JP2010085520A - Toner storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner storage container that is inexpensive and highly versatile and, at the same time, efficiently ejects a toner entering a bearing recess, thereby suppressing agglomeration of toner in a bearing recess. <P>SOLUTION: The toner storage container includes: a container body 23 storing toner; a bearing recess 23b formed in a sidewall of the container body 23 and open in the direction of the inside of the container body 23; a shaft 31 rotatably supported by the bearing recess 23b so as to be rotatable in the container body 23; a spiral member 33 disposed at the end of the shaft 31 and facing the inside of the bearing recess 23b. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner storage container that stores toner as a developer.

  Conventionally, image forming apparatuses such as copiers, printers, facsimiles, and multifunction machines equipped with these functions have long-time use of toner before and after use, such as a developing device, a toner container (toner cartridge), or a cleaning device. 2. Description of the Related Art A toner storage container in which a shaft-like toner agitating member and a toner conveying member for agitating or conveying the accommodated toner are arranged in a container main body is also known.

  Further, since such a shaft-like toner agitating member and toner conveying member are in direct contact with the toner in the container main body of the toner storage container, the shaft end is provided on the side wall of the container main body so as to rotatably support the shaft end. The toner enters the bearing recess that is provided and opens toward the inside of the container body.

  Such intrusion of toner, for example, results in insufficient toner charge control by agitating the toner, resulting in insufficient charging or overcharging of the toner, and image defects such as image fogging and density defects. It becomes a generation factor.

Therefore, in order to suppress the entrance of the toner into the bearing recess, the bearing recess is provided with a compression member such as an oil seal or a sponge, or a spiral is formed at the shaft end so that the toner enters the bearing recess. There are known ones that prevent rotation lock and toner aggregation due to a torque-up factor in the bearing recess by preventing entry (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).
JP 2004-347745 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-185105

  However, in the toner storage container configured as described above, for example, in a case where a compression member or the like is disposed in the bearing recess, the toner easily aggregates in the exposed part in the container body. Since it is not the structure which removes the aggregation of the toner in a bearing recessed part, the problem that it was difficult to prevent the aggregation of aged toner over time had arisen.

  In addition, in a configuration in which agglomeration of toner over time cannot be avoided, it is not suitable for parts that are not basically subject to replacement, such as cleaning devices, apart from parts that are basically used for replacement of toner containers and the like. There was a problem that there was.

  Further, in the case of a spiral formed at the shaft end, the mold structure for forming the shaft becomes complicated and the cost of the parts rises. For example, the target parts such as a toner container and a cleaning device can be used. It is inferior in versatility such that it is difficult to apply in general even if the parts are the same parts, such as high speed machine and low speed machine, monochrome machine and color machine, etc. There was a problem.

  In addition, a step difference is likely to occur in the spiral shape due to molding error, etc., and it is difficult to smoothly discharge the toner that has entered the bearing recess, and clogging easily occurs. In particular, a small particle size toner having strong intermolecular attractive force In addition, there is a problem that it is not suitable for a low-melting toner having a low viscosity.

  Therefore, in consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention is capable of efficiently discharging the toner that has entered the bearing recess while suppressing the aggregation of the toner in the bearing recess while being inexpensive and highly versatile. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner container that can be used.

  The toner storage container of the present invention is configured to be rotatable in the container main body, a bearing recess formed on the side wall of the container main body and opened toward the inside of the container main body, and the container main body. A toner container including a shaft member rotatably supported by the bearing recess, wherein a spiral member facing the bearing recess is provided at an end of the shaft member.

  At this time, it is preferable that the spiral member is a coil spring in which an adjacent facing interval can be displaced.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the spiral member is provided across from the inner end to the open end of the bearing recess.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the spiral member is arranged in a substantially tight contact state with the inner wall surface of the bearing recess and the end of the shaft member.

  The shaft member can be provided with a spiral conveyance unit for conveying the toner along the axial direction. When such a spiral conveyance unit is provided, the spiral of the helical member can be provided. It is preferable that the direction and the spiral direction of the spiral conveyance unit are opposite to each other.

  The toner storage container of the present invention is inexpensive and highly versatile, but can efficiently discharge the toner that has entered the bearing recess, and can suppress aggregation of the toner in the bearing recess.

  Next, a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus equipped with a toner storage container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an image forming apparatus equipped with a toner storage container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention with the cover removed, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the main part of the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention.

(Overall configuration of MFP)
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus having functions of a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, and a scanner.

  The multi-function device 1 reads a document as a paper feed tray 3 that can be pulled out from the front surface (front side of the paper) of the apparatus main body 2, a manual paper feed tray 4 provided on the side of the apparatus main body 2, and a copying machine, a facsimile machine, and a scanner. Laser beam (not shown) according to image data based on automatic document feeder 5 for printing and read data of a document read using automatic document feeder 5 or output data output from a personal computer (not shown) or the like The image forming unit 7 for forming a toner image on the surface of transfer paper (not shown) sent from the paper feed tray 3 or the manual paper feed tray 4 and the toner image. Fixing unit 8 for fixing on the surface of the transfer paper, discharge unit 9 for discharging the image-fixed transfer paper, main switch 10 of the image forming apparatus, and display unit 11 such as a liquid crystal panel switch , And a.

  The exposure device 6 irradiates laser light based on image data processed by a control circuit for various drive control related to image forming processing or the like, a memory or the like (not shown).

  The image forming unit 7 includes a photosensitive drum 12 as an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by the laser light emitted from the exposure device 6, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 12 as a toner image. And a toner storage container 14 for supplying replenishing toner to the developing device 13.

  The toner container 14 can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 2 (replaceable), and the toner container 14 can be attached and detached by opening the front cover of the apparatus main body 2.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, around the photosensitive drum 12, the charging device 15, the exposure device 6, the developing device 13, and the transfer are arranged in the order of the image forming process along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 12 (see the arrow in the drawing). A device (transfer roller) 16, a cleaning device 17, and a static elimination device 18 are provided.

  As a result, the photosensitive drum 12 is driven to rotate at a predetermined process speed (circumferential speed) by a driving unit (not shown), and the surface thereof is charged to a predetermined polarity and potential by the charging device 15.

  An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the charged photosensitive drum 12 by the exposure device 6. Here, the exposure device 6 irradiates the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 with laser light based on image data included in the print data output from a personal computer or the like, and a laser light irradiation portion on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12. The electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed by removing the charges.

  The electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 is developed as an unfixed toner image by electrostatically attaching a charged toner to the developing device 13. Further, the unfixed toner image is transferred onto the transfer paper as a transfer image by the transfer device 16.

  At this time, the photosensitive drum 12 on which the unfixed toner image is transferred to the transfer paper is subjected to a removal process of residual toner or the like by the cleaning device 17 and then is discharged by the charge removing device 18 for charging at the next image formation. Processing is performed.

(Configuration of developing device 13)
The developing device 13 supplies toner to the photosensitive drum 12 while circulating toner therein, and in order from the upstream side in the toner supply direction, a pair of spiral feeders (stirring mixers) 19 and 20 and the photosensitive drum 12. And a developing roller 21 facing each other are rotatably provided.

  In addition, a partition wall 13 a that isolates the spiral feeders 19 and 20 is formed inside the developing device 13. A gap is formed between both ends of the partition wall 13a and the vertical wall of the developing device 13, and one side of the developing device 13 (in the depth direction of the paper surface of FIG. 2) is formed by a spiral feeder 19 provided below the toner supply hole 13b. ) Is agitated and conveyed (forward path) to the other side, and is then folded back in the gap on one side and is agitated and conveyed (return path) by the spiral feeder 20 to the other side of the developing device 13 (frontward in FIG. 2). A circulation path is formed which is turned back again in the gap on the other side of the lever.

  Further, a toner sensor 22 for detecting the toner amount of the developing device 13 is provided on the wall surface of the developing device 13 near the toner supply hole 13b.

  The developing roller 21 is disposed so that the peripheral surface thereof faces the peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 12. Accordingly, the toner being conveyed to the developing roller 21 is supplied to the peripheral surface of the photoconductive drum 12 via the developing roller 21, whereby a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of the photoconductive drum 12. It is formed.

  The toner sensor 22 is provided in the vicinity of the toner replenishing hole 13b, and the amount of toner near the toner replenishing hole 13b is detected based on the output signal, and the toner replenishing amount and replenishment timing from the toner storage container 14 are detected by the control circuit. Etc. are controlled.

(Configuration of toner storage container 14)
As shown in FIG. 3, the toner storage container 14 closes the container main body 23 in which the toner for supply is stored and the toner supply hole 23 a facing the toner supply hole 13 b is formed, and the upper surface opening of the container main body 23. Container cover 24 (shown in FIG. 2). Further, inside the toner storage container 14, a pair of toner stirring members 25, 26, a spiral rod 27 as a shaft member of the present invention, and a driving source (not shown) such as a driving motor are driven to stir these toners. And a drive unit 28 that constitutes a power transmission system for rotating the members 25 and 26 and the spiral rod 27.

  The toner agitating members 25 and 26 are provided from one side surface (drive unit 28 side) of the container body 23 to the other side surface. The toner stirring members 25 and 26 include a shaft portion 29 and a plurality of stirring blades 30 provided on the shaft portion 29.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the spiral rod 27 is formed with a spiral spiral 32 around the shaft portion 31, and one end of the shaft portion 31 penetrates the container body 23 and is linked to the drive unit 28. As shown in FIG. 5, the other end is supported by a bearing recess 23 b formed on the side wall of the container body 23 and opening toward the inside of the container body 23 so as to be rotatable.

  On the other hand, the other end of the shaft portion 31 is provided with a spiral member 33 that faces the bearing recess 23b.

  The helical member 33 uses a coil spring so that the adjacent facing distance can be displaced, and is provided at least from the inner end (inner bottom) to the open end of the bearing recess 23b. It extends so as to protrude from the open end of the recess 23 b into the container main body 23. At this time, it is preferable that the spiral member 33 is disposed in a substantially tight contact state with the inner wall surface of the bearing recess 23 b and the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 31. Note that the spiral member 33 has a spiral 32 spiral when the spiral 32 is formed as a spiral conveyance unit for conveying the toner along the axial direction of the shaft portion 31 as in the present embodiment. The direction and the spiral direction of the spiral member 33 are preferably opposite to each other.

  As a result, the spiral member 33 transports the toner in the direction opposite to the toner transport direction (see the thick arrow in FIG. 4) corresponding to the spiral direction of the spiral 32 as the shaft portion 31 rotates, and enters the bearing recess 23b. The entered toner can be efficiently discharged from the bearing recess 23b.

  That is, one end of the shaft portion 31 of the spiral rod 27 penetrates the container main body 23 and is linked to the drive unit 28, so that the toner conveyance direction, which is the spiral direction of the spiral 32, is the installation side of the drive unit 28. It is preferable to convey in the reverse direction.

  On the other hand, since the spiral rod 27 is rotated by the drive of the same drive unit 28, the spiral direction of the spiral member 33 is used to discharge the toner that has entered the bearing recess 23b using the rotation of the shaft portion 31. Is opposite to the spiral direction of the spiral 32.

  Thus, according to the toner container 14 of the present invention, the spiral member 33 is provided on the shaft portion 31 rotatably supported by the bearing recess 23b, and the toner that has entered the bearing recess 23b is spirally formed in the container body 23. By creating a flow of toner that returns to the inside, the circulation of the toner in the bearing recess 23b is improved, and the retention (aggregation) of the toner can be suppressed.

  Further, by using a coil spring separate from the shaft portion 31 as the spiral member 33, the shaft portion 31 can be molded inexpensively and easily using a known (existing) mold. Correspondence to the shaft diameter, shaft length, etc. of the part 31 can be easily performed, and versatility can be improved.

  Further, since the coil spring is provided from the inner end (inner bottom) of the bearing recess 23b to the open end, the toner that has entered the gap between the inner end of the bearing recess 23b and the end surface of the shaft portion 31 is also scraped off. Can do.

  Therefore, in the above-described embodiment, the spiral member 33 of the present invention has been described as being provided on the spiral rod 27 of the toner storage container 14. For example, the shafts of the toner agitating members 25 and 26, the developing device 13, and the like. Of course, the present invention can be applied to all components of the image forming apparatus that at least temporarily collect the toner before and after use, such as the spiral feeders 19 and 20 and the developing roller 21 or the rotating member of the cleaning device 17.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a multifunction peripheral as an image forming apparatus equipped with a toner storage container according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of an image forming apparatus equipped with a toner storage container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a toner storage container according to an embodiment of the present invention with a cover removed. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of a toner storage container according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a toner storage container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

23 ... Container body 23b ... Bearing recess 31 ... Shaft (shaft member)
32 ... Spiral (spiral conveyor)
33 ... Helical member

Claims (6)

A container body for storing toner, a bearing recess formed on the side wall of the container body and opening toward the inside of the container body, and rotatably supported in the bearing recess so as to be rotatable in the container body A toner storage container comprising:
A toner storage container, wherein a spiral member facing the inside of the bearing recess is provided at an end of the shaft member.   The toner storage container according to claim 1, wherein the spiral member is a coil spring that can displace adjacent intervals.   The toner storage container according to claim 1, wherein the spiral member is provided from an inner end to an open end of the bearing recess.   4. The toner storage container according to claim 1, wherein the spiral member is disposed in a substantially intimate contact state with an inner wall surface of the bearing recess and an end of the shaft member. 5. .   4. The toner storage container according to claim 1, wherein the shaft member is provided with a spiral conveyance unit for conveying the toner along an axial direction. 5.   The toner storage container according to claim 4, wherein a spiral direction of the spiral member and a spiral direction of the spiral conveyance unit are opposite to each other.

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