JP2003280353A - Toner remaining amount detecting device and toner container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To detect the previously set remaining amount of a toner with high precision by grasping the remaining amount of the toner with high precision. <P>SOLUTION: A toner remaining amount detecting device is equipped with a toner container 100 equipped with a case 10 which has a bottom wall 11 where a toner discharge port 17 is arranged, side walls 12 and 13, and end walls 14 and 15 and is provided with a light transmission window 30 and a conveying mechanism 20 which conveys the toner in the case 10 to the toner discharge port 17, and a toner detection unit 100A which detects the remaining amount of the toner by irradiating the inside of the case 10 with light from the outside of the case 10 through the light transmission window 30. The toner discharge port 17 is arranged in the bottom wall 11 in one end area of the case 10 nearby the end wall 14 and the light transmission window 30 is arranged on the side wall 12 or both the side walls 12 and 13 in the one end area. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner remaining amount detecting device for detecting the remaining amount of toner contained in a toner container and a toner container applicable to the toner remaining amount detecting device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming machine such as an electrostatic copying machine, a laser printer or an electrostatic facsimile, an electrostatic latent image is formed on an electrostatic photoreceptor and then the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image. To do. A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image into a toner image is housed in a developing housing for housing a so-called one-component developer containing only toner or a so-called two-component developer containing toner and carrier particles, and a developing housing. It is provided with a developer applying means for conveying the developing agent to a developing zone and applying it to the electrostatic photoreceptor, and a toner container for replenishing the developing housing with toner. A typical example of the toner container is a bottom wall provided with a toner discharge port,
The container includes a container having a pair of side walls and an end wall, and a transfer mechanism for transferring the toner contained in the container toward the toner discharge port. The image forming machine is also provided with a toner remaining amount detecting device for detecting the remaining amount of toner contained in the toner container. The toner remaining amount detecting device includes a toner container including the container provided with a light transmitting window, and an inside of the container by irradiating light into the container from the outside of the container through the light transmitting window and receiving the light. And a toner detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the toner stored in. The toner detecting means includes a light emitting member and a light receiving member.

A toner remaining amount detecting device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-
No. 83198 is disclosed. The toner remaining amount detecting device disclosed in the publication is provided with a toner containing chamber containing toner, a light transmitting window provided in a bottom wall region of the toner containing chamber, and an upper inner wall of the toner containing chamber. And a light emitting member and a light receiving member arranged outside the light transmitting window. When the light emitted from the light emitting member toward the reflecting plate is reflected by the reflecting plate, the light is received by the light receiving member and the remaining amount of toner is detected.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned toner remaining amount detecting device, since the light transmitting window is arranged in the bottom wall region of the toner accommodating chamber, it is difficult to grasp the remaining amount of toner with high accuracy. As a result, it is difficult to detect the remaining amount of toner set in advance with high accuracy. Further, unless the toner stored in the toner storage chamber is substantially empty, the light emitted from the light emitting member toward the reflecting plate is reflected by the reflecting plate and is not received by the light receiving member. In other words, when the remaining toner amount detecting device detects the remaining amount of toner, the toner storage chamber is almost empty. Therefore, toner replenishment is urgent, but if the toner is not in stock, the image forming machine may be temporarily unusable until the toner is replenished. If the toner chamber is composed of a cartridge type toner container,
If the toner container is out of stock, the image forming machine may be temporarily unavailable until the toner container is replaced.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved toner remaining amount which enables the remaining amount of toner to be grasped with high accuracy and allows the preset remaining amount of toner to be detected with high accuracy. A detector and a toner container are provided.

Another object of the present invention is an improved toner remaining amount detection that enables the image forming machine to continue to be used with a predetermined margin even after the toner remaining amount is detected. To provide an apparatus and a toner container.

[0007]

According to one aspect of the present invention, a container having a bottom wall provided with a toner discharge port, a pair of side walls and an end wall, and having a light transmission window is provided. A toner container provided with a container and a transfer mechanism for transferring the toner contained in the container toward a toner discharge port, and irradiating the inside of the container with light from the outside of the container through a light transmission window and transmitting the light. In a toner remaining amount detecting device provided with a toner detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of toner stored in the container by receiving light, the toner discharge port is located near one end wall, and is located at one end region of the container. And a light transmission window is provided on one side wall or both side walls in the one end region of the container.

The light transmitting window is provided on one side wall, and the toner detecting means is arranged so as to face the light emitting member and the light receiving member provided outside the light transmitting window with a space therebetween. And a reflector disposed therein, wherein the light emitting member is arranged to irradiate light toward the reflector through the light transmitting window.
It is preferable that the light receiving member is arranged so that the light reflected by the reflecting plate can be received through the light transmitting window.
The light transmissive windows are disposed on both side walls so as to face each other, and the toner detection means includes a light emitting member disposed outside one light transmissive window and a light receiving member disposed outside the other light transmissive window. And the light emitting member is arranged to emit light toward the light receiving member through one light transmitting window and the other light transmitting window,
It is preferable that the light receiving member is arranged so as to receive the light emitted by the light emitting member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a container having a bottom wall having a toner discharge port, a pair of side walls and an end wall, each having a light transmitting window, and A toner container provided with a transfer mechanism for transferring the toner stored in the container toward a toner discharge port, and irradiating light into the container from the outside of the container through a light transmission window and receiving the light. In the toner container in which the remaining amount of the toner contained in the container is detected by the toner discharge port, the toner discharge port is disposed on the bottom wall in the one end region of the container, which is near one end wall, and the light transmission window is There is provided a toner container, characterized in that it is arranged on one or both side walls in the one end region of the container.

The light transmitting window is provided on one side wall, and the reflecting plate is provided inside the container so as to face the light transmitting window with a space therebetween, and allows light to pass from the outside of the light transmitting window through the light transmitting window. By irradiating toward the reflecting plate and receiving the light reflected by the reflecting plate through the light transmitting window outside the light transmitting window,
It is preferable that the remaining amount of the toner contained in the container is detected. The light transmission windows are arranged on both side walls so as to face each other, and light is emitted from the outside of one light transmission window through the one light transmission window and the other light transmission window, and the light is transmitted to the other light transmission window. It is preferable that the remaining amount of the toner accommodated in the container is detected by receiving light outside the.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of a toner remaining amount detecting device and a toner container constructed according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the toner remaining amount detecting device includes a toner container 100 and a toner detecting unit 100A which constitutes a toner detecting means. The illustrated toner container 100 includes a container 10, and the container 10 includes a container body 10A and a lid member 10B. A container body 10A, which can be integrally formed from an appropriate synthetic resin, such as ABS, has a box shape with an open upper surface, and has a relatively elongated bottom wall 11 and a bottom wall 1.
A pair of side walls 12 and 13 arranged on both sides in the width direction
And a pair of end walls 1 arranged at both longitudinal ends of the bottom wall 11.
4 and 15. An annular flange 16 extending outward from the upper ends of the side walls 12 and 13 and the end walls 14 and 15 is formed at the upper end of the container body 10A, and the upper surface of the flange 16 is on the same plane. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the bottom wall 11 of the container body 10A has two regions 11A and 1A arranged side by side in a cross-sectional view.
It consists of 1B. The region 11A on one side has a relatively small circular arc shape, and the region 11B on the other side has a relatively large circular arc shape. The lid member 10B, which can be formed of an appropriate synthetic resin such as ABS, has a flat plate shape. The lid member 10B is the flange 16 of the container body 10A.
Is superposed on the upper surface of the container and fixed to the container body 10A by an appropriate method such as ultrasonic welding.
Close the top surface of.

An area 11 on one side of the bottom wall 11 having an arc shape.
A flat portion 11a having a substantially rectangular shape is formed at A.
When the container body 10A is viewed in the longitudinal direction, the flat portion 11a extends from the arc-shaped lowermost end of the region 11A on one side to the arc-shaped lower end of the region 11B on the other side, and the region 1 on the other side.
It extends horizontally to a position near the boundary with the region 11A on one side, which is the lower side of 1B. A toner discharge port 17 having a substantially rectangular shape is formed in the flat portion 11a. Flat part 11
a is near one end wall 14 of the container body 10A,
It is formed in one end region of the container body 10A. Therefore, the toner outlet 17 is provided on one end wall 1 of the container body 10A.
4 is disposed on the bottom wall 11 in the one end region of the container body 10A, which is in the vicinity of 4. The upper end of the toner outlet 17 is
The bottom surface of the flat wall 11 a, which is the inner surface of the bottom wall 11, is opened, and the lower end of the toner outlet 17 is opened at the bottom surface of the flat portion 11 a, which is the outer surface of the bottom wall 11. With the above-described configuration, the toner discharge port 17 is located at a position closer to the area 11B on the other side than the vertically downward center of the arc shape of the area 11A on the one side. It should be noted that on the upper surface of the flat portion 11a, the toner outlet 17 is sandwiched in the longitudinal direction of the container body 10A, and at a position close to both ends of the toner outlet 17, uprights extending upward from the upper surface of the flat portion 11a, respectively. A wall 11b is formed, and each upper end surface of the upright wall 11b forms an arc-shaped surface that matches the arc-shaped surface of the region 11A on one side of the bottom wall 11. Similarly, on the upper surface of the flat portion 11a, which is a boundary portion between the region 11A on one side and the region 11B on the other side,
The flat portion 1 is provided at a position close to one side of the toner discharge port 17.
An upright wall 11c extending upward from the upper surface of 1a is formed, and the upper end surface of the upright wall 11c has an area 1 on the other side of the bottom wall 11.
It has an arcuate surface that matches the arcuate surface of 1B.

A shutter support portion 18 is formed below the flat portion 11a. The shutter support portion 18 includes a pair of guide walls 18a extending downward from both sides of the flat portion 11a sandwiching the toner discharge port 17 and extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bottom wall 11, and each of the guide walls 18a. And a support wall 18b extending from the lower end in a direction toward each other. A shutter member 19 having a substantially rectangular planar shape is slidably mounted on the shutter support portion 18 between a closed position for closing the toner discharge port 17 and an open position for opening the toner discharge port 17. The shutter member 19 which may itself use a well-known configuration includes a main body 19a made of an appropriate synthetic resin, and a sealing member 19b made of foamed synthetic rubber, which is disposed on the upper surface of the main body 19a. In addition, the toner passage port 19c is provided. When the shutter member 19 is positioned at the closed position, the toner discharge port 17 has the shutter member 19 on the lower surface side of the flat portion 11a as illustrated.
When the shutter member 19 is closed by and is positioned at the open position (not shown), the toner passage port 19c of the shutter member 19 is aligned with the toner discharge port 17 on the lower surface side of the flat portion 11a (not shown).

A transfer mechanism 20 for transferring the toner contained in the container body 10A toward the toner outlet 17 is arranged in the container body 10A so as to extend along the region 11A on one side of the bottom wall 11. It is set up. The transfer mechanism 20, which can be integrally formed from an appropriate synthetic resin, includes a rotary shaft 22 rotatably supported between each of the end walls 14 and 15.
Blade means including spiral blades 23, 24 and 25 arranged on the rotary shaft 22. The axis of the rotary shaft 22 coincides with the arc-shaped center of the region 11A on one side of the bottom wall 11. As described above, since the toner discharge port 17 is located at a position biased toward the other side region 11B side from the vertically lower side of the center of the arc shape of the one side region 11A, the rotation shaft 2
The reference numeral 2 extends above the toner discharge port 17 and slightly above the toner discharge port 17 at one side in the width direction of the container body 10A (one side where the side wall 13 exists).
The spiral blade 23 extends from the end wall 15 to the vicinity of one end of the toner discharge port 17. The spiral blades 24 and 25 are respectively disposed in the regions between the end wall 14 and the vicinity of the other end of the toner discharge port 17, and extend in the same axial range of the rotary shaft 22 over approximately a semicircle. is doing. The spiral directions of the spiral blades 24 and 25 are opposite to each other. The spiral blades 24 and 25 stir the toner existing in the area between the end wall 14 and the toner outlet 17, and transfer a part of the toner toward the toner outlet 17. Spiral blades 23, 2
The outer diameters of 4 and 25 are the same.

In the region of the rotary shaft 22 between the spiral blades 23 and the spiral blades 24 and 25, the plate blades 26 and 2 extending outward in opposite directions from the outer peripheral surface of the rotary shaft 22.
7 are formed. Each of the plate blades 26 and 27 constitutes a toner discharge blade that agitates the toner existing in the area above the toner discharge port 17 and discharges the toner toward the toner discharge port 17. At the tip of the plate blade 27, the plate blade 27
A closing plate 28 that is orthogonal to the. The axially opposite end portions of the rotary shaft 22 of the closing plate 28 having a substantially rectangular planar shape project outward in the radial direction of the rotary shaft 22 more than the axial center region, and the outer surfaces of the both end portions are arc-shaped surfaces. The radius of the arc-shaped surface has a common center with the spiral blade 23 and has a radius slightly larger than that of the spiral blade 23. Further, both side surfaces of the closing plate 28 (both side surfaces in the tangential direction of the outer diameter of the spiral blade 23) are located slightly above the outer diameter of the spiral blade 23.

As shown in FIG. 3, the closing plate 28 has the toner outlet 1 depending on the rotational angle position of the plate blade 27.
7 and the toner discharge port 17
To close. In addition, in FIG. 2, the plate blades 26 and 2
7 is shown in a rotation angle position oriented in the vertical direction, but in FIG. 3, it is shown in a rotation angle position different from that shown in FIG. 2 for easy understanding. As will be readily understood from the foregoing description and FIG. 3, the closing plate 28 is shown in FIG.
In the state of being located at the rotation angle position shown in FIG.
It is positioned with a gap above the upper end surface of the upright wall 11b formed at positions close to both ends of the toner discharge port 17. The tip of the plate blade 26 is connected to the spiral blades 23 and 24. The plate blades 26 and 27 and the closing plate 28 form a part of the blade means, and agitate the toner existing in the upper region of the toner discharge port 17 and the toner discharge port 1.
Discharge toward 7.

One end of the rotary shaft 22 of the transfer mechanism 20 is rotatably supported in the blind hole 14a provided in the end wall 14, and the other end of the rotary shaft 22 is provided in the end wall 15. Is rotatably supported by the support hole 15a
And an input gear (not shown) is attached to the projecting end. This input gear is the toner container 1
When 00 is attached to a required position of the developing device (not shown),
The rotary shaft 2 is connected to an electric motor (not shown) through a transmission gear train (not shown) and is energized by the electric motor.
2 is rotated.

A light transmission window 30 is provided on one side wall 12 of the one end region of the container body 10A. The substantially rectangular light-transmitting window 30 is made of an appropriate transparent synthetic resin that transmits light, such as GPPS (general pur).
Pose polystyrene), which is fitted into a rectangular mounting hole formed in the side wall 12 and fixed by, for example, adhesion. A light transmission window 30 in the form of a flat plate having at least a light transmission region having a constant thickness.
Is arranged at a position higher than the rotation loci of the blade means of the transfer mechanism 20, in the embodiment, the spiral blades 23, 24 and 25, and the plate blade 26 and the closing plate 28. The light transmission window 30 is also arranged so as to project slightly inward from the inner surface of the one side wall 12.

A toner detection unit for detecting the remaining amount of the toner contained in the container body 10A by irradiating the inside of the container body 10A with light from the outside of the container body 10A through the light transmission window 30 and receiving the light. 100A is arranged outside the light transmission window 30. The toner detection unit 100A includes a light emitting element S1 which is a light emitting member arranged outside the light transmitting window 30, a light receiving element S2 which is a light receiving member arranged outside the light transmitting window 30, and a light transmitting window 30. And a reflector 32 disposed inside the container body 10A so as to face each other with a space therebetween. The light emitting element S1 including, for example, a light emitting diode is arranged so as to irradiate light toward the reflecting plate 30 through the light transmitting window 30. For example, the light receiving element S2 including a phototransistor is provided on the reflection plate 3
It is arranged so that the light reflected by 2 can be received through the light transmitting window 30. Light emitting element S1 and light receiving element S2
Are arranged at the same height position at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the container body 10A. The incident angle of the light beam emitted by the light emitting element S1 on the reflection plate 30 is regulated to a predetermined value. It goes without saying that the reflection angle of the reflected light reflected by the reflection plate 30 and directed to the light receiving element S2 is automatically determined by the incident angle (law of reflection, that is, the incident angle of light is equal to the reflected angle, by).

The reflecting plate 32 is the end wall 14 of the container body 10A.
The reflector main body 3 integrally formed with the end wall 14 so as to extend from the end wall 15 toward the end wall 15 and in parallel with the light transmission window 30.
2a and at least the light transmission window 30 of the reflector main body 32a.
And a reflecting member 32b disposed on the surface facing the. In the embodiment, the reflection member 32b is made of an aluminum vapor-deposited PET film (trade name “FNS Shine 50” manufactured by Lintec Co., Ltd.), and the reflection plate main body 32a.
Is attached so as to cover the surface facing the light transmitting window 30, the upper end surface of the reflector main body 32a, and the upper end area of the surface of the reflector main body 32a opposite to the surface facing the light transmitting window 30. ing. The light transmitting window 30 is the base end of the reflector main body 32a.
A pair of reinforcing ribs 32c extending in the longitudinal direction of the container main body 10A are arranged on the surface opposite to the surface facing to each other at intervals in the vertical direction. In the container body 10A,
A toner storage space exists between the light transmission window 30 and the reflection plate 32, and there is no stationary interference object in the toner storage space.

Although not shown, the container body 1
A stirring mechanism that stirs the toner accommodated in the container body 10A is rotatably supported between the end walls 14 and 15 in the 0A. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 14b indicates a blind hole that rotatably supports one end of the rotating shaft of the stirring mechanism (not shown). Further, in FIG. 3, the number 14c is
An opening for filling the toner in the container 10 is shown. The opening 14c is closed by a lid (not shown) after the container 10 is filled with the toner.

Toner container 1 configured as described above
00 is removably attached to a predetermined position of the upper wall of the developing housing of the developing device provided in the main body of the image forming machine of the image forming machine (not shown). In the illustrated embodiment, the toner container 100 is mounted by inserting the toner container 100 from the front side of the main body of the image forming machine rearward, and detached by pulling out from the front surface of the main body of the image forming machine.
The insertion direction of the toner container 100 is the right side in FIGS. 1 and 2. When the toner container 100 is mounted on the developing housing, the shutter member 19 is slid to the open position in conjunction with the mounting operation. As a result, the toner discharge port 17 of the toner container 100, the toner passage port 19c of the shutter member 19 and the toner supply port (not shown) provided on the upper wall of the developing housing are communicated with each other, and the toner stored in the toner container 100 is The replenishment into the developing housing becomes possible. When the toner container 100 is pulled out from the front surface of the main body of the image forming machine, the shutter member 1
9 is slid to the closed position in conjunction with the detaching operation.

Toner detection unit 100A described above
Is arranged at a predetermined position of a developing housing of a developing device (not shown). Then, with the toner container 100 attached to the main body of the image forming machine, the toner detection unit 1
00A is relatively positioned so as to face the outside of the light transmission window 30. When the rotation shaft 22 of the toner transfer mechanism 20 is rotationally driven by a signal from a toner concentration sensor or a toner amount detection sensor (not shown) provided in the developing device, the toner contained in the container 10 of the toner container 100 is removed. , And is transported toward the toner discharge port 17 disposed in the one end region (the left end region in FIGS. 1 and 2) of the container 10. The toner is discharged through the toner outlet 17 and the toner passage port 19.
c and the toner is supplied into the developing housing through a toner replenishing port (not shown) provided on the upper wall of the developing housing.

As described above, when the rotary shaft 22 of the toner transfer mechanism 20 is rotationally driven, the toner contained in the container 10 is directed toward the toner discharge port 17 provided in the one end region of the container 10. Be transferred. As a result, the toner accommodated in the container 10 gradually becomes empty from the other end side of the container 10, and the toner having a small remaining amount is indicated by a two-dot chain line T showing the upper surface of the toner in FIG. As shown,
The toner discharge port 17 is surely gathered in the one end region near the end wall 14 existing nearby. The toner contained in the container body 10A is located between the light transmission window 30 and the reflection plate 32 of the container body 10A, and the toner detection unit 100
While the passage of the irradiation light between the light emitting element S1 of A and the reflecting plate 32 and / or the passage of the reflected light between the reflecting plate 32 and the light receiving element S2 is blocked, the reflecting plate 32 is kept by the light emitting element S1.
Since the light radiated toward does not reach the light receiving element S2, the light receiving element S2 is maintained in the OFF state, and the signal notifying that the remaining amount of toner has reached the predetermined remaining amount is not generated. However, the upper surface of the toner contained in the container body 10A is between the light transmission window 30 and the reflection plate 32 of the container body 10A, and the path of the irradiation light between the light emitting element S1 and the reflection plate 32 and When the path of the reflected light between the reflection plate 32 and the light receiving element S2 is lowered to a level at which the light receiving element S2 is substantially opened, the light receiving element S2 is turned on, so that the remaining amount of toner becomes a predetermined remaining amount. A signal notifying that this is generated by a controller (not shown).

According to the present invention, the toner discharge port 17 is disposed in the bottom wall 11 in the one end region of the container body 10A, which is near the one end wall 14, and the light transmission window 30 is provided in the container body 10A. Since the remaining amount of the toner is small, the toner, which is low in amount, is disposed in one end region in the vicinity of the end wall 14 near the toner discharge port 17 reliably and in a fixed form. Collected. As a result, the remaining amount of toner can be detected with a small error, that is, high accuracy, and the preset remaining amount of toner can be detected with a small error, that is, high accuracy. In addition, due to the fact that a preset amount of remaining toner can be detected with a small error, that is, with high accuracy, even after the remaining amount of toner is detected, the image forming machine can continue to be used with a certain margin. To be able to do. Therefore, when the toner is out of stock, a predetermined number of image recordings are sufficiently guaranteed until the toner is replenished, so that the image forming machine is not temporarily disabled. If the toner container 100 is out of stock, the image forming machine will not be temporarily unavailable until the toner container 100 is replaced.

Further, the setting of the remaining amount of toner to be detected is
This is easily possible by considering the positions of the light transmission window 30, the reflection plate 32, the toner outlet 17, etc., the size of the toner outlet 17, the transfer capability of the toner transfer mechanism 20, and the like.
According to the present invention, for example, it is possible to set an appropriate amount of 10% or less of the maximum filling amount of the toner stored in the toner container 100, and to detect the remaining amount of the toner set with a small error. Therefore, it is practically useful.

In the present invention, the light transmitting window 30 is provided on one side wall 12, and the toner detecting unit 100A has the light emitting element S1 and the light receiving element S2 provided outside the light transmitting window 30 and the light transmitting window. 30 and a reflector 32 disposed inside the container body 10A so as to face each other at an interval,
The light emitting element S1 is arranged so as to irradiate the light toward the reflecting plate 32 through the light transmitting window 30, and the light receiving element S2 is arranged in the reflecting plate 3
It is arranged so that the light reflected by 2 can be received through the light transmitting window 30. With such a configuration, it is possible in practice to easily detect the preset remaining amount of toner with a small error, that is, with high accuracy. In addition, the structure is simple and it can be manufactured at low cost.

Although the preferred embodiments of the toner remaining amount detecting device and the toner container configured according to the present invention have been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the range. For example, in the above embodiment, the light emitting element S1 and the light receiving element S2 are
Although they are arranged at the same height position at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the container body 10A, they may be arranged at intervals in the vertical direction of the container body 10A.

Further, in the above embodiment, the light transmission window 3
0 is disposed on one side wall 12, and the toner detection unit 1
00A is a light emitting element S disposed outside the light transmission window 30.
1 and the light receiving element S2, and the reflector plate 3 arranged in the container body 10A so as to face the light transmitting window 30 with a space therebetween.
2, and there are other alternative embodiments. In this other embodiment, the light transmission window 30 is disposed on both side walls 12 and 13 so as to face each other, and the toner detection unit 100A includes a light emitting element S1 disposed outside the one light transmission window 30. , The light receiving element S2 arranged outside the other light transmitting window 30, and the light emitting element S1 is arranged to irradiate light toward the light receiving element S2 through one light transmitting window 30 and the other light transmitting window 30. The light receiving element S
2 is arranged so as to be able to receive the light emitted by the light emitting element S1. In this case, it is necessary that no immobile interfering substance be present between the light transmitting windows 30 in the container body 10A and at least in the vicinity of the path of the light beam traveling from the light emitting element S1 to the light receiving element S2. . The above-described basic effects of the present invention can also be achieved by such other embodiments. Furthermore, although the toner container 100 in the toner remaining amount detecting device is configured as a cartridge type, it may be integrated with the developing device.

[0031]

According to the toner remaining amount detecting device and the toner container according to the present invention, the remaining amount of toner can be grasped with high accuracy, and the preset remaining amount of toner can be detected with high accuracy. To enable. Further, even after the remaining amount of toner is detected, it is possible to continue using the image forming machine with a predetermined margin.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a preferred embodiment of a toner container included in a toner remaining amount detecting device configured according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing a part of the toner container shown in FIG. 1 in a cutaway manner, showing the toner container together with a toner detection unit.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 containers 10A container body 11 bottom wall 12, 13 Side wall 14, 15 End wall 17 Toner outlet 19 Shutter member 20 Toner transfer mechanism 22 rotation axis 23, 24, 25 spiral blades 30 light transmitting window 32 reflector 100 toner container 100A toner detection unit (toner detection means) S1 Light emitting element (light emitting member) S2 Light receiving element (light receiving member)

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kazuyoshi Yamamura             Kyocera 1-22-28 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi             Within Mita Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koji Murata             Kyocera 1-22-28 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi             Within Mita Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshimasa Okura             Kyocera 1-22-28 Tamatsukuri, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi             Within Mita Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2F014 AB01 AC07 FA01                 2F065 AA24 CC00 FF44 GG07 GG12                       HH12 JJ01 JJ08 LL11                 2H077 AA12 AA15 AA33 AB02 AB07                       AB15 AC02 DA15 DA34 DA63                       DA64 DB14

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A container having a bottom wall having a toner discharge port, a pair of side walls and an end wall, each having a light transmitting window, and a toner discharged from the toner contained in the container. A toner container provided with a transfer mechanism that transfers the toner toward the outlet, and the residual toner stored in the container by irradiating the inside of the container with light from the outside of the container through a light transmission window and receiving the light. In a toner remaining amount detecting device provided with a toner detecting unit for detecting the amount, the toner discharge port is arranged on the bottom wall in the one end region of the container, which is near one end wall, and the light transmitting window is A toner remaining amount detecting device, which is disposed on one side wall or both side walls in the one end region of the container. 2. The light transmitting window is provided on one side wall, and the toner detecting means faces the light emitting member and the light receiving member provided outside the light transmitting window with a space therebetween. The light emitting member is arranged so as to irradiate light toward the reflecting plate through the light transmitting window, and the light receiving member transmits the light reflected by the reflecting plate through the light transmitting window. The toner remaining amount detecting device according to claim 1, which is arranged so as to be able to receive light. 3. A light transmitting window is disposed on both side walls so as to face each other, and the toner detecting means is provided on a light emitting member arranged outside one light transmitting window and on the other side outside the other light transmitting window. The light emitting member is arranged so as to emit light toward the light receiving member through one light transmitting window and the other light transmitting window, and the light receiving member receives the light emitted by the light emitting member. 2. The toner remaining amount detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the remaining toner amount detecting device is arranged so as to be capable of performing. 4. A container having a bottom wall having a toner discharge port, a pair of side walls and an end wall, each having a light transmitting window, and a toner contained in the container. A toner container provided with a transfer mechanism for transferring toward an outlet, the toner being contained in the container by irradiating light into the container from the outside of the container through a light transmission window and receiving the light. In the toner container in which the remaining amount of the toner is detected, the toner discharge port is disposed on the bottom wall in the one end region of the container, which is near the one end wall, and the light transmission window is provided in the one end region of the container. A toner container, characterized in that it is arranged on the side wall or on both side walls. 5. A light transmitting window is provided on one side wall, and a reflection plate is provided inside the container so as to face the light transmitting window with a space therebetween, and transmits light from the outside of the light transmitting window. The remaining amount of the toner contained in the container is detected by irradiating the light toward the reflecting plate through the window and receiving the light reflected by the reflecting plate through the light transmitting window outside the light transmitting window. Item 4. The toner container according to Item 4. 6. The light transmitting window is disposed on both side walls so as to face each other, and the light is emitted from the outside of the one light transmitting window through the one light transmitting window and the other light transmitting window, and the light is emitted. The toner container according to claim 4, wherein the remaining amount of the toner accommodated in the container is detected by receiving light outside the other light transmitting window.