Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a developing unit in which the first shaft of the developing unit and the second shaft of a toner storage container are easily and properly connected, even when the positional relation between the developing unit and the toner storage container shifts.SOLUTION: The developing unit includes a shaft connection mechanism 60 in which a first joint 41 and a second joint 50 are engaged to connect the first shaft of the developing unit and the second shaft of the toner storage container, to make rotation transmittable therebetween. The first joint 41 includes a first engagement member 45 energized toward the second joint 50 from a first main body 43 and an energizing member 44 energizing the first engagement member 45. The second joint 50 includes a second main body 55 and an engagement recess 57 substantially unrotatably engaged with the received first engagement member 45. In such a state that a first rotation axis J1 does not coincide with a second rotation axis J2 and the first engagement member 45 is received by the engagement recess 57, the first engagement member 45 is inclined with respect to the first rotation axis J1 or the second rotation axis J2 and can be engaged with the engagement recess 57.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which can simply remove only a development device while a developer supply mechanism is left on a device body side, and prevents the generation of connection failures between the developer supply mechanism and the development device.SOLUTION: An intermediate hopper 6 is composed of a hopper upper part 6a; and a hopper lower part 6b rotatably coupled to the hopper upper part 6a. A carrying pipe 70 for carrying a toner to a toner supply port 20a of a development device 4 is coupled to the hopper lower part 6b. The carrying pipe 70 is a cylindrical body having stiffness, and a development side end portion 70a of the carrying pipe 70a is rotatably coupled to a plate 42 supported above a supporting frame 41. The plate 42 is rotatably supported by the supporting frame 41 at a supporting shaft 43. When the supporting frame 41 reciprocates (moves in parallel) in an arrow AA' direction, the carrying pipe 70 rotates in an arrow BB' direction.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent leakage of toner from a toner supply port when a toner container is detached from an image forming apparatus and when the toner container is attached to the image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A developing device of the image forming apparatus is provided with toner flow rate altering means by which the flow rate of toner in an area directly below a toner supply port in a passage guiding toner from a toner supply port 3h to a developing roller is made greater than that of toner in other areas in the passage. Also, the developing device is provided with a first shutter S3 that slides in the axial direction of the developing roller of the image forming apparatus so as to open or close the toner supply port 3h. The toner container is provided with a second shutter S2 that slides in the axial direction of the developing roller of the image forming apparatus so as to open or close a toner discharge port 2h. The first and second shutters move in an interlocking manner, so that the lowermost face of the first shutter S3 is positioned higher than the uppermost face of the second shutter S2 and the toner supply port.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a pouch pack from being damaged by impact or the like during conveyance by surely making an RFID function even though film material of the pouch pack includes a conductive layer.SOLUTION: This invention is an ink jet type image forming apparatus including an ink container 22, and a container mounting part 32 to/from which the ink container is attached and detached to perform radio communication between an RFID tag 56 of the ink container 22 and an RFID detection substrate 36 of the container mounting part 32. The ink container 22 includes a pouch pack 48, and a container case 47 including the pouch pack 48, the RFID tag 56 is fixed to one wall part of the container case 47, and the container case 47 is provided with engagement parts 58, 61, 63 engaged with the pouch pack 48 to maintain a distance X between the RFID tag 56 and the pouch pack 48 at a fixed distance or more.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device in which only a development apparatus is simply removable in a state where a developer supply mechanism is left in a device body side, and occurrences of connection failure between the developer supply mechanism and the development apparatus, leakage of a developer during attachment/detachment of the development apparatus, and image failure due to change of the position relationship between a developing roller and a photoreceptor drum are prevented.SOLUTION: A shutter member 80 is externally inserted into an end part 70a of the development apparatus 4 side of a toner conveyance path 70 so as to be rotatable, and a supply port 71 provided in the lower part of the end part 70a is opened. Then, since the end part 70a to which the shutter member 80 is attached is inserted into a guide part 26, the development apparatus 4 and the toner conveyance path 70 are coupled with each other. According to horizontal movement in an AA' direction of the development apparatus 4, the shutter member 80 relatively performs horizontal movement in the guide part 26 while rotating, thereby opening/closing the supply port 71.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a shutter plate properly execute a prescribed opening and closing operation at any time when attaching/detaching a toner supplying device to/from an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: An outer locking claw 454 of a shutter plate 43 is formed so that an inner locking claw 453 can be removed from a container side locking groove 422 by elastic displacement of an elastic arm 44 due to an arrowhead member 45 fitted into a guide part-side locking groove 516, at the time when the arrowhead member 45 reaches the guide part-side locking groove 516 when mounting a container body 31 in an apparatus body 11 along a guide part 50. When the container body 31 is pulled out from the apparatus body 11 along the guide part 50, the inner locking claw 453 is engaged with the container-side locking groove 422 again by restoration of the elastic arm 44 which has been elastically displaced, by the engagement of the outer locking claw 454 being released with respect to the guide part-side locking groove 516.
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner supply device in which the first shaft of a developing unit and the second shaft of a toner storage container are suitably connected with ease even if the positional relation between the developing unit and toner storage container is shifted.SOLUTION: The toner supply device has a shaft connecting mechanism 60 that connects first and second joints 41 and 50, thereby connecting the first shaft of the developing unit and the second shaft of the toner storage container so that rotation can be transmitted between them. The first joint 41 has a first engaging member 45 energized toward the second joint 50 from a first body 43, and an energizing member 44 for energizing the first engaging member 45. The second joint 50 has a second body 55, and an engaging recess 57 engaged with the received first engaging member 45 so as not to be substantially able to rotate. While first and second rotation shafts J1 and J2 do not coincide and the first engaging member 45 is received by the engaging recess 57, the first engaging member 45 inclines to the first rotation shaft J1 or second rotation shaft J2, and is able to engage with the engaging recess 57.