JP2005107392A - Toner cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner cartridge from which all the toner can be dropped easily; of which no part becomes dirty; and for which an exceptionally large space is not needed. <P>SOLUTION: The toner in the toner cartridge 1 is dropped into a toner tub 41 through an opening part 31a of a tumbler 3 by twisting a knob 43 of a lid 4 to turn the tumbler 3 180 degrees in the direction of an arrow B and turn the opening part 31a of a half-cylindrical part 31 of the tumbler 3 just downward. Then, the form of the inner peripheral edge part is arranged so that the tilt angle α of the inner peripheral edge part of the half-cylindrical part 31 of the tumbler 3 is larger than the angle of repose of the toner. Therefore, the toner in the toner cartridge 1 is smoothly dropped from the opening part 31a of the tumbler 3, and does not remain in the cartridge, and also the cartridge does not become dirty. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner cartridge for supplying toner to an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system.

  As is well known, in an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic system or an electrostatic recording system, a latent image is developed with toner, and it is necessary to replenish the toner according to consumption of the toner. For this reason, for example, a hopper is provided on the developing device, a toner cartridge is detachably mounted on the hopper, the toner is dropped from the toner cartridge to the hopper, and the toner is supplied from the hopper to the developing device.

  As such a toner cartridge, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, a cylindrical toner container is vibrated or swung to drop the toner from the opening of the toner container.

  Further, as shown in Patent Document 2, a cylinder for containing developer, an opening provided in the cylinder along the longitudinal direction of the cylinder, a seal member for releasably closing the opening, There are some which are provided with a protruding portion provided so as to protrude beyond the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder outside the extension in the longitudinal direction.

  Further, as disclosed in Patent Document 3, a flat rotary lid is provided at the opening of a semi-cylindrical container, and the rotary lid is rotated to discharge the toner in the container.

In addition, as disclosed in Patent Document 4, a pair of semi-cylindrical rotating containers are combined in a cylindrical shape, and the rotating containers are rotated together to form a double-spread door, so that the toner is naturally dropped.
JP-A-6-102763 JP 7-199623 A JP-A-4-274469 JP-A-4-220668

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since the opening of the toner container is small and the inclination of the inner wall surface in the vicinity of the opening is gentle, all of the toner does not fall and the toner may remain in the container. . In addition, a mechanism for vibrating or swinging the toner container is required, which increases the number of parts and the cost.

  In the technique of Patent Document 2, since the opening of the cylinder is small and the inclination of the inner wall surface in the vicinity of the opening is gentle, all of the toner does not fall and the toner may remain in the container.

  Furthermore, in the technique of Patent Document 3, the rotating lid is contaminated, and post-processing is troublesome.

  In the technique of Patent Document 4, a large space is required for opening the pair of rotating containers so that the image forming apparatus or the developing apparatus can be downsized.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and provides a toner cartridge that can easily drop all of the toner, has no dirty spots, and does not require a particularly large space. For the purpose.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention combines a semi-cylindrical fixed container and a rotating container in a cylindrical shape, and attaches the rotating container to the fixed container so as to be rotatable in the circumferential direction. The opening is opened and closed, and the inclination angle of the inner peripheral surface end of the rotating container when the opening is opened is made larger than the repose angle of the toner.

  Moreover, in this invention, each reinforcement member is provided in the outer peripheral side of a fixed container, and the inner peripheral side of a rotation container.

  Further, in the present invention, the toner is supplied only by natural fall from the opened opening.

  In the present invention, the toner cartridge is vibrated to promote the fall of the toner from the opened opening.

  Further, in the present invention, a protrusion for prohibiting rotation of the fixed container is provided on the outer peripheral side of the fixed container, and a rotation knob for rotating the rotary container is provided at the longitudinal end of the rotary container. A seal member is provided between the inner periphery of the container and the outer periphery of the rotating container.

  Moreover, in this invention, the protrusion part of the outer peripheral side of a fixed container serves as reinforcement of this fixed container.

  Further, the rotating container is mounted inside a semi-cylindrical rotating shutter provided on the toner supply side, and is rotated integrally with the rotating shutter.

  According to the present invention, a semicylindrical fixed container and a rotating container are combined in a cylindrical shape, the opening is opened by rotation of the rotating container, and the inclination angle of the inner peripheral surface end of the rotating container when the opening is opened is determined. It is larger than the angle of repose of the toner. The repose angle of the toner is an inclination angle at which the toner on the flat plate starts to collapse while gradually increasing the tilt angle of the flat plate on which the toner is placed. Therefore, the toner surely falls from the end portion of the inner peripheral surface of the rotating container when the opening is opened, the toner does not remain in the toner cartridge, and there is no place to be stained. Further, no special mechanism for vibrating or swinging the toner cartridge is required. Further, since the rotating container is rotated in the circumferential direction with respect to the fixed container, the space occupied by the toner cartridge does not change regardless of opening and closing of the opening, and a particularly large space is not necessary.

  Moreover, the strength of the semi-cylindrical fixed container and the rotating container is inferior to that of the cylindrical container. For this reason, each reinforcement member is provided in the outer peripheral side of a fixed container, and the inner peripheral side of a rotation container, and the fixed container and the rotation container are reinforced without inhibiting rotation of a rotation container.

  Further, the toner is supplied only by natural fall from the opened opening. Thereby, simplification of a structure can be achieved.

  Further, the toner cartridge is vibrated to promote the fall of the toner. If the toner is stored for a long period of time, the toner may agglomerate, making it difficult for the toner to fall spontaneously. Encourage natural fall. As means for applying an impact, there are a plunger, a mechanical hammer and the like which move in a solenoid.

Moreover, since the protrusion for inhibiting the rotation of the fixed container and the rotation knob for rotating the rotation container are provided, the rotation container can be rotated easily and reliably. Furthermore, since the sealing member is provided between the inner periphery of the fixed container and the outer periphery of the rotating container, it is possible to prevent toner leakage when the rotating container rotates. The protrusion can also serve as a reinforcement for the fixed container.
Further, a rotating container is mounted inside a semi-cylindrical rotating shutter provided on the toner supply side, and the rotating container is rotated integrally with the rotating shutter. In this case, the outer periphery of the rotating container is covered with the rotating shutter, so that the outer periphery of the rotating container is not contaminated.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 and 2 are a perspective view and an exploded view showing a toner cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The toner cartridge 1 of the present embodiment includes a substantially semi-cylindrical fixed container 2, a substantially semi-cylindrical rotating container 3, and a lid 4. The fixed container 2, the rotating container 3, and the lid 4 are synthetic resin molded products.

  The fixed container 2 has a semi-cylindrical part 21 and a half-moon-shaped wall part 22, each notch 23 a, 23 b is formed at each corner of the semi-cylindrical part 21, and the inner wall near one end of the semi-cylindrical part 21 is formed. A groove 24 is formed, and a linear protrusion 25 is formed on the upper portion of the semi-cylindrical portion 21.

  The rotating container 3 has a semi-cylindrical part 31, a cylindrical part 32, and a half-moon shaped wall part 33, and a convex part 34 and an annular convex part 35 are formed on the cylindrical part 32. A belt-like seal member 5 is attached along the edge of the opening 31 a of the semi-cylindrical portion 31.

  The lid 4 has a cylindrical portion 41 and a flange 42, a knob 43 is projected from a wall 41 a inside the cylindrical portion 41, and a convex portion 44 is formed on the outer periphery of the flange 42.

  Here, the semi-cylindrical part 31 of the rotating container 3 is inserted inside the semi-cylindrical part 21 of the fixed container 2, and the semi-cylindrical part 31 is held inside the semi-cylindrical part 21, and the cylindrical part is inserted into the groove 24 of the semi-cylindrical part 21. The 32 annular protrusions 35 are fitted to lock the fixed container 2 and the rotating container 3 with each other. And the convex part 34 of the cylindrical part 32 of the rotation container 3 is made to contact | abut to the notch 23a of the semicylindrical part 21 end of the fixed container 2, and the fixed container 2 and the rotation container 3 are positioned mutually.

  The peripheral walls of the semi-cylindrical portions 21 and 31 each draw an arc whose central angle slightly exceeds 180 degrees. Further, the inner peripheral diameter of the semi-cylindrical portion 21 is equal to the outer peripheral diameter of the semi-cylindrical portion 31. For this reason, the inner peripheral edge of the semi-cylindrical portion 21 overlaps and contacts the outer peripheral edge of the semi-cylindrical portion 31, and the semi-cylindrical portion 31 is fitted and supported inside the semi-cylindrical portion 21. Further, the half-moon shaped wall portion 25 of the fixed container 2 is in contact with the outside of the half-moon shaped wall portion 33 of the rotating container 3. Thereby, a cylindrical container is formed.

  The cylindrical container is filled with toner. At this time, the seal member 5 of the rotating container 3 serves to seal between the edge of the opening 31a of the rotating container 3 and the fixed container 2 and prevent toner leakage from both.

  Thereafter, the cylindrical portion 41 of the lid 4 is inserted and fixed inside the cylindrical portion 32 of the rotating container 3, and the lid 4 and the rotating container 3 are integrated. At this time, the convex portion 44 of the lid 42 of the lid 4 is positioned at a location rotated 90 degrees from the convex portion 34 of the cylindrical portion 32 of the rotating container 3. Thereby, the toner cartridge 1 containing the toner is formed.

  FIG. 3A shows a developing device to which the toner cartridge 1 is detachably attached. The developing device includes a toner tank 51 that contains toner, a developing roller 52 and a stirring roller 53 provided inside the toner tank 51, and the developing roller 52 and the stirring roller 53 are driven to rotate by the stirring roller 53. While stirring the toner, the toner is adhered to the outer periphery of the developing roller 52, and the developing roller 52 conveys and supplies the toner to a latent image carrier (not shown) of the image forming apparatus.

  A substantially semi-cylindrical inner wall 51a is provided above the toner tank 51, and a linear groove 51b is formed in the inner wall 51a. The toner cartridge 1 is inserted into the inner wall 51a. At this time, the protrusion 25 on the upper part of the semi-cylindrical portion 21 of the fixed container 2 is inserted into the groove 51 b of the inner wall 51 a of the toner tank 51 to position the fixed container 2 and prohibit the rotation of the fixed container 2. The inner wall 51a of the toner tank 51 draws an arc whose central angle slightly exceeds 180 degrees, so that the toner cartridge 1 can be held and supported without dropping.

  Then, the knob 43 of the lid 4 is twisted to rotate the rotating container 3 180 degrees in the arrow direction B as shown in FIG. 3B, and the convex portion 34 of the cylindrical portion 32 of the rotating container 3 is moved to the fixed container 2. The rotating container 3 is positioned by contacting the notch 23 b at one end of the semi-cylindrical portion 21 and fitting the convex portion 44 of the collar 42 of the lid 4 into the groove 51 b of the inner wall 51 a of the toner tank 51. As a result, the opening 31 a of the semi-cylindrical portion 31 of the rotating container 3 faces directly downward, the toner in the toner cartridge 1 falls into the toner tank 51 through the opening 31 a of the rotating container 3, and the toner is supplied to the toner tank 51. Is done.

  At this time, the shape of the end portion of the inner peripheral surface is set so that the inclination angle α of the end portion of the inner peripheral surface of the semi-cylindrical portion 31 of the rotating container 3 is larger than the repose angle of the toner. The repose angle of the toner is an inclination angle at which the toner on the flat plate starts to collapse while gradually increasing the tilt angle of the flat plate on which the toner is placed. Therefore, when the opening 31a of the rotating container 3 is directed downward, the toner in the toner cartridge 1 quickly drops from the opening 31a of the rotating container 3, and the toner does not remain in the toner cartridge 1 and there is no place to get dirty. . Further, no special mechanism for vibrating or swinging the toner cartridge 1 is required. Furthermore, since the rotating container 3 is rotated in the circumferential direction with respect to the fixed container 2, the occupied space of the toner cartridge 1 does not change regardless of opening and closing of the opening 31a, and a particularly large space is not necessary. Further, the sealing member 5 of the rotating container 3 seals between the edge of the opening 31a of the rotating container 3 and the fixed container 2 even when the rotating container 3 rotates, thereby preventing toner leakage from both. . Furthermore, since the protrusion 25 at the upper part of the semi-cylindrical portion 21 of the fixed container 2 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the semi-cylindrical portion 21, the semi-cylindrical portion 21 is reinforced by the protrusion 25, and the bending and deformation of the fixed container 2 are suppressed. Is done.

  FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing a second embodiment of the toner cartridge of the present invention. The toner cartridge 1A of this embodiment forms a cylindrical container by combining the fixed container 2A and the rotating container 3A in place of the fixed container 2 and the rotating container 3 of FIGS. 1 and 2, and this cylindrical container After the toner is filled, the lid 4 is inserted into one end of the rotating container 3A.

  A plurality of ribs 26 are integrally formed on the outer side of the semi-cylindrical portion 21 of the fixed container 2A. Also, a plurality of ribs 36 are integrally formed inside the semi-cylindrical portion 31 of the rotating container 3A.

  Since the fixed container 2A and the rotating container 3A are semi-cylindrical, their strength is inferior to that of a cylindrical container. Therefore, each rib 26 is provided outside the fixed container 2A, and each rib 36 is provided inside the rotating container 3A, so that the fixed container 2A and the rotating container 3A are reinforced without hindering the rotation of the rotating container 3A.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing Embodiment 3 of the toner cartridge of the present invention. The toner cartridge 1B of this embodiment forms a cylindrical container by combining the fixed container 2B and the rotating container 3B in place of the fixed container 2 and the rotating container 3 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and this cylindrical container After the toner is filled, the lid 4 is inserted into one end of the rotating container 3B.

  In the toner cartridge 1B of this embodiment, the linear protrusion is not formed on the upper part of the semi-cylindrical portion 21 of the fixed container 2B, and instead, the linear protrusion 31a is formed on the lower part of the semi-cylindrical part 31 of the rotating container 3B. doing.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the main body housing of the developing device to which the toner cartridge 1B is mounted. This developing device is provided with a toner tank, a developing roller, a stirring roller, and the like, similar to the developing device of FIG. 3A, and the toner cartridge 1B is mounted on a substantially semi-cylindrical rotary shutter 62 on the upper side of the main body housing 61. It is attached detachably.

  Both ends of the rotary shutter 62 are received by the half-moon-shaped cut portions 63 of the side walls 61a of the main body housing 61, and are rotatably supported. A linear groove 62 a is formed on the inner periphery of the rotary shutter 62.

  Here, in order to mount the toner cartridge 1B of FIG. 7B on the rotary shutter 62 of the developing device of FIG. 7A, the toner cartridge 1B is fitted inside the rotary shutter 62 as shown in FIG. 7C. Then, the protrusion 31a at the bottom of the semi-cylindrical portion 31 of the rotating container 3B is inserted into the groove 62a on the inner periphery of the rotary shutter 62. Further, both ends of the semi-cylindrical portion 21 of the fixed container 2B are brought into contact with the top plate 61b of the main body housing 61, thereby prohibiting the rotation of the fixed container 2B.

Then, the knob 43 of the lid 4 is twisted to rotate the semicylindrical portion 31 of the rotating container 3B by 180 degrees in the arrow direction B as shown in FIG. At this time, the protrusion 31a at the lower part of the semi-cylindrical part 31 is caught in the groove 62a on the inner periphery of the rotary shutter 62, and the rotary shutter 62 follows and rotates. It is sandwiched between the part 21 and the semi-cylindrical part 31.
In this manner, when the rotary shutter 62 is provided on the developing device side and the rotary container 3B of the toner cartridge 1B is overlapped with the rotary shutter 62 and integrally rotated, the outer periphery of the rotary container 3B does not become dirty.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be variously modified. For example, the shape of the ribs of the fixed container and the rotating container may be changed. Further, the rotating container and the lid may be integrally formed. Further, the toner cartridge may be vibrated to promote the fall of the toner. If the toner is stored for a long period of time, the toner may agglomerate, making it difficult for the toner to fall spontaneously. Encourage natural fall. As means for applying an impact, there are a plunger, a mechanical hammer and the like which move in a solenoid.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a toner cartridge according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the toner cartridge of FIG. 1. 2A is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a developing device equipped with the toner cartridge of FIG. 1, and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view showing a state where toner is supplied from the toner cartridge to the developing device. FIG. 6 is an exploded view illustrating a toner cartridge according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a toner cartridge according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a main body housing of a developing device to which the toner cartridge of FIG. 5 is mounted. (A) is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the developing device of FIG. 6, (b) is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the toner cartridge of FIG. 5, and (c) is a developing device equipped with the toner cartridge. FIG. 3D is a schematic cross-sectional view, and FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where toner is supplied from the toner cartridge to the developing device.

Explanation of symbols

1 Toner cartridge 2 Fixed container 3 Rotating container 4 Lid

Claims (7)

A semi-cylindrical fixed container and a rotating container are combined in a cylindrical shape, and the rotating container is rotatably attached to the fixed container in the circumferential direction, and the opening is opened and closed by the rotation of the rotating container.
A toner cartridge, wherein an inclination angle of an inner peripheral surface end portion of the rotating container when the opening is opened is made larger than a repose angle of the toner.   The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein reinforcing members are provided on an outer peripheral side of the fixed container and an inner peripheral side of the rotating container.   The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the toner is supplied only by natural fall from the opened opening.   The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge is vibrated to promote the fall of the toner from the opened opening. A protrusion for prohibiting rotation of the fixed container is provided on the outer peripheral side of the fixed container, a rotation knob for rotating the rotary container is provided at the longitudinal end of the rotary container, and the inner periphery of the fixed container and the rotary container The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a seal member is provided between the outer circumferences of the toner cartridges.   6. The toner cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the protrusion on the outer peripheral side of the fixed container also serves as reinforcement of the fixed container. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the rotating container is mounted inside a semi-cylindrical rotating shutter provided on a side to which toner is supplied and is rotated integrally with the rotating shutter.

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