JP2000275946A - Toner replenishing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner replenishing device where toner is not spattered inside an image forming device while a toner discharge opening of a toner bottle is not removed from a hopper part of a receiving base even when the receiving base holding the toner bottle is pulled out with great force from a device main body at a time of a toner bottle exchange. SOLUTION: In this toner replenishing device, a receiving base 34 is installed to be freely inserted and taken out with respect to the image forming device main body, the toner bottle 33 is provided lying down to be freely exchanged to a receiving base 34 and the toner is replenished to the device main body by having the toner bottle 33 rotated at the time of toner replenishing. In this case, a restricting member 15 by which movement to direction of the rotational central axis of the toner bottle 33 is restricted is attached manually to the receiving base 34 after the toner bottle 33 is attached.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner replenishing apparatus, and more particularly, to a toner replenishing apparatus for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a multifunction peripheral thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer, a toner replenishing apparatus capable of easily replacing a toner bottle has been actively developed.

Hereinafter, a conventional toner replenishing apparatus will be briefly described with reference to FIG. The toner replenishing device 30 is provided with a receiving tray 34 for storing a toner bottle 33.
The receiving tray 34 has a toner outlet 33 of the toner bottle 33.
The hopper 31 which engages with a is integrally formed.

A receiving stand 34 is provided outside the hopper 31.
The lever 35 related to the operation is installed. Further, inside the hopper 31, a bottle holder (not shown) that rotates together with the toner bottle 33, a chuck (not shown) for inserting and removing a cap attached to the toner outlet 33a of the toner bottle 33, and a A toner supply port (not shown) for guiding toner into the developing device is provided.

On the other hand, a main body rear side plate 41 and a main body front side plate (not shown) are provided before and after the image forming apparatus main body.
A stay 44 is provided between them. And
Guided by the stay 44, the receiving table 34 can be freely inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body in the direction of the arrow in FIG.

On the other hand, a main body rear side plate 41 of the image forming apparatus main body.
Is provided with a drive unit 40 for driving the rotation of the toner bottle 33. The drive section 40 is configured by a joint 42 as an engagement section, a spring 43 for biasing the joint 42, a motor, and the like.

An engagement portion (not shown) for engaging with the coupling 42 of the drive portion 40 is formed on the bottom portion 33b of the toner bottle 33. Also, the toner bottle 33
Is provided with a spiral projection, and the toner bottle 33 rotates to convey the internal toner toward the toner discharge port 33b.

In the toner replenishing device 30 having the above-described configuration, when the toner in the toner bottle 33 runs out,
The toner bottle 33 is replaced with a new toner bottle 33. When replacing the toner bottle 33, first, the receiving stand 34 is pulled out of the apparatus main body from the stay 44 of the apparatus main body. Then, the used toner bottle 33 is taken out of the cradle 34.

Next, as shown by the arrow in the figure, a new toner bottle 33
a is set on the cradle 34 in such a direction that a is on the hopper 31 side. Thereafter, the receiving stand 34 in which the new toner bottle 33 is set is stored in the apparatus main body.

At this time, the bottom portion 33b of the toner bottle 33
And the coupling 42 of the drive unit 40 are engaged. On the other hand, the toner bottle 33 is pushed toward the hopper 31 on the receiving table 34 by the urging force of the spring 43 provided in the drive unit 40. Then, the toner discharge port 33a of the toner bottle 33 is fitted with the bottle holding member of the hopper 31, and the position of the toner bottle 33 in the apparatus main body is determined.

When the toner in the developing device of the apparatus main body runs short, the driving unit 40 rotates the toner bottle 33 for a predetermined time according to the shortage, and the toner in the toner bottle 33 is conveyed to the toner discharge port 33a. Is done. And
From the toner supply port of the hopper 31, toner is supplied into the developing device.

[0012]

In the above-mentioned conventional toner replenishing apparatus, in order to facilitate the setting of the toner bottle 33 on the cradle 34, as shown in FIG. Is formed to be shorter than the length L1 of the receiving surface of the receiving table 34 for receiving the toner bottle 33.

Therefore, the toner bottle 33 on the receiving tray 34 is moved in the front-rear direction until the receiving tray 34 is housed in the apparatus main body and is pushed by the spring 43 of the driving unit 40 to determine the position of the toner bottle 33. (It is the direction of the arrow in the figure).

Therefore, in particular, when the receiving table 34 is pulled out of the apparatus main body vigorously, the toner discharge port 33a comes off the hopper 31, and the toner adhering to the toner bottle 33 near the toner discharge port 33a and the hopper In some cases, toner and the like remaining in the inside of the image forming apparatus 31 may be scattered, thereby contaminating the inside of the apparatus main body.

When the receiving tray 34 is taken in and out of the apparatus main body, the cap of the toner outlet 33a of the toner bottle 33 is inserted and removed in conjunction with the movement of the lever 35 described above. Never splatters directly to the outside.

However, the toner bottle 33 at the time of replacement has a certain amount of toner attached near the toner discharge port 33a, and a small amount of toner remains inside the hopper 31. As described above, these toners
It will scatter in the device body.

Therefore, according to the present invention, even when the cradle holding the toner bottle is vigorously pulled out when the toner bottle is replaced, the toner is scattered into the image forming apparatus without the toner outlet coming off the hopper. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner replenishing apparatus without any problem.

[0018]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem. That is, when the reference numerals in the attached drawings are added in parentheses, the present invention provides:
A receiving stand (3) that can be freely inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus main body.
4), a toner bottle (33) is rotatably provided with a toner bottle (33) in a tray (34), and the toner bottle (33) is rotated at the time of toner supply to supply toner to the apparatus body. (34) A toner replenishing device characterized in that regulating members (15, 16) for regulating the movement of the toner bottle (33) in the direction of the rotation center axis are provided.

At this time, after the toner bottle (33) is attached, the regulating member (15) can be attached manually.

Further, when the toner bottle (33) is attached, the regulating member (15) can be automatically operated from the retracted position to the regulated position to regulate the movement of the toner bottle (33).

After the toner bottle (33) is attached, when the cradle (34) is stored in the apparatus main body, the regulating member (16) can be operated to regulate the movement of the toner bottle (33). .

[0022]

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

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a main part of an apparatus main body in a laser copying machine provided with the toner supply device according to the present invention. Drum-shaped photoreceptor 1 as image carrier
, A developing device 3, a transfer / separation device 4, a cleaning device 5, a static elimination lamp 6, and the like are arranged in order from the charging device 2 disposed thereon in the rotational direction indicated by the arrow A in the figure. .

When making a copy with this laser copying machine, the user presses a copy switch after setting an original on a contact lens (not shown), as is well known. When the copy switch is pressed, the image information of the set original is read by an optical reading device (not shown), and at the same time, the transfer paper is directed between the photoconductor 1 and the transfer separation device 4 by the paper transport unit 7. It is conveyed (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1).

On the other hand, the surface of the photoreceptor 1 is uniformly charged by the charging device 2 with its rotation, and the surface of the photoreceptor 1 is supplied from an optical writing device (not shown) corresponding to the image information of the document described above. The emitted laser light is applied.
As a result, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image of the document is formed on the photoconductor 1.

Further, with the rotation of the photoconductor 1, the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 1 reaches the position of the developing device 3, where the toner is adhered, and is visualized. Then, the toner image as a visualized copy image further reaches the position of the transfer section of the transfer / separation device 4, and is transferred onto the transfer paper conveyed to that position as described above.

The transfer paper after the transfer of the copy image is discharged by the separation unit of the transfer separation device 4 and separated from the photoconductor 1 that has been electrostatically attracted. And the transfer paper
The sheet is conveyed to the position of the fixing device 8, where the transferred image on the transfer paper is fixed and then discharged to the discharge unit 9.

On the other hand, in the photoreceptor 1 after the transfer of the toner image by the transfer / separation device 4, the remaining toner which has not been transferred to the surface thereof is scraped off and cleaned by a cleaning blade provided in the cleaning device 5. After that, the charge is removed by the charge removing lamp 6 and the surface potential is initialized.

In the illustrated laser copying machine, as shown in FIG. 3, the developing device 3 mainly comprises a developing roller 3a, a stirring member 3b, a developing doctor 3c, a toner density sensor (not shown), and the like. .

The two-component developer composed of the toner and the carrier in the developing device 3 is stirred by the stirring member 3b.
The toner is agitated and supplied to the developing roller 3a. The mixing ratio of the toner and the carrier of the two-component developer is magnetically detected by a toner density sensor. And the developing roller 3
a is arranged at a position facing the photoconductor 1. The developing doctor is arranged with a slight gap from the developing roller 3a, and controls the amount of the developer conveyed to the position of the photoconductor 1 by the gap.

On the developing device 3, as shown in FIG.
A toner supply device 30 is provided. Then, the toner is supplied from the toner replenishing device 30 into the developing device 3 in a timely manner based on the output value of the toner density sensor so that the mixing ratio of the two-component developer in the developing device 3 becomes substantially constant.

Next, referring to FIG. 1, a description will be given of a toner supply device provided in the laser copying machine of FIG. The toner replenishing device 30 is provided with a receiving tray 34 for storing a toner bottle 33. The hopper 31 that engages with the toner discharge port 33 a of the toner bottle 33 is formed integrally with the receiving table 34. Further, an insertion groove for manually installing the regulating member 15 for regulating the movement of the toner bottle 33 in the rotation center axis direction is formed in the receiving stand 34 in conformity with the outer peripheral shape of the regulating member 15. ing.

Then, the regulating member 15 is moved in the direction of the arrow in the figure.
Can be attached or detached in accordance with the groove of the cradle 34. The restricting member 15 has a horseshoe shape, and can contact a part of the bottom portion 33b of the toner bottle 33 without hindering the engagement between the bottom portion 33b of the toner bottle 33 and a joint 42 described later.

Further, outside the hopper 31,
The lever 35 related to the operation is installed. Further, inside the hopper 31, a bottle holder (not shown) that rotates together with the toner bottle 33, a chuck (not shown) for inserting and removing a cap attached to the toner outlet 33a of the toner bottle 33, and a A toner supply port (not shown) for guiding the toner to the printer is provided.

On the other hand, a main body rear side plate 41 and a main body front side plate (not shown) are provided before and after the apparatus main body of the laser copying machine, and a stay 44 is provided between them. Then, guided by the stay 44, the receiving table 34 can be freely inserted into and removed from the apparatus main body in the direction of the arrow in the drawing.

On the other hand, a driving unit 4 for rotating and driving the toner bottle 33 is provided on a rear plate 41 of the main body of the apparatus of the laser copying machine.
0 is provided. The drive section 40 is configured by a joint 42 as an engagement section, a spring 43 for biasing the joint 42, a motor, and the like.

An engaging portion (not shown) for engaging with the coupling 42 of the driving portion 40 is formed on the bottom portion 33b of the toner bottle 33. Also, the toner bottle 33
Is provided with a spiral projection, and the toner bottle 33 rotates to convey the internal toner toward the toner discharge port 33b.

In the toner supply device 30 having the above-described configuration, when the toner in the toner bottle 33 runs out,
The toner bottle 33 is replaced with a new toner bottle 33. When replacing the toner bottle 33, first, the receiving stand 34 is pulled out of the apparatus main body from the stay 44 of the apparatus main body.

When the user tries to move the toner bottle 33 in the direction of the rotation center axis, the bottom 3 of the toner bottle 33 is moved.
The movement of the toner bottle 33 is regulated by the contact between the regulating member 3b and the regulating member 15. That is, the regulating member 15 regulates the movement of the toner bottle 33 in the direction of the rotation center axis to such an extent that the toner outlet 33 a of the toner bottle 33 does not come off the hopper 31.

After the cradle 34 is pulled out of the apparatus main body, the regulating member 15 is manually removed from the cradle 34. After that, the used toner bottle 33 is taken out of the cradle 34 in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

Next, the new toner bottle 33 is set on the receiving tray 34 in a state where the toner discharge port 33a faces the hopper 31 in the direction of the arrow in the figure in the laid state.
After that, the regulating member 15 is manually inserted into the groove of the cradle 34. Then, the receiving stand 34 in which the new toner bottle 33 is set is stored in the apparatus main body.

At this time, the bottom 33b of the toner bottle 33
And the coupling 42 of the drive unit 40 are engaged. On the other hand, the toner bottle 33 is pushed toward the hopper 31 on the receiving table 34 by the urging force of the spring 43 provided in the drive unit 40. Then, the toner discharge port 33a of the toner bottle 33 is fitted with the bottle holding member of the hopper 31, and the position of the toner bottle 33 in the apparatus main body is determined.

Therefore, when the receiving table 34 is completely housed in the apparatus main body, the bottom portion 33b of the toner bottle 33 is
And the regulating member 15 are not in contact with each other. That is, the regulating member 15 does not hinder the rotation driving of the toner bottle 33.

When the toner concentration sensor detects that the toner in the developing device 3 of the apparatus main body is insufficient,
In accordance with the shortage, the driving unit 40 controls the toner bottle 3
3, the toner in the toner bottle 33 is conveyed to the toner outlet 33b. Then, toner is supplied into the developing device 3 from the toner supply port of the hopper 31.

As described above, according to the first example, when the toner bottle 33 is replaced, the regulating member 15 for regulating the movement of the toner bottle 33 in the direction of the rotation center axis is manually installed. 34, the toner discharge port 33 of the toner bottle 33 is
a is not removed from the hopper 31 and the toner
It is possible to reduce the scattering of the toner adhering to the vicinity of the apparatus main body to the apparatus main body.

In the illustrated example, the toner bottle 33
Although the restricting member 15 is manually installed and released at the time of replacement, a mechanism for automatically installing and releasing the restricting member 15 may be used. That is, for example, a seesaw-type restricting member is provided on the receiving surface of the receiving table 34, and when the toner bottle 33 is inserted or removed, it automatically operates from the retracted position to the restricted position to restrict the movement of the toner bottle 33. can do.

In the illustrated example, a groove is provided in the receiving base 34, and the regulating member 15 is manually inserted into the groove. However, if the regulating member 15 can be installed, any shape other than the groove may be used. The protrusion is provided on the regulating member 1.
5 may be installed.

Next, a toner supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the toner supply device 30 of the second example, a spring (not shown) is provided at the bottom in place of the regulating member 15 that is manually installed and released in the first example described above, and is vertically (in the direction of the arrow in the figure). The restricting member 16 which moves to the position is provided on the receiving stand 34.

When replacing the toner bottle 33, first,
The cradle 34 is pulled out from the stay 44 of the apparatus body. At this time, the regulating member 16 of the receiving stand 34 is pushed up by the spring, and the upper part of the regulating member 16 is in a state of protruding from the bottle receiving surface of the receiving stand 34.

When the user tries to move the toner bottle 33 in the direction of the rotation center axis, the bottom 3 of the toner bottle 33 is moved.
The movement of the toner bottle 33 is regulated by the contact between the regulating member 16 and the regulating member 16. That is, the regulating member 16 regulates the movement of the toner bottle 33 in the rotation center axis direction to the extent that the toner outlet 33 a of the toner bottle 33 does not come off the hopper 31.

After the receiving tray 34 is pulled out of the apparatus main body, the used toner bottle 33 is pushed down in the direction of the arrow in FIG.
Remove from

Next, a new toner bottle 33 is set on the receiving stand 34 with the toner outlet 33a facing the hopper 31 in a state where the toner bottle 33 is bent in the direction of the arrow in the figure.
At this time, since the regulating member 16 is at a position in contact with the circumferential side surface of the toner bottle 33, the regulating member 16 is pushed down by the weight of the toner bottle 33, and
The upper part of 6 is lower than the bottle receiving surface. And
Place the cradle 34 on which the new toner bottle 33 is set,
Store in the device body.

At this time, the bottom portion 33b of the toner bottle 33
And the coupling 42 of the drive unit 40 are engaged. On the other hand, the toner bottle 33 is pushed toward the hopper 31 on the receiving table 34 by the urging force of the spring 43 provided in the drive unit 40. Then, the toner discharge port 33a of the toner bottle 33 is fitted with the bottle holding member of the hopper 31, and the position of the toner bottle 33 in the apparatus main body is determined.

Thus, when the receiving table 34 is completely stored in the apparatus main body, the bottom portion 33b of the toner bottle 33 and the regulating member 16 are not in contact with each other. That is, there is no toner bottle 33 above the regulating member 16, and the regulating member 16 is pushed upward by the spring. In this state, the regulating member 16 does not hinder the rotational driving of the toner bottle 33.

As described above, according to the second example, when the receiving stand 34 is stored in the apparatus main body after the toner bottle 33 is attached, the regulating member 16 is operated to regulate the movement of the toner bottle 33. Therefore, even if the receiving tray 34 is pulled out of the apparatus main body vigorously, the toner adhering to the vicinity of the toner discharge port 33a and the like does not fall out of the toner outlet 33a of the toner bottle 33 due to the reaction, Spattering can be reduced.

In the illustrated example, the toner in the toner bottle 33 is supplied into the developing device 3 by the toner replenishing device 30, but the present invention supplies the toner to the process cartridge having the developing device 3 and the like. Naturally, the present invention can also be applied to the toner supply device 30.

In the illustrated example, the toner replenishing device 30 is inserted and removed in the front-rear direction of the apparatus main body. However, the present invention is also applicable to other input and output directions, for example, by rotating the hopper 31 of the receiving table 34 as a center. Naturally, the present invention can also be applied to a toner replenishing device.

In the illustrated example, the toner supply device of a laser copying machine has been described. However, the present invention is naturally applicable to a toner supply device of another image forming apparatus such as an analog copying machine, a facsimile, a laser printer, and the like. can do.

[0059]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the receiving table is provided with the regulating member for restricting the movement of the toner bottle in the direction of the rotation center axis, the receiving table can be vigorously moved in and out of the apparatus main body. In addition, it is possible to provide a toner replenishing apparatus in which the toner discharge port of the toner bottle does not come off the hopper due to the reaction, and the toner attached to the vicinity of the toner discharge port is less scattered.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the regulating member is manually attached after the toner bottle is attached, the movement of the toner bottle in the direction of the rotation center axis is regulated. A relatively inexpensive toner replenishing apparatus can be provided in which the toner discharge port of the toner bottle does not come off the hopper due to the reaction even if it vigorously moves in and out, and the toner attached to the vicinity of the toner discharge port is less scattered. .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the toner bottle is mounted, the regulating member is automatically operated from the retracted position to the regulated position to regulate the movement of the toner bottle. Even if you put it in and out of the device,
The toner supply port of the toner bottle does not come off from the hopper due to the reaction, and the toner replenishing device with good operability, in which the toner attached to the vicinity of the toner discharge port or the like is less scattered, can be provided.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, after the toner bottle is attached, when the receiving tray is stored in the apparatus main body, the regulating member is operated to regulate the movement of the toner bottle. Provided is a toner operable device with good operability, in which the toner discharge port of a toner bottle does not come off from a hopper due to a reaction even if the toner discharge port is vigorously pulled out from the apparatus main body, and the toner attached to the vicinity of the toner discharge port is less scattered. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a toner supply device according to a first example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a toner supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a main part of a laser copying machine including the toner supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional toner supply device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 photoconductor (image carrier) 2 charging device 3 developing device 4 transfer / separation device 5 cleaning device 6 static elimination lamp 7 paper transport unit 8 fixing device 9 discharge unit 15, 16 regulating member 30 toner supply device 31 hopper 33 toner bottle 33a toner Discharge port 33b Bottom part 34 Receiving stand 35 Lever 40 Drive unit 41 Main body rear side plate 42 Coupling 43 Spring 44 Stay

Claims (4)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus is provided with a receiving table that can be freely inserted into and removed from the image forming apparatus main body. A toner replenishing device for replenishing toner, wherein a restricting member for restricting movement of the toner bottle in a rotation center axis direction is provided on the receiving table. 2. The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein the regulating member is manually attached after the toner bottle is attached. 3. The toner bottle according to claim 1, wherein when the toner bottle is mounted, the regulating member is automatically operated from a retracted position to a regulated position to regulate the movement of the toner bottle. Toner supply device. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, after the toner bottle is mounted, when the receiving tray is stored in the apparatus main body, the regulating member is operated to regulate the movement of the toner bottle. 3. The toner supply device according to 1.