JPH06186844A - Developer container and developer supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Objective] Toner reliability is improved, and the size, weight, and cost of the device are reduced by using a toner cartridge with a simple internal mechanism without failure due to the toner clamp. [Structure] The internal mechanism of the cylindrical toner cartridge 80 is only a spiral 87 for stirring and transporting the toner 83. Further, the toner cartridge 80 can be inserted into and removed from the developer replenishing device 70 with the opening 83 facing upward, and after the toner replenishing device is mounted, the toner is supplied to a fixed-quantity spiral 72 provided on the developer replenishing device 70 side. Toner 83 is quantitatively supplied to the developing device 23 from the quantitative spiral 72.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer accommodating container detachably provided in a developer replenishing device and supplying the developer to the developer replenishing device as needed in an electrophotographic copying machine or the like. The present invention relates to an improvement of a developer replenishing device that receives a supply of a developer from a developer container and quantitatively replenishes the developing device with the developer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a developer replenishing device for replenishing a developer to a developing device such as a copying machine, a worker has a toner hopper, and when a toner in the toner hopper becomes empty, a worker uses a toner bottle. A device of the type that directly injects toner into the toner hopper, or opens the toner in the toner hopper temporarily with a box-type cartridge, or has a fixed amount replenishment mechanism in the developer storage container. However, a cartridge type apparatus or the like has been used in which when the toner becomes empty, the developer accommodating container including the quantitative replenishment mechanism is replaced.

[0003]

Conventionally, a developer replenishing device for replenishing a developing device with a developer supplies a toner from a toner bottle or a cartridge to a toner hopper at a time as the toner is consumed. Alternatively, a cartridge type having a quantitative replenishment mechanism is used, and when the toner is exhausted, the quantitative replenishment mechanism is replaced with a new one.

However, in the former device for temporarily supplying the toner into the toner hopper, it is difficult to evenly supply the toner into the entire toner hopper, and it is difficult to supply the toner as much as the toner to be supplied. It is necessary to increase the hopper capacity, and it is also necessary to increase the hopper capacity in order to prevent leakage of the scattered toner that occurs when the toner is supplied, which increases the installation space and reduces the device size. There was a problem that the weight reduction was hindered. On the other hand, in the case of the cartridge type having a fixed amount replenishing mechanism like the latter, the toner is carried together with a carrier device for stirring and carrying the toner into the toner cartridge.
Since a fixed amount supply device for supplying fixed amount is provided and a drive transmission mechanism for connecting these drives is also provided, the mechanism is complicated and the price of the toner cartridge is increased.
There is also a problem that a toner easily enters the drive transmission mechanism to cause a toner clamp that hinders the drive of the toner, resulting in defective replenishment of the toner.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to eliminate the need for a toner hopper and to reduce the installation space of the developer replenishing device.

Further, in the present invention, a quantitative replenishment device for quantitatively replenishing the toner to the developing device is provided on the main body side, and the toner is replenished.
By providing only a transporting device for stirring and transporting the toner in the cartridge, the mechanism of the toner cartridge is simplified and the toner clamp is prevented from occurring and a stable toner is provided. -The purpose is to improve the reliability of the device by supplying it and to provide a low-priced toner cartridge.

[0007]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a housing which is detachably attached to a main body of an apparatus and which stores a developer, an opening formed in the housing, and the housing. A transfer unit that is provided inside and agitates and transfers the developer inside the housing in the opening direction, and a drive provided outside the housing that is driven by a drive source on the apparatus main body side is transferred to the transfer unit. And a transmission means.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides
A developer accommodating container having an opening formed in a casing for accommodating the developer and having a conveying unit driven by a transmission unit provided outside the casing to stir and convey the developer in the opening direction; Housing support means for supporting and fixing the agent storage container so that the agent storage container is rotatably supported after the opening is located on the top surface and the opening reaches the bottom surface, and the opening is formed on the bottom surface of the housing support means and overlaps with the opening. And a cleaning means provided at a position facing the movement range of the opening by the rotation of the developer accommodating container on the inner circumference of the housing supporting means and slidingly contacting the outer circumference of the housing, and below the supply opening. A fixed amount conveying means is provided for quantitatively conveying the developer supplied from the supply port to the developing device, a drive source for driving the constant amount conveying means, and a driving means for driving the conveying means engaged with the drive source. Because of the drive source It is intended to provide a link means for transmitting motion to said transmission means.

[0009]

The present invention is configured as described above, and the replenishment of the developer to the developing device is carried out by the developer replenishing device having the quantitative replenishing means for quantitatively replenishing the toner, and the cylindrical shape having the conveying means. This is because the case is replaceably mounted, and the toner is gradually supplied from the case to the fixed amount replenishing means side as the toner in the developing device decreases. A toner hopper with a large capacity is not required, the space for installing the developer replenishing device can be reduced, and the housing has a cylindrical shape, so the storage space can be increased even though it is a small space. A large amount of toner can be supplied, and more efficient space saving and maintenance frequency can be reduced.

Further, as compared with the conventional self-replenishing type toner cartridge, the mechanism of the casing is simpler, and since there is no drive connecting means only in the casing, the device is driven by the toner clamp. The reliability of the device can be improved without being disabled. Moreover, since the drive from the drive source for driving the fixed amount transfer means is transmitted to the transfer means of the housing via the link means, it is not necessary to provide a drive device for driving the transfer means.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 shows the internal structure of the entire electrophotographic apparatus, and an original table 3 on which an original D is placed is provided on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1.

A drum-shaped photosensitive member 2 is provided in the main body 1 of the apparatus.
0 is arranged, and around the photoconductor 20 along the rotation direction thereof, a charging charger 21 and an exposure device 22 which are conventionally well known.
Exposure unit 22a, developing device 23, transfer charger 25,
A peeling charger 26, a cleaning device 27, and a charge eliminating device 28 are sequentially arranged.

Next, the developing device 23, the developer replenishing device 70 fixedly attached to the developing device 23 and replenishing the toner as a developer, and the toner replenishing device 70.
Toner cartridge 8 which is a container for supplying developer
0 will be described in detail. The developing device 23 is a conventionally well-known magnetic brush type developing device that performs development using a two-component developer composed of a toner and a carrier.
It has a magnet roller 23a, a toner conveying auger 23b, and a stirring auger 23c which are rotated by. Below the stirring auger 23c, a toner density sensor 23d for measuring the toner density in the developer is provided.

On the other hand, above the front end of the developing device 23, there is provided a developer replenishing device 70 for detachably supporting the toner cartridge 80.

A casing 81 of the toner cartridge 80 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and an opening 83 for supplying the toner 82 is formed in the mounting portion 81a and the developer replenishing device 7 is provided.
A guide portion 84 for fixing to 0 is provided in a protruding manner. Further, reference numeral 86 is a flange portion which is fixedly contacted with an inlet end portion of a cartridge receiving portion which will be described later, when the developer supplying device 70 is mounted. The opening 83 is closed by an adhesive tape before use.

Further, a spiral 87, which is a conveying means for stirring the toner 82 and conveying it in the direction of the opening 83, is rotatably provided inside the casing 81, and its drive side end is the casing 8.
1 is connected to a coupling 88 which is a transmission means provided around the circumference. Rotation springs 88a and 88b for transmitting drive are formed in the coupling 88, and a shaft insertion hole 88c is formed in the center thereof. 9
Reference numeral 0 is a plug which is fitted into the toner cartridge 80 after the toner cartridge 80 is filled with the toner 82.

Next, the developer replenishing device 70 has a substantially cylindrical cartridge receiving portion 7 which is a casing supporting means for rotatably supporting the mounting portion 81a of the toner cartridge 80.
Have one. An elastic stopper 71a for fixing the guide portion 84 of the toner cartridge 80 is integrally formed on the cartridge receiving portion 71, and an opening 83 of the toner cartridge 80 is formed on the bottom surface thereof. A supply port 71b for polymerization is formed. Further, the cartridge receiving portion 7
1, when fixing the toner cartridge 80 at the toner supply position, a belt-shaped sponge 71c, which is a cleaning means, is installed at a position facing the range in which the opening 83 of the toner cartridge 80 moves. It is worn.

Further, the flange portion 86 of the toner cartridge 80 is brought into contact with the inlet end of the cartridge receiving portion 71, and the insertion stopper portion 71d for positioning the toner cartridge 80 in the inserting direction. Further, along with this insertion stop portion, there are provided cartridge fixing portions 73a, 73b, 73c for holding the collar portion 86 and preventing the toner cartridge 80 from coming off. Reference numeral 71e is a guide portion 84 of the toner cartridge 80.
It is a notch for inserting the.

A side wall 71 of the cartridge receiving portion 71
In the center of f, there is a link means, and a toner cartridge 80
A coupling gear 74 having drive springs 74a and 74b for coupling with rotary springs 88a and 88b of the coupling 88 is provided so as to be swingable with respect to the fixed shaft 76. However, the coupling gear 74 is constantly urged toward the toner cartridge side by the compression spring 77.

Numerals 71g and 81g are marks for alignment displayed on the cartridge receiving portion 71 and the toner cartridge 80.

Next, the supply port 7 of the cartridge receiving portion 71
Below the 1b, the toner 8 supplied from the supply port 71b.
2 through the replenishing port 72a as necessary.
A fixed-quantity spiral 72, which is a fixed-quantity conveying means for quantitatively replenishing the rack, is provided. -It is adapted to be rotated by a motor 78.
Further, the toner motor 78 rotates the coupling gear 74 via the gear mechanism 91 at the same time as the rotation of the fixed amount spiral 72.

On the other hand, at the lower part of the apparatus main body 1, the photoconductor 2
The paper feed cassette device 10 for storing the paper P supplied to the transfer position 25a of 0 is attached, and while reaching the photoconductor 20 from here, the leading ends of the paper P are aligned and synchronized with the photoconductor 20. A registration roller pair 32 that conveys a sheet is provided, and while the registration roller pair 32 reaches the sheet ejection tray 11 from the photoconductor 20, the conveyance guide 36, the fixing roller 33, and the sheet ejection roller pair 3 are provided.
4 are arranged. Further, 37 is a paper feed cassette device 10
It is a pickup roller for picking up the sheets P one by one and supplying them to the separating device 38.

Next, FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the control system of the apparatus main body 1. Each input key 102 on the operation panel (not shown) is provided on the input side of the control apparatus 100 via the input interface circuit 101. A toner density sensor 23d, a sheet detection switch (not shown) on the sheet conveyance path, other various switches and sensors 103, etc. are connected.

On the other hand, on the output side of the control device 100, a motor for driving the developing motor 24, the toner motor 78, the photosensitive member 20, various rollers 97, etc. via an output interface 106. Various drivers 93 (not shown), various channels
The high-voltage power supply unit 94 of the jar 95, the display unit 96 on the operation panel (not shown), etc. are connected.

Next, the operation will be described. At the beginning of the copy,
In the developer replenishing device 70, a toner cartridge 80
The flange portion 86 of the cartridge stopper portion 7 of the cartridge receiving portion 71
1d and the cartridge fixing portions 73a to 73c, the toner cartridge 80 is a cartridge receiving portion 71.
The toner 82 is fixedly mounted in a state where it can be supplied.

That is, in the developer replenishing device 70, the opening 83 of the toner cartridge 80 is superposed on the supply port 71b, and in the coupling 88, the coupling 88 resists the compression spring 77. With the coupling gear 74 biased toward the side wall 71f, the insertion hole 88c
The fixed shaft 76 is inserted into the rotary springs 88a, 88
When b and the drive springs 74a and 74b are engaged with each other and the drive springs 74a and 74b are rotated by the toner motor 76, the rotary springs 88a and 88b applied thereto are interlocked,
The spiral 87 is set to rotate.

In this state, the document D is placed on the document table 3, and the copy conditions such as the number of copies, the copy magnification, the paper size, and the image density are first displayed on the operation panel (not shown).
And the like, and a copy key (not shown) is turned on. As a result, copying is started by the control device 100, and the photoconductor 20 is sequentially subjected to the steps of charging, exposing, and developing in accordance with the rotation thereof to form a developed image.

That is, the photoconductor 20 has a charging charger 21.
After being uniformly charged by a magnetic brush, the original image is exposed at the exposure position 22a to form an electrostatic latent image, which further reaches the developing device 23 and is formed around the magnetic roller 23a by driving the magnet roller 23a. The electrostatic latent image is developed by.
When the toner density sensor 23d detects a decrease in toner density during development, the controller 100 drives the toner motor 76 to rotate the quantitative spiral 72 via the gear mechanism 91 and the spiral gear 72b. Then, the toner 82 is quantitatively replenished from the replenishing port 72a to above the stirring auger 23c of the developing device 23. At the same time, the gear mechanism 9
1. Drive springs 74a, 74 via the coupling gear 74
b is rotated, whereby the rotating springs 88a and 88b and the spiral 87 are rotated, the toner 82 inside the housing 81 is stirred and conveyed to the opening 83 side in the direction of the arrow r, and is rotated from the supply port 71b. It is supplied on the quantitative spiral 72.

In this way, while supplying the toner 83 from the toner cartridge 80, the toner-2 is supplied to the developing device 23.
When the toner density sensor 23d detects that the toner density in the developing device 23 has reached a predetermined density while replenishing the toner 3, the toner motor 78 is stopped, and the quantitative spiral 72 and the spiral 87 are supplied. Is stopped and the toner replenishing operation is ended.

During the toner replenishing operation, when the toner is condensed and the rotation of the spiral 87 becomes impossible, when the load applied to the coupling gear 74 is increased, the compression spring 77 allows it to swing. Since the supported coupling gear 74 can escape in the direction away from the toner cartridge 80, the rotating springs 88a and 88b and the drive springs 74a and 74b are not damaged even if they are forced to rotate. .

On the other hand, in the paper feeding cassette device 10,
When the copy key (not shown) is turned on, the pickup lock
The paper 37 is taken out from the paper feed cassette device 10 by driving the printer 37. Then, the taken-out sheet P is separated by the separating device 38, temporarily stopped at the position of the registration roller pair 32, and sent to the transfer position 25a in synchronism with the developer image formed on the photoconductor 20. Is transcribed.

After that, the paper P having the transferred developer image is peeled from the photoconductor 20 by the peeling charger 26, sent to the fixing roller 33 through the conveyance guide 36, and the image is fixed and discharged. The paper is ejected toward the paper tray 11. After the transfer is completed, the photoconductor 20 can be copied next through the cleaning device 27 and the static eliminator 28. Then, the above-mentioned image forming means 2
The copy operation and the paper P transport operation are repeated to obtain the required number of copies, and then all the copy operations are completed.

In the developer replenishing device 70 during the copying as described above, when the toner density sensor 23d detects a decrease in the toner density in the developing device 23, the toner motor is discharged. When the toner 83 in the toner cartridge 80 is consumed in accordance with the replenishment, the toner supply to the developing device 23 becomes impossible, and the toner in the developing device 23 is disabled. -The concentration remains reduced without improvement. If the density of the developing device 23 is reduced for a predetermined time, the control device 100 determines that the toner cartridge 80 is empty, and the toner is displayed on the display unit 96.
The replacement of the cartridge 80 will be displayed.

Then, the operator opens the front cover (not shown) of the apparatus main body 1 and replaces the toner cartridge 80 as follows.

That is, the toner car is so that the opening 83 is on the upper surface.
The collar portion 86 is removed from the cartridge fixing portions 73a to 73c in a state where the trunk 80 is rotated in the direction of arrow s in FIG.
As a result, the toner cartridge 80 moves the compression spring 7
7 is urged in the direction of the arrow t in FIG. 4, so that the notch 71e of the insertion stopper 71d can be used to avoid the guide portion 84 and the empty toner cartridge 80 to the cartridge receiving portion. Remove from 71. At this time, the adhered toner around the supply port 71b due to the toner supply is wiped off by the sponge 71c while the toner cartridge 80 is rotated, and there is no possibility of being scattered around.

Then, an unused toner cartridge 8 is used.
No. 0 opening 83 is the upper surface, the adhesive tape that closes the opening 83 is peeled off, and the toner cartridge 80 is inserted into the cartridge receiving portion 71 with the opening 83 being the upper surface. That is, the mark 81g displayed on the toner cartridge 80 and the mark 8g displayed on the cartridge receiving portion 71.
By combining with 1 g, the opening 83 is made the upper surface and
The guide portion 84 passes through the cutout portion 71e, and the insertion stopper portion 7
The toner cartridge 80 is inserted into the cartridge receiving portion 71 so that it can pass through 1d.

Next, the opening 83 is formed in the cartridge receiving portion 71.
In order to fix the toner cartridge 80 at the bottom while supplying it to the supply port 71b, the toner cartridge 80 is fixed.
1 against the compression spring 77 in the direction of the side wall 71f so that the collar portion 86 is brought into sliding contact with the insertion stopper portion 71d.
2 rotates in the direction of arrow u. Then, when the guide 84 is fitted into the stopper 71a, the collar portion 86 enters into the cartridge fixing portions 73a to 73c, and the toner cartridge 80
Is fixed in position in the rotation direction and the insertion direction.

When the toner cartridge 80 is rotated, the opening 83 is slidably contacted with the sponge 71c until it reaches the lower side, and the scattering of the toner 82 from the opening 83 is prevented.

In this way, a new toner cartridge 80 is attached to the cartridge receiving portion 71 so that the toner can be supplied and the copy operation can be restarted.

With this structure, the developer replenishing device 70
The toner cartridge 80, which is detachably attached to the toner cartridge 80, can be gradually replenished with the toner 82 on the fixed-quantity spiral as needed, so that the toner needs a larger volume than the toner storage amount. A hopper is not required, and the size and weight of the device can be reduced. Moreover, since the toner cartridge 80 has a cylindrical shape, the toner can be stored more efficiently, and the apparatus can be cleaned up and downsized.

A fixed amount spiral 72 is provided on the side of the developer replenishing device 70 that supports the toner cartridge 80, and a spiral 87 for stirring and conveying the toner is provided in the toner cartridge 80. Since there is no drive coupling mechanism or the like, the internal mechanism is simplified and rotation failure of the spiral 87 due to the toner clamp is prevented, so that the toner cartridge 80 or the rotary spring 88a is prevented. , 88b and the drive springs 74a, 74b are not damaged. Moreover, since the mechanism is simplified, the cost of the toner cartridge 80 can be reduced.

Further, the insertion / removal of the toner cartridge 80 is always carried out with the opening 83 thereof facing upward, and while the toner cartridge 80 is rotated thereafter, the sponge 71c is rotated.
Since the opening 83 is closed by this, the toner does not leak from the opening 83 when the shutter mechanism is attached and detached, and the mechanism of the toner cartridge 80 is further simplified and the cost is reduced. . The sponge 71c has an opening 8
Since the toner around 3 is wiped off, the toner cartridge 80 is hardly soiled even when the used toner cartridge 80 is removed, and the operator and the surroundings are not contaminated. The property is also improved.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, but can be changed within the scope of the invention, for example, a cleaning brush is provided instead of a sponge as a cleaning means. However, the configuration of the linking means may be arbitrary.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the size and weight of the apparatus by supplying the developer using the cartridge type developer accommodating container having the conveying means.

Moreover, since the developer accommodating container is always inserted into and removed from the developer replenishing device with the opening facing upward, the developer is not scattered during the inserting / removing operation and the operator and the surroundings are not contaminated. The shutter mechanism for preventing the scattering of the developer is unnecessary, and since only the conveying means is provided inside the developer storage container, the mechanism is remarkably simplified, and the economy of the developer storage container is reduced. Improvement is achieved. Further, the toner clamp does not occur inside the developer accommodating container, it is possible to prevent malfunction of the transporting means due to the toner clamp, and the reliability of the apparatus is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a device body of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a developer replenishing device and toner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a schematic perspective view which shows a cartridge.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the opening of the toner cartridge of the embodiment of the present invention is on the lower surface.

FIG. 4 is a developer replenishing device and toner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is the block diagram seen from the front which shows a cartridge.

FIG. 5 is a developer replenishing device and toner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is the block diagram seen from the upper surface which shows a cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a right side view showing the developer replenishing device of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a right side view showing the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control system of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a left side view showing the developer replenishing device of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a toner supply device for a developer replenishing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a left side view showing a state where a cartridge is inserted.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a toner supply device for a developer replenishing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a left side view showing the state where the cartridge was removably attached.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a toner supply device for a developer supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
It is a schematic explanatory view showing a state in which a cartridge is removably attached.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Device main body 20 ... Photosensitive body 23 ... Developing device 23d ... Density sensor 70 ... Developer replenishing device 71 ... Cartridge receiving part 71c ... Sponge 72 ... Quantitative spiral 74 ... Coupling gear 78 ... Toner motor 80 ... Toner cartridge 81 ... Housing 83 ... Opening 87 ... Spiral 88 ... Coupling

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A housing that is detachably attached to a main body of the apparatus and that houses a developer, an opening formed in the housing, and the developer provided inside the housing and the developer in the housing as needed. A developer accommodating container, comprising: a conveying unit that stirs and conveys the toner in the opening direction; and a transmitting unit that is provided outside the casing and that transmits a drive by a drive source on the apparatus main body side to the conveying unit. 2. A developer container having an opening formed in a casing for accommodating the developer and having a conveying unit driven by a transmission unit provided outside the casing to stir and convey the developer in the opening direction. A container, a housing support means for rotatably supporting and fixing the developer accommodating container in a state where the opening is located on the upper surface and then the opening reaches the bottom surface, and a bottom surface of the housing supporting means. A supply port that is formed and overlaps the opening; and a cleaning unit that is provided at a position facing the movement range of the opening by the rotation of the developer storage container on the inner circumference of the housing supporting unit and that slides on the outer circumference of the housing. , A fixed amount conveying unit provided below the supply port for quantitatively conveying the developer supplied from the supply port to a developing device, a drive source for driving the constant amount conveyance unit, and an engagement with the drive source For driving the transport means A developer replenishing device comprising: a link means for transmitting the drive by the drive source to the transmitting means.