JP2580354Y2 - Developing device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrostatic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, particularly a toner receiving port of a developing apparatus, which employs a cartridge system for supplying a developing toner to a developing apparatus. The present invention relates to prevention of toner leakage from a gap between cartridges.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a means for replenishing toner to a developing device constituting an electrostatic image forming apparatus using toner as a developer, for example, there is a cartridge system as shown in a sectional view of FIG.
In this method, a toner receiving port (1a) is provided on the upper surface of a developing device main body (1), and an edge (3) of a toner cartridge (3) is provided by key-shaped guides (1b) provided on both sides thereof.
According to the guidance of a), the toner cartridge (31) until the toner discharge port (3b) coincides with the toner receiving port (1a).
Then, the closing plate (3c) closing the toner discharge port (3b) is pulled out from the outside by means not shown, and the toner discharge port (3b) is opened to open the toner discharge cartridge (3). (2) Developing device body (1)
Is supplied to the toner hopper (1c). In FIG. 3, (1d)
Is a toner remaining amount detection sensor, (1e) is a stirring device, (1e)
f) is a magnet roller, (1g) is a photosensitive drum, (1g)
h) is a toner layer thickness regulation plate. However, as is well known, the toner (2), whether one-component or two-component, is a very fine powder having an average particle size of, for example, a diameter of about 10 microns. Therefore, the toner (2) is replenished from the cartridge (3) into the toner hopper (1c), the developing device main body (1) is tilted or vibrated, and the toner is stirred by the stirring device (1e). At this time, the toner (2) soars and floats in the toner hopper (1c) in a mist state. For this reason, the developing device body (1)
If there is a gap between the installation surface of the toner receiving port (1a) and the four peripheral portions (3a) of the toner cartridge (3), the sooted fine toner (2) leaks out through the gap. Dirty the surroundings. Therefore, the following means have conventionally been employed to prevent this. That is, the four peripheral edges of the toner receiving port (1a) provided on the upper surface of the developing device main body (1) are arranged as shown in FIG.
As shown in the plan view of (a), four square rod-shaped seal members (4) made of an elastic material such as urethane having a required thickness.
a) is attached in a frame shape so that the surface of the four peripheral edges (3a) of the toner cartridge (3) mounted on the toner receiving port (1a) is pressed against the surface of the frame-shaped sealing material (4). To eliminate gaps.

[0003]

However, even in the case described above, it is difficult to sufficiently prevent the toner from leaking and scattering outside due to the conventional means for forming the frame-shaped sealing material. That is, in the related art, from the viewpoint of economical production of the material and simplification of the production, for example, by cutting the material, a square rod-shaped sealing member (4a) corresponding to the length of the four peripheral portions of the toner receiving port (1d).
And sealing them with each seal member (4) as shown in FIG.
The linear end face (4a1) of (a) is stuck to the toner receiving port (1a) while being abutted against the end side face (4a2) of the long side of the sealing member (4a) forming a straight shape, and is adhered in a frame shape. To form the sealing material (4). But when such straight corners by butt only by one straight line portion amount as described above is formed, even if misalignment of butt slight as partial view of example FIG. 4 (b), the Large gaps are likely to occur. For this reason, the result is that the leakage of the toner cannot be sufficiently prevented. Figure 4 of course
As shown in the plan view of (c), if the sealing material (4) is formed in a seamless frame shape by, for example, a punching means, the above-described problem can be solved at once, but this is a waste of material removal. , Which is not economical and goes against cost reduction.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a sealing member forming means capable of preventing a sufficient amount of toner from leaking more easily than before by means of sticking a square bar-shaped sealing member.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide the following means: the ends of the square rod-shaped seal portions which are combined at right angles are formed on a plurality of surfaces which are not located on the same straight line. This is achieved by a structure that is combined by butting.

[0006]

1 (a) to 1 (m) are enlarged top views of essential parts showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the example of FIG. 1A, a surface (5a1) provided in the same direction as the longitudinal direction of the square rod-shaped sealing member (5) and having the same length as the width of the sealing member (6);
a1) is provided with a surface (5a2) perpendicular to the surface (5a2), and the surface (5a1) of the seal member (5) is sealed with the side surface (6a1) in the longitudinal direction of the seal member (6). An end face (6a) perpendicular to the longitudinal face (6a1) of the member (6)
According to the method of collating 2), they are combined at right angles and bonded and bonded. FIG. 1 (b)
FIG. 1C shows an example in which the ends of the sealing members (5) and (6) are combined at a right angle while contacting each other on three surfaces that are not located on the same straight line.
The example of (d) is an example in which the number of butted surfaces is further increased.
1 (e) to 1 (h), for example, as shown in FIG. 1 (e), one seal member, for example, (6) is provided with a slot (6b) and the other seal member (5) is provided with an end. This is an example in which a projection (5b) that fits and fits in the slot (6b) is provided and combined at right angles, and other examples may be as shown in FIGS. 1 (i) to (m).

[0007]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the number of abutting surfaces of the end faces of the sealing members combined at right angles increases, and the directions of the respective surfaces are different, so that the alignment for the combination is facilitated. The gap can be reduced as compared with the conventional case. In addition, the distance between the inner circumference and the outer circumference of the sealing material at the butted portion becomes large, and the respective surfaces are positioned at a right angle or another angle to form a bent surface. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the toner (2) that has passed through the first gap (7a) collides with the surface (8a) before entering the second gap (7b) and stays there. Further, the leaked toner entering the second gap (7b) collides with the surface (8b) and stays there before entering the third gap (7c), so that the amount of the leaked toner gradually decreases, and finally Means that the small gap is filled with the staying toner. Therefore, the leakage of toner can be significantly reduced as compared with the related art. In addition, even if the end structure as in the present invention is provided, the sealing member can be easily formed by cutting using a mold as in the related art, so that the manufacturing cost does not increase.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a developing device that replenishes toner with a cartridge.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a sealing member for preventing toner leakage in a conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Developing device body (1a) Toner receiving port (1b) Key guide (1c) Toner hopper (1d) Remaining toner detection sensor (1e) Stirring device (1f) Magnet roller (1g) Photosensitive drum (1h) Toner layer Thickness control plate (2) Toner (3) Toner cartridge (3a) Four peripheral edges (3b) Toner discharge port (3c) Closure plate (4) Seal material (4a) Seal member (5) (6) Seal member (6a) Slot (6b) Projection (5a1) (5a2) Surface (6a1) (6a2) Surface (7a) (7b) (7c) Gap (8a) (8b) Surface

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A 3-80452 (JP, U) JP 2-34518 (JP, Y2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03G 15 / 08 112 F16J 15/06

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] An electrostatic type wherein toner is supplied by a toner cartridge which is mounted by pressing a toner discharge port to a toner receiving port provided with a frame-shaped sealing material for preventing toner leakage at four peripheral portions. In the developing device of the image forming apparatus, the seal member disposed at the four peripheral portions has four square bars.
Each square rod-shaped seal is constituted by a seal member.
The developing device is characterized in that the butted portions of the members are formed as end structures that are combined at right angles by abutting a plurality of surfaces that do not lie on the same straight line.