JP2003098814A - Toner supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner supply device, capable of pulverizing a cohered toner in a toner-storing container and preventing the cohered toner from being supplied to a developing part. SOLUTION: In the toner supply device, incorporating an agitator 3 comprising a blade part 5 for supplying a toner 6 to the developing part by rotating and a rotary shaft 4, the blade part 5 of the agitator 3 is set as the toner supply device having a comb-tooth shape. When the agitator 3 is rotated, the coaggulation toner 6 passes through the gaps of comb-teeth, and is pulverized to be fine particles. An original fine particle toner is made by continued agitation, and can be prevented from being supplied directly to the developing part in a state of the coaggulation toner 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to a developing portion of an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process, and more particularly to a toner in which agglomerated toner is prevented from entering the developing portion. Regarding the replenishing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a developing unit of an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process. The toner replenishing device 1 is arranged at a position adjacent to the toner hopper 22 of the developing section 20. The toner supply device 1 has a toner container 2 inside. The toner container 2 has a built-in agitator 3 for supplying toner to the developing unit 20.

By the way, the toner contained in the toner container 2 may be aggregated due to vibration during transportation of the product or long-term storage. When the toner container in which a part of the toner is aggregated is set in the image forming apparatus, the toner is agitated by the rotation of the agitator 3, but it is not enough to pulverize the aggregated toner, and the aggregated toner is directly transferred to the developing unit 20. It may be supplied. If such agglomerated toner is supplied to the developing unit 20, there is a problem in that toner that is not sufficiently charged is scattered by the agglomerated toner, and image defects such as background stain occur.

[0004]

In view of the above problems, the present invention can prevent the aggregated toner from being crushed in the toner container to prevent the aggregated toner from being supplied to the developing section. An object is to provide a toner replenishing device.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is a toner having a built-in agitator composed of a blade and a rotary shaft for supplying the toner to the developing unit by rotating. In the replenishing device, the wing portion of the agitator is a toner replenishing device having a comb tooth shape. Since the wings of the agitator have a comb-teeth shape, the aggregated toner can be crushed when passing through.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the toner replenishing device according to the first aspect, the wing portion of the agitator is
In the toner replenishing device, the comb teeth are formed of triangular prisms, and one vertices of a triangle, which is a cross section of the comb teeth of the triangular prisms, are arranged so that the wing portions are oriented in the rotation direction of the agitator. By forming the comb teeth in the shape of a triangular prism so that one apex of the triangle in the cross section faces the rotation direction of the agitator, the aggregated toner can be effectively pulverized. Also, the torque can be reduced.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the toner replenishing device according to the item 1, the toner replenishing device includes a plurality of blade portions of the agitator. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the toner replenishing device according to the third aspect, the blade portions of the plurality of agitators are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis of the agitator. By making the number of wings of the agitator plural, it is possible to more efficiently pulverize the aggregated toner.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the toner replenishing device according to the fourth aspect, the wing portion of the agitator is
The toner replenishing device is arranged so that the comb-teeth shape does not overlap the comb-teeth shape of the wing arranged at a position symmetrical with respect to the rotation axis of the agitator. By arranging the agitator blades in this way, it is possible to more reliably pulverize the aggregated toner.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a toner accommodating portion of the toner supply device according to the first embodiment. The toner container 2 contains the toner 6,
The agitator 3 including the wing portion 5 and the rotary shaft 4 is incorporated. The agitator 3 supplies the toner 6 to a developing unit (not shown) by rotating. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the shape of the wing portion of the agitator in the first embodiment. The wing portion 5a of the agitator 3 has a comb tooth shape. When the agitator 3 rotates, the aggregated toner 6a passes through the interstices of the comb teeth and is pulverized into fine particles. By continuing the agitation, the original fine-grained toner can be prevented and can be prevented from being directly supplied to the developing unit in the state of the aggregated toner 6a.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the shape of the wing portion of the agitator in the second embodiment. Feather part 5 of agitator 3
In b, each comb tooth is formed by a triangular prism. Further, one apex of the triangle, which is the cross section of the triangular prism, is arranged so as to face the rotation direction of the agitator 3, and forms a comb tooth shape. When the agitator 3 rotates, the aggregated toner 6a passes between the comb teeth in the shape of a triangular prism, and can be pulverized more efficiently. Further, since one apex of the triangle of the cross section is arranged so as to face the rotation direction of the agitator 3, the torque can be reduced.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of a toner accommodating portion of the toner replenishing device according to the third embodiment. A plurality of blade portions 5a or 5b of the agitator 3 shown in FIG. 2 or 3 are provided. Thereby, the aggregated toner 6a can be pulverized more efficiently.

FIG. 5 is a view showing the arrangement of the wings of the agitator in the fourth embodiment. The plurality of blades 5b of the agitator 3 are arranged at symmetrical positions with respect to the rotation shaft 4. Although the wing portion 5b is depicted in FIG. 5, the wing portion 5a
May be By arranging the wings 5a or 5b in this way, the aggregated toner 6a can be pulverized more efficiently.

FIG. 6 is a view showing the arrangement of the wings of the agitator in the fifth embodiment. The plurality of blades 5b of the agitator 3 are arranged at symmetrical positions with respect to the rotation shaft 4, as in the fourth embodiment. In the present embodiment, the comb teeth of the wing 5b are arranged so as not to overlap the comb teeth of the opposite wing 5b. That is,
Both wing portions 5b are arranged such that the gaps 5c of the comb teeth are alternately arranged with the rotating shaft 4 as a boundary. As a result, the aggregated toner 6 that has passed through the gap 5c between the comb teeth of the one wing portion 5b.
Since a is crushed by the comb teeth of the other wing portion 5b, crushing can be performed more reliably without causing unevenness.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, by providing the comb teeth on the wings of the agitator, the aggregated toner is crushed in the toner container and the aggregated toner is supplied to the developing unit. It is possible to provide a toner replenishing device that can prevent the toner from being discharged. By forming the comb teeth of the wing portion in the shape of a triangular prism and arranging one vertex of the triangle of the cross section to face the rotation direction of the agitator, the aggregated toner can be pulverized more effectively and the torque can be reduced. Furthermore, by arranging the plurality of blades symmetrically with respect to the rotation axis of the agitator, the aggregated toner can be pulverized more efficiently. In particular, by arranging the comb teeth of the wing so that they do not overlap with the comb teeth of the opposing wing, it is possible to crush the aggregated toner reliably without unevenness.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a toner accommodating portion of a toner supply device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a shape of a wing portion of an agitator according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a shape of a wing portion of an agitator according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a toner accommodating portion of a toner supply device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an arrangement of wing portions of an agitator according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an arrangement of wing portions of an agitator according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic configuration diagram of a developing unit of an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic process.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Toner supply device 2 Toner container 3 agitator 4 rotation axes 5 feathers 6 toner 6a Aggregation toner 20 Development Department

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A toner replenishing device having a built-in agitator composed of a rotary shaft and a blade for supplying toner to a developing unit by rotation, wherein the blade of the agitator has a comb tooth shape. Toner supply device. 2. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the wing portion of the agitator has comb teeth having a triangular prism shape, and one apex of a triangle that is a cross section of the comb teeth of the triangular prism has a vertex of the agitator. A toner replenishing device, characterized in that the wings are arranged so as to face the direction of rotation. 3. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of blade portions of the agitator. 4. The toner replenishing device according to claim 3, wherein the blade portions of the plurality of agitators are arranged at positions symmetrical with respect to a rotation axis of the agitator. 5. The toner replenishing device according to claim 4, wherein the vane portion of the agitator has a comb-teeth shape that is arranged symmetrically with respect to the rotation axis of the agitator. A toner replenishing device characterized by being arranged so as not to overlap.