CN100390676C

CN100390676C - Toner compensator and its imaging device

Info

Publication number: CN100390676C
Application number: CNB2004100558211A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 田中秀树
Original assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date: 2000-12-25
Filing date: 2001-12-25
Publication date: 2008-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2021-12-25
Also published as: CN1365030A; DE60141113D1; EP1220050B1; CN1567100A; EP1220050A2; TWI269946B; CN1241073C; EP1220050A3

Abstract

The invention discloses a device for supplying a toner. The device comprises: a tenor container for storing the toner, and is rotated to discharge the tenor through openings; a relay clutch comprising a driven part and a driving part, the driven part is used for receiving the rotation from a driving source, the driving part is meshed with the tenor container at the axial direction of the tenor container to transfer the rotation to the tenor container.

Description

Toner-adding device and imaging device thereof

The application is that Dec 25 calendar year 2001, application number are dividing an application of 01138196.5 Chinese patent application for the applying date.

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of duplicating machine, facsimile equipment, printer or similar imaging device, relate in particular to the toner-adding device that replenishes toner (toner) to the developing apparatus that comprises in the imaging device.

Background technology

At present, use the toner-adding device of toner Cartridge to be widely used in the imaging device.Storing the new toner or the developer that are used for adding to the developing apparatus that comprises in the imaging device in the toner Cartridge.Toner Cartridge generally has the double-walled construction that the shell by the toner bottle that stores toner or toner container and coating toner bottle constitutes.Double-walled construction prevents that toner is heated and makes moist.For example, in disclosed patented claim 6-194950 of Japan and 10-69160, recorded and narrated toner Cartridge with this structure.

This toner Cartridge has complicated structure and costs an arm and a leg, and therefore is reused usually when toner uses up or reclaims.The replacing of toner Cartridge preferably should be carried out by the expert rather than by the user.If the user changes toner bottle, then the main body of toner-adding device may be damaged because of unsuitable assembling, or toner may fly away when dismounting toner lid.So the structure of toner Cartridge is not change under the prerequisite of toner bottle the supposition user to be provided with; That is, when the toner of toner bottle uses up, change whole toner Cartridge.

But, in the toner Cartridge of routine, be provided with the shell that is used to lay the opening of toner bottle and close the lid of this opening and clamped simply, thereby be easy to dismounting.This structure lures that the user goes to dismantle shell and only changes toner bottle into, or fills fill-in in the toner Cartridge of sky.Thereby this structure can not solve the above problems fully.

Shell that clamps mutually and lid are easy to assembling, promptly can interconnect reliably.But, when dismantling for repeated use, the flange of shell or lid may be cracked, or shell may be scratched or damage.Certainly, shell and Gai Ke clamp slightly mutually so that dismantle.But, slightly clamp and can influence shell be connected with the reliable of lid, and in transportation because of impacting or vibration easily makes and covers the disengaging shell.In this case, need a kind of shell more, easily remove and to be connected reliably realizing, and the problem of being brought is dismantled in solution because of the user.

With regard to the material of toner bottle, from the angle of cost, PET (polyethylene terephthalate (polyethylene terephthalate)) is better than PE (tygon).Yet though the former is lower than the latter on cost, the physical strength of PET is less than PE.Therefore, when being vibrated or impact, the toner bottle easy deformation that PET makes or break.

Disclose a kind of toner bottle among above-mentioned patented claim 6-194950 that has announced and the 10-69160, this toner bottle is configured to be out of shape hardly when being vibrated or impact or break.This toner bottle all is spiral, and is packaged in the rectangular enclosure.The spirality toner bottle is discharged through opening with the toner that will leave in wherein around its rotation.In order to rotate toner bottle, gear is installed at the circumference of toner bottle.Be installed in driven wheel and said gear engagement on the imaging equipment body.But the rotation that is delivered to toner bottle through this wheel chain makes the toner bottle vibration, causes unsettled toner to replenish.

The another kind that past proposes drives kinematic train and uses and the engagement of toner bottle bottom, and with the actuator of toner bottle coaxial rotation.This driving kinematic train makes toner bottle vibrate forr a short time than the driving kinematic train that rotation is delivered on the toner bottle circumference.But this actuator configuration directly is applied to the vibration of drive source on the toner bottle, and this can not stablize replenishing of toner.

The technology relevant with the present invention also recorded and narrated in disclosed Jap.P. 9-288413,10-104905 and 2001-75348.

Summary of the invention

The purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of toner-adding device that can solve the problem that is caused because of user's repeated use, and the imaging device that uses this toner-adding device.

Another object of the present invention provides a kind of toner-adding device, and the imaging device that uses this toner-adding device, and this toner-adding device is convenient to be equipped with the dismounting of the shell and the lid of toner bottle therebetween, guarantees being connected of shell and lid simultaneously.

A further object of the present invention provides and a kind ofly rotation can be delivered to toner bottle, and make it simultaneously to vibrate hardly, thereby ensure the toner-adding device that stable toner replenishes, and the imaging device that uses this toner-adding device.

Toner-adding device of the present invention comprises: toner container, and this toner container stores toner, and can rotate so that described toner is discharged by its opening; And servo spare, this servo spare comprises secondary part and drive part, this secondary part is used to accept the rotation from drive source, this drive part described toner container axially on described toner container engagement so that described rotation is sent to described toner container.

Use the imaging device of above-mentioned toner-adding device also to be disclosed.

Description of drawings

By the detailed description below in conjunction with accompanying drawing, above-mentioned and other purpose of the present invention, feature and advantage will become clearer, wherein:

Fig. 1 shows the cut-open view of implementing imaging device of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows the photosensitive drums comprise in the illustrated embodiment and the cut-open view of parts on every side thereof;

Fig. 3 is that the toner that shows formation toner supplementary units part replenishes the stereographic map of part, and this toner replenishes in the developing cell that partly toner is added in the illustrated embodiment;

Fig. 4 is the decomposition diagram that shows toner supplementary units structure;

Fig. 5 is the view that shows the ad hoc structure of latching member part in the toner supplementary units;

Fig. 6 is the partial view that shows another ad hoc structure of latching member;

Fig. 7 is the decomposition diagram that shows the employed ad hoc fashion of latching member;

Fig. 8 is the skeleton view that shows the toner supplementary units under the assembled condition;

Fig. 9 to 17 is the skeleton views that show the process of changing the toner bottle of placing in the toner-adding device;

Figure 18 be show the latching member rear portion how with the toner supplementary units in the partial view of lid engagement;

Figure 19 is the skeleton view of the position relation between demonstration latching member and the shutter that blocks the laser beam light path;

Figure 20 is the cut-open view that shows the representative duplicating machine of alternative embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 21 is the partial sectional view that shows the developing cell in this alternative embodiment;

Figure 22 is the skeleton view that shows the toner supplementary units that comprises in this alternative embodiment;

Figure 23 is the decomposition diagram of toner supplementary units;

Figure 24 A is the decomposition view that shows the toner bottle, servo plate and the driving shaft that comprise in this alternative embodiment; And

Figure 24 B shows how intermeshing cut-open view of toner bottle, servo plate and driving shaft.

Embodiment

Referring to accompanying drawing Fig. 1, be that example illustrates and illustrated applied enforcement imaging device of the present invention with the duplicating machine.As shown in the figure, this duplicating machine comprises photoconduction (photoconductive) element or the image-carrier as drum 7.Drum 7 has OPC (organic photoconductor) or similar photoconductive layer, and rotates counterclockwise, as shown in Figure 1.Be arranged with charging roller or charging device 102, light writing unit or exposure device 103, developing cell or developing apparatus 1, image transfer roller or image transfer device 110, cleaning foil or cleaning device 105 around drum 7, and discharge lamp or electric discharge device 106.

Be applied with high-tension charging roller 102 negative polarity is filled on the surface of drum 7 equably.ADF (autofile feeder) 120 is installed in the top of printer main body 100.Scanner 130 comprises optical system 131 and CCD (charge-coupled image sensor) array or similar imageing sensor 132.When ADF 120 delivered to the glass platen with file, imageing sensor 132 was read image information by optical system 131 by file.Light writing unit 103 scans the surface of drum 7 according to the view data of scanner 130 outputs with laser beam L, thereby forms sub-image on drum 7.Alternatively, view data can be from personal computer, facsimile equipment or similar unshowned image-data output device output.

Developing cell 1 stores the developer of toner and carrier formation, and has developing cylinder 5.Developer is deposited on the developing cylinder 5 with the form of magnetic brush.The developing cylinder 5 that rotates is transported to developing location in the face of drum 7 with developer.As a result, the toner that is included in the developer is transferred to drum 7 from developing cylinder 5, thereby and the development sub-image produce corresponding toner image.The drum 7 that rotates is transported to toner image on the nip or image transfer position that drum 7 and image transfer roller 110 be in contact with one another.

Paper box 109 is positioned at printer main body 100 bottoms, and is loading a stacker or recording medium P.The paper bowl 109a that gets that rotates is transported to registration roller to 107 with the paper P at top from paper box 109.Registration roller makes a short pause paper P to 107, and the forward position of the toner image that forms on the forward position of paper P and drum 7 drives this paper P when the image transfer position is joined then.

Before the forward position of paper P entered image transfer printing nip, the bias voltage that is used for the image transfer printing was applied to image transfer roller 110.Bias voltage makes roller 110 be charged to opposite polarity polarity with toner image, thereby in order to form electric field at nip.So under the effect of electric field and nip pressure, toner is transferred on the paper P from drum 7.

The spray point (not shown) is positioned at the downstream of above-mentioned nip on the paper throughput direction, and makes the paper discharge so that page is easy to break away from drum 7.Spray point is subjected to bias voltage or ground connection.The paper P that breaks away from from drum 7 is transported in the fixing device 108 that comprises warm-up mill 108a and pressure roll 108b.Warm-up mill 108a and pressure roll 108b that well heater is housed press mutually.The paper P that warm-up mill 108a and pressure roll 108b extruding is transferred, thus by heat and pressure with toner image on page P.

After the image transfer printing, cleaning foil 105 is removed the toner that remains on the drum 7.The toner conveyance device (not shown) turns back in the developing cell 1 toner of removing from drum 7, and is used further to develop.Discharge lamp 106 shines the whole surface of the drum 7 that was cleaned by cleaning foil 105, thereby eliminates the electric charge of staying on the drum 7.Use the method, make drum 7 perform the preparation of imaging next time.

To specifically describe drum 7 setting on every side in conjunction with Fig. 2.As shown in Figure 2, implement toner supplementary units of the present invention or install 200 and new toner is added in the developing cell 1 by the hole on the housing that is formed on developing cell 12.Below will describe toner supplementary units 200 in detail.First and second spirals 3 and 4 are positioned at housing, and the magnetic carrier particle that exists in the toner that will replenish and housing transmits additional toner when mixing to developing cylinder 5.

The magnet (not shown) is housed in the developing cylinder 5.Magnet makes developer carrier form magnetic brush on developing cylinder 5.By spiral 3 and 4 to developing cylinder 5 carry and the toner electrostatic precipitation of charging on carrier.The developing cylinder 5 that rotates will be carried to drum 7 attached to the toner on magnetic brush or the carrier.At this moment, doctor blade 6 is adjusted to preset thickness with toner.Then, toner deposits on the sub-image that forms on the drum 7, thereby forms foregoing toner image.

Toner sensor 8 be positioned at first spiral 3 below, the toner content of the developer that retains in the developing cell 1 with monitoring.Toner sensor 8 is set to for example respond the magnetic sensor of developer magnetic permeability, and the magnetic permeability of developer changes with the toner content of developer 1.When the magnetic permeability of developer was reduced to predetermined value, promptly when the toner content of developer descended, the signal of these states was represented in toner sensor 8 outputs.In view of the above, the controller (not shown) that comprises in the duplicating machine main body 100 sends to toner supplementary units 200 and replenishes order.After receiving order, toner supplementary units 200 is replenished toner by hole 2 to the housing of developing cell 1.It should be noted that toner sensor 8 also the perception toner exhaustion state and be close to the state of using up.

Explain toner supplementary units 200 below in conjunction with Fig. 2 to 4.As shown in the figure, toner supplementary units 200 comprises the housing 201 that is used to store the toner bottle 10 that fresh toner is housed.Housing 201 is generally by upper shell or cap 11, lower house or shell main body 12, and latching member or blocking device 13 compositions.Lower house 12 plays a part the shell main body of supporting toner bottle 10, and is formed with the opening 12b that is used to lay toner bottle 10.Upper shell 11 is installed on the lower house 12, to close opening 12b.The upper shell 11 that latching member 13 will be installed on the lower house 12 is locked on the lower house 12.

As shown in Figure 4, toner bottle 10 is provided with helicla flute 10a on its circumferential wall.When toner bottle 10 direction shown in the arrow in Fig. 2 was rotated, the toner that helicla flute 10a will be stored in the toner bottle 10 was carried to bottleneck 10b.As a result, toner is sent from toner bottle 10 through bottleneck 10b.Lid 14 removably is assembled on the bottleneck 10b, and in toner bottle 10 is placed in lower house 12.More specifically, lid 14 is placed on the lid bearing 15 that forms as one with lower house 12.

Lid bearing 15 is provided with toner outlet 15a.Toner guiding piece 16 is provided with porose 16a, and is installed on the part of the lid bearing 15 that is provided with toner outlet 15a.A plurality of mylars 17 are installed in and cover 14 toner endpiece, and along the circumferentially extending that covers 14.Slide plate 18 is installed on the toner guiding piece 16 selectively to open or close hole 16a.A unshowned spring is setovered slide plate 18 consistently so that slide plate 18 tends to block this hole 16a.More specifically, when toner supplementary units 200 was installed on the duplicating machine main body 100, slide plate 18 automatically moved to the position of not blocking hole 16a.

In operation, when the toner content of developer in the developing cell 1 tailed off as toner sensor 8 detects, controller sent to toner supplementary units 200 and replenishes order.In response, the unshowned kinematic train that is arranged in the duplicating machine main body 100 makes 10 bottles of rotations of toner.Kinematic train turns on the toner bottle 10 from the coupled structure transmission that is dynamically connected when being installed on the duplicating machine main body 100 in toner supplementary units 200.

When toner bottle 10 rotated, helicla flute 10a was transported to bottleneck 10b with the toner in the bottle 10.So the bottleneck 10b of toner through rotating with toner bottle 10 is discharged into and covers in the bearing 15.Be installed in the polyester film sheet 17 that covers on 14 and scoop up toner, the result is that toner imports in the toner guiding piece 16 through toner outlet 15a.Thereby, toner on the hole of toner guiding piece 16 16a and the above-mentioned housing that is formed on developing cell 1 hole 2 and add in the developing cell 1.

To make more specific description to the architectural feature of the housing 201 of illustrated embodiment below.As the clear demonstration of Fig. 7, upper shell 11 is provided with a plurality of hook 11a, and lower house 12 is provided with a plurality of flange 12a.Hook 11a is connected to upper shell 11 on the lower house 12 by slight snap fit and flange 12a engagement.Then, latching member 13 locks onto upper shell 11 on the lower house 12.

As shown in Figure 7, upper shell 11 and lower house 12 are respectively equipped with along

housing

11 and 12 longitudinally extending rail sections 22 and 23.As shown in Figs. 5 to 7, latching member 13 is provided with

parallel groove part

13a and 13b, make

trench portions

13a and

13b housing

11 and 12 vertically on stretch.For housing 11 is locked onto on the housing 12, latching member 13 slides on

housing

11 and 12 from the end opposite that toner replenishes end by the trench portions 13a that cooperates with rail sections 22 and 23 respectively and 13b.In this state, latching member 13 locks onto housing 11 on the housing 12 reliably.

In addition, as shown in figure 15, latching member 13 is provided with the groove 20 that stretches on the whole length of this part 13.When housing 201 was disassembled with recovery toner supplementary units 200, groove 20 allowed latching members 13 easily to open.So groove 20 helps easily separately upper shell 11 and lower house 12.Afterwards, new latching member 13 is used to once more upper shell 11 be locked onto on the lower house 12.In this mode, housing 201 can have mutually two

housings

11 and 12 of locking reliably, and is easy to be separated from each other.

Fig. 6 shows that another kind helps to dismantle easily the ad hoc structure of the latching member 13 of housing 201.As shown in the figure, this latching member 13 is included in the wall 21 that stretches on the whole length of part 13.In dismounting, thin-walled 21 also allows latching member 13 to open easily thereon.

The condition precedent that groove 20 or thin-walled 21 are set be they or it when allowing latching member 13, can open easily in assembling in, prevent in the time of can in the transportation of toner supplementary units 200, be vibrated or impact that latching member 13 from unexpectedly opening.In order to satisfy this condition precedent, it is thick or thinner that the wall that is formed with the latching member 13 of groove 20 or thin-walled 21 should be preferably 1mm, more preferably is 0.7mm.Wall with groove 20 or thin-walled 21 preferably should be by hard frangible resin, and for example polystyrene constitutes.Under any circumstance, groove 20 or thin-walled 21 will shorten and reclaim the required time cycle of toner supplementary units 200.

Be damaged when the dismounting for fear of upper shell 11 and lower house 12, what

housing

11 and 12 rail sections 22 and 23 separately preferably should be enough is firm.In addition, must distinguish the toner supplementary units 200 and new toner supplementary units 200 of recycling.In order to distinguish, each in housing 201 that the latching member 13 of particular color is preferably used for reclaiming and the new housing 201.This scheme is convenient to distinguish.

Fig. 8 represents to be in the toner supplementary units 200 of confined state.Dismantle the process of toner supplementary units 200 with the purpose that is illustrated as recycling with reference to figure 9 to 17.At first, as shown in Figure 9, pinch latching member 13, then pushing latching member 13 on the direction of the direction that slips into housing 201 perpendicular to latching member 13 with finger.As a result, latching member 13 fractures and the rail sections 23 of lower house 12 is unclamped from latching member 13.

Subsequently, the hook portion 11a of the upper shell 11 that slightly meshes with the flange 12a of lower house 12 by snap fit unclamps from flange 12a.So as shown in figure 10, upper shell 11 is removed from lower house 12, exposes the toner bottle of using 10 that is positioned on the lower house 12.As shown in figure 11, the latching member 13 that fractures further bends to remove from upper shell 11.

As shown in figure 12, the toner bottle of using 10 takes out from lower house 12 with lid 14.At this moment, being inserted in the drive system of duplicating machine main body 100 and the unitor 30 between the toner bottle 10 also is removed.Subsequently, as shown in figure 13, lid 14 takes off from toner bottle 10.Lid 14 and lower house 12 that cleaning is taken off from toner bottle 10 are to remove toner attached thereto (seeing Figure 14).

After above-mentioned dismounting, new toner bottle 10 is placed on the lower house 12.Then, carry out said process, to reuse toner supplementary units 200 with opposite order.

As shown in Figure 7, latching member 13 and lower house 12 preferably should be provided with claw 24 and hole 25 respectively.Latching member 13 usefulness are installed on the housing 201 with the claw 24 of hole 25 engagements.When being vibrated in transportation or impacting, this has prevented latching member 13 disengagement from housing 201 easily.Alternatively, latching member 13 is lockable on the upper shell 11.For example, shown in Figure 15 to 18, latching member 13 can be provided with claw 24 and flange 26, and upper shell 11 can be provided with hole 25 and claw 27.In this structure, claw 24 and hole 25 engagements, and flange 26 and claw 27 engagements.In this state, latching member 13 locks onto on the upper shell 11.

In the illustrated embodiment, light writing unit 103 is positioned at the toner supplementary units 200 times, as illustrated in fig. 1 and 2.As shown in figure 19, this writing unit 103 comprises the shutter 40 that can pivot around axle 41.Shutter 40 is located the light path that stops laser beam L usually, as shown in figure 19.Arm 42 also is installed on the axle 41, and is stretched in the light path, and toner supplementary units 200 is installed on the duplicating machine main body 100 along this light path, and pulls down from it.When toner supplementary units 200 was installed on the duplicating machine main body 100, arm 42 was in contact with it, and produced angular displacement because of the latching member 13 that is installed on the housing 201.Therefore, only when toner supplementary units 200 was installed on the duplicating machine main body 100, shutter 40 did not stop the light path of laser beam L.

As mentioned above, illustrated embodiment has various following listed unprecedented advantages.

(1) latching member of removing from housing 201 13 can not be reused.When the user plans to reuse the housing 201 that does not have latching member 13, can prevent that the duplicating machine main body from producing fault.This has also realized the method for depositing toner bottle 10 in housing 201 of prevention the problems referred to above.

(2) upper shell 11 and lower house 12 are made into separated components.This combines with the latching member 13 that is installed to upper shell 11, and housing 201 only could be reused when lower-cost upper shell 11 is changed by a new upper shell.In addition, latching member 13 itself separates with 12 with housing 11, and even is lower than upper shell 11 on cost.

(3) when latching member 13 slides on the housing 201, the trench portions 13a of latching

member

13 and 13b lay the rail sections 22 and 23 of two housings 11 and 12.This guarantees

housing

11 and 12 be connected.

(4) when latching member 13 with

housing

11 and 12 mutually during locking,

housing

11 and 12 mating part are hidden.This provides housing 201 good outward appearance, and prevents that the user from dismantling housing 201.

(5) latching member 13 is installed on the part away from the opening 10a of toner bottle 10 of housing 11 and 12.So, latching member 13, and then be that the workman of recycle bin is made dirty hardly.

(6) when the rail sections 22 of the trench portions 13a of latching

member

13 and 13b and

housing

11 and 12 and 23 engagements, claw 24 that cooperatively interacts and hole 25 have prevented that latching member 13 from sliding in the opposite direction.Therefore, when latching member 13 was vibrated or impacts in the process of transportation toner supplementary units 200, latching member 13 can be avoided throwing off from housing 201 easily.

(7) latching member promptly is installed on the housing 11 in the direction that housing 11 is pulled down from housing 12 on the direction of the direction that is installed to housing 12 perpendicular to housing 11.Therefore, both made flange 12a when the hook 11a of housing 11 and housing 12 for the ease of dismounting during by slighter snap-fit engagement, latching member 13 can make two housings 11 be connected reliably mutually with 12.

(8) supposition latching member 13 is subjected to slipping into external force on the direction (vertical direction in the illustrated embodiment) of direction (horizontal direction in the illustrated embodiment) of rail sections 22 and 23 perpendicular to trench portions 13a and 13b.Then latching member 13 loses it and makes

housing

11 and 12 function of locking mutually.This has been avoided the user unscrupulously to reuse housing 201 reliably.

(9) particularly, the physical strength of latching member 13 is enough little, so that latching member 13 fragments into two parts at least between

trench portions

13a and 13b when being subjected to above-mentioned external force.Thereby when pinching latching member 13 with finger and pushing, latching member 13 is easy to fracture.Particularly, latching member 13 is being as thin as 1mm or littler groove 20d place or the fracture of wall 21 places along

trench portions

13a or 13b extension.This helps dismantling easily, reliably housing 201.

(10) but at least the breaking portion of latching member 13 constitute by polystyrene, and make latching member 13 be easier to the fracture.

(11) latching member 13 has the exclusive structure that can only be used for housing 201.Therefore, the user is difficult to replace latching member 13 with other parts that can commercial provide when planning to reuse housing 201.

(12) toner-adding device constitutes with lower house 12.Therefore can when replacing toner bottle 10, carry out the maintenance of toner-adding device.

(13) it is different with the color of the latching member of using 13 to be used to reuse the color of new latching member 13 of toner supplementary units 200.This allows to determine easily with eyes whether toner supplementary units 200 is new that this is convenient to safeguard.

(14) when toner supplementary units 200 when duplicating machine main body 100 is pulled down or is mounted thereto, the hole 16a of toner supplementary units 200 is automatically closed or opened to slide plate 18.Therefore, after toner supplementary units 200 is taken out from duplicating machine main body 100, prevented that toner from leaking through hole 16a.

(15) latching member 13 concerns mobile shutter 40 with what the attaching/detaching with toner supplementary units 200 engaged, and this shutter is used to block the light path of laser beam L.When not having toner supplementary units 200 in the duplicating machine main body 100, shutter 40 blocks above-mentioned light path.This has not prevented to be imaged on when having toner supplementary units 200 in the duplicating machine main body 100 and has carried out.

(16) toner bottle 10 has helicla flute 10a, and when the toner supplementary units 200 that has toner bottle 10 is installed on the duplicating machine main body 100, is copied machine main body 100 and rotates.Thereby toner supplementary units 200 does not need drive source, thereby simple in structure and in light weight.

With reference to Figure 20, show the imaging device of representing another embodiment of the present invention, this imaging device is also as duplicating machine.It should be noted that the Reference numeral of using among Reference numeral used among this embodiment and the last embodiment is irrelevant, so always be not to use identical Reference numeral.

As shown in figure 20, this duplicating machine generally by the scanner part 100 that is used to read file, be used for the imaging moiety 200 of imaging on paper P, and the paper-supply section that is used for paper P is supplied to imaging moiety 200 is formed.The each several part of unshowned controller control duplicating machine.Imaging moiety 200 comprises the laser writing unit 200A with unshowned laser diode and polygon catoptron.

Scanner is read the file that is positioned on the glass table top (not shown) with imageing sensor 101, and gives controller with image data transmission.Controller is included in laser diode among the laser writing unit 200A, polygon catoptron etc. according to view data control.Laser diode scans the photoelectric conducting drum 1 that is included in the handle box 200B according to view data.So the sub-image corresponding with document image is formed on the drum 1.Make sub-image be transformed into toner image by development.Image-forming block 200 also comprises image transfer device 200C, fixing device 200D, page output unit 200E, door 200F and 200G, and unshowned toner-adding device.Door 200F can be around axle 214 along opening on the direction shown in the arrow G.Similarly, door 200G can be at preceding and rear to, promptly on the direction perpendicular to the paper of Figure 20, open around axle 215.

Paper-supply section 300 comprises four

paper box

301a, 301b, 301c and 301d, gets

paper bowl

302a, 302b, 302c and 302d for four, and four rollers are to 303a, 303b, 303c and 303d.Among the paper box 301a to 301d each all is equipped with the quires P of specific dimensions, and can move into and shift out the duplicating machine main body on fore-and-aft direction with respect to Fig. 2.Get paper bowl 302a to 302d and be assigned to paper box 301a to 301d respectively, and each all exports the paper P at top from corresponding paper box.Then, paper P is provided with roller by it paper passage of 303a to 303d is carried.

More specifically, controller drives is got among the paper bowl 302a to 302d, and the while writes according to view data realization laser and develops, thereby forms toner image on drum 1.Get the paper P who from paper box 301a to 301d, exports the top in the corresponding paper box that controlled device drives among the paper bowl 302a to 302d.Then, paper P by roller on the one or more pairs of image transfer position that are transported between handle box 200B and the image transfer device 200C among the 303a to 303d.

Image transfer device 200C comprises unshowned image transfer roller, and when transferred image, unshowned bias voltage applying device applies bias voltage to image transfer roller.Image transfer roller presses drum 1, forms image transfer printing nip.The toner image that is formed on the drum 1 is alignd with the paper P that enters nip.At the electric field action of bias voltage formation, and under the nip pressure effect between drum 1 and the image transfer roller, toner image is transferred to paper P from drum 1.

The paper P that has toner image is transported to fixing device 200D.Fixing device 200D by heat and pressure with toner image to page P.The paper P that comes out from fixation unit 200D is by being included in outlet roller the paper output unit 200E to exporting the duplicating machine main body.

Describe the developing cell that is included among the handle box 200B in detail below in conjunction with Figure 21.As shown in the figure, toner adds in the developing cell through hole A.First and second spirals 4 and 5 are carried the toner that replenishes to developing cylinder 2, simultaneously toner is mixed with magnetic carrier particle in being present in developing cell.

Unshowned magnet is housed in the developing cylinder 2.Magnet makes the carrier of developer form magnetic brush on developing cylinder 2.The toner electrostatic adhesion of carrying and being recharged to developing cylinder 2 by spiral 4 and 5 is on carrier.The developing cylinder 2 that rotates will be transported to drum 1 attached to the toner on magnetic brush or the carrier.At this moment, doctor blade 3 is adjusted to predetermined thickness with toner.Then, toner is attached on the sub-image that is formed on the drum 1, to form toner image.

Be arranged in the content that toner sensors 6 below first spiral 4 are used to monitor the toner that developing cell deposits.When the toner content of developer reduces to predetermined value, the signal of this state of toner sensor 6 output expressions.Respond this signal, controller output replenishes order, thereby toner bottle or toner container 10 (seeing Figure 20) are rotated.So toner adds to developing cell from toner bottle 10 by hole A.What it should be noted that toner sensor 6 surveys toner end of a period states and toner is close to the end of a period state.

Describe toner supplementary units or the device of pictorial representation embodiment in detail below in conjunction with Figure 21 to 23.As shown in figure 23, when as toner sensor 6 is detected, when the developer in the developing cell contained quantity not sufficient, controller sent for the toner supplementary units and replenishes order.Respond this order, the toner supplementary units is rotated toner bottle 10.The helical thread that forms on the circumferential wall of toner bottle 10 is discharged the toner in the toner bottle 10 from bottle 10.Lid 11 rotates with toner bottle 10.Being installed in the polyester film sheet 7 (seeing Figure 22) that covers on 11 shovels toner in the toner outlet 13.So toner is added in the developing cell through toner outlet 13 and toner guiding piece 14.Shutter is installed on the toner guiding piece 14, and is optionally opened or close when being respectively installed to the toner supplementary units on the duplicating machine main body or pulling down from it.

The toner supplementary units also comprises upper shell 9, lower house 8, latching member 12 and servo plate 15.Be arranged on the lower house 8, as shown in figure 23 in order to assemble toner supplementary units, toner bottle 10, upper shell 11 and servo plate 15.Then, latching member 12 is installed on upper shell 11 and the lower house 8, thereby they are locked mutually.Under this state, the secondary part that is included in the servo plate 15 exposes to the open air in the outside of housing 8 and 9, housing 8 and the 9 common housings that form the toner supplementary units.

Lower house 8 and upper shell 9 wrap up toner bottle 10 as described above.Therefore, when both to have made chief component when toner bottle 10 be physical strength less than the PET of PE, two housings 8 and 9 also can avoid bottle 10 by for example screwdriver point damage; In addition, a hole will be formed on the bottle 10, cause toner to leak.In addition, housing 8 and 9 prevents that toner bottle is out of shape in transit.And the cost of PET is lower than PE.

The diameter of supposing servo plate 15 is D1, and the external diameter of toner bottle is D2.Then illustrated embodiment has the relation of D1＜D2.So from bottle 10 axially, when servo plate 15 meshed with bottle 10, servo plate 15 was positioned at toner bottle 10 inboards.So in driving transport process, the circumference of servo plate 15 does not slide on lower house 8 or upper shell 9, this has been avoided the load torque increase.Difference between diameter D1 and the outer diameter D 2 preferably should be 1.0mm or bigger.The duplicating machine main body will rotate through servo plate 15 bottle 10 axially on be passed to toner bottle 10.

Figure 24 A and 24B represent the relation between toner bottle 10, servo plate 15 and the driving shaft 16.Shown in Figure 24 B, driving shaft 16 comprises cam-like projection 15, and this cam-like projection cooperates with groove or aforesaid secondary part in being included in servo plate 15.Servo plate 15 also comprises and the cam-like projection or the drive part that are formed on the groove fit in the toner bottle 10.Driving shaft 16, servo plate 15 and toner bottle 10 can not accurately be meshed each other, but accurate engagement also can form based on the rotation of driving shaft 16.

As mentioned above, torque is sent to toner bottle 10 from driving shaft 16 through servo plate 15.So, to compare with the gear train that rotation is sent on the toner bottle circumference of routine, illustrated embodiment allows toner bottle 10 to rotate around the axle that does not move substantially.This has prevented the toner bottle vibration.In addition, the servo plate 15 between driving shaft 16 and the toner bottle 10 has reduced the vibration of axle 16, thereby has reduced the vibration of toner bottle 10.So illustrated embodiment has guaranteed that the stable toner from toner bottle 10 to developing cell replenishes.

The axle of supposing driving shaft 16 is mobile slightly each other with the axle of toner bottle 10.Then servo plate 15 moves on the direction perpendicular to the axle of axle 16 and toner bottle 10, and plays the effect of universal joint.So the rotation of driving shaft 16 can be sent on the toner bottle 10 reposefully, avoided toner bottle 10 to be damaged.

Can prepare a plurality of servo plates 15 that each all has specific width in the axial direction in advance.In this case, the servo plate 15 that is complementary of the axial length (capacity) of thickness and toner bottle 10 can be used for ensureing the steady transmission of drive transmitting.In addition, can be made into a plurality of servo plates 15 of different colours, reused how many times with indication toner bottle 10.For example, white servo plate 15 can be installed on the new toner bottle, and blue look servo plate 15 can be installed on the repeated use bottle 10 once, and yellow servo plate 15 can be installed on the bottle 10 of reusing secondary.

As mentioned above, illustrated embodiment has realized that following advantage (1) is to (3).

(1) rotate by servo plate or servo spare 15 toner bottle 10 axially on be passed to toner bottle or toner container 10.Compare with rotating the conventional system that is sent on the toner container circumference through gear, this has reduced the vibration of toner bottle 10, thereby has stablized replenishing of toner.This has successfully improved picture quality.

(2) can select servo plate 15 parts, the thickness on it is axial and the axial length (capacity) of toner bottle 10 are complementary.Thereby, no matter how, rotating, the length of toner bottle all can be sent on the toner bottle 10.

(3) suppose the shared single toner supplementary units of each a plurality of imaging device that all use specific toner.Then servo plate 15 is configured to not the drive source engagement with the imaging device of not expecting kind.

Claims

1. a toner-adding device is installed in the imaging device, is used for toner is added to the development part that is included in imaging device, and described toner-adding device comprises:

Toner container, this toner container stores toner, and can rotate so that described toner is discharged by its opening;

Housing, described housing is configured to hold described toner container; And

Servo spare, this servo spare comprises: secondary part is used to accept the rotation from drive source; Drive part, this drive part described toner container axially on described toner container engagement, thereby described rotation is sent to described toner container, and when reusing described toner container, described servo spare is used in servo spares different with described servo spare on the color and changes.

2. device as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described servo spare and described toner container are rounded and cylindrical respectively, and

Described servo spare and described toner container have diameter D1 and outer diameter D 2 respectively, and keep the relation of D1＜D2.

3. device as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that described toner container mainly comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

4. device as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that, described toner container and described servo spare can move relative to each other on the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of described toner container.

5. device as claimed in claim 4 is characterized in that, described servo spare and described toner container are rounded and cylindrical respectively, and

6. device as claimed in claim 5 is characterized in that, when reusing described toner container, described servo spare is used in servo spares different with described servo spare on the color and changes.

7. device as claimed in claim 6 is characterized in that described toner container mainly comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

8. device as claimed in claim 1 is characterized in that described toner container mainly comprises polyethylene terephthalate.

9. imaging device comprises:

Image-carrier is configured and forms toner image thereon;

Sub-image forms mechanism, is used for forming sub-image on described image-carrier;

Developing mechanism is used to the sub-image that develops; And

Toner-adding device is installed in the imaging device, is used for replenishing toner with the development sub-image to described developing mechanism;

Described toner-adding device comprises:

Toner container, this toner container stores toner, and can rotate to discharge described toner by its opening;

Housing, described housing is configured to hold described toner container; And

Servo spare, this servo spare comprises: secondary part is used to accept the rotation from drive source; And drive part, this drive part described toner container axially on described toner container engagement, thereby described rotation is delivered to described toner container, when reusing described toner container, described servo spare is used in servo spares different with described servo spare on the color and changes.