JP2001312129A - Method and device for manufacturing toner container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prolong the service life of a toner container by making full surface fusion of the fusion plane completely performed, preventing deformation of the fusion part sheet occurring at the fusing time of the film state sheet, as well as deformation of the container itself, and moreover accelerating recycle of the container by means of re-charging the toner, at the time of fusion-bonding the sheet of a film state on the toner replenishing port of the container. SOLUTION: This is the manufacturing method of the toner container by which the sheet of film state is fusion-bonded on the toner replenishing port of the toner container provided with a toner charging port and a toner replenishing port, and is characterized in performing the fusion-bonding by adopting jig inside the container.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a toner container used in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a laser printer. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a toner container for fusing sheets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Many toner containers used in image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic copying machines and laser printers have a toner filling port at one end of the container and a toner supply port at the other end.

In the toner container having such a shape, once the toner filling port is filled with the toner, the toner filling opening may be tightly closed so that the toner does not leak out during transportation (including storage) or during use.

However, since the toner supply port is a port for supplying toner from the toner container to the image forming apparatus when the toner is used, the toner leakage is surely prevented while the toner container is being transported (during storage). In order to attach the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus for replenishment, it is necessary that the opening can be easily opened. For this reason, a method of fusing and closing a film-like sheet at the toner filling port is currently employed. Needless to say, it can be performed relatively easily and the cost is low, and it is sufficient to peel off the opening.

However, in order to prevent the toner from leaking by closing the toner supply port before using the toner container in this method, it is necessary to reliably fuse a film-like sheet to the entire edge of the port. It is quite difficult to do this quickly and reliably. Particularly recently, toner containers have become larger,
In addition, the thickness of the container tends to become thinner, and when the film container is heated by being pressed against the toner supply port for fusing the film-like sheet, the toner container is easily dented or deformed, and it becomes difficult to perform uniform pressure heating. I have.

Further, recently, there is a strong demand for recycling toner containers for environmental problems and resource protection.
There is also a problem that the periphery of the toner supply port and the toner container itself are deformed at the time of pressing and heating, and cannot be reused.

[0007]

FIG. 1 shows an example of the configuration of a typical toner container to which the present invention is applied.

The toner container 1 has a toner filling port (a port for filling the container with toner) 2 at one end and a toner replenishing port at the other end (the toner is developed after the container is attached to the image forming apparatus). A film-like sheet 4 is fused to a toner supply port of a toner container having a port 3 for supplying the toner into the container. After being attached to the image forming apparatus, the fused sheet 4 can be pulled off relatively easily by pulling, and the toner supply port can be opened.

The toner supply port is usually provided with a mechanism that can be opened and closed mechanically. However, even in this case, the toner supply port is completely closed before being mounted on the image forming apparatus. The film-shaped sheet 4 is thermally fused. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 5 denotes a lid for the toner filling port, and reference numeral 6 denotes a groove for rotating the toner storage container to convey the toner in the direction of the toner supply port.

In the above case, for example, in the case where the side member of the container and the bottom member for closing both ends are separately formed, one of the bottom members is provided at a stage where the bottom member is not yet attached to the side member. It is possible to employ a method in which a film is fused to the toner supply port located in the above and then attached to the side member of the container. However, even in the case of a toner storage container made by this method, when it is reused after collection,
Unless the bottom member is removed, the film-like sheet cannot be fused by this method.

[0011] In the case of a toner storage container which is often used recently and is integrally formed with both sides and a bottom, since the sheet cannot be fused by the above-described method, other methods must be adopted. In any case, a horn or a hot plate is pressed against the toner supply port to fuse the film-like sheet, but it is necessary to press the member from the opposite side to prevent deformation of the container. In the integrally formed toner container, a rigid body such as a metal rod inserted into the container from the toner filling port at the other end of the container is pressed against the toner supply port to avoid deformation. However, there is a problem that the rigid body continuously receives the load due to the pressing by the continuous use for a long period of time, causing metal fatigue and eventually causing cracking breakage.

Further, the shape of the container is not limited to a cylindrical shape because of various requirements such as increasing the capacity as much as possible, loading into the apparatus, and increasing the toner replenishing efficiency in the apparatus. A complicated shape having a change in inner diameter is also used as a toner storage container. In such a container, it is not easy to prevent deformation by pressing through a rigid rod.

As described above, fusing a film-like sheet to the toner supply port of an integrally formed container or a container having a more complicated shape requires that the container be pressed by a horn or a hot plate. As a result, poor fusion may occur, and the container may be easily deformed. Further, since such deformation of the container is promoted, it is difficult to recycle the container, and there is a problem that the present invention also has an impact on recent environmental problems.

According to the present invention, when a film-like sheet is fused to a toner supply port of a toner storage container, the entire surface of the fusion surface is completely fused, and a fusion portion generated when the film-like sheet is fused is formed. The purpose of the present invention is to prevent the deformation of the toner container and the container itself, and to promote the recycling of the container by refilling the toner, thereby extending the life of the toner storage container.

[0015]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present inventors have made intensive studies and as a result, have found the above-mentioned claims 1 to 1
It has been found that the object of the present invention can be achieved by adopting any one of the inventions described in 2.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In general, a toner container has a structure in which a toner filling port and a toner replenishing port are arranged at both ends of the container. Particularly, in a container formed integrally, the toner replenishing port is provided on a closed side. In most cases, it is arranged on the side surface near the bottom (see FIG. 1 or 2). When a film-like sheet is fused and attached to the toner supply port arranged in such a location, the force applied to the container when the horn or the hot plate is pressed is likely to be applied locally around the toner supply port. In this case, the fused portion is partially deformed, and the container itself is easily deformed by the applied force.

The film-like sheet of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a film-like material having a fusible property. The film-like sheet is not made of only a thermoplastic resin such as a polypropylene film sheet. For example, a material in which the surface of paper is coated with a resin or a material in which the surface of an aluminum foil is coated with a resin may be used.

The fusion of the present invention includes, for example, generally known thermal fusion, ultrasonic fusion, fusion with high frequency, and the like.

The jig of the present invention is to support the container wall from the inside of the container so that the container can withstand the force applied to the fusion portion or the container by the horn or the hot plate when performing the fusion. , Which is brought into close contact with the wall of the container from inside the container.

[0021]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an example of a method and an apparatus for manufacturing a toner container according to the present invention, particularly a method and an apparatus for fusing a film-like sheet to a toner supply port will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a typical structure of a method and an apparatus for fusing a film-like sheet to a toner supply port. It uses an air picker used to carry a container in a conventional manufacturing process, and uses a rubber-like plastic material for a portion that is in close contact with the inner wall of the container when performing fusion. In this case, the rubber-like plastic material means that the material is processed into a predetermined shape made of a material having rubber elasticity.

In the pressing mechanism, the rubber-like plastic material is expanded by the gas sent and pressed against the inner wall of the container. As a result, the fusion portion and the container itself can withstand the force from the horn or the hot plate applied when fusion is performed, so that they are not deformed.

FIG. 2A shows a state before the air picker 7 is pushed into the toner storage container 1. A rubber-like plastic object 8 is attached to the tip of the air picker 7 so as to be movable in the direction of the arrow.

FIG. 2 (2) shows a state in which the air picker 7 (in which a pipe 11 through which gas passes passes to the plastic object 8) is pushed to a predetermined position. Above the toner supply port 3 is a horn or a hot fusion head 9 serving as a hot plate.

FIG. 2 (3) shows that the air is further sent to the rubber-like plastic material 8 at the tip of the air picker 7 through the pipe 11.
The film-like sheet 4 sandwiched between the heat-sealing head 9 which has been inflated and presses the inner wall of the tip end of the toner storage container and descended from above is reliably fused to the peripheral edge of the toner supply port 3. Is shown.

When the inner diameter of the portion to be fused is locally small, the pedestal is used to hold the container in a well-balanced state when performing the fusion or to prevent the container from being deformed by the applied force. (Pedestal) 10 is preferably used.

When a gas is injected into a rubber-like plastic material and expanded, the pressure applied to the plastic material is equal to the pressure of the heat welding head 9.
It is essential that the pressure be approximately equal to the force applied. If the pressure is smaller than the force applied from the horn or hot plate, the container may be dented, and if the plastic material is expanded by applying a larger pressure than the horn or hot plate, Since the force pressing the inner wall of the container is superior, there is a possibility that the container is deformed in the expanding direction. Therefore, the force applied to the plastic must be approximately equal to the force applied to the container from the horn or hot plate.

It should be noted that claims 3, 6, 9 and 12 of the present invention.
The jig having a mechanical mechanism described in the above, for example, has a structure in which the angle is combined, and when a force is applied in the pressing direction outside the container, the jig in the container inside in conjunction with this The one in which the tip is pressed against the inner wall of the container is also included.
The rigid body according to claims 5 and 11 of the present invention includes, for example, those having an air chuck or a pantograph-like mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the toner container provided with the toner supply port 3. As shown in FIG. For example, the cross-sectional view shown in FIG. 3A shows a state in which a rubber-like plastic material 8 is put in a portion 12 of the toner storage container where the toner supply port 3 is provided. When the rubber-like plastic material 8 is expanded by air, the rigid body 13 is attached to a portion that comes into contact with the peripheral edge of the toner supply port 3. With such a configuration, pressure can be applied more uniformly to the peripheral edge of the toner supply port 3. Further, if necessary, a thin rubber elastic layer may be provided on the surface of the rigid body in contact with the peripheral edge of the toner supply port 3.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing a rigid body 13 in contact with the peripheral edge of the toner supply port 3 and a rigid body 14 below the rigid body 13 using a spring 15 to form a rubber-like plastic body. When the object 8 expands, the spring 15 is pushed and the rigid body 13 is pushed.
Are raised upward and come into contact with the peripheral edge of the toner supply port (not shown).

As described above, the present invention has a pressing mechanism that is not affected by the shape of the container, so that the present invention can be applied to containers of any shape.

[0033]

According to the present invention, when a film-like sheet is fused to a toner supply port of a toner container, the entire surface of the fusion surface is completely fused, and the fusion generated when the film-like sheet is fused. The deformation of the attachment portion and the deformation of the container itself can be prevented. Further, the life of the toner container can be extended by promoting the recycling of the container by refilling the toner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a typical toner storage container to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a method and an apparatus for fusing a sheet to a toner supply port.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the toner storage container provided with a toner supply port.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toner storage container 2 Toner filling port 3 Toner replenishing port 4 Sheet 7 Air picker 8 Rubber-like plastic material 9 Heat fusion head 10 Receiving stand (pedestal)

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A method for manufacturing a toner storage container, wherein a film-like sheet is fused to a toner supply port of a toner storage container having a toner filling port and a toner supply port. A method for manufacturing a toner storage container, wherein the method is performed using a jig inside. 2. The method of manufacturing a toner container according to claim 1, wherein the step of fusing the film-like sheet is performed by using a jig utilizing gas inside the container. Manufacturing method of storage container. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of fusing the film-like sheet is performed by using a jig utilizing mechanical external force inside the container. Of producing a toner container. 4. A method for manufacturing a toner container according to claim 2, wherein, when the film-like sheet is fused, the container includes a portion using a rubber-like plastic material and a pipe through which gas passes. A method for manufacturing a toner storage container, wherein the method is performed using a tool. 5. The method for manufacturing a toner container according to claim 2, wherein when the film-like sheet is fused, the container includes a portion formed of a rubber-like plastic material and a rigid body and a pipe through which gas passes. A method for manufacturing a toner storage container, which is performed using a jig. 6. The method for manufacturing a toner container according to claim 2, wherein when the film-like sheet is fused,
A method for manufacturing a toner storage container, wherein the method is performed using a jig including a portion having a mechanical mechanism inside a container and a pipe through which gas passes. 7. A toner container manufacturing apparatus for fusing a film-like sheet to a toner supply port of a toner storage container having a toner filling port and a toner supply port. An apparatus for manufacturing a toner container, wherein the apparatus is operated using a jig inside the container. 8. The toner storage container manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the step of fusing the film-shaped sheet is performed by using a jig utilizing gas inside the container. Container manufacturing equipment. 9. The manufacturing apparatus for a toner storage container according to claim 7, wherein the step of fusing the film-shaped sheet is performed by using a jig utilizing a mechanical external force inside the container. For manufacturing a toner container. 10. The apparatus for manufacturing a toner container according to claim 8, wherein when the film-like sheet is fused,
An apparatus for manufacturing a toner container, wherein the apparatus is manufactured by using a jig including a portion made of a rubber-like plastic material and a pipe through which gas passes inside the container. 11. The apparatus for manufacturing a toner container according to claim 8, wherein when the film-like sheet is fused,
An apparatus for manufacturing a toner container, wherein the apparatus is manufactured by using a jig including a portion formed of a rubber-like plastic material and a rigid body and a pipe through which gas is passed inside the container. 12. The apparatus for manufacturing a toner container according to claim 8, wherein when the film-like sheet is fused,
An apparatus for manufacturing a toner storage container, which is performed using a jig including a portion having a mechanical mechanism and a pipe through which gas passes.