Patent Publication Number: US-9411266-B2

Title: Developer storage container

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention contains subject matter related to Japanese Patent Applications JP 2013-178078, filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Aug. 29, 2013, respectively, the entire contents of which being incorporated herein by reference. 
     The present invention relates to a developer storage container for use in an electro-photographic image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     In the electro-photographic image forming apparatus, a toner image is formed on an image carrying body such as a photoreceptor and an intermediate transfer belt by a developing section, and the formed toner image is transferred to a sheet by a transferring section. Then, in the image forming apparatus, the toner image transferred to the sheet is fixed to the sheet by a fixing section, whereby an image is formed on the sheet. 
     Further, in the image forming apparatus, a developer storage container to supply developer to the developing section is mounted. In the developer storage container, developer composed of, for example, toner and carrier is stored. In the widely-used developer storage containers, in many cases, a container body is disposed sideways relative to an image forming apparatus. Furthermore, in the container body, in order to convey developer stored in the container body, a spiral protrusion portion is disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the container body. Then, by rotating the container body, the developer stored in the container body is conveyed to a discharging port disposed on a leading end portion of the container body, and discharged to the developing section. 
     Further, in order to discharge the conveyed developer from the discharging port efficiently, Patent Document 1 discloses a toner container provided with a conveying blade to scoop up the conveyed developer and to convey the developer to the discharging port. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2009-271280 
     However, for example, like the case right after a new developer storage container has been mounted in an image forming apparatus, when a large amount of developer is stored in the container body, an amount of developer conveyed to a discharging port is larger than an amount of developer discharged from the discharging port. Therefore, an amount of developer in a space in the vicinity of the discharging port and the conveying blade becomes larger, and the density of the developer becomes higher. Then, the developer is compressed in the space and the fluidity of the developer lowers. As a result, there has been a problem that it becomes difficult to discharge the developer from the discharging port, right after a new developer storage container has been mounted. 
     Further, due to an increase in an amount of developer in the space in the vicinity of the discharging port and the conveying blade (an increase in compression ratio), there is a fear that the developer becomes solid and so-called soft aggregation occurs. Subsequently, if the developer in the state of the soft aggregation is used for development, there is a fear that the aggregation of the developer adheres on a sheet and image defects like a so-called firefly phenomenon occur. In particular, in the case where a filling rate of developer to be stored in a container is made to increase in order to reduce a replacement frequency of a developer storage container, a compression rate of developer in the space in the vicinity of the discharging port and the conveying blade becomes high, and the soft aggregation of developer tends to occur easily. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In consideration of the circumstances in the above conventional techniques, an object of the present invention is to provide a developer storage container that suppresses aggregation of developer in the vicinity of a discharging port and allows the developer to be discharged easily from the discharging port. 
     In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and to attain the object of the present invention, the developer storage container of the present invention includes a container body, a discharging member, and a regulating member. The container body includes an opening portion. The discharging member is attached to the opening portion and includes a discharging port through which the developer stored in the container body is discharged. The regulating member is disposed in a space formed by the container body and the discharging member, and partitions the space into a storage space to store developer in the container body and a discharging side space to store developer to be discharged from the discharging port. Further, the regulating member forms a passage hole to allow developer to pass from the storage space to the discharging side space and regulates an amount of developer to be conveyed from the storage space to the discharging side space. 
     In the developer storage container of the present invention, the regulating member regulates an amount of developer to be conveyed from the container body to the discharging port side of the discharging member, whereby it becomes possible to prevent the developer from being compressed in the vicinity of the discharging port and to prevent the fluidity of the developer from lowering. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a developer storage container pertaining to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the developer storage container pertaining to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view showing the developer storage container pertaining to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing a regulating member in the developer storage container pertaining to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a state where the regulating member is attached to a container body in the developer storage container pertaining to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view showing a state where the regulating member is attached to the container body in the developer storage container pertaining to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view cut along a D-D line shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a first modification example of the regulating member in the developer storage container pertaining to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a second modification example of the regulating member in the developer storage container pertaining to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view showing a third modification example of the regulating member in the developer storage container pertaining to the embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereafter, description will be given to embodiments to implement a developer storage container with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 10 . Herein, a common member in each drawing is provided with the same reference numeral. 
     1. Example of a Constitution of a Developer Storage Container 
     First, description is given to an example of a constitution of a developer storage container according to an embodiment with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 7 . 
       FIG. 1  is an entire constitution view showing a developer storage container, and  FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view showing the developer storage container.  FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view cut along a T-T line shown in  FIG. 1 . Here,  FIG. 3  shows a state in which a cap  4  is removed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a developer storage container  1  is mounted in an electro-photographic image forming apparatus, such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile, and to supply developer composed of toner and carrier to the image forming apparatus. The developer storage container  1  includes a hollow container body  2  to store developer therein, a discharging member  3  to be attached to the container body  2 , and a cap  4  to be attached to the discharging member  3 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the developer storage container  1  includes a regulating member  5  disposed inside the container body  2  and the discharging member  3 . Hereinafter, a side of the developer storage container  1  at which the cap  4  and the discharging member  3  are disposed is called a leading end, and a side opposite to the leading end is called a back end. 
     [Container Body] 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the container body  2  is formed in a hollow substantially columnar shape, and an opening portion  11  is disposed at its leading end side. Further, on a side wall of the container body  2 , a projection portion  12  is formed so as to protrude from the side wall of the container body  2  toward an inner side. The projection portion  12  is formed in a spiral shape from the back end side toward the leading end side of the container body  2 . Here, the direction of the spiral of the projection portion  12  is set so as to correspond to the rotation direction of the container body  2 . 
     The container body  2  is mounted in an image forming apparatus with its axial direction being substantially horizontal. Then, when the container body  2  is rotated around its axial direction, the projection portion  12  conveys the developer stored in the container body  2  to the opening portion  11 . The discharging member  3  is disposed on the leading end portion of the container body  2 . 
     [Discharging Member] 
     The discharging member  3  is attached to the container body  2  so as to block the opening portion  11  of the container body  2 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the discharging member  3  includes a mouth portion  16 , a discharging portion  17 , a conveying blade  18 , and a covering portion  19 . 
     The mouth portion  16  is formed in a cylindrical shape. The mouth portion  16  includes a screw portion  21  disposed at the leading end side of the mouth portion  16  and a locking portion  22  disposed at the back end side of the mouth portion  16 . The screw portion  21  is screwed with a screw groove disposed inside the cap  4 . A locking groove  22   a  formed from the back end portion toward the leading end portion of the mouth portion  16  is disposed inside the locking portion  22 . The leading end portion of the container body  2  is inserted into the locking groove  22   a . Then, the locking portion  22  is locked with the leading end portion of the container body  2 . With the arrangement, the discharging member  3  is rotated integrally with the container body  2 . Further, the discharging portion  17  is disposed at the leading end portion of the mouth portion  16 . 
     The discharging portion  17  includes a discharging port  24  through which the developer is discharged out of the container, and a latching portion  25 . The latching portion  25  is formed in a substantially circular-plate shape. The leading end portion of the later-mentioned covering portion  19  is temporarily latched to the latching portion  25 . The conveying blade  18  is disposed at the back end portion of the discharging portion  17 . 
     The conveying blade  18  is disposed on the discharging portion  17 , and arranged in the barrel-shaped hole of the mouth portion  16 . The leading end portion of the conveying blade  18  continues to the discharging port  24  of the discharging portion  17 , and the back end portion of the conveying blade  18  is positioned close to the inner wall of the mouth portion  16 . When the container body  2  and the mouth portion  16  are rotated, the conveying blade  18  scoops up the developer conveyed from the container body  2  and coveys the developer to the discharging port  24  of the discharging portion  17 . With the arrangement, even if an amount of developer becomes small, it becomes possible to discharge the developer efficiently from the discharging port  24 . 
     The covering portion  19  is formed as a substantially cylindrical bellows-shaped member. The leading end portion of the covering portion  19  is latched and locked to the latching portion  25  of the discharging portion  17 . Further, the back end portion of the covering portion  19  is fixed to the leading end portion of the mouth portion  16 . 
     Under the condition before the developer storage container  1  is mounted in the image forming apparatus, the covering portion  19  covers the discharging port  24  of the discharging portion  17 . With the arrangement, before the developer storage container  1  is mounted in the image forming apparatus, it becomes possible to prevent the leakage of developer from the discharging port  24 . Further, when the developer storage container  1  is mounted in the image forming apparatus, as shown with one-dot chain line in  FIG. 3 , the leading end portion of the covering portion  19  is released from the latching portion  25 , and shrinks toward the back end portion side. As a result, the discharging port  24  of the discharging portion  17  is exposed. 
     [Cap] 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the cap  4  is formed in a hollow substantially truncated cone shape. A not-shown screw groove to be screwed with the screw portion  21  of the mouth portion  16  is disposed on the inner wall of the cap  4 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , under the condition before the developer storage container  1  is used, the cap  4  is attached to the discharging member  3  and covers the covering portion  19  (refer to  FIG. 3 ). 
     [Regulating Member] 
     Next, the regulating member  5  is described with reference to  FIG. 3 , and  FIGS. 4 to 7 . 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing the regulating member  5 .  FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing a condition that the regulating member  5  is attached to the container body  2 ,  FIG. 6  is a plan view showing a condition that the regulating member  5  is attached to the container body  2 , and  FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view cut along a D-D line shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the regulating member  5  includes a partitioning portion  31 , a pair of engaging portions  32  and  32 , a knob portion  33 , and a pair of leg portions  34 . The partitioning portion  31  is formed in a circular flat-plate shape. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the diameter of the partitioning portion  31  is set to be smaller than the inside diameter of the container body  2  and the diameter of the opening of the opening portion  11 . The knob portion  33  is disposed on one surface of the partitioning portion  31 . Further, the pair of engaging portions  32  and  32  and the pair of leg portions  34  are disposed so as to continue to the partitioning portion  31  on the outer edge of the partitioning portion  31 . 
     The pair of engaging portions  32  and  32  is arranged facing each other with the partitioning portion  31  therebetween. Each of the pair of engaging portions  32  and  32  protrudes from the outer edge of the partitioning portion  31  outward in a radial direction of the partitioning portion  31 , and substantially vertically to one surface of the partitioning portion  31 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the pair of engaging portions  32  and  32  engages with the projection portion  12  which protrudes from the inner wall of the container body  2  toward an inner side. In detail, the pair of engaging portions  32  and  32  engages with the end portion of the projection portion  12  on the opening portion  11  side. With the arrangement, the regulating member  5  is arranged in the barrel-shaped hole of the container body  2  in the vicinity of the opening portion  11  of the container body  2 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the pair of engaging portions  32  and  32  is provided with contact pieces  32   a  and  32   a , respectively. When the pair of engaging portions  32  and  32  engages with the projection portion  12 , the contact pieces  32   a  are brought in contact with the inner wall of the container body  2 . Therefore, when the container body  2  is rotated, the regulating member  5  is also rotated integrally with the container body  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a pair of leg portions  34  and  34  is arranged facing each other with the partitioning portion  31  therebetween. The pair of leg portions  34  and  34  is positioned on the outer edge of the partitioning portion  31  between the pair of engaging portions  32  and  32 . Further, the pair of leg portions  34  and  34  bends substantially vertically from the outer edge of the partitioning portion  31 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , when the regulating member  5  is attached to the container body  2 , each of the pair of leg portions  34  and  34  protrudes from the opening portion  11  towards the back end side of the container body  2 . 
     With the constitution that each of the pair of leg portions  34  and  34  comes in contact with the inner wall of the container body  2 , when the regulating member  5  is attached to the container body  2 , it becomes possible to prevent the regulating member  5  from falling inside the container body  2 . Further, with the constitution that each of the pair of leg portions  34  and  34  comes in contact with the inner wall of the container body  2 , it becomes possible to prevent the regulating member  5  from tilting or rotating with the pair of engaging portions  32  and  32  as a fulcrum in the container body  2 . 
     The knob portion  33  is a protruding portion which protrudes from one surface of the partitioning portion  31  toward a side opposite to the protruding direction of the leg portions  34 . When the regulating member  5  is attached to the container body  2 , the knob portion  33  is nipped by an operator. This facilitates an attaching operation of the regulating member  5 . 
     Here, even if the pair of leg portions  34  and  34  and the knob portion  33  are not disposed, the object of the present invention can be attained. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the regulating member  5  is attached to the container body  2 , the center portion of the partitioning portion  31  in the radial direction substantially coincides with the center portion of the barrel-shaped hole in the radial direction in the container body  2 . That is, a center P1 of the partitioning portion  31  of the regulating member  5  in the radial direction coincides with a rotation axis R1 in the container body  2 . 
     Further, as mentioned above, the diameter of the partitioning portion  31  is set to be smaller than the inner diameter of the container body  2  and the diameter of the opening of the opening portion  11 . Therefore, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , passage holes S 1  to allow a predetermined amount of developer pass through are formed between the outer edge of the partitioning portion  31  and the inner wall of the container body  2 . 
     Further, the partitioning portion  31  is formed in a circular shape, and the pair of engaging portions  32  and  32  is arranged symmetrically to each other with the partitioning portion  31  therebetween. Therefore, the size of an opening of the passage hole S 1 , i.e., a distance between the outer edge of the partitioning portion  31  and the inner wall of the container body  2  is formed to be constant except portions where the pair of engaging portions  32  and  32  is disposed. 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 3 , one surface of the partitioning portion  31  of the regulating member  5  is separated from the conveying blade  18  of the discharging member  3  with a predetermined distance in the axial direction of the container body  2 . Therefore, a discharging side space S 2  is formed between the partitioning portion  31  of the regulating member  5  and the conveying blade  18 . As a result, an inner space formed by the container body  2  and the discharging member  3  in the developer storage container  1  is divided into a storage space S 3  in which developer is stored in the container body  2  and a discharging side space S 2  formed by the regulating member  5  and the conveying blade  18  of the discharging member  3 . 
     Here, in the present embodiment, description is given to the example where the passage hole S 1  to allow developer to pass through is formed by a gap between the outer edge of the partitioning portion  31  and the inner wall of the container body  2 . However, the present invention is limited to the example, and the passage hole S 1  to allow developer to pass through may be formed on the partitioning portion  31  itself. 
     Further, in the present embodiment, description is given to the example where the regulating member  5  is made to engage with the container body  2 , and the regulating member  5  is made to be another member separated from the container body  2  and the discharging member  3 . However, the present invention is limited to the example. That is, for example, the regulating member  5  may be integrally formed with the container body  2  or the discharging member  3  by integral molding. Further, the regulating member  5  may be fixed to the mouth portion  16  of the discharging member  3 , or, the regulating member  5  may be fixed to the conveying blade  18  of the discharging member  3 . Here, in the case where the regulating member  5  is fixed to the conveying blade  18 , there is a need to dispose a space between the regulating member  5  and a portion where the conveying blade  18  scoops up developer. 
     2. Discharging Action of Developer 
     Next, description is given to a discharging action of the developer in the developer storage container  1  with the above-mentioned constitution. 
     Here, in the developer storage container  1 , developer is filled up beforehand in the container body  2 , and the regulating member  5  is attached. Then, the cap  4  is removed from the discharging member  3 , and the developer storage container  1  is rotatably mounted in an image forming apparatus under a condition that the axial direction of the container body  2  is directed substantially horizontally. At this time, when the developer storage container  1  is mounted, the leading end portion of the covering portion  19  is detached from the latching portion  25  in conjunction with the mounting, and the covering portion shrinks toward the back end portion side to expose the discharging port  24  of the discharging portion  17 . 
     First, when the container body  2  is rotated around its axial direction, the discharging member  3  is also rotated integrally with the container body  2 . Then, the developer stored in the container body  2  is conveyed by the projection portion  12  toward the discharging member  3  side. In the example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the regulating member  5  is disposed in the vicinity of the opening portion  11  of the container body  2 . Accordingly, the developer conveyed by the projection portion  12  is brought into contact with the partitioning portion  31  in the regulating member  5 , so that further conveyance is regulated. Then, a predetermined amount of the developer corresponding to the size of the opening of the passage hole S 1  passes through the passage hole S 1  formed by the partitioning portion  31 . In this way, the regulating member  5  regulates an amount of the developer conveyed out from the storage space S 3  to the discharging side space S 2 , and maintains the density of the developer in the discharging side space S 2  at a predetermined value or less. 
     Subsequently, the developer conveyed out to the discharging side space S 2  is scooped up by the conveying blade  18  of the discharging member  3  and conveyed to the discharging port  24  of the discharging portion  17 . Then, the developer is discharged from the discharging port  24 . 
     Further, when the developer storage container  1  is mounted in the image forming apparatus, the regulating member  5  regulates an amount of the developer conveyed out to the discharging side space S 2  as follows. The regulating member  5  regulates the amount of the developer such that a height from the lowest point of the discharging side space S 2  in the developer in the discharging side space S 2  becomes lower than a height from the lowest point of the storage space S 3  in the developer filled up in the storage space S 3 . In this way, the density of the developer in the discharging side space S 2  is maintained at a constant value or less by the regulating member  5 , whereby it becomes possible to prevent the developer from being compressed in the discharging side space S 2  in the vicinity of the conveying blade  18  or the discharging port  24 . Therefore, it becomes possible to prevent the developer from becoming hard to be discharged from the discharging port  24 , which facilitates discharge of the developer from the discharging port  24 . 
     Further, since it becomes possible to suppress occurrence of soft aggregation of the developer in the discharging side space S 2  by preventing the developer from being compressed in the discharging side space S 2 , it becomes possible to prevent occurrence of image defects. 
     The regulating member  5  regulates an amount of the developer conveyed out to the discharging side space S 2  to become almost equal to an amount of the developer discharged from the discharging member  3 , whereby an amount of the developer accumulated in the discharging side space S 2  can be kept always constant. This makes it possible to maintain an amount of the developer discharged from the discharging port  24  always constant. 
     Further, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the partitioning portion  31  is formed in a circular shape, arranged at substantially the center of the barrel-shaped hole in the radial direction in the container body  2 , and arranged substantially concentrically with the barrel-shaped hole in the container body  2 . Therefore, a distance between the outer edge of the partitioning portion  31  and the inner wall of the container body  2  is made constant except portions where the pair of engaging portions  32  and  32  is disposed. This makes it possible to discharge a fixed amount of the developer from the passage holes S 1  to the discharging side space S 2  at all times, when the container body  2  is rotated. As a result, it becomes possible to minimize a difference between an amount of the developer discharged from the discharging port  24  right after the developer storage container  1  has been exchanged and an amount of the developer discharged from the discharging port  24  when an amount of developer stored in the container body  2  becomes small, which enables stable supply at all times. 
     Furthermore, the passage hole S 1  to allow the developer to pass through is formed along the inner wall surface of the container body  2 . Here, in the case where an amount of developer stored in the container body  2  becomes small, the developer moves toward the inner wall surface side of the container body  2  with the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the container body  2 . Therefore, even if the remaining amount of developer stored in the container body  2  becomes small, the developer can be conveyed out from the storage space S 3  to the discharging side space S 2  by utilizing the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the container body  2 . This makes it possible to discharge the developer stored in the container body  2  from the discharging port  24  without leaving the developer. 
     3. Modification Example of the Regulating Member 
     Next, description is given to the modification examples of the regulating member with reference to  FIGS. 8 to 10 . 
     [First Modification Example] 
     First, the first modification example of the regulating member is described with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a regulating member  50  pertaining to the first modification example. 
     The regulating member  50  pertaining to the first modification example differs from the regulating member  5  shown in  FIG. 4  in a constitution of a partitioning portion. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the regulating member  50  includes a partitioning portion  51  and a pair of engaging portions  52  and  52 . The partitioning portion  51  is formed in a substantially conical shape. The regulating member  50  is arranged such that the apex of the cone on the partitioning portion  51  faces toward the storage space S 3  side in the developer storage container  1 . 
     According to the regulating member  50  pertaining to the first modification example, the developer conveyed from the storage space S 3  comes in contact with an inclined surface  51   a  of the partitioning portion  51 . Successively, the developer is conveyed along the inclined surface  51   a  of the partitioning portion  51  to an end portion  51   b  of the partitioning portion  51 . This makes it possible to efficiently convey out the developer from the passage holes S 1  formed by the partitioning portion  51  and the container body  2  or the inner wall of the discharging member  3 . 
     As shown in the regulating member  50  pertaining to the first modification example and the regulating member  5  pertaining to the first embodiment, the shape of the partitioning portion is not limited to a circular flat-plate shape or a conical shape. Further, in addition to the circular flat-plate shape and the conical shape, examples of the shape of the partitioning portion include various kinds of shape, such as a polygonal flat-plate shape and a sphere shape. 
     [Second Modification Example] 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a regulating member  60  pertaining to the second modification example. 
     The regulating member  60  pertaining to the second modification example differs from the regulating member  5  shown in  FIG. 4  in a constitution of a partitioning portion. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the regulating member  60  includes a partitioning portion  61  and a pair of engaging portions  62  and  62 . The partitioning portion  61  includes a rectangular connecting plate  61   a  and a pair of inclined plates  61   b  and  61   c . The connecting plate  61   a  is arranged such that its one surface and another surface are made substantially parallel to the axial direction of the container body  2  or the discharging member  3  (refer to  FIG. 2 ). 
     The first inclined plate  61   b  is disposed on one surface of the connecting plate  61   a , and the second inclined plate  61   c  is disposed on another surface of the connecting plate  61   a . The first inclined plate  61   b  is arranged along a diagonal line of the connecting plate  61   a , and is made to incline relative to the axial direction of the container body  2  or the discharging member  3 . The second inclined plate  61   c  is arranged along another diagonal line of the connecting plate  61   a  different from the diagonal line for the first inclined plate  61   b . Further, the second inclined plate  61   c  is made to incline in an inclining direction different from that of the first inclined plate  61   b  relative to the axial direction of the container body  2  or the discharging member  3 . 
     According to the regulating member  60  pertaining to the second modification example, the developer conveyed from the storage space S 3  comes in contact with the first inclined plate  61   b  or the second inclined plate  61   c  of the partitioning portion  61 . Successively, the developer is conveyed along the inclined surface of the first inclined plate  61   b  or the second inclined plate  61   c  to the passage holes S 1 . This makes it possible to efficiently convey out the developer from the passage holes S 1  formed by the partitioning portion  51  and the container body  2  or the inner wall of the discharging member  3 . 
     [Third Modification Example] 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a regulating member  70  pertaining to the third modification example. 
     The regulating member  70  pertaining to the third modification example differs from the regulating member  5  shown in  FIG. 4  in a position of a partitioning portion. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the regulating member  70  includes a partitioning portion  71  formed in a circular flat-plate shape and a pair of engaging portions  72   a  and  72   b . The first engaging portion  72   a  is disposed on the outer edge of the partitioning portion  71 . The second engaging portion  72   b  faces the first engaging portion  72   a  with the partitioning portion  71  therebetween. Further, the second engaging portion  72   b  is disposed so as to continue from one surface of the partitioning portion  71 . 
     Further, when the regulating member  70  is attached to the container body  2 , since the partitioning portion  71  is disposed eccentrically in a radial direction to one side in the barrel-shaped hole of the container body  2 , the center P1 of the partitioning portion  71  in the radial direction does not coincide with the rotation axis R1 of the container body  2 . Accordingly, the distance between the passage holes S 1  formed by the partitioning portion  71  and the inner wall surface of the container body  2  changes along the circumferential direction of the partitioning portion  71 . 
     However, since the regulating member  70  is rotated together with the container body  2 , the distances between the passage holes S 1  are averaged. Therefore, even if the partitioning portion  71  is disposed eccentrically in a radial direction to one side relative to the rotation axis R1, the effect similar to that in the regulating member  5  pertaining to the above-mentioned first embodiment can be attained. 
     In the above, description is given to the embodiments of the developer storage container including their functions and effects. However, the developer storage container of the present invention should not be limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. Various modified embodiments can be achieved within a rage where the modified embodiments do not deviate from the intention of the invention described in the scope of claims. 
     It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.