JPH096108A - Toner supply device for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] When replenishing the developer hopper of the image forming apparatus with toner from a separately provided toner container, the toner in the toner container is prevented from leaking and scattering from the joint portion between the two. Is reliably transferred to the hopper side. [Structure] When a toner container is connected to a hopper for toner replenishment, a scattering prevention member is provided to prevent the toner from scattering from the hopper, and a means for generating an air flow is provided to positively discharge the toner in the toner container. To the hopper.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

[Object of the invention]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrostatic copying machine using a powder developer, an image forming apparatus such as the same printer, and more particularly to a developer replenishing apparatus for the same.

[0002]

A process of applying toner from a developing device to an electrostatic latent image formed on an image carrier to form a toner image, and further transferring the toner image to a transfer material such as paper. In the well-known image forming apparatus including, the toner is supplied from the developing device each time the image is formed, and therefore it is necessary to replenish the developing device with toner at appropriate times.

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view showing only a typical example of the image forming apparatus for this hot spring, particularly only the image carrier and the developing device portion. The photosensitive layer on the surface of the image carrier 101 is uniformly charged by the primary charging device of the attached figure, and an electrostatic latent image is also formed by the image signal applying means (not shown).

When the latent image reaches the developing portion where the developing device 102 is provided by the rotational traveling of the image bearing member 101, the latent image is formed on the image bearing member from the developing device 102 via the developing sleeve 103. Toner is supplied to form a toner image.

After that, the toner image reaches a transfer portion (not shown), is transferred to a transfer material, and further passes through a fixing portion and is discharged to the outside of the apparatus. The charging step, the latent image forming step, Transfer and fixing steps are omitted because they are not directly related to the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows the hopper portion of the developing device 102,
FIG. 4 is a side view showing only a connection portion of a toner container 104 that is detachably attached to the container and that stores a large amount of toner. A shutter 1021 is arranged in the hopper section.
At the time of replenishing toner, the opening of the toner container 104 is engaged with this portion.

In this state, the shutter 1021 is pulled in the direction of the arrow in the figure to be released, and the seal material 1041 at the opening of the toner container 104 is removed by pulling the grip portion 1042 to remove the toner in the toner container 104. It is dropped and replenished to the hopper on the developing unit side. in this case,
In order to ensure that the toner falls to the hopper side, the container 104
It is desirable to give vibration such as tapping with.

Although not shown, after the toner container is set at a predetermined position, the container is automatically housed in the image forming apparatus, and the sealing material is also peeled off automatically so that the toner is transferred to the developing unit side. It is also proposed that the toner container is discharged when the supply is completed and the completion of the supply is displayed. According to such a method, the labor of the operator can be greatly saved.

However, as described above, it is necessary to take care not to leave the toner by hitting or shaking each time the toner is replenished, and the opening of the developing device hopper side. However, some toner is unavoidably left at the connection part of the toner container side opening, and there is a large possibility that this toner will contaminate various parts inside the apparatus and the fingers of the operator during attachment and detachment. In the above-mentioned automatic toner supply, a dead space corresponding to the toner container is required, and it is inevitable that the apparatus becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a toner replenishing device for removably connecting a toner container to a hopper portion on the developing device side to replenish toner to the developing device. , Its structure is simple, and the toner can be reliably moved from the toner container side to the developing device side without remaining toner, and the occurrence of contamination of each part due to the adhesion and remaining of the toner at the connection site can be well prevented. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner supply device for an image forming apparatus.

[0011]

Configuration of the Invention

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus in which a toner container is detachably attached to a developing device hopper of an image forming apparatus and toner is supplied to the hopper. In the toner replenishing device, the hopper side is provided with a scattering prevention member for preventing the toner from leaking from the connecting portion at the portion connected to the toner container, and when connected, the toner is sucked and conveyed from the toner container side to the hopper. In the toner replenishing device (1) of the image forming apparatus characterized in that means is provided, or in the above (1), when the toner container is attached to the developing device hopper side, the toner replenishing device is provided at the opening of the toner container. A toner replenishing device (2) for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a removing means for removing the sealing material, or in the above (2), the sealing material In the toner replenishing device (3) of the image forming apparatus or the above-mentioned (2), the removing means is a nozzle in which a part of the top opening is formed with a sharp edge, or the toner container is sealed. A toner replenishing device (4) for an image forming apparatus, characterized in that the material removing means is attached to the toner container opening portion so as to be removed by releasing a shutter provided on the hopper side, or In (1), the suction means for carrying and sucking the toner can be rotated forward and backward freely, and shutters that operate separately are provided on both upstream and downstream sides of the suction means as viewed in the toner carrying direction. The toner replenishing device (5) of the image forming apparatus.

With this structure, it is possible to smoothly and quickly replenish the developing device hopper with toner from the toner container, and it is possible to reliably prevent the toner from leaking to the periphery.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS "FIG. 1" is a sectional view of a main part of a toner replenishing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The figure shows the hopper 1 on the developer side.
And a portion where toner is replenished from a toner container (not shown). In the figure, reference numeral 5 is a toner replenishing section connected to a toner container described later, and is provided with a suction fan 2, a nozzle 3, and a cover 4 for opening and closing the opening of the replenishing section, and a hopper of the toner replenishing section 5. A filter 21 that allows only toner to pass but not air to pass through is disposed near the side end.

When the operator detects that the amount of toner in the hopper has become less than a predetermined amount by an appropriate publicly known method and the operator knows this by an appropriate attachment warning means, the front cover of the image forming apparatus is opened. Release and pull out hopper 1. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the cover 4 is released to release the upper end opening of the toner replenishing section 5. In this portion, a rib-shaped toner scattering prevention member is provided as shown by reference numeral 23.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the toner container 6 is set in the upper opening of the toner replenishing portion 5. FIG. 4 is a schematic side sectional view showing the state in this case. In this state, the driving means M such as a motor and a solenoid is driven to move the nozzle 3 upward. As a result, the sealing material 8 that seals the opening of the toner container 6 set above is destroyed, and the toner in the container 6 is replenished to the hopper 1 through the nozzle 3.

The structure of the nozzle 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The nozzle 3 is formed in the shape of a hollow cylinder, and one end of the nozzle 3 is formed in a protruding shape with a high end, and a portion 25 near the tip projection is formed in a sharp blade shape. The portions other than the corrugated portion 25 are not formed into a sharp shape in order to prevent the sealing material of the toner container from being completely cut.

After cutting the sealing material 8 of the container 6, the fan 2 is driven to suck the toner T in the toner container toward the hopper and store it in the hopper. At the top of the toner container 6 shown in the figure, a filter 24 that allows only air to pass is arranged. As described above, since the filter 21 is arranged near the end of the toner replenishing section 5 on the hopper side, the air is The toner is sucked from the filter 24, smoothly flows from the filter 21 to the outside through the replenishing unit 5, and the toner in the container 6 also smoothly moves into the hopper 1 accordingly.

When the sealing material 8 of the toner container 6 is pierced by the nozzle 3, some toner scattering occurs,
By configuring the scattering prevention member 23 formed at the upper end of the replenishing unit 5 so as to closely surround the opening of the toner container 6 provided with the sealing material, it is possible to reliably prevent the toner from scattering to the outside.

Finally, when the nozzle 3 is lowered to be housed in the toner container 5, it leaks and the scattering prevention member 23.
The toner adhering to the area is also sucked by the fan 2, so that the contamination of the surrounding area by the scattered toner can be prevented.

As shown in FIG. 4, the toner supply container 5
Light emitting element 9a, light receiving element 9b, reflector 9c
A toner sensor 9 consisting of is arranged. While the toner is flowing from the container 6 toward the hopper 1, the light emitting element 9
a, the amount of light received by the light receiving element 9b is small because the toner is filled in the vicinity of the reflection plate 9c, and the amount of light received increases when the toner supply is completed. Therefore, the completion of the supply can be detected by detecting this. .

It should be noted that the above-mentioned nozzle driving means, activation and stop of the suction fan, control of these by a signal of the sensor 9 and the like are all configured to be operated by an operation button or the like provided on the operation panel of the image forming apparatus. It is easy to understand that is possible.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the toner replenishing device, and the figure shows a toner container attached to the toner replenishing portion 5 of the hopper 1 on the developing device side. This device is configured such that a toner container is mounted on the top of the toner replenishing unit 5 and a shutter provided on the top is pulled out to peel off a sealing material provided at an opening of the toner container and cause toner to drop into a hopper. I am doing it.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side sectional view of the main part showing the structure of this portion. The sealing member 13 provided in the opening of the toner container 6 has the engaging member 15 disposed in the margin after the opening is sealed, and the position thereof is on the side of the toner replenishing unit 5 when the toner container is mounted. It is assumed that the engaging claw 14 provided at the end of the shutter 12 is in a position to be engaged.

With this construction, when the shutter 12 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow in the state shown in FIG. 7, the engaging claw 14 engages with the engaging member 15 and moves it to the right in the figure. Since the seal material 13 is moved, the seal material 13 is peeled off from the opening of the toner container 6, and the toner in the container 6 drops to the toner replenishing portion 5.

After that, the operator drives the suction fan 2 by operating a push button on the operation panel or the like to store the toner in the hopper 1. Also in this apparatus, similarly to the apparatus of the above-described embodiment, a sensor may be provided at an appropriate place in the toner replenishing section 5 and the suction fan 2 may be stopped when the end of toner replenishment is detected.

Then, a replenishment completion message is displayed on the image forming apparatus, the shutter 12 is closed, and the toner container 6 is closed.
Is removed, the hopper 1 is housed in the main body of the apparatus, and the work is completed. Needless to say, the shutter can be opened and closed by a motor, a solenoid or the like.

FIG. 8 is a side view of an essential part showing still another embodiment, in which only the toner replenishing part 5 is shown.
The hopper 1 and the toner container 6 are omitted. In this apparatus, the toner replenishing section 5 does not have the nozzle in the above-described embodiment apparatus, and the "FIG. 7" is provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the suction fan 2 as viewed in the toner flow direction at the time of toner replenishment. The shutters 16 and 17 are the same as those shown in FIG. Further, the motor that drives the suction fan 2 can rotate forward and backward.

The operation of this device will be described below.
When replenishing toner, the toner container 6 is placed in the toner replenishing section 5.
The shutters 16 and 17 are released by manual operation or by appropriate driving means such as a motor and a solenoid ("FIG. 9"). In this case, the sealing material at the opening of the toner container 6 may be peeled off by the same means as the device shown in FIG. Then, by driving the fan 2, the toner in the toner container is transferred to the hopper. When the sensor 9 detects that the toner has been transferred, the fan 2 stops.

Then, only the downstream shutter 17 is closed to the left ("FIG. 10"). After that, the fan 2 is reversed to allow air to flow to the toner container side, so that the toner adhering to the inner wall of the toner container is separated and floats in the container.

Thereafter, the shutter 17 is released, the fan 2 is rotated in the normal direction, and the floating toner is transferred to the hopper. Sensor 9
After detecting the transfer at this time, the fan 2 stops. Next, the upstream shutter 16 and the downstream shutter 17 are closed, the toner container is removed from the replenishing unit 5, the hopper portion is returned to a predetermined position in the image forming apparatus, and the toner replenishing operation is completed.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the nozzle 3 is driven and stopped, the fan is driven and stopped, and the shutter 1 is used.
Operations such as opening / closing of 2, 16, 17, etc., pulling out of the hopper from the image forming apparatus, pulling in, etc. are not directly related to the gist of the present invention, but even if they are manually performed, they are automatically performed by incorporating them into the operation sequence. It goes without saying that it is good.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When the toner is supplied to the developing device hopper of the image forming apparatus, the toner container is attached to the hopper and then the container is opened, so that the toner container is opened from the toner container opening portion and the hopper opening portion. It is possible to reliably prevent the toner from leaking from the coupling part, positively transfer the toner in the toner container to the hopper by the suction fan, and even after the transfer, the passage part in the toner container or from this to the developer side hopper. By positively removing and transferring the toner that adheres to the toner, it is possible to reliably supply the toner without relying on the uncertain operation of confirming the transfer of the toner by vibrating the toner container. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the contamination of each part in the image forming apparatus and the stain of the operator's finger due to the toner supply operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side sectional view showing a configuration of a developing unit side hopper and a toner replenishing section of a toner replenishing device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a top cover of the toner replenishing section is opened.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a toner container is attached to the toner replenishing section.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of an essential part showing a mode of toner replenishment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a nozzle for opening the above sealing material.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a state where a toner container is connected to a toner replenishing portion of a developing device side hopper of a toner replenishing device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing a connection portion between the toner replenishing portion and the toner container.

FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of an essential part showing a toner container installed in a toner replenishing portion of a toner replenishing device showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing an aspect of the same operation.

FIG. 10 is a side view showing another mode of the same operation.

FIG. 11 is a side view schematically showing only a developing portion of a known image forming apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a side view of an essential part showing a toner container attached to the above hopper.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Hopper 2 Suction Fan 3 Nozzle 4 Cover 5 Toner Replenishing Section 6 Toner Container 8, 13 Sealing Material 9 Sensor 12, 16, 17 Shutter 21, 24 Filter 23 Toner Scattering Prevention Member

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A toner replenishing device for an image forming apparatus, wherein a toner container is removably attached to a developing device hopper of the image forming apparatus to replenish toner to the hopper, at a portion of the hopper side connected to the toner container. , Equipped with a scattering prevention member to prevent toner from leaking from the connection point,
A toner replenishing device for an image forming apparatus, comprising a suction means for sucking and conveying toner from a toner container side to a hopper when connected. 2. An image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a removing unit for removing a sealing material provided at an opening of the toner container when the toner container is mounted on the developing device hopper side. Toner replenishing device. 3. The toner replenishing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the means for removing the sealing material of the toner container is a nozzle in which a portion of the top opening is formed with a sharp edge. . 4. The toner container sealing member removing means is attached to the toner container opening so as to be removed by releasing a shutter provided on the hopper side. A toner replenishing device for the image forming apparatus described. 5. A suction means for carrying and sucking toner is reciprocally reversible, and shutters which operate separately are arranged on both upstream and downstream sides of the suction means as viewed in the toner carrying direction. A toner replenishing device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1.