 is less inclined with respect to the stirring member 60 supported by the support member 40, and the stirring member 60 is prevented from being detached from the toner bottle 50.

  As described above, since the stirring member 60 is prevented from being detached from the toner bottle 50, the contamination by the toner in the image forming apparatus main body 11 due to the stirring member 60 being detached from the toner bottle 50 is suppressed as compared with the first configuration example. Is done.

  In the present embodiment, the protrusion 80 is disposed at the end portion on the other side (−Z side) of the support member 40 in the axial direction, as shown in FIG. 3.

  Here, in the configuration (second configuration example) in which the protrusion 80 is disposed in the intermediate portion in the axial direction of the support member 40 (Z side with respect to the end portion on the −Z side), the toner bottle 50 is mixed with the stirring member 60. The protrusion 80 is disposed at a position close to the attachment position that is a fulcrum inclined with respect to the position. For this reason, the inclination of the toner bottle 50 with respect to the stirring member 60 is not easily limited.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the protrusion 80 is located at the end portion on the other side (−Z side) in the axial direction of the support member 40, that is, at a position farthest from the attachment position in the axial direction of the support member 40. The protrusion 80 is disposed.

  For this reason, compared with the second configuration example, the toner bottle 50 is less inclined with respect to the stirring member 60 supported by the support member 40, and the stirring member 60 is prevented from being detached from the toner bottle 50.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the tip end surface 80 </ b> A (end surface on the inner side in the radial direction) of the protrusion 80 is an arc surface along the outer peripheral surface 50 </ b> B of the toner bottle 50. For this reason, as compared with the configuration in which the front end surface 80A is flat (third configuration example), each portion of the protrusion 80 along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 50B of the toner bottle 50 approaches the outer peripheral surface 50B of the toner bottle 50. To do.

  Therefore, as compared with the third configuration example, the inclination of the toner bottle 50 with respect to the stirring member 60 is limited at each portion along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 50B of the toner bottle 50 at the protrusion 80.

(First modification)
In the present embodiment, the protrusion 80 as an example of the protruding portion is provided on the inner peripheral surface 44 </ b> A of the outer peripheral wall 44 of the support member 40, but is not limited thereto. As an example of the protrusion, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of protrusions 180 (specifically, for example, three) may be provided on the outer peripheral surface 50 </ b> B of the toner bottle 50.

  The protrusions 180 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface 50 </ b> B of the toner bottle 50. Further, the protrusion 180 protrudes outward in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface 50 </ b> B of the toner bottle 50. A front end surface 180 </ b> A (a radially outer end surface) of the protrusion 180 is an arc surface along the inner peripheral surface 44 </ b> A of the outer peripheral wall 44 of the support member 40. The distal end surface 180A is not in contact with the inner peripheral surface 44A of the outer peripheral wall 44 of the support member 40. Moreover, the protrusion 180 is arrange | positioned in the position facing the edge part of the other side (-Z side) of the axial direction of the supporting member 40, for example.

  Thus, even the protrusion 180 provided on the outer peripheral surface 50B side of the toner bottle 50 exhibits the same function as the protrusion 80 provided on the inner peripheral surface 44A of the outer peripheral wall 44 of the support member 40.

  In addition, the protrusions 80 and 180 are not limited to three, and four or more protrusions may be provided. Further, the protrusions 80 and 180 may be protrusions that are annular when viewed in the Z direction.

  Moreover, the structure provided with both the protrusions 80 and 180 may be sufficient. In this case, as an example, the protrusions 80 and 180 are arranged at positions shifted in the axial direction. Further, for example, when both the protrusions 80 and 180 are provided and the protrusions 80 and 180 are annular protrusions when viewed in the Z direction, the protrusions 80 and 180 are opposed to each other. Also good.

(Second modification)
As shown in FIG. 8, instead of the protrusion 80, an extension portion 244 that extends beyond the change portion 56 </ b> C to the trunk portion 56 </ b> A side (−Z side) may be formed on the support member 40. . The extension portion 244 has a cylindrical shape extending from the −Z side end portion of the outer peripheral wall 44 to the −Z side, and is formed integrally with the outer peripheral wall 44. The inner peripheral surface of the extension 244 has a gap with the outer peripheral surface 50B of the toner bottle 50, and is not in contact with the outer peripheral surface 50B.

  According to this configuration, the inclination of the toner bottle 50 with respect to the support member 40 is limited by the inner peripheral surface of the extension portion 244 hitting the outer peripheral surface 50 </ b> B of the toner bottle 50. For this reason, compared with the configuration in which the support member 40 is not extended to the −Z side, the toner bottle 50 is less inclined with respect to the stirring member 60 supported by the support member 40, and the stirring member 60 is detached from the toner bottle 50. Is suppressed.

  The extension 244 and the protrusions 80 and 180 described above are not in contact with the toner bottle 50 or the support member 40, but are configured to be in sliding contact with the toner bottle 50 or the support member 40. Also good.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications, changes, and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the modification examples described above may be appropriately combined.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming apparatus 11 Image forming apparatus main body 17A Photosensitive body (an example of an image holding body)
19 Developing Device 28 Motor (Example of Drive Unit)
30K toner cartridge (example of toner container)
40 Support member (an example of a support part)
44H Clearance 50 Toner bottle (example of container)
56A trunk portion 56B reduced diameter portion 56D opening 60 stirring member (an example of a rotating portion)
80, 180 protrusion (an example of a protrusion)
80A, 180A Tip surface (an example of a circular arc surface)
244 Extension

Claims (6)

A container that contains toner therein, conveys the toner to an opening provided at one end portion in the rotation axis direction by its own rotation, and is mounted on the image forming apparatus main body from the one end side;
A rotating portion that is attached to the one end portion of the container so as to be rotatable together with the container, and that rotates with the container by transmitting a rotational force from a driving portion of the image forming apparatus main body;
Covering one end side of the container and the periphery of the rotating part around the rotation axis of the container with a gap between the container and the rotating part, and rotatably supporting the rotating part, and forming the image of the container A support portion positioned on the image forming apparatus main body by an attaching operation to the apparatus main body;
A protrusion provided on at least one of the container and the support, and protruding into the gap;
A toner container. The support portion extends in the direction of the rotation axis from the position where the rotation portion is attached to the container toward the other end of the container,
The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is disposed at an end of the support portion in the extending direction. The protrusion is
The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner container is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the support portion and has an arc surface along the outer peripheral surface of the container. The protrusion is
The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner container is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the container and has an arc surface along an inner peripheral surface of the support portion. A container that accommodates toner therein, conveys the toner to an opening provided at one end portion in the rotation axis direction by its own rotation, and is attached to the image forming apparatus main body from the one end side, and is a predetermined container. A container having an outer diameter, and a diameter-reducing portion extending from one end of the body and gradually reducing the diameter and including the one end;
A rotating portion that is attached to the one end portion of the container so as to be rotatable together with the container, and that rotates with the container by transmitting a rotational force from a driving portion of the image forming apparatus main body;
Covering one end side of the container and the periphery of the rotating part around the rotation axis of the container with a gap between the container and the rotating part, and rotatably supporting the rotating part, and forming the image of the container A support portion positioned on the image forming apparatus main body by an attaching operation to the apparatus main body;
An extension portion formed on the support portion and extending toward the trunk portion beyond the boundary between the reduced diameter portion and the trunk portion;
A toner container. An image forming apparatus main body;
An image carrier provided in the image forming apparatus main body and holding a latent image;
A developing device provided in the image forming apparatus main body for developing the latent image;
The toner container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which stores toner to be supplied to the developing device;
An image forming apparatus comprising: