Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a toner supply container for supplying toner to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or an electrophotographic printer. It also relates to an image forming apparatus in which such a toner supply container is removably installable.  
         [0002]     An image forming apparatus to which the present invention is preferably applicable is of a type which employs an electrophotographic image formation system to form images on a piece of recording medium. As examples of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, there are electrophotographic copying machines, electrophotographic printers (laser beam printers, LED printers, or the like), facsimile machines, word processors, and the like.  
         [0003]     Conventionally, toner in the form of microscopic particles has been used as developer for an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or printer. After the depletion of the developer (toner) within the main assembly of an image forming apparatus, a toner supply container is used to replenish the image forming apparatus with a fresh supply of toner. Since toner is in the form of extremely microscopic particles, it tends to easily scatter, creating a problem. Thus, an operator, and/or the environment in which the operator works, tends to be contaminated with toner which is being replenished, or a small amount of the toner which remains in a toner supply container after replenishment, scatters.  
         [0004]     In the case of a method for sealing the toner outlet of a toner supply container by welding a piece of film across the outlet, the container cannot be resealed, after usage, to solve the above described problem. Therefore, it has been proposed, and also put to practical use, to provide a toner supply container with a shutter so that the toner discharging outlet of a toner supply container can be repeatedly opened or closed (sealed).  
         [0005]     On the other hand, it has been a common practice to provide the toner supplying apparatus of an image forming apparatus, through which toner is received by the image forming apparatus, with a shutter so that the toner supply inlet of the toner supplying apparatus can be repeatedly opened or sealed. This arrangement makes it possible to keep the toner supplying apparatus sealed except for while the toner is being supplied, so that foreign substances such as dust, or foreign objects such as paper clips, are prevented from entering the toner supplying apparatus, and so that it is assured that the toner supplying apparatus is not supplied with wrong type of toner or a wrong amount of toner.  
         [0006]     Further, it has been proposed, and also put to practical use, to engage the aforementioned shutter of a toner supply container with the shutter of the toner supplying apparatus, in such a manner that both shutters can be opened or closed together. This arrangement further assures that toner is prevented from scattering while the toner is being supplied, preventing thereby an operator or the adjacencies of the image forming apparatus from becoming contaminated with toner.  
         [0007]     In order to open or close the shutter of the toner supply container and the shutter of the toner supplying apparatus on the main assembly side, the toner supply container is provided with a handle, which is a rotational member, so that the shutters are opened or closed by a rotational force transferring means, such as a gear train, with which the image forming apparatus is provided.  
         [0008]     If the drive train through which driving force for opening or closing the shutters is transmitted from the handle to the shutters is constructed with low cost, that is, without using high precision components, it is virtually impossible to avoid such a problem that the components fit loosely with each other, which results in an excessive amount of play, causing thereby gear backlash and/or distortion of the driving train. With the components of the drive train fitting loosely, the ratio between an input stroke and an output stroke does not become 1:1. Thus, the opened shutter sometimes fails to be returned to the original position, that is, the original closed position. If a toner supply container, which was pulled out of the image forming apparatus main assembly, in such a condition, is reinstalled into the main assembly, and then, the shutter is reopened and closed, the distance by which the shutter fails to be returned to the closed position increases, as compared to the preceding opening and closing. With the repetition of the supplying of the apparatus with toner, the distance by which the shutter fails to be returned to the closed position keeps on increasing.  
         [0009]     In particular, in the case of a toner supplying system in which the shutter on the main assembly side and the shutter on the toner supply container side are engaged with each other to be moved together, misalignment may occur between the two shutters, which makes it impossible to pull the toner supply container out of the image forming apparatus main assembly, or causes the shutter on the main assembly side to fail to return to the closed position, making it impossible to install a brand-new toner supply container (whose shutter is at the original position, or the correct position). This is a problem.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a combination of a toner supply container and an image forming apparatus, which makes the driving force transmitting portion of the rotational member engage with the rotational force transmitting means, always at the same position.  
         [0011]     The second object of the present invention is to provide a combination of a toner supply container and an image forming apparatus, by which the toner supply container shutter can be smoothly opened or closed.  
         [0012]     The third object of the present invention is to provide a combination of a toner supply container and an image forming apparatus, which causes the opened toner supply container shutter to always return to the original position, or the original closed position, as it is closed.  
         [0013]     The fourth object of the present invention is to provide a combination of a toner supply container and an image forming apparatus, which does not suffer from a problem that the toner supply container cannot be installed into, or removed from, the main assembly of an image forming apparatus because of the misalignment between the shutter on the toner supply container side and the shutter on the apparatus main assembly side.  
         [0014]     These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a toner supply container, as seen from diagonally above the upstream side in terms of its installation direction.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the toner supply container as seen from diagonally above the downstream side in terms of its installation direction.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the toner supply container as seen from diagonally below the downstream side of its installation direction.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the toner supply container.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a schematic, vertical, sectional view of the toner supply container.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a vertical sectional view of the driving system of the toner supply container shutter.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a vertical sectional view of the handle lock (in the locked state).  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a vertical sectional view of the handle lock (in the unlocked state).  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a rear view of the toner supply container.  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the driving force transmitting means of the toner supply container.  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a vertical sectional view of a toner supplying apparatus, at a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toner supplying apparatus (shutter is open).  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  is a vertical sectional view of the toner supplying apparatus, at the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toner supplying apparatus (shutter is closed).  
         [0027]      FIG. 13  is a vertical sectional view of the toner supplying apparatus, at the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toner supplying apparatus (shutter is being opened or closed).  
         [0028]      FIG. 14  is an enlarged view of an essential portion of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged view of an essential portion of  FIG. 12 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 16  is an enlarged view of an essential portion of  FIG. 13 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged view of an essential portion of the vertical sectional view of a toner supplying apparatus provided with no sealing member, at a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toner supply container, and corresponds to  FIG. 16 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 18  is an enlarged view of an essential portion of the vertical sectional view of the toner supplying apparatus provided with no sealing member, at the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toner supplying apparatus, and corresponds to  FIG. 13 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 19  is a vertical sectional view of the toner supplying apparatus, at a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toner supplying apparatus, in which there is no toner supply container.  
         [0034]      FIG. 20 ( a ) and  FIG. 20 ( b ) are vertical sectional views of a toner supply container shutter, at a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toner supply container.  
         [0035]      FIG. 21  is a vertical sectional view of an essential portion of the essential portion of the toner supply container shutter, at a plane perpendicular to the sectional plane of  FIG. 20 ( a ).  
         [0036]      FIG. 22  is a perspective view of the toner supply container shutter (with perforation).  
         [0037]      FIG. 23  is a perspective view of the toner supply container shutter (with a bent portion).  
         [0038]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of the toner supply container shutter (with a diagonally projecting piece).  
         [0039]      FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the sealing member of the toner supply container shutter (with perforation).  
         [0040]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of the sealing member of the toner supply container shutter (with a groove).  
         [0041]      FIG. 27  is a perspective view of the main portion of the shutter on the toner supplying apparatus side.  
         [0042]      FIG. 28  is a vertical sectional view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.  
         [0043]      FIG. 29  is a perspective view of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus.  
         [0044]      FIG. 30  is a lateral view of a handle locking member.  
         [0045]      FIG. 31  is a front view of the handle locking member.  
         [0046]      FIG. 32  is a bottom view of the handle locking member.  
         [0047]      FIG. 33  is a front view of the toner supplying apparatus, and depicts one of the steps in which the toner supply container is installed into the toner supplying apparatus.  
         [0048]      FIG. 34  is a front view of the toner supplying apparatus, and depicts one of the steps in which the toner supply container is installed into the toner supplying apparatus.  
         [0049]      FIG. 35  is a front view of the toner supplying apparatus, and depicts one of the steps in which the toner supply container is installed into the toner supplying apparatus.  
         [0050]      FIG. 36  is a front view of the toner supplying apparatus in which there is the toner supply container, the handle of the toner supply container being unillustrated.  
         [0051]      FIG. 37  is a front view of the toner supplying apparatus, which is containing the toner supply container, the handle of the toner supply container being unillustrated.  
         [0052]      FIG. 38  is a vertical sectional view of the toner supplying apparatus, at a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toner supply container, and shows the position of the handle locking member.  
         [0053]      FIG. 39  is a horizontal sectional view of the toner supplying apparatus.  
         [0054]      FIG. 40  is also a horizontal sectional view of the toner supplying apparatus.  
         [0055]      FIG. 41  is a schematic drawing which depicts the function of the means for always pre-rotating or rotating the rotational member to a predetermined position.  
         [0056]      FIG. 42  is also a schematic drawing which depicts the function of the means for always pre-rotating or rotating the rotational member to the predetermined position.  
         [0057]      FIG. 43  is also a schematic drawing which depicts the function of the means for always pre-rotating or rotating the rotational member to the predetermined position.  
         [0058]      FIG. 44  is a plan view of the toner supply container shutter. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0059]     Presented below are the embodiments of the present invention. First, a preferable embodiment of the present invention will be described, followed by the others.  
         [0060]     The embodiments of the present invention, which will be described below, relates to a toner supply container used for supplying the main assembly of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus with toner. This toner supply container comprises a toner containing portion, a toner outlet for discharging the toner contained in the toner containing portion, a shutter for opening or closing the toner outlet, and a driving force receiving portion for receiving the driving force for moving the shutter to open the toner outlet.  
         [0000]     (Electrophotographic Image Forming Apparatus)  
         [0061]      FIG. 28  is a vertical sectional view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which there is a toner supply container in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0062]     An original  101  is placed on a glass plate  102  for an original, by an operator. As a result, an optical image of the original  101  is formed on a photosensitive drum  104  as an image bearing member by the plurality of mirrors and lenses which an optical portion  103  comprises. Meanwhile, one of the feeder cassettes  105 - 108  in which recording media P (for example, paper, OHP sheet, or the like; hereinafter, “sheet”) are stored in layers is selected on the basis of the sheet size information inputted through a control panel (unillustrated) by the operator. Then, among the feeder rollers  105 A- 108 A, the roller of the selected feeder cassette is rotated to feed out a single sheet of recording medium P. After being fed out of the feeder cassette, the recording sheet P is conveyed to a registration roller  110  through a conveyance path  109 . The registration roller  110  conveys the recording sheet P to the photosensitive drum  104  in synchronism with the rotational timing for the photosensitive drum  104  and the scanning timing for the optical portion  103 . To this recording sheet P, the toner image on the photosensitive drum  104  is transferred by a transferring means  111 . Thereafter, the recording sheet P is separated from the photosensitive drum  104  by a separating means  112 . Then, the recording sheet P is conveyed to a fixing portion  114  by a conveying portion  113 . In the fixing portion  114 , the toner image on the recording sheet P is fixed to the recording sheet P with the application of heat and pressure.  
         [0063]     Next,  
         [0064]     1) In the single side copy mode, the recording sheet P is discharged into a delivery tray  117  by a discharge roller pair  16  through a reversing path  115 .  
         [0065]     2) In the multiple layer copy mode, the recording sheet P is directed toward conveying portions  119  and  120  by a flapper  118  of the reversing path  115 , and is conveyed to the registration roller  110 . Thereafter, the recording sheet P is passed through the image forming portion, conveying portion, and fixing portion as it was in the immediately preceding image formation cycle, and then, is discharged into the delivery tray  117 .  
         [0066]     3) In the two sided copy mode, the recording sheet P is passed through the reversing path  115 , and is partially extended outward of the apparatus by the discharge roller pair  16  until its trailing edge passes the flapper  118 . Then, as soon as the trailing edge of the recording sheet P passes the flapper  118 , the discharge roller pair  116  is rotated in reverse to convey the recording sheet P back into the apparatus. Thereafter, the recording sheet P is conveyed to the conveying portions  119  and  120 , and to the registration roller  110 . Then, it is passed through the image forming portion, conveying portion, and fixing portion as it was in the immediately preceding image forming cycle, and is discharged into the delivery tray  117 .  
         [0067]     In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus structured as described above, a developing apparatus  201 , a cleaning means  202 , and a primary charging means  203  are disposed around the photosensitive drum  104 . The developing apparatus  201  develops, with the use of toner, an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum  104 . A toner supplying apparatus  100  for supplying the developing apparatus  201  with toner is removably installed in the apparatus main assembly  124 .  
         [0068]     The developing apparatus  201  comprises a development roller  201   a  which maintains a microscopic gap (approximately 300 μm) from the photosensitive drum  104 . During development, a thin layer of toner is formed on the peripheral surface of the development roller  201   a  by the development blade  201   b.  Then, as development bias is applied to the development roller  201   a,  the electrostatic latent image which has been formed on the photosensitive drum  104  is developed.  
         [0069]     The charging means  203  is a means for charging the photosensitive drum  104 . The cleaning means  202  is a means for removing the toner which remains on the photosensitive drum  104 . The reduction in the amount of the toner in the developing apparatus  201  caused by development is compensated for by a fresh supply of toner gradually delivered by a toner supplying apparatus  100  with which the main apparatus of the image forming apparatus is provided.  
         [0070]     Here, the exchanging of the toner supply container  301  will be described.  
         [0071]     As the toner within the toner supplying apparatus  100  is depleted, the depletion of the toner is reported to a warning section  124   a.  Then, an operator opens the lid  121 , which covers the opening  122  with which the main assembly  124  is provided, as shown in  FIG. 38 . Inside the opening  122 , a holder  31  (installing means, more specifically, main assembly  54  of toner supplying apparatus) in which the toner supply container  1  is removably installable is provided. Into this holder  31 , the toner supply container  1  is inserted in its longitudinal direction. During this operation, the toner supply container  1  is guided in its longitudinal direction by a guide, with which the holder  31  is provided, and which extends in the longitudinal direction of the holder  31 , until the leading end of the toner supply container  1  reaches a predetermined point. Then, as the operator rotates the handle  15  of the toner supply container  1  after the leading end of the toner supply container  1  reaches the predetermined point, the toner within the toner supply container  1  is supplied to the developing apparatus  201 . Then, as the operator closes the lid  121 , the power switch is turned on, readying the image forming apparatus for image formation.  
         [0072]     More specifically, as a signal which indicates that the amount of the toner in the developing apparatus  201  has become too small is sent out by a sensor (unillustrated) in the developing apparatus  201 , toner conveying screws  46  and  47 , illustrated in  FIG. 12 , rotate. As a result, the toner within a case  48  is gradually supplied to the developing apparatus  201 . Then, as the amount of the toner within the developing apparatus  201  reaches a predetermined level, the toner conveying screws  46  and  47  stop. This process is repeated. Eventually, the amount of the toner within the case  48  becomes too small. Then, a signal which indicates that the amount of the toner within the case  48  has become too small is sent out by a sensor (unillustrated) within the case  48 . As a result, a conveying member  29  (which will be described later) within the toner supply container  1  rotates to send the toner into the case  48 . Then, as the amount of the toner within the case  48  reaches a predetermined level, the conveying member  29  stops. The process is repeated. If the toner is not supplied even though the sensor within the case  48  sends out the aforementioned signal, a message which suggests the exchange of the toner supply container  1  is displayed by the warning section  124   a.    
         [0000]     (Toner Supply Container)  
         [0073]     The toner supply container  1  in this embodiment ( FIGS. 1-3 ) is installed in the toner supplying apparatus  100  in an image forming apparatus, and is left there so that the toner within the toner supply container  1  is gradually supplied to the development station until the toner within the toner supply container  1  is depleted. In other words, it is of the so-called built-in type. However, the present invention does not require that the type of the toner supply container  1  is limited to the one described above; the present invention is also applicable to, for example, a toner supply container of the so-called integral type, which not only holds toner but also supplies it to the development station.  
         [0074]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a schematic exploded view of the aforementioned toner supply container  1 , the toner supply container  1  has a toner containing portion  11  which is the main portion, and first and second flanges  12  and  13 , respectively, which are attached to the corresponding longitudinal ends of the toner containing portion  11 . It also has a cap  14  which is inserted into the first flange  12 , and a handle  15 , a rotational member, which is rotationally fitted around the first flange  12 . Further, it has a container shutter  16  which exposes or covers the toner outlet  11   a  of the toner containing portion  11 . Within the toner containing portion  11 , a toner conveying member  29  is disposed as a toner conveying means ( FIG. 5 ).  
         [0000]     (Toner Container)  
         [0075]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the toner containing portion  11  is shaped so that its cross section perpendicular to its longitudinal direction becomes a combination of an approximately semi-circular portion  11   g  and a rectangular portion  11   h.  It is in the form of a hollow tube with the above described cross section, and the toner is stored within this toner containing portion  11 . The toner containing portion  11  is provided with a toner outlet  11   a,  which is in the curved wall portion of the toner containing portion  11 . The toner containing portion  11  is also provided with a pair of shutter supporting members  11   e,  which are located on the curved wall portion of the toner containing portion  11 , one on the front side of the toner outlet  11   a  and the other on the rear side, in terms of the longitudinal direction of the toner containing portion  11 , and extend in the circumferential direction of the toner containing portion  11 . The container shutter  16  is supported by the supporting members  11   e  so that the container shutter  16  can take a closing position ( FIG. 11 ) at which the container shutter  16  seals the toner outlet  11   a,  or an exposing position ( FIG. 12 ) to which the container shutter  11  retreats to expose the toner outlet  11   a.    
         [0076]     Further, the toner containing portion  11  is provided with a pair of guiding portions  11   k,  which run in the longitudinal direction of the toner containing portion  11  along the lateral longitudinal edges of the toner containing portion  11 . These guiding portions  11   k  are members which regulate the toner supply container  1  so that the toner supply container  1  moves in a straight line when the toner supply container  1  is installed into, or removed from, the toner supplying apparatus  100 .  
         [0077]     As described above, in this embodiment, the toner containing portion  11  is in the form of a tube, the cross section of which is such that its top half is semicircular and its bottom half is rectangular. However, the shape of the toner containing portion  11  does not need to be limited to the above described one. For example, the toner containing portion  11  may be shaped so that its cross section perpendicular to its longitudinal direction is circular, elliptical, or square. Further, there is no specific restriction regarding the structure and component count of the toner containing portion  11 .  
         [0078]     The toner containing portion  11  is filled with toner in the powder form (hereinafter, all toners are in the powder form). There are various classifications of toner: black toner, color toner, single component magnetic toner, single component nonmagnetic toner, and the like. From among these various classifications of toners, toner is selected as appropriate.  
         [0000]     (Structures of First and Second Flanges  12  and  13 )  
         [0079]     The first and second flanges  12  and  13  are in the form of a hollow tube, which exactly fits into the corresponding longitudinal ends of the toner containing portion  11 . After being exactly fitted into the corresponding longitudinal ends of the toner containing portion  11 , they are fixed to the toner containing portion  11  with the use of adhesive to seal the toner containing portion  11 . The first flange  12  comprises an end plate  12   b  and a cylindrical portion  12   e.  The axial line of the cylindrical portion  12   e  coincides with the longitudinal center line of the semicylindrical portion  11   g  of the toner containing portion  11 . The first flange  12  comprises a toner inlet  12   a,  which runs within the cylindrical portion  12   e.  The second flange  13  comprises an end plate  13   a.    
         [0080]     The first and second flanges  12  and  13  may be integral with the toner containing portion  11 , or a part of the toner containing portion  11 . In other words, the main section of the toner containing portion  11  may be a single piece component           
         [0081]     As described above, the first fl          provided with the toner inlet  12   a,  the op          which is located at the longitudinal end           upstream side in terms of the direction           toner containing portion  11  is inserted. The toner inlet  12   a  is provided with internal ribs  12   c,  which radially fit within the toner inlet  12   a  ( FIGS. 36 and 37 ). Also, the toner inlet  12   a  is provided with a cylindrical hollow shaft, the axial line of which coincides with that of the toner inlet  12   a,  and which supports the axle of the toner conveying member which will be described later. Around the cylindrical portion  12   e,  i.e., the cylindrical wall of the toner iniet  12   a,  a handle  15 , which will be described later, is fitted. After the toner is filled, the toner inlet  12   a  is sealed by fitting a cap  14  into the toner inlet  12   a . Then, the first flange  12  is unitized with the toner containing portion  11  by an appropriate joining means.  
         [0082]     The end plate  13   a  of the second flange  13  is provided with a hole  13   c,  into which a driving force transmitting bearing (for example, coupling) for bearing the axle of the toner conveying member  29  and also transmitting the driving force, is fitted from outside the toner containing portion  11 . Further, the end plate  13   a  is provided with a cylindrical portion  13   d  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), which projects outward from the outer edge of the hole  13   c  and supports the peripheral surface of the aforementioned coupling.  
         [0000]     (Handle)  
         [0083]     The handle  15 , a rotational member, basically comprises three sections: a knob section  15   e,  a cylindrical hollow section  15   h  (middle section) with a smaller diameter, and a cylindrical hollow section with a larger diameter. The knob section  15   e  is the outward end of the handle  15 , and is in the form of a thick plate with a thicker end. The cylindrical hollow section with a larger diameter is the inward end of the handle  15 , and is open on the inward side. he handle  15  is rotationally attached to the toner containing portion  11  by manually fitting the middle section  15   h  around a handle supporting portion  12   f,  which is a part of the cylindrical portion  12   e  located at one of the longitudinal ends of the toner containing portion  11  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). The handle  15  also comprises an engaging portion  15   a,  which is a driving force transmitting portion, for transmitting the driving force. The engaging portion  15   a  is on the outward facing surface of the handle  15 .  
         [0084]     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 10 , the engaging portion  15   a  is in the form of a segment gear so that when the toner supply container  1  is inserted into the toner supplying apparatus  100 , the engaging portion  15   a  can engage with the engaging portion  21   a  of a driving force transmitting member  21  with which the toner supplying apparatus  100  is provided. The engaging portion  15   a  is engageable with the engaging portion  21   a  through a sequential operation for inserting the toner supply container  1 .  
         [0085]     Also referring to  FIGS. 6 and 10 , the diving force transmitting member  21  as a rotational force transmitting means comprises a shaft  21   s,  the engaging portion  21   a  for receiving the driving force, and an engaging portion  21   b  for transmitting the driving force. The shaft  21   s  is fitted with the engaging portions  21   a  and  21   b , one for one at its longitudinal ends, and is rotationally supported by the toner supplying apparatus  100 . The engaging portions  21   a  and  21   b  comprise gears with multiple teeth. The engaging portion  21   a  on the driving force reception side in this embodiment comprises a single gear. However, there is no specific restriction regarding the structure or gear count of the engaging portion  21   a  as long as it is structured to function as a mechanism for receiving the driving force. The engaging portion  21   b  on the driving force transmission side is meshed with the engaging portion  21   g  on the driving force transmission side as an idler gear which is meshed with the engaging portion  16   d,  a segment gear, on the driving force reception side. In this embodiment, the driving force transmitting member  21 , a member comprising the shaft  21   s,  and engaging portions  21   a ,  21   b  and  21   g,  is provided on the apparatus main assembly  124  side of the image forming apparatus.  
         [0000]     (Toner Conveying Member)  
         [0086]     Referring to  FIG. 5 , one end of a shaft  27  for supporting the toner conveying member  29  is rotationally borne by the hole  12   d  ( FIG. 37 ), and the other end of the shaft is borne by the bearing  13   d  fitted in the shaft hole  12   d  so that the rotational driving force is transmitted through the coupling  26   a  fixed to this end of the shaft  27 . Further, the toner conveying member  29  comprises a toner conveying wing  28 , which is a flexible member fixed to the shaft  27 . The coupling  26   a  is rotationally supported by the toner containing portion  11 .  
         [0087]     The toner conveying wing  28  rubs against the inward surface of the toner containing portion  11 . The toner conveying wing  28  comprises a plurality of segments each with a winglet  28   a.  The toner outlet  11   a  side of the winglet  28   a  is bent away from the rotational direction of the toner conveying wing  28  so that the toner in the toner containing portion  11  can be conveyed toward the toner outlet  11   a.  The toner outlet  11   a  is located on the upstream side in terms of the direction in which the toner supply container  1  is inserted into the apparatus main assembly  124 . Thus, all winglets  28   a  extend in the same direction. However, it is not mandatory that all winglets  28   a  extend in the same direction; the winglets  28   a  may be different in their extending direction, depending on the positioning of the toner outlet  11   a . After the toner supply container  1  is inserted into the toner supplying apparatus  100 , the aforementioned coupling  26   a  receives the driving force by meshing with the coupling  44  ( FIG. 19 ) provided on the toner supplying apparatus  100  side, and rotates the toner conveying member  29 .  
         [0088]     As long as the toner within the toner containing portion  11  can be conveyed to the toner outlet  11   a,  the provision of the toner conveying member  29  is not mandatory. However, the provision of the toner conveying member  29  assures reliable suppliance of the toner.  
         [0089]     Next, referring to  FIG. 9  which depicts the driving force receiving end portion of the toner supply container  1 , a coupling  26   a  as a driving force receiving member is rotationally supported by the end plate of the toner containing portion  11 . Both ends of the coupling  26   a  in the axial direction are in the form of a shaft coupler. One end of the coupling  26   a  is positioned within the toner containing portion  11 , and is coupled with one end of the shaft  27  of the toner conveying member  29 , whereas the other end of the coupling  26   a , which is positioned outside the toner containing portion  11 , is provided with a rotational force receiving portion. As the toner supply container  1  is installed into the apparatus main assembly  124 , this rotational force receiving portion couples with the coupling  44  provided on the toner supplying apparatus  100  side to transmit the rotational force. Referring to  FIG. 9 , the rotational force receiving portion is in the form of a projection  26   a , a part of which extends in the radial direction of the coupling  26   a . The couplings  26  and  44  couple with each other as the projections  44   a  of the coupling  44  fit into the two spaces  26   a   2  between the two projections  26   a   1 , one for one.  
         [0000]     (Container Shutter)  
         [0090]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the container shutter  16  is provided with a pair of sliding portions  16   f,  which are located at the longitudinal ends, in terms of inserting direction of the toner supply container  1 , of the container shutter  16 , one for one. The sliding portions  16   f  engage, one for one, with a pair of shutter supporting members  11   e  as guiding members which extend on the toner containing portion  11  in the circumferential direction of the toner containing portion  11  along the curved edges of the toner outlet  11   a,  one on the front side and the other on the back side of the outlet  11   a,  in terms of the inserting direction of the container  1 . The container shutter  16  slides in the circumferential direction of the toner containing portion  11  to expose or seal the toner outlet  11   a.  More specifically, the cross section of the container shutter  16  perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toner supply container  1  is in the form of an arc, the curvature of which is such that the container shutter  16  perfectly fits along the outer surface of the cylindrical portion  11   g  of the toner containing portion  11 . As for the sliding portions  16   f  and shutter supporting members  11   e,  their cross section at a plane which includes the axial line of the theoretical hollow cylinder to which the container shutter  16  belongs, are in the form of an interlocking hook ( FIG. 6 ). The shape of the cross section of shutter supporting member  11   e,  i.e., the interlocking hook, is the same across the entire length of the member.  
         [0091]     Referring to  FIGS. 20, 21 ,  39 ,  40  and  44 , the sliding portion  16   f  is provided with a plurality of small hook-like horizontal projections  16   u  which extend inward, relative to the toner outlet  11   a,  from the upright base portion of the sliding portion  16   f . The locations of these hook-like horizontal projections  16   u  correspond one for one with the locations of the plurality of through holes  16   t  cut through the container shutter  16  along its curved edges. Referring to  FIG. 44 , each of these horizontal hook-like projections  16   u  is provided with a tiny projection  16   u   1  in the form of a character H or T (projects toward the reader side of this page), which is located on the surface of the projection  16   u , which faces the shutter supporting member  11   e.  Each projection  16   u  functions as an elastic member which generates a predetermined amount of pressure for keeping the container shutter  16  tightly in contact with the elastic packing  35 . Therefore, even if the pressure which each projection  16   u  receives from the elastic packing  35  varies depending upon the location of the container shutter  16  during the opening or closing of the container shutter  16 , the presence of the plurality of projections  16   u  averages out the amount of pressure which keeps the container shutter  16  in contact with the elastic packing  35  ( FIG. 21 ).  
         [0092]     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the container shutter  16  is provided with the aforementioned driving force receiving engaging portion  16   d  as a member for receiving the rotational force which is enabled to engage with a gear as the aforementioned driving force transmitting engaging portion  21   g  as the toner supply container  1  is installed into the toner supplying apparatus  100 . This engaging portion  16   d  is provided with a plurality of teeth, and is enabled to engage with the driving force transmitting engaging portion  21   g  through a sequence of operations for inserting the toner supply container  1  into the toner supplying apparatus  100 . The driving force receiving engaging portion  16   d  is cut in the outer surface  16   m  of the container shutter  16 . In other words, the diameter of the theoretical circle which includes the tooth tips of the segment gear, and the diameter of the theoretical circle which includes the outer surface of the container shutter  16  are rendered practically the same so that space can be saved in terms of the radial direction of the toner supply container  1 . Since the engaging portion  16   d  must be engaged, or disengaged, with the driving force transmitting engaging portion  21   g , it is cut in the outer surface of the container shutter  16 , close to the curved edge on the coupling  26   a  side. With this arrangement, the engaging portion  16   d  engages with, or disengages from, the driving force transmitting engaging portion  21   g  when the container shutter  16  is in the closed state. As described before, the driving force transmitting engaging portion  21   g  with which the toner supplying apparatus  100  is provided, and the driving force receiving portion  16   d  with which the container shutter  16  is provided, are engaged through a sequence of operations for inserting the toner supply container  1  into the toner supplying apparatus  100 . Therefore, the sliding portion  16   f  ( 16   f   1 ) of the container shutter  16 , on the side where the coupling  26   a  is provided, is made shorter than the driving force receiving engaging portion  16   d  (portion designated by a referential character A in  FIGS. 4, 10  and  44 ). In other words, the sliding portion  16   f   1  is desired to be configured so that the plane of the edge surface  16   h  of the container shutter  16 , on the downstream side in terms of the longitudinal direction of the toner containing portion  11 , which squarely faces the driving force transmitting engaging portion  21   g  when the toner supply container  1  is inserted into the toner supplying apparatus  100 , coincides with the plane of the surfaces of the teeth of the driving force receiving engaging portion  16   d , on the downstream side in terms of the inserting direction of the toner supply container  1 . Therefore, in this embodiment, a portion  16   g  is removed to shorten the sliding portion  16   f   1 . Of the two surfaces created by removing the portion  16   g , the one perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the toner containing portion  11  is the aforementioned edge surface  16   h.  With this arrangement, the driving force transmitting engaging portion  21   g  and the container shutter  16  do not interfere with each other.  
         [0093]     When the container shutter  16  is thick, the sliding portion  16   f   1  is extended across the entire curved edge of the container shutter  16 , and in order to prevent the driving force transmitting engaging portion  21   g  from colliding with the sliding portion  16   f   1 , the sliding portion  16   f   1  is provided with an indentation as an equivalent of the aforementioned missing portion  16   g  to allow the driving force transmitting engaging portion  21   g  to pass.  
         [0094]     Referring to  FIG. 11 , the container shutter  16  fits in an indented portion  34   c  formed between the surfaces  34   b   1  of the shutter  34  on the main apparatus side, which exposes or seals the toner inlet  33  with which the toner supplying apparatus  100  is provided. Being fitted in the indented portion  34   c,  the container shutter  16  can cause the shutter  34  on the main apparatus side to slide as the container shutter  16 , which is on the side of the toner supply container  1 , is slid.  
         [0095]     In this embodiment, the engaging portion  21   b  and  21   g  on the driving force transmitting side, with which the apparatus main assembly  124  is provided, comprise two gears as shown in  FIG. 6 . However, as long as a driving force transmitting mechanism is provided, there is no specific restriction regarding its structure, or the number of gears it comprises. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the container shutter  16  is provided with an elastic portion  16   b  in the form of an arm which generates such pressure that constantly applies to the handle  15  in the longitudinal direction of the toner containing portion  11 . The tip of this elastic portion  16   b  is in contact with the flange  15   b  of the handle  15 .  
         [0000]     (Toner Supplying Apparatus)  
         [0096]     Referring to  FIGS. 11-13 , the toner supplying apparatus  100  is provided with a toner supplying apparatus main assembly  54 , a cartridge receiving portion, which comprises a bottom portion  54   a  and a top portion  54   b,  the cross sections of which in the direction perpendicular to their lengthwise directions are semicircular and rectangular, respectively, to accommodate the toner containing portion  11 . The top portion  54   b  is provided with a plurality of projections  54   c  for guiding a pair of guide portions  11   k  of the toner supply container  1 . The projections  54   c  are on the inner surface of the top portion  54   b.  One pair of the projections  54   c  are at the entrance of the toner supplying apparatus main assembly  54 , one for each side, and the other pairs are aligned inward of the toner supplying apparatus main assembly  54 , one half the pairs being above the line correspondent to the position of the guide portion  11   k  and the other half being below the same line. The bottom portion  54   a  is provided with a pair of parallel guide rails  55 , which are in the inwardly facing surface of the bottom portion  54   a  and extend in the circumferential direction of the bottom portion  54   a . The guides  34   a  of the main assembly shutter  34  are engaged one for one in these guide rails  55 . The guide rails  55  and the guide  34   a  are hook-like in their cross section, and interlock with each other. As is evident from the above description, there are two guide rails  55  and two guides  34   a , which are parallel to each other. In other words, the main assembly shutter  34  is supported by the toner supplying apparatus main assembly  54 . The radius of the inwardly facing surface of the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34  is exactly or approximately the same as that of the inwardly facing surface of the container shutter  16 . The main assembly shutter  34  is provided with a pair of projections  34   b,  which are located at both edges, one for one, perpendicular to the moving direction of the main assembly shutter  34 . The main assembly shutter  34  is provided with a main assembly shutter opening  34   d . This opening  34   d  has only to be able to expose or seal the toner supply inlet  33 ; there may be only one cross section, i.e., a section  34   d   1 . The width of inwardly facing surface of the main assembly shutter  34 , between the two projections  34   b,  in the circumferential direction of the main assembly  54 , is approximately the same as the width of the inwardly facing surface of the container shutter  16  in the circumferential direction of the main assembly  54 . Therefore, as the toner supply container  1  is inserted into the toner supplying apparatus  100 , it perfectly fits into the space  34   c  between the two projections  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34 , which project inward in the radial direction of the toner supply container  1 ; the two edges of the container shutter  16 , which extend in the longitudinal direction of the main assembly  54 , come virtually in contact with the corresponding inwardly facing surfaces  34   b   1  of the projections  34   b.  Therefore, as the container shutter  16  is opened or closed, the main assembly shutter  34  moves with the container shutter  16 . Thus, if the two shutters  16  and  34  are designed so that the toner outlet  11   a  and the toner supply inlet  33  align with each other, as the container shutter  16  is opened, the toner can be supplied into the developing device  204  by a toner stirring-conveying apparatus  45 . The main assembly shutter opening  34   d  and the space  34   c  are immediately adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the main assembly shutter  34 , being-bordered by the projection  34   b.    
         [0000]     (Packing Member)  
         [0097]     The packing member  35  as a sealing member is an elastic member (FIGS.  4 ,  11 - 17 ). It assures that the toner outlet  11   a  is airtightly sealed by the container shutter  16 . For example, it prevents the toner within the toner containing portion  11  from leaking due to the impact caused by the falling or the like of the toner supply container. For effectiveness, the packing member  35  is pasted to the outwardly facing surface of the toner containing portion  11  in a manner of surrounding the toner outlet  11   a.  More specifically, the material for the packing member  35  is rubbery material such as silicon rubber, urethane rubber, foamed polyethylene rubber, or the like, or sponge made of these rubbers. Preferably, it is slightly foamed polyurethane which is 20-70 deg. in hardness, no more than 10% in permanent compressive deformation, 60-300 μm in cell size, 0.15-0.50 g/in density, and 5-50% in compression ratio.  
         [0098]     The packing member  35  is shaped so that the top surface of the portion next to the longitudinal edges of the toner outlet  11   a  is slanted downward toward the toner outlet  11   a.    
         [0099]     The packing member  35  shaped as described above is fixed to the surfaces adjacent to the toner outlet  11   a  with the use of adhesive or the like.  
         [0000]     (Sealing Member)  
         [0100]     As the toner supply container  1  is installed into the toner supplying apparatus  100 , the container shutter  16  fits into the indentation  34   c  (space between the two projections  34   b ) of the main assembly shutter  34 . The indentation  34   c  extends across the main assembly shutter  34  in the longitudinal direction, and the surface  34   b   1  functions as the guide for the container shutter  16 . After the container shutter  16  is fitted in the indentation  34   c  of the main assembly shutter  34 , the plane of the inwardly facing surface of the projection  34   b,  i.e., the brim of the main assembly shutter opening  34   d , and the plane of the inwardly facing surface of the container shutter  16  are at approximately same level. Referring to  FIGS. 11-17 , the container shutter  16  is provided with a sealing member  41 , which is on the surface on the container side. In order to cover the inwardly facing surface of the projection  34   b  next to the toner inlet  33  of the main assembly shutter  34 , the sealing member  41  is extended downstream, in terms of the closing direction of the container shutter  16 , beyond the container shutter  16 . The sealing member  41  is a member for preventing the toner from entering the gap g between the container shutter  16  and the main assembly shutter  34 . As long as this objective is accomplished, the material, shape, size, and method of attachment, of the sealing member  41  are optional.  
         [0101]     As for the preferable structure for the sealing member  41  in this embodiment, a piece of 125 μm thick polyester sheet is pasted, as a sealing member, to the container shutter  16  with the use of double-sided adhesive tape (#5000NC: Nitto Denko Co., Ltd. ( FIG. 20 ).  
         [0102]     More specifically, since the sealing member  41  is structured to cover the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34  as described before, it is desired not to interfere with the installation or removal of the toner supply container  11  by hanging up or colliding. The main assembly shutter  34  is not necessarily smooth on the container facing surface. But, the sealing member  41  is required to perfectly conform to the container facing surface of the main assembly shutter  34 . Because of requirements such as the above, the sealing member  41  is desired to be formed of flexible sheet or sheet formed of elastic material.  
         [0103]     As for the method for attaching the sealing member  41 , any of various known attaching means may be employed in addition to the aforementioned double-sided adhesive tape as long as it satisfies the requirement that the sealing member  41  does not peels off in spite of repetitive opening and closing of the container shutter  16  which occurs as the toner supply container  1  is repeatedly installed or removed.  
         [0104]     It is most preferable that elastomer be used as the material for the sealing member  41 , and the sealing member  41  be integrally formed with the container shutter  16  by two color injection molding. In such a case, it is desired that the elastomer for the sealing member  41  and the material for the container shutter  16  are compatibly selected. Also, the sealing member  41  and container shutter  16  may be formed of the same material. In such a case, they can be integrally formed with the use of a simple method.  
         [0000]     (Function of Sealing Member)  
         [0105]     Next, the function of the sealing member  41  will be described.  
         [0106]     The state of the main assembly of the toner supplying apparatus  100  when the toner supply container  1  has been removed, that is, when the container shutter  16  is not in engagement with the main assembly shutter  34  is as shown in  FIG. 19 . In this state, the main assembly shutter  34  is positioned to seal the toner inlet  33  to prevent foreign substances such as dust from entering the toner supply container  1  through the toner inlet  33 .  
         [0107]      FIG. 12  shows the state in which the toner supply container  1  has been installed, and the toner is being replenished. In this state, the container shutter  16  has retreated from the toner outlet  11   a,  allowing a passage to be formed through the toner outlet  11   a,  main assembly shutter opening  34   d , and toner inlet  33 . Also in this state, the plane of the container facing surface of the container shutter  16  and the plane of the container facing surface of the projection  34   b  next to the opening  34   d  of the main assembly shutter  34  is at approximately the same level. Therefore, the sealing member  41  is in contact with the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34 , keeping the toner passage airtight, and at the same time, preventing the toner from adhering to the surface of the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34 . Also in this state, the toner having been stored in the toner supply container  1  is conveyed toward the toner stirring-conveying apparatus  45 , i.e., a toner receiving apparatus, by the function of the toner conveying member  29  contained in the toner supply container  1  through the toner outlet  11   a,  opening  34   d , and toner inlet  33  through which the toner passage has been established.  
         [0108]     Referring to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , which are enlarged drawings of the portions in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , respectively, even if the end portion of the sealing member  41  is pinched between the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34  and the packing member  35  while the shutters  16  and  34  are moved in the opening direction from the positions in  FIG. 14  to the positions in  FIG. 15 , the airtightness of the toner passage at this location is not broken, because the sealing member  41  is formed of thin PET sheet. For assurance, the thickness of the sealing member  41  is desired to be no less than 50 μm and no more than 300 μm, preferably, no less than 70 μm and no more than 200 μm, and ideally, 125 μm. If the sealing member is excessively thick, it fails to properly seal the gap between the main assembly shutter  34  and toner supply container  1 . On the other hand, if it is excessively thin, it fails to properly perform its primary function, that is, the function to prevent the toner from entering between the container shutter  16  and main assembly shutter  34 . As a result, various problems occur while the toner supply container  1  is handled, in particular, while the toner supply container  1  is installed into, or removed from, the toner supplying apparatus  100 . For example, the sealing member  41  is peeled back or wrinkled.  
         [0109]     The requirement regarding the thickness of the sealing member  41  can be eliminated by the provision of the structure in which the sealing member  41  is retracted to a point where the sealing member  41  does not contact the packing member  35 . However, such a structure makes the shutter stroke substantially longer, making it difficult to give a toner supplying apparatus and a toner supplying container a compact design.  
         [0110]     Next, a state in which the toner supply container  1  is removed before a “no toner” light in the warning panel  124   a  is lit, and the function of the sealing member  41  in such a state, will be described. In this state, a substantial amount of toner is still stored in the toner supply container  1 . In other words, any of the toner outlets  11   a  of the toner supply container  1 , the main assembly shutter opening  34   d , and the toner supply inlet  33 , is filled with the toner. The first step to be taken to remove the toner supply container  1  in this state is to seal the open portions. As the container shutter  16  is moved in the closing direction, the main assembly shutter  34 , which is in engagement with the container shutter  16 , moves with the container shutter  16  in the direction to close the toner supply container  1 . The toner at the main assembly shutter opening  34   d  moves undisturbed in the closing direction, and becomes separated from the toner in the toner supply container  1  and the toner in the toner stirring-conveying apparatus  45 , as shown in  FIG. 16 . During this closing step, the gap G between the main assembly shutter  34  and container shutter  16  passes directly below the toner outlet  11   a  as shown in  FIG. 16 . Thus, if there were no sealing member  41  as shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the toner within the toner supply container  1  would rush into the gap g. In reality, however, the sealing member  41  covers this gap g as shown in  FIG. 16 , preventing the toner from entering the gap g.  
         [0111]     Also during this closing step, the sealing member  41  and container shutter  16  are under the contact pressure generated downward (in drawings) by the resiliency o the packing member  35 . Therefore, the portion  41   a  of the sealing member  41 , which extends beyond the edge of the sealing member  41 , is also pressed upon the container facing surface of the main assembly shutter  34 , not only gaining in sealing performance but also in preventing the toner from adhering to the surface of the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34 .  
         [0112]     The state in which main assembly shutter  34  and container shutter  16  have been completely closed is as shown in  FIG. 14 . In this state, the toner adhesion to the exterior surfaces of the container shutter  16  and toner containing portion  11  is prevented although the toner adheres to the surface of the extension portion  41   a  of the sealing member  41 , on the side of the toner supply container  1 . The amount of the toner which adhered to the inwardly facing surface of the aforementioned extension portion  41   a  of the sealing member  41  is extremely small, and also, the location at which the toner adheres to the extension portion  41   a  is in the small pocket created between itself and the toner containing portion  11 . Therefore, it is very difficult for the toner to come out once it adheres to the extension portion  41   a ; it rarely scatters outward of the pocket.  
         [0113]     For a reason which will be described later, the length by which the aforementioned extension portion  41   a  extends is desired to be approximately the same as the width of the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34 . More specifically, it is desired to be set at a value no less than 2 mm and no more than 10 mm, preferably, no less than 4 mm and no more than 8 mm, and ideally, at 6 mm. If the extension portion  41   a  is excessively short, it is unsatisfactory in terms of effectiveness in preventing the toner invasion of the aforementioned gap g, and also, the aforementioned pocket which the sealing member  41  and toner containing portion  11  form is shallow, failing to retain the toner. In addition, it fails to prevent the toner adhesion to the surface of the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34 .  
         [0114]     On the other hand, if the extension portion  41   a  is excessively long, it interferes with the installation or removal of the toner supply container  1 . For example, it collides with the various portions of the internal surface of the toner supplying apparatus  100 , which is a problem. In addition, the pressure generated by the aforementioned packing member  35  fails to be transmitted to the farthest portion of the extension portion  41   a , causing the sealing member  41  to lose in sealing performance. Obviously, the pressure can be transmitted to the farthest portion of the extension portion  41   a  of the sealing member  41  by increasing the rigidity of the sealing member  41 . However, such a practice reduces the ability of the sealing member  41  to conform to the surface of the main assembly shutter  34 , also causing the sealing member  41  to lose in sealing performance. Further, if the extension portion  41   a  is excessively long, it makes the main assembly shutter opening  34   d  too small, possibly interfering with the passage of the toner.  
         [0115]     A case in which the sealing member  41  is not provided is shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . In this case, as the main assembly shutter  34  is moved in the closing direction before the “no toner” light is lit in the warning panel  124   a,  the gap g between the container shutter  16  and main assembly shutter  34  is exposed to the toner. As a result, the toner invades the gap g, and the outwardly facing surface of the container shutter  16  is contaminated by the adhesion of the toner which invaded the gap g. Since there is no outlet for the toner which invaded the indentation of the main assembly shutter  34   c , i.e., the space between the mutually facing surfaces  34   b   1  of the projections  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34 , the toner continues to accumulate there. Therefore, unless the indentation  34   c  is cleaned during the maintenance of the image forming apparatus, the contamination of the toner supply container  1  worsens. Further, the toner also adheres to the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34 , and this toner transfers onto the toner supply container  1 , on the surface which opposes the projections  34   b ; in other words, it contaminates the toner supply container  1 .  
         [0000]     [Sealing Member Design  1  Different From Preceding Design] 
         [0116]     In the case of this design, a material low in friction is placed on the surface of the sealing member.  
         [0117]     In order to gain in sealing performance, the ratio with which the packing member  35  is compressed is desired to be as high as possible, since the compressive stress of the packing member  35  is proportional to the compression ratio. In other words, when the compression ratio is small, the compressive stress of the packing is also small, and therefore, the sealing performance of the packing member  35  is at an unsatisfactory level. Thus, when the compression ratio is small, the toner leak due to the impact caused by a fall or the like of the toner supply container. On the other hand, if the compression ratio is excessively increased, the compression stress of the packing member  35  also becomes excessively high. This improves the packing member  35  in sealing performance, and at the same time, increases load in terms of sliding. As a result, the force required to open or close the container shutter  16  increases.  
         [0118]     Thus, in order to improve the sealing performance while reducting, or at least without increasing, the force necessary to drive the shutters, a piece of flexible film  42  as a low friction material is pasted to the sealing member  41 , on the surface which faces the packing member  35 , as shown in  FIGS. 20 and 21 , so that the amount of the frictional resistance between the surfaces of the sealing member  41  and packing member  35  is reduced. More specifically, flexible film created by coating silicon oil, silicone wax, silicone containing paint, or the like, on a base film, for example, film comprising a single layer of polyester, biaxially stretched polypropylene (OPP), polyamide, polyethylene, or fluorinated resin, or film comprising mixed layers of preceding materials, is used as the material for the flexible film  42 .  
         [0119]     The thickness of the layer of the silicone oil on the aforementioned flexible film  42  is desired to be in a range of 0.05-2 μm, preferably, 0.1-0.5 μm. If the thickness of the coated layer of silicone oil is excessively thick, the toner in the toner containing portion  11  is negatively affected, whereas if it is excessively thin, the flexible film  42  is not effective to satisfactorily reduce the force necessary to open or close the shutters.  
         [0120]     The toner supply container  1  with the above described structure was installed in the toner supplying apparatus  100 , and the operation for removing the toner supply container  1  before the “no toner” light is lit was repeated. However, just as in the case of the sealing member illustrated in  FIG. 20 , (b), there was no sign of contamination traceable to the toner adhesion to the outwardly facing surface of the container shutter  16  and its adjacencies, and no sign of toner accumulation, providing that the above described structure improved the sealing performance of the sealing member without increasing the driving force necessary to open or close the container shutter  16 .  
         [0000]     [Sealing Member Design  2  Different From Preceding Two Designs] 
         [0121]     In this version, as the toner supply container  1  is inserted into the toner supplying apparatus  100 , the extension portion  41   a  of the sealing member  41  rides onto the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34  from the one of the longitudinal ends of the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34 .  
         [0122]     Thus, in order to make it easier for the container shutter  16  to slide into the indentation  34   c  (space) between the opposing surfaces  34   b   1  of the projections  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34 , the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34  is chamfered at the opposing downstream corners in terms of the inserting direction, i.e., both downstream corners in  FIG. 27  (right-hand corner is behind the bottom portion  54   b  of the toner supplying apparatus main assembly  54 ), creating the surface  34   b   2 , and the corresponding corners of the container shutter  16  are also chamfered, creating surfaces  16   p  and  16   q  ( FIGS. 39 and 40 ).  
         [0123]     Further, referring to  FIG. 27 , the main assembly shutter  34  is provided with an entrance guide portion  34   e,  which is located at the upstream corner of the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34  to allow the extension portion  41   a  of the sealing member  41  to smoothly ride onto the projection  34   b . This entrance guide portion  34   e  is a slanted surface, which is located on the upstream corner of the projection  34   b , and inclines in the downward and upstream direction from the container facing surface of the projection  34   b.    
         [0124]     The provision of an entrance guide portion such as the one described above is effective in preventing the extension portion  41   a  from being damaged at the corners as the extension portion  41   a  of the sealing member  41  rides onto the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34 .  
         [0125]      FIGS. 22-26  show the structure for helping the extension portion  41   a  of the sealing member  41  more smoothly advance onto the projection  34   b  from the entrance guide portion  34   e  of the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34 .  
         [0126]     Referring to  FIG. 22 , the sealing member  41  is provided with a single line of perforation  41   b,  which extends along the base portion of the extension portion  41   a .  FIG. 25  is a perspective view of the sealing member  41  provided with the perforation  41   b.  Referring to  FIG. 26 , instead of being provided with the perforation  41   b,  the sealing member  41  may be provided with a groove  41   c  which extends along the extension portion  41   a  of the sealing member  41  in the longitudinal direction. In this embodiment, the groove  41   c  may be V-shaped or U-shaped in cross section.  
         [0127]     With the provision of the above arrangement, as the extension portion  41   a  of the sealing member  41  comes in contact with the entrance guide portion  34   e  of the main assembly shutter  34  before it rides onto the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34 , it bends at the perforation or groove, preventing its longitudinal end from being damaged.  
         [0128]     In the preceding description of the sealing member  41 , the sealing member  41  inclusive of the extension portion  41   a  was arc-shaped in cross section. However, the extension portion  41   a  of the sealing member  41  may be bent at its base line toward the toner containing portion  11 , as shown in  FIG. 23 . Being bent as described above, the extension portion  41   a  can smoothly rides onto the projection  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34  as depicted by the double dot chain line in  FIG. 14 . Even if the extension portion  41   a  is bent in this manner, when the container shutter  16  and main assembly shutter  34  open the toner outlet  11   a  and main assembly shutter opening  34   d , the extension portion  41   a  is pinched at both longitudinal edges between the packing member  35  and the other projections of the main assembly shutter  34 , perpendicular to the projection  34   b . Therefore, the projection  34   b  and the extension portion  41   a  tightly contact with each other. In the case of the design illustrated in  FIG. 23 , since the extension portion  41   a  is bent, its tip portion remains firmly in contact with the packing member  35 , sliding on the packing member  35 , during the opening or closing of the container shutter  16 . Therefore, it is liable that the extension portion  41   a  becomes damaged. The design illustrated in  FIG. 24  is a design in which the above concern has been eliminated. In this design, the extension portion  41   a  is provided with a sub-extension portion  41   d,  which extends at an angle from the downstream edge, in terms of the toner supply container  1  installation direction, of the extension portion  41   a . In this case, extension portion  41   d  is positioned not to contact the packing member  35 . Therefore, the aforementioned problems do not occur. In other words, this embodiment is the ideal one.  
         [0000]     (Locking Member)  
         [0129]     The toner cartridge is provided with a locking member  51  in the form of a ring so that the handle  15  is locked to the toner containing portion  11  before the toner supply container  1  is installed into the main assembly  124  of an image forming apparatus, and after the toner supply container  1  has been removed from the apparatus main assembly  124  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ).  
         [0130]     The locking member  51  is rotationally fitted around the first flange  12 , more specifically, the locking member engagement portion  12   g  of the first flange portion, that is, the portion immediately next to the end plate  12   b  of the first flange  12 . It is also movable in the direction in which the toner supply container  1  is inserted into, or removed from, the toner supplying apparatus  100  (direction indicated by an arrow mark in  FIG. 7 , and also the opposite direction).  
         [0131]     The locking member  51  comprises a cylindrical ring portion  51   a,  i.e., the portion which fits around the locking member engagement portion  12   g,  and is provided with a notch  51   b  which faces the aforementioned end plate  12   b.  The notch  51   b  is in engagement with the locking projection  12   h  with which the first flange  12  is provided. The locking member  51  integrally comprises an arm-like springy portion  51   c  which presses upon the end surface  15   i  of the handle  15 . The first flange  12  is provided with a circumferential ridge  12   i  which is on the cylindrical portion  12   e,  and circles around the cylindrical portion  12   e.  Further, the handle  15  integrally comprises a stopper  15   j,  which is formed by outwardly bending a portion of the handle  15 . The tip of the stopper  15   j  is kept in contact with the ridge  12   i  by the resiliency of the aforementioned springy portion  51   c,  to prevent the handle  15  from slipping off the cylindrical portion  12   e  of the first flange  12  ( FIG. 3 ). Further, the locking member  51  is kept in contact with the end plate  12   b  of the first flange  12  by the resiliency of the springy portion  51   c.    
         [0132]     The springy portion  51   c  is gradually reduced in cross section toward its tip, being enabled to evenly bend across its entire length, to prevent the base portion of the springy portion  51   c  from turning white due to the concentration of the bending stress to the base portion. In other words, when the cross section of the springy portion  51   c  is rectangular, it is made gradually smaller in the width or thickness direction toward the tip. Therefore, the springy portion  51   c  gradually reduces in cross section from its base portion to its tip.  
         [0133]     A pair of engagement ribs  51   d  provided on the outwardly facing surface of the locking member  51  are enabled to move in the installation-removal direction of the toner supply container  1  by being loosely fitted, one for one, in grooves  15   k  and  15   m  which are cut in the handle  15  in the installation-removal direction of the toner supply container  1 . The engagement rib  51   i  of the locking member  51  is engaged in the groove  15   j  of the handle  15 . Therefore, the handle  15  and locking member  51  are prevented from oving relative to each other in their circumferential direction, but are allowed to move relative to each other in their axial direction ( FIGS. 37 and 38 ).  
         [0134]     The length, in terms of the installation-removal direction of the toner supply container  1 , of the locking projection  12   h  provided on the first flange  12  is less than the length of the stroke of the engagement ribs  51   d  through the grooves  15   k  and  15   m,  one for one, in the installation-removal direction of the toner supply container  1 . Further, the length, in terms of the installation-removal direction of the toner supply container  1 , of the locking projection  12   h  is less than the length of the stroke of the engagement rib  51   i  of the locking member  51  through the groove  15   j  of the handle  15 .  
         [0135]     With the provision of the above structure, the notch  51   b  of the locking member  51  is kept engaged with the locking projection  12   h  of the first flange  12  by the resiliency of the springly portion  51   c  of the locking member  51 . Therefore, whatever state the toner supply container  1  is in, the state in which it is being inserted into the toner supplying apparatus  100 , the state in which it is being removed from the toner supplying apparatus  100 , or the state in which it is out of the toner supplying apparatus  100 , the handle  15  is not allowed to move in its circumferential direction relative to the toner containing portion  11 . More specifically, in this embodiment, the handle is allowed to slip in its circumferential direction by six degrees, which is equivalent to the amount of the play between the projection  12   h  provided on the first flange  12  and the notch  51   b  of the locking portion  51 . It should be noted here that the projection  12   h  of the first flange  12  is provided also as a means for properly aligning the handle  15  relative to the toner supplying apparatus  100  in terms of the circumferential direction of the handle  15  when installing the toner supply container  1  into the toner supplying apparatus  100 . This subject will be described later. In other words, when the toner supply container is out of the image forming apparatus main assembly, the handle  15  is rotatable relative to the toner containing portion  11 , by six degrees, which is equivalent to the distance between a first position, or the one end of the rotatable range, and a second position, or the other end of the rotatable range.  
         [0136]     The locking member  51  is provided with a latch  51   e,  which is a thin piece of projection and projects outward in the radial direction from the engagement rib  51   d  which is adjacent to the springy portion  51   c . The latch  51   e  prevents the toner supply container  1  from coming out of the main assembly  54 .  
         [0000]     [Function of Locking Member] 
         [0137]     Next, the function of the locking member  51  will be described. As the toner supply container  1  is inserted into the toner supplying apparatus  100  by engaging the guide portion  11   k  of the toner supply container  1  between the projections  54   d  of the toner supplying apparatus main assembly  54 , the container shutter  16  and main assembly shutter  34  engage with each other. While the container shutter  16  engages with the main assembly shutter  34 , the driving force receiving engaging portion  16   d  of the container shutter  16  partially meshes with the driving force transmitting engaging portion  21   g , and immediately thereafter, the driving force transmitting engaging portion  15   a  of the handle  15  partially meshes with the driving force receiving engaging portion  21   a . after the container shutter  16  partially engages with the main assembly shutter  34 , the aforementioned extension portion  41   a  of the sealing member  41  rides onto the projection  34   b  past the entrance portion  34   e  of the main assembly shutter  34 .  
         [0138]     Then, as the handle  15  is pushed in the installing direction, the projection  51   d   1  provided on the engagement rib  51   d  comes in contact with the striking surface  54   e  of the toner supplying apparatus main assembly  54 , and at the same time, the latch  51   e  comes in contact with the contact surface  54   f,  as shown in  FIG. 8  ( FIGS. 37 and 33 ). Then, as the handle  15  is pushed in further, the handle  15 , first flange  12 , toner containing portion  11 , second flange  13 , and the like, advance together in the same direction indicated by the arrow mark in  FIG. 7 , and causes the locking projection  12   h  of the first flange  12  to move out of the notch  1   b  as shown in  FIG. 8 . In other words, the handles  15  is unlocked from the toner containing portion  11 , being allowed to rotate.  
         [0139]     Therefore, the handle  15  can be rotated clockwise as seen from the upstream side in terms of the toner supply container  1  installing direction (arrow direction in  FIG. 8 ). Then, as the handle  15  is rotated, the locking member  51  rotates together with the handle  15 , and immediately, the latch  51   e  engages into the groove  54   g  integrally provided in the strike surface  54   f  of the bottom portion  54   a  of the toner supplying apparatus main assembly  54  ( FIGS. 39 and 40 ). This groove  54   g  extends in the circumferential direction on the cylindrical wall of the bottom portion  54   a  of the toner supplying apparatus main assembly  54 , forming an arc. After engaging into the groove  54   g , the latch  51   e  remains in the groove  54   g  when the toner outlet  11   a  and main assembly shutter  34  are opened or closed. Therefore, while the toner supplying operation is carried out after the installation of the toner supply container  1  into the toner supplying apparatus  100 , the toner supply container  1  cannot be simply pulled out of the toner supplying apparatus  100 . In other words, the toner supply container  1  can be removed from the toner supplying apparatus  100  only when the container shutter  16  and main assembly shutter  34  are closed, because the latch  51   e  is allowed to come out of the arc-like groove only when the container shutter  16  and main assembly shutter  34  are closed.  
         [0140]     Regarding this locking mechanism, if the number of the lock releasing projection is only one, moment and/or deformation occurs to the locking member  51 , preventing the locking member  51  from smoothly sliding. Further, even if the number of the lock releasing projection is plural, if they are unevenly distributed, the same problem occurs. Therefore, it is desired that a plurality of lock releasing projections are distributed in the circumferential direction with as even as possible intervals. In this embodiment, two projections are provided, being apart from each other by approximately 180 deg. In this embodiment, the latch  51   e  functions also as a lock releasing projection, the angle formed by the radial line connecting the projection  51   d   1  and the center of the locking member  51  and the radial line connecting the latch  51   e  and the center of the locking member  51  is approximately 150 deg.  
         [0141]     Next, referring to  FIG. 38 , the lock releasing timing of the locking member  51  will be described. The locking projection  12   h  for regulating the angle the locking member rotates is provided with a projection  12   h   1 , which projects from the outwardly facing surface of the locking projection  12   h  in the radial direction of the locking member  51 , and is enabled to engage with the handle  15 . The angle B the handle  15  rotates from the position at which the projection  12   h  is engaged in the notch  51   b  to the position at which the projection  12   h   1  contacts one of the groove walls  15   n  of the groove  15   m  of the engagement rib, is approximately 90 deg. As stated before, the groove  15   m  is the groove in which the engagement rib  51   d  (on the side where the latch  51   e  is located) of the handle  15 . As for the relationship between the notch  51   b  of the locking member  51  and the locking projection  12   h , the notch  51   b  is made wide enough in terms of its central angle A so that a play of 6 deg. is afforded for the handle  15  in terms of its circumferential direction.  
         [0142]     In order to exchange the toner supply container  1  with a fresh one after the toner in the toner supply container  1  was depleted, the handle  15  must be turned to its original position by turning it in the direction opposite to the direction in which the handle  51  is turned during the installation of the toner supply container  1  (counterclockwise as seen from the upstream side in terms of the direction in which the toner supply container  1  is inserted into the toner supplying apparatus  100 ). With this action, the latch  51   e  becomes disengaged from the arc-shaped groove  51   e,  and the locking member  51  slides back, on the locking member engagement portion  12   g,  to its original position, i.e., the position at which the locking projection  12   h  remains engaged in the notch  51   b  of the ring portion  51   a  of the locking member  51 , due to the resiliency of the springy portion  51   c.    
         [0143]     As stated before, because the locking member  51  is under the pressure generated by the springy portion  51   c  in the direction of the toner containing portion  11 , it slides in the direction to cause the aforementioned locking projection  12   h  and the notch  51   b  of the locking member  51  to engage with each other, and lock the handle  51 .  
         [0000]     (Toner Supplying Operation)  
         [0144]     Next, a toner supplying operation which employs a toner supply container  1  in this embodiment will be described in general terms.  
         [0000]     (1) Installation of Toner Supply Container  1   
         [0145]     First, the lid  121  with which the apparatus main assembly  124  is provided is opened by 90 deg. toward an operator. Then, the guide portion  11   k  of the toner supply container  1  is engaged into the groove  54   h  ( FIG. 11 ) between the projections  54   c  of the toner supplying apparatus  100 . Then, the toner supply container  1  is inserted into the toner supplying apparatus  100  from the side where the coupling  26   a  is provided. With this action, first, the container shutter  16  of the toner supply container  1  and the main assembly shutter  34  within the toner supplying apparatus  100  engage with each other. Next, the driving force transmitting engaging portion  21   g  and the driving force receiving engaging portion  16   d  of the container shutter  16  engage with each other. Lastly, the driving force receiving engaging portion  21   a  on the toner supplying apparatus  100  side and the driving force transmitting engaging portion  15   a  of the handle  15  engage with each other.  
         [0000]     (2) Positioning of Toner Supply Container and Supplying of Toner  
         [0146]     With the toner supply container  1  being in the toner supplying apparatus  100 , as an operator manually rotates the handle  15  by 90 deg. in the clockwise direction (handle  15  will be moved to the third position), the rotational driving force, i.e., the force applied by the operator, is transmitted from the driving force transmitting engaging portion  15   a  of the handle  15 , as a driving force transmitting portion, to the driving force transmitting member  21 , as a rotational force transmitting portion, through the driving force receiving engaging portion  21   a  of the toner supplying apparatus  100 . Then, this force is further transmitted from the driving force transmitting engaging portion  21   g  to the driving force receiving engaging portion  16   d , as a rotational force receiving portion, of the container shutter  16 . By the driving force transmitted in the above described manner, the container shutter  16  is slid in the circumferential direction of the toner containing portion  11  while engaging with the shutter supporting member  11   e  of the toner containing portion  11 . During this sliding movement of the container shutter  16 , the main assembly shutter  34  moves with the container shutter  16 . Therefore, the toner outlet  11   a  of the tone containing portion  11 , the opening  34   d  of the main assembly shutter  34 , and the toner inlet  33  in the toner supplying apparatus  100 , are all opened at the same time. Then, toner supplying is started by rotating the toner conveying member  29  through the coupling  26   a  which receives the driving force from the coupling  44  of the apparatus main assembly  124 .  
         [0147]     During the above described operation, the toner containing portion  11  does not rotate. Therefore, the toner supply container  1  does not rotate with the handle  15 ; it remains fixed in the toner supplying apparatus  100 .  
         [0000]     (3) Removal of Toner Supply Container  
         [0148]     An operator rotates the handle  15  by 90 deg. in the counterclockwise direction. With this action, driving force different in direction from the driving force applied during the installation (2) of toner cartridge is transmitted in the same order as in the installation of the toner supply closes the toner outlet  11   a,  and the main assembly shutter  34  closes the opening  34   d  of the main assembly shutter  34  and the toner inlet  33 , to complete the toner replenishment sequence.  
         [0149]     The toner supply container  1  is installed into the toner supplying apparatus  100  from the coupling  26   a  side. This requires that the engaging portion  16   d  of the container shutter  16  passes by the engaging portion  21   a  of the apparatus main assembly  124 , and engages with the engaging portion  21   g , i.e., the inward one, of the apparatus main assembly  124 . Therefore, the diameter of the theoretical circle which connects the tips of the teeth of the engaging portion  16   d  in the form of a segment gear is desired to be smaller than the diameter of the theoretical circle which connects the bases of the teeth of the engaging portion  15   a  in the form of a segment gear.  
         [0150]     With the provision of the above described structure, a toner containing portion is not required to move during the toner supplying sequence. Therefore, there is no restriction regarding the shape of a toner containing portion. Therefore, a shape which offers the highest spatial efficiency to a toner containing portion may be employed as the shape for a toner containing portion. In addition, a shutter and a handle are made into two separate components. Therefore, it is unnecessary for a toner outlet to be next to a handle. Therefore, more latitude can be afforded in designing a toner supply container.  
         [0151]     Further, in the case of the toner supply container in this embodiment, the driving force applied to the handle is transmitted to the driving force receiving engaging portion of the shutter through a plurality of engaging portions: the engaging portion of the handle, the engaging portion of the driving force transmitting member, and the engaging portion of the shutter. Therefore, it is possible to more freely design these engaging portion in terms of engagement ratio (gear ratio).  
         [0152]     Thus, when the distance the shutter is slid to be opened or closed is long, the angle by which the handle must be rotated can be reduced by increasing the engagement ratio (gear ratio) of the handle, and when the torque required to open or close the shutter is high, the torque required to operate (rotate) the handle can be reduced by reducing the engagement ratio (gear ratio) of the handle.  
         [0153]     Also in this embodiment, the angle by which the handle is rotated to open or close the shutter is made to be 90 deg., so that when installing the toner supply container into the toner supplying apparatus, the thick end  15   e  is vertically positioned, and after the toner is discharged by rotating the handle clockwise by 90 deg., the thick end  15   e  of the handle  15  is horizontally positioned. This arrangement makes it easier for an operator to operate the toner supply container, and also to recognize the state of the toner supply container  1 . For operational efficiency and convenience, the angle by which the handle  15  is rotated to open or close the shutter is desired to be in a range of 60-120 deg.  
         [0000]     (Toner Stirring-Conveying Apparatus)  
         [0154]     The toner supplying apparatus  100  is provided with the toner stirring-conveying apparatus  45 . Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the toner supplying apparatus  100  is also provided with the case  48 , which is fixed to the toner supplying apparatus main assembly  54  in a manner to cover the toner inlet  33  from below. The case  48  is approximately the same as the toner supplying apparatus  100  in the longitudinal dimension. In the case  48 , the stirring screws  46  and  47  are disposed, being supported by the case  48  so that they can be rotationally driven.  
         [0155]     The stirring screws  46  and  47  are separated by a partition wall  48   a  which divides the internal space of the case  48  into two chambers  48 A and  48 B, which are connected to each other through the hole provided in the partition wall  48   a  on the side opposite to the toner inlet  33 , and in which the stirring screws  46  and  47  are disposed, respectively, the stirring screw  46  being diagonally above the stirring screw  47 . The case  48  is provided with a toner outlet  48   b,  which is located at the same longitudinal end as the toner inlet  33 , and leads to the developing apparatus  201 .  
         [0156]     With the provision of the above structural arrangement, as the toner is supplied through the toner inlet  33 , the rotating toner stirring screw  46  conveys the toner, while stirring, through the chamber  48 A in the longitudinal direction from the toner inlet  33  side to the opposite side, causing the toner to fall into the chamber  48 B through the opening (unillustrated) provided in the partition wall  48   a . The toner stirring screw  47 , i.e., the one at the bottom, conveys, while stirring, the toner in the direction opposite to the toner conveying direction of the toner stirring crew  46 . As a result, the toner is supplied into the developing apparatus  201  through the toner outlet  486 .  
         [0000]     (Precise Positioning Means)  
         [0157]     If cost is spared in producing a toner supply container and components related thereto, in other words, if highly precise components are not used for the production of a toner supply container and the related components, it is inevitable that the drive train, i.e., the driving force transmitting juncture from the rotatable handle to the shutter, suffers from an excessive amount of play and/or deformation which results in, for example, the gear backlash or the like. With the presence of such a large amount of play and/or deformation, the output stroke of the drive train does not correspond to the input stroke one to one. Therefore, there occurs sometimes such a condition that after the shutter is opened, it fails to come back all the way to its original position. If the toner supply container, the shutter of which is in this condition, is removed once from the apparatus main assembly, and reinstalled into the apparatus main assembly, the distance between the final position of the shutter of the toner supply container after the closing stroke, and the original position becomes greater than that in the previous installation. In other words, the distance continues to increase with the repetition of the installation and removal.  
         [0158]     In the case of the above described design, according to which the main assembly shutter and container shutter are integrally engaged with each other, shutter misalignment such as the one described above makes it impossible to remove the toner supply container from the apparatus main assembly, or to install a fresh toner supply container (shutter is at its original position) into the apparatus main assembly, which is a serious problem.  
         [0159]     This problem can be solved by providing a toner supply container and the related structure of the apparatus main assembly with such a feature that requires that when installing a toner supply container, the handle is rotated in the opening direction of the shutter by a predetermined angle, in addition to the theoretically necessary angle, before the handle and shutter begin to engage with the driving train gears on the apparatus main assembly side, and when removing the toner supply container, the handle is rotated in the closing direction of the shutter by the aforementioned predetermined angle, in addition to the theoretically necessary angle. This feature compensates for the additional length of stroke which the gear backlash or the like resulting from the excessive play requires, assuring that the shutters are returned to their original positions.  
         [0160]     Next, a means for providing the above described feature will be described in detail.  
         [0161]     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  33  and  34 , the handle  15  is provided with a handle projection  61 , as a contact portion, which is located on the outwardly facing surface of the handle  15 . Referring to  FIGS. 41-43 , which are a schematic plan of the handle projection  61  and its adjacencies as seen from above, the handle projection  61  is shaped like a cam follower, and its portion with a contact surface  61   a  is narrower than the base portion in terms of the vertical direction in  FIGS. 41-43 . It is positioned to come in contact with the main assembly projection  62  provided on the inwardly facing surface of the top plate of the bottom portion  54   b  of the toner supplying apparatus main assembly  54 . The projections  61  and  62  work in combination as a follower and a cam, respectively.  
         [0162]     The cam portion of the main assembly projection  62  is angled in profile. The lift of this cam surface is just enough to make the center angle of the cam portion of the main assembly projection  62 , that is, the angle formed by the line connecting the highest point of the cam surface and the center of the toner supplying apparatus main assembly  54  (center of the semicylindrical bottom portion  54   a ), and the line connecting the base of the cam surface and the center of the toner supplying apparatus main assembly  54 , large enough to compensate for the play in the rotational direction between the toner supply container  1  and toner supplying apparatus  100 . This center angle is no less than 6 deg. In this embodiment, it is 6 deg.  
         [0163]     Next, the handle projection  61  and main assembly projection  62  will be described in positional relationship and function. Referring to  FIGS. 33 and 43 , as the toner supply container  1  is inserted into the toner supplying apparatus  100 , the handle projection  61  reaches a point at which it comes in contact with the main assembly projection  62 , on the cam surface, at the point with no lift. In this state, the driving force transmitting engaging portion  15   a  of the handle  15  and the driving force receiving engaging portion  21   a  on the main assembly side are apart from each other by a distance L 1 , which is equal to a distance L 2  by which the handle projection  61  in this state must be moved to receive the highest lift.  
         [0164]     As the toner supply container  1  is further inserted into the toner supplying apparatus  100  from the point (handle is at the first rotational position) illustrated in  FIGS. 33 and 43 , the handle projection  61  slides on the main assembly projection  62  while rotating the handle  15 . By the time the handle projection  61  slides to the cam crest of the main assembly projection  62 , the handle  15  is rotated by 6 deg. The tooth tips of the engaging portion  15   a  of the handle  15  come in contact with the counterparts of the engaging portion  21   a  of the toner supplying apparatus  100  at the same time the handle projection  61  reaches the cam crest of the main assembly projection  62 . In other words, at the moment the engaging portion  15   a  engages with the engaging portion  21   a , the handle  15  is always at the second rotational position as shown in  FIGS. 34 and 42 . The tooth tips of the engaging portion  16   d  of the container shutter  16  come in contact with the counterparts of the engaging portion  21   g  on the main assembly side slightly before the contact between the engaging portions  15   a  and  21   a  by their tooth tips. In other words, the engagement of the engaging portion  16   d  of the container shutter  16  with the engaging portion  21   g  on the main assembly side occurs slightly ahead of the engagement of the engaging portion  15   a  of the handle  15  with the engaging portion  21   a  of the toner supplying apparatus  100 .  
         [0165]     Referring to  FIG. 41 , as the toner supply container  1  is further inserted into the toner supplying apparatus  100 , the driving force transmitting engaging portion  15   a  of the handle  15  and the driving force receiving engaging portion  21   a  of the toner supplying apparatus  100  mesh with each other. On the other hand, the driving force receiving engaging portion  16   d  of the container shutter  16  meshes with the driving force transmitting engaging portion  21   g  illustrated in  FIG. 10 , across the entire ranges of their teeth. Therefore, while the toner supply container  1  moves from the position illustrated in  FIG. 42  to the position illustrated in  FIG. 41 , the handle  15  does not rotate, and the handle projection  61  remains at the floating position a shown in  FIG. 41 , which corresponds to the cam crest of the main assembly projection  62 . In other words, the handle  15  is led to the second rotational position illustrated in  FIG. 34 , regardless of the positional relationship between the handle  15  and toner containing portion  11  during the period in which the toner supply container  1  is not in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus.  
         [0166]     As the handle projection  61  is displaced by the main assembly projection  62  as described above, the handle  15  rotates by 6 deg. Therefore, a certain amount of play is provided between the mutually facing surfaces of he handle  15  and first flange  12 . More specifically, referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , when the toner supply container  1  is not in the main assembly of the image forming apparatus, a play large enough to allow the handle  15  to rotate by 6 deg. is provided in the circumferential direction of the handle  15  between the side surfaces of the notch  51   b  of the locking member  51 , and the locking projection  12   h  of the first flange  12 , and also between the surfaces of the grooves  15   k  and  15   m,  and the corresponding engagement ribs  51   d  of first flange  12 .  
         [0167]     Further, in order to make the container shutter  16  engage with the main assembly shutter  34  at a predetermined position before the handle  15  is rotated by the handle projection  61  and main assembly projection  62 , the bottom portion  54   a  of the toner supplying apparatus main assembly  54  is provided with a positioning projection  63 , which is located on the inwardly facing surface of the bottom portion  54   a , and against which the end surface of the container shutter  16 , on the leading side in terms of the installing direction of the toner supply container  1 , slides, as shown in  FIGS. 39 and 40 . This projection  63  has a cam surface which is angled in profile, and the position of the cam crest of this projection  63  corresponds to the timing with which one of the mutually facing surfaces  34   b   1  of the indentation of the main assembly shutter  34 , in which the container shutter  16  fits, comes to a predetermined point.  
         [0168]     As the toner supply container  1  is inserted into the toner supplying apparatus  100 , the chamfer surface  16   q  of the container shutter  16  comes in contact with the projection  63 . As a result, the container shutter  16  is controlled in its positional relationship relative to the main assembly shutter  34  in the circumferential direction of the toner supply container  1 . Then, as the toner supply container  1  is further inserted into the toner supplying apparatus  100 , the longitudinal edge  16   r   1  of the container shutter  16 , connected to the chamfer surface  16   q,  slides against the projection  63  while the container shutter  16  fits into the indentation of the main assembly shutter  34 . During this movement of the container shutter  16 , the chamfer surface  16   p  of the container shutter  16 , on the opposite side of the container shutter  16 , comes in contact with the chamfered surface  34   b   2  located at the corner of the projection  34   b , on the corresponding side, of the main assembly shutter  34 , also controlling the container shutter  16  in its positional relationship relative to the main assembly shutter  34 . As the toner supply container  1  is further inserted, the chamfered surface  16   q  engages with the chamfered surface  34   b   3  of the main assembly shutter  34 , and thereafter, the container shutter  16  advances into the indentation (space) between the mutually facing surfaces  34   b   1  of the projections  34   b  of the main assembly shutter  34 . Then, as the container shutter  16  advances into the indentation of the main assembly shutter  34  to a point illustrated in  FIG. 39 , the engaging portions  15   a  and  16   d  on the toner supply container  1  side begin to mesh with the engaging portions  21   a  and  21   g  on the toner supplying apparatus  100  side. As the corresponding engaging portions mesh with each other by a predetermined margin in terms of the width direction of the gears, the positional relationship between the container shutter  16  and main assembly shutter  34  becomes as shown in  FIG. 40 . In this state, the chamfer surface  16   s  at the upstream end, in terms of the advancing direction of the container shutter  16  relative to the main assembly shutter  34 , of the longitudinal edge  16   r  on the container shutter  16  sides has separated from the projection  63 .  
         [0169]     During the above described process, the resistance against the movement of the container shutter  16  for opening or closing the toner outlet of the toner containing portion  11  is large enough in comparison to the resistance against the opening or closing of the main assembly shutter  34 , because the container shutter  16  is under the pressure generated by the packing member  35 . Therefore, the projection  63  regulates the position of the container shutter  16 , and the container surface  16  regulates the position of the main assembly shutter  34 .  
         [0170]     With the provision of the above described structure and its functions, the positions of the main assembly shutter  34  and container shutter  16  are always the same after their engagement. In this state, as a user rotates the handle  15  by 84 deg. in the clockwise direction as seen from the upstream side of the direction in which the toner supply container  1  is inserted in the toner supplying apparatus  100 , both hutters  16  and  34  rotate 50 deg. in their opening direction; they fully open.  
         [0171]     When removing the toner supply container  1  from the toner supplying apparatus  100 , a user is required to rotate the handle  15  by 90 deg. in the counterclockwise direction, i.e., the direction opposite to the aforementioned direction. As the handle  15  is rotated, the both shutters  16  and  34  rotate by 50 deg. in their closing direction to their original positions.  
         [0172]     As described above, the relations among the rotational angle of the handle  15  during the opening of the shutters  15  and  34 , the rotational angle of the handle  15  during the closing of the shutters  15  and  34 , the rotational angles of the shutters  16  and  34  during the closing of the shutters  16  and  34 , and the rotational angles of the shutters  16  and  34  during the closing of the shutters  16  and  34 , do not exactly correspond. This discrepancy occurs because the toner supply container rotates relative to the toner supplying apparatus due to the aforementioned gear backlash, deformation or bending of the handle, shutters, and shafts, and the like. Therefore, the shutters can be returned to their original positions by causing the rotational member  15  to rotate by 6 deg. to compensate for the backlash and/or deformation before the handle is turned for installation.  
         [0173]     Also when pulling the toner supply container  1  out of the toner supplying apparatus  100 , the handle  15  is pre-rotated by 6 deg. in the opening direction, as when installing the toner supply container  1 , by the engagement of the handle projection  16  and the main assembly projection  62 , to prepare the toner supply container  1  for the next usage. Should an attempt be made to pulled out the toner supply container  1  without rotating the handle  15  by 90 deg. in the counterclockwise direction (for example, rotating by only 80 deg.), it is possible that the container shutter  16  and main assembly shutter  34  might not return to their original positions. In the case of this embodiment, however, as the toner supply container  1  is pulled, the chamfered surface  16   s  of the container shutter  16  engages with the projection  63  of the toner supplying apparatus  100 , and forces the container shutter  16  and main assembly shutter  34  back to their original positions. Therefore, the aforementioned inconvenience can be avoided.  
         [0174]     The above described embodiments of the present invention may be summarized and amended as follows.  
         [0175]     According to the first aspect of the present invention, the toner supply container  1  for supplying the main assembly  124  of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus with toner is characterized in that it comprises: the toner containing portion  11 , that is, the very portion in which the toner to be supplied to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124  is contained; the toner outlet  11   a  with which the toner containing portion  11  is provided to discharge the toner contained in the toner containing portion  11 ; and the container shutter  16  for exposing or sealing the toner outlet  11   a,  which engages with the main assembly shutter  34  provided with the opening  33  for exposing or sealing the toner inlet  33  of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124 , to expose or seal the toner outlet  11   a  and toner inlet  33  at the same time; the handle  15 , that is, a rotational member, which is provided with the driving force transmitting engaging portion  15   a  as a driving force transmitting portion, and is rotatably attached to the toner containing portion  11 ; the engaging portion  16   d , which is a part of the container shutter  16 , as the rotational force receiving portion for receiving the rotational force generated by the rotation of the rotational member, or the handle  15 , through the rotational force transmitting means  21 , with which the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124  is provided, to expose the toner outlet  11   a  as the rotational member, or the handle  15 , is rotated as the toner supply container  1  is installed into the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124 : wherein a certain amount of play in terms the opening direction of the container shutter  16  is provided between the rotational member  15  and the toner containing portion  11 ; the rotational member, or the handle  15 , is provided with the projection  61 , that is, a follower portion, which engages with the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124  so that the rotational member, or the handle  15 , is rotated by a predetermined angle in the opening direction of the container shutter  16  to cancel the aforementioned play to cause the driving force transmitting engaging portion  15   a  of the rotational member  15  to engage with the rotational force transmitting member  21  always at the predetermined same position, as the toner supply container  1  is installed into the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124 .  
         [0176]     According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the shutters are closed, the rotational member, or the handle  15 , is rotated by a sufficient angle to compensate for the aforementioned predetermined angle, the rotational member  15  is pre-rotated in the opening direction during the installation of the toner supply container  1 .  
         [0177]     According to the third aspect of the present invention, which is in accordance with the first and second aspects of the present invention, the angle by which the rotational member  15  is prerotated in the opening direction during the installation equals the angle by which the rotational member  15  is rotated during the removal of the toner supply container  1 .  
         [0178]     According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, which is in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, as the toner supply container  1  is pulled out of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124 , the projection  61 , which is a part of the rotational member  15 , is caused to engage with the projection  62  on the side of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124 , so that the rotational member  15  is rotated in the opening direction to the point to which the rotational member  15  was prerotated as the toner supply container  1  was installed into the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124 .  
         [0179]     According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, which is in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, the pre-rotation of the rotational member  15  in the opening direction during the installation of the toner supply container  1 , and the rotation of the rotational member  15  in the closing direction to the predetermined position to which the rotational member is moved during the installation, are caused by the engagement between the same two members, that is, the projections  61  and  62 .  
         [0180]     According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, which is in accordance with any of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the toner supply container  1  is provided with the locking member  51  and locking projection  12   h , which regulate the rotation of the rotational member  15  when the toner supply container  1  is not in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124 , and the regulating means provides the rotational member  15  with a predetermined amount of rotational play.  
         [0181]     According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, which is in accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, the regulating means comprises the locking member  51 .  
         [0182]     According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, which is in accordance with the seventh aspect of the present invention, the regulating means regulates the rotation of the rotational member  15  by the engagement between the notch  51   b  of the locking member  51 , and the projection  12   h  of the toner containing portion  11 .  
         [0183]     According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, which is in accordance with the eighth aspect of the present invention, the width of the notch  51   b  in terms of the rotational direction of the rotational member  15  is greater than the width of the projection  12   h  in terms of the rotational direction of the rotational member  15 , and also the distance equivalent to the predetermined angle the rotational member  15  is pre-rotated.  
         [0184]     According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, which is in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, the means for pre-rotating the rotational member  15  by the aforementioned predetermined angle during the installation, and rotating, during the removal, the rotational member  15  back to the position to which the rotational member  15  is pre-rotated during the installation, comprises the projection  61  in the form of a cam follower, with which the rotational member  15  is provided, and the projection  62  in the form of a slightly angled cam, with which the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124  is provided.  
         [0185]     According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, which is in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention, the means for pre-rotating the rotational member  15  to the predetermined position during the installation, and rotating, during the pulling out of the toner supply container  1 , the rotational member  15  to the predetermined position to which the rotational member  15  is pre-rotated-during the installation, comprises: the projection, with which the rotational member  15  is provided, and which is the same in terms of the angle of the contact surface as the projection  62  with which the apparatus main assembly  124  is provided; and an unillustrated groove with which the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124  is provided, and in which the projection  62  perfectly fits, or the projection with which the handle  15  is provided, and which is the same as the projection  61 .  
         [0186]     According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, which is in accordance with any of the first to eleventh aspects of the present invention, as the toner supply container  1  is installed into the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124 , the container shutter  16  and main assembly shutter  34  engage with each other, becoming virtually integrated, so that both the container shutter  16  and the main assembly shutter  34  are opened or closed together by the rotation of the rotational member  15 . For this action, the driving force transmitting engaging portion  21   g  of the driving force transmitting member  21  provided on the apparatus main assembly  124  side is caused to mesh with the unillustrated segment gear provided on the main assembly shutter  34  side.  
         [0187]     According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming images on recording medium, in which the toner supply container is removably installable, comprises: 
        a. a toner supplying apparatus  100 , in which the toner supply container  1  comprising: the toner containing portion  11 , that is, the very portion in which the toner to be supplied to the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124  is contained; the toner outlet  11   a  with which the toner containing portion  11  is provided to discharge the toner contained in the toner containing portion  11 ; and the container shutter  16  for exposing or sealing the toner outlet  11   a,  which engages with the main assembly shutter  34  provided with the opening  33  for exposing or sealing the toner inlet  33  of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124 , to expose or seal the toner outlet  11   a  and toner inlet  33  at the same time; the handle  15 , that is, a rotational member, which is provided with the driving force transmitting engaging portion  15   a  as a driving force transmitting portion, and is rotatably attached to the toner containing portion  11 ; the engaging portion  16   d , which is a part of the container shutter  16  as the rotational force receiving portion for receiving the rotational force generated by the rotation of the rotational member, or the handle  15 , through the rotational force transmitting means  21 , with which the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124  is provided, to expose the toner outlet  11   a  as the rotational member, or the handle  15 , is rotated as the toner supply container  1  is installed into the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124 ; wherein a certain amount of play in terms the opening direction of the container shutter  16  is provided between the rotational member  15  and the toner containing portion  11 ; the rotational member, or the handle  15 , is provided with the projection  61 , that is, a follower portion, which engages with the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124  so that the rotational member, or the handle  15 , is rotated by a predetermined angle in the opening direction of the container shutter  16  to cancel the aforementioned play to cause the driving force transmitting engaging portion  15   a  of the rotational member  15  to engage with the rotational force transmitting member  21  always at the predetermined same position, as the toner supply container  1  is installed into the electrophotographic image forming apparatus main assembly  124 , is removably installed;     b. image forming means for forming images on the recording medium; and     c. conveying means for conveying the recording medium.        
 
         [0191]     While the invention has been described with reference to the structures disclosed herein, it is not confined to the details set forth and this application is intended to cover such modifications or changes as may come within the purposes of the improvements or the scope of the following claims.

Technology Category: g