Patent Publication Number: US-9904208-B2

Title: Accommodating container, cleaning device, developing device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART 
     The present invention relates to an accommodating container, a cleaning device, a developing device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus. 
     Here, the accommodating container is a container for accommodating a developer for use with the image forming apparatus. 
     Further, the process cartridge is such a cartridge that an image bearing member such as an electrophotographic photosensitive drum is at least provided and that the image bearing member and a process means actable on the image bearing member are integrally provided. Such a process cartridge is detachably mounted in a main assembly of the image forming apparatus. For example, it is possible to cite a process cartridge prepared by integrally assembling the electrophotographic photosensitive drum and, as the process means, at least one of a developing means, a charging means and a cleaning means into a cartridge. 
     Further, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus forms an image on a recording material (medium) using an electrophotographic image forming method. Examples of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus may include an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (LED printer, laser beam printer or the like), a facsimile machine, a word processor, and so on. 
     In the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, in general, a drum-shaped electrophotographic photosensitive member, i.e., a photosensitive drum as an image bearing member is electrically charged uniformly. Then, the charged photosensitive drum is selectively exposed to light, so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum. Then, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum is developed as a toner image with a toner as a developer. Then, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred onto the recording material such as a recording sheet or a plastic sheet, and then the toner image transferred on the recording material is subjected to application of heat and pressure and thus is fixed on the recording material to effect image recording. 
     Such an image forming apparatus requires toner supply and maintenance of various process means in general. In order to facilitate the toner supply and the maintenance, a process cartridge in which the photosensitive drum, the charging means, the developing means, the cleaning means and the like are integrally assembled into a cartridge in a single frame is made detachably mountable to an image forming apparatus main assembly and has been put into practical use. 
     According to this process cartridge type, the maintenance of the devices can be made by a user himself (herself), and therefore operativity can be remarkably improved, so that it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus excellent in usability. For that reason, the process cartridge type has been widely used in the image forming apparatus. 
     The process cartridge described above includes a toner accommodating chamber for accommodating a residual toner generating by scraping off the toner, which has not been fixed on the recording material, with a cleaning means. As a method of accommodating the toner in the toner accommodating chamber, a constitution using a screw and a partition wall has been known (Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application (JP-A) 2011-242524). 
     However, in recent years, an increase in capacity and lifetime extension of the process cartridge has been required. Particularly, as in the constitution disclosed in JP-A 2011-242524, in a type in which the toner accommodating chamber is partitioned by the partition wall perpendicular to the screw for feeding the toner with respect to a toner feeding direction, the toner cannot be accommodated in an entirety of a broad toner accommodating chamber. Further, when the toner in a large amount is accommodated in the toner accommodating chamber, there is a possibility that the toner stagnates at an intermediary position and breaks the screw due to its load. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A principal object of the present invention is to provide an accommodating container, a cleaning device, a developing device, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus in which a developer can be accommodated in an entirety of an accommodating portion without exerting an excessive load on a feeding member for feeding the developer. 
     According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an accommodating container for accommodating a developer, comprising: a feeding member for feeding the developer in the accommodating container; and a wall member provided in the accommodating container and extending along a direction crossing a developer feeding direction of the feeding member and inclined so that a distance from the feeding member increases toward a downstream side of the feeding member with respect to the developer feeding direction. 
     Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In  FIG. 1 , (a) and (b) are sectional views each showing a relationship between a third wall and a partition wall in a residual toner chamber as an accommodating container according to a First Embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view showing a main assembly of an image forming apparatus in which the accommodating container in the First Embodiment is mounted and showing a process cartridge. 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the process cartridge in which the accommodating container in the First Embodiment is mounted. 
       In  FIG. 4 , (a) is a side view of the process cartridge in which the accommodating container in the First Embodiment is mounted, and (b) is a sectional view showing an inside of a cleaning frame. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus main assembly in a state in which an openable door of the image forming apparatus in which the accommodating container in the First Embodiment is mounted is open. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus main assembly in a state in which the openable door of the image forming apparatus in which the accommodating container in the First Embodiment is mounted is opened and then a tray is pulled out. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus main assembly and the process cartridge when the process cartridge is mounted in and demounted from the tray in the state in which the openable door of the image forming apparatus in which the accommodating container in the First Embodiment is mounted is opened and then the tray is pulled out. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a driving side positioning portion between the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus main assembly in a state in which the process cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus main assembly in the image forming apparatus in which the accommodating container in the First Embodiment is mounted. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a non-driving side positioning portion between the process cartridge and the image forming apparatus main assembly in the state in which the process cartridge is mounted in the image forming apparatus main assembly in the image forming apparatus in which the accommodating container in the First Embodiment is mounted. 
         FIG. 10  is a general perspective view of the process cartridge in which the accommodating container in the First Embodiment is mounted as seen from a non-driving side. 
         FIG. 11  is a partial perspective view of the process cartridge in which the accommodating container in the First Embodiment is mounted as seen from the non-driving side. 
         FIG. 12  is a general perspective view of the process cartridge in which the accommodating container in the First Embodiment is mounted as seen from the non-driving side. 
         FIG. 13  is a partial perspective view of the process cartridge in which the accommodating container in the First Embodiment is mounted as seen from a driving side. 
       In  FIG. 14 , (a) and (b) are sectional views each showing a relationship between a third screw and a partition wall in an accommodating container according to a Second Embodiment. 
       In  FIG. 15 , (a) and (b) are schematic views each showing a relationship between a third screw and a wall in an accommodating container according to a Third Embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a rotational axis direction of a photosensitive drum is a longitudinal direction. Further, with respect to the longitudinal direction, a side in which the photosensitive drum receives a driving force from an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus is a driving side, and an opposite side thereof is a non-driving side. 
     &lt;First Embodiment&gt; 
     (General Structure of Image Forming Apparatus) 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view showing a main assembly of an image forming apparatus  1  (hereinafter referred to as an apparatus main assembly A) in which an accommodating container according to this embodiment is mounted and showing a process cartridge (hereinafter referred to as a cartridge B. The apparatus main assembly A is a portion from which the cartridge B is removed. 
     The image forming apparatus shown in  FIG. 2  is a laser beam printer using electrophotography in which the cartridge B is detachably mountable to the apparatus main assembly A. When the cartridge B is mounted in the apparatus main assembly A, an exposure device (laser scanner unit)  3  for forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter referred to as a drum)  62  of the cartridge B is provided. Further, below the cartridge B, a sheet (feeding) tray  4  in which a recording material or medium (hereinafter referred to as a sheet material) P to be subjected to image formation is accommodated is provided. 
     Further, in the apparatus main assembly A, along a feeding direction D of the sheet material P, a pick-up roller  5   a , a feeding roller pair  5   b , a conveying roller pair  5   c , a transfer guide  6 , a transfer roller  7 , a feeding guide  8 , a fixing device  9 , a discharging roller pair  10 , a discharge tray  11  and the like are successively provided. The fixing device  9  is constituted by a heating roller  9   a  and a pressing roller  9   b.    
     (Image Forming Process) 
     An outline of an image forming process will be described using  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the cartridge B. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , on the basis of a print start signal, the drum  62  is rotationally driven an a predetermined peripheral speed (process speed) in an arrow R direction. Then, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a charging roller  66  to which a bias voltage is applied contacts the outer peripheral surface of the drum  62  and electrically charges the outer peripheral surface of the drum  62  uniformly. 
     The exposure device  3  outputs laser light L depending on image information as shown in  FIG. 2 . The laser light L passes through a laser opening  71   h  provided in a cleaning frame  71 , so that the outer peripheral surface of the drum  62  is subjected to scanning exposure. As a result, on the outer peripheral surface of the drum  62 , the electrostatic latent image depending on the image information is formed. 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a toner T in a toner chamber  29  provided in a developing unit  20  as a developing device is stirred and fed by rotation of a first stirring member  43 , a second stirring member  44  and a third stirring member  50 , thus being sent to a toner supplying chamber  28 . The toner T is carried by a magnetic force of a magnet roller  34  (fixed magnet) on a surface of a developing roller  32 . The toner T is regulated in layer thickness on the peripheral surface of the developing roller  32  by a developing blade  42  as a collecting member for collecting the developer while being triboelectrically charged. Thereafter, the toner T is supplied onto the drum  62  depending on the electrostatic latent image, so that the electrostatic latent image is visualized (developed) as a toner image. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in synchronism with output timing of the laser light L, by the pick-up roller  5   a , the feeding roller pair  5   b  and the conveying roller pair  5   c , the sheet material P accommodated in the sheet tray  4  provided at a lower portion of the apparatus main assembly A is fed from the sheet tray  4 . Then, the sheet material P is fed to a transfer position between the drum  62  and the transfer roller  7  via the transfer guide  6 . In this transfer position, the toner image is successively transferred from the drum  62  onto the sheet material P. 
     The sheet material P on which the toner image is transferred is separated from the drum  62  and then is fed to the fixing device  9  along the conveying guide  8 . Then, the sheet material P passes through a nip between the heating roller  9   a  and the pressing roller  9   b  which constitute the fixing device  9 . At this nip, a pressure and heat-fixing process is effected, so that the toner image is fixed on the sheet material P. The sheet material P on which the toner image is fixed is fed to the discharging roller pair  10  and then is discharged onto the discharge tray  11  in an arrow D direction. 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 3 , from the drum  62  after the transfer, a residual toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the drum  62  is removed by a cleaning blade  77 , and the drum  62  is used again in the image forming process. The residual toner removed from the drum  62  is stored in a residual toner chamber  71   b  of a cleaning unit  60 . 
     (Mounting and Demounting of Cartridge Relative to Apparatus Main Assembly) 
     Next, mounting and demounting of the cartridge B will be described using  FIGS. 5 to 8 .  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the apparatus main assembly A of which an openable door  13  is opened for permitting mounting and demounting of the cartridge B.  FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the apparatus main assembly A and the cartridge B in a state in which the openable door  13  is opened for permitting the mounting and demounting of the cartridge B and then a tray  18  is pulled out.  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the apparatus main assembly A and the cartridge B when the cartridge B is demounted and mounted in a state in which the openable door  13  is opened and then the tray  18  is pulled out.  FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a driving side positioning portion between the cartridge B and the apparatus main assembly A in a state in which the cartridge B is mounted in the apparatus main assembly A. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , to the apparatus main assembly A, the openable door  13  is rotatably attached, and when the openable door  13  is opened, a cartridge inserting opening  17  is exposed. In the cartridge inserting opening  17 , a tray  18  for mounting the cartridge B in the apparatus main assembly A is provided. As shown in  FIG. 6 , when the tray  18  is pulled out to a predetermined position, the cartridge B can be mounted and demounted. The cartridge B is inserted (mounted) in the apparatus main assembly A along a guide rail (not shown) in an arrow C direction in  FIG. 6  in a state in which the cartridge B is placed on the tray  18 . The mounting and demounting of the cartridge B relative to the tray  18  are made along an arrow E direction in  FIG. 7 . 
     The apparatus main assembly A is provided with a first driving shaft  14  and a second driving shaft  19  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The first driving shaft  14  transmits a driving force to a first coupling  70  of the cartridge B. The second driving shaft  19  transmits a driving force to a second coupling  21 . The first driving shaft  14  and the second driving shaft  19  are driven by a motor (not shown) of the apparatus main assembly A. As a result, the drum  62  connecting with the first coupling  70  receives the driving force from the apparatus main assembly A and is rotated. 
     The developing roller  32  is rotated by transmission of the driving force from the second coupling  21 . Further, to the charging roller  66  and the developing roller  32 , a predetermined bias voltage is applied by an electric power supplying portion (not shown) of the apparatus main assembly A. 
     (Cartridge Supporting Structure of Apparatus Main Assembly) 
     Next, a supporting structure of the cartridge B by the apparatus main assembly A will be described using  FIGS. 5, 8 and 9 .  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the apparatus main assembly A of which an openable door  13  is opened for permitting mounting and demounting of the cartridge B.  FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a driving side positioning portion between the cartridge B and the apparatus main assembly A in a state in which the cartridge B is mounted in the apparatus main assembly A.  FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a non-driving side positioning portion between the cartridge B and the apparatus main assembly A in a state in which the cartridge B is mounted in the apparatus main assembly A. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the apparatus main assembly A is provided with a driving side-side plate  15  and the non-driving side-side plate  16  for supporting the cartridge B. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the driving side-side plate  15  is provided with a driving side-first supporting portion  15   a , a driving side-second supporting portion  15   b  and a rotation supporting portion  15   c  for the cartridge B. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the non-driving side-side plate  16  is provided with a non-driving side-first supporting portion  16   a , a non-driving side-second supporting portion  16   b  and a rotation supporting portion  16   c  for the cartridge B. 
     On the other hand, as driving side portions-to-be-supported of the cartridge B, a portion-to-be-supported  73   b  and a portion-to-be-supported  73   d  of a drum bearing  73 , and a driving side boss  71   a  are provided as shown in  FIG. 8 . The portion-to-be-supported  73   b  is supported by the driving side-first supporting portion  15   a , the portion-to-be-supported  73   d  is supported by the driving side-second supporting portion  15   b , and the driving side boss  71   a  is supported by the rotation supporting portion  15   c . Further, as non-driving side portions-to-be-supported, as shown in  FIG. 9 , a non-driving side projection  71   f  and a non-driving side boss  71   g  are provided. The non-driving side projection  71   f  is supported by the non-driving side-first supporting portion  16   a  and the non-driving side-second supporting portion  16   b , and the non-driving side boss  71   g  is supported by the rotation supporting portion  16   c . By the above-described structure, the cartridge B is positioned inside the apparatus main assembly A. 
     (General Structure of Cartridge) 
     Next, a general structure of the cartridge B will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3, 4 and 10-13 .  FIG. 3  is a sectional view of the cartridge B. In  FIG. 4 , (a) is a side view of the cartridge B, and (b) is a sectional view showing an inside of the cleaning frame  71 .  FIG. 10  is a general perspective view of the cartridge B as seen from the non-driving side.  FIG. 11  is a general perspective view of the cartridge B as seen from the non-driving side.  FIG. 2  is a general perspective view of the cartridge B as seen from the driving side.  FIG. 13  is a partial perspective view of the cartridge B as seen from the driving side. 
     In  FIG. 4 , (a) is the side view of the cartridge B as seen from the driving side, and (b) is the sectional view showing the inside of the cleaning frame  71  as seen in an arrow Y direction in (a) of  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 11  is an enlarged view showing an inside of a dotted circle of  FIG. 10  (but an angle thereof is changed).  FIG. 13  is an enlarged view showing an inside of a dotted circle of  FIG. 12  (but an angle thereof is changed). In this embodiment, screws used when respective parts (components) are connected will be omitted from illustration. 
     The cartridge B is formed by the cleaning unit  60  and the developing unit  20  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The cleaning unit  60  includes the drum  62 , the charging roller  66  and the cleaning member  77 , and these members are supported by the cleaning frame  71 . Further, to the cleaning frame  71 , a cleaning cover  72  is fixed by welding or the like. Further, each of the charging roller  66  and the cleaning member  77  is disposed in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the drum  62 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the cleaning member  77  is formed by a rubber blade  77   a  which is a blade-shaped elastic member and a supporting member  77   b  for supporting the rubber blade  77   a . The rubber blade  77   a  contacts the drum  62  counterdirectionally to a rotational direction of the drum  62 . That is, the rubber blade  77   a  contacts the drum  62  so that a free end portion thereof faces toward an upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the drum  62 . 
     A residual toner (waste toner) removed from the surface of the drum by the cleaning member  77  is sequentially fed in the following manner. That is, as shown in (b) of  FIG. 4 , the residual toner is fed in directions of arrows V, W and X in a listed order by a first screw  86 , a second screw (first feeding member)  87  and a third downstream (second feeding member)  88 , respectively, as a residual toner feeding member. The residual toner is fed in the order of a cleaning chamber  71   e  and a residual toner feeding path  71   s  as shown in (b) of  FIG. 4 , and then is stored in a residual toner chamber  71   b  ((b) of  FIG. 4 ), as an accommodating member (accommodating portion) for accommodating the developer (residual toner), formed by the cleaning frame  71  and the cleaning cover  72 . 
     The first screw  86  is rotated by transmitting a driving force, received from the apparatus main assembly A by the cartridge B, through a gear (not shown) or the like. The second screw  87  is rotated by receiving the driving force from the first screw  86 . The third screw  88  is rotated by receiving the driving force from the second screw  87 . The first screw  86  is disposed in the neighborhood of the drum  62 . The second screw  87  is disposed at a longitudinal end portion of the cleaning frame  71 . The third screw  88  is disposed in the residual toner chamber  71   b.    
     A rotational axis of the first screw  86  and a rotational axis of the third screw  88  are parallel to a rotational axis of the drum  62 . A rotational axis of the second screw  87  is substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the photosensitive drum  62 . An arrangement of the screws as a residual toner feeding means will be described later in detail. 
     In  FIG. 3 , a receptor sheet  65  for preventing the residual toner from leaking out of the cleaning frame  71  is provided at an end portion of the cleaning frame  71  so as to contact the drum  62 . The drum  62  is rotationally driven in the arrow R direction in  FIG. 3  depending on an image forming operation by receiving the driving force from a main assembly driving motor (not shown) which is a driving source. 
     The charging roller  66  is rotatably mounted to the cleaning unit  60  via charging roller bearings (not shown) at end portions thereof with respect to a longitudinal direction of the cleaning frame  71  (substantially parallel to a rotational axis direction of the drum  62 ). The charging roller  66  is press-contacted to the drum  62  by pressing the charging roller bearings toward the drum  62  by urging members (not shown). The charging roller  66  is rotated by rotation of the drum  62 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , the developing unit  20  includes the developing roller  32  and the developing blade  42 . The developing roller  32  and the developing blade  42  are supported by a developing container as the accommodating member for accommodating the developer. To the developing container  23 , a bottom member  22  is fixed by welding or the like, whereby the toner supplying chamber  28  and the toner chamber  29  are formed. The toner supplying chamber  28  and the toner chamber  29  communicate with each other through a toner supply opening  30 . 
     The developing roller  32  is a hollow member, and inside thereof, a magnet roller  34  is provided. The developing blade  42  regulates a toner layer (thickness) on the developing roller  32 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , a gap-keeping member  38  is mounted to the developing roller  32  at each of end portions of the developing roller  32 . By contact of the gap-keeping members  38  with the drum  62 , the developing roller  32  is held so as to have a predetermined gap with the drum  62 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a leaking-out preventing sheet  33  is provided at an edge portion of the bottom member  22  so as to contact the developing roller  32 . The leaking-out preventing sheet  33  prevents the toner from leaking out of the developing unit  20 . 
     In the toner chamber  29 , a first stirring member  43 , a second stirring member  44  and a third stirring member  50  as rotatable members are provided. Each of the first stirring member  43 , the second stirring member  44  and the third stirring member  50  rotates in the clockwise direction, and not only stirs the toner accommodated in the toner chamber  29  but also feeds the toner to the toner supplying chamber  28 . 
     The cleaning unit  60  includes, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the drum bearing  73  and a drum shaft  78 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , on the driving side of the drum  62 , a driving side drum flange  63  provided on the driving side is rotatably supported by a hole  73   a  of the drum bearing  73 . In the non-driving side, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the drum shaft  78  press-fitted in a hole  71   c  provided in the cleaning frame  71  rotatably supports a hole (not shown) of a non-driving side drum flange  64 . 
     On the other hand, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 12 , in the developing unit  20 , by bearing members  27  and  37  provided at end portions of the developing roller  32 , the developing roller  32  is rotatably supported. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 13 , connection between the cleaning unit  60  and the developing unit  20  are made by rotatably connecting the cleaning unit  60  and the developing unit  20  by connecting pins  69  relative to each other. Specifically, in the driving side of the developing unit  20 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , a developing-first supporting hole  23   a  is provided as a part of the developing container  23 . In the non-driving side, as shown in  FIG. 11 , a developing-second supporting hole  23   b  is provided as a part of the developing container  23 . 
     Further, in the driving side of the cleaning unit  60 , as shown in  FIG. 13 , first hanging holes  71   i  are provided as a part of the cleaning frame  71 . In the non-driving side, as shown in  FIG. 11 , second hanging holes  71   j  are provided as a part of the cleaning frame  71 . In the driving side, as shown in  FIG. 13 , the connecting pin  69  press-fitted and fixed in the first hanging holes  71   i  and the first supporting hole  23   a  engage with each other. In the non-driving side, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the connecting pin  69  press-fitted and fixed in the second hanging holes  71   j  and the second supporting hole  23   b  engage with each other. By the above-described constitution, the developing unit  20  is rotatably connected with the cleaning unit  60 . 
     Further, as shown in  FIG. 13 , a first hole  46 Ra of a driving side-urging member  46 R is hooked on a boss  73   c  of the drum bearing member  73 , and a second hole  46 Rb of the driving side-urging member  46 R is hooked on a boss  26   a  of the driving side-developing side member  26 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 11 , a first hole  46 Fa of a non-driving side-urging member  46 F is hooked on a boss  71   k  of the cleaning frame  71 , and a second hole  46 Fb of the non-driving side-urging member  46 F is hooked on a boss  37   a  of the bearing member  37 . 
     As described above, in this embodiment, each of the driving side-urging member  46 R and the non-driving side-urging member  46 F is formed with a tension spring, and the developing unit  20  is urged toward the cleaning unit  60  by an urging force of these springs, so that the developing roller  32  is pressed toward the drum  62  with reliability. 
     (Structure of Residual Toner Chamber) 
     A structure of the residual toner chamber  71   b  as the accommodating container for accommodating the developer will be specifically described with reference to (a) and (b) of  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 1 , (a) is a sectional view of the residual toner chamber  71   b  taken along Y-Y line shown in (a) of  FIG. 4 , and (b) is a sectional view of the residual toner chamber  71   b  taken along Z-Z line shown in (a) of  FIG. 1 . As shown in (a) of  FIG. 1 , in the residual toner chamber  72   b  the third screw  88  as the feeding member is rotatably provided, and  3  partition walls  72   c  ( 72   c   1 - 72   c   3 ) which are wall members are provided. In this embodiment, the inside of the residual toner chamber  71   b  are partitioned into 4 rooms by the 3 partition walls  72   c  ( 72   c   1 - 72   c   3 ). 
     In (a) of  FIG. 1 , the third screw  88  is constituted by a screw shaft portion  88   a , a helical screw portion  88   b , portions-to-be-supported  88   i  and  88   j  and a driven portion (not shown), and the screw portion  88   b  is a left-handed (counterclockwise) helical screw. In (a) and (b) of  FIG. 1 , the portions-to-be-supported  88   i  and  88   j  provided at longitudinal end portions of the third screw  88  are supported by being abutted against two supporting ribs  71   p  and  72   p  and two supporting ribs  71   r  and  72   r , respectively, formed by the cleaning frame  71  and the cleaning cover  72 . 
     The third screw  88  is provided below the second screw  87  with respect to the gravitational direction, and a driving force is transmitted from drive transmitting portion (not shown) of the second screw  87  to the third screw  88 . Further, the partition walls  72   c  ( 821 - 72   c   3 ) are disposed inside the residual toner chamber  71   b  so as to cross the third screw  88 , and are disposed at a plurality of positions along a rotational axis direction (arrow X direction) while being inclined in an obliquely rightward direction (hereinafter referred to as an Ri direction). The third screw  88  includes only the screw shaft  88   a  in each of sections (regions) where the third screw crosses the partition walls  72   c  ( 72   c   1 - 72   c   3 ) and no screw portion  88   b  is provided. 
     As shown in (b) of  FIG. 1 , in combination with the partition walls  72   c , an upper partition wall  71   x  provided on the cleaning frame  71  is disposed above the partition wall  7 , so that the residual toner chamber  72   b  is partitioned. Further, in (b) of  FIG. 1 , a relationship among a groove diameter l provided by the partition wall  72   c  and the upper partition wall  72   x , a diameter d 1  of the screw shaft portion  88   a  and a diameter d 2  of the screw portion  88   b  is: d 2 &gt;l&gt;d 1 . 
     Thus, the toner fed in the arrow W direction by the second screw  87  is delivered to the third screw  88  at a crossing portion between the second screw  87  and the third screw  88  as seen from above. The toner delivered to the third screw  88  is fed in the arrow X direction and abuts against the first partition wall  72   c.    
     At a crossing portion between the third screw  88  and the partition wall  72   c , the screw portion  88   b  is cut away, and the crossing portion is a region consisting only of the screw shaft  88   a , and therefore the toner feeding force in the arrow X direction which is the feeding direction lowers. The toner abutting against the first partition wall  72   c   1  moves along the first partition wall  72   c   1  and is fed in the Ri direction. The toner fed in the Ri direction is gradually accumulated in a first accommodating chamber  71   b   1  of the residual toner chamber  71   b.    
     When the first accommodating chamber  71   b   1  is filled with the toner, the toner fed by the third screw  88  passes through a gap between the groove diameter l, provided by the first partition wall  72   c   1  and the upper downstream  71   x , and the diameter d 1  of the screw shaft portion  88   a , and is fed to a second accommodating chamber  71   b   2 . Thereafter, a relationship between the first accommodating chamber  71   b   1  and the second accommodating chamber  71   b   2  is similarly reproduced also between the second accommodating chamber  71   b   2  and a third accommodating chamber  71   b   3 , and then the toner is finally accumulated in a fourth accommodating chamber  71   b   4 . 
     As described above, the toner fed by the third screw  88  is successively filled in the residual toner chamber  71   b  from an upstream space partitioned by the partition walls  72   c  ( 72   c   1 - 72   c   3 ). Accordingly, in a side downstream of the third screw  88 , the toner can be stably accommodated without exerting an excessive load, due to toner packing, on the third screw  88  which feeds the toner. A size of the residual toner chamber  71   b  is optimized depending on a residual toner amount estimated in a product. 
     The above-described relationship between the groove diameter l and the diameter d 2  of the screw portion  88   b  may also be: l&gt;d 2 &gt;d 1  at a crossing portion between the groove diameter l and the third screw  88 . 
     In this embodiment, the partition wall  72   c  extending so as to incline in one side (rightward direction) toward a downstream side with respect to the feeding direction of the third screw  88  was provided, but may also be provided in the other side (leftward direction) with respect to the feeding direction of the third screw  88 . Further, in this embodiment, the 3 partition walls  72   c  were provided to partition the residual toner chamber  71   b  into 4 rooms, but the number of the partition walls may also be changed to 4 or more, two, or one, so that the residual toner chamber  71   b  may be partitioned into 5 or more rooms, three rooms, or two room. 
     &lt;Second Embodiment&gt; 
     The Second Embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to (a) and (b) of  FIG. 14 . In the First Embodiment, the relationship such that the partition wall  72   c  overlaps with the screw shaft portion  88   a  of the third screw  88  was established, but in this embodiment, a relationship such that the partition wall overlaps with the screw portion  88   b  of the third screw  88  is established. In this embodiment, only a portion different from that in the First Embodiment will be described by changing a reference numeral or symbol thereof, and materials and shapes of respective portions are similar to those in First Embodiment unless otherwise specified. 
     In  FIG. 14 , (a) and (b) are sectional views each showing the residual toner chamber  71   b  cut at the same position as that in (b) of  FIG. 1 . As shown in (a) of  FIG. 14 , a partition wall  172   c  is provided in a right side of the third screw  88 . Further, the partition wall  172   c  has an overlapping relationship with the screw portion  88   b  of the third screw  88  with respect to the arrow X direction. 
     The toner fed by the third screw  88  abuts against an overlapping portion between the partition wall  172   c  and the screw portion  88   b  with respect to the arrow X direction. The abutted toner is fed along the partition wall  172   c  to a place spaced in the residual toner chamber  71   b  from the third screw  88 . Thereafter, as described in the First Embodiment, the residual toner chamber  71   b  is successively filled with the toner from an upstream space partitioned by the partition walls  172   c . Accordingly, the toner can be stably accommodated without exerting an excessive load, due to toner packing in a side downstream of the third screw  88 , on the third screw  88  which feeds the toner. 
     In (a) of  FIG. 14 , the partition wall  172   c  was disposed in an upper side of the third screw  88 , but as shown in (b) of  FIG. 14 , a similar effect is achieved also in the case where a partition wall  272   c  is provided in a lower side of the third screw  88 . 
     &lt;Third Embodiment&gt; 
     The Third Embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to (a) and (b) of  FIG. 15 . In the above-described embodiments, the constitution in which the first and second wall members extended in the right (same) direction with respect to the feeding direction (rotational axis direction) of the third screw  88  was employed, but in this embodiment, a constitution in which the first and second wall members extend in right and left (different) directions is employed. Of the first and second wall members, the wall member close to an inner wall of the accommodating container has a constitution in which there is a gap between the wall member and the inner wall in the accommodating container at a downstream end portion. 
     In this embodiment, only a portion different from those in the above-described embodiments will be described by changing a reference numeral or symbol thereof, and materials and shapes of respective portions are similar to those in the above-described embodiments unless otherwise specified. 
     In  FIG. 15 , (a) and (b) are sectional views each showing a residual toner chamber  371   b  cut at the same position as that in (b) of  FIG. 1 . In (a) of  FIG. 15 , a plurality of partition walls  372   c  will be described as partition walls  372   c   1 - 372   c   5 . 
     As shown in (a) and (b) of  FIG. 15 , the plurality of partition walls  372   c  for the residual toner chamber  371   b  are disposed on both (right and left) sides of the third screw  88  and are inclined toward the downstream side with respect to the arrow X direction with an increasing distance from the third screw  88 . Further, the partition walls  372   c  are disposed alternately in the right and left sides with respect to the arrow X direction, and in the downstream side of the third screw  88 , the partition wall  372   c  is disposed so as to extend from the same position of the screw shaft portion  88   a  toward the left and right sides while being inclined. In this embodiment, the residual toner chamber  371   b  is partitioned into 6 rooms by 5 partition walls  372   c.    
     Further, as shown in (b) of  FIG. 15 , the residual toner chamber  371   b  is constituted by an upper cleaning frame surface  371   t  and a side cleaning frame surface  371   u  of the cleaning frame  371 , and a lower cleaning cover surface  372   t  and a side cleaning cover surface  372   u  of the cleaning cover  372 . Further, the partition wall  372   c  is provided with a packing preventing flow path  372   d  between the side cleaning frame surface  371   u  and the side cleaning cover surface  372   u.    
     The toner fed in the arrow W direction by second screw  87  is delivered to the third screw  88  at a crossing portion between the second screw  87  and the third screw  88 . The toner delivered to the third screw  88  is fed in the arrow X direction and abuts against the first partition wall  372   c   1 . 
     The toner abutting against the first partition wall  372   c   1  moves along the first partition wall  372   c   1  and is fed in the Ri direction. The toner fed in the Ri direction is gradually accumulated in a first accommodating chamber  371   b   1  of the residual toner chamber  371   b.    
     When the first accommodating chamber  371   b   1  is filled with the toner, the toner fed by the third screw  88  passes through a gap between the groove diameter l, provided by the first partition wall  372   c   1  and the upper partition wall  371   x , and the diameter d 1  of the screw shaft portion  88   a , and is fed to a second accommodating chamber  371   b   2 . The toner fed to the second accommodating container  371   b   2  is fed in the arrow X direction by the third screw  88  and then abuts against the second partition wall  372   c   2  inclined in an obliquely leftward direction (Le direction) with respect to the arrow X direction. 
     The toner abutted against the second partition wall  372   c  moves along the second partition wall  372   c   2  and is fed in the Le direction. The toner fed in the Le direction is gradually accumulated in the second accommodating container  371   b   2 . Also in the third accommodating container  371   b   3  and later accommodating containers, the above-described relationship between the first accommodating container  371   b   1  and the second accommodating container  371   b   2  is reproduced. Further, when the toner abuts against the fifth partition wall  372   c   5  provided in the downstream side of the third screw  88 , the toner is fed along the fifth partition wall  372   c   5  toward the left and right sides of the fifth accommodating container  371   b   5 . 
     As described above, the toner fed by the third screw  88  is successively filled in the residual toner chamber  371   b  from an upstream space partitioned by the partition walls  372   c . Further, the third screw  88  is provided with the partition walls  372   c  in the left and right (both) sides, compared with the First Embodiment, the toner can be accumulated in every corner. Accordingly, even when the process cartridge is increased in capacity and lifetime, it becomes possible to accommodate the toner efficiently and stably. 
     In this embodiment, in the residual toner chamber  371   b , the partition walls  372   c  were disposed alternately in the right and left (both) sides of the third screw  88  with respect to the toner feeding direction of the third screw  88 , but the partition walls  372   c  may also be disposed in the left and right (both) sides at the same position with respect to the feeding direction of the third screw  88 . 
     In the case where a toner feeding amount per unit time is large or the toner excessively taken up moisture, the toner cannot be completely sent to the second accommodating container  371   b   2  through the gap between the groove diameter l provided by the first partition wall  372   c   1  and the upper partition wall  371   x  and the diameter d 1  of the screw shaft portion  88   a  in some instances. In this case, the toner is fed to the first accommodating container  371   b   1 . However, in this embodiment, in the case where the toner is excessively fed to the first accommodating container  371   b   1 , the toner is caused to flow from the packing preventing flow path  372   d  into the second accommodating container  371   b   2 . 
     Thus, in this embodiment, even in the case where the toner is excessively fed into each of the accommodating containers, the packing preventing flow path  372   d  is provided among the partition wall  372   c , the side cleaning frame surface  371   u  and the side cleaning cover surface  372   u , whereby the toner is prevented from being packed. For that reason, the toner can be accommodated stably without exerting an excessive load on the third screw which feeds the toner. 
     (Modified Embodiments) 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention were described above, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Various modifications and changes of constitutions of the present invention are possible within the scope of the present invention. Incidentally, with respect to functions, materials, shapes and relative arrangement of constituent elements described in the above embodiments, the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited only to these parameters. 
     (Modified Embodiment 1) 
     The present invention having the constitutes relating to the accommodating containers described in the above-described embodiments is not limited to those for feeding the residual toner. For example, the present invention may also be used for feeding the developer in the developing device including a developer carrying member (developing roller) for carrying the developer to be supplied to the photosensitive drum as the image bearing member. 
     (Modified Embodiment 2) 
     In the above-described embodiments, the accommodating container for feeding the developer is provided in the process cartridge insertable into the apparatus main assembly of the image forming apparatus, but may also be provided in an apparatus main assembly of an image forming apparatus in which the process cartridge is not used. 
     While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions. 
     This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-202501 filed on Oct. 14, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.