JP2008241771A - Toner refilling bag - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means preventing toner from splashing up or spilling from a toner refilling opening in a toner cartridge and also preventing the toner from splashing out from a gap in a prescribed position in the toner cartridge when refilling the toner to the toner cartridge. <P>SOLUTION: A toner refilling bag 1 is provided with a bag member 2 with flexibility which can store the toner and for refilling the toner through the toner refilling opening 7 to the toner cartridge 6 supplying the toner to an image forming apparatus. The bag member 2 has a toner supplying opening 3 made of a hard member provided on a member without any stretching property and the toner supplying opening 3 can be attached to the toner refilling opening 7 in the toner cartridge 6 without any gap. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner replenishing bag for replenishing toner in a toner cartridge of an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to a toner replenishing bag capable of preventing toner from blowing up and spilling from a toner replenishing port of a toner cartridge during toner replenishment. .

  Copiers, facsimiles, scanners, and the like are equipped with an image forming apparatus that forms an image on recording paper based on image data read from a document or image data received by facsimile. One of image forming methods by this image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic method. In the electrophotographic system, a photosensitive drum having a photosensitive layer formed on the surface thereof is uniformly charged by a charger, and the surface of the photosensitive drum is irradiated with light from an exposure device to partially remove the electrostatic latent image. Form. Then, a toner image is formed by supplying toner from the developing device to the electrostatic latent image, and the toner image is transferred to a recording sheet. Thereafter, the waste toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum without being transferred to the recording paper is collected by a cleaner, and the surface of the photosensitive drum is charged again by the charger in preparation for the next image formation.

  In an image forming apparatus that employs this electrophotographic system, toner is consumed along with image formation, and therefore it is necessary to replenish toner from the outside. Accordingly, a toner storage container called a toner cartridge or a toner bottle (hereinafter simply referred to as “toner cartridge”) is normally detachably attached to the apparatus main body, and the toner cartridge with a small amount of remaining toner is removed from the apparatus main body to remove the toner. The toner is supplied to the image forming apparatus by replacing the toner cartridge with a new one filled with or by replenishing the removed toner cartridge and returning it to the apparatus main body.

  In addition, in an image forming apparatus that employs an electrophotographic system, it is necessary to discard waste toner collected by a cleaner. Accordingly, a waste toner storage container called a waste toner box is usually detachably attached to the apparatus main body, the waste toner box is detached from the apparatus main body, and the internal waste toner is collected and returned to the apparatus main body, thereby forming an image. Discard waste toner from the device.

  Here, toner replenishment to the toner cartridge and waste toner collection from the waste toner box may be performed using a toner replenishment bag. The toner replenishing bag is a bag member that can store toner made of aluminum or the like, and is commercially available in a state where the toner replenishing bag is filled with toner for replenishment. When toner is replenished to the toner cartridge using the toner replenishing bag, as shown in FIG. 7A, one corner of the toner replenishing bag 70 is cut off, and the toner T that has flowed out from the cut end 71 is removed from the toner cartridge 72. This is performed by pouring the toner replenishment port 73 into the interior thereof. Further, when collecting the waste toner from the waste toner box, although not shown in detail in the figure, the toner cartridge 72 is replenished with the toner T and flows out from the waste toner discharge port of the waste toner box into the empty toner replenishment bag 70. The waste toner thus discharged is poured from the cut 71.

  However, in this image forming apparatus, when the toner replenishing port 73 of the toner cartridge 72 is large, as shown in FIG. There is a problem that the replenishment port 73 blows out and the surroundings are contaminated. On the other hand, if the toner replenishing port 73 is made small so that the toner T does not blow up, as shown in FIG. 7B, when a large amount of toner T flows out from the cut end 71 of the toner replenishing bag 70 at once, toner replenishment is performed. There is a problem that the mouth 73 does not fully enter and spills around it. Similarly to this, although details are not shown in the drawing, when collecting the waste toner from the waste toner box, if the cut end 71 of the toner replenishing bag 70 is large, a problem of blowing up the waste toner occurs, and the cut end 71 is small. And waste toner spillage.

  In order to prevent such a problem of toner blow-up and spillage, a toner replenishing bag that can be mounted without a gap in a toner replenishing port of a toner cartridge has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). FIG. 8 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which the toner replenishing bag 80 according to the conventional example is mounted on the process cartridge 81. The process cartridge 81 is a cartridge in which various process means such as a photosensitive drum 82 and a developing sleeve 83 acting on the photosensitive drum 82 are integrally formed. The process cartridge 81 is provided with a toner hopper 84 for storing toner T to be supplied to the developing sleeve 83, and a toner replenishment for replenishing toner from the outside to the toner hopper 84 is provided immediately above the process cartridge 81. A mouth 85 is provided. On the other hand, the toner replenishing bag 80 is formed by forming a stretchable rubber material or the like into a bag shape, and an annular rubber material 86 is disposed in the opening thereof. Then, the annular rubber material 86 is fitted around the toner replenishing port 85, and the toner replenishing bag 80 is attached to the toner replenishing port 85 without any gap, so that the toner T is supplied from the toner replenishing port 85 at the time of toner replenishment. Can be prevented from blowing up or spilling.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-6111

  However, the conventional toner refill bag 80 has a problem that the toner T is blown out from the gap S at a predetermined position of the process cartridge 81 when the toner is refilled to the process cartridge 81. More specifically, when the toner T is replenished from the toner replenishing bag 80 to the process cartridge 81, it is necessary to release the air in the process cartridge 81 to the outside by the volume of the toner T to be replenished. However, since the toner replenishing bag 80 is attached to the toner replenishing port 85 without a gap, the air in the process cartridge 81 does not escape from the toner replenishing port 85 to the outside. In addition, the toner replenishment bag is made of a stretchable rubber material and the like, and itself contracts as the internal toner T flows out. Therefore, the air in the process cartridge 81 passes through the toner replenishment port 85 and the toner replenishment bag. There is no escape to the inside of 80. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the air A inside the process cartridge 81 is blown out through the gap S at a predetermined position of the process cartridge 81, and the toner T is also blown out.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and prevents toner from blowing up or spilling from the toner replenishing port of the toner cartridge when the toner is replenished to the toner cartridge. Means are provided for preventing the toner from being blown out from a gap at a location.

  In order to achieve the above object, a toner replenishing bag according to claim 1 is provided with a flexible bag member capable of containing toner, and a toner cartridge for supplying toner to the image forming apparatus via the toner replenishing port. In the toner replenishing bag for replenishing toner, the bag member is a non-stretchable member provided with a toner supply port made of a hard member that can be mounted in the toner replenishing port of the toner cartridge without a gap. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the toner replenishing bag is provided with a screw portion that is screwed into the toner replenishing port of the toner cartridge.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the toner replenishing bag, the toner supply port is formed in a funnel shape.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the toner replenishing bag can be mounted without a gap on a waste toner discharge port provided in a waste toner box for storing waste toner discharged from the image forming apparatus.

  According to the present invention, since the toner replenishing port of the toner cartridge is sealed by the toner supply port of the toner replenishing bag, the toner can be prevented from blowing up or spilling from the toner replenishing port when the toner is replenished to the toner cartridge. Can do. Further, since the bag member constituting the toner replenishing bag does not contract itself even if the toner accommodated therein flows out, the air in the toner cartridge is released to the toner replenishing bag by the amount of the replenished toner. be able to. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the toner from being blown out through a gap at a predetermined position of the toner cartridge.

  According to the present invention, since the toner supply port is screwed into the toner replenishing port, the toner replenishing bag can be attached to the toner replenishing port more firmly and without a gap.

  According to the present invention, the toner contained in the toner replenishing bag is more reliably discharged from the toner replenishing bag by being guided to the toner supply port formed in the funnel shape. It is possible to prevent the toner from remaining on the toner.

  Further, according to the present invention, the toner supply port of the toner replenishing bag can be attached to the waste toner discharge port of the waste toner box without any gap, so that the waste toner stored in the waste toner box is collected by the toner replenishment bag. In this case, the toner can be prevented from being blown up or spilled from the toner supply port of the toner replenishing bag.

  The configuration of the toner refill bag according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the appearance of the toner replenishing bag 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A toner replenishing bag 1 according to this embodiment includes a bag member 2 for containing toner, a toner supply port 3 provided at the top of the bag member 2, and a cap 4 for sealing the toner supply port 3. Is provided.

  The bag member 2 is a flexible but non-stretchable member such as aluminum formed in a bag shape. Since the bag member 2 is formed of a non-stretchable member as described above, the bag member 2 is held in a fixed shape regardless of the amount of toner accommodated therein. In addition, the shape of the bag member 2 is not limited to the present embodiment, and can be an arbitrary shape.

  The toner supply port 3 is a substantially cylindrical member made of hard plastic, and a large-diameter attachment portion 5 is formed on one end side in the longitudinal direction. The toner supply port 3 is inserted through the top of the bag member 2, and the mounting portion 5 is fixed to the inside of the bag member 2. The material of the toner supply port 3 is not limited to plastic as long as it is hard, and may be made of metal or wood, for example. Further, the diameter and cross-sectional shape of the toner supply port 3 are not limited to the present embodiment, and can be appropriately changed in design.

  The cap 4 is a member made of a hard plastic like the toner supply port 3, and is formed in a shape that substantially fits the tip of the toner supply port 3, although details are not shown in FIG. 1. Thereby, the opening of the toner supply port 3 can be sealed by fitting the cap 4 so as to cover the tip of the toner supply port 3. The material and shape of the cap 4 are not limited to the present embodiment, and can be appropriately changed in design. The cap 4 is not an essential component of the present invention. For example, the front end of the toner supply port 3 is sealed without being opened, and the toner flows out by making a hole in the front end when replenishing the toner. You may do it.

  A method for replenishing toner to the toner cartridge using the toner replenishing bag 1 according to the first embodiment will be described below. In this embodiment, a description will be given of a case where a toner cartridge capable of containing toner is detachably provided in the apparatus main body as means for supplying toner for development to an image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic system. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the toner refill bag 1 according to the first embodiment is mounted on the toner cartridge 6. The toner cartridge 6 according to the present embodiment has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a toner replenishing port 7 for replenishing toner from the outside protrudes from one end surface in the longitudinal direction. The toner replenishing port 7 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and the inner diameter thereof is formed to be substantially equal to the outer diameter of the toner supply port 3 of the toner replenishing bag 1 although not shown in detail in the drawing. As a result, the toner supply port 3 can be fitted into the opening of the toner replenishing port 7 without a gap. Note that the cross-sectional shape of the toner replenishing port 7 is sufficient if the toner supply port 3 can be mounted without a gap, and the design can be appropriately changed according to the cross-sectional shape of the toner supply port 3.

  When toner is replenished to the toner cartridge 6 using the toner replenishing bag 1 according to the first embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. 1, a cap 4 covering the toner supply port 3 is removed from the bag filled with toner. The toner supply port 3 is removed to expose the opening. Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the toner cartridge 6 is removed from the apparatus main body, and the toner supply port 3 of the toner replenishing bag 1 is fitted inside the opening of the toner replenishing port 7. Then, the toner replenishing bag 1 is turned upside down and the opening of the toner supply port 3 faces downward, so that the toner contained in the bag member 2 is transferred from the toner supply port 3 to the toner cartridge 6 through the toner replenishing port 7. Pour. Here, as described above, the toner supply port 3 is fitted into the toner replenishment port 7 without a gap, and the toner replenishment port 7 is sealed by the toner supply port 3. Does not blow out to the outside from the toner replenishing port 7 and stain the surroundings.

  Further, as described above, the bag member 2 constituting the toner replenishing bag 1 is made of a non-stretchable member. Therefore, even if the toner inside flows out, the bag member 2 does not contract accordingly. Accordingly, the air pushed out of the toner cartridge 6 as the toner flows from the toner replenishing bag 1 flows from the toner replenishing port 7 through the toner supply port 3 into the toner replenishing bag 1. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the toner from being blown out together with the air inside from a gap (not shown) at a predetermined position of the toner cartridge 6.

  If the toner replenishing bag 1 is turned upside down and the toner supply port 3 is turned downward, a part of the toner contained in the bag member 2 remains in the bag member 2 without flowing into the toner cartridge 6. In this case, the remaining toner may be discharged from the toner supply port 3 by gently shaking the toner replenishing bag 1.

  In this embodiment, the case where the toner cartridge 6 is detachably provided in the apparatus main body has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the toner cartridge 6 is fixed to the apparatus main body so as not to be removable. Even in such a case, it is possible to replenish the toner by attaching the toner replenishing bag 1 to the toner replenishing port 7 of the toner cartridge 6 in the same procedure as described above.

  Next, a method for collecting waste toner from the waste toner box using the toner replenishing bag 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which a waste toner box for storing waste toner is detachably provided in the apparatus main body as means for discarding waste toner from an image forming apparatus employing an electrophotographic system. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the toner refill bag 1 according to the first embodiment is mounted on the waste toner box 8. The waste toner box 8 according to the present embodiment has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a waste toner discharge port 9 for discharging the waste toner stored inside protrudes from one end surface in the longitudinal direction. Yes. The waste toner discharge port 9 has a substantially cylindrical shape, and has an inner diameter that is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the toner supply port 3 of the toner replenishing bag 1. As a result, the toner supply port 3 can be fitted into the opening of the waste toner discharge port 9 without any gap. Note that the cross-sectional shape of the waste toner discharge port 9 may be a shape that allows the toner supply port 3 to be mounted without a gap, and the design can be changed as appropriate according to the cross-sectional shape of the toner supply port 3.

  When the waste toner is collected from the waste toner box 8 using the toner replenishing bag 1 according to the first embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. 2, the waste toner box 8 is removed from the apparatus main body, and the waste toner discharge port 9 is removed. The toner supply port 3 of the toner replenishing bag 1 that has been exhausted by discharging the contained toner is fitted into the opening. Then, the waste toner box 8 is turned upside down, and the opening of the waste toner discharge port 9 faces downward. As a result, the waste toner stored in the waste toner box 8 flows out of the waste toner discharge port 9 and flows into the bag member 2 through the toner supply port 3. Here, since the toner supply port 3 is fitted to the waste toner discharge port 9 without any gap as described above, the toner rising inside the bag member 2 blows out from the toner supply port 3 to stain the surroundings. There is no.

  Next, FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view in which the vicinity of the top of the toner refill bag 10 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is enlarged. The toner replenishing bag 10 according to the present embodiment includes a bag member 11 for containing toner, a toner supply port 12 provided at the top of the bag member 11, and a cap 13 for sealing the toner supply port 12. The toner replenishing bag 1 according to the first embodiment is common in that the male screw 14 is cut at a portion of the toner supply port 12 that protrudes outside the bag member 11, and the cap 13. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a female screw (not shown) that engages with the male screw 14 of the toner supply port 12 is cut on the inner peripheral surface of the toner supply port 12. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the toner replenishing bag 1 according to the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted here.

  A method for replenishing toner to the toner cartridge using the toner replenishing bag 10 according to the second embodiment will be described below. FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the top of the toner cartridge 15 according to the present embodiment. The toner cartridge 15 is common to the toner cartridge 6 according to the first embodiment in that a toner replenishing port 16 protrudes from one end surface in the longitudinal direction, but a toner supply is provided inside the opening of the toner replenishing port 16. A female screw 17 screwed with the male screw 14 of the mouth 12 is cut.

  When toner is replenished using the toner replenishment bag 10, first, as shown in FIG. 4, the toner cap 13 is removed from the toner replenishment bag 10 to expose the opening 18 of the toner supply port 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the toner cartridge 15 is removed from the apparatus main body, and the toner supply port 12 of the toner replenishing bag 10 is screwed into the opening of the toner replenishing port 16. Then, the toner replenishing bag 10 is turned upside down and the opening 18 of the toner supply port 12 faces downward, so that the toner inside the toner replenishing bag 10 is transferred from the toner supply port 12 to the toner cartridge 15 through the toner replenishing port 16. And pour. At this time, since the toner replenishing port 16 is sealed by the toner supply port 12 being screwed, the toner that has swollen up inside the toner cartridge 15 does not blow out from the toner replenishing port 16 to the outside and stain the surroundings. .

  In this embodiment, the toner supply port 12 is screwed into the toner supply port 16 to fit the toner supply bag 10 to the toner supply port 16 without any gap. Although not shown in detail, a male screw is cut on the outer periphery of the toner supply port 16, while a female screw is cut inside the opening of the toner supply port 12, and the toner supply port 16 is screwed into the opening of the toner supply port 12. Is possible. However, when the toner supply port 12 is screwed into the opening of the toner replenishment port 16 as in this embodiment, the toner supply port 12 flows out of the toner supply port 12 when the toner supply port 12 is screwed into the toner replenishment port 16. There is an advantage that the toner that has been discharged does not easily spill around the toner replenishing port 16.

  Further, the toner replenishing bag 10 according to the present embodiment can also be used for collecting waste toner from the waste toner box 8. In this case, inside the opening of the waste toner discharge port 9 projecting from the waste toner box 8 shown in FIG. 3, a female screw (not shown) that engages with the male screw 14 of the toner supply port 12 shown in FIG. It is cut. Then, the toner supply port 12 is screwed into the opening of the waste toner discharge port 9 so that the toner replenishing bag 10 is mounted on the waste toner discharge port 9 without any gap. The other procedures are the same as when the toner replenishing bag 1 according to the first embodiment is used, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.

  Next, FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged perspective view in which the vicinity of the top of the toner refill bag 20 according to the third embodiment of the present invention is enlarged. The toner replenishing bag 20 according to this embodiment includes a bag member 21 for containing toner, a toner supply port 22 provided on the top of the bag member 21, and a cap 23 for sealing the toner supply port 22. Is common to the toner replenishing bag 1 according to the first embodiment. However, the toner replenishing bag 20 has a toner supply port 22 with a cylindrical portion 24 formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and a truncated cone portion 25 formed so as to gradually expand from one end of the cylindrical portion 24 in the radial direction. Is different from the first embodiment in that it is formed in a so-called funnel shape as a whole. Since the other configuration is the same as that of the toner replenishing bag 1 according to the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted here. As in the second embodiment, it is possible to cut a male screw on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 24 and cut a female screw that is screwed into the inner peripheral surface of the cap 23.

  When toner is replenished to the toner cartridge 6 using the toner replenishing bag 20 according to the third embodiment, the procedure is the same as that when the toner replenishing bag 1 according to the first embodiment is used. When the toner inside the toner replenishing bag 20 is caused to flow into the toner cartridge 6 in the upside-down state 20, the toner inside the toner replenishing bag 20 is guided toward the cylindrical portion 24 by the truncated cone portion 25 of the toner supply port 22. As a result, the toner contained in the toner replenishing bag 20 can be more reliably discharged from the toner supply port 22, and the toner can be prevented from remaining inside the toner replenishing bag 20.

  The present invention is not only used for replenishing toner in a toner cartridge and collecting waste toner from a waste toner box, but also when developing toner and waste toner after development are stored in the process cartridge. Also, it can be used when the process cartridge is replenished with toner or the waste toner is collected from the process cartridge.

1 is a schematic perspective view showing an appearance of a toner replenishing bag 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state where the toner replenishing bag 1 according to the first embodiment is mounted on a toner cartridge 6. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a state where the toner replenishing bag 1 according to the first embodiment is mounted on a waste toner box 8. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged perspective view in which the vicinity of the top of a toner refill bag 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is enlarged. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the top of a toner cartridge 20 according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view in which the vicinity of the top of a toner refill bag 20 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is enlarged. FIGS. 7A and 7B are explanatory views for explaining toner replenishment to the toner cartridge 72 using the toner replenishing bag 70 according to the conventional example, FIG. 7A is a view for explaining toner blow-up, and FIG. FIG. 6 illustrates toner spillage. FIG. 10 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a toner replenishing bag according to a conventional example is mounted on a process cartridge.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toner replenishment bag 2 Bag member 3 Toner supply port 6 Toner cartridge 7 Toner replenishment port 8 Waste toner box 9 Waste toner discharge port 14 Male screw (screw part)

Claims (4)

In a toner replenishment bag comprising a flexible bag member capable of containing toner, and for replenishing toner via a toner replenishment port to a toner cartridge that supplies toner to the image forming apparatus,
The toner replenishing bag is characterized in that the bag member is provided with a toner supply port made of a hard member that can be attached to the toner replenishing port of the toner cartridge without any gap in a non-stretchable member.   The toner replenishing bag according to claim 1, wherein the toner supply port is provided with a screw portion that is screwed into a toner replenishing port of the toner cartridge.   The toner replenishing bag according to claim 1, wherein the toner supply port is formed in a funnel shape.   4. The toner supply port according to claim 1, wherein the toner supply port can be attached to a waste toner discharge port provided in a waste toner box for storing waste toner discharged from the image forming apparatus without any gap. Toner refill bag.

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