JP2008008952A - Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner cartridge designed so as to prevent toner leakage, stably maintain a smooth opening/closing operation regardless of the lapse of time and reduce the number of components and man days required for work, thus reducing costs, and to provide an image forming apparatus in a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: The toner cartridge includes: a storage section 110 that stores toner so that the toner can be supplied; a hollow projection 115 that has an opening 117 communicating with the storage section 110 and projects from the external surface of the storage section 110; a shutter 120 that opens or closes the opening 117 and formed so as to freely slide against the projection 115; and sealing parts 115s disposed on the plane in which the projection 115 and the shutter 120 slide against each other, and used to prevent toner leakage. The sealing parts 115s are formed from a thermoplastic elastic resin. The sealing parts 115s are two-color molded so as to be integrated with the projection 115 or shutter 120. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner cartridge that accommodates toner so as to be supplied and an image forming apparatus using the toner cartridge, and more particularly to improvement of a seal portion of the toner cartridge.

Japanese Patent No. 3313900

  In general, a toner cut ridge used in a copying machine or the like is provided with an opening for supplying toner. Normally, the opening is provided with a shutter or the like, and in a state before the toner cartridge is set in the copying machine, the shutter is closed to prevent the toner from leaking. The opening toner can be supplied.

  Conventionally, a seal material made of elastic sponge or the like is attached to a portion corresponding to the opening portion of the shutter, and the seal material is compressed by contact with the opening portion when the shutter is closed. Thus, the sealing is enhanced so that there is no gap between the shutter and the opening, thereby preventing the toner from leaking to the outside. Furthermore, in order to smooth the operation of the shutter, a film or the like is pasted on the sponge material to improve the sliding. Further, a unit including a sealing material for preventing such toner leakage has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a tongue-shaped sealing material is integrally formed in a housing to prevent toner leakage, and an image forming unit such as an image carrier, a charger, a developing device, and a cleaning unit has an integrated structure. A process unit is disclosed.

  By the way, in general, when the sealing material is provided in the toner cartridge, when the shutter is opened and closed, for example, the sealing material provided on the opening side and the shutter are rubbed, and the sealing material is worn over time, and the toner There has been a problem of leakage of the sealing material or the sealing material being easily peeled off.

  In addition, in order to secure the slidability of the shutter, since a film member is further affixed on the sealing material, there has been a problem that the number of parts and man-hours increase and the cost increases.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge capable of contributing to cost reduction by reducing the number of parts and work man-hours while stably preventing the leakage of toner and smoothly opening and closing the shutter over time. And providing an image forming apparatus using the same with a simple configuration.

  In order to achieve the above object, a toner cartridge according to the present invention has (1) an accommodating portion for accommodating toner and an opening communicating with the accommodating portion, and is formed to project from the outer surface of the accommodating portion. A hollow projection that is opened, a shutter that opens and closes the opening and is slidable with respect to the projection, and a sliding surface between the projection and the shutter to prevent toner leakage. The seal portion is formed of a thermoplastic elastic resin, and the seal portion is molded in two colors integrally with either the protrusion or the shutter. Is.

  (2) In the toner cartridge described in (1), the seal portion may include a stopper portion that cannot move in a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction of the shutter.

  (3) Further, in the toner cartridge according to (1) or (2), the seal portion may be chamfered at an end portion facing the shutter when the shutter is opened.

  (4) According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium using the toner cartridge according to any one of (1) to (3) and toner supplied from the toner cartridge. Means.

  According to the invention described in (1) above, the seal portion is formed of a thermoplastic elastic resin, and the seal portion is molded in two colors integrally with either the protrusion of the toner cartridge or the shutter. As a result, the seal member can be prevented from wearing over time, and the smooth slidability of the shutter can be stably maintained. In addition, the conventional seal member and film member can be omitted, thereby contributing to cost reduction. be able to. Further, by using two-color molding, the sealing material can be formed with high accuracy, and the work of sticking the seal can be omitted.

  Further, according to the invention described in (2) above, since the seal portion is provided with a stopper portion that cannot move in the direction orthogonal to the sliding direction of the shutter, the seal portion is peeled off. It can be surely prevented.

  Also, according to the invention described in (3) above, when the shutter is slid from the open state to the closed state, the chamfer is formed at the end of the opposing seal portion, so the shutter can be opened and closed more smoothly. Can be made.

  Further, according to the invention described in (4) above, it can be suitably applied to an image forming apparatus including any one of the above toner cartridges.

  Embodiments according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a tandem color image forming apparatus 100 according to the present invention.

  In this image forming apparatus 100, color image information of a color original read by the image reading apparatus 102, color image information sent from a personal computer or an image data input device (not shown), and the like are input, and the input image Image processing is performed on the information.

  In FIG. 1, 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are image forming units that form toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are arranged in series along the traveling direction of the endless intermediate transfer belt 9 stretched by a roll. The intermediate transfer belt 9 is an intermediate transfer body to which toner images of respective colors sequentially formed by these image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K are transferred in a state of being superimposed on each other. The primary transfer rolls 6Y, 6M, 6C, and 6K disposed to face the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K, which are electrostatic latent image carriers corresponding to 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K, respectively. It is inserted between them and formed so as to be able to circulate in the direction of the arrow. The toner images of each color transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 9 in a multiple manner are collectively transferred onto a recording paper 18 as a recording medium fed from a paper feed cassette 17 or the like, and then fixed by the fixing device 15. The recording paper 18 fixed on the recording paper 18 and having a color image formed thereon is discharged to the outside.

  Here, the image reading apparatus 102 illuminates a document placed on the platen glass with a light source (not shown), and reflects a reflected light image from the document with an image reading element including a CCD sensor or the like via a scanning optical system. It is configured to read at a predetermined resolution.

  Each of the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K is configured in the same manner, and is roughly divided into photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, and 2C that are image carriers that rotate at a predetermined rotational speed in the direction of the arrow. , 2K, charging rolls 3Y, 3M, 3C, 3K as charging means for uniformly charging the surfaces of the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K, and the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, 2K Developing the electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K, and the exposure devices 4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K that expose the images corresponding to the respective colors to form electrostatic latent images on the surface. Developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K, toner cartridges 10Y, 10M, 10C, and 10K that are detachably disposed and supply toner of a predetermined color to the developing devices 5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K, and a drum cleaning device 7Y 7M, 7C, and a and 7K, and the like.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K are made of an organic photosensitive material, an amorphous selenium photosensitive material, an amorphous silicon photosensitive material, or the like on the surface of a metal drum that rotates in the direction of the arrow. The photosensitive layer is coated, and the charging rolls 3Y, 3M, 3C, and 3K are in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drums 2Y, 2M, 2C, and 2K, and a bias in which an AC voltage / current is superimposed on a DC voltage / current. Thus, the photosensitive layer is configured to be charged to a predetermined potential.

  The image forming process in the image forming apparatus configured as described above will be described using the image forming unit 1Y that forms a yellow toner image as a representative example.

  First, the surface (photosensitive layer) of the photosensitive drum 2Y is uniformly charged by applying a bias voltage / current obtained by superimposing an AC voltage / current to a predetermined DC voltage / current to the charging roll 3Y. The Next, for example, based on the image information read by the image reading device 102, scanning exposure corresponding to the yellow image is performed by the laser beam output from the exposure device 4Y, and the surface (photosensitive layer) of the photosensitive drum 2Y is formed. An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow image is formed.

  The electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow image is converted into a yellow toner image by the developing device 5Y using the yellow toner supplied from the corresponding toner cartridge 10Y, and is pressed against the primary transfer roll 6Y constituting a part of the primary transfer unit. Primary transfer is performed on the intermediate transfer belt 9 by force and electrostatic attraction force. The yellow toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 2Y after the primary transfer is scraped off by the drum cleaning device 7Y. Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 2Y is neutralized by the neutralization device 8Y and then charged again by the charging roll 3Y for the next image forming cycle.

  In the present image forming apparatus 100 that performs multicolor image formation, the image forming process similar to the above is performed at the timing in consideration of the relative position difference between the image forming units 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1K. This is also performed in 1M, 1C, and 1K, and a full color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 9 in a superimposed state. As the intermediate transfer belt 9, for example, a flexible synthetic resin film such as polyimide is formed in a strip shape, and both ends of the synthetic resin film formed in the strip shape are connected by means such as welding, thereby being endless. A belt-shaped one is used.

  The full-color toner image primarily transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 9 is placed on a recording paper 18 that is conveyed to a secondary transfer position at a predetermined timing, and a backup roll 13 that supports the intermediate transfer belt 9 and the backup roll 13. The secondary transfer is performed by the pressure contact force and electrostatic attraction force with the secondary transfer roll 12 that is in pressure contact with each other at a predetermined timing.

  On the other hand, recording paper 18 having a predetermined size is fed from a paper feed cassette 17 serving as a recording paper storage unit disposed in the lower part of the image forming apparatus 100 by a paper feed roll 17a. The fed recording paper 18 is conveyed to a secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer belt 9 by a plurality of conveying rolls 19 and registration rolls 20 at a predetermined timing. Then, as described above, the full color toner images are collectively transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 9 to the recording paper 18 by the backup roll 13 and the secondary transfer roll 12 as secondary transfer means.

  The recording paper 18 on which the full-color toner image is secondarily transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 9 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 9 and then conveyed to the fixing device 15 disposed on the downstream side of the secondary transfer unit. The fixing device 15 fixes the toner image on the recording paper 18 with heat and pressure. The recording sheet 18 after fixing is discharged onto a discharge tray 24 through a discharge roll 23.

  Further, the residual toner on the intermediate transfer belt 9 that could not be transferred onto the recording paper 18 by the secondary transfer means is transported to the belt cleaning device 14 while adhering to the intermediate transfer belt 9 as it is, and this belt cleaning device 14 Thus, the image is removed from the intermediate transfer belt 9 to prepare for the next image formation.

  Next, the configuration of the toner cartridge according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings in comparison with the conventional toner cartridge. Here, FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a toner cartridge according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a toner cartridge having a conventional configuration. Here, the toner cartridges 10Y to 10K have the same configuration, and the components such as the shutter have the same structure. Therefore, for the sake of simplicity, the respective symbols are generically expressed (for example, toner cartridge 10).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the toner cartridge 10 according to the present exemplary embodiment has a hollow cylindrical storage portion 110 that stores toner so that toner can be supplied, and a convex shape at the end in the longitudinal direction of the peripheral surface of the storage portion 110. And a protrusion 115 formed. Further, a rectangular opening 117 that communicates with the accommodating portion 110 is formed inside the protrusion 115, and a shutter 120 that allows the opening 117 to open and close slides on the surface of the protrusion 115. It is attached freely.

  When the toner cartridge 10 is detached from the image forming apparatus 100, the toner cartridge 10 is prevented from leaking by closing the shutter 120, and the toner cartridge 10 is attached to the image forming apparatus 100. In this state, the toner stored in the toner cartridge 10 can be supplied to the developing device 5 by opening the shutter 120. When the toner cartridge 10 is attached to the image forming apparatus 100, the opening 117 is set to face downward.

  On the other hand, in the conventional toner cartridge 200, as shown in FIG. 3A, the gap between the shutter 210 and the protrusion 205 is closed to prevent the internal toner from leaking. A member 205s (for example, a resilient sponge) is affixed, and a film member 205f is affixed to the surface of the seal member 205s in order to make the shutter 210 slide smoothly.

  However, such a seal member 205s and a film member 205f always rub against the film member 205f and the seal member 205s when the shutter 210 is opened and closed, as shown in part A of FIG. Therefore, the film member 205f and the seal member 205s are worn over time, and there is a problem that a gap is formed between the protrusion 205 and the shutter 210 so that the toner leaks or the film member 205f is easily peeled off. It was. Further, since the seal member 205s is pasted around the opening and the film member 205f is further pasted thereon, the number of parts and work man-hours increase, resulting in a problem of cost increase.

  Therefore, in the toner cartridge 10 according to the present embodiment, the conventional seal member 205s and the film member 205f can be omitted and sufficient toner sealability and shutter slidability can be ensured as follows. is doing.

  Hereinafter, the configuration around the opening 117 of the toner cartridge 10 according to the present invention will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the shutter of the toner cartridge of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the protrusion 115 of the toner cartridge 10 includes a guide portion 115g having a substantially L-shaped cross section formed around the opening 117, as shown in FIG. It is slidably attached along the guide portion 115g.

  Further, a seal portion 115 s is formed on the upper surface of the protrusion 115 that contacts the shutter 120. Specifically, the seal portion 115s is formed of, for example, a thermoplastic elastic resin such as an elastomer, and is integrally formed with a resin (for example, ABS resin or polystyrene resin) that forms the protruding portion 115 by two-color molding. Molded.

  The seal portion 115s formed of the thermoplastic elastic resin in this way is molded in two colors integrally with the protrusion 115, so that the seal portion 115s can be formed with high accuracy, and peeling of the seal portion 115s is prevented. At the same time, leakage of toner from the opening 117 can be stably prevented over time. In addition, the conventional film member can be omitted, the smooth movement of the shutter 120 can be stably maintained over time, the number of parts and the number of work steps can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced.

  4 illustrates the case where the seal portion 115s is provided on a part of the upper surface of the projection 115 that contacts the shutter 120 on the opening 117 side, the position where the seal portion 115s is formed is the shutter. Any surface can be set as long as it is a surface on the side of the protruding portion 115 that contacts the 120. For example, the seal portion 115s may be integrally formed on the entire surface of the protruding portion 115 that contacts the shutter 120 by two-color molding. .

  Some specific configurations of the seal portion 115s according to the present invention will be described below as examples.

As shown in FIG. 5, the seal portion 115 s ₁ in the present embodiment is formed so as to have a substantially I-shaped cross section.

Specifically, the seal portion 115 s ₁ is provided on the surface of the projection 115 facing the shutter 120 (in this example, the upper surface in the drawing), and the facing guide portion 115 s that smoothly guides the sliding of the shutter 120. _11, is formed below the opposing guide portion 115s _11, a support portion 115s ₁₂ for supporting the the counter guide portion 115s ₁₁ is formed below the supporting portion 115s _12, the width direction than the supporting portion 115s ₁₂ ( In the figure, there is provided a stopper portion 115 s ₁₃ formed so that the length in the left-right direction) is increased.

In the seal part 115 s ₁ configured as described above, the opposing guide part 115 s ₁₁ , the support part 115 s ₁₂ and the stopper part 115 s ₁₃ are integrally molded with the protruding part 115 in two colors, and the width of the stopper part 115 s ₁₃ is Since it is formed so as to be longer than the width of the support portion 115 s ₁₂ , the seal portion 115 s ₁ is immovable with respect to a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the shutter 120 (in the vertical direction in this example). Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent the seal portion 115s _{1 from} being peeled off by the opening / closing operation of the shutter 120.

In this embodiment, the seal portion 115s ₁ is formed in a substantially I shape, and the stopper portion 115s ₁₃ prevents the seal portion 115s ₁ from being peeled off. However, as a modification, as shown in FIG. The seal portion 115s ₂ having the stopper portion 115s ₂₃ having a substantially convex cross section may be formed, or as shown in FIG. 7, the stopper portion 115s ₃₃ having a substantially L-shaped cross section. The seal portion 115s ₃ having the above may be formed.

  That is, by forming a stopper portion having a width wider than the adjacent seal portion, it is possible to realize a seal portion having an arbitrary shape that can reliably prevent peeling with respect to the opening / closing operation of the shutter 120.

As shown in FIG. 8, the seal portion 115 s ₄ in this embodiment is formed by forming a chamfered portion 115 s ₄₁ at an end portion in the sliding direction of the shutter 120. More specifically, in the opened state of the shutter 120, the chamfered portion 115s ₄₁ is provided at the opposite end portion of the seal portion 115s ₄ that faces the shutter 120 (in this example, the left end portion of the seal portion 115s _{4 in} the drawing). Formed.

In the seal portion 115s ₄ configured as described above, when the shutter 120 is moved so as to close the opening 117 from the state where the shutter 120 is moved so as to open the opening 117, the chamfered portion 115s ₄₁ The sliding operation of the shutter 120 can be performed more smoothly.

Further, since the chamfered portion 115s ₄₁ is integrally formed with the protruding portion 115 by two-color molding, the chamfered shape can be realized with high accuracy based on the shape of the mold, and the conventional chamfered seal member 205s such as a sponge can be realized. Compared to the configuration, chamfering can be omitted.

In FIG. 8, the chamfered portion 115 s ₄₁ is provided in the seal portion 115 s ₄ formed integrally with the protruding portion 115. However, the chamfered portion may be provided in the corresponding shutter 120, or both the seal portion 115 s and the shutter 120 are provided. A chamfered portion may be provided.

  In each of the above embodiments, the seal portion 115s formed integrally with the projection 115 by two-color molding is illustrated. However, the seal portion according to the present invention is limited to the integral formation with the projection 115. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a seal portion 120s formed integrally with the shutter 120 by two-color molding may be provided. Alternatively, a seal portion may be provided on both the projection 115 and the shutter 120, and the seal portion and each member may be integrally formed by two-color molding.

  Furthermore, each example illustrated above may be implemented independently, and, of course, may be implemented in combination.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a toner cartridge according to the present invention. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a conventional toner cartridge. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a seal portion of the toner cartridge according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a seal portion according to Embodiment 1 of the toner cartridge of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a seal portion according to a modified example of Embodiment 1 of the toner cartridge of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a seal portion according to another modification of the toner cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a seal portion according to Embodiment 2 of the toner cartridge of the present invention. FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows the example which integrally molded the seal part which concerns on this invention with the shutter.

Explanation of symbols

  1Y-1K: image forming unit, 2Y-2K: photosensitive drum, 3Y-3K: charging roll, 4Y-4K: exposure device, 5Y-5K: developing device, 6Y-6K: primary transfer roll, 7Y-7K: drum Cleaning device, 8Y-8K: neutralizing device, 9: intermediate transfer belt, 10Y-10K: toner cartridge, 12: secondary transfer roll, 13: backup roll, 14: belt cleaning device, 15: fixing device, 17: paper feeding Cassette: 18: Recording paper, 100: Image forming apparatus, 102: Image reading apparatus, 110: Storage section, 115: Projection section, 115g: Guide section, 115s: Seal section, 117: Opening section, 120: Shutter, 120s: Seal part

Claims (4)

An accommodating portion for accommodating toner, and
A hollow projecting portion having an opening communicating with the housing portion and projecting from the outer surface of the housing portion;
A shutter formed to open and close the opening and to be slidable with respect to the protrusion;
A seal portion provided on a sliding surface between the protrusion and the shutter and preventing toner leakage;
The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the seal portion is formed of a thermoplastic elastic resin, and the seal portion is molded in two colors integrally with either the protrusion or the shutter.   The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the seal portion includes a stopper portion that cannot move in a direction orthogonal to a sliding direction of the shutter.   3. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the seal portion is chamfered at an end portion facing the shutter when the shutter is opened. 4.   An image forming apparatus comprising: the toner cartridge according to claim 1; and an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording medium using toner supplied from the toner cartridge.

Images