Patent ID: 12259667

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a developer replenishing container and a developer replenishing system according the present invention will be specifically described. In the following, unless otherwise stated, various elements of the configuration of the developer replenishing container can be replaced with other known elements that perform similar functions within the scope of the concept of the invention. Namely, unless otherwise stated, there is no intention to limit the invention only to the configurations of the developer replenishing containers described in the Embodiments described below.

Embodiment 1

First, the basic configuration of the image forming apparatus1will be described. Then, the configurations of the four developer replenishing devices3and the four developer replenishing containers4that constitute the developer replenishing system2installed in the image forming apparatus1will be described in turn.

(Image Forming Apparatus)

The configuration of the image forming apparatus1, which is a copying machine employing the electrophotographic system (electrophotographic image forming apparatus), of Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described usingFIG.1. The image forming apparatus1is equipped with the developer replenishing devices3. The developer replenishing containers4are detachably (removably) attached to the developer replenishing devices3.FIG.1is a schematic diagram showing a cross-sectional view of the image forming apparatus.

InFIG.1, the reference numeral “1” indicates the main body of the copying machine (hereinafter referred to as the image forming device or main body of the apparatus). The document6to be copied is placed on the document base glass7. The image information of the document6placed on the document base glass7is read by the reading portion8. Each photosensitive drum10is irradiated with a laser beam output from the laser scanner9based on the data of the document6obtained as image information by the reading portion8. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on each photosensitive drum10. This electrostatic latent image is visualized using toner (one-component magnetic toner) as the developer (dry powder) by the developing device11of a dry type (one-component developing device).

In this embodiment, a configuration with a one-component magnetic toner as the developer to be replenished from the four developer replenishing containers4will be described. However, not only this configuration but also the following configuration is acceptable.

Specifically, when using a one-component developing device for the development with one-component nonmagnetic toner, the one-component nonmagnetic toner is replenished as the developer. On the other hand, when using a two-component developing device for the development with a two-component developer in which magnetic carrier and nonmagnetic toner are mixed, the nonmagnetic toner is replenished as the developer. In this case, the developer may be replenished with magnetic carrier as well as nonmagnetic toner.

The recording media (hereinafter also referred to as sheets) S are stored in the cassette12located at the bottom of the image forming apparatus1. The recording medium is not limited to paper, but can be used or selected as appropriate, for example, an OHP sheet.

The sheets S accommodated in the cassette12are fed one by one by the feeding and separating device13. The sheet S conveyed by the feeding and separating device13is then conveyed through the conveying portion14to the registration rollers15. The sheet S is conveyed by the registration rollers15with the rotation of the photosensitive drum10being synchronized with the scanning timing of the laser scanner9.

Each photosensitive drum10is charged by each charging device16and an electrostatic latent image is formed by the scanning of the laser scanner9as described above. A one-component magnetic toner is supplied from the developing device11to the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum10to form a toner image on the photosensitive drum10.

The toner image formed on each photosensitive drum10is transferred to the transfer belt17. This image formation process is repeated for four colors, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), thereby forming a four-color overlapping toner image on the transfer belt17.

The toner image formed on the transfer belt17is transferred to the sheet S at the nip (secondary transfer portion) between the transfer roller18and the transfer belt17. The sheet S on which the toner image has been transferred is conveyed to the fixing portion19, where the toner image is fixed by heat and pressure. The sheet S is then discharged from the discharge portion20onto the discharge tray21to complete the image forming operation.

(Developer Replenishing System)

Next, the developer replenishing system2will be described usingFIGS.1,2and3. The developer replenishing system2has the four developer replenishing devices3ato3dand the four developer replenishing containers4ato4d.FIG.2shows an external view of the developer replenishing devices3ato3dand the developer replenishing containers4ato4d.FIG.3shows an external view of the developer replenishing devices3ato3d.

Since the developer replenishing devices3ato3dhave a common configuration except that the different colors of toner are used, suffixes a to d will be omitted hereinafter and the developer replenishing devices3ato3dare referred to as developer replenishing device3. The same applies to developer replenishing containers4ato4d. Although the four developer replenishing devices3ato3dand the four developer replenishing containers4ato4dare shown here as the components of the developer replenishing system2, the number of the developer replenishing devices and the developer replenishing containers should be appropriately set and is not limited to four.

The developer replenishing device3has the mounting portion22(mounting space) where the developer replenishing container4is removably (in a detachably attachable manner) mounted, and the hopper23(seeFIG.1) that temporarily stores the developer discharged from the developer replenishing container4. The developer replenishing container4is configured to be detached from and attached to the mounting portion22in direction A as shown inFIG.2. Namely, the developer replenishing container4is attached to and detached from the mounting portion22such that its longitudinal direction (the direction of the rotational axis, the direction of axis P shown inFIG.4) is approximately aligned with this direction A.

The developer replenishing device3has the drive mechanisms5that drive the developer replenishing containers4, as shown inFIGS.2and3. The drive mechanisms5apply a rotational driving force to the developer replenishing containers4that are set in the mounting portion22. The drive mechanisms5are configured to have their operations controlled by an unshown control unit (CPU).

The configuration is exemplified here in which the single drive mechanism5rotates and drives two developer replenishing containers4, but the invention is not limited to this configuration. The drive mechanism5can be provided for each developer replenishing container4.

The mounting portion22shown inFIG.3is provided with a rotational direction restricting portion (not shown) for restricting the movement of the container frame103in the rotational direction (direction B shown inFIG.4) by the rotational direction restricting portion abutting on the container frame103of the developer replenishing container4when the developer replenishing container4is mounted.

The mounting portion22has a developer receiving opening (not shown) for receiving developer discharged from the developer replenishing container4when the developer replenishing container4is mounted. In this case, the developer receiving opening communicates with the shutter opening106a(seeFIG.7B) of the developer replenishing container4described below.

When the developer should be replenished, a rotational driving force is transmitted to the developer replenishing container4mounted on the mounting portion22by the drive mechanism5. When the drive mechanism5transmits the rotational driving force, the developer is discharged from the developer replenishing container4, and the developer is supplied to the hopper23of the developer replenishing device3.

The developer discharged from the developer replenishing container4and stored in the hopper23is conveyed to the developing device11via the replenishing path25.

The developer conveyed to the developing device11is further conveyed to the developing roller27by the agitating and conveying member26, and is supplied from the developing roller27to the photosensitive drum10as needed during image formation.

(Mounting and Removing of Developer Replenishing Container)

Next, the mounting and removing of the developer replenishing container4will be described.

First, an operator inserts the developer replenishing container4into the mounting portion22of the developer replenishing device3to mount the developer replenishing container4to the mounting portion22after opening a replacing cover (not shown), which is a part of the exterior cover of the image forming apparatus1. Then, the operator closes the replacing cover to complete the mounting operation. As a result, the developer replenishing container4is set in a state in which the developer replenishing container4can replenish the developer to the developer replenishing device3.

On the other hand, when the operator replaces the developer replenishing container4, the operator first removes the developer replenishing container4by performing the opposite operation from that used for mounting. That is, for example, when the developer in the developer replenishing container4is empty, the operator opens the replacing cover (not shown) and removes the developer replenishing container4from the mounting portion22of the developer replenishing device3. Then, a new developer replenishing container4, which has been prepared in advance, is inserted into the mounting portion22of the developer replenishing device3. The operator then closes the replacing cover to complete the replacement operation from removal to remount of the developer replenishing container4. The developer replenishing container4is then set in a state in which the developer replenishing container4can replenish the developer to the developer replenishing device3.

(Replenishment Operation of Developer Replenishing Container)

The replenishing operation of the developer replenishing containers4ato4dwill be described usingFIGS.4,5and6.FIG.4shows an external view of the developer replenishing container.FIG.5shows a cross-sectional view of the developer replenishing container.FIG.6shows a cross-sectional view of a container frame side of the developer replenishing container.

The developer replenishing containers4ato4daccommodate yellow (Y) toner, magenta (M) toner, cyan (C) toner, and black (K) toner, respectively. The configurations of the developer replenishing containers4ato4dare the same as each other except for toner color and the suffixes a to d are omitted in the following description.

The developer replenishing container4mainly includes the developer container101, the drive input gear102, the container frame103, the container blade device104, the container cover105, the container shutter106, and the container seal107. The developer replenishing container4is configured to be detachably attachable to the developer replenishing device3and to replenish the developer to the developing device11through the developer replenishing device3.

The drive input gear102and the container blade device104are assembled with the developer container101. The developer container101is configured to rotate integrally with the drive input gear102and the container blade device104.

The developer container101is configured to rotate in the direction B around the axis P by the rotation of the drive input gear102to which the rotational drive force is transmitted from the drive mechanism5. Furthermore, the developer container101has the spiral-shaped conveying groove101a. Therefore, when the developer container101rotates in the B direction, the developer in the developer container101is conveyed toward the container frame103by the conveying groove101a.

The container blade device104has the conveying portion104aand the lifting portion104b. Similar to the developer container101, the container blade device104rotates in the direction B by the rotation of the drive input gear102. The developer conveyed by the conveying groove101aof the developer container101is lifted from the developer container101by the lifting portion104band further conveyed to the container frame103by the conveying portion104ato be supplied to the supplying opening103a, which will be described later.

The container frame103is mounted to the developer container101such that the container frame103can be rotated relative to the developer container101. The container frame103is configured not to rotate in the direction B when the rotational drive force is input to the container frame103by the drive input gear102with the developer container101being mounted on the mounting portion22of the developer replenishing device3.

Specifically, when the developer replenishing container4is mounted on the developer replenishing device3, the container frame103is restricted (prevented) from rotating in the direction B by a rotation direction restricting portion (not shown) provided on the mounting portion22. The container frame103is held so as not to be rotated in the direction B with respect to the mounting portion22.

The container frame103, which works as a developer replenishing portion, is provided with the supply opening103a, which works as a replenishing opening, through which the developer sent from the developer container101is replenished to the developer replenishing device3.

The container shutter106, the container seal107, the pump portion109, the reciprocating member (not shown), and the container cover105are assembled with the container frame103. The pump portion109is joined to one end portion of the container frame103, and the developer container101is joined to the other end portion such that the developer container101can be relatively rotated. The reciprocating member (not shown) is disposed on the container frame103so as to sandwich the pump portion109. An engagement protrusion (not shown) on the reciprocating member (not shown) is fitted into a cam groove (not shown) of the developer container101.

When the developer container101rotates in the direction B, the cam groove (not shown) of the developer container101moves the engagement projection (not shown) in the axial direction, causing the reciprocating member (not shown) to reciprocate in the axial direction. As a result, the pump portion109, which is joined to the reciprocating member (not shown), is reciprocally moved in the axial direction and functions as a suction and exhaust mechanism that alternately performs suction and exhaust operations through the supply opening103a.

In addition, the container cover105is integrally provided to cover the entirety of the container frame103, the pump portion109and the reciprocating member (not shown) described above (not shown) for the purposes of improving the external appearance and protecting the reciprocating member (not shown) and the pump portion109.

The container seal107is disposed on the container frame103between the supply opening103aof the container frame103and the container shutter106described below.

The container seal107has the seal opening107athat communicates with the supply opening103a. The container seal107is disposed between the supply opening103aof the container frame103and the container shutter106. The container seal107is an elastic member for sealing the gap between the container frame103and the container shutter106.

The container shutter106is provided on the container frame103between the supply opening103aof the container frame103and the developer receiving opening33of the developer replenishing device3. The container shutter106can slide in the axial direction.

(Configuration of Container Shutter of Developer Replenishing Container)

Next, the configuration of the container shutter106of the developer replenishing container4according to Embodiment 1 will be described.

The container shutter106has at least one shutter opening that can communicate with the supply opening103a. In this embodiment, the container shutter106has the first shutter opening106athat can communicate with the supply opening103aand the second shutter opening106bthat is larger in diameter than the shutter opening106aand that can communicate with the supply opening103a.

The seal opening107aof the container seal107is smaller in diameter than the second shutter opening106bof the container shutter106.

The container shutter106is movable in the direction of the axis P (seeFIG.4) with respect to the developer replenishing container4, and opens and closes the supply opening103aas the developer replenishing container4is attached and removed.

Specifically, the container shutter106is movable between the sealing position (FIG.7A) where the container shutter106seals the supply opening103a, the replenishing position (FIG.7B) where the first shutter opening106afaces the supply opening103ato replenish the developer from the developer replenishing container4, and the filling position (FIG.7C) where the developer replenishing container4is filled with the developer without sealing the replenishing opening.

Namely, the container shutter106is movable between the sealing position (FIG.7A), the replenishing position (FIG.7B), and the filling position (FIG.7C).

The container shutter106has stopper portions (held portions)106d,106e(seeFIG.7A), which are held by the shutter stopper portions31,32(seeFIG.3) of the developer replenishing device3during mounting and removing operations of the developer replenishing container4so that the developer replenishing container4can move relative to the container shutter106.

The first stopper portion106dengages the first shutter stopper portion31of the developer replenishing device3during the mounting operation of the developer replenishing container4to fix the position of the container shutter106relative to the developer replenishing device3. The second stopper portion106eengages the second shutter stopper portion32of the developer replenishing device3during the removing operation of the developer replenishing container4.

The container shutter106is in a sealing state in which the supply opening103a(seal opening107a) does not communicate with the shutter opening106awhen the developer replenishing container4is not mounted on the image forming apparatus1. Namely, in this sealing state, the container shutter106is in the sealing position where the sealing portion, which has no opening as shown inFIG.7A, faces the supply opening103aand the seal opening107a, so that the supply opening103a(seal opening107a) does not communicate with the shutter opening106a.

When the developer replenishing container4is not mounted in the image forming apparatus1, the container shutter106is engaged by a configuration member that maintains the state between the container shutter106and the container frame103so that the container shutter106is held such that the container shutter106does not move from the sealing position (sealing state) shown inFIG.7A.

In mounting the developer replenishing container4, the first stopper portion106dof the container shutter106engages the first shutter stopper portion31of the mounting portion22to fix the position of the container shutter106with respect to the developer replenishing device3. As a result, the container shutter106is disengaged from the configuration member and moves in the axial direction relative to the developer replenishing container4, and becomes in a discharging state in which the supply opening103a(seal opening107a) communicates with the shutter opening106aas shown inFIG.7B. Namely, the shutter opening106aof the container shutter106is moved to the replenishing position (seeFIG.7B) where the shutter opening106afaces the supply opening103aand the seal opening107aso that the supply opening103a(seal opening107a) communicates with the shutter opening106ain the discharging state. As a result, the developer can be supplied from the developer replenishing container4to the developer replenishing device3.

The developer supplied to the supply opening103ais discharged out of the container through the seal opening107aof the container seal107and the shutter opening106aof the container shutter106. Then, the developer is supplied to the hopper23of the developer replenishing device3to be used for the image formation as described above.

To prevent developer contamination outside the developer container101, the opening widths of the supply opening103aof the container frame103, the seal opening107aof the container seal107, and the shutter opening106aof the container shutter106have the following relationship. The supply opening103aof the container frame103, the seal opening107aof the container seal107, and the shutter opening106aof the container shutter106are each a round hole, and the opening width is the diameter of each round hole in the axial direction.

Namely, the opening width h1of the supply opening103aof the container frame103is larger than the opening width h2of the seal opening107aof the container seal107. The opening width h2of the seal opening107aof the container seal107is larger than the opening width h3of the shutter opening106aof the container shutter106(seeFIG.6).

This means that the opening width h1of the supply opening>the opening width h2of the seal opening>the opening width h3of the shutter opening.

This configuration allows the developer to be retained on the interior side of the developer container101, which prevents external developer contamination.

During the removing operation of the developer replenishing container4, the container shutter106is moved to the sealing position (sealing state) shown inFIG.7Aby the second stopper portion106eengaging with the second shutter stopper portion32of the developer replenishing device3, and is held in the sealing position (sealing state).

Next, the steps of reusing the developer replenishing container4will be described, in which the used developer replenishing container4is collected and the developer replenishing container4is refilled with developer.

The collected developer replenishing container4is reused through the step of moving the container shutter106to the filling position (FIG.7C) and the step of filling the developer replenishing container4with developer in the state where the container shutter106is moved to and kept at the filling position.

Specifically, when the developer replenishing container4(developer container101) is to be refilled with the developer, the container shutter106is moved using, for example, a jig (not shown) to be in the state for refilling so that the shutter opening106bcommunicates with the supply opening103a(seal opening107a) as shown inFIG.7C. Namely, the container shutter106is moved to the filling position (seeFIG.7C) where the shutter opening106bfaces the supply opening103aand the seal opening107a, so that the supply opening103a(seal opening107a) communicates with the shutter opening106b. This allows the developer to be refilled into the developer replenishing container4.

The second shutter opening106bis formed such that as compared with the diameter h41on the container frame103side, i.e., the developer replenishing portion side, the diameter h42on the opposite side is larger (seeFIG.6). Namely, the shutter opening106bhas a tapered inner surface such that the diameter increases from the inside of the developer replenishing container4toward the outside. Further, the shutter opening106bof the container shutter106has widths larger than that of the shutter opening106a(h41, h42>h3). This allows the developer to be refilled while minimizing parts replacement, even when the small-diameter shutter opening106ais used to prevent contamination.

As mentioned above, according to Embodiment 1, by moving the container shutter106to the filling position shown inFIG.7C, it is possible to refill the developer replenishing container4with developer from the shutter opening106b, which communicates with the supply opening103a(seal opening107a). This eliminates the process of disassembling the developer replenishing container4, so that the steps and costs for reuse are minimized when the developer replenishing container is reused by refilling it with the developer.

Embodiment 2

Next, the developer replenishing container according to Embodiment 2 will be described usingFIG.8. The configuration of the image forming apparatus1including the developer replenishing device3is the same as that in Embodiment 1 described above, so the description thereof will be omitted. Further, the configuration of the developer replenishing container is also the same as that of Embodiment 1 described above, except for the configuration described below, so the same reference symbols will be attached to the components with equivalent functions and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the Embodiment 1, the container shutter106has the first shutter opening106aand the second shutter opening106bthat can communicate with the supply opening103a. In this Embodiment 2, the container shutter106has only one shutter opening106awhich can communicate with the supply opening103a.

(Configuration of Container Shutter of Developer Replenishing Container)

Next, the configuration of the container shutter206of the developer replenishing container4for Embodiment 2 will be described.

The container shutter206has the shutter opening206athat can communicate with the supply opening103a. Further, the container shutter206is provided with the recessed portion206cthat is recessed in the inner direction of the container shutter206.

The container shutter206is movable in the direction of the axis P (seeFIG.4) with respect to the developer replenishing container4, and opens and closes the supply opening103aas the developer replenishing container4is attached and removed.

Specifically, the container shutter206is movable between the sealing position (FIG.8A) where the container shutter206seals the supply opening103a, the replenishing position (FIG.8B) where the shutter opening206afaces the supply opening103ato replenish the developer from the developer replenishing container4, and the filling position (FIG.8C) where the developer replenishing container4is filled with the developer without sealing the supply opening103a.

Namely, the container shutter206is movable between the sealing position (FIG.8A), the replenishing position (FIG.8B), and the filling position (FIG.8C).

The container shutter206has the stopper portions (held portions)206d,206e(seeFIG.8A), which are held by the shutter stopper portions31,32(seeFIG.3) of the developer replenishing device3during mounting/removing operations of the developer replenishing container4so that the developer replenishing container4can move relative to the container shutter206.

The first stopper portion206dengages the first shutter stopper portion31of the developer replenishing device3during the mounting operation of the developer replenishing container4to fix the position of the container shutter206relative to the developer replenishing device3. The second stopper portion206eengages the second shutter stopper portion32of the developer replenishing device3during the removing operation of the developer replenishing container4.

As shown inFIG.8A, the container shutter206is in a sealing state in which the supply opening103a(seal opening107a) does not communicate with the shutter opening206awhen the developer replenishing container4is not mounted on the image forming apparatus1. Namely, in this sealing state, the container shutter206is in the sealing position where the sealing portion, which has no opening as shown inFIG.8A, faces the supply opening103aand the seal opening107a, so that the supply opening103a(seal opening107a) does not communicate with the shutter opening206a.

When the developer replenishing container4is not mounted on the image forming apparatus1, the container shutter206is engaged by a configuration member that maintains the state between the container shutter206and the container frame103so that the container shutter206is held such that the container shutter206does not move from the sealing position (sealing state) shown inFIG.8A.

In the process of mounting the developer replenishing container4, the first stopper portion206dof the container shutter206engages the first shutter stopper portion31of the mounting portion22to fix the position of the container shutter206with respect to the developer replenishing device3. As a result, the container shutter206is disengaged from the configuration member and moves in the axial direction relative to the developer replenishing container4, and becomes in the discharging state in which the supply opening103a(seal opening107a) communicates with the shutter opening206aas shown inFIG.8B. Namely, the shutter opening206aof the container shutter206is moved to the replenishing position (seeFIG.8B) where the shutter opening206afaces the supply opening103aand the seal opening107aso that the supply opening103a(seal opening107a) communicates with the shutter opening206ain the discharging state. As a result, the developer can be supplied from the developer replenishing container4to the developer replenishing device3.

During the removing operation of the developer replenishing container4, the container shutter206is moved to the sealing position (sealing state) shown inFIG.8Aby the second stopper portion206eengaging with the second shutter stopper portion32of the developer replenishing device3, and is held in the sealing position (sealing state).

The used developer replenishing container4is collected refilled with the developer to reuse the developer replenishing container4. When the developer replenishing container4(developer container101) is to be refilled, the container shutter206is moved using, for example, a jig (not shown) to be in the state for refilling so that the recessed portion206cfaces the supply opening103a(seal opening107a) as shown inFIG.8C. Namely, the container shutter206is moved to the filling position (seeFIG.8C) where the recessed portion206cfaces the supply opening103aand the seal opening107a, so that the supply opening103a(seal opening107a) faces the recessed portion206c. This allows the developer to be refilled into the developer replenishing container4.

According to Embodiment 2, by moving the container shutter206to the filling position shown inFIG.8C, the recessed portion206cfaces the supply opening103a(seal opening107a). As a result, it is possible to refill the developer replenishing container4with developer from the supply opening103a(seal opening107a). This eliminates the process of disassembling the developer replenishing container4, so that the steps and costs for reuse are minimized when the developer replenishing container is reused by refilling it with the developer.

This Embodiment 1 exemplifies the configuration in which the container shutter206has the recessed portion206cand the container shutter206is movable to the filling position (seeFIG.8C) where the recessed portion206cfaces the supply opening103a. However, the invention is not limited to this configuration. Another configuration may be adopted in which a container shutter has a shutter opening that can communicate with the supply opening and the shutter is retreated (moved) to the position where the supply opening is exposed.

Embodiment 3

Next, the developer replenishing container according to Embodiment 3 will be described usingFIGS.9A,9B,9C,10and11. The configuration of the image forming apparatus1including the developer replenishing device3is the same as that in Embodiment 1 described above, so the description thereof will be omitted. Further, the configuration of the developer replenishing container is also the same as that of Embodiment 1 described above, except for the configuration described below, so the same reference symbols will be attached to the components with equivalent functions and the description thereof will be omitted.

(Configuration of Container Shutter of Developer Replenishing Container)

The developer replenishing container4according to Embodiment 3 has the container shutter106described in Embodiment 1.

Furthermore, the container frame103(developer replenishing portion) of the developer replenishing container4in this Embodiment has the filling opening103cthat can communicate with the outside. The filling opening103cis provided separately from the supply opening103a, which can communicate with the shutter openings106a,106bof the container shutter106and is formed such that the opening width of the filling opening103cis larger than that of the supply opening103a.

The developer replenishing container4has the sealing sticker108, which is a sealing member for sealing the filling opening103csuch that the developer replenishing container4does not communicate with the outside. The filling opening103cof the developer replenishing container4is normally sealed by the sealing sticker108so that the developer replenishing container4does not communicate with the outside.

The sealing position (sealing state) shown inFIG.9Aand the replenishing position (discharging state) shown inFIG.9Bof the container shutter106are similar to the sealing position (sealing state) shown inFIG.7Aand the replenishing position (discharging state) shown inFIG.7Bdescribed in Embodiment 1, respectively, so the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the steps of reusing the developer replenishing container4will be described, in which the used developer replenishing container4is collected and refilled with developer.

The collected developer replenishing container4is reused through the step of moving the container shutter106to the filling position (FIG.9C) and the step of filling the developer replenishing container4with developer in the state where the container shutter106is moved to and kept at the filling position.

Specifically, when the developer replenishing container4(developer container101) is to be refilled, the container shutter106is moved using, for example, a jig (not shown) to the position indicated inFIG.9C. Namely, the container shutter106is moved to the position (seeFIG.9C) where the shutter opening106bfaces the supply opening103aand the seal opening107a.

As described above, when the container shutter106is moved to the filling position shown inFIG.9C, the sealing sticker108is exposed. The sealing sticker108is affixed to the developer replenishing container4to cover the filling opening103c, which is provided separately from the supply opening103a. When the container shutter106is moved to the filling position described above, the sealing sticker108is largely exposed from the container shutter106and can be peeled off. When the sealing sticker108is peeled off from the developer replenishing container4, the filling opening103cis exposed, as shown inFIG.10. As a result, the developer replenishing container4can be refilled with developer from the filling opening103c.

The container frame103is configured such that the opening width h5of the filling opening103cis larger than the opening width h1of the supply opening103a.

Namely, the opening width h5of the filling opening103c>the opening width h1of the supply opening103a.

After the developer has been completely refilled, the sealing sticker108is affixed to seal the filling opening103c. This makes it possible to refill the developer while minimizing parts replacement, even when a small diameter shutter opening is used to prevent contamination.

Embodiment 4

Next, the developer replenishing container according to Embodiment 4 will be described usingFIGS.12A,12B,12C and13. The configuration of the image forming apparatus1including the developer replenishing device3is the same as that in Embodiment 1 described above, so the description thereof will be omitted. Further, the configuration of the developer replenishing container is also the same as that of Embodiment 1 described above, except for the configuration described below, so the same reference symbols will be attached to the components with equivalent functions and the description thereof will be omitted.

(Configuration of Refill History Management)

The configurations of Embodiments 1 to 3 enable the refilling of the developer with a smaller number of steps and less cost for reuse. However, when refilling is repeated, parts could be deteriorated. Therefore, this Embodiment is configured to efficiently promote reuse by detecting that refilling has been performed in a simple manner.

As shown inFIG.12A, the developer replenishing container4according to this Embodiment 4 is equipped with the detection portion103dto detect that the developer replenishing container4has been reused. The developer replenishing container4also has the contact portion106fthat contacts the detection portion103dto remove the detection portion103das the container shutter106moves from the sealing position shown inFIG.12Aor the replenishing position shown inFIG.12Bto the filling position shown inFIG.12C.

The detection portion103dis positioned so as to contact the contact portion106fprovided on the container shutter106when the container shutter106is moved from the sealing position or replenishing position to the filling position.

The contact portion106fis a part of the stopper portions106dand106e(held portion) integrally formed on the container shutter106. The contact portion106fis held by the developer replenishing device3during the mounting and removing operations of the developer replenishing container4.

The rib at the tip of the detecting portion103fof the container frame103is removed from the container frame103by the contact portion106fof the container shutter106during the movement of the container shutter106to the filling position. Therefore, when the container shutter106is moved to the filling position, the rib at the tip of the detection portion103dbecomes missing (removed) from the container frame103as shown inFIG.13.

Therefore, the developer replenishing container4according to this Embodiment first determines whether the developer replenishing container4has been reused or not according to the presence or absence of the rib of the detection portion103d. If this step determines that the rib is present in the detection portion103dso that the developer replenishing container has not been reused, the process moves to the step of moving the container shutter to the filling position. Thereafter, when the developer refilling step is carried out as described above and the developer replenishing device is reused.

On the other hand, if the above step determines that the rib of the detection portion103dis missing and that the developer replenishing container has been reused, the process may move to the step of replacing parts, etc. if necessary.

It is possible to manage the history of refilling of the developer replenishing container by determining the presence or absence of the rib of the detection portion103d. As a result, the replacement of parts of the developer replenishing container when it is repeatedly filled. With this configuration, the condition the usage of parts can be determined by a simple method and the developer replenishing container can be refilled using a minimum amount of replacement parts.

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. 2022-201768, filed Dec. 19, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.