JP2003114569A - Toner replenishing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner replenishing device capable of cleanly and easily replenishing a toner hopper with toner from a toner cartridge with extremely simple and inexpensive constitution. SOLUTION: The toner cartridge is equipped with a film attached so that it can cover an aperture part and can be peeled therefrom, and a shutter member covering the aperture part and capable of sliding, and further one end of the film is fixed on the shutter member, and the movement of the shutter member is regulated by a stopper member provided in the toner hopper so that the shutter member is relatively opened and closed by the sliding operation of the toner cartridge in the case of replenishment with the toner. Then, the peeling operation of the film whose one end is fixed on the shutter member is performed with the opening action of the shutter member, and the housing operation of the film whose one end is fixed on the shutter member is performed with the closing operation of the shutter member.

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 toner hopper of a developing device provided in a laser beam printer using an electrophotographic system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a laser beam printer or the like using an electrophotographic system, a toner cartridge containing toner is removably placed on the upper part of a toner hopper, and the toner is replenished inside the toner hopper through both openings. As one of the above replenishment methods, there is a method in which a toner cartridge is slid and mounted on a toner hopper, and the toner cartridge covers not only a film that covers the opening and is peelably bonded, but also a slide that covers the opening. In this case, a guide member for guiding the toner cartridge to the toner hopper opening portion and a slide lid are normally provided in the toner hopper, and the movement of the shutter member of the toner cartridge is further restricted. A regulating member for opening the shutter member is provided. By placing the toner cartridge on the toner hopper and slidingly engaging the guide means, the shutter member of the toner cartridge is relatively opened, and when the predetermined position of the toner hopper opening is reached, the film is peeled off by hand. Take toner is supplied into the toner hopper.

[0003]

As described above, in the prior art, the toner cartridge is slidably engaged with the guide means of the toner hopper, and the film is peeled off when it reaches the predetermined position of the opening of the toner hopper. However, there is a problem in that the toner attached to the film surface stains the hands or the surroundings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a toner replenishing device having a very simple and inexpensive structure which can cleanly and easily replenish toner from a toner cartridge into a toner hopper.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a toner cartridge containing toner is slidably mounted in an opening provided in an upper portion of a toner hopper, and the toner contained in the toner cartridge is inserted into the toner hopper through the toner cartridge opening. In a toner replenishing device that replenishes toner into the toner hopper through an opening, when the toner cartridge slides, the shutter member is relatively opened / closed by restricting its movement by a stopper member provided in the toner hopper, and , Performing the peeling operation of the film with the opening operation of the shutter member,
In order to perform the accommodating operation of the film with the closing operation of the shutter member, a film is adhered to the opening of the toner cartridge so that the film can be peeled off, and a shutter member that covers the opening and is slidable is provided. One end of the film is fixed to the shutter member.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the toner replenishing device, and FIG.
3 is a detailed cross-sectional view showing the structure of the toner cartridge, FIGS. 3 and 4 are explanatory views showing the procedure up to the replenishment of toner to the toner hopper by the toner cartridge, and FIG. 5 is a case where the above-mentioned toner cartridge is erroneously operated when mounted on the toner hopper. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the toner replenishing device according to the present embodiment is mainly composed of a toner hopper 1 and a toner cartridge 2 which contains toner and is detachably mounted on the upper portion of the toner hopper 1. A toner cartridge receiving portion 3 on which the toner cartridge 2 is first placed, a stopper 4 for restricting the movement of the slide shutter 13 of the toner cartridge 2, and a toner cartridge when the slide shutter 13 is engaged with the stopper 4. 2 is an engaging portion 5 for suppressing the floating on the opposite side in the sliding direction, an opening 6 for replenishing toner, a guide means 7 for guiding the slide mounting of the toner cartridge 2, a sealing of the opening and a movement of the toner cartridge 2. Preventing toner leakage from the slidable slide lid 8 and the opening 6 for final regulation It is composed of sponge seal 9. On the other hand, the toner cartridge 2 is provided with a seat 10 provided around the opening of the toner cartridge, a handle 11 for facilitating carrying of the toner cartridge 2 and sliding mounting on the toner hopper 1, and a container opening. A peelable film 12 and a slidable slide shutter 13 for preventing toner leakage when the toner cartridge 2 is detached from the toner hopper 1 after toner replenishment.

FIG. 2 shows, as a supplement to the explanation with reference to FIG.
The configuration of the toner cartridge 2 has been described in detail.

Next, the procedure for replenishing toner according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. When the toner cartridge 2 is placed on the receiving portion 3 and the handle 11 is held to start sliding in the direction of arrow A, the slide shutter 13 is engaged with the stopper 4 and its movement is restricted. At this time, there is a possibility that the frictional force between the seat portion 10 and the slide shutter 13 lifts up the rear side with respect to the sliding direction of the toner cartridge 2 with the stopper 4 as a fulcrum, but the engagement portion 5 minimizes the lift up. The stable slide is possible. When the toner cartridge 2 is slid further,
The slide shutter 13 starts to open relatively due to the engagement with the stopper 4, and almost at the same time, the peeling of the film 12 whose one end is fixed to the slide shutter 13 from the toner cartridge 2 starts. Next, while the seat portion 10 of the toner cartridge 2 is engaged with the guide means 7, the slide lid 8 is pushed open to start opening, and peeling of the film 12 progresses according to the opening amount of the slide lid 8, When the peeling progresses to the opening of the toner cartridge 2, the toner 14 is supplied to the toner hopper 1. Then, the toner cartridge 2 is further slid, and when the end of the slide lid 8 hits the receiving portion 3 and the movement is restricted, the film 1
The peeling amount of 2 is the maximum. After the toner replenishment is completed, when the toner container 10 is slid in the opposite direction to the toner replenishment for detaching the toner cartridge 2, the engaging portion 8a provided on the slide lid 8 has the protrusion 10a provided on the seat portion 10. By engaging, the slide lid 8 returns to the initial state before toner replenishment together with the toner cartridge 2. On the other hand, since the film 12 is set to have a length and a positional relationship in which the peeling amount is not completely peeled even if the peeling amount is maximum, the toner cartridge 2 is accommodated in the initial positional relationship by returning the toner cartridge 2 together with the slide lid 8 to the initial state. . Therefore, unlike the prior art, the trouble of peeling off the film to which the toner adheres at the time of toner replenishment and disposing of the film while paying attention to stains is eliminated, and clean and simple toner replenishment can be performed.

By the way, when the toner cartridge 2 is not completely placed on the toner hopper 1,
For example, as shown in FIG. 5, even if the slide shutter 13 rides on the stopper 4 and slides the toner cartridge 2, the seat portion 11 hits against the end of the guide means 7 and cannot slide. It is configured so that it can be easily determined that the mounting is not completed because it is out of position 7.

[0011]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION The troublesomeness of peeling off the film to which toner is attached at the time of toner replenishment and disposing of the film while paying attention to dirt is eliminated, and clean and simple toner replenishment can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a toner replenishing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a toner cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a toner supply operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a toner replenishing operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a case where an erroneous operation is performed at the time of toner supply in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a toner hopper, 2 is a toner cartridge, 3 is a receiving portion, 4 is a stopper, 5 is an engaging portion, 6 is an opening portion, 7 is a guide means, 8 is a slide lid, 9 is a sponge seal, 10 is a seat portion, 11 Is a handle, 12 is a film, and 13 is a slide shutter.

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Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A toner replenishing device for replenishing toner into the toner hopper from the toner cartridge opening through the toner hopper opening by engaging a toner cartridge with guide means provided on the upper part of the toner hopper and slidingly mounting the toner cartridge in the opening. In the toner cartridge, the toner cartridge is provided with a film that covers the opening and is detachably attached, and a shutter member that covers the opening and is slidable. Further, one end of the film is fixed to the shutter, When replenishing the toner cartridge, the shutter member is relatively opened and closed due to the movement of the stopper member provided in the toner hopper when the toner cartridge slides, and one end of the shutter member is opened as the shutter member is opened. The peeling operation of the fixed film is performed. Toner supply device characterized by receiving operation of the film end to the shutter member with the closing operation of the shutter member is fixed is carried out. 2. A position at which the toner cartridge rides on a stopper member provided in the toner hopper and the slide of the toner cartridge is restricted when the toner cartridge is not completely placed on the toner hopper. 2. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, further comprising guide means for the toner hopper.