Toner container having a toner agitating function unit with a tubular member having axially spaced ring pieces and openings between the ring pieces

A toner container which is mounted to an image forming apparatus in a state of containing toners, the toner container comprising:

• a container body for containing toners;
• and
• an agitating unit provided in the container body for agitating the toners, wherein
• the agitating unit includes:
• a shaft member which rotationally drives in a state of being supported by the container body;
• a circular cylinder body which is provided coaxially on a radially outer side of the shaft member in such a manner as to surround the shaft member, and rotates about an axial center of the shaft member;
• an opening formed in the tubular peripheral wall for allowing the toners to pass through in portions corresponding to opposite end portions in an axial direction of a conveying section;
• and
• a conveying section is provided along an axial direction of the shaft member and moves the toners from the opposite end portions in the axial direction of the shaft member toward an axial center portion with rotational driving of the shaft member in the axial direction.

A toner container which is mounted to an image forming apparatus in a state of containing toners, the toner container comprising:

• a container body for containing the toners;
• and
• an agitating unit provided in the container body for agitating the toners, wherein
• the agitating unit includes:
• a tubular member having a cylindrically shaped peripheral wall and rotating about an axis of the tubular member;
• an opening formed in the peripheral wall for allowing the toners to pass through;
• and
• a conveying section for conveying the toners in a direction of the axis of the tubular member, wherein
• the tubular member includes:
• a pair of straight plate portions arranged parallel to the direction of the axis of the tubular member at predetermined intervals;
• and
• a plurality semicircular arched pieces provided between the pair of straight plate portions, wherein
• the arched pieces are arranged at predetermined intervals in the direction of the axis of the tubular member, and the opening is formed between the arched pieces adjacent to each other, and
• the arched pieces are provided between the pair of straight plate portions in such a manner as to be slanted toward the direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis of the tubular member, so that a function of the conveying section is provided.