JP2006227371A - Toner supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that when a toner supply path (toner sub-hopper) from a toner supply opening to a toner hopper becomes long in a toner supply device of an electrophotographic printer, the toner sub-hopper changes in shape so that a portion of a developing device projects upward and the developing device is not suitably stored and packed. <P>SOLUTION: The toner supply device which supplies toner charged in a toner bottle into the toner hopper of the developing device through the toner sub-hopper by being loaded in the toner supply opening of a toner sub-hopper section is characterized in that the toner sub-hopper is made movable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device used in an electrophotographic printing apparatus.

  An electrophotographic printing apparatus forms characters and images on paper using toner. Since the toner is consumed, it is necessary to replenish the toner when there is no toner in the developing device. Toner replenishment has a toner hopper that stores toner above the developing device and is replenished by attaching a toner bottle to a toner replenishing port near the toner hopper, or by reducing the volume of the toner hopper, There is a system in which the toner cartridge is left mounted above the developing device.

  In the toner replenishing method, toner is replenished to the toner hopper using a toner bottle from above the vicinity of the toner hopper (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The electrophotographic printing apparatus has various toner replenishing methods, but the positional relationship between the toner replenishing port and the toner hopper is mostly like this.

JP 2003-122114 A

  Many printing apparatuses have a positional relationship between the toner hopper and the toner replenishing port as described above, but it is advantageous to install the toner replenishing port in a place away from the toner hopper in consideration of operability and the like. May be. In that case, the toner supply path from the toner supply port to the toner hopper becomes longer, and a part of the developing device (toner sub-hopper) protrudes upward, which requires a large space for storage and packaging of the developing device. .

  The present invention is characterized in that the toner sub-hopper is movable and detachable.

  According to the toner replenishing device of the present invention, the developing device can be made compact by retracting the toner sub hopper protruding upward according to the situation, which is advantageous for storage and packaging.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described by way of examples.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 1 denotes a toner sub hopper, 2 a developing device, 3 a toner hopper, and 6 a groove. Normally, the toner sub hopper 1 faces upward as shown in FIG. 2, and toner is replenished to the toner hopper 3 from above with a toner bottle or the like. The toner supply port is not in the vicinity of the toner hopper 3 but in a position moved upward via the toner sub hopper 1 in consideration of the toner supply operation.

  Recently, it corresponds to CCD (CUSTOMOR CHANGABLE DEVELOPER: a plurality of developing devices for one printing device, for example, a developing device is prepared for each color and toner type, and the developing device is replaced and used). Therefore, the developing device 2 can be easily replaced by the customer himself by using a dedicated carriage. Therefore, when the developing device 2 is replaced, the removed developing device 2 and the developing device 2 before being mounted are stored in a storage place outside the printing device or in a packing box. At this time, when the lock device 4 shown in FIG. 1 is pushed to remove the lock device 4 from the groove 6 of the toner sub hopper 1 and the toner sub hopper 1 is rotated, the toner sub hopper 1 rotates to the position shown in FIGS. Thus, the portion protruding upward is accommodated on the lower developing device 2 side. The range of rotation at this time can also be regulated by the relationship between the locking device 4 and the groove 6 provided in the toner sub hopper 1. This is advantageous in that it is compact with respect to the storage of the developing device 2 and the work is simple.

  Next, an example of removing the toner sub hopper 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 5 is a protrusion. A connecting portion between the toner sub hopper 1 and the toner hopper 3 has a latch portion (not shown) in the toner sub hopper 1 and is in a state of being caught by the protrusion 5 with respect to the toner hopper 3. Further, the locking device 4 described above remains on the developing device 2 side, and the locking device 4 cannot be removed even if the toner sub hopper 1 is removed.

  Therefore, the toner sub hopper 1 can be easily removed by removing the catch of the latch portion from the protrusion 5. This can further reduce the size of the packaging of the developing device 2, and can also prevent damage to moving parts.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state where a toner hopper is removed. FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the toner hopper. FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the toner hopper.

Explanation of symbols

Reference numeral 1 denotes a toner sub hopper, 2 denotes a developing device, and 3 denotes a toner hopper.

Claims (2)

  In a toner replenishing device that attaches toner loaded in a toner bottle to a toner replenishing port of a toner sub hopper of a developing device and replenishes the toner hopper of the developing device via the toner sub hopper, the toner sub hopper is A toner replenishing device characterized by being movable. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the toner sub-hopper is detachable.

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