Developer collection container and image formation apparatus

摘要

A developer collection container includes: a container body capable of containing collected developer; a developer conveyance member extending into the developer collection container and configured to convey the developer into the container body; and a guide provided in the container body and supporting the developer conveyance member from below the developer conveyance member.

主权项

1. A developer collection container comprising:
a container body configured to contain collected developer and having an upstream side wall and a downstream side wall with respect to a developer conveyance direction; a tubular projection extending inwardly from the upstream side wall of the container body toward a center portion of the container body, the tubular projection having, at a downstream end of the tubular projection, inlet opening from which the developer is introduced into the container body; first and second ribs provided within the container body and extending upward from a bottom surface of the container body; a developer conveyance member extending into the developer collection container and configured to convey the developer into the container body, the developer conveyance member including a spiral portion configured to convey, in the developer conveyance direction along a longitudinal direction of the developer conveyance member, the developer that is introduced into the container body via the inlet opening such that a part of the developer conveyance member is covered by the tubular projection; and a guide provided in the container body and supporting the developer conveyance member from below the developer conveyance member, wherein the guide is provided only at an intermediate area of the container body with respect to the developer conveyance direction, the intermediate area provided between the inlet opening and a downstream end of the spiral portion in the developer conveyance direction and in which the guide extends from a position away from the inlet opening in the developer conveyance direction, wherein the guide is fixed to and supported by the first and second ribs such that first and second longitudinal ends of the guide are respectively supported from below the guide by the first and second ribs, and wherein the guide is formed in a U-shape with an upper opening at an upstream end thereof and with a ring shape at a downstream end thereof with respect to the developer conveyance direction.