JP2011158509A - Toner replenishing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner replenishing device which has a shutter, has high reliability when closing a toner replenishing opening, and facilitates positioning of a sealing sheet at assembling. <P>SOLUTION: In the toner replenishing device having a shutter, in a state where the shutter S1 is arranged at a position where the toner replenishing opening of a toner bottle is opened, while being attached to a developing device, the communication connection between the toner replenishing opening 502 and the toner passage hole sh1 of the shutter S1 is facilitated, at low cost and is interrupted in a stable way by the toner sealing sheet 60, sandwiched between the shutter S1 and the toner bottle; and thereby, it is possible to set a state where it is not possible to replenish toner, on the one hand; and on the other hand, by pulling out the toner sealing sheet 60, the toner replenishing opening 502 and the toner passage hole sh1 of the shutter S1 can be easily made to communicate with each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile machine capable of forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier by an electrophotographic method, an electrostatic recording method, etc., and developing the image with a developing device to form a toner image. Alternatively, the present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a multifunction machine that combines two or more of these, and particularly relates to a toner replenishing device for a developing device.

  An image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a combination machine combining two or more of these, which forms an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier and develops it to form a toner image. In general, the toner is supplied to the developing device when the toner is consumed and decreased in the developing device for developing the electrostatic latent image.

  Replenishment of toner to the developing device is performed in various ways depending on the structure of the developing device. Among them, toner is replenished into the developing device from a replenishing toner receiving opening which is provided in the developing device and opens upward. There is something that can be done.

  As such a toner replenishing device, a toner bottle having a downward toner replenishing opening that can be removably attached to the developing device and that replenishes toner from the toner receiving opening of the developing device into the developing device while being attached to the developing device. What is included is known.

  In addition, a shutter is provided for the toner replenishment opening of the toner bottle so that the toner replenishment opening can be opened and closed by the shutter, and when the toner replenishment device is stored, transported, or attached to the developing device, There is also known one in which the toner supply opening of the toner bottle can be closed by the shutter.

  There may be a shutter that opens and closes the toner receiving opening on the developing device side to which the toner supply device is attached. In some cases, such a developing device side shutter can be manually opened and closed by a user or a service person, but the toner replenishing device is mounted on the developing device while the shutter is closed with a toner receiving opening. Then, when the shutter on the developing device side is engaged with the shutter on the toner replenishing device side, and the shutter on the toner replenishing device side is opened, the shutter on the developing device side may be opened in conjunction therewith.

  In any case, an image forming apparatus that has just been shipped to a user is equipped with a toner replenishing device in advance in the developing device so that the image forming apparatus can be used immediately after being carried in and installed on the user side. When shipped to the user, the toner supply device side shutter may be opened and the toner receiving opening on the developing device side may be opened.

  For example, as described above, in an image forming apparatus having a structure in which when the shutter on the toner replenishing device side is opened, the shutter on the developing device side is also opened, the toner replenishment is performed unless the shutter on the toner replenishing device side is opened. There is also an image forming apparatus in which an image forming apparatus cover that is opened for mounting the apparatus cannot be closed.

  In any case, the toner replenishing device is mounted on the developing device, the toner replenishing device side shutter is disposed at the toner replenishing opening open position, and the toner receiving opening of the developing device is also opened. When shipping, the toner in the toner replenishing device falls into the developing device due to vibration or the like, causing problems such as toner spillage.

  On the other hand, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-40430, a toner replenishing device that replenishes toner to the toner receiving opening of a developing device having a replenishing toner receiving opening that opens upward, and is attached to the developing device. Describes a toner replenishing device including a toner bottle having a downward toner replenishing opening for replenishing toner from the toner receiving opening into the developing device.

  In this conventional toner replenishing device, the toner replenishing opening is closed with a toner sealing sheet sandwiched between the hollow frame-like member stacked on the opening and the toner replenishing opening is not attached to the developing device. The sheet is pulled out from the toner replenishing device with the hollow frame member.

JP 2008-40430 A

  Therefore, even in the toner replenishing device with a shutter, the toner replenishing device is mounted on the developing device, the shutter on the toner replenishing device side is disposed at the toner replenishing opening opening position, and the replenishing toner receiving opening of the developing device is also opened. Even in such a state, the toner supply opening of the toner supply device is sandwiched between the toner supply opening and the opening / closing shutter until the image forming apparatus is carried into the user and installed at the predetermined place of use. It is conceivable to simply and inexpensively close the toner sealing sheet that can be pulled out.

  However, such a toner sealing sheet has the same width throughout the rectangular shape, and may be pulled out even with a slight force, or may be misaligned and the toner supply opening may be partially or entirely opened. There is a possibility that the toner replenishment opening is closed and the reliability in closing the toner replenishment opening is lacking. Further, when assembling the toner replenishing device, it is difficult to position the toner sealing sheet and to easily come off.

Therefore, the present invention
Replenishment toner that opens upward from a developing device used for electrostatic latent image development in an image forming apparatus capable of forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier and developing the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image A toner replenishing device that replenishes toner from the receiving opening into the developing device;
A toner bottle for containing replenished toner, having a downward toner replenishment opening for replenishing toner from the toner receiving opening of the developing device into the developing device;
A toner replenishing opening provided to the toner replenishing opening of the toner bottle, having a toner passage hole, and a toner replenishing opening opening position where the toner passage hole faces the toner replenishing opening, and a toner that removes the toner passage hole from the toner replenishing opening A toner replenishing device (hereinafter also referred to as a “toner replenishing device with a shutter”) having a shutter capable of reciprocating between a replenishing opening closed position, which is attached to a developing device and the shutter is a toner replenishing opening. While being in the open position, the toner replenishment opening and the toner passage hole of the shutter can be simply and inexpensively stably blocked to prevent toner replenishment. It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner replenishing device in which an opening can be easily communicated with a toner passage hole of a shutter to enable toner replenishment.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
Replenishment toner that opens upward from a developing device used for electrostatic latent image development in an image forming apparatus capable of forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier and developing the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image A toner replenishing device that replenishes toner from the receiving opening into the developing device;
A toner bottle for containing replenished toner, having a downward toner replenishment opening for replenishing toner from the toner receiving opening of the developing device into the developing device;
A toner replenishing opening provided to the toner replenishing opening of the toner bottle, having a toner passage hole, and a toner replenishing opening opening position where the toner passage hole faces the toner replenishing opening, and a toner that removes the toner passage hole from the toner replenishing opening A toner replenishing device having a shutter capable of reciprocating between a replenishing opening closed position;
Even if the shutter is disposed from the toner replenishment opening closed position to the toner replenishment opening open position, the shutter is sandwiched between the shutter and the toner bottle so that the toner passage opening does not communicate with the toner passage hole of the shutter. A toner sealing sheet,
The toner sealing sheet extends in the moving direction from the toner replenishment opening closed position of the shutter to the toner replenishment opening open position, protrudes to a downstream end portion in the direction, and crosses the direction to the toner bottle. The protrusion has a protrusion hooked to a sheet hook portion provided at a fixed position, and the protrusion is formed by pulling the upstream portion from the downstream end in the pulling direction opposite to the downstream end. A toner replenishing device that can be pulled out from between the toner bottle and the shutter while deforming is provided.

  According to the toner replenishing device of the present invention, when the image forming apparatus is shipped, the toner replenishing device is mounted on the developing device mounted on the image forming apparatus, and the shutter of the toner replenishing device is disposed at the toner replenishing opening opening position of the toner bottle. Even if the toner receiving opening on the developing device side is also open (if there is a shutter on the developing device side as well, it is arranged at the toner receiving opening open position), the toner replenishing device has a space between the toner bottle and the shutter. Until the toner sealing sheet sandwiched between the toner supply sheet and the toner sealing sheet is pulled out, the communication between the toner replenishment opening and the toner passage hole of the shutter is prevented, so that the image forming apparatus is carried into the user and put in a predetermined place of use. Even if vibration is applied to the toner replenishing device until it is installed, the toner is dropped and supplied from the toner replenishing device to the developing device. Not a, is suppressed to or toner spill.

  When the image forming apparatus is used, the toner sealing sheet sandwiched between the toner bottle and the shutter is pulled out while deforming the protrusion against the resistance of the protrusion, and is already placed in the open position. The toner passage hole of the shutter and the toner replenishing opening of the toner bottle are further communicated with the toner receiving opening of the developing device, so that the toner can be replenished from the toner bottle into the developing device.

  The toner sealing sheet has a protrusion that extends in the moving direction from the toner replenishment opening closed position of the shutter to the toner replenishment opening open position and protrudes in a direction crossing the direction at a downstream end in the direction. And the toner bottle and the shutter so that the protrusion is caught by a sheet catching portion (for example, provided on a shutter rail portion provided on the toner bottle) provided at a fixed position with respect to the toner bottle. Therefore, the protruding portion becomes a resistance against sheet pulling and displacement, and accordingly, the toner sealing sheet is stably sandwiched between the toner bottle and the shutter, and the toner is stably stabilized. Communication between the supply opening and the toner passage hole of the shutter can be prevented. Further, when assembling the toner replenishing device, it is easy to position the toner sealing sheet by using the projections, and it is possible to prevent the toner sealing sheet from coming off when the toner replenishing device is assembled.

  However, since the toner sealing sheet is not welded or adhered to a toner bottle or a shutter or the like, the pulling force that deforms the protrusion is sufficient for stable placement. The toner can be easily pulled out, whereby toner can be supplied from the toner supply device to the developing device.

  In addition, as a material of the toner sealing sheet, for example, a sheet that has a strength that can withstand pulling out while deforming the protruding portion, and that allows deformation of the protruding portion that allows the sheet to be pulled out may be adopted. .

  The protrusions of the toner sealing sheet are required to resist easy pulling and be able to stabilize the sheet position, while being pulled out so that toner can be supplied from the toner supply device to the developing device. Since it is desirable to pull out easily when it should be, the edge of the protrusion to be hooked on the hooking portion is further pulled out from the direction perpendicular to the pulling direction of the sheet so as not to generate pulling resistance. It may be inclined at an angle smaller than 90 ° in the opposite direction to the direction.

  For the same reason, the protruding portion of the toner sealing sheet may be tapered from the protruding end of the edge to be hooked to the hooking portion toward the tip opposite to the pulling direction. This facilitates deformation of the protrusion when the toner sealing sheet is pulled out.

  The shutter may be reciprocally slidable along a shutter rail portion formed on the toner bottle. In this case, the toner bottle is provided with an elastic toner seal sheet surrounding the peripheral edge of the toner replenishment opening, and the toner seal sheet is sandwiched between the elastic toner seal sheet and the shutter, and the toner seal is sealed. The elastic toner seal sheet width in the direction perpendicular to the pull-out direction of the stop sheet is shorter than the width in the direction perpendicular to the toner seal sheet pull-out direction of the portion including the protrusion of the toner seal sheet. And a gap between the shutter rail portion and the shutter rail portion.

  The shutter can be reciprocally slid along a shutter rail portion formed on the toner bottle, and the shutter includes an elastic toner seal sheet that surrounds a peripheral portion of the toner passage hole of the shutter. The toner sealing sheet is sandwiched between the elastic toner sealing sheet and the toner bottle, and the width of the elastic toner sealing sheet in a direction perpendicular to the pulling direction of the toner sealing sheet is the protrusion of the toner sealing sheet. The width of the portion including the portion may be shorter than the width in the direction perpendicular to the pulling direction of the toner sealing sheet, and a gap may be provided between the elastic toner seal sheet and the shutter rail portion.

  In any case, by forming a gap between the elastic toner seal sheet and the shutter rail portion in this way, when the toner sealing sheet is pulled out, the deformed portion of the protruding portion is allowed to escape into the gap. It is possible to pull out the sheet along the gap.

  Further, when assembling the toner replenishing device, the toner sealing sheet is sandwiched between the toner bottle and the shutter, and the toner sealing sheet is positioned so that the protruding portion is caught by the hooking portion. In order to facilitate, the shutter is provided with a toner seal capable of contacting the downstream end of the toner seal sheet from the downstream side in the moving direction from the toner supply opening closed position to the toner supply opening open position. A sheet positioning unit may be provided. In this case, the shutter may be assembled so as to move the shutter from the toner supply opening opening position side to the closing position side. By doing so, the protruding portion of the toner sealing sheet can be pushed and moved by the positioning portion to be brought into contact with the hooking portion and positioned.

  In addition, a viewing window portion for confirming the position of the downstream end portion of the toner sealing sheet sandwiched between the shutter and the toner bottle may be formed in the shutter.

  To remove the toner replenishing device from the developing device for replacement or the like, when the shutter is returned to the toner replenishing opening closed position and the toner replenishing device is removed, the toner that has entered the toner passage hole of the shutter is removed from the toner passage hole. The following toner receiving film may be provided in order to suppress dropping and contaminating the surroundings.

  That is, the toner is supported by the toner bottle and arranged to allow the shutter to slide along the lower surface of the shutter, and when the shutter is in the toner replenishing opening open position, the toner facing the toner passage hole of the shutter The toner receiving film has a passage opening and closes the toner passage hole of the shutter from below when the shutter is in the toner replenishment opening closed position.

  As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided a toner replenishing device with a shutter, and the toner replenishing opening and the toner passage hole of the shutter in a state where the toner replenishing device is attached to the developing device and the shutter is disposed at the toner replenishing opening open position. The toner supply opening can be easily communicated with the toner passage hole of the shutter so that the toner can be replenished. A toner replenishing device that can also be provided.

1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of an example of an image forming apparatus including a developing device to which a toner supply device according to the present invention is mounted. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a cross-sectional structure of an example of a developing device in which the toner replenishing device according to the present invention is mounted in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the developing device shown in FIG. 2 as viewed from the right side in FIG. 2, but the developing roller and the supply roller are only indicated by their positions with broken lines. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the toner replenishing device according to the present invention mounted on the developing device in a state where the developing device is mounted. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the shutter for the toner replenishing opening of the toner bottle and the shutter for the toner receiving opening of the developing device are both disposed at the opening closed position in the toner replenishing device and the developing device equipped with the toner replenishing device illustrated in FIG. 4. . FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state in which each shutter is disposed at the opening opening position from the state illustrated in FIG. 5, but the toner replenishment opening and the toner passage hole of the shutter with respect to the shutter are not communicated with each other by the toner sealing sheet. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the toner sealing sheet is pulled out from the state illustrated in FIG. 6 and toner can be replenished from the toner replenishing device to the developing device. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship of a toner supply opening of a toner bottle, a toner sealing sheet, and a toner passage hole of the shutter with respect to the toner supply opening when viewed from the lower surface side of the shutter. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state when the toner replenishing device is removed from a replenishing toner receiving portion of the developing device.

Hereinafter, an example of a toner replenishing device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Before that, an example of an image forming apparatus in which a developing device to which a toner replenishing device according to the present invention is attached is described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows the configuration of an example 100 of an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 100 is a tandem type full color printer.

  The printer 100 includes an endless intermediate transfer belt 7 wound around a driving roller 71 and a roller 72 facing the driving roller 71. The transfer belt 7 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction (arrow direction in the figure) CCW by a driving roller 71 driven by a belt driving unit (not shown).

  A cleaning device 73 that cleans secondary transfer residual toner and the like on the transfer belt 7 faces the roller 72, and a secondary transfer roller 8 faces the drive roller 71.

  The secondary transfer roller 8 is pressed against a portion of the intermediate transfer belt 7 supported by the driving roller 71 by a pressing unit (not shown), forms a nip portion with the intermediate transfer belt 7, and rotates the intermediate transfer belt 7. A recording sheet S such as a recording sheet or an overhead projector sheet fed to the nip as described later (hereinafter, these may be collectively referred to as “recording sheet” or “sheet”). ) Can be rotated by being driven or driven. A secondary transfer bias can be applied to the secondary transfer roller 8 from a power supply (not shown).

  A fixing device 9 is disposed above the intermediate transfer belt 7 and the secondary transfer roller 8, a timing roller pair 11 is disposed below, and a supply cassette 10 for the recording paper S is disposed below the fixing device 9. Has been.

The fixing device 9 includes a fixing heating roller having a heat source such as a halogen lamp heater and a pressure roller pressed against the fixing heating roller.
The recording paper S stored in the recording paper storage cassette 10 can be pulled out one by one by the paper supply roller 101 and supplied to the timing roller pair 11.

  Between the rollers 71 and 72 around which the intermediate transfer belt 7 is wound, the yellow image forming unit Y, the magenta image forming unit M, and the cyan image forming unit C are arranged along the transfer belt 7 from the roller 72 toward the roller 71. And the black image forming portion K are arranged in this order.

  Each of the image forming units Y, M, C, and K includes a drum-type photosensitive member 1 as an electrostatic latent image carrier, and a charger 2, an exposure device 3, a developing device 4 and the like around the photosensitive member. The cleaning devices 5 are arranged in this order.

  A primary transfer roller 6 is disposed opposite to the photoreceptor 1 of each image forming unit with a belt 7 therebetween. The primary transfer roller 6 is pressed in the direction of the photosensitive member 1 by a pressing unit (not shown), contacts the belt 7 and rotates in a driven manner, and can bring the belt 7 into contact with the photosensitive member 1.

  A primary transfer bias for primary transfer of the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 1 to the belt 7 can be applied to the primary transfer roller 6 from a power supply (not shown).

  In accordance with image information provided from a personal computer (not shown), an image reading device, or the like, the exposure apparatus 3 performs image exposure by dot (point) exposure on the photosensitive member 1 by blinking of a laser beam, and generates an electrostatic latent image. It can be formed.

  The photoconductor 1 in each image forming unit is a negatively chargeable photoconductor here, and can be driven to rotate clockwise in the drawing by a photoconductor drive motor (not shown).

  The charger 2 in each image forming unit is a scorotron charger in this example, and a charging voltage is applied from a power supply (not shown) at a predetermined timing. The charger 2 may be one using a charging roller.

  In this example, the developing device 4 in each image forming unit applies a developing bias to an electrostatic latent image formed on the photoreceptor 1 using a one-component developer mainly composed of toner from a power supply (not shown). The developer carrying rotating body (hereinafter referred to as “developing roller”) 41 (see FIG. 2) in the form of a roller can be used for reversal development.

According to this printer, an image can be formed using one or more of Y, M, C, and K image forming units.
Taking a case where a full color image is formed using all of the image forming portions Y, M, C, and K as an example, first, a yellow toner image is formed in the yellow image forming portion Y, and this is formed on the transfer belt 8 as a primary. Transcript.

  That is, in the yellow image forming portion Y, the photosensitive member 1 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction in the drawing, and the surface is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential by the charger 2, and the exposure device 3 corresponds to the yellow image in the charged area. Thus, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the yellow image is formed on the photoreceptor 1.

  This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing roller 41 to which a developing bias of the developing device 4 having yellow toner is applied, and becomes a visible yellow toner image. The yellow toner image is primarily transferred onto the transfer belt 7 by the primary transfer roller 6. At this time, a primary transfer bias is applied to the primary transfer roller 6 from a power supply (not shown).

  Similarly, a magenta toner image is formed in the magenta image forming unit M and transferred to the transfer belt 7. A cyan toner image is formed in the cyan image forming unit C and transferred to the transfer belt 7. In the black image forming unit K. A black toner image is formed and transferred to the transfer belt 7.

Yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are formed at a timing when these toner images are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 7 in an overlapping manner.
Thus, the multiple toner image formed on the transfer belt 7 moves toward the secondary transfer roller 8 by the rotation of the transfer belt 7.

  On the other hand, the recording paper S is pulled out from the recording paper storage cassette 10 by the medium paper roller 101, supplied to the timing roller pair 11, and is on standby.

  In this way, the recording sheet S waiting at the timing roller pair 11 is supplied to the nip portion between the transfer belt 7 and the secondary transfer roller 8 in accordance with the multiple toner image sent by the intermediate transfer belt 7. . The multiple toner image is secondarily transferred onto the recording paper S by a secondary transfer roller 8 to which a secondary transfer bias is applied from a power source (not shown).

  Thereafter, the recording paper S is passed through the fixing device 9 where the multiple toner images are fixed on the recording paper S under heat and pressure. The recording sheet S is continuously discharged to the discharge tray 13 by the discharge roller pair 12.

  In the primary transfer of the toner image to the belt 7, transfer residual toner or the like remaining on the photoreceptor 1 is cleaned by the cleaning device 5, and secondary transfer residual toner or the like remaining on the belt 7 by the secondary transfer is cleaned by the cleaning device 73. It is cleaned with. Each of these cleaned and removed toners is sent to a waste container by a conveying means (not shown).

  Although the image is formed as described above, the developing device 4 will be further described. The developing device 4 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and is an example of a developing device to which the toner replenishing device according to the present invention is applied.

  FIG. 2 schematically shows a cross-sectional structure of the developing device 4. FIG. 3 schematically shows the developing device 4 as viewed from the right in FIG. 2, but the developing roller 41 and the supply roller 42 are only indicated by their positions with broken lines.

The developing device 4 includes a developing roller 41 and a supply roller 42 that supplies developer (toner T in this example) to the developing roller 41.
The developing roller 41 is provided with an elastic layer made of a thermoplastic elastomer or rubber on a conductive shaft, and a surface coat layer having a higher hardness than the elastic layer on the surface thereof.
The supply roller 42 has a conductive foamed material layer (for example, an elastic foamed polyurethane layer imparted with conductivity) having elasticity on the conductive shaft.

  The developing device 4 also includes a first rotary transport body 46 and a second rotary transport body 47 that supply the developer with stirring to the supply roller 42 side. Here, each of the first and second rotary transport bodies is a screw transport member in which screw blades (spiral blades) are provided around the rotation shaft.

  The developing roller 41, the supply roller 42, and the first and second screw conveying members 46 and 47 are accommodated in the developing device housing 40, and are rotatably supported by the housing. A part of the developing roller 41 protrudes outside the housing 40 so as to face the photoreceptor 1 when the developing device 4 is mounted on the image forming apparatus 100. The conveying members 46 and 47 are accommodated in the developing device housing 40.

  A buffer portion 43 is formed in the housing 40 so as to hold a developer (toner T in this example) used for development and to face the supply roller 42 and the development roller 41.

  The first screw conveying member 46 is disposed in the buffer unit 43 above the supply roller 42 and at a position behind the roller 42. The second screw conveying member 47 is disposed above the first screw conveying member 46 and above the supply roller 42 with a plate-like partition member 48 therebetween.

  The first screw conveying member 46 is arranged in parallel with the developing roller 41, and the second screw conveying member 47 is arranged in parallel with the first screw conveying member 46 with the partition member 48 in between.

  The first screw conveying member 46 is rotationally driven by a rotation driving unit (not shown), so that the developer can be conveyed in the rotation axis direction from the right side to the left side in FIG. By being rotationally driven by a rotational drive unit (not shown), the developer can be conveyed in the direction of the rotational axis from the left side to the right side in FIG.

  As the first and second screw conveying members 46 and 47 are driven to rotate as described above, the developer is developed on the right side in FIG. The developer feeding side end (developer feeding side end) is conveyed to the left developer sending side end (developer sending side end), and the left side end of the partition member 48 from the developer sending side end. Through the opening (second opening) 482 of the second conveying member 47, the second conveying member 47 moves upward to the developer feeding side end, and is further conveyed by the second conveying member 47 toward the developer sending side end. Then, the toner drops and moves from the sending side end to the developer feeding side end of the first conveying member 46 through the opening (first opening) 481 at the right end of the partition member 48 while being assisted by gravity.

  In this way, the developer is supplied to the supply roller 42 and, consequently, the developing roller 41 side from the first transport member 46 while being stirred and circulated by the first and second transport members 46 and 47.

  The developing roller 41 and the supply roller 42 are driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 2 by a rotation driving unit (not shown). Accordingly, at the nip portion where the rollers 41 and 42 face each other, both roller surfaces move in opposite directions. As a result, the supply roller 42 scrapes off the developer that returns to the developing device housing 40 without being consumed by the development from the development roller 41 and supplies the developer to the development roller 41 anew.

  When the developer thus supplied passes through the blade-shaped developer regulating member 44 that is in contact with the developing roller 41, the amount of the developer is properly regulated and charged, and the developer faces the photoreceptor 1. It is used for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor 1 in the developing area (toner is applied to the electrostatic latent image). The developer that has not been consumed by the development returns to the case 40 as the developing roller 41 rotates. At this time, the developer is neutralized by a neutralization member 45 to which a neutralization bias is applied from a neutralization power supply (not shown) in order to facilitate scraping of the development roller 41 by the supply roller 42.

  In addition, the first and second screw conveying members 46 and 47 are arranged at the rotation axis of the developing roller 41 at the developer feeding side end of the conveying member 46 and the developer feeding side end of the conveying member 47 located thereabove. The developer reservoir portion 49 is provided continuously above the extended portion of the second conveying member 47. When the amount of developer (toner in this example) decreases from the state where the developer is consumed by development or the like, toner is supplied from the replenishing toner receiving portion 490 of the developer reservoir 49 by the toner replenishing device 50. Can be replenished.

  The toner replenishing device 50 can be attached to and detached from the replenishing toner receiving portion 490 at the connecting portion 500. The replenishing toner receiving portion 490 and the toner replenishing device 50 in the developing device 4 constitute a toner replenishing mechanism for the developing device 4. This will be further described later.

In FIG. 3, for example, a transparent resin (for example, polystyrene) for detecting the amount of developer (here, the upper surface position of the developer in the reservoir) on each of the front and back walls facing each other of the developer reservoir 49. ), And a developer amount detection device TS is provided for these windows.
When the developer reservoir 49 is made of a transparent material such as transparent polystyrene resin, a part of the developer reservoir 49 can be used as a detection window.

  In this example, the developer amount detection apparatus TS includes an optical sensor having a light emitting element (not shown) and a light receiving element (not shown). The light emitting element faces one detection window dw from the outside, and the light receiving element faces the other detection window dw from the outside. When the light receiving element receives a predetermined amount of light from the light emitting element, it is determined that the amount of developer in the developing device 4 is insufficient, and the light from the light emitting element is blocked by the developer and the light receiving element receives a predetermined amount of light. If not, it is determined that the developer amount is sufficient. As described above, the developer reservoir 49 is provided with a replenishment toner receiving portion 490 to which the connecting portion 500 of the toner replenishing device 50 can be detachably attached. When the detection device TS detects a shortage of the developer amount, the toner can be supplied from the toner supply device 50.

  The toner replenishing device 50 can be detachably attached to the developer reservoir 49 of the developing device 4 by the connecting mechanism shown in FIG. That is, a replenishment toner receiving portion 490 is provided on the upper wall 491 (see also FIG. 4) of the left portion in FIG. The toner replenishing device 50 can be attached to and detached from the toner receiving portion 490 at its connecting portion 500. These replenishing toner receiving portion 490 and connecting portion 500 constitute a connecting mechanism.

  The toner receiving portion 490 includes a toner receiving opening 492, a pair of guide walls 493, and a shutter S2 guided by them.

The toner receiving opening 492 is a circular opening here, but is not limited thereto.
The pair of guide walls 493 rises from the upper wall 491 as shown in FIG. 4 on both sides of the toner receiving opening 492 (in FIG. 3, the front side and the back side of the toner receiving opening 492).

  A shutter guide groove 494 is formed inside the lower portion of each guide wall 493, and the shutter S2 is fitted therein. The shutter S2 is guided by the groove and can slide in the developer reservoir upper wall 491 to reciprocate in the longitudinal direction of the developing device (left and right in FIG. 3).

  The shutter S2 has a circular toner passage hole sh2 having the same inner diameter as the toner receiving opening 492 of the upper wall 491, but the outer contour shape is rectangular when viewed from above or below. The shutter S2 can reciprocate between a toner receiving opening open position where the hole sh2 coincides with the toner receiving opening 492 and a toner receiving opening closed position where the hole sh2 is out of the toner receiving opening 492.

  An elastic toner seal sheet K2 is stuck on the upper surface of the shutter S2. The sheet K2 has a circular hole with the same inner diameter that matches the toner passage hole sh2 of the shutter S2, and surrounds the peripheral edge of the hole sh2. The sheet K2 reciprocates together with the shutter S2.

  The toner replenishing device 50 includes a toner bottle 501 containing replenishing toner and a connecting portion 500 for mounting the bottle on the replenishing toner receiving portion 490 of the developing device 4 so as to be removable.

  The connecting portion 500 is connected to a toner supply opening 502 formed at the lower end of the bottle 501. In this example, the toner supply opening 502 is a circular opening having the same inner diameter as the toner receiving opening 492 of the developer reservoir 49. Here, the toner supply opening 502 is formed by a cylindrical portion 503 integrated with the bottle 501.

  The connecting portion 500 includes a flange portion 504 that spreads from the lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 503 to the periphery, and has a rectangular outer contour when viewed from the plane, and a pair of shutter rail portions 505 that descend from both side edges of the flange portion.

  An elastic toner seal sheet K1 is attached to the lower surface of the flange portion 504. A toner passage opening kh1 having the same inner diameter as the toner supply opening 502 is formed in the seal sheet K1, and surrounds the peripheral edge of the toner supply opening 502.

  The shutter S1 is in contact with the lower surface of the sheet K1 with the toner sealing sheet 60 interposed therebetween. The toner sealing sheet 60 will be described in detail later. The shutter S <b> 1 is fitted in a shutter guide groove 506 formed on the lower inner side of the pair of shutter rail portions 505. A toner receiving film f made of synthetic resin (in this example, polyethylene terephthalate) is disposed along the lower surface of the shutter S1, and the film f is adhered and fixed to the lower surface of the shutter rail portion 505 to indirectly but not the toner. Supported by a bottle 501.

The shutter S1 is guided in the shutter guide groove 506, and is slid between the toner sealing sheet 60 and the film f superimposed on the sheet K1 to the longitudinal direction of the developing device (left and right in FIG. 3). Direction) can be manually reciprocated.
The toner receiving film f has a circular toner passage opening fh having the same inner diameter as that of the toner supply opening 502 and located immediately below the toner supply opening 502 of the toner bottle.

  Thus, if the toner sealing sheet 60 is not provided in the shutter S1, the toner passage hole sh1 coincides with the toner replenishment opening 502 through the sheet opening kh1, and the toner replenishment opening opening position and the hole sh1 extend from the toner replenishment opening 502. The removed toner replenishing opening closed position can be manually slid back and forth.

  The elastic toner seal sheets K1 and K2 are not limited thereto, but here are both sheets made of elastic foamed polyurethane.

  Here, the toner sealing sheet 60 will be further described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the positional relationship of the toner replenishment opening 502, the toner sealing sheet 60, and the toner replenishment opening 502 of the toner bottle 501 such as the toner passage hole sh1 of the shutter S1 as viewed from the lower surface side of the shutter S1.

  The toner sealing sheet 60 is not limited thereto, but is a sheet made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and having a thickness of about 0.05 mm in this example.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the sheet 60 is a belt-like sheet as a whole. The sheet 60 extends in the moving direction from the toner replenishment opening closed position of the shutter S1 to the toner replenishment opening open position, and is paired with the downstream end portion 600 in this direction. The protrusion 601 is provided. The protrusion 601 protrudes in a direction crossing the same direction. When assembling the toner replenishing device, the protrusions 601 are positioned so as to be caught by the catching portion 505a using the end 505a of the shutter rail portion 505 as a catching portion.

  The toner sealing sheet 60 should be pulled out when toner is supplied from the toner supply device 50 to the developing device 4. That is, the user or the like has an upstream portion 602 (see FIGS. 5 to 8) that extends to the outside of the toner replenishing device 50 on the side opposite to the downstream end portion 600, and from between the toner bottle 501 and the shutter S1. Pull out.

  The protrusions 601 of the toner sealing sheet 60 are required to resist easy pulling and to stabilize the sheet position, while the toner supply device 50 can supply toner to the developing device 4. As shown in FIG. 8, the edge portion 601a to be hooked on the catch portion 505a of the projection portion 601 is pulled out of the sheet 60 so that the pull-out resistance force is not easily generated. It is inclined from the direction perpendicular to the direction α (see FIG. 7) at an angle θ (approximately 45 degrees in this example) that is smaller than 90 ° in the direction opposite to the drawing direction.

  Further, the edge 601b opposite to the edge 601a to be hooked on the hook portion 505a is inclined toward the center of the sheet 60 so that the pulling resistance force is not generated when the sheet 60 is pulled out. Thus, the sheet end portion 600 is tapered from the protruding end of the edge portion 601a toward the tip opposite to the drawing direction. This facilitates deformation of the protrusion 601 when the toner sealing sheet is pulled out.

  At the shutter S1, the toner sealing sheet 60 is in contact with the hooking portion 505a at the downstream end of the shutter in the moving direction from the toner replenishment opening closing position to the opening position when the toner replenishing device is assembled. Thus, a slit-like viewing window S1a for confirming correct positioning is formed. And the sheet | seat positioning part st by the rising level | step difference along the downstream edge of window part S1a is formed. The sheet positioning portion st is formed of a low step so as not to hinder the operation of the shutter S1 even if it contacts the seal sheet K1.

  In this example, when the shutter S1 is fitted and assembled into the guide groove 506 of the rail portion 505, the shutter S1 is fitted into the guide groove 506 in the direction from the toner supply opening opening position side to the closing position side. At this time, the positioning portion st is brought into contact with the end of the end portion 600 of the toner sealing sheet 60 that has been previously aligned with the elastic seal sheet K1, thereby causing the projection portion of the sheet 60 to be associated with the assembly fitting of the shutter S1. The 601 can be pushed so as to abut on the catching portion 505a and positioned correctly, and the state can be confirmed from the viewing window portion S1a.

  The elastic toner seal sheet K1 surrounding the peripheral edge of the toner replenishment opening is rectangular as shown in FIG. 8, but the width in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the shutter S1 is the toner sealing sheet. It is smaller than the width of the portion including the protrusion 601 of the end portion 60 of 60. A gap g is provided between the shutter rail portion 505 and the shutter rail portion 505. Note that the toner seal sheet K1 may be adhered to the shutter S1, and even in such a case, a similar gap g may be formed.

  Thus, by forming the gap g between the elastic toner seal sheet K1 and the shutter rail portion 505, when the toner sealing sheet 60 is pulled out, the deformed portion of the protruding portion 601 can escape into the gap g. The sheet 60 can be pulled out smoothly.

In the toner replenishing device 50 described above, the toner replenishing opening 502 of the toner bottle 501 is closed by the shutter S1 during storage, transportation, and the like before being attached to the developing device 4.
A portion 602 (see FIG. 5 or the like) of the toner sealing sheet 60 that is sandwiched between the toner bottle 501 and the shutter S1 and extends to the outside of the replenishing device can be peeled off by an adhesive layer as illustrated in FIG. The toner bottle 501 is temporarily attached.

  The toner replenishing device 50 is provided with preparations for supplying toner to the developing device 4 when the image forming apparatus 100 is shipped, for example, when the toner amount in the developing device 4 decreases due to consumption, or when the toner amount decreases. The toner can be replenished into the developing device 4 from the replenishing toner receiving opening 492 by connecting to the replenishing toner receiving portion 490 of the developing device 4 in advance.

  In connecting the toner replenishing device 50 to the replenishing toner receiving portion 490, the flange portion 504 constituting the connecting portion 500 of the toner replenishing device and the pair of shutter rail portions 505 (see FIG. 4) descending from the flange portion 504 are provided. In the engaging groove 495 (see FIG. 4) on the top of the pair of guide walls 493 of the replenishing toner receiving portion 490 of the developing device 4, the toner seal sheet K2 in the longitudinal direction of the developing device (from left to right in FIG. 3). Are engaged and inserted so that they are slightly compressed. By doing so, the toner replenishing device 50 can be detachably attached to the replenishing toner receiving portion 490 through the connecting portion 500.

  FIG. 5 schematically shows a state in which the toner replenishing device 50 and the replenishing toner receiving portion 490 are connected as described above. The upper part UP above the toner receiving film f with the level L in between is the toner replenishing device side part, and the lower part DP below the elastic toner seal sheet K2 is the part on the replenishing toner receiving part side.

  In the state shown in FIG. 5, the toner supply opening 502 of the toner bottle 501 of the toner supply device 50 is closed by the shutter S1, and the toner receiving opening 492 of the supply toner receiving portion 490 is closed by the shutter S2.

  Further, the toner sealing sheet 60 is positioned at a normal position at the time of assembly in which the protruding portion 601 contacts the sheet catching portion 505a which is the end portion of the shutter rail portion 505. The end portion 600 of the sheet 60 is a shutter. It can be confirmed from the viewing window portion S1a of S1, and is positioned on the catch portion 505a by the sheet positioning portion st formed on the shutter.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, if the shutter S1 of the toner replenishing device 50 is manually moved from the toner replenishment opening closed position to the open position, if there is no toner sealing sheet 60, toner replenishment of the toner bottle 501 is performed. When the opening 502 and the opening kh1 of the seal sheet K1 communicate with the toner passage hole sh1 of the shutter S1, and the shutter S2 is moved from the closed position to the open position in the replenishing toner receiving portion 490, the replenishing toner receiving opening 492 is opened. Open state. Thus, if there is no sheet 60, the toner T can be supplied from the toner supply device 50 to the developing device 4.

  The shutter S2 of the replenishing toner receiving unit 490 may be manually opened and closed. In this example, when the connecting unit 500 of the toner replenishing device 50 is attached to the replenishing toner receiving unit 490, a shutter interlock (not shown) is provided. The mechanism is engaged, and the shutter S2 is opened and closed in conjunction with the manual opening and closing operation of the shutter S1.

  According to the toner replenishing device 50, when the image forming apparatus 100 is shipped, the toner replenishing device 50 is mounted on the developing device 4 mounted on the image forming apparatus 100, and the shutter S1 of the toner replenishing device 50 is replenished with toner in the toner bottle 501. Even if the toner receiving opening 492 on the developing device 4 side is opened at the position where the opening 502 is opened, the toner replenishing device 50 to the developing device 4 until the toner sealing sheet 60 on the toner replenishing device 50 side is pulled out. The toner is not replenished.

  Therefore, for example, even if a vibration is applied to the toner replenishing device 50 between the time when the image forming apparatus 100 is carried into the user and installed at a predetermined place of use, the toner replenishing device 50 can easily transfer toner to the developing device 4. The toner is not dropped and the toner is prevented from spilling.

  When the image forming apparatus 100 is used, as shown in FIG. 7, a portion 602 (FIG. 7) in which a toner sealing sheet 60 sandwiched between the toner bottle 501 and the shutter S1 is temporarily attached to the toner bottle 501. 3), and pulling out that portion, it is possible to obtain a state in which toner can be supplied from the toner bottle 501 to the developing device.

  At this time, the toe sealing sheet 60 has a projection 601 that gives resistance to pulling out, but the projection 601 is deformed against the resistance of the projection 601 and the deformed portion is elastically sealed sheet K1. So that it can escape to the gap g between the shutter rail portion 505 and the shutter rail portion 505.

  The toner replenishing device 50 is provided with a toner conveying device (not shown) that conveys the toner in the bottle 501 to the opening 502.

  When the toner in the toner bottle 501 is depleted, the toner bottle must be replaced, and therefore, the toner bottle must be removed from the developing device 4. In this case, the toner shown in FIG. 9B, the toner supply opening 502 of the toner bottle 501 is once closed by the shutter S1 as shown in FIG. 9B, and then the toner supply device 50 is connected to the supply toner receiving portion as shown in FIG. 9C. The new toner replenishing device 50 may be attached to the developing device 4 as needed. When the toner replenishing device 50 is removed, the replenishing toner receiving unit 490 may close the toner receiving opening 492 with the shutter S2 in order to suppress toner spillage.

  When the toner replenishing device 50 is removed from the developing device 4 in this way, in the toner replenishing device 50 to be removed, as shown in FIG. 9B, the shutter S1 is placed on the toner receiving film f disposed along the lower surface thereof. The toner bottle 501 can be slid to move from the toner replenishment opening open position to the closing position.

Accordingly, most of the toner T remaining in the toner passage hole sh1 of the shutter S1 is supported from below by the toner receiving film f and is confined in the toner passage hole sh1, thereby causing the toner supply device 50 (particularly the shutter S1). Toner spillage due to dropping, scattering, etc. of the toner T (from the toner passage hole sh1) is suppressed.
Such suppression of toner spilling can be performed easily and inexpensively because the toner receiving film f disposed along the lower surface of the shutter S1 can be used.

  Although the image forming apparatus described with reference to FIG. 1 is a tandem type full-color printer 100, the toner replenishing apparatus according to the present invention can also be applied to a monochrome image forming apparatus, and other types of multicolor image forming. It can also be applied to devices. Further, in an image forming apparatus provided with a plurality of developing devices, the present invention can be applied to a smaller number of developing devices than the total number of the developing devices.

  The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device that replenishes toner into a developing device from a replenishing toner receiving opening that opens upward from the developing device. The toner replenishing device is attached to the developing device, and the toner replenishing opening of the toner replenishing device and A toner replenishing device capable of preventing the toner from dropping from the toner replenishing device to the developing device due to vibration or the like when the image forming apparatus is conveyed to the user while the toner receiving opening of the developing device is in a state where it can communicate Can be used to provide.

100 printer 4 developing device 40 developing device housing 49 developer reservoir 490 replenishment toner receiving portion 491 developer reservoir upper wall 492 replenishing toner receiving opening 493 guide wall 494 shutter guide groove 495 connecting portion guide groove S2 shutter sh2 toner passage hole K2 Toner seal sheet kh2 Toner passage opening 50 Toner supply device 500 Connecting portion 501 Toner bottle 502 Toner supply opening 503 Cylindrical portion 504 Flange portion 505 Shutter rail portion 505a Sheet catching portion 506 Shutter guide groove S1 Shutter sh1 Toner passage hole S1a Sheet viewing window Part st Sheet positioning part K1 Toner seal sheet kh1 Toner passage opening f Toner receiving film fh Toner passage opening 60 Toner sealing sheet 600 Sheet end part 601 Protrusion part 601a, 6 01b Projection edge S Recording paper T Toner

Claims (8)

Replenishment toner that opens upward from a developing device used for electrostatic latent image development in an image forming apparatus capable of forming an electrostatic latent image on an electrostatic latent image carrier and developing the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image A toner replenishing device that replenishes toner from the receiving opening into the developing device;
A toner bottle for containing replenished toner, having a downward toner replenishment opening for replenishing toner from the toner receiving opening of the developing device into the developing device;
A toner replenishing opening provided to the toner replenishing opening of the toner bottle, having a toner passage hole, and a toner replenishing opening opening position where the toner passage hole faces the toner replenishing opening, and a toner that removes the toner passage hole from the toner replenishing opening A toner replenishing device having a shutter capable of reciprocating between a replenishing opening closed position;
Even if the shutter is disposed from the toner replenishment opening closed position to the toner replenishment opening open position, the shutter is sandwiched between the shutter and the toner bottle so that the toner passage opening does not communicate with the toner passage hole of the shutter. A toner sealing sheet,
The toner sealing sheet extends in the moving direction from the toner replenishment opening closed position of the shutter to the toner replenishment opening open position, protrudes to a downstream end portion in the direction, and crosses the direction to the toner bottle. The protrusion has a protrusion hooked to a sheet hook portion provided at a fixed position, and the protrusion is formed by pulling the upstream portion from the downstream end in the pulling direction opposite to the downstream end. A toner replenishing device that can be pulled out from between the toner bottle and the shutter while deforming the toner.   An edge portion of the toner sealing sheet to be hooked on the catch portion is inclined at an angle smaller than 90 ° from a direction perpendicular to the drawing direction of the sheet to a direction opposite to the drawing direction. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1.   3. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion of the toner sealing sheet is tapered from a protruding end of the edge to be hooked to the catching portion toward a tip opposite to the pulling direction. .   The shutter is reciprocally slidable along a shutter rail portion formed on the toner bottle, and the toner bottle includes an elastic toner seal sheet surrounding a peripheral edge portion of the toner replenishing opening, and the toner sealing The sheet is sandwiched between the elastic toner seal sheet and the shutter, and the width of the elastic toner seal sheet in the direction perpendicular to the pulling direction of the toner sealing sheet includes a protrusion of the toner sealing sheet. 4. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein a gap is provided between the elastic toner seal sheet and the shutter rail portion, which is shorter than a width in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the toner sealing sheet is pulled out.   The shutter is capable of reciprocating and sliding along a shutter rail portion formed on the toner bottle, and the shutter includes an elastic toner seal sheet that surrounds a peripheral portion of the toner passage hole of the shutter, The toner sealing sheet is sandwiched between the elastic toner seal sheet and the toner bottle, and the width of the elastic toner seal sheet in the direction perpendicular to the pulling direction of the toner sealing sheet is the width of the toner sealing sheet. The width of the portion including the protrusion in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the toner sealing sheet is pulled out is shorter, and a gap is provided between the elastic toner seal sheet and the shutter rail portion. Toner supply device.   The shutter has a toner sealing sheet positioning portion capable of coming into contact with the downstream end of the toner sealing sheet from the downstream side in the moving direction from the toner supply opening closed position of the shutter to the toner supply opening open position. The toner replenishing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.   7. The shutter according to claim 1, further comprising a viewing window portion for confirming a position of a downstream end portion of the toner sealing sheet sandwiched between the shutter and the toner bottle. The toner replenishing device according to Item.   The toner bottle is supported by the toner bottle so as to allow sliding of the shutter along the lower surface of the shutter, and when the shutter is in the toner replenishing opening open position, the toner is passed through the toner passage hole of the shutter. 2. A toner receiving film which has a toner passage opening which can communicate with the replenishment opening, and further closes the toner passage hole of the shutter from below when the shutter is in the toner replenishment opening closed position. 8. The toner replenishing device according to any one of 7 above.

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