JP2852934B2 - Toner cartridge - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention visualizes an electrostatic image formed on an image forming body such as a photosensitive drum by an electrophotographic recording system or an electrostatic recording system with toner. The present invention relates to a toner cartridge for collecting and storing toner scraped off from an image forming body by a cleaning device after transferring the toner onto a recording sheet.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an image recording apparatus using an electrostatic image such as an electrophotographic copying machine or an electrostatic recording apparatus forms an electrostatic image on an image forming body such as a photosensitive drum, and the electrostatic image is formed into a toner by a developing device. , And the toner image was transferred and fixed on a recording paper to obtain an intended recorded matter. After the image transfer, the photosensitive drum is erased of residual charges by the charge removing electrode, and then the residual toner is removed by the cleaning device to prepare for the next electrostatic image formation.

In the above-described image recording apparatus, since the developing device and the cleaning device are opposed to each other with the photosensitive drum interposed therebetween, a container for supplying toner to the developing device and a container for collecting toner scraped by the cleaning device are separately provided. It is natural to be installed. About 70% of the toner replenished from the toner replenishing container to the developing device is consumed for obtaining a recorded matter, and about 30% is collected as waste toner.

Therefore, if the replenishment toner container and the collected toner container are separately installed, only the toner is supplied to the developing device, and the replacement of the collected toner container tends to be forgotten, and there is a possibility that the toner overflows.

Therefore, recently, a proposal has been made for not forgetting to replace the collected toner container at the same time as replacing the supply toner container.

One of the typical examples is as described in JP-A-59-184373, where a stretchable film is stretched diagonally in a container to divide it into two chambers. A space is created in which the toner is inserted and the elastic film shrinks as the toner decreases for each copy, so that the space can be used as a collected toner chamber. In this case, when the supply toner is completely replaced and replaced, the collection container is always replaced. Second, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 61-37008, the replenishment toner container on the toner supply side is turned upright by 180 ° to be erected and fitted into the cleaning device, so that it can be used as a recovered toner container as it is. In this case as well, it is instructed to fit the empty supply container into the cleaning device when the toner is supplied, so it is unlikely that forgetting to replace the collection container is likely to occur.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the first case, it is difficult to attach the elastic film in the container itself, and at first, the replenishment toner must be stored in a state where the elastic film is extended, which is troublesome,
In the second case, some toner adheres to the empty container after the toner has been supplied to the developing device. was there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a toner cartridge which facilitates storing toner in a replenishing toner storing portion and prevents toner from scattering when replacing a cartridge when replenishing toner. It is intended to provide.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a toner cartridge having a replenishment toner storage section, a collected toner storage section, and a connecting means for these, wherein the connecting means fixes a recovery opening of the collected toner storage section upward. In the state, the supply toner storage section is rotatably connected to the collection toner storage section so that the supply opening of the supply toner storage section can be rotated downward, and the supply opening is turned downward at the time of toner supply. The recovery opening is always maintained upward.

Embodiment Next, the present invention will be described based on an embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a process cartridge of a copying machine,
In the process cartridge 10, an image forming body (hereinafter, referred to as a photosensitive drum) 11 is centered and a charging device is provided around the image forming body.
12, a developing device 13, and a cleaning device 14 are arranged.

Since the transfer device is provided on the copying machine main body side corresponding to the lower surface of the photosensitive drum 11, it is not shown here.

The developing device 13 is provided with a developing sleeve 15, a main stirring member 16 and an auxiliary stirring member 17, and a part of the developer scooped up by the main stirring member 16 passes through a gap with the doctor blade 18 so that the developing sleeve 15 Adheres to the surface of the photoreceptor drum
11 is used to develop an electrostatic image on the surface of the surface 11, and a part of the developer is sent backward through the gap with the regulating piece 19, and the arrow A
As shown in the figure, the air is circulated from the opening 21 provided in the partition plate 20 to the lower surface side of the auxiliary stirring member 17 via the inclined plate 22. A toner density sensor 23 for detecting the magnetic permeability is provided on the flow path surface of the developer flowing through the opening 21 as shown by an arrow A, and the toner density sensor 23 detects the magnetic permeability of the developer. A drive signal or a stop signal can be output to a drive source (not shown). When the replenishing roller 25 rotates, the toner in the toner replenishing chamber 24 falls between the toner and the mouth end member 26 of the opening groove.

Reference numeral 27 denotes a toner storage chamber, and reference numeral 28 denotes a ladder chain for feeding toner from the toner storage chamber 27 into the toner supply chamber 24 through the window 29.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a toner cartridge according to the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the toner cartridge 30 is formed by integrally connecting a replenishment toner storage section 31 and a collected toner storage section 32 via a connection means 33.

The connecting means 33 includes a cylindrical body 33a having one end face closed as shown in FIG. 4 and a shaft 33c protruding from the center of the inner surface of the closed surface 33b and extending outward from the open surface of the cylindrical body 33a. And a knob 33e integrally fixed to the tip of the shaft 33c with a tightening screw 33d. The picking member 33e has a collected toner storage section.
A shutter 33f for opening and closing the 32 collection openings 32d is provided.

The replenishment toner storage unit 31 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a suitable material such as paper, and one end (the right end in the figure) is provided on the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 33a of the connecting means 33 on the closed end side. It has an inside diameter that can fit tightly into the small diameter portion 33a ', and the other end (the left end in the figure) is sealed with a cap member 31a. Further, the supply opening 31b provided on one side wall is sealed by a flexible seal member 31c until it is peeled off when the stored toner is supplied to the toner storage unit 27.

The collected toner storage section 32 is a large diameter section having a non-circular outer periphery.
32a, and an inner cylindrical portion 32b and an outer cylindrical portion 32c provided opposite each other with the large-diameter portion 32a interposed therebetween. In the center of the outer wall of the inner cylindrical portion 32b and the outer cylindrical portion 32c, a through hole 32 that can be fitted to the shaft portion 33c of the connecting means 33 is provided.
b 'and 32c' are provided.

Thus, the shaft portion 33c of the connecting means 33 is inserted into the through-hole 32b 'of the inner cylindrical portion 32b and the through-hole 32c' of the outer cylindrical portion 32c in a skewered manner, so that the inner cylindrical portion 32b is inserted into the cylindrical body 33a. The knob 33e is screwed to the tip of the shaft 33c protruding from the through hole 32c 'of the outer cylindrical portion 32c as shown in FIG. As a result, the collected toner storage unit 32 is integrated with the replenishment toner storage unit 31 via the connection unit 33. Therefore, the recovered toner storage section 32 is moved to the recovery opening 32d.
When the knob 33e is turned clockwise or counterclockwise in a fixed state, the replenishment toner storage unit 31 rotates in the circumferential direction.

In this case, if the shutter 33f integral with the knob member 33e and the replenishing opening 31e of the replenishing toner storage unit 31 are set in the same direction, when the replenishing opening 31b is turned downward and toner is supplied, the shutter 33f is moved to the collecting opening 32d. When the supply opening 31e is turned upward, the collection opening 32d is opened by the shutter 33f.
Will be closed.

The fixing of the collected toner storage section 32 is performed by the cartridge of the present invention.
When 30 is set, the non-circular outer periphery of the large diameter portion 32a
As shown in the drawing, the process is performed by bringing the process cartridge 10 into contact with a protrusion 10 ′ provided on the front cover.

Although the outer periphery of the large diameter portion 32a of the collected toner storage portion 32 is hexagonal in FIGS. 2 and 4, the portion is formed in a convex box shape as shown in FIG. May be fixed according to the concave shape.

In the above embodiment, the collected toner storage section 32 is loosely fitted in a skewered manner on the shaft portion 33c of the connection means 33 to which the replenishment toner storage section 31 is fixed. However, as shown in FIGS.
33 is configured to cover the outer periphery of the collected toner storage section 32, and the collected toner storage section 32 is grounded and fixed to the front cover of the process cartridge 10 so that the collection opening 32d faces upward. Can be configured to be able to rotate in the circumferential direction.

Reference numeral 34 denotes a cleaning blade which presses against the photosensitive drum 11 and scrapes off toner remaining on the drum surface after transfer. The cleaning blade 34 is a compression spring about a shaft 35.
Support frame 37 whose rotational power is urged counterclockwise by 36
It is attached to the leading edge side.

Numeral 38 denotes a receiving portion for the collected toner scraped off by the cleaning blade 34, numeral 39 denotes a toner guide plate, and numeral 40 denotes a toner discharge screw arranged in the toner receiving portion 38.
As shown in FIG. 10, the toner discharge screw 40 has a base end 41 connected to the toner receiving portion 38 from outside the process cartridge 10.
"a" extends vertically to the tip 41b of a hollow body 41 which is rotatably connected to the hollow body 41. The hollow body 41 has a discharge port 41c at the lower surface of the tip portion 41b.
The collected toner storage section of the toner cartridge 30 of the present application
It engages with the 32 collection openings 32d. That is, the photosensitive drum 1
The collected toner scraped from 1 is gradually conveyed from the toner receiving section 38 to the collected toner storage section 32 through the hollow body 41 by the carry-out screw 40.

9 and 10, reference numeral 42 denotes a lever for rotating the hollow body 41 to a position out of the way when the toner cartridge 30 of the present invention is attached and detached. The lever 42 can be raised clockwise about the shaft 421. It has become. Then
When the lever 42 is raised as shown in FIG. 10, the pin 422 planted on the lever 42 rides on the lower surface of the frame member 423 fixed to the outer periphery of the hollow body 41, and rotates the hollow body 41 upward around the base end 41a. Move. The upright state of the lever 42 is maintained by the action of a coil spring 424 stretched between the lever 42 and the frame member 423.

Reference numeral 43 denotes a shutter for opening and closing a discharge port 41c provided on the lower surface of the distal end portion 41b of the hollow body 41, and the shutter 43 includes a link member 44.
Through the lever 42. Therefore, the lever
When the hollow body 41 is turned upward and the hollow body 41 is turned upward, the discharge port 41c is closed in conjunction with the operation, and when the lever 42 is tilted down as shown in FIG. 9, the discharge port 41c is opened. I have.

In the above-described embodiment, in order to set the toner cartridge 30 of the present invention in the upper part of the toner storage chamber 27 of the developing unit 13, first, the supply opening 31b of the supply toner storage unit 31 is fully opened in an upward state, and the toner cartridge 30 is directly loaded into a predetermined location. I do. In this case, the recovery opening 32d of the recovery toner storage unit 32 is also directed upward, and is closed by a shutter 33f integrated with the knob 33e.

When set in this manner, the non-circular large-diameter portion 32a of the collected toner storage portion 32 is fixed to the projection of the process cartridge 10 by grounding. When the knob 33e is turned to the right or left, the knob is The replenishment toner container 31 tightly fitted to the cylindrical body 33a integral with 33e also rotates in the circumferential direction. When the replenishing opening 31b is directed right below in this way, the toner in the replenishment toner storage 31 is dropped and replenished into the storage chamber 27 by gravity. The toner is transferred from the supply chamber 27 to the toner supply chamber 24 by a ladder chain 28, and is used for development in an appropriate amount.

On the other hand, after image transfer, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 34 and
The toner collected in the toner receiving section 38 along the path 39 is carried out by the carry-out screw 40, passes through the hollow body 41, and from the recovery opening 32d opening upward from the discharge port 41c provided on the lower surface of the distal end. The toner is collected in the collected toner storage unit 32.

Next, when replacing the cartridge 30 of the present application, the lever 42
Is erected as shown in FIG. As a result, the hollow body 41 connected to the recovery opening 32d of the recovered toner storage unit 32 rotates upward and separates, and at the same time, the discharge port 41c provided on the lower surface of the distal end 41b of the hollow body 41 is closed by the shutter 43. .

Thereafter, the knob 33e is turned to rotate the supply toner storage 31.
Even if the supply opening 31e is turned upward, the collection opening 32d of the collected toner storage section 32 is kept facing upward. In addition, since the recovery opening 32d is completely closed by the shutter 33f integrated with the knob 33e, when pulled out in this state, toner is not scattered from both the supply opening and the recovery opening. .

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, the present invention relates to a toner cartridge having a replenishment toner storage section, a collection toner storage section, and a connecting means for the toner cartridge, wherein the connection section is configured such that the collection opening of the collection toner storage section is fixed upward. The supply toner storage unit is rotatably connected to the collection toner storage unit so that the supply opening of the supply toner storage unit can be rotated downward. If the opening is set upward from the beginning, the collecting opening is always kept upward even if the supply opening is downward when supplying toner, so that toner does not scatter when replacing the cartridge.

In addition, since the replenishment toner storage unit is connected to the collection toner storage unit via a connection unit and is isolated from the beginning, unlike the conventional device in which an elastic film is stretched diagonally in the container and divided into two chambers. Further, it is easy to store the toner in the replenishment toner storage section.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 10 show an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a process cartridge in which the toner cartridge of the present invention is assembled, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the toner cartridge with a part thereof omitted, and FIG. 5, FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a modified example of the collected toner storage section, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are a sectional front view and a sectional side view showing a second embodiment of the toner cartridge of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a state in which the toner discharge pipe is lowered, and FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a state in which the toner discharge pipe is raised. 10 Process cartridge 11 Photoreceptor drum 13 Developing device 14 Cleaning device 27 Storage unit 30 Toner cartridge 31 of the present invention Supply toner storage unit 31 b Supply opening 32 Recovered toner storage Part 32d: Recovery opening 33: Connection means

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A toner cartridge comprising a replenishment toner storage section, a collection toner storage section, and a connecting means for connecting the replenishment toner storage section with the collection opening of the collection toner storage section fixed upward. A toner cartridge, wherein the supply toner storage unit is rotatably connected to the collection toner storage unit such that the supply opening of the storage unit can be turned downward. 2. A toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein said connecting means is capable of opening and closing a collection opening of said collection toner storage section in conjunction with rotation of said supply toner storage section.