JP2012173645A - Opening/closing mechanism, powder conveying device having the same, powder processing device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stably open and close an opening for supplying or collecting powder in accordance with attachment and detachment of a powder processing component which is attachable to and detachable from a predetermined receiving part.SOLUTION: An opening/closing mechanism comprises: an opening/closing lid 3; a holding frame 4 for movably holding the opening/closing lid 3; an abutting part 5 on which a hooking part 17 is abutted to move the opening/closing lid 3 when a powder processing component 16 is mounted on; an elastic holding part 6 for holding the hooking part 17 so as to embrace the hooking part 17 when the hooking part 17 reaches a position where the hooking part 17 abuts on the abutting part 5 after elastically deformed by contacting with the hooking part 17 provided in the powder processing component 16 when the powder processing component 16 is mounted on; a guide part 7 for guiding the elastic holding part 6 elastically deformed so as to allow movement of the hooking part 17 when the opening/closing lid 3 moves from a closing position to an opening position along the holding frame 4; a regulating part 9 for regulating a position and posture of the hooking part 17 which abuts on the abutting part 5 by contacting with the hooking part 17 provided in the powder processing component 16.

Description

  The present invention relates to an opening / closing mechanism and a powder conveying apparatus, a powder processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus using the opening / closing mechanism.

As an open / close mechanism used in a conventional powder processing apparatus, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known.
The toner uses toner as powder, and includes a toner cartridge having a cartridge side engaging member and a replenishing port shutter having a shutter side engaging member. When the toner cartridge is detached, the cartridge side engaging member is provided. And the shutter side engaging member are engaged, the toner supply port is moved from the open position to the closed position in a state where the supply port shutter is connected to the toner cartridge, and the supply port shutter is moved along with the detachment operation of the toner cartridge. This is a technique for releasing the engagement between the shutter side engaging member and the cartridge side engaging member after moving to the closed position.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2005-134452 (Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention, FIG. 9)

  The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to open and close stably opening and closing an opening for supplying or collecting powder as a powder processing component that can be attached to and detached from a predetermined receiving part is attached or detached. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanism and a powder conveying apparatus, a powder processing apparatus, and an image forming apparatus using the mechanism.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a powder processing component that is provided in a conveyance path having an opening for supplying or collecting powder and is detachably mounted on a predetermined receiving portion to process the powder. An opening / closing mechanism that opens and closes the opening in accordance with attachment / detachment of the powder, and an opening / closing lid that opens / closes the opening for supplying or collecting powder, a closed position where the opening is closed, and an open position where the opening is opened A holding frame that is movably held between the holding portion and the hook portion provided on the powder processing component side so that the hook portion comes into contact with the holding portion when the powder processing component is mounted. An abutting portion that moves the open / close lid from the closed position to an open position, and the open / close lid that is elastically deformable in a direction extending from the abutting portion to the powder processing component side and intersecting the moving direction of the open / close lid Provided in the powder A stage in which the hook is brought into a position where it comes into contact with the abutting portion after elastically deforming to allow movement of the hook by contacting the hook on the powder processing component side when mounting the processing component Then, an elastic holding part that holds the hook part so as to embrace it by elastic return, and the holding frame, and when the opening / closing lid moves along the holding frame from the closed position to the open position, A guide part for guiding the elastic holding part elastically deformed so as to allow movement of the hook part; and a powder processing part provided on the opening / closing lid so as to be positioned on the powder processing part side from the abutting part. An opening / closing mechanism comprising: a restricting portion that restricts a position and a posture of the hook portion that abuts against the abutting portion by contacting with the hook portion on the side.

The invention according to claim 2 is the opening / closing mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that a pair of the elastic holding portions are provided with the abutting portion interposed therebetween.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the opening / closing mechanism according to the first or second aspect, the elastic holding portion extends closer to the powder processing component than the abutting portion and elastically deforms with the base side as a fulcrum. Provided on the distal end side of the holding arm portion, and a projecting portion projecting in a direction in which the holding arm portion is pushed and spread in a direction crossing the moving direction of the opening / closing lid, and provided on the distal end side of the holding arm portion. An opening / closing mechanism comprising: a protruding portion that protrudes on the opposite side of the projecting portion in a direction that intersects a moving direction of the opening / closing lid.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the opening / closing mechanism according to any one of the first to third aspects, the restricting portion includes a pair of restricting members sandwiching the abutting portion, and the pair of restricting members includes the pair of restricting members. An opening / closing mechanism characterized in that a guide surface for guiding the hooking portion is formed so as to be inclined toward the abutting portion.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the opening / closing mechanism according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the guide portion is located on the closed position side of the open / close lid with respect to the direction in which the open / close lid moves from the closed position to the open position. The opening / closing mechanism is characterized in that a portion of the opening / closing lid located on the open position side is farther from a center line in the moving direction of the opening / closing lid than a portion to be opened.
The invention according to claim 6 is the opening and closing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further provided in the middle of the guide portion, and the elastic holding portion contacting the hook portion to move the hook portion. An opening / closing mechanism having a retracting part for retracting the elastic holding part so as to allow elastic deformation.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the opening / closing mechanism according to the sixth aspect, the elastic holding portion is pushed in a direction crossing the moving direction of the open / close lid when the distal end portion is located at the inlet and the retracting portion of the guide portion. An opening / closing mechanism characterized in that it can be elastically deformed in a non-contact manner in a direction in which it is spread.
The invention according to claim 8 is the opening / closing mechanism according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the retracting portion is inclined so as to be gradually expanded with respect to a direction in which the opening / closing lid moves from the closed position toward the open position. The opening and closing mechanism is characterized in that a damming portion is formed at the widening end portion of the inclined portion so that the elastic holding portion falls down toward the abutting portion.

The invention according to claim 9 has an opening for supplying or collecting the powder, and is provided in correspondence with an opening of the conveying path for conveying the powder through the opening and the opening of the conveying path, and is predetermined. An opening / closing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the opening / closing mechanism opens and closes with attachment / detachment of a powder processing component that is detachably attached to the receiving portion and processes the powder. It is a transport device.
The invention according to claim 10 comprises: a powder processing component that is detachably attached to a predetermined receiving portion and processes the powder; and a powder conveying device according to claim 9. This is a characteristic powder processing apparatus.
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the powder processing apparatus according to the tenth aspect, wherein the powder processing component includes a hook portion provided so as to be able to abut against the abutting portion of the opening / closing mechanism, and the powder conveying device side. An opening that can be connected to the opening of the opening / closing mechanism, and opens and closes the opening when the powder processing component is mounted on a predetermined receiving portion. An opening / closing mechanism connected to the opening of the mechanism, wherein the powder conveying device includes an opening / closing operation member that engages with the opening / closing mechanism on the powder processing component side to open / close the opening of the opening / closing mechanism. It is a powder processing apparatus.
The invention according to claim 12 includes image forming means for forming an image using an image forming material as powder, and includes the powder processing apparatus according to claim 10 or 11 as part of the image forming means. An image forming apparatus characterized by the above.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to stably open and close the opening for supplying or collecting the powder in accordance with the attachment / detachment of the powder processing component that can be attached to and detached from the predetermined receiving portion. .
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, compared with the aspect which does not have this structure, the attitude | position of the opening-and-closing mechanism accompanying the attachment or detachment operation of powder processing components can be maintained at an appropriate attitude | position.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 3, the holding | maintenance holding | maintenance property by the elastic holding part with respect to the hook part by the side of powder processing components can be strengthened more.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, as compared with the aspect without this configuration, the positional displacement of the hooking portion of the powder processing component is effectively restricted, and the hooking portion is placed at the appropriate position of the butting portion of the opening / closing mechanism. I can guide you.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 5, compared with the aspect which does not have this structure, the permanent deformation | transformation of an elastic holding | maintenance part can be suppressed few.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 6, compared with the aspect which does not have this structure, the holding | maintenance holding | maintenance property of the elastic holding part with respect to the hook part of a powder processing component can be stabilized more.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 7, the holding | maintenance holding property by the elastic holding part with respect to the hook part by the side of powder processing components can be stabilized more.
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 8, compared with the aspect which does not have this structure, it can maintain favorable the elastic retainability of the hook part by an elastic holding part, without impairing the guidance property accompanying opening and closing of an opening-and-closing lid. it can.
According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to stably open and close the opening for supplying or collecting the powder as the powder processing component detachable from the predetermined receiving portion is attached or detached. Along with this, the conveying behavior of the powder can be stabilized.
According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to stably open and close the opening for supplying or collecting the powder in association with the attachment or detachment of the powder processing component that is detachable from the predetermined receiving portion. Along with this, it is possible to effectively avoid the situation that hinders the powder conveyance behavior associated with the attachment / detachment of the powder processing component.
According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the opening / closing mechanism on the powder conveying device side and the opening / closing mechanism on the powder processing component side can be opened / closed in conjunction with the attachment / detachment of the powder processing component.
According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the opening for supplying or collecting the image forming material as the powder is stably provided when the powder processing component detachable from the predetermined receiving portion is attached / detached. Accordingly, it is possible to effectively avoid a situation in which the conveyance behavior of the image forming material as the powder accompanying attachment / detachment of the powder processing component is hindered.

(A) is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of embodiment of the powder processing apparatus to which this invention was applied, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of the opening-closing mechanism by the side of the powder conveyance apparatus in (a). . 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus according to a first embodiment. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an image forming unit used in Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an overall configuration of a powder processing apparatus used in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a developer supply device as a powder conveyance device used in the first embodiment. It is the arrow view seen from VI direction in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a developing device that is a powder processing component used in the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a state in which an opening / closing mechanism on the developing device side illustrated in FIG. 7 is opened. (A) is front explanatory drawing of the image development apparatus shown in FIG. 7, (b) is the plane explanatory drawing. It is explanatory drawing which shows the principal part of the opening-closing mechanism by the side of the developing device shown to Fig.9 (a). FIG. 11 is an explanatory plan view of FIG. 10. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which open | released the opening / closing mechanism shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a main part of an opening / closing mechanism on the powder conveyance device side used in the first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of an opening-and-closing lid and the periphery of an opening-and-closing lid among the opening-and-closing mechanisms shown in FIG. It is the arrow view seen from the XV direction in FIG. It is the arrow view seen from the XVI direction in FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of a holding frame and this holding frame periphery among the opening / closing mechanisms shown in FIG. It is the arrow view seen from the XVIII direction in FIG. It is plane explanatory drawing of FIG. In Embodiment 1, it is explanatory drawing which shows the state just before a developing device and a powder conveying apparatus engage when attaching a developing device to the image development receiving part of an apparatus housing | casing. In Embodiment 1, it is explanatory drawing which shows a state when mounting | wearing of a developing device is completed to the image development receiving part of an apparatus housing | casing. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state before the developing device and the opening / closing mechanism on the powder conveying device side in Embodiment 1 are engaged with each other. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state immediately before the developing device and the opening / closing mechanism on the powder conveying device side in Embodiment 1 are engaged. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the engagement between the developing device and the opening / closing mechanism on the powder conveying device side in Embodiment 1 is completed. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the opening / closing lid of the opening / closing mechanism starts to move from the closed position with respect to the engaging operation between the developing device and the opening / closing mechanism on the powder conveyance device side in the first embodiment. FIG. 26 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the opening / closing lid of the opening / closing mechanism has reached a position on the way from the closed position to the open position in the same engagement operation as in FIG. 25. It is explanatory drawing which shows a state when the opening-and-closing lid | cover of an opening-and-closing mechanism reaches | attains an open position about the same engagement operation | movement as FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which the opening-and-closing lid | cover of an opening-and-closing mechanism starts moving from an obstruction | occlusion position about the opening-and-closing mechanism by the side of the powder conveyance apparatus used in Embodiment 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows a state when the opening / closing lid | cover of an opening / closing mechanism reaches | attains an open position about the opening / closing mechanism by the side of the powder conveyance apparatus used in Embodiment 2. FIG.

Outline of Embodiment First, an outline of an embodiment of a powder processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied will be described.
In FIG. 1 (a), a powder processing apparatus is detachably attached to a predetermined receiving portion 15 to process powder and a powder processing apparatus 16 for processing powder. And.
In this example, the powder conveying device has an opening 1a for supplying or collecting powder, and corresponds to the conveying path 1 for conveying the powder through the opening 1a and the opening 1a of the conveying path 1. And an opening / closing mechanism 2 that is detachably attached to a predetermined receiving portion 15 and opens / closes in accordance with attachment / detachment of the powder processing component 16 for processing powder.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the opening / closing mechanism 2 includes an opening / closing lid 3 for opening / closing an opening 1a for supplying or collecting powder, and this opening / closing lid 3. The opening / closing lid 3 is brought into contact with a holding frame 4 that is movably held between a closing position where the opening 1a is closed and an opening position where the opening 1a is opened, and a hook portion 17 provided on the powder processing component 16 side. An abutting portion 5 provided to move the opening / closing lid 3 from the closed position to the open position when the powder processing component 16 is mounted, and the powder processing component than the abutting portion 5 16 is provided on the opening / closing lid 3 so as to be elastically deformable with respect to a direction intersecting the moving direction of the opening / closing lid 3, and the hook portion on the powder processing component 16 side when the powder processing component 16 is mounted. 17 in contact with the After the elastic deformation so as to allow the movement of the hook portion 17, the elastic portion that holds the hook portion 17 by holding it back by elastic return when the hook portion 17 reaches a position where it hits the abutting portion 5. The holding portion 6 and the holding frame 4 are elastically deformed so as to allow the hook portion 17 to move when the opening / closing lid 3 moves along the holding frame 4 from the closed position to the open position. A guide portion 7 for guiding the elastic holding portion 6, a hook portion 17 provided on the opening / closing lid 3 so as to be positioned on the powder processing component 16 side with respect to the abutting portion 5, And a restricting portion 9 that restricts the position and posture of the hooking portion 17 that abuts against the abutting portion 5 by contact.

In such technical means, the powder processing component 16 is a component that is detachably attached to a predetermined receiving portion 15 as long as it has a function of processing powder. For example, taking an electrophotographic image forming apparatus as an example, a developing device that contains an image forming material as a powder and develops an electrostatic latent image, a container that supplies the image forming material as a powder, a powder And a collection container for collecting the image forming material.
Further, the opening / closing mechanism 2 is not an opening / closing mechanism on the powder processing component 16 side, but is provided in a conveyance path 1 having an opening 1a for supplying or collecting powder and opens and closes the opening 1a. .
Furthermore, the opening / closing lid 3 only needs to be held movably by the holding frame 4 between a closed position for closing the opening 1a and an open position for opening the opening 1a. At this time, it is preferable that the holding frame 4 is engaged with the opening / closing lid 3 or the elastic holding portion 6 provided on the opening / closing lid 3 to restrict the position of the opening / closing lid 3 at the closed position or the open position.
Furthermore, the abutting portion 5 may be appropriately selected as long as it abuts on the hook portion 17 (for example, a convex portion) on the powder processing component 16 side.
The elastic holding portion 6 extends toward the powder processing component 16 with respect to the abutting portion 5 and is provided so as to be elastically deformable in a direction crossing the moving direction of the opening / closing lid 3, thereby being engaged with the hook portion 17. It is only necessary to have a function of holding the hook 17 of the powder processing component 16 so as to be elastically deformed.
And the guide part 7 should just guide the elastic holding | maintenance part 6 elastically deformed by engagement with the hook part 17, so that the hook part 17 may be held and held by the elastic holding part 6.
Further, the restricting portion 9 may be any member that restricts the position and posture of the hook portion 17 that abuts against the abutment portion 5 by contacting the hook portion 17 on the powder processing component 16 side. In this way, the hooking portion 17 on the powder processing component 16 side is restricted to a predetermined position and posture with respect to the abutting portion 5 of the opening / closing mechanism 2, so that the elastic holding portion 6 with respect to the hooking portion 17. In addition to being held well, the hook 17 does not come into contact with the elastic holding portion 6 when the powder processing component 16 is detached.

Next, typical aspects or preferred aspects used in this embodiment will be described.
First, as a typical aspect of the elastic holding part 6, there is an aspect in which a pair is provided with the abutting part 5 interposed therebetween. According to this aspect, when the hooking portion 17 is held and held from both sides by the pair of elastic holding portions 6 (6a and 6b in this example), the opening / closing lid 3 of the opening / closing mechanism 2 with respect to the attaching / detaching direction of the powder processing component 16 It is possible to substantially match the movement directions of the two.
Further, as another representative aspect of the elastic holding part 6, a holding arm part that extends to the powder processing component 16 side from the abutting part 5 and elastically deforms with the base side as a fulcrum, and a tip of the holding arm part Provided on the side, and a projecting portion projecting in a direction in which the holding arm portion is pushed and spread in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the opening and closing lid 3, and provided on the distal end side of the holding arm portion and moving the opening and closing lid 3 The aspect which has the protrusion part which protrudes on the opposite side to the said overhang | projection part in the direction which cross | intersects a direction is mentioned.
Here, as the elastic holding portion 6, the holding arm portion only needs to have a size for holding and holding the hook portion 17, and the overhanging portion is used when the hook portion 17 enters the holding arm portion. The holding arm portion is once dammed to the guide portion 7 so as to be spread. Further, the protruding portion avoids the hooking portion 17 from being detached from the holding arm portion when the powder processing component 16 is released when the hooking portion 17 is held in the holding arm portion. .
Furthermore, as a preferable aspect of the restricting portion 9, the restricting portion 9 has a pair of restricting members sandwiching the abutting portion 5, and the pair of restricting members are inclined so as to be narrowed toward the abutting portion 5. What formed the guide surface which guides the said hook part 17 is mentioned. According to this aspect, the hook portion 17 of the powder processing component 16 is positioned at the position of the abutting portion 5 regardless of whether the hook portion 17 is displaced in the width direction intersecting the moving direction of the opening / closing lid 3 with respect to the abutting portion 5. Guided.
Moreover, as a preferable aspect of the guide portion 7, the opening / closing lid 3 is located on the opening position side of the opening / closing lid 3 in the direction in which the opening / closing lid 3 moves from the closing position to the opening position. The aspect which is located in the movement direction centerline of the said opening-and-closing lid | cover 3 is mentioned. The elastic deformation locus of the elastic holding part 6 by the guide part 7 is devised. In this example, when the open / close lid 3 is located at the open position, the elastic deformation degree of the elastic holding part 6 is reduced.
In the present embodiment, the elastic holding portion 6 is provided in the middle of the guide portion 7 and elastically moves the elastic holding portion 6 so as to allow the hooking portion 17 to move when the elastic holding portion 6 comes into contact with the hooking portion 17. A mode in which a retracting portion 8 that retracts in a deformable manner is added is preferable.
When the retracting portion 8 holds and holds the hook portion 17 by the elastic holding portion 6, for example, when the opening / closing mechanism 2 is provided in the conveyance path 1 that can be elastically deformed, the elastic holding portion of the opening / closing mechanism 2 is provided. 6 and the hooking portion 17 of the powder processing component 16 are shifted, and the opening / closing lid 3 is opened from the closed position by the hooking portion 17 while the hooking portion 17 is not held in the elastic holding portion 6. There is a concern of moving to. However, in this example, since the retracting portion 8 is provided in the middle of the guide portion 7, when the tip of the elastic holding portion 6 reaches the retracting portion 8, the hook portion 17 moves the elastic holding portion 6 to the retracting portion 8. It is possible to push the space using the space, and the retracting portion 8 behaves such that the hook portion 17 is held in the state of being held in the elastic holding portion 6. Because of this behavior, in this example, there is no concern that the opening / closing lid 3 reaches the open position while the hooking portion 17 is not held in the elastic holding portion 6.
Therefore, for example, even if the powder processing component 16 is detached again after being mounted, the hook portion 17 is held and held in the elastic holding portion 6 of the opening / closing lid 3 when the powder processing component 16 is detached. The opening / closing lid 3 moves from the opening position to the closing position as the opening / closing lid 3 moves from the opening position to the closing position in accordance with the movement of the hooking portion 17 when the powder processing component 16 is detached. For this reason, even if the powder processing component 16 is detached, it is effectively suppressed that the opening 1a of the opening / closing mechanism 2 remains open.
In the aspect provided with such a retracting portion 8, as a preferable aspect of the elastic holding portion 6, when the distal end portion is located at the entrance of the guide portion 7 and the retracting portion 8, the moving direction of the opening / closing lid 3 is set. The aspect which can be elastically deformed by non-contact with respect to the direction expanded by the direction which cross | intersects is mentioned. The elastic holding part 6 only needs to be elastically deformable in the direction in which it is pushed and expanded in the direction intersecting the moving direction of the opening / closing lid 3 when the tip part is located at the entrance of the guide part 7 and the retracting part 8. Non-contact is preferable in that it is easily elastically deformed.
Further, as a typical mode of the retreating portion 8, there is an inclined portion that is inclined in a direction in which the opening / closing lid 3 gradually expands with respect to the direction in which the opening / closing lid 3 moves from the closed position toward the open position. There is one in which a damming portion is formed at the end portion to block the elastic holding portion 6 so as to fall on the abutting portion 5 side. In this way, the inclined portion secures the guideability to the elastic holding portion 6, and the elastic holding portion 6 is once blocked by the blocking portion, and the hook portion 17 is easily held in the state of being held in the elastic holding portion 6. This is preferable.

Moreover, as a typical aspect of the powder processing apparatus, the powder processing component 16 includes a hooking portion 17 provided so as to be able to abut against the abutting portion 5 of the opening / closing mechanism 2, and an opening / closing on the powder conveying device side. An opening (not shown) connectable to the opening 1a of the mechanism 2 is opened and closed, and the opening is opened when the powder processing component 16 is mounted on a predetermined receiving portion 15. An opening / closing mechanism connected to the opening 1a of the opening / closing mechanism 2 on the powder conveying device side, and the powder conveying device is engaged with the opening / closing mechanism on the powder processing component 16 side to open / close the opening of the opening / closing mechanism. An opening / closing operation member (not shown) may be provided.
In this embodiment, the powder processing component 16 includes an element (hanging portion 17) for opening and closing the opening / closing mechanism 2 on the powder conveying device side when being attached to and detached from the predetermined receiving portion 15. It is preferable to provide an opening / closing mechanism that has an opening that can be connected to the opening 1a when the opening / closing mechanism 2 is opened, and that opens and closes the opening. At this time, an opening / closing operation member for opening / closing an opening / closing mechanism on the powder processing component side may be provided on the powder conveying device side.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the image forming means for forming an image using an image forming material as powder, and the above-described powder processing apparatus is included as a part of the image forming means. Of course, the apparatus may be constructed.

Embodiment 1
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
-Overall configuration of image forming apparatus-
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment.
In the figure, an image forming apparatus 20 includes an image forming section 22 (specifically, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) of four colors in an image forming apparatus casing (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus casing) 21. 22a to 22d) are arranged in a positional relationship slightly inclined obliquely upward with respect to the horizontal direction, and an intermediate transfer belt 23 circulated and conveyed along the arrangement direction of the image forming units 22 is arranged above the intermediate transfer belt 23. On the other hand, a recording material supply device 24 in which a recording material can be supplied is disposed below the apparatus housing 21, and an image-formed recording material is discharged and accommodated in the upper portion of the apparatus housing 21. The recording material discharge receptacle 26 is provided, and the recording material from the recording material supply device 24 is discharged to the recording material discharge receptacle 26 via a recording material conveyance path 25 extending along the vertical direction. .

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each image forming unit 22 (22 a to 22 d) is sequentially, for example, for yellow, for magenta, for cyan, from the upstream side in the circulation direction of the intermediate transfer belt 23. A toner image for black (arrangement is not necessarily in this order) is formed. For example, a photoreceptor 31 formed in a drum shape, a charging device 32 that precharges the photoreceptor 31, and the charging An exposure device 33 that writes an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 31 charged by the device 32; a developing device 34 that visualizes the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member 31 with each color toner; And a cleaning device 35 for cleaning the remaining toner.
Here, the exposure device 33 is common to each image forming unit 22, and deflects and scans light from a light source such as a semiconductor laser (not shown) of each color component in the exposure container 331 by a deflection mirror 332. The optical image is guided to the exposure position on the corresponding photosensitive member 31 through an imaging lens and a mirror (not shown).

Further, the intermediate transfer belt 23 is stretched around stretch rolls 41 to 44, and is circulated and moved, for example, using the stretch roll 41 as a drive roll. A primary transfer device 51 (for example, a primary transfer roll) is disposed on the back surface of the intermediate transfer belt 23 corresponding to each photoconductor 31, and a voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity is applied to the primary transfer device 51. As a result, the toner image on the photosensitive member 31 is electrostatically transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 23 side.
Further, a secondary transfer device 52 (for example, a secondary transfer roll) is disposed at a portion corresponding to the stretching roll 42 on the downstream side of the image forming unit 22d located on the most downstream side in the moving direction of the intermediate transfer belt 23. The primary transfer image on the intermediate transfer belt 23 is secondarily transferred (collectively transferred) to the recording material.
Further, an intermediate cleaning device 53 for cleaning residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 23 is provided at a portion corresponding to the tension roll 41 on the downstream side of the secondary transfer portion of the intermediate transfer belt 23.
Here, the intermediate transfer belt 23 uses a resin such as polyimide, polycarbonate, polyester, polypropylene, or various rubbers containing an appropriate amount of an antistatic agent such as carbon black, and has a volume resistivity of 10 ⁶ to 10 ¹⁴ Ω. -It is formed to be cm.
Further, in the present embodiment, the recording material sent out by the feeder 61 of the recording material supply device 24 is conveyed by an appropriate number of conveyance rolls (not shown) in the recording material conveyance path 25, and the alignment roll 62. And after passing through the secondary transfer portion of the secondary transfer device 52 and fixing the unfixed toner image by, for example, heat and pressure by the fixing device 66, the recording material discharge receptacle 26 via the discharge roll 67. It is designed to be discharged and accommodated.
In FIG. 2, reference numeral 38 (38a to 38d) denotes a developer container for supplying a new developer (toner in the present embodiment) to the developing device 34 of each image forming unit 22 (22a to 22d).

-Image forming section-
In the present embodiment, each image forming unit 22 (22a to 22d) is configured as a process cartridge as an image forming assembly in which a plurality of functional elements are integrated as shown in FIG.
In this example, the process cartridge 30 includes a photoconductor 31, a charging device 32 that charges the photoconductor 31, and a cleaning device 35 that cleans the photoconductor 31. And a developing cartridge 30b that incorporates a developing device 34 that is positioned and held with respect to the cartridge 30a and that develops the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 31.
Here, the charging device 32 has a charging container 321 opened at a portion facing the photoreceptor 31, and a charging roll 322 that is in contact with or close to the surface of the photoreceptor 31 is disposed in the charging container 321. is there.
Further, the cleaning device 35 has a cleaning container 351 having an opening at a portion facing the photoreceptor 31, and an elastic scraping plate that contacts the photoreceptor 31 at an opening edge along the longitudinal direction of the cleaning container 351. A cleaning blade 352 is provided, and an elastic seal member 353 that is in contact with the photosensitive member 31 is provided at the other edge of the opening along the longitudinal direction of the cleaning container 351, and the cleaning blade 352 is scraped into the cleaning container 351. A conveying member 354 that discharges the remaining toner or the like to the outside of the cleaning container 351 along the longitudinal direction is disposed.
Further, in the present embodiment, the developing device 34 has a developing container 341 that opens facing the photoconductor 31 and contains a developer containing at least toner, and an opening portion of the developing container 341 has an opening. A developer holding body 342 capable of transporting the developer is disposed toward a developing area located at a position facing the photoconductor 31, and a developer is placed on the back side of the developer holding body 342 of the developing container 341. A pair of developer agitating / conveying members 343 and 344 that can be agitated and conveyed while being circulated are disposed, and agitation is provided between the developer holding body 342 and the developer agitating and conveying member 343 located on the developer holding body 342 side. A developer supply member 345 capable of supplying the conveyed developer to the developer holding body 342 is provided, and the developer supplied to the developer holding body 342 is further adjusted to a predetermined layer thickness by the layer thickness regulating member 346. After regulating It is obtained so as to supply the developer to the image area.

-Powder processing equipment-
FIG. 4 shows an example of a powder processing apparatus used in this embodiment.
In the figure, a powder processing apparatus accommodates a developer replenishing device 80 as a powder transporting device that transports and replenishes developer as powder, and a developer replenished by the developer replenishing device 80. And a developing device 34.
In this example, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the developer supply device 80 is provided with a developer container 38 (see FIG. 2) disposed in a predetermined container receiving portion 27 of the device housing 21. In the container receiving portion 27, an opening 81 connected to a developer supply port (not shown) of the developer container 38 can be opened and closed by an opening / closing mechanism 82, and the developer is conveyed to the opening 81. A transfer pipe 83 made of a possible elastic material is connected, and an opening / closing mechanism 110 is provided at the lower end of the transfer pipe 83, and the lower end opening 84 (see FIGS. 17 and 19) of the transfer pipe 83 is opened and closed by the opening / closing mechanism 110. It is supposed to be.
Here, the opening / closing mechanism 82 of the container receiving portion 27 is engaged with an opening / closing mechanism (not shown) of the developer receiving container 38 when the developer receiving container 38 is attached to the container receiving portion 27, and the developer receiving container The developer replenishing port 38 is connected to the opening 81 of the opening / closing mechanism 82.
The opening / closing mechanism 110 on the transport pipe 83 side will be described later.

-Development device-
<Opening / closing mechanism on the developing device>
In the present embodiment, the developing device 34 is detachably attached to a predetermined receiving portion (not shown) of the device housing 21 (see FIG. 2), as shown in FIGS. An opening / closing mechanism 90 is provided on one end side of the developing container 341 in the longitudinal direction. The opening / closing mechanism 90 opens a supply port 91 in a part of the developing container 341, an opening / closing lid 92 that opens and closes the supply port 91, and an opening that opens the opening / closing lid 92 to a closed position that closes the supply port 91. And a guide rail 93 that is held and guided so as to be movable between positions.
The opening / closing lid 92 of the opening / closing mechanism 90 is engaged with the opening / closing mechanism 110 on the conveyance pipe 83 side, and when the opening / closing mechanism 110 opens the lower end opening 84, the opening / closing mechanism 90 on the developing device 34 side 91 is opened, and the lower end opening 84 of the conveying pipe 83 is connected to the replenishing port 91 of the developing device 34.
More specifically, the opening / closing mechanism 90 on the developing device 34 side forms a pair of connecting pieces 95 projecting toward the conveying pipe 83 side of the opening / closing lid 92, and an elastically deformable hook at the tip of the connecting piece 95. A nail 96 is formed. On the other hand, a hole 125 (see FIG. 17) is formed in a part of the holding frame 120 (see FIG. 13), which is an element of the opening / closing mechanism 110 on the transport pipe 83 side, by which the hooking claw 96 is elastically deformed. When the developing device 34 is inserted into the receiving portion of the device housing 21 from the front of the device housing 21 toward the back, the opening / closing is performed by hooking the hooking claws 96 into the holes 125. The lid 92 and the holding frame 120 of the opening / closing mechanism 110 are connected to each other, whereby the opening / closing lid 92 is moved from the closed position toward the open position along the guide rail 93, and the developing device 34 is mounted in a predetermined manner. When reaching the position, the opening / closing lid 92 of the opening / closing mechanism 90 is moved so as to reach the open position, and the replenishing port 91 of the developing device 34 and the lower end opening 84 of the conveying pipe 83 are connected. .

<Hook on the developing device>
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12, the developing device 34 is provided with a plate-like protruding piece 97 on the side of the conveying pipe 83 of the developing container 341 and a hooking portion on a part of the protruding piece 97. 100 is formed integrally.
As shown in FIG. 13, the hook portion 100 is formed of a convex portion having a trapezoidal cross section with respect to the insertion and mounting direction of the developing device 34. The hook portion 100 has a narrow flat surface portion 101 on the conveyance pipe 83 side, A wide flat surface portion 102 is provided on the side opposite to the pipe 83, and an inclined surface 103 is formed so that the space between both flat surface portions 101, 102 is narrowed toward the transport pipe 83 side.

-Opening and closing mechanism on the transfer piping side-
FIG. 13 shows an opening / closing mechanism 110 on the conveying pipe 83 side in the developer supply device 80. The opening / closing mechanism 110 is an opening / closing lid 111 formed of an elastic synthetic resin (for example, POM: polyacetal, polyoxymethylene). And a holding frame 120 which is formed of a high-rigidity synthetic resin (for example, ABS resin or the like and holds the opening / closing lid 111 in an openable / closable manner).
<Open / close lid>
Here, as shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, the opening / closing lid 111 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and an abutting portion 130 is integrally formed at substantially the center of one surface of the opening / closing lid 111. The end portion of the abutting portion 130 on the developing device 34 side is formed as a planar abutting surface 131 that faces the narrow planar portion 101 of the hook portion 100.
Further, a pair of elastic holding portions 141 and 142 extend toward the developing device 34 on both sides of the abutment portion 130 of the opening / closing lid 111, and are substantially symmetrical with respect to the center line extending in the opening / closing direction of the opening / closing lid 111. Is formed. These elastic holding portions 141 and 142 are provided on the distal end side of the holding arm portion 143 and the holding arm portion 143 that extends toward the developing device 34 from the abutting portion 130 and elastically deforms with the base side as a fulcrum. An overhanging portion 144 that protrudes in a direction in which the holding arm portion 143 is pushed and spread in a direction that intersects the moving direction of the opening / closing lid 111, and a tip end side of the holding arm portion 143 that intersects the moving direction of the opening / closing lid 111. And a projecting portion 145 projecting to the opposite side of the overhanging portion 144 in the direction of the projection.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, if the width dimension of the narrow plane part 101 of the hook part 100 is A and the width dimension of the wide plane part 102 is B, the pair of elastic holding parts 141, 142 Among them, the gap dimension D between the protrusions 145 and the dimensions A and B are selected so as to satisfy the relationship of A <B <D in a free state where the elastic deformation is not performed.
Of the pair of elastic holding portions 141 and 142, the overhanging portion 144 is disposed on the inner side by a dimension m than the edge portion in the width direction intersecting the opening / closing direction of the opening / closing lid 111 in a free state where the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 are not elastically deformed. . The dimension m corresponds to an allowable dimension when the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 are elastically deformed in the direction in which the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 are pushed and spread.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a restricting portion 150 that restricts the position and posture of the hooking portion 100 on the developing device 34 side is provided at a portion sandwiching the abutting surface 131 of the abutting portion 130 of the opening / closing lid 111. Yes. The restricting portion 150 includes a V-shaped groove 151 that is symmetrical with respect to a center line extending in the opening / closing direction of the opening / closing lid 111, and the narrow flat portion 101 of the hook portion 100 is the abutting surface of the abutting portion 130. When contacting 131, the inclined surface 103 of the hook portion 100 comes into contact with the V-shaped groove 151 of the restricting portion 150.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, both sides in the width direction on the developing device 34 side of the surface opposite to the surface on which the abutting portion 130, the elastic holding portions 141 and 142, and the regulating portion 150 of the opening / closing lid 111 are formed. A positioning projection 180 for positioning the closing position of the opening / closing lid 111 is formed to protrude.

<Holding frame>
In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 17 to 19, the holding frame 120 has an L-shaped cross section on both sides in the width direction intersecting the opening / closing direction of the opening / closing lid 111 of the rectangular holding frame 121. The holding rails 122 and 123 are formed by bending, and the opening / closing lid 111 is held so as to be movable in the opening / closing direction.
In this example, the holding frame 120 has a stepped portion 124 at an end portion on the developing device 34 side, and a hole portion in which the hooking claw 96 of the opening / closing mechanism 90 on the developing device 34 side is hooked in the vicinity of the stepped portion 124. 125 was established.
Furthermore, in this example, the guide portions that are guided while the protruding portions 144 of the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 are in contact with the bent portions of the holding rails 122 and 123 when the opening and closing lid 111 moves in the opening and closing direction. 160 is formed.
The guide unit 160 has a regulating wall 161 that restricts the initial position of the overhanging portion 144 of the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 at the end on the developing device 34 side, and the elastic holding portion 141 is behind the regulating wall 161. , 142 is provided with a recess 162 in which the overhanging portion 144 is arranged when it is in a free state where it does not elastically deform. Further, the elastic holding portions 141, 142 are tilted toward the opening direction side of the opening / closing lid 111 from the recess 162. A guide surface 163 that restrains and guides the position of the overhanging portion 144 so as to be elastically deformed is formed so as to be substantially along the opening / closing direction of the opening / closing lid 111, and a retracting portion 170 is provided in the middle of the guide surface 163. Is.
In this example, the retracting part 170 retracts the elastic holding parts 141 and 142 so that the elastic holding parts 141 and 142 can be elastically deformed so that the hooking part 100 is allowed to move when the elastic holding parts 141 and 142 come into contact with the hooking part 100. is there.
In particular, in this example, the retracting portion 170 has an inclined portion 171 that is inclined in a direction in which the opening / closing lid 111 gradually expands with respect to the direction in which the opening / closing lid 111 moves from the closed position toward the open position. A damming portion 172 is formed at the open end portion so that the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 fall to the abutting portion 130 side.
In this example, when the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 are positioned at the entrance of the guide portion 160 and the retracting portion 170, the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 are not in the direction in which the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 are pushed and expanded in the direction intersecting the moving direction of the opening / closing lid 111. It can be elastically deformed by contact.
Furthermore, in this example, the guide surface 163 is located closer to the open position of the open / close lid 111 than the portion of the open / close lid 111 located on the closed position side with respect to the direction in which the open / close lid 111 moves from the closed position to the open position. The part to be separated is away from the center line of the opening / closing lid 111 in the moving direction. That is, a portion of the guide surface 163 that is located on the opening position side of the opening / closing lid 111 is an expanding guide surface 164 that gently expands, and when the opening / closing lid 111 is located at the opening position, the elastic holding portion 141. , 142 is kept small in elastic deformation.
A restriction wall 165 for restricting the opening / closing lid 111 at the open position is provided at the end of the expansion guide surface 164.

-Development device installation process-
Next, when the developing device 34 is attached to a predetermined receiving portion of the device casing 21 (see FIG. 2), the developing device 34 is moved from the front of the device casing 21 as shown by the arrow direction in FIG. What is necessary is just to insert and mount toward the back side.
At this time, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the hooking portion 100 on the developing device 34 side moves toward the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 and the abutting portion 130 of the opening / closing mechanism 110 on the conveying pipe 83 side, and the hooking portion is moved. When 100 is engaged with the opening / closing mechanism 110, the opening 84 of the opening / closing mechanism 110 is opened, and the hooking claw 96 on the developing device 34 side is caught in the hole 125 of the opening / closing mechanism 110 on the conveying pipe 83 side. As a result, the opening / closing lid 92 of the opening / closing mechanism 90 is pushed to the open position. As a result, the supply port 91 of the opening / closing mechanism 90 on the developing device 34 side is opened, and the opening 84 and the supply port 91 are connected. The
Here, FIG. 22 to FIG. 24 are explanatory diagrams showing the relationship between the two steps.
Focusing on the opening / closing mechanism 110 on the transport pipe 83 side, when the developing device 34 is inserted and mounted, the hooking portion 100 on the developing device 34 side first has the elastic holding portion 141 of the opening / closing mechanism 110 as shown in FIG. , 142 is contacted. Then, the space between the protrusions 145 of the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 is pushed and widened by the inclined surface 103 of the hooking portion 100, and the hooking portion 100 is held in the state of being held in the elastic holding portions 141 and 142, and is hooked. The narrow flat surface portion 101 of the portion 100 abuts against the abutment surface 131 of the abutment portion 130.
At the same time, the position and orientation of the hook portion 100 are restricted by the restriction portion 150.
In this state, when the developing device 34 is further inserted, as shown in FIG. 26, since the hooking portion 100 continues to push the abutting portion 130, the opening / closing lid 111 moves from the closed position to the open position along the holding frame 120. I will do it.
The elastic holding portions 141 and 142 reach the retracting portion 170 in the middle of the guide portion 160. In the retracting portion 170, the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 can be elastically deformed in a direction in which the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 are expanded with respect to the opening / closing direction of the opening / closing lid 111. In such a state, when the hook portion 100 is held in the state of being held in the elastic holding portions 141 and 142, the holding state by the elasticity of the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 passes through the retracting portion 170. Once it becomes gentle once, the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 again move along the guide surface 163 with increased elasticity.
However, for example, when the hooking portion 100 on the developing device 34 side moves to the retracting portion 170 without being held in the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 of the opening / closing mechanism 110, the protruding portion of the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 is provided. Since the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 are easily elastically deformed in a direction in which the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 are pushed and expanded with respect to the opening / closing direction of the opening / closing lid 111 when the 144 reaches the retracting portion 170, the presence of the retracting portion 170 causes There is a high possibility that the hook portion 100 will be held in a state of being held in the elastic holding portions 141 and 142.
As a result, when the developing device 34 is inserted and mounted in a predetermined receiving portion of the apparatus housing 21, the hooking portion 100 on the developing device 34 side is held in the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 as shown in FIG. The opening / closing lid 111 is moved to the open position and the lower end opening 84 of the transfer pipe 83 is opened to press the butting portion 130 to the end position.
As described above, in this example, regarding the engagement between the hook portion 100 and the elastic holding portions 141 and 142, even if the relationship between the both is incomplete, the retracting portion 170 again performs the engagement operation between the two. Therefore, there is little concern that the engagement between the hook portion 100 and the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 will be incomplete, and the opening and closing operation of the opening and closing lid 111 by the opening and closing mechanism 110 is performed stably.

-Developer removal process-
Next, assuming a case where the developing device 34 is detached from a predetermined receiving portion of the apparatus housing 21, the following is assumed.
Now, when the developing device 34 is pulled out from the state shown in FIG. 27, the wide flat surface portion 102 of the hooking portion 100 on the developing device 34 side abuts against the protruding portions 145 of the elastic holding portions 141 and 142, and the open / close lid 111. Moves along the holding frame 120 from the open position to the closed position.
And when the overhang | projection part 144 of the elastic holding | maintenance parts 141 and 142 reaches | attains the control wall 161, the movement of the elastic holding | maintenance parts 141 and 142 will be controlled, and the overhang | projection part 144 will be arrange | positioned in the recessed part 162 position. In this state, when the developing device 34 is further pulled out in the disengagement direction, the elastic holding portions 141 and 142 are elastically deformed in the direction of expanding, so that the hook portion 100 is disengaged from between the protruding portions 145 of the elastic holding portions 141 and 142. Then, the developing device 34 is detached.
In particular, in this example, the hook portion 100 is regulated by the regulating portion 150 at a position that is substantially symmetrical with respect to the center line that extends in the opening / closing direction of the opening / closing lid 111, so The hook part 100 is smoothly detached from the elastic holding parts 141 and 142.
On the other hand, in the opening / closing mechanism 90 of the developing device 34, the opening / closing lid 92 moves from the open position to the closed position as the developing device 34 is pulled out.

Embodiment 2
FIG. 28 shows a main part of the opening / closing mechanism on the conveying piping side according to the second embodiment.
In the figure, the opening / closing mechanism 110 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, but unlike the first embodiment, the opening / closing mechanism 110 does not include the retracting portion 170 in the middle of the guide portion 160. Components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.
According to the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, an operation process of inserting and mounting the developing device 34 in a predetermined receiving portion of the apparatus housing 21 and an operation process of detaching the developing device 34 are performed. With respect to, the action by the retracting unit 170 is not obtained, but the rest is substantially the same as in the first embodiment. In particular, also in the present embodiment, since the restricting portion 150 restricts the position and posture of the hook portion 100, when the developing device 34 is detached, the hook portion 100 opens and closes the opening / closing lid 111 to the elastic holding portions 141 and 142. A situation in which they deviate from the center line extending in the direction and hit one side is effectively avoided.

In the first and second embodiments, the abutting portion 130 is provided at substantially the center of one surface of the opening / closing lid 111, and the regulating portion 150 is symmetrical with respect to the center line extending in the opening / closing direction of the opening / closing lid 111. The V-shaped groove 151 and the position and posture of the hooking portion 100 with respect to the abutting portion 130 located substantially in the center of the opening / closing lid 111 are not limited thereto. If the abutment portion 130 cannot be arranged at the approximate center of the opening / closing lid 111 due to layout or space, the abutment portion 130 is arranged at a location other than the approximate center of the opening / closing lid 111 and hooked on this. What is necessary is just to provide the control part 150 which controls the position and attitude | position of the part 100. FIG. Further, in the present embodiment, the restricting portion 150 is formed in a symmetric shape in accordance with the symmetric shape of the hook portion 100, but is not limited thereto, and is in an asymmetric shape in accordance with the asymmetric shape of the hook portion 100. Of course, it may be formed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Conveyance path, 1a ... Opening, 2 ... Opening / closing mechanism, 3 ... Opening / closing lid, 4 ... Holding frame, 5 ... Abutting part, 6 (6a, 6b) ... Elastic holding part, 7 ... Guide part, 8 ... Retraction part , 9 ... Regulatory part, 15 ... Receiving part, 16 ... Powder processing parts, 17 ... Hook part

Claims (12)

Along with attachment / detachment of a powder processing component that is provided in a conveyance path having an opening for supplying or collecting powder and is detachably attached to a predetermined receiving portion to process the powder, the opening is opened. An opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing;
An open / close lid that opens and closes an opening for supplying or collecting powder;
A holding frame that holds the open / close lid movably between a closed position where the opening is closed and an open position where the opening is opened;
Provided on the opening / closing lid so as to abut against a hook provided on the powder processing component side, and when the powder processing component is mounted, the hook hits and moves the opening / closing lid from the closed position to the open position. The butting part,
It is provided in the opening / closing lid so as to be elastically deformable in a direction extending from the abutting portion to the powder processing component side and intersecting the moving direction of the opening / closing lid. After elastically deforming to allow movement of the hooking part by contacting the hooking part on the part side, when the hooking part reaches a position where it hits the hitting part, the hooking part is returned by elastic recovery. An elastic holding part that holds the battery so as to hold it;
A guide that is provided on the holding frame and guides the elastic holding portion that is elastically deformed so as to allow movement of the hook portion when the opening / closing lid moves along the holding frame from the closed position to the open position. And
Provided on the opening / closing lid so as to be positioned closer to the powder processing component than the abutting portion, and controls the position and orientation of the hooking portion that abuts against the abutting portion by contacting the hooking portion on the powder processing component side The regulatory department to
An opening and closing mechanism characterized by comprising: The opening / closing mechanism according to claim 1.
An opening / closing mechanism characterized in that a pair of the elastic holding portions are provided across the abutting portion. The opening / closing mechanism according to claim 1 or 2,
The elastic holding portion is provided on the distal end side of the holding arm portion that extends toward the powder processing component side from the abutting portion and elastically deforms with the base side as a fulcrum, and the moving direction of the opening / closing lid A projecting portion projecting in a direction in which the holding arm portion is pushed and spread in a direction intersecting with the arm, and provided on the distal end side of the retaining arm portion and opposite to the projecting portion in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the opening / closing lid And an opening / closing mechanism characterized by having a projecting portion projecting on the surface. The opening / closing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The restricting portion has a pair of restricting members sandwiching the abutting portion, and a guide surface that guides the hook portion while being inclined toward the abutting portion between the pair of restricting members. An opening / closing mechanism characterized by the above. The opening / closing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The guide portion has a portion located on the open position side of the open / close lid in a direction in which the open / close lid moves from the closed position to the open position. An opening / closing mechanism characterized by being away from the center line in the moving direction. The opening / closing mechanism according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
Furthermore, it has a retracting part that is provided in the middle of the guide part and retracts the elastic holding part so as to be elastically deformable so that the elastic holding part comes into contact with the hooking part and allows the movement of the hooking part. Opening and closing mechanism characterized by. The opening / closing mechanism according to claim 6.
The elastic holding portion can be elastically deformed in a non-contact manner in a direction in which the elastic holding portion is pushed and spread in a direction crossing the moving direction of the opening / closing lid when the distal end portion is located at the entrance and the retracting portion of the guide portion. Opening and closing mechanism. The opening / closing mechanism according to claim 6 or 7,
The retracting portion has an inclined portion that is inclined in a direction in which the opening / closing lid is gradually expanded with respect to a direction in which the opening / closing lid moves from the closed position toward the open position, and the elastic holding portion is provided at an expansion terminal portion of the inclined portion. An opening / closing mechanism characterized in that a damming portion is formed so as to fall on the abutting portion side. An opening for supplying or collecting the powder, and a conveying path for conveying the powder through the opening;
9. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, which is provided corresponding to an opening of the conveying path, and is opened and closed in accordance with attachment / detachment of a powder processing component which is detachably attached to a predetermined receiving portion and processes powder. The opening / closing mechanism described in
A powder conveying apparatus comprising: A powder processing component that is detachably attached to a predetermined receiving portion and processes the powder;
A powder conveying device according to claim 9;
A powder processing apparatus comprising: The powder processing apparatus according to claim 10,
The powder processing component is a hook portion provided so as to be able to abut against the abutting portion of the opening and closing mechanism,
An opening that can be connected to an opening of an opening / closing mechanism on the powder conveying device side is opened and closed, and the opening is opened when the powder processing component is mounted on a predetermined receiving portion. An opening and closing mechanism connected to the opening of the opening and closing mechanism on the body transport device side,
The powder processing apparatus includes an opening / closing operation member that engages with an opening / closing mechanism on a powder processing component side to open / close an opening of the opening / closing mechanism.   An image forming apparatus having an image forming means for forming an image using an image forming material as a powder, and including the powder processing apparatus according to claim 10 or 11 as a part of the image forming means. .

Images