Patent Publication Number: US-10768549-B2

Title: Toner container and image forming apparatus

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent application No. 2018-159728 filed on Aug. 28, 2018, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a toner container and an image forming apparatus including this toner container. 
     Conventionally, an image forming apparatus of an electrographic manner supplies a toner from a developing device to an image carrier, such as a photosensitive drum, to thereby form a toner image. Such a toner used for forming of the toner image is generally replenished supplied from the toner container to the developing device. The toner container includes, for example, a container body having a discharging port discharging the toner and containing the toner, a rotating member installed in the container body and rotating around a rotation axis, and a moving member moving in accordance with rotation of the rotating member to convey the toner in the container body to the discharging port. 
     In the above-mentioned toner container, if a user rotates the rotating member in an opposite direction to an original rotating direction by mistake, the moving member is also moved in an opposite direction to an original moving direction. If such situation is caused, it is feared that distribution of the toner in the container body is varied, a stable quantity of the toner cannot be discharged from the discharging port, and toner replenishment from the toner container to the developing device becomes unstable. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a toner container includes a container body, a rotating member, a moving member, a transmitting member, an agitating member, and a connecting member. The container body has a discharging port discharging a toner and contains the toner. The rotating member is rotated around a rotation axis extended in one direction, and at least a part of the rotating member is installed in the container body. The moving member is attached to the rotating member, is moved in the one direction in accordance with rotation of the rotating member, and conveys the toner in the container body to the discharging port. The transmitting member is connected to the rotating member, and transmits rotation to the rotating member, and at least a part of the transmitting member is arranged outside the container body. The agitating member is rotated around the rotation axis, and agitates the toner contained in the container body. The connecting member is connected to the agitating member, and transmits rotation to the agitating member. The rotating member includes a following coupling facing to the outside of the container body. The transmitting member includes a transmitting coupling connected to the following coupling. The agitating member includes an agitating coupling facing to the outside of the container body. The connecting member includes a connecting coupling connected to the agitating coupling. The agitating coupling is arranged outside the outer circumference of the following coupling. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, an image forming apparatus includes the above-mentioned toner container, and an attached member to which the toner container is detachably attached. 
     The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure is shown by way of illustrative example. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional view schematically showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view showing a toner container according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a side wall part of a container body and its periphery in the toner container according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a ratchet shaft in the toner container according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing the toner container, in a state that a transmitting coupling and a following coupling are connected, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing the toner container, in a state that connection of the transmitting coupling and the following coupling is released, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     First, the entire structure of an image forming apparatus  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. 
     Hereinafter, it will be described so that the front side of the image forming apparatus  1  is positioned at a left side on a paper sheet of  FIG. 1 . Arrows Fr, Rr, L, R, U and Lo in each of the drawings respectively indicate a front side, a rear side, a left side, a right side, an upper side and a lower side of the printer  1 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the image forming apparatus  1  is, for example, a printer. The image forming apparatus  1  includes a box-shaped apparatus body  2 . In a lower part of the apparatus body  2 , a sheet feeding cartridge  3  storing sheets S (an example of a recording medium) is installed. In a top face of the apparatus body  2 , an ejected sheet tray  4  is provided. In an upper part of the apparatus body  2 , an exposure device  5  is installed below the ejected sheet tray  4 . In an upper part of the apparatus body  2 , a toner container  6  (an example of a toner containing case) is installed in front of the exposure device  5 . 
     Inside the apparatus body  2 , a conveying path P for the sheet S is arranged. At an upstream end of the conveying path P, a sheet feeding part  11  is provided. At an intermediate stream part of the conveying path P, an image forming part  7  is provided. The image forming part  7  has a photosensitive drum  8  and a developing device  10  (an example of an attached member). To the developing device  10 , the toner container  6  is detachably attached. At a downstream part of the conveying path P, a fixing device  12  is provided. 
     Next, image forming operation of the image forming apparatus  1  having such a configuration will be described. 
     First, by a laser light (refer to an arrow of a broken line in  FIG. 1 ) from the exposure device  5 , an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum  8 . Subsequently, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum  8  is developed by the development device  10 , and then, a toner image is formed. Thereby, the image forming operation is completed. 
     On the other hand, the sheet picked up from the sheet feeding cartridge  3  by the sheet feeding part  11  is conveyed to the image forming part  7  in a timing synchronized with the above-described image forming operation. In the image forming part  7 , the above-described toner image is transferred from the photosensitive drum  8  to the sheet S. The sheet S with the transferred toner image is conveyed to a downstream side on the conveying path P to enter the fixing device  12  and, in the fixing device  12 , the toner image is fixed on the sheet S. The sheet S with the fixed toner image is ejected from a downstream end of the conveying path P to the sheet ejected tray  4 . 
     Next, the toner container  6  will be further described. 
     An arrow I accordingly shown in  FIG. 2  and later indicates an inward side in left and right directions of the toner container  6  (a side approaching the center in the left and right directions of the toner container  6 ), and an arrow O accordingly shown in  FIG. 2  and later indicates an outward side in the left and right directions of the toner container  6  (a side separating from the center in the left and right directions of the toner container  6 ). An arrow R 1  accordingly shown in  FIG. 3  and later indicates a first rotating direction (hereinafter, called as a “first rotating direction R 1 ”), and an arrow R 2  accordingly shown in  FIG. 3  and later indicates a second rotating direction opposite to the first rotating direction R 1  (hereinafter, called as a “second rotating direction R 2 ”). 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , for the toner container  6 , a rotation axis X extended in the left and right directions (an example of one direction) is set. Hereinafter, a simply described “radial direction” indicates a radial direction of a circle around the rotation axis X, and a simply described “circumference direction” indicates a circumference direction around the rotation axis X. 
     The toner container  6  includes a container body  21 , a rotating member  22  arranged at the center of the container body  21 , a moving member  23  attached on an outer circumference of the rotating member  22 , an agitating member  24  attached to a right end of the container body  21 , a transmitting member  25  and a connecting member  26  located at a right side (an outward side in the left and right directions) of the container body  21 , and a cover  27  covering the transmitting member  25  and the connecting member  26 . Hereinafter, the above-described components of the toner container  6  will be described in order. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the container body  21  of the toner container  6  is formed in a box shape long in left and right directions. Inside the container body  21 , a first space S 1  and a second space S 2  are formed. In the first space S 1 , the toner is contained but, in the second space S 2 , no toner is contained. The second space S 2  is arranged at a left side of the first space S 1 . 
     The container body  21  includes a peripheral wall part  31 , a lid part  32  arranged at a left side of the peripheral wall part  31 , and a side wall part  33  arranged at a right side of the peripheral wall part  31 . 
     The peripheral wall part  31  of the container body  21  is formed in a cylindrical shape and is extended in the left and right directions. In a left end of the peripheral wall part  31 , an opening part  35  is provided. On an outer circumference face of the left end of the peripheral wall part  31 , an annular flange part  36  is protruded around the opening part  35 . In a right end of the peripheral wall part  31 , a discharging port  37  discharging the toner is provided. The discharging port  37  is covered by an openable/closable shutter  38  (refer to  FIG. 3 ). 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the lid part  32  of the container body  21  is arranged along a flat face orthogonal to the rotation axis X. The lid part  32  is formed separately from the peripheral wall part  31 . An outer circumference portion of the lid part  32  is fixed to the flange part  36  of the peripheral wall part  31 . The lid part  32  closes the opening part  35  of the peripheral wall part  31 . In the center of a left face  32   a  (an outer face) of the lid part  32 , a left side protruded portion  40  is protruded. In the center of a right face  32   b  (an inner face) of the lid part  32 , a supporting wall  43  is protruded at the back side of the left side protruded portion  40 . The supporting wall  43  is formed in an annular shape around the rotation axis X. 
     With reference with  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the side wall part  33  of the container body  21  is provided along a flat face orthogonal to the rotation axis X. The side wall part  33  is made integrally with the peripheral wall part  31  and covers a right side (an outward side in the left and right directions) of the peripheral wall part  31 . In the center of a right face  33   a  (an outer face) of the side wall part  33 , a bearing portion  45  is protruded. The bearing portion  45  is formed in a cylindrical shape around the rotation axis X. In an upper part of the right face  33   a  of the side wall part  33 , a toner filling port  46  is protruded above the bearing portion  45 , and the toner is filled in the first space S 1  of the container body  21  via this toner filling port  46 . The toner filling port  46  is closed by a cap  47 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the rotating member  22  of the container body  21  is configured to rotate around the rotation axis X. A part other than a right end (one end in the left and right directions) of the rotating member  22  is installed in the container body  21 . 
     The rotating member  22  is extended in the left and right directions. In a left end (the other end in the left and right directions) of the rotating member  22 , a joint part  54  is provided. The joint part  54  is inserted into the supporting wall  43  arranged in the right face  32   b  of the lid part  32 , and is rotatably supported by the supporting wall  43 . On an outer circumference face at the center in the left and right directions of the rotating member  22 , a screw part  55  is provided. A right side portion of the rotating member  22  is inserted into the bearing portion  45  arranged in the side wall part  33  of the container body  21 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in the right end (one end in the left and right directions) of the rotating member  22 , a following coupling  56  is provided. The following coupling  56  faces to the outside of the container body  21 . The following coupling  56  is formed so as to be along the circumference direction. In the following coupling  56 , a pair of fitting gaps  57  are provided. The pair of fitting gaps  57  are arranged at opposite side to each other across the rotation axis X. At one end in the circumference direction (a downstream side end in the first rotating direction R 1 ) of each fitting gap  57 , a first following face  57   a  is formed. The first following face  57   a  is extended in the left and right directions. At the other end in the circumference direction (an upstream side end in the first rotating direction R 1 ) of each fitting gap  57 , a second following face  57   b  is formed. The second following face  57   b  is inclined relative to the left and right directions. 
     At the center in the radial direction of the right end of the rotating member  22 , a hole part  58  having a square shaped (non-circular shaped) section is provided. The hole part  58  is located at a left side (an inward side in the left and right directions) from the following coupling  56 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the moving member  23  of the toner container  6  partitions a space inside the container body  21  into the first space S 1  and the second space S 2  in the left and right directions. The moving member  23  is provided so as to be linearly movable in the left and right directions in a state that rotation of the moving member  23  is restricted. 
     The moving member  23  includes a seal piece  71 , a pair of left and right sandwiching pieces  72  sandwiching the seal piece  71 , and an engaging piece  73  located at a left side of the left sandwiching piece  72 . An outer circumference face of the seal piece  71  is in contact with an inner circumference face of the peripheral wall part  31  of the container body  21 . On an inner circumference face of the engaging piece  73 , a screw groove  76  is provided. The screw groove  76  is engaged with the screw part  55  provided on the rotating member  22 . Thereby, rotation of the rotating member  22  can be converted to linear movement of the moving member  23  so as to be linearly movable in the left and right directions. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the agitating member  24  of the toner container  6  is relative-rotatably attached to the outer circumference of the rotating member  22 . The agitating member  24  is configured to rotate around the rotation axis X. The agitating member  24  includes a holding piece  81 , and a film  82  held by the holding piece  81 . 
     In the holding piece  81  of the agitating member  24 , the right side portion of the rotating member  22  is inserted. Thereby, the holding piece  81  supports the right side portion of the rotating member  22  rotatably. A left side portion of the holding piece  81  is installed in a right end of the first space S 1  of the container body  21 . 
     A right side portion of the holding piece  81  of the agitating member  24  is formed in a cylindrical shape around the rotation axis X. The right side portion of the holding piece  81  is inserted into the bearing portion  45  provided in the side wall part  33  of the container body  21 . Thereby, the agitating member  24  is rotatably supported by the side wall part  33  of the container body  21 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in a right end of the holding piece  81  of the agitating member  24 , an agitating coupling  86  is provided. The agitating coupling  86  faces to the outside of the container body  21 . The agitating coupling  86  is formed so as to be along the circumference direction. The agitating coupling  86  is arranged outside an outer circumference of the following coupling  56 . A maximum protrusion width in the left and right directions of the agitating coupling  86  relative to the right face  33   a  of the side wall part  33  of the container body  21  is larger than a maximum protrusion width in the left and right directions of the following coupling  56  relative to the right face  33   a  of the side wall part  33  of the container body  21 . In the agitating coupling  86 , a pair of recessed parts  87  are provided. The pair of recessed parts  87  are arranged at opposite side to each other across the rotation axis X. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the film  82  of the agitating member  24  is installed in the right end of the first space S 1  of the container body  21 . The film  82  is made of, for example, a resin film, such as a PET film (Polyethylene Terephthalate Film), and has flexibility. A position in the left and right directions of the film  82  is overlapped with a position in the left and right directions of the discharging port  37  provided in the peripheral wall part  31  of the container body  21 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the whole of the transmitting member  25  of the toner container  6  is arranged outside the container body  21 . The transmitting member  25  includes a transmitting piece  91 , and a ratchet mechanism  92  connecting the transmitting piece  91  and the rotating member  22 . 
     A left side portion of the transmitting piece  91  of the transmitting member  25  is formed in a cylindrical shape around the rotation axis X. A right side portion of the transmitting piece  91  is formed in an annular shape around the rotation axis X. On an outer circumference portion of the right side portion of the transmitting piece  91 , a transmitting gear  93  is provided. The transmitting gear  93  is connected to a first driving gear  95  of a first driving member  94  provided in the developing device  10 . 
     The ratchet mechanism  92  of the transmitting member  25  includes a ratchet shaft  96 , and a ratchet piece  97  provided on an outer circumference of the ratchet shaft  96 . 
     The ratchet shaft  96  of the ratchet mechanism  92  of the transmitting member  25  is extended in the left and right directions. In a left end of the ratchet shaft  96 , a transmitting coupling  98  is provided. The transmitting coupling  98  is connected to the following coupling  56  provided in the rotating member  22 . Thereby, the transmitting member  25  is linearly connected to the rotating member  22 , and the transmitting member  25  and the rotating member  22  are integrally rotated around the rotation axis X. The transmitting coupling  98  together with the following coupling  56  composes a restricting mechanism  99 . The restricting mechanism  99  is arranged in an engaging part E of the rotating member  22  and the transmitting member  25 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , in an outer circumference face of the transmitting coupling  98 , a pair of fitting protrusions  100  are provided. The pair of fitting protrusions  100  are arranged at opposite side to each other across the rotation axis X. At one end in the circumference direction (a downstream side end in the first rotating direction R 1 ) of each fitting protrusion  100 , a first transmitting face  100   a  is formed. The first transmitting face  100   a  is extended in the left and right directions. At the other end in the circumference direction (an upstream side end in the first rotating direction R 1 ) of each fitting protrusion  100 , a second transmitting face  100   b  is formed. The second transmitting face  100   b  is inclined relative to the left and right directions. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the ratchet piece  97  of the ratchet mechanism  92  of the transmitting member  25  is formed in a cylindrical shape around the rotation axis X. The ratchet piece  97  is arranged between the transmitting piece  91  and the ratchet shaft  96 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the whole of the connecting member  26  of the toner container  6  is arranged outside the container body  21 . The connecting member  26  includes a cylindrical part  101 , and an annular part  102  protruded from an outer circumference face of a right side portion of the cylindrical part  101 . 
     The cylindrical part  101  of the connecting member  26  is formed in a cylindrical shape around the rotation axis X. In a left end of the cylindrical part  101 , a connecting coupling  104  is provided. The connecting coupling  104  is connected to the agitating coupling  86  provided in the holding piece  81  of the agitating member  24 . Thereby, the connecting member  26  is linearly connected to the agitating member  24 , and the connecting member  26  and the agitating member  24  are integrally rotated around the rotation axis X. In the connecting coupling  104 , a pair of protruded parts (not shown) are provided. Each protruded part is fitted into each recessed part  87  of the agitating coupling  86 . 
     The annular part  102  of the connecting member  26  is formed in an annular shape around the rotation axis X. On an outer circumference face of the annular part  102 , a connecting gear  106  is provided. The connecting gear  106  is connected to a second driving gear  108  of a second driving member  107  provided in the developing device  10 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the cover  27  of the toner container  6  is attached to the right end of the container body  21 . The cover  27  covers a right side (an outward side in the left and right directions) of the side wall part  33  of the container body  21 . The cover  27  covers the following coupling  56  and the agitating coupling  86 . 
     On a right face (an outer face) of the cover  27 , a right side protruded portion  111  is protruded. On a left face (an inner face) of the cover  27 , a bearing portion  112  is provided at a back side of the right side protruded portion  111 . The bearing portion  112  is formed in a cylindrical shape around the rotation axis X. The bearing portion  112  supports a right end of the ratchet shaft  96  of the ratchet mechanism  92  rotatably. In a lower part of the cover  27 , a window portion  113  is provided, and parts of the transmitting gear  93  and the connecting gear  106  are exposed to the outside of the toner container  6  via the window portion  113 . 
     Next, operation replenishing the toner from the toner container  6  to the developing device  10  (hereinafter, called as “toner replenishing operation”) will be described. 
     When the toner replenishing operation is executed, a drive source (not shown) rotates the second driving member  107 . When the second driving member  107  is thus rotated, this rotation is transmitted to the agitating member  24  by the connecting member  26  to rotate the agitating member  24 . Thereby, the film  82  of the agitating member  24  agitates the toner contained in the first space S 1  of the container body  21  and conveys this toner to the discharging port  37 . The toner thus conveyed to the discharging port  37  is discharged to the outside of the container body  21  via the discharging port  37  and is replenished to the developing device  10 . Thereby, the toner replenishing operation is completed. 
     After the toner replenishing operation as described above is executed, the toner near the discharging port  37  in the first space S 1  of the container body  21  is decreased. According to this, if a toner sensor (not shown) senses that the toner near the discharging port  37  becomes less than a predetermined threshold value, a drive source (not shown) rotates the first driving member  94 . When the first driving member  94  is thus rotated, this rotation is transmitted to the rotating member  22  by the transmitting member  25  to rotate the rotating member  22  in the first rotating direction R 1 . When the rotating member  22  is thus rotated in the first rotating direction R 1 , the moving member  23  attached on the outer circumference of the rotating member  22  is moved to the right side in the left and right directions (a side approaching the discharging port  37 ), as indicated by an arrow A in  FIG. 2 . According to this, a toner quantity in the first space S 1  of the container body  21  is decreased, and then, the toner in the first space S 1  of the container body  21  is pushed by the moving member  23  and moved to the right side (the side approaching the discharging port  37 ). That is, the moving member  23  conveys the toner in the container body  21  to the discharging port  37 . Therefore, the toner is filled up in a space near the discharging port  37  again, and then, it is possible to replenish a sufficient quantity of the toner from the toner container  6  to the developing device  10  in next toner replenishing operation. 
     Incidentally, in the toner container  6  configured as described above, if a user operates the following coupling  56  by mistake to rotate the rotating member  22  in the second rotating direction R 2 , the moving member  23  may be moved to the left side (a side separating from the discharging port  37 ). If such situation is caused, it is feared that distribution of the toner in the container body  21  is varied, a stable quantity of the toner cannot be discharged from the discharging port  37 , and toner replenishment from the toner container  6  to the developing device  10  becomes unstable. 
     However, in the present embodiment, the agitating coupling  86  is arranged outside the outer circumference of the following coupling  56 . By applying such a configuration, it is possible to restrict the user from operating the following coupling  56  by mistake, and to certainly restrict rotation of the rotating member  22  in the second rotating direction R 2 . Moreover, even if the cover  27  is detached from the container body  21 , it is possible to protect the following coupling  56  by the agitating coupling  86  against impact from the outside. 
     In addition, in the present embodiment, when the toner replenishing operation is executed, if the transmitting piece  91  of the transmitting member  25  is rotated in the first rotating direction R 1 , the ratchet piece  97  and the ratchet shaft  96  of the ratchet mechanism  92  of the transmitting member  25  is rotated in the first rotating direction R 1  together with the transmitting piece  91 . Therefore, the rotating member  22  connected to the ratchet shaft  96  is rotated in the first rotating direction R 1  together with the ratchet shaft  96  in a body. Thus, rotation of the transmitting piece  91  is transmitted to the rotating member  22  by the ratchet mechanism  92  to rotate the rotating member  22  in the first rotating direction R 1 . 
     On the other hand, if the user rotates the transmitting piece  91  of the transmitting member  25  in the second rotating direction R 2 , the ratchet piece  97  of the ratchet mechanism  92  of the transmitting member  25  is rotated in the second rotating direction R 2  together with the transmitting piece  91 , but the ratchet shaft  96  of the ratchet mechanism  92  of the transmitting member  25  is not rotated. That is, the ratchet piece  97  is raced with respect to the ratchet shaft  96 . Therefore, the rotating member  22  connected to the ratchet shaft  96  is not rotated. Thus, by the ratchet mechanism  92 , transmission of rotation from the transmitting piece  91  to the rotating member  22  is intercepted, and then, rotation of the rotating member  22  in the second rotating direction R 2  is restricted. 
     As described above, in the present embodiment, rotation of the rotating member  22  in the second rotating direction R 2  is restricted by the ratchet mechanism  92 . However, in a case where the user detaches the cover  27  from the container body  21  and operates the ratchet shaft  96  by mistake to rotate the ratchet shaft  96  in the second rotating direction R 2 , because the ratchet mechanism  92  does not work, it is feared that rotation of the rotating member  22  in the second rotating direction R 2  cannot be restricted. That is, it is feared that only the ratchet mechanism  92  cannot certainly restrict rotation of the rotating member  22  in the second rotating direction R 2 . Thereupon, in the present embodiment, the rotating member is certainly restricted from rotating in the second rotating direction R 2 , as follows. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , when the toner replenishing operation is executed, in a case where the ratchet shaft  96  is rotated in the first rotating direction R 1 , in a state that each fitting protrusion  100  of the transmitting coupling  98  and each fitting gap  57  of the following coupling  56  are fitted, the first transmitting face  100   a  of each fitting protrusion  100  pushes the first following face  57   a  of each fitting gap  57 . When the first transmitting face  100   a  thus pushes the first following face  57   a , since the first transmitting face  100   a  and the first following face  57   a  are extended in the left and right directions, rotation of the ratchet shaft  96  is transmitted to the rotating member  22 , and the rotating member  22  is rotated in the first rotating direction R 1  together with the ratchet shaft  96  in a body. That is, by the restricting mechanism  99  composed of the following coupling  56  and the transmitting coupling  98 , rotation of the rotating member  22  in the first rotating direction R 1  is allowed. 
     On the other hand, with reference to  FIG. 6 , in a case where the user makes the ratchet shaft  96  rotate in the second rotating direction R 2 , the second transmitting face  100   b  of each fitting protrusion  100  pushes the second following face  57   b  of each fitting gap  57 . Even if the second transmitting face  100   b  thus pushes the second following face  57   b , since the second transmitting face  100   b  and the second following face  57   b  are inclined relative to the left and right directions, rotation of the ratchet shaft  96  cannot be transmitted to the rotating member  22 . Therefore, the ratchet shaft  96  is moved to a right side (an outward side in the left and right directions) with respect to the rotating member  22 , fitting of each fitting protrusion  100  of the transmitting coupling  98  and each fitting gap  57  of the following coupling  56  is released, and the ratchet shaft  96  is raced with respect to the rotating member  22 . That is, by the restricting mechanism  99  composed of the following coupling  56  and the transmitting coupling  98 , rotation of the rotating member  22  in the second rotating direction R 2  is restricted. 
     In the present embodiment, the restricting mechanism  99  for allowing rotation of the rotating member in the first rotating direction R 1  and restricting rotation of the rotating member  22  in the second rotating direction R 2  opposite to the first rotating direction R 1  is provided in the engaging part E of the rotating member  22  and the transmitting member  25 . By applying such a configuration, in a case where the user operates the ratchet shaft  96  by mistake to rotate the ratchet shaft  96  in the second rotating direction R 2 , it is possible to certainly restrict rotation of the rotating member  22  in the second rotating direction R 2 . 
     In addition, the restricting mechanism  99  is composed of the following coupling  56  and the transmitting coupling  98 . By applying such a configuration, it is possible to achieve assembly of the restricting mechanism  99  only by connecting the following coupling  56  and the transmitting coupling  98 . Therefore, it is facilitate assembly of the restricting mechanism  99 . 
     Moreover, when the ratchet shaft  96  is rotated in the first rotating direction R 1 , the first transmitting face  100   a  pushes the first following face  57   a , and then, the rotating member  22  is rotated in the first rotating direction R 1  together with the ratchet shaft  96  in a body. On the other hand, when the ratchet shaft  96  is rotated in the second rotating direction R 2 , the second transmitting face  100   b  pushes the second following face  57   b , and then, the ratchet shaft  96  is raced with respect to the rotating member  22 . By applying such a configuration, it is possible to allow rotation of the rotating member  22  in the first rotating direction R 1  and simultaneously to certainly restrict rotation of the rotating member  22  in the second rotating direction R 2  by using a simple configuration. 
     Further, the maximum protrusion width in the left and right directions of the agitating coupling  86  relative to the right face  33   a  of the side wall part  33  of the container body  21  is larger than the maximum protrusion width in the left and right directions of the following coupling  56  relative to the right face  33   a  of the side wall part  33  of the container body  21 . By applying such a configuration, it is possible to more effectively restrict the user from operating the following coupling  56  by mistake, and to more certainly restrict rotation of the rotating member  22  in the second rotating direction R 2 . Moreover, even if the cover  27  is detached from the container body  21 , it is possible to more effectively protect the following coupling  56  by the agitating coupling  86  against impact from the outside. 
     Furthermore, the following coupling  56  and the transmitting coupling  98  are covered by the cover  27 . By applying such a configuration, since it is possible to restrict the following coupling  56  and the transmitting coupling  98  from being broken by impact from the outside, it is possible to certainly work the following coupling  56  and the transmitting coupling  98 . 
     Moreover, the ratchet mechanism  92  transmits rotation of the transmitting piece  91  to the rotating member  22  in a case where the transmitting piece  91  is rotated in the first rotating direction R 1 , and intercepts transmission of rotation of the transmitting piece  91  to the rotating member  22  in a case where the transmitting piece  91  is rotated in the second rotating direction R 2 . By applying such a configuration, it is possible to more certainly restrict rotation of the rotating member  22  in the second rotating direction R 2 . 
     Further, the image forming apparatus  1  includes the above-described toner container  6 , the developing device  10  to which the toner container  6  is detachably attached. By applying such a configuration, it is possible to provide the image forming apparatus  1  including the toner container  6  being capable of certainly restricting rotation of the rotating member  22  in the second rotating direction R 2 . 
     In the present embodiment, a part (a part other than the right end) of the rotating member  22  is installed in the container body  21 . However, in another embodiment, the whole of the rotating member  22  may be installed in the container body  21 . 
     In the present embodiment, the whole of the transmitting member  25  is arranged outside the container body  21 . However, in another embodiment, a part of the transmitting member  25  may be arranged outside the container body  21 . 
     In the present embodiment, the toner container  6  is detachably attached to the developing device  10 . However, in another embodiment, the toner container  6  may be detachably attached to a member other than the developing device  10  (e.g. the apparatus body  2 ). 
     In the present embodiment, the image forming apparatus  1  is the printer. However, in another embodiment, the image forming apparatus  1  may be a copying machine, a facsimile, a multifunction peripheral (an image forming apparatus compositely including a print function, a copy function, a facsimile function and others) or the like. 
     The above-description of the embodiment of the present disclosure was described about a preferable embodiment of the toner container and the image forming apparatus according to the disclosure. However, the technical scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments.