JP2003122114A - Toner replenishment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner replenishment device in which smooth slide attachment/detachment of a toner cartridge to/from a toner hopper can be performed and the prevention of a leak of toner from the toner cartridge or toner hopper can be prevented by means of an extremely simple and inexpensive structure, in a toner replenishment device for an electrophotographic laser beam printer in which the toner cartridge is set on the toner hopper by being slid. SOLUTION: A sealing member provided in the periphery of the opening of the toner hopper is made a double-structure formed of a resin sheet and sponge. The periphery of the opening, particularly, the edges of the opening in the direction where the toner cartridge and a slidable lid are slid are formed by extending and rounding the resin sheet.

Description

Description: 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. . 2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a laser beam printer or the like utilizing an electrophotographic system, a toner cartridge containing toner is removably mounted above a toner hopper, and the toner is supplied into the toner hopper through both openings. You. As one of the replenishing methods, there is a method in which a toner cartridge is slid and mounted on a toner hopper for replenishment. The toner cartridge has a film and an opening which cover a bottom opening and are peelably adhered. A slidable shutter member is provided for covering. In this case, a guide means and a slide lid for guiding the toner cartridge to the toner hopper opening are usually provided on the toner hopper, and the slide lid is further pressed against the slide lid to prevent toner leakage from the inside of the toner hopper and replenish the toner from the toner cartridge. In this case, a seal member is generally provided for pressing around the toner cartridge opening to prevent toner leakage. When the toner cartridge is placed on the toner hopper and slide-engaged with the guide means, the shutter member of the toner cartridge relatively opens, and after sliding to a predetermined position of the toner hopper, the film is peeled off from the toner cartridge. The toner is replenished into the toner hopper. At this time, the toner is sealed by a seal member provided around the opening to prevent scattering and leakage of the toner to the outside during replenishment. In the prior art, when the toner cartridge is slid to and detached from the toner hopper, the toner cartridge is caught by an edge of a seal provided around the opening of the toner hopper, so that the slide can be smoothly attached and detached. There is a problem in that the seal is turned off, the sealability is impaired, and the toner leaks. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toner replenishing apparatus which can smoothly slide and detach a toner cartridge to and from a toner hopper with an extremely simple and inexpensive configuration, and which reliably prevents toner leakage from the toner cartridge or the toner hopper. It is to be. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to slide a toner cartridge containing toner into and out of an opening provided at an upper portion of a toner hopper and to transfer toner contained in the toner cartridge to an opening at the bottom of the toner cartridge. In a toner replenishing apparatus for supplying toner into the toner hopper through a toner hopper opening, a slide lid is provided around the toner hopper opening when the toner cartridge slides in and out, and is pressed against the slide lid to prevent toner leakage from inside the toner hopper. And a seal member for preventing leakage of toner when replenishing toner from the toner cartridge. The seal member has a two-layer structure of a resin sheet and a sponge, and slides around the opening, especially the toner cartridge and the slide lid. Resin the edge against the direction This is achieved by performing a rounding process and a shape by extending the sheet made of a material. 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 FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the toner replenishing apparatus according to the present embodiment is mainly composed of a toner hopper 1 and a toner cartridge 2 which accommodates toner and is detachably mounted on the upper part of the toner hopper 1. A toner cartridge receiving portion 3 on which the toner cartridge 2 is first mounted, 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 2, an engaging portion 5 for suppressing the floating on the side opposite to the sliding direction, an opening 6 for replenishing the toner, a guide means 7 for guiding the slide mounting of the toner cartridge 2, and sealing of the opening and movement of the toner cartridge 2. Slidable slide lid 8 for final regulation, preventing toner leakage from opening 6 It is composed of the sealing member 9. On the other hand, the toner cartridge 2 has a seat 10 provided around the opening of the toner cartridge, a handle 11 for carrying the toner cartridge 2 and sliding the toner cartridge 2 on the toner hopper 1, and a container opening. It comprises a film 12 whose part is sealed and peelably bonded, and a slidable slide shutter 13 for preventing toner leakage when the toner cartridge 2 is detached from the toner hopper 1 after toner supply. The structure of the seal member of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Referring to FIG. When the toner cartridge 2 is placed on the receiving portion 3 and slide mounting is started, the slide shutter 13 engages with the stopper 4 and is restricted from moving. When the toner cartridge 2 is further slid,
As soon as the seat 10 engages with the guide means 7 and the slide lid 8 starts to be pushed open by the seat 10, the seat 10 starts to contact the seal member 9. Incidentally, the sealing member 9 in the present embodiment is used.
As shown in FIG. 3, PE is applied to the surface of the urethane sponge.
It has a two-layer structure in which a T-made sheet is stuck, and the PET sheet is partially extended and rounded to prevent the seat from being caught and turned up. When the toner cartridge 2 is further slid, the seat portion 10 reaches the edge of the seal opening portion. Here, the seat portion 10 is similarly rounded to prevent catching and turning over. After toner replenishment, as shown in FIG. 4, the edge of the opening of the seal member 9 is rounded in the same manner as described above to prevent the slide lid 8 from being caught and turned up just before the slide lid 8 is completely closed. ing. Incidentally, as a matter of course, slopes a and b are provided at the end of the seat 10 and the end of the slide lid 8 so that the structure is hard to catch. According to the present invention, there is provided a toner replenishing apparatus capable of smoothly mounting and dismounting a toner cartridge on a toner hopper with an extremely simple and inexpensive structure, and reliably preventing toner leakage from the toner cartridge or the toner hopper. Can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a toner supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an operation procedure of the toner supply device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing an operation procedure of the toner supply device according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an operation procedure of the toner supply device according to the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... toner hopper, 2 ... toner cartridge, 3 ... receiving part, 4 ... stopper, 5 ... engaging part, 6 ... opening, 7 ... guide means, 8 ... slide lid, 9 ... seal member, 10 ... the seat,
11: Handle, 12: Film, 13: Slide shutter.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A toner cartridge containing toner is slidably attached to and detached from an opening provided in an upper portion of a toner hopper, and toner contained in the toner cartridge is passed through a toner hopper opening from a toner cartridge bottom opening through a toner hopper opening. A toner replenishing device for replenishing toner into the inside of the toner cartridge.Around the opening of the toner hopper, a slide lid that opens and closes as the toner cartridge slides in and out. A seal member is provided to prevent toner leakage during replenishment. The seal member has a two-layer structure of a resin sheet and a sponge, and the edges of the toner cartridge and the slide lid in the sliding direction are rounded by extending the resin sheet. Belt round A toner replenishing device characterized in that the toner replenishing device has a round shape.