Cylindrical toner container having a toner port and a movable lid for closing the toner port

A toner container has a rotatable cylindrical member attached to an opening portion of a recessed side wall of the toner container. A portion of the outer periphery of the cylindrical member includes a toner port so that toner particles contained in the toner container can be fed through the toner port to a developer. The cylindrical member is rotatable from a position where the toner port is at the bottom of the cylindrical member to a position where the toner port is at the top of the cylindrical member under a lid member which covers the toner port to completely prevent the leakage of toner particles from the toner container during the exchange or transportation of the toner container.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
This application is based on application No. 10-081385 filed Mar. 27, 1998, 
in Japan, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a toner container for supplying toner 
particles to a developer, which is disposed in a copying machine, a 
printer or the like, as well as to a technique for preventing the leakage 
of toner particles from a toner outlet of the toner container. 
2. Description of the Background Art 
In a copying machine, a printer, etc., for example, an electrostatic latent 
image is created on a surface of a photosensitive drum and a developer 
apparatus develops the electrostatic latent image so that a toner image is 
created. 
In general, a developer apparatus comprises a developer apparatus main body 
for supplying toner particles to a photosensitive drum through a developer 
roller and a toner container for providing the developer apparatus main 
body with the toner particles. The toner container is detachable from the 
developer apparatus main body for easy exchange with another toner 
container, even by ordinary users. 
FIG. 15(a) is a perspective appearance view showing an example of a 
conventional toner container. 
A conventional toner container comprises a toner housing portion 901 for 
internally housing toner particles, a cylindrical member 902, which 
projects from one side surface of the toner housing portion, and a 
cylindrical shutter member 903, which is attached for free rotation in the 
circumferential direction relative to the cylindrical member 902. 
Internally, the toner housing portion comprises a feeding screw (not 
shown) for feeding toner particles toward the cylindrical member 902, and 
a discharge outlet 9021 for discharging to the outside the toner particles 
fed into the cylindrical member 902 from the toner housing portion 901. 
(See FIG. 15(b).) The discharge outlet 9021 is disposed approximately in a 
central lower portion, in the axial direction, of the outer peripheral 
surface of the cylindrical member 902. An opening portion 904, which is 
somewhat larger than the discharge outlet 9021, is formed in the shutter 
member 903, at a position that approximately matches the discharge outlet 
9021 in the axial direction. 
FIG. 15(b) is a cross sectional view of the cylindrical member 902 and the 
shutter member 903 of FIG. 15(a), taken along the line X--X. FIG. 15(b) 
shows a condition in which the shutter member 903 is rotated to position 
the opening portion 904 facing down. This is a condition in which the 
position of the discharge outlet 9021 of the cylindrical member 902 and 
the position of the opening portion 904 of the shutter member 903 match or 
coincide with each other so that the toner particles fed into the 
cylindrical member 902 drop and are supplied into the developer apparatus 
main body from the opening portion 904. 
On the other hand, when the toner container is to re-filled, the shutter 
member 903 is rotated to displace or move the opening portion 904 from the 
position beneath the discharge outlet 9021 so that the inner peripheral 
surface of the shutter member 903 can block the discharge outlet 9021. At 
this stage, to prevent toner particles from leaking out from the opening 
portion 904, a seal member 905 of a highly compressive elastic material 
(e.g., foamed urethane) is adhered to the inner peripheral surface of the 
shutter member 903. 
However, when the shutter member 903 is rotated to block the discharge 
outlet 9021, an end portion 9051 of the seal member 905 is snagged by an 
edge of the discharge outlet 9021, as shown in FIG. 15(c). Then, if the 
shutter member 903 is forced to rotate further, the seal member 905 is 
torn apart or chipped off at that portion, so that a gap is created 
between the shutter member 903 and the cylindrical member 902 and toner 
particles leak out from the gap. 
A highly compressive member cannot be used in the conventional toner 
container because of this problem. The conventional toner container has 
the disadvantage of making it impossible to completely prevent leakage of 
toner particles during its re-filling. 
In most cases involving a small printer and the like, which are in wide 
use, it is a user who has to replace the toner container in the printer. 
Hence, even a little leakage of toner particles from a gap between the 
shutter member 903 and the cylindrical member 902 blacken the user's hands 
and cloths used to clean the user's hands. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention has been made to solve the problems described above. 
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a toner 
container attachable to and detachable from an image creating apparatus, 
such as a printer, which toner container has a mechanism for blocking a 
toner discharge hole with a shutter and for completely preventing leakage 
of toner particles during the exchange or transportation of the toner 
container. Also, an object of the present invention is to provide an image 
creating apparatus that uses such a toner container. 
To achieve these objects, a toner container is characterized in that a 
cylindrical member whose outer periphery portion includes a toner outlet 
is attached for free rotation to an opening portion of a toner container 
main body so that toner particles contained in the toner container main 
body are supplied through the toner outlet of the cylindrical member, and 
in that the toner container comprises a lid member that covers the toner 
outlet as the cylindrical member rotates. 
Further, the toner container is characterized in further comprising: 
guiding means for guiding the lid member from a first position at which a 
surface of the lid member, which faces with the toner outlet of the 
cylindrical member, is off the outlet to a second position at which the 
faced surface abuts and blocks the outlet; and transmitting means for 
converting circumferential movement of the cylindrical member associated 
with the rotation of the cylindrical member into a direction of movement 
from the first position to the second position and for transmitting 
movement to the lid member. 
Further, the toner container is characterized in that the top/bottom 
direction of the toner container is specified in such a manner that the 
toner outlet of the cylindrical member is directed downward during the 
supply of the toner particles thereto and that the lid member blocks the 
outlet when the toner container is rotated and the toner outlet is 
directed upward. 
Further, the toner container is characterized in that at least the surface 
of the lid member that faces the outlet is formed by an elastic material. 
Further, the toner container is characterized in that a side surface of the 
toner container is partially recessed, an opening portion is formed in the 
recessed surface, and the cylindrical member is mounted for free rotation 
to this opening portion. 
Further, the toner container is characterized in that the toner container 
comprises first and second rotating feed members, whose rotation axes are 
disposed approximately parallel to each other within the toner container, 
the rotation axis of the first rotating feed member is arranged 
approximately coaxial with the center of rotation of the cylindrical 
member so that the first rotating feed member feeds the toner particles 
toward the outlet when driven, and the second rotating feed member when 
driven feeds in a different direction from the feeding direction by means 
of the first feed member at least in a portion of the axial direction. 
Further, the toner container is characterized in that the second rotating 
feed member is formed with a plurality of blade chains, which are each 
formed by arranging a plurality of film-like blades in the longitudinal 
direction of the second rotating feed member, disposed around the axis of 
the second rotating feed member, and with respect to at least adjacent 
ones of the blade chains, the positions of blade ends in the axial 
direction are different from each other. 
Further, an image creating apparatus, which develops with toner particles 
contained in a developer to thereby create an image on an image holder, is 
characterized in using the toner container according to the present 
invention as a toner container for supplying the toner particles to the 
developer. The image holder refers to a photosensitive medium, an 
intermediate transfer medium or the like used in an electrophotographic 
image creating apparatus, and even a transfer medium used in an image 
creating apparatus which supplies toner particles directly to a transfer 
medium, e.g., an image creating apparatus in which a plurality of 
recording electrodes are arranged on the back of a transfer medium and an 
electric field, which is developed by the recording electrodes transfers 
toner particles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
In the following, preferred embodiments of a toner container according to 
the present invention will be described in relation to a printer. 
(1) Overall Structure of Printer 
First, an overall structure of a printer 1 will be described with reference 
to FIG. 1. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 creates an image by a conventional 
electrophotographic method, and is divided generally into an expose/scan 
portion 10 and an image creating portion 20. 
The printer 1 is connected to an external computer or the like (not shown). 
A control portion 100, upon receipt of an image signal, which is fed from 
the external computer, performs necessary processing on the image signal 
to create image data and outputs a drive signal to a laser diode 11 of the 
expose/scan portion 10. 
Receiving the drive signal from the control portion 100, the laser diode 11 
emits laser light. The laser light passes through a collimate lens 12 to 
become parallel light, and is thereafter reflected and deflected by a 
mirror surface of a polygon mirror 13, which rotates at a constant speed 
when driven by a polygon motor 14. 
The deflected laser light passes through an f.theta. lens 15 and is then 
reflected by a return mirror 16 to thereby scan and accordingly expose a 
surface of a photosensitive drum 21. 
The photosensitive drum 21 of the image creating portion 20 is cleaned off 
by a cleaner 22 of residual toner particles, which remain on a 
photosensitive surface, before the exposure described above. Further, 
after irradiated with and accordingly diselectrified by an erase lamp 23, 
the photosensitive drum 21 is uniformly electrified by an electrify 
charger 24. When the photosensitive drum 21 is exposed as it is uniformly 
electrified in this manner, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the 
photosensitive medium on the surface of the photosensitive drum 21. 
The electrostatic latent image is developed by a developer apparatus 40, 
whereby a toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 
21. 
The developer apparatus 40 comprises a developer 50, which comprises a 
developer roller, a stirring apparatus and the like, and a toner container 
60, which is set to a top portion of the developer 50 so as to supply 
toner particles into the developer 50 when necessary. The toner container 
60 is detachable or removable from the image creating portion 20 so that 
it is easy for even a user to exchange or replace the toner container 60. 
In synchronization with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 21, a 
transfer paper (not shown), which is set to a paper cassette 26, is fed 
forward by a paper feeding roller 261, a timing roller pair 25 and a 
conveyer belt 27 to a transfer position, which is below the photosensitive 
drum 21. At the transfer position, by means of electric charges of a 
transfer charger 28, which is disposed on the back surface side of the 
conveyer belt 27, the toner image, which is formed on the surface of the 
photosensitive drum 21, is transferred onto the transfer paper. 
Since the toner image, which is transferred onto the transfer paper, is 
unstable and easy to fall off, the transfer paper is transported by the 
conveyer belt 27 to a fixing apparatus 29. After being pressurized at a 
high temperature and accordingly fixed, the transfer paper is discharged 
by a pair of discharge rollers 30 to a paper discharge tray 31. 
The expose/scan portion 10 is structured to be raised or opened around a 
hinge 32, which serves as a fulcrum, thereby allowing work to be performed 
on the image creating portion 20, such as exchanging of the toner 
container 60 with another toner container, removal of a jammed paper 
within the printer 1, etc. 
(2) Structure of Toner Container 60 
FIG. 2 is a perspective appearance view of the toner container 60. 
As shown in FIG. 2, the toner container 60 comprises a toner housing 
portion 300 and a toner drawing portion 400 for supplying toner particles, 
which are contained within the toner housing 300, to the developer 50. 
In the toner housing portion 300, a portion 653 of the right side surface 
652 is partially recessed inward. A cylindrical member 68, whose outer 
periphery portion includes a toner discharge hole 63, is disposed for free 
rotation on such a recessed surface 653. The cylindrical member 68 defines 
the toner drawing portion 400. 
FIG. 3 is a side view of the toner container 60 as viewed from the 
direction A in FIG. 2. 
In the toner housing portion 300, a stirring mechanism, such as a stirring 
film 62 and a stirring rod 641, is disposed within a hollow container 65 
whose top is open. The opening portion of the hollow container 65 is 
sealed off with a lid member 66. 
FIG. 4(a) is a cross sectional view of the toner container 60 taken along 
the line B--B in FIG. 3, while FIG. 4(b) is a cross sectional view of the 
toner container taken along the line C--C in FIG. 3. 
As shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the hollow container of the toner housing 
portion 300 houses a stirring axis 64, which is axially supported for free 
rotation by bearing members 69 and 691, which are disposed to a left side 
surface 651 and a right side surface 652, respectively. One end of the 
stirring axis 64 projects out penetrating the left side surface 651. An 
input gear 70 is mounted on the projecting end. 
The stirring film 62, which has approximately the same length as the axial 
length of the stirring axis 64, is attached to the stirring axis 64. The 
stirring film 62 is formed by a polyester film or the like. The stirring 
film 62 defines blades with slits (notches) 621 at the ends of six 
sections, which have approximately the same length with each other in the 
longitudinal direction. The length in the radial direction of each blade 
is progressively longer toward a direction in which toner particles are 
fed by the blades. 
The length h (See FIG. 3) of the longer sides 622 of each blade of the 
stirring film 62 is longer than the length d to a bottom surface of the 
hollow container 65. Hence, as the stirring axis 64 rotates and the front 
end portions of the stirring film 62 reach the bottom surface of the 
hollow container 65, the stirring film 62 warps while rotating. At this 
stage, a warp along the longer sides 622 is larger than a warp along the 
shorter sides 623. As a result, toner particles at both ends within the 
hollow container 65 are gradually transported, while stirred up, toward 
the toner drawing portion 400, which is located at a central portion of 
the hollow container. 
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the toner drawing portion 400. As shown in 
FIG. 5, a round opening portion 654, whose diameter is approximately the 
same as the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 68, is formed in the 
recessed surface 653 of the hollow container 65. The cylindrical member 68 
is inserted from inside the hollow container 65 and mounted in the opening 
portion 654. During the insertion, to prevent toner particles from leaking 
out from a gap between the opening portion 654 and the cylindrical member 
68, a V-shaped ring packing 685 is interposed as a seal member between a 
brim portion 684 of the cylindrical member 68 and inside the opening 
portion 654. 
As described later, a gear 61 for rotating the cylindrical member 68, in 
association with an opening/closing operation of the expose/scan portion 
10, is fixed to a front end portion of the cylindrical member 68. A spiral 
feeding screw 67 for feeding toner particles into the cylindrical member 
68 is disposed on the cylindrical member 68 at the center line of 
rotation. The axis of the feeding screw 67 is supported at one end by a 
recessed portion 683, which is formed in the side surface of the 
cylindrical member 68. As shown in FIG. 4(a), the other end of the feeding 
screw 67 is supported by a bearing member 72, which is disposed in the 
left side surface 651, and a feeding gear 71 is mounted on a projecting 
end of the feeding screw 67. 
The pitch of the feeding screw 67 described above becomes larger within the 
hollow container 65 than in the cylindrical member 68. This allows the 
toner particles to be fed and discharged at a faster speed within the 
cylindrical member 68 than in the hollow container 65, and therefore, as 
compared with a case where the pitch of the feeding screw 67 remains the 
same, a fewer amount of toner particles remain inside the cylindrical 
member 68. It is not necessary that the pitch of the feeding screw 67 
stays large within the entire the cylindrical member 68. Instead, the 
pitch of the feeding screw 67 only needs be large at least in the vicinity 
of the toner discharge hole 63, so to make it possible to reduce residual 
toner particles. 
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a recessed portion 656 is formed in the hollow 
container 65 so that a lower end portion of the brim portion 684 of the 
cylindrical member 68 does not abut the hollow container 65. In addition, 
to prevent transported toner particles from entering the recessed portion 
656, a receiving portion 686, which has a semi-arch shape in a cross 
section is disposed extending approximately the same length as the 
recessed portion 656 along the axial direction of the cylindrical member 
68. This prevents toner particles, which are on the bottom surface of the 
hollow container 65, from entering the recessed portion 656, and 
consequently, ensures that the toner particles are smoothly fed in the 
cylindrical member 68. 
It is desirable that the gear 61, in diameter, does not project beyond the 
bottom-most surface of the toner container 60. This is because in the case 
that a user places the toner container 60 on a table or the like in an 
effort to manipulate the toner container 60, any portion of the gear 61 
protruding beyond the bottom-most surface may damage a toothed surface of 
the gear 61. 
As described above, the cylindrical member 68 of the toner drawing portion 
400 is disposed in the recessed surface 653 and toner particles, which are 
in a portion E of the toner housing portion 300, which corresponds to the 
toner drawing portion 400 (See FIG. 4(a)), are set out by the stirring 
film 62 into the toner drawing portion 400. As a result, even in a case 
that it is not possible to place the toner drawing portion 400 inside the 
printer 1 due to some design constraint, it is possible to contain toner 
particles in a portion that corresponds to the drawing portion, thereby 
allowing the toner container 60 to have a larger capacity considering an 
effective utilization of the space within the printer 1. 
Further, since the stirring film 62 sends out toner particles as the 
stirring film 62 warps against the bottom surface of the hollow container 
65, the quantity of toner particles remaining on the bottom surface is 
reduced. Still further, unlike in a case wherein toner particles are fed 
using a conventionally used spiral screw, it is not necessary that the 
shape of the bottom surface of the hollow container 65 is a perfect 
circle. This increases the freedom of shaping of the bottom surface of the 
hollow container 65, and hence, the volume of toner particles that can be 
contained in the hollow container. 
The stirring axis 64 also seats a toner stirring rod 641, which is 
approximately at 90 degrees with respect to the stirring film 62 in the 
circumferential direction. The toner stirring rod 641 is for crushing 
hardened toner particles. 
The input gear 70 is mounted to the stirring axis 64 as the toner container 
60 is set at a predetermined position above the developer 50. The input 
gear 70 engages teeth (not shown) that are linked to a driving shaft of an 
electric motor of the apparatus main body, and are accordingly driven. 
The control portion 100 receives a detect signal from a concentration 
sensor (not shown) at all the times to detect the concentration of a 
developer agent that is housed within the developer 50. Upon detection of 
a drop of a toner concentration from a predetermined concentration, the 
control portion 100 activates the electric motor and rotates the input 
gear 70. This causes toner particles inside the hollow container 65 to be 
fed in the cylindrical member 68, discharged through the toner discharge 
hole 63 and supplied into the developer 50. 
Next, the structure of an open/close mechanism in the toner drawing portion 
400 will be described. 
As shown in the perspective view in FIG. 2, hooks 681 and 682 are attached 
to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 68, so as to 
protrude at positions that are opposed to each other with the toner 
discharge hole 63 in the middle between the hooks. 
A shutter or lid 78, which is for blocking the toner discharge hole 63, is 
a semi-arch like thin plate whose inner diameter is approximately the same 
as the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 68. At the far end of the 
shutter 78, engage pins 781 and 782 are disposed in the direction that is 
parallel to the center of rotation of the cylindrical member 68. One pin 
781 protrudes from one face of the shutter 78, while the other pin 782 
protrudes from the opposite face of the shutter 78. Further, a projection 
784 (See FIG. 6(a)) is formed on the top surface of the shutter 78, while 
a highly compressive sheet-like seal member (See FIG. 6(a)) of foamed 
urethane is attached to almost the entire bottom surface of the shutter 
78. 
Guides 73 and 74, which are for guiding the movement of the shutter 78, are 
formed on the surface of the hollow container 65 facing the cylindrical 
member 68. The guides 73 and 74 are in contact with a portion of the 
engage pins 781 and 782, respectively, which portion extends from the 
shutter 78. Further, ribs 75 and 76 are formed upright between the guides 
73 and 74 on the surface of the hollow container 65 facing the cylindrical 
member 68. 
FIGS. 6(a) through 6(c) are cross sectional views of the cylindrical member 
68 taken along the line D--D in FIG. 2, showing the changes in the 
respective positions of the cylindrical member 68 and shutter 78, as the 
cylindrical member 68 rotates in a clockwise direction to move the shutter 
78 to block the toner discharge hole 63. 
The shutter 78 is always urged upward by an extension spring 79, whereby 
the projection 784 formed on the top surface of the shutter 78 abuts or 
contacts the rib 76. Another projection (not shown) is formed on the top 
surface of the shutter 78 to abut the other rib 75. Needless to mention, 
an elastic member of rubber or the like may be used instead of the 
extension spring 79. 
The engage pins 781 and 782 are respectively fit in gaps 741 between the 
guides 73 and 74 and the cylindrical member 68, so as to be movable in the 
gaps 741 (other gap not shown) along the outer peripheral surface of the 
cylindrical member 68. 
FIG. 6(a) shows the toner discharge hole 63 of the cylindrical member 68 in 
the down position, which is the same condition or position that is shown 
in FIG. 2. In this condition, as the cylindrical member 68 rotates in the 
clockwise direction, as shown in FIG. 6(b), the hook 681 abuts the engage 
pin 782, pushing along the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical 
member 68. As this occurs, the projection 784, which is formed in the top 
portion of the shutter 78 abuts the rib 76, and therefore, the shutter 78 
moves close to the toner discharge hole 63. At the same time, the other 
hook 682 abuts the engage pin 781 and the other projection (not shown) 
abuts the rib 75. When the cylindrical member 68 stops with the toner 
discharge hole 63 immediately above, as shown in FIG. 6(c), the shutter 78 
covers the toner discharge hole 63. 
As the shutter 78 covers the toner discharge hole 63, a seal member 77, 
which is stuck to the bottom surface of the shutter 78, is compressed by 
the force exerted by the ribs 75 and 76 via the projections 784 and (not 
shown), whereby a gap between the toner discharge hole 63 and the shutter 
78 is blocked and toner particles are prevented from leaking out. Foamed 
urethane seals provide a tighter fit when compressed to about 1/2 through 
1/10 as compared to their original thickness, which is effective in the 
prevention of leakage of toner particles. 
As described above, the cylindrical member 68 rotates in a clockwise 
direction to reposition the toner discharge hole 63 from a bottom position 
to an upper position, and moves the shutter to the left and downward to 
covers the toner discharge hole 63. An advantage of the present invention 
is the prevention of the tearing off of the seal member 77 because the 
cylindrical member 68 rotates and blocks the toner discharge hole 63 
rather than having a cover rotate to cover the discharge hole and rip the 
seal between the inside surface of the cover and the discharge hole. 
Moreover, the present invention provide for a tight fit over the discharge 
hole thereby avoiding the leakage of toner particles. 
Immediately before the rotation of the cylindrical member 68 stops, the 
projection 784 of the shutter 78 slides under a bottom portion 761 of the 
rib 76. The inclination of the bottom portion 761 is approximately 
horizontal, and therefore, once the projection 784 gets under the bottom 
portion 761, the spring force of the extension spring 79 can not slide the 
shutter 78 back. This is to ensure that the shutter 78, when blocking the 
toner discharge hole 63, will not easily move. 
While the foregoing has described a manner in which the shutter 78 blocks 
the toner discharge hole 63, when the shutter 78 moves away from the toner 
discharge hole 63, reverse operations, which are opposite to the above, 
are performed. During the opening of the toner discharge hole 63, as the 
cylindrical member 68 rotates in the anti-clockwise direction in FIG. 
6(c), the shutter 78, which used to block the toner discharge hole 63, 
moves in the anti-clockwise or left direction because of the friction 
between the projection 784 of the shutter 78 with the cylindrical member 
68, whereby the projection 784, which is formed in the top portion of the 
shutter 78, disengages from the bottom portion 761 of the rib 76 and the 
shutter 78 returns urged by the extension spring 79. The same occurs with 
the other projection (not shown) and the rib 76. 
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a mechanism for rotating the cylindrical member 
68. 
The gear 61, which is fixed to the front end portion of the cylindrical 
member 68, intermeshes with a toothed portion 331 of a rack 33 through 
gears 36 and 37, which are supported on the main body side of the printer 
1. The rack 33 is held for free sliding, approximately in the vertical 
direction, by holding members 34 and 35, and a top end portion of the rack 
33 that engages with a slide groove 17, which is formed in the expose/scan 
portion 10. With such a structure, when the expose/scan portion 10 is 
raised to provide access to the image creating portion 20, the rack 33 
accordingly moves in the direction of the arrow, the gear 61 rotates 
approximately 189 degrees (semi-rotation) in the clockwise direction 
through the gears 37 and 36, whereby the toner discharge hole 63 moves 
approximately to a top position (the condition shown in FIG. 7). 
On the other hand, when the expose/scan portion 10 is closed or lowered, 
the rack moves downward and the gear 61 semi-rotates in the anti-clockwise 
direction, thereby positioning the toner discharge hole 63 approximately 
to a bottom position. 
By means of such a mechanism, it is possible to eliminate a cumbersome 
operation of rotating the cylindrical member 68 by hand. 
In a portion of the developer 50, which faces the toner discharge hole 63, 
a semi-arch toner receiving portion 52 is disposed to receive toner 
particles, which fall from the toner discharge hole 63. Further, the toner 
container 60 is held by guides 41 and 42, which are disposed above the 
developer 50, so that if only the toner container 60 is lifted up, the 
toner container 60 can easily be removed and exchanged with another toner 
container. 
Next, a result of an experiment will be described in which the toner 
container 60 according to the present invention was actually fabricated 
and the amount of toner particles discharged and the amount of residual 
toner remaining in the toner container 60 were measured while the feeding 
screw 67 and the stirring axis 64 were driven to rotate under a 
predetermined condition. 
With respect to the toner container 60, the outer diameter of the feeding 
screw 67 is 13 mm, the pitch of the feeding screw 67 is 7.2 mm, the length 
h of the stirring film 62 (See FIG. 2) is 51 mm, and the distance from the 
peripheral surface of the stirring axis 64 to the bottom of the container 
(See FIG. 2) is 40 mm. 
FIG. 8 is a graph in which a drive-rotation time (min) for driving the 
feeding screw 67 and the stirring axis 64 are measured along a horizontal 
axis and a residual toner amount (g) in the toner container 60 is measured 
along a vertical axis. 
With combinations of the feeding screw 67 and the stirring axis 64 in terms 
of the number of revolutions, as those shown in the graph, the residual 
toner amount in the toner container 60 was measured for 50 minutes for 
each combination. Among points marked in the graph, up to 40 minutes, 
white squares and black circles are located approximately at the same 
positions, and therefore, only white squares are marked at those 
positions. 
As clearly shown in FIG. 8, almost all toner particles were discharged in 
30 minutes when the rotation speed of the feeding screw 67 was set to 120 
rpm or higher, i.e., the discharged amount of toner particles per unit 
time was larger than that where the rotation speed of the feeding screw 67 
was set to 60 rpm. Further, even when the rotation speed was set to 60 
rpm, almost all toner particles were discharged in 40 minutes. It then 
follows that toner particles are discharged leaving almost none remaining 
within the toner container 60 whatever the number of revolutions may be, 
and hence that even in the case of the toner container 60 according to the 
present invention whose right side surface 652 is partially recessed, if 
the shape of the stirring film 62, the number of revolutions of the 
feeding screw 67 and the like are considered, it is possible to discharge 
toner particles reliably without leaving almost no toner particles 
remaining. 
FIG. 9 is a graph in which a drive-rotation time (min) for driving the 
feeding screw 67 and the stirring axis 64 are measured along a horizontal 
axis and a discharged amount of toner particles per unit time (g/min) is 
measured along a vertical axis. 
Combinations of the feeding screw 67 and the stirring axis 64 in terms of 
the number of revolutions and the measurement time are similar to those in 
the measurement of the residual toner amount shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 shows 
that a discharged amount of toner particles per unit time was 
approximately constant until 40 minutes from the start of the measurement 
when the rotation speed of the feeding screw 67 was set to 60 rpm (black 
circles and white squares) whereas a discharged amount was large 
immediately after the start of the measurement but decreased with time 
when the rotation speed of the feeding screw 67 was set to 120 rpm or 
higher. In other words, it is possible to discharge toner particles faster 
when the rotation speed of the feeding screw 67 is set to 120 rpm or 
higher than when the rotation speed is 60 rpm, however with a large 
fluctuation in the discharged amount per unit time. Such a fluctuation in 
the discharged amount per unit time serves as an obstacle to stable supply 
of toner particles, which is not desirable. 
Hence, with respect to the toner container 60 according to the present 
invention, the feeding screw 67 and the stirring axis 64 are driven with 
the number of revolutions of the feeding screw 67 set to 60 rpm and the 
number of revolutions of the stirring axis 64 set to 30 or 60 rpm, thereby 
realizing a stable supply of toner particles. 
(3) Modifications 
The present invention of course is not limited to the preferred embodiment 
described above, and rather, may be modified in the following manner. 
(3-1) Although the preferred embodiment described above requires that the 
cylindrical member 68, which has the toner discharge hole 63, is attached 
to the recessed surface 653 that is recessed from the right side surface 
652 of the toner container 60, if there is additional space in the image 
creating apparatus for installment of a toner container, a cylindrical 
member may be attached directly to the side surface rather than to a 
recessed surface. 
FIG. 10(a) is a perspective view showing a toner container 90 according to 
such a modification. The toner container 90 comprises a hollow container 
91 for housing toner particles, a cylindrical member 93. which is attached 
for free rotation to a side surface 92 of the hollow container 91, and a 
semi-arch shutter 96 whose one end is linked to a protrusion 95, which is 
disposed in an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 93. In a 
like manner, the opposite end of the shutter 96 is linked to another 
protrusion, which is disposed in an outer peripheral surface of the 
cylindrical member 93 
A toner discharge hole 94 is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the 
cylindrical member 93. Further, an inner diameter of the shutter 96 is 
approximately the same as an outer diameter of the cylindrical member 93, 
and a slidable engage pin 98 extends from an edge portion of the shutter 
96 along and in engagement with a guide groove 97, which is formed in the 
side surface 92 of the hollow container 91. 
A seal member 99 of foamed urethane is adhered to almost the entire bottom 
surface of the shutter 96. 
FIG. 10(b) is a front view of the cylindrical member 93 and the shutter 96 
as viewed from the direction of the arrow F in FIG. 10(a). 
As the cylindrical member 93 rotates in the clockwise direction (the 
direction of the arrow in FIG. 10(b)), the shutter 96 which is linked to 
the protrusion 95 moves toward the right in FIG. 10(c) in accordance with 
the rotation, covering the toner discharge hole 94 approximately from 
above. At this stage, the shutter 96, while held in the guide groove 97, 
compresses the seal member 99 and blocks the toner discharge hole 94. This 
eliminates a gap between the shutter 96 and the toner discharge hole 94, 
and hence, prevents leakage of toner particles. 
Alternatively, a simple method using only the cylindrical member 93 and the 
shutter 96 may be used, which does not require to form the guide groove 
97. In this case, a spring, which presses the shutter 96 downward is used 
so that when the shutter 96 covers the toner discharge hole 94 
approximately from above, the seal member 99 is compressed and a 
predetermined effect is obtained. 
(3-2) In the preferred embodiment described above, the cross sectional 
shape of the toner container 60 is close to a rectangle shape instead of a 
conventional circular shape in order to fill the toner container 60 as 
much toner particles as possible. Hence, if there are hardened toner 
particles adhering close to an inner top portion of the toner container 60 
(G in FIG. 3), for example, which is out of reach of the front end portion 
of the stirring film 62, the hardened toner particles may continue to 
adhere and become residual toner particles. While the hardened toner 
particles may be scraped off with extended top ends of the stirring film 
62, if top ends of the stirring film 62 are extended too long, a warp 
against the bottom surface of the container becomes excessively large, 
which reduces the power of feeding toner particles. To deal with this, the 
top ends may comprise a plurality of projections 624 that can scrape off 
toner particles that adhere to an internal surface of the container, as 
shown in FIG. 11. As the stirring axis 64 revolves, the projections 624 
move to the top portion of the hollow container 65 and warp as if to jump 
when the contact with the inner peripheral surface is eliminated, and 
therefore, the resulting fine vibrations drop the toner particles adhering 
to a portion, which the stirring film 62 can not reach within the top 
portion of the hollow container 65, allow a full use of toner particles. 
More than one stirring film 62 may be used. For example, a plurality of 
stirring films may be disposed axially around the stirring axis 64. 
FIG. 12 is a plan view showing two stirring films axially attached to the 
stirring axis 64, and FIG. 13 is a side view of FIG. 12 as viewed from the 
direction of the arrow H. 
A first stirring film 625 and a second stirring film 626 are approximately 
the same length with respect to each other along the axial direction of 
the stirring axis 64, but are different from each other in the lengths a, 
b and c in the radial direction of the stirring axis 64. 
The radial-direction length a of a slit portion of the first stirring film 
625 is smaller than the radial-direction length b, the radial-direction 
length c of the second stirring film 626 is larger than the 
radial-direction length b, and the thickness of the first stirring film 
625 is larger than the thickness of the second stirring film 626. Slits 
6251 and 6261, respectively, of the first stirring film 625 and the second 
stirring film 626 are different from each other in the axial-direction 
positions. 
This allows the second stirring film 626 to transport toner particles, 
which leak out from gaps between the slits 6251 of the first stirring film 
625 and fail to be transported, which in turn improves the power of 
feeding toner particles. Further, since the thickness of the second 
stirring film 626 is smaller than the thickness of the first stirring film 
625, the rotation power of the stirring axis 64 may not be very large. 
Further, since the first stirring film 625 and the second stirring film 626 
in cooperation with each other improve the feeding power, this effect 
decreases to half if a distance (angle) between the first stirring film 
625 and the second stirring film 626 is too large. Hence, a mount angle 
.varies. (FIG. 13), at which the first stirring film 625 and the second 
stirring film 626 are attached axially to the stirring axis 64, is 
preferably 90 degrees or less (acute angle). 
(3-3) Further, while the preferred embodiment described above requires that 
the edge portion of the lid member 66 of the toner housing portion 300 has 
a shape projecting from the hollow container 65 (See FIG. 2), this shape 
is not limiting. Instead however, the shape may be such a shape that is 
easily set to a retainer, which is used for transportation into a toner 
filling machine in a production line in a plant, for example. 
FIG. 14(a) is a perspective view showing an appearance of a retainer 200. 
As the retainer 200, in general, a cylindrical retainer with a bottom is 
used. The toner container 60 is inserted upright into such a retainer 200. 
The reason for using a cylindrical retainer as the retainer 200 is because 
if the retainer 200 is rectangular, when the toner container 60 is set to 
the retainer 200, the direction of the toner container 60 must be changed 
in accordance with the retainer 200, which is troublesome. 
Hence, for easy setting to the retainer 200, as shown in FIG. 14(b), 
portions 601, 602 and 603 of the toner container 60, which are to abut an 
inner peripheral surface of the retainer 200, are preferably arched. 
Further, since this enlarges an abutting area, the toner container 60 is 
firmly held by the retainer 200. 
Still further, the absence of square-like portions does not give a rough 
feeling to the hands of a user, which makes it easy for the user to handle 
the structure. 
(3-4) Although the rack 33, which moves in the vertical direction as the 
expose/scan portion 10 opens and closes, is used as a mechanism for 
rotating the gear 61, which is fixed to the cylindrical member 68 in the 
preferred embodiment described above, this is not limiting. For example, 
the mechanism may be a structure in which, when the toner container 60 is 
set to the top of the developer 50, the gear 61 intermeshes with a gear 
that is mounted to the driving axis of the electric motor of the apparatus 
main body. In this case, a set sensor for detecting that the toner 
container 60 is set and an angle sensor for detecting the angle of 
revolutions of the cylindrical member 68 may be disposed, so that when the 
set sensor detects that the toner container 60 is set, rotations of the 
electric motor is controlled in accordance with angle information which is 
detected by the angle sensor. 
Further, alternatively, for example, such a structure may be used in which 
the main body comprises a teeth array that intermeshes with the gear 61 as 
the toner container 60, guided by the guides 41 and 42, is mounted on the 
developer 50 so that the toner drawing portion 400 is opened and closed in 
accordance with vertical movement associated with detaching of the 
container. This allows the omission of the rack 33, the electric motor and 
the like described above, thereby achieving more simplicity. 
(3-5) In addition, the application of the toner container 60 according to 
the present invention is not limited to such a printer described above. 
Rather, the toner container 60 according to the present invention is 
applicable to image creating apparatuses, such as other photocopiers, 
which comprise a developer apparatus using toner particles and facsimile 
machines that use plain paper. 
As described above, the toner container according to the present invention 
comprises the lid member, which covers the toner discharge hole from above 
as the cylindrical member rotates, and therefore, unlike in the 
conventional method in which the lid member rotates around the outer 
peripheral surface of the cylindrical member and covers the toner 
discharge hole from above, no damage is made to the seal member between 
the lid member and the cylindrical member and hence, no gap is created, 
which perfectly prevents any leakage of toner particles. 
More specifically, the toner container comprises guiding means for guiding 
the lid member from a first position at which a surface of the lid member, 
which faces the exterior surface of the cylindrical member of the toner 
container is off the toner outlet of the toner container, to a second 
position at which the facing surface of the lid abuts and blocks the toner 
outlet, and transmitting means for converting circumferential movement of 
the cylindrical member associated with rotation of the cylindrical member 
into a direction of movement from the first position to the second 
position and for transmitting movement to the lid member. Hence, the lid 
member opens and closes in accordance with the rotation of the cylindrical 
member. 
Further, the top/bottom direction of the toner container is specified in 
such a manner that the toner outlet of the cylindrical member is directed 
downward during supply of the toner particles and the lid member blocks 
the outlet when the cylindrical member is revolved and the toner outlet is 
positioned to an upper position. This makes it further difficult for the 
toner particles inside the toner container or cylindrical member to leak 
out. 
Further, at least the surface of the lid member, which is faces cylindrical 
member and in particular, the toner outlet is formed by an elastic 
material, and therefore, it is possible to seal off the toner particles 
inside the cylindrical member and to prevent the leakage of the toner 
particles from the cylindrical member. 
Further, in the toner container, the side surface of the toner container is 
partially recessed, the opening portion is formed in the recessed surface, 
and the cylindrical member, which serves as the toner drawing portion, is 
mounted for free rotation to this portion. As a result, the freedom of 
design is larger than in the conventional case where the drawing portion 
projects to the side. Accordingly, the present invention allows the 
enlargement of the toner housing portion in the projecting direction of 
the drawing portion. Thus, the toner container has a large capacity. 
Further, the toner container comprises a first and a second rotating feed 
members whose rotation axes are disposed approximately parallel to each 
other within the toner container; the rotation axis of the first rotating 
feed member is arranged approximately coaxial with the center of rotation 
of the cylindrical member so that the first rotating feed member feeds the 
toner particles toward the outlet when driven, and the second rotating 
feed member when driven feeds in a different direction from the feeding 
direction by means of the first feed member at least in a portion of the 
axial direction. Hence, even when the toner drawing portion is formed as 
recessing from the side surface of the main body of the toner container, 
it is possible to transport the toner particles inside to the drawing 
portion without fail. 
Further, since the second rotating feed member is formed by film-like 
blades, the second rotating feed member transports toner particles while 
abutting warping against the inner peripheral surface of the toner 
container. Hence, the shape of the inner peripheral surface is not limited 
to perfect circle and the freedom of shape improves. In addition, the 
second rotating feed member is formed with a plurality of blade chains, 
which are each formed by arranging a plurality of film-like blades in the 
longitudinal direction of the second rotating feed member, disposed around 
the axis of the second rotating feed member, and with respect to at least 
adjacent ones of the blade chains, the positions of blade ends in the 
axial direction are different from each other. Hence, toner particles 
slipping from the ends of an early blade chain are transported by the 
adjacent next blade chain, which improves the power of feeding toner 
particles. 
Further, in an image creating apparatus which develops with toner particles 
contained in a developer to thereby create an image on an image holder, 
the toner container is used as a toner container for supplying the toner 
particles to the developer. Hence, when a user exchanges the toner 
container and toner particles are transported, the toner particles do not 
leak out, without obstructing the exchange process and the like.