Abstract:
An image forming apparatus includes a first unit dismountably mounted on a main body frame and a locking mechanism releasably holding the first unit mounted. The locking mechanism has a handle portion, a lock member, and a preloading member. The handle portion is on the first unit, and is movable to and fro in the mounting and dismounting directions of the first unit. The lock member is swingably on the first unit, and has a hook portion engageable with an engaged portion formed on the main body frame. The preloading member preloads the lock member in a first direction in which the hook portion engages with the engaged portion. As the handle portion is moved in the dismounting direction, the lock member swings in a second direction opposite to the first direction against the preloading force of the preloading member to disengage the hook portion from the engaged portion.
Abstract:
A shutter output portion is engaged with a shutter input portion of a developer container and supported to be displaced between an opening position and a closing position. The shutter output portion, when located at the opening position, opens a shutter of the developer container, and when located at the closing position, closes the shutter. A main interlocking mechanism causes the shutter output portion to move in conjunction with opening and closing operation of the cover portion such that the shutter output portion is displaced to the opening position when the cover portion is closed, and to the closing position when the cover portion is opened. The main interlocking mechanism includes a switch mechanism that releases an interlock between the shutter output portion and the closing operation of the cover portion in accordance with a release operation, and enables the interlock in accordance with an enabling operation.
Abstract:
A toner container includes a container main body having a toner replenishment port and a shutter mechanism. The shutter mechanism has a shutter member having a discharge port and a cover member supported by the shutter member so as to extend toward the replenishment port. The shutter member is movable in an opening direction from a closing position where the discharge port is retracted from the replenishment port to an opening position where the discharge port is communicated with the replenishment port and in a closing direction from the opening position to the closing position. The cover member has a tip end portion that extends toward the replenishment port as the shutter member moves in the closing direction, comes into contact with a downstream side edge portion of the replenishment port at the closing position and retracts from the replenishment port as the shutter member moves in the opening direction.
Abstract:
A cleaning device includes a toner storing container that stores a collected toner, a conveyance screw that conveys toner in the toner storing container, and a toner crushing member that crushes the toner accumulated in the toner storing container. The toner crushing member is formed so as to include: a supporting portion being attached above a rotation axis of the conveyance screw; and a plurality of elastic pieces each extending from the supporting portion toward the conveyance screw and being swung by a fin that rotates in association with the rotation of the conveyance screw. Each of the elastic pieces is formed with a raised portion rising toward the seal member, so that the elastic pieces come in contact with the seal member.
Abstract:
A toner case is directly or indirectly connected to a housing 31 that contains toner at a first connection portion 43 and a second connection portion 44, and includes: a bracket portion 33 that is formed so as to link the first connection portion 43 and the second connection portion 44; protrusions 51 and 52 that are formed on the bracket portion 33, allow for attachment of the housing 31 to an apparatus body of a specific model, and do not allow for attachment of the housing 31 to the apparatus body of other models except for the specific model; and a functional member 55 that is installed on the bracket portion 33 and that fulfills a predetermined function.
Abstract:
A development device includes a developer introduction port, a developer conveyance portion, a first conveyance ability suppressing portion, and a connecting conveyance portion. The conveyance ability suppressing portion is disposed on a downstream side of the developer introduction port in a first direction in which the developer is conveyed in order to partially suppress a developer conveyance ability of the developer conveyance portion such that a developer accumulation portion is formed in a position opposing the developer introduction port. A first direction downstream side of the first conveyance ability suppressing portion opposes a first connecting passage in a third direction that intersects the first direction. The connecting conveyance portion is joined to the first direction downstream side of the conveyance ability suppressing portion and opposes the first connecting passage in the third direction in order to pass the developer from a first conveyance passage to a second conveyance passage.