JP2009036952A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus configured such that an intake port formed in a toner storage body communicates with the lower part of a supply port formed in a toner conveying means and toner is stored into a toner storage body by the toner conveying means, the image forming apparatus being designed so that toner and the like sticking to the internal wall faces of the supply port and intake port is properly prevented from scattering and soiling the apparatus when the toner storage body is detached. <P>SOLUTION: The image forming apparatus is configured such that the intake port 32 in the toner storage body 30 to be fitted in or unfitted from the main body 1 of the apparatus communicates with the lower part of the supply port 23 of the toner conveying means 20, and thereby toner t conveyed by the toner conveying means is stored into the toner storage body from the toner conveying means. In the image forming apparatus, a communication pipe 34 extending in close contact with the internal wall faces of the supply port and intake port communicating with each other is disposed in the toner storage body or toner conveying means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, and in particular, a take-in port provided in a toner container is located under a supply port provided in a toner transport unit that transports toner in the apparatus body. In the image forming apparatus in which the toner container is mounted as described above, and the toner conveyed by the toner conveying unit is accommodated in the toner container through the supply port and the intake port. It is characterized in that when the toner container is removed from the inside of the apparatus main body, it is possible to appropriately prevent the toner adhering to the inner wall surface of the supply port and the intake port from being scattered and contaminated. I have it.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, after a toner image formed on an image holding member such as a photoreceptor or an intermediate transfer belt is transferred, toner remaining on the image holding member is removed, The toner removed in this way is transported by a toner transport unit, and the toner transported by the toner transport unit is collected in a toner container that is detachably mounted in the apparatus main body.

  Here, conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, a supply port 23 that is opened and closed by a first shutter member 22 is provided on the bottom surface of the toner conveying means 20 provided with a conveying screw 21 therein. On the other hand, an intake port 32 that is opened and closed by the second shutter member 31 is provided on the upper surface of the toner container 30, and the toner container 30 is guided under the toner conveying means 20, and the first shutter member 22 and By sliding the second shutter member 31, the supply port 23 provided on the bottom surface of the toner transport unit 20 and the intake port 32 provided on the top surface of the toner container 30 are communicated, and the toner transport unit 20 described above. The toner t conveyed by the conveying screw 21 provided inside the toner container 30 is widely collected in the toner container 30 through the supply port 23 and the intake port 32. There.

  However, when the toner t is collected in the toner container 30 in this way, the toner t adheres to the inner wall surface of the supply port 23 and the intake port 32, or the toner container 30 and the toner transporting unit 20 When the toner container 30 is removed from the toner conveying means 20 and replaced, the toner container 30 and the toner conveying means 20 are contaminated by the toner t or the toner t is scattered. There was a problem that.

  Conventionally, as shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the end of the toner conveying means provided with the toner discharge port is inserted into the toner container from the insertion port provided on the side wall of the toner container, In this state, the toner conveyed by the toner conveying means is collected into the toner accommodating body from the toner discharge port, and the toner provided in the toner conveying means is removed when the toner accommodating body is removed from the toner conveying means. There has been proposed one in which the discharge port is closed by a shutter member.

However, in the above-mentioned Patent Documents 1 and 2, there is a useless space in which toner is not stored on the upper side of the toner container with respect to the portion into which the toner conveying unit is inserted, and a large amount of toner is stored. There is a problem that the toner container becomes large.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-319539 JP 2006-259175 A

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve the above-described various problems in an image forming apparatus in which toner conveyed by a toner conveying unit is accommodated in a toner accommodating body.

  In the present invention, the toner container is placed in the apparatus main body so that the intake port provided in the toner container is positioned below the supply port provided in the toner conveying means for conveying the toner in the apparatus main body. In the image forming apparatus in which the toner conveyed by the toner conveying means is accommodated in the toner accommodating body through the supply port and the intake port, when the toner accommodating body is removed, An object of the present invention is to appropriately prevent the toner and the like attached to the inner wall surfaces of the supply port and the intake port from being scattered and contaminated.

  In the present invention, in order to solve the above-described problems, a toner container that is detachably mounted in the apparatus main body, and a toner conveying means that conveys toner in the apparatus main body and guides the toner to the toner container. A toner container is mounted so that the intake port provided in the toner container is positioned below the supply port provided in the toner conveying means, and the toner conveyed by the toner conveying means described above In the image forming apparatus in which the toner is accommodated in the toner container through the supply port and the intake port, a communication pipe extending so as to be in close contact with the inner wall surface of the supply port and the intake port is provided as described above. It is provided inside the toner container or toner conveying means.

  In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, when the communication pipe is provided in the toner container, the first shutter member that opens and closes the supply port provided in the toner conveying unit is provided on the inner surface side of the toner conveying unit. The second shutter member that opens and closes the intake port provided in the toner container is provided on the outer surface side of the toner container, and the second shutter member is moved to open the intake port. After that, it is preferable that the communication pipe is extended from the intake port to the supply port, and then the first shutter member is moved to open the supply port.

  Further, when the communication pipe is provided in the toner container as described above, it is preferable to provide a projecting portion that protrudes toward the communication pipe along the upper edge of the supply port provided in the toner conveying means. .

  Further, when the communication pipe is provided in the toner container, the communication pipe is brought into close contact with the inner wall surface of the intake port and the supply port as described above to extend from the intake port to the supply port. Can be provided with an action lever for vertically moving the communication pipe housed in the toner container so as to extend from the inside of the toner container to the outside.

  Further, in the case where the action lever for vertically moving the communication tube accommodated in the toner container is provided so as to extend from the inside of the toner container to the outside, the amount of toner accommodated in the toner container is reduced. It is preferable that a deterring member for deterring the operation of the action lever is provided in the toner containing body when the amount exceeds a predetermined amount.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the toner transported by the toner transport unit as described above is stored in the toner storage body, the toner removed from the surface of the image holding member after transferring the toner image is removed. The toner can be transported by the toner transporting means and stored in the toner container.

  In the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the toner container is mounted so that the intake port provided in the toner container is positioned below the supply port provided in the toner conveying means for conveying the toner in the apparatus main body. When the toner conveyed by the toner conveying means is accommodated in the toner accommodating body through the supply port and the intake port, the communication pipe provided in the toner accommodating body or the toner conveying means is As described above, the toner is conveyed so as to be in close contact with the inner wall surfaces of the supply port and the intake port, so that the toner conveyed by the toner conveying means is accommodated in the toner accommodating body through the communication pipe.

  As a result, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, the toner conveyed by the toner conveying unit adheres to the inner wall surface of the supply port and the intake port, or enters the gap between the toner container and the toner conveying unit. When the toner container is removed from the toner conveying means and replaced, the toner container and the toner conveying means are contaminated by the toner or the toner is scattered. Disappear.

  Further, in the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the communication pipe is provided in the toner container, the first shutter member that opens and closes the supply port provided in the toner conveying unit is provided on the inner surface side of the toner conveying unit. And a second shutter member that opens and closes the intake port provided in the toner container is provided on the outer surface side of the toner container, and the second shutter member is moved to open the intake port, and then If the communication tube is extended from the intake port to the supply port, and then the first shutter member is moved to open the supply port, the toner remaining in the vicinity of the supply port Is introduced into the toner container through the communication pipe, and the toner is prevented from spilling outside from the supply port.

  In addition, when a protruding portion that protrudes toward the communication pipe along the upper edge of the supply port provided in the toner conveying means is provided, the toner conveyed by the toner conveying means passes from the protruding portion into the communication pipe. As a result, the toner is properly guided and toner is prevented from remaining at the upper end of the communication pipe.

  Further, when the action lever that moves the communication pipe accommodated in the toner container up and down is extended from the inside of the toner container to the outside, the communication pipe is removed as described above by the action lever extended to the outside. It is possible to easily extend from the inlet to the supply port.

  Further, when a toner suppressing member that suppresses the operation of the action lever is provided in the toner container in a state where the amount of toner stored in the toner container exceeds a predetermined amount, the toner that is full of toner The container is prevented from being erroneously mounted again.

  Next, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is not limited to those shown in the following embodiments, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within a range not changing the gist thereof.

  In the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, four imaging cartridges 10 </ b> A to 10 </ b> D are mounted in the apparatus main body 1.

  Here, each of the imaging cartridges 10A to 10D is exposed to the photoconductor 11, the charging device 12 for charging the surface of the photoconductor 11, and the surface of the charged photoconductor 11 according to image information. An exposure device 13 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photoconductor 11, a developing device 14 that supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 11 to form a toner image, and a photoconductor A first cleaning device 15 for removing toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 11 after the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 11 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 2 is provided.

  In the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, when full color image formation is performed, each developing device 14 in each of the imaging cartridges 10A to 10D has different colors of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan. The toner is accommodated, and a toner image of each color is formed on the surface of each photoconductor 11 in each of the imaging cartridges 10A to 10D.

  Next, the toner images of each color formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 11 in each of the imaging cartridges 10 </ b> A to 10 </ b> D in this way are sequentially transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 2, and full color toner is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 2. While forming an image, the toner remaining on the surface of each photoconductor 11 without being transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 2 is removed from the surface of the photoconductor 11 by each of the first cleaning devices 15 described above.

  Then, the full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 2 as described above is guided to the position of the transfer roller 5, while the recording medium S is fed by the paper feed roller 3, and this is fed by the timing roller 4. The recording medium S is guided between the intermediate transfer belt 2 and the transfer roller 5 at an appropriate timing, and a full-color toner image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 2 is transferred to the recording medium S.

  Next, the recording medium S to which the full-color toner image has been transferred in this way is guided to the fixing device 6, and after fixing the full-color toner image on the recording medium S, the recording medium S is discharged by the paper discharge roller 7. On the other hand, the toner remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 2 without being transferred to the recording medium S is removed from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 2 by the second cleaning device 8.

  In the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, the toner removed from the surface of each photoreceptor 11 by each first cleaning device 15 provided in each of the imaging cartridges 10A to 10D and the second cleaning device 8 described above. The toner removed from the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 2 by the toner conveying means 20 is conveyed by the toner conveying means 20, and the toner is accommodated in the toner accommodating body 30 detachably mounted in the apparatus main body 1 from the toner conveying means 20. ing.

  Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a conveying screw 21 for conveying the toner t is provided inside the toner conveying means 20, and the toner conveying means for conveying the toner t by the conveying screw 21. A supply port 23 for supplying toner t to the toner container 30 is provided on the bottom surface of the end portion 20, and a first shutter member 22 for opening and closing the supply port 23 is provided on the inner surface side of the toner conveying means 20. . Moreover, in this embodiment, the protrusion part 24 protruded in the inner peripheral side along the upper edge of said supply port 23 is provided.

  On the other hand, in the toner storage body 30 that stores the toner t conveyed as described above, as shown in FIG. 4, a second shutter member 31 that opens and closes the intake port 32 is provided on the upper surface of the end portion. The cylindrical guide portion 33 extends from the edge of the intake port 32 to the inside of the toner container 30, and the communication pipe 34 is connected to the inner periphery side of the guide portion 33 from the intake port 32. It is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction so as to protrude upward.

  Further, in this embodiment, one end portion of the action lever 35 that moves the communication pipe 34 up and down is engaged with the communication pipe 34, and the other end portion of the action lever 35 is opposite to the intake port 32. It is provided so as to be slidable from the end of the toner container 30 so as to extend to the outside of the toner container 30, and is led into the toner container 30 through the intake port 32 on the lower side of the toner container 30. A conveying screw 36 for conveying the toner t to the end side opposite to the intake port 32 is provided.

  Here, in this embodiment, as described above, one end portion of the action lever 35 is engaged with the communication pipe 34, and the action pipe 35 moves the communication pipe 34 up and down along the guide portion 33 by the action lever 35. When projecting upward from 32, a gear-shaped tooth portion 34a is provided on the outer periphery of the lower portion of the communication pipe 34, and a screw portion 34b is provided on the outer periphery on the upper side of the gear-shaped tooth portion 34a.

  On the other hand, in the operation lever 35, a tooth portion 35a that meshes with the tooth portion 34a of the communication pipe 34 is provided in a predetermined range at an end portion inserted into the toner container 30, and the guide described above. In the portion 33, a screw groove (not shown) that meshes with the screw portion 34 b of the communication pipe 34 is provided on the inner peripheral side thereof.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the end portion of the action lever 35 extended to the outside of the toner container 30 in a state where the second shutter member 31 is moved and the intake port 32 is opened. When the action lever 35 is slid in the direction to push the action lever 35 into the toner container 30, the tooth part 35a provided at one end of the action lever 35 and the tooth part 34a provided at the communication pipe 34 are engaged with each other. As the communication pipe 34 rotates, the threaded portion 34b provided in the communication pipe 34 meshes with the screw groove provided on the inner peripheral side of the guide portion 33, and the communication pipe 34 moves upward while rotating. It protrudes upward from the intake port 32 to a predetermined height. On the other hand, when the action lever 35 is slid in the direction to be pulled out from the toner container 30 from the above state, the communication pipe 34 rotates in the reverse direction and moves downward.

  Here, in this embodiment, when the toner container 30 is mounted in the apparatus main body 1, as shown in FIG. 6, the door 9 provided in the apparatus main body 1 is opened, and the toner container 30 is attached to the apparatus main body 1. In a state where the second shutter member 31 provided on the upper surface of the toner container 30 is guided to the bottom of the toner conveying means 20 provided in the main body 1 and stopped at the end of the toner conveying means 20, The toner container 30 is slid to the toner conveying means 20 side to open the intake port 32, and the intake port 32 is guided under the supply port 23 provided in the toner conveying unit 20 to communicate with the supply port 23. Like that.

  Next, the door 9 of the apparatus main body 1 is rotated so as to be closed, and as shown in FIG. 7, the action lever 35 extended from the toner container 30 by the door 9 is pushed into the toner container 30. The communication pipe 34 is moved upward by the action lever 35 as described above, and the communication pipe 34 is protruded from the intake port 32 and inserted so as to be in close contact with the inner wall surface of the supply port 23. At the same time, the upper end of the communication pipe 34 is brought into contact with the protrusion 24 provided on the upper edge of the supply port 23.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the door 9 is further rotated and closed, and the action lever 35 is further slid in the direction of pushing into the toner container 30, and the action lever 35 is pushed. Then, the first shutter member 22 provided on the inner surface side of the toner conveying means 20 is moved so that the supply port 23 is opened. In this embodiment, the operation lever 35 is slid in the direction in which the operation lever 35 is pushed into the toner container 30 by the door 9 provided in the apparatus main body 1. It is also possible to slide it in the direction to push it into.

  Then, after the communication pipe 34 is inserted so as to be in close contact with the inner wall surface of the supply port 23 as described above, the first shutter member 22 is moved to open the supply port 23. Even if the toner t remaining in the vicinity of the supply port 23 is guided to the supply port 23, the toner t is guided into the toner container 30 through the communication pipe 34.

  Further, when the first shutter member 22 provided on the inner surface side of the toner conveying means 20 is moved as the action lever 35 is pushed as described above, for example, the toner container is moved from the front end of the action lever 35. A member (not shown) extended to the outside of 30 can be engaged with a member (not shown) extended from the first shutter member 22 to the outside of the toner conveying means 20. .

  Then, as described above, the intake port 32 provided in the toner container 30 and the supply port 23 provided in the toner conveying means 20 are communicated by the communication pipe 34, and the supply port 23 provided in the toner conveying means 20 is connected. In the state where the toner is opened, the conveying screw 21 provided in the toner conveying means 20 is rotated to convey the toner t in the toner conveying means 20 to the supply port 23, and the toner t is conveyed to the above-mentioned toner t. The toner t guided to the toner container 30 through the inside of the communication pipe 34 and the toner t guided to the toner container 30 in this way is connected to the intake port 32 by the above-described transport screw 36 provided in the toner container 30. It is transported sequentially to the opposite end side and packed.

  By doing so, the toner t conveyed by the toner conveying means 20 is guided into the toner container 30 through the inside of the communication pipe 34, so that the toner t is supplied to the supply port 23 of the toner conveying means 20 and the toner container 30. It does not adhere to the inner wall surface of the intake port 32 or enter the gap between the toner container 30 and the toner conveying means 20.

  On the other hand, when the toner container 30 packed with the toner t as described above is removed from the inside of the apparatus main body 1, the door 9 of the apparatus main body 1 is opened, and the toner container 30 is placed inside the toner container 30 as described above. The pushed action lever 35 is slid in the direction to be pulled out from the toner container 30.

  When the action lever 35 is slid in the direction in which it is pulled out from the toner container 30 as described above, the first shutter member 22 provided in the toner conveying means 20 is moved to the original position, and the supply port 23 is closed. Thereafter, the communication pipe 34 rotates in the reverse direction and moves downward so that the communication pipe 34 that protrudes from the intake port 32 and is inserted into the supply port 23 is accommodated in the toner container 30. Become.

  In this state, when the toner container 30 is pulled out from under the toner conveying means 20, the intake port 32 of the toner container 30 is closed by the second shutter member 31, and in this state, the toner container 30 is The device is taken out from the inside of the apparatus main body 1.

  In this case, as described above, the toner t adheres to the inner wall surface of the supply port 23 of the toner transport unit 20 and the intake port 32 of the toner container 30 or enters the gap between the toner container 30 and the toner transport unit 20. Therefore, the toner container 30 and the toner transport unit 20 are not contaminated by the toner t and the toner t is not scattered.

  Note that the method of vertically moving the communication pipe 34 provided in the toner container 30 by the action lever 35 extending from the inside of the toner container 30 to the outside is particularly limited to the method shown in the above embodiment. It is not something.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, in the above-described action lever 35 extending from the inside of the toner container 30 to the outside, the end of the action lever 35 inserted into the toner container 30. In addition, a guide groove 35b inclined upward from the front end side to the rear side is provided, while an engagement protrusion 34c to be engaged in the guide groove 35b is provided on the communication pipe 34. Can do.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the engagement protrusion 34 c provided on the communication pipe 34 is provided on the action lever 35 in a state before the action lever 35 is slid in the direction in which the action lever 35 is pushed into the toner container 30. The communication pipe 34 is positioned below the second shutter member 31 that closes the intake port 32 provided in the toner container 30.

  When the toner t is stored in the toner container 30, as shown in FIG. 11, the second shutter member 31 is moved to open the intake port 32, and then the toner container 30 is moved. When the end of the action lever 35 extended to the outside is pushed and slid in the direction in which the action lever 35 is pushed into the toner container 30, the engagement protrusion 34 c provided on the communication pipe 34 is formed. Then, the guide pipe 35 moves from the lower side of the tip to the upper side of the rear end along the guide groove 35b provided in the action lever 35, and the communication pipe 34 moves upward along the guide part 33. It protrudes upward from the intake port 32 to a predetermined height.

  Further, in the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, a triangular shape that is rotatable in the vertical direction is provided inside the toner container 30 on the tip side of the action lever 35 inserted into the toner container 30. The restraining member 37 is provided on the lower side of the action lever 35, and a flexible film 37 a made of a polyester film is extended from the restraining member 37 toward the lower surface of the action lever 35. can do.

  In this case, the toner t conveyed by the toner conveying means 20 as described above is accommodated in the toner container 30 through the inside of the communication pipe 34, and the toner t is accumulated in the toner container 30. As shown in FIG. 13, when the above-described deterring member 37 is gradually rotated upward by the accumulated toner t and the toner t in the toner container 30 is full, the upper end of the deterring member 37 is The portion comes into contact with the lower surface of the action lever 35.

  Then, after the toner container 30 filled with the toner t is taken out from under the toner conveying means 20 as described above, the toner container 30 filled with the toner t is mistakenly removed. In the case where the action lever 35 is slid in the direction in which the action lever 35 is pushed into the toner container 30, the flexible film 37 a extended from the restraining member 37 toward the action lever 35 acts. As shown in FIG. 14, when the lever 35 is pushed, the restraining member 37 rotates upward, and the upper end portion of the restraining member 37 is positioned above the lower surface of the action lever 35. 37 is sandwiched between the action lever 35 and the inner wall surface of the toner container 30 to prevent the action lever 35 from being pushed into the toner container 30. Wear is not.

  As a result, the toner container 30 filled with the toner t is prevented from being erroneously attached, and the toner container 30 is prevented from being excessively packed with the toner t.

In the conventional example, the state before the toner container is mounted under the toner transport unit, and the toner container is mounted under the toner transport unit, and the toner transported by the toner transport unit is stored in the toner container. It is sectional explanatory drawing which showed the state made to do. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a state of an end portion of a toner transport unit that transports toner removed from the surface of each photoconductor and intermediate transfer belt in the image forming apparatus according to the embodiment. In the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, a cross-sectional explanatory view of a toner container that accommodates the toner conveyed by the toner conveying means. FIG. 6 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state where the operation lever is slid in a direction to push into the toner container and the communication pipe is moved upward in the toner container. In the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the door provided in the apparatus main body is opened, the toner container is guided under the toner transport unit, and the intake port provided in the toner container is provided in the toner transport unit. It is sectional explanatory drawing which showed the state connected with the supplied supply port. In the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the door provided in the apparatus main body is slid in the direction in which the operation lever is pushed into the toner container, and the communication pipe is moved upward to move the inside of the supply port provided in the toner conveying unit. It is sectional explanatory drawing which showed the state introduce | transduced into. In the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, the operation lever is further slid in the direction of pushing into the toner container by the door provided in the apparatus main body, the supply port of the toner conveying unit is opened, and the toner conveying unit conveys it. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state in which the received toner is stored in the toner storage body through a communication tube. In the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, there are a partial explanatory view of an action lever used in the toner container according to the first modification and a schematic explanatory view of a communication pipe. FIG. 6 is an explanatory cross-sectional view of a toner container according to the first modification example. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state in which, in the toner container according to the first modified example, the operation lever is slid in a direction of pushing into the toner container, and the communication pipe is moved upward. In the image forming apparatus according to the above-described embodiment, a cross-sectional explanatory view of a toner container according to a second modification example in which a restraining member that is rotatable in the vertical direction is provided inside the toner container on the distal end side of the action lever. is there. FIG. 10 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state in which toner is accumulated in the toner container according to the second modified example and a restraining member is rotated upward. FIG. 10 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state in which the toner container according to the second modified example in which the toner is accumulated and becomes full is prevented from being erroneously attached by the above-described suppression member.

Explanation of symbols

1 Device body 2 Intermediate transfer belt (image holding member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Paper feed roller 4 Timing roller 5 Transfer roller 6 Fixing device 7 Paper discharge roller 8 Second cleaning device 9 Door 10A-10D Imaging cartridge 11 Photoconductor (image holding member)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Charging apparatus 13 Exposure apparatus 14 Developing apparatus 15 1st cleaning apparatus 20 Apparatus main body 21 Conveying screw 22 1st shutter member 23 Supply port 24 Protrusion part 30 Toner container 31 2nd shutter member 32 Taking in port 33 Guide part 34 Communication pipe 34a tooth part 34b screw part 34c engagement protrusion 35 action lever 35a tooth part 35b guide groove 36 conveying screw 37 restraining member 37a flexible film t toner S recording medium

Claims (7)

  A toner container that is detachably mounted in the apparatus main body, and a toner conveying means that conveys the toner in the apparatus main body and guides it to the toner container, are provided below a supply port provided in the toner conveying means. The toner container is mounted so that the intake port provided in the toner container is positioned, and the toner conveyed by the toner conveying means is passed through the supply port and the intake port. In the image forming apparatus to be accommodated in the container, a communication pipe extending so as to be in close contact with the inner wall surfaces of the supply port and the intake port is provided in the toner container or the toner conveying means. An image forming apparatus.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication pipe is provided in the toner container.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a first shutter member that opens and closes a supply port provided in the toner conveying unit is provided on an inner surface side of the toner conveying unit, and a pickup provided in the toner container is provided. The second shutter member for opening and closing the inlet is provided on the outer surface side of the toner container, the second shutter member is moved to open the inlet, and then the communication pipe provided in the toner container is provided. An image forming apparatus that extends from the intake port to the supply port and then moves the first shutter member to open the supply port.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a protruding portion protruding toward the communication pipe along the upper edge of the supply port provided in the toner conveying unit. Image forming apparatus.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an action lever that vertically moves the communication pipe accommodated in the toner container extends from the inside of the toner container to the outside. An image forming apparatus characterized by being provided.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a deterring member that inhibits the operation of the action lever is provided in the toner container when the amount of toner stored in the toner container exceeds a predetermined amount. An image forming apparatus.   7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner conveyed by the toner conveying unit is toner removed from the surface of the image holding member after transferring the toner image. An image forming apparatus.

Images