JP2925087B2 - How to replenish toner - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for supplying toner to a toner container.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a developing section of the image forming apparatus. When the photosensitive drum 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, the toner 10 in the toner hopper 9 rotates simultaneously with the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 or the action of the magnet 2 and the sleeve 3 in which only the magnet 2 rotates. It is sent out and given to the latent image to become a visible image. The toner hopper 9 is replenished with the toner 10 by using a toner cartridge in which toner is put into a long cylindrical cartridge container 12 and an opening 12 a of the container 12 in the generatrix direction is sealed with a seal 13.

In the second and subsequent replenishments, the empty cartridge container 12 is pulled away from the developing device 8 of the image forming apparatus by pulling it toward the near side perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, and then the toner cartridge filled with toner is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. Insert the cartridge container 12 from the front end of the cartridge container 12
Affixed to the edge of a, folded back on the back side, pinched and pulled the seal 13 extending to the front side, opened the opening 12a, opened the opening 1a
, The supply toner 10 is dropped into the toner hopper 9.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the process cartridge 11.
The process cartridge 11 is provided with a primary charger 5, a window 7a for introducing image light, a developing device 8, and a cleaning container 6 provided with a cleaning blade 4 for performing an electrophotographic process in the direction of the arrow in the figure around the photosensitive drum 1. Are unitized by the cover 7. Here, the developing device 8 is the same as that shown in FIG. 2, but after the toner 10 has been sealed in advance and the toner 10 filled in the toner hopper 9 of the process cartridge 11 has been used up, the developing device 8 is replaced with a new process cartridge 11. It was a method to do.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" However, in the conventional example shown in FIG. 2, when an empty cartridge container is pulled out, a shock is not applied and toner is scattered unless care is taken that the opening 12a faces upward. There is a fear. In the conventional example using the process cartridge 11 shown in FIG. 3, the amount of the toner 10 packed in the developing device 8 at one time is limited. Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the size of the toner container in the developing device 8 of the process cartridge 11. However, since the process cartridge 11 is heavy and large, there is a limit to increasing the size.

The present invention is a further development of the above conventional technology,
An object of the present invention is to provide a toner replenishing method that enables toner replenishment without causing toner scattering.

[Means for solving the problem]

The present invention relates to a method for replenishing toner to a toner storage container for storing toner used for developing a latent image formed on a photoreceptor, wherein toner is stored in a toner storage portion of the toner storage container. Attach a toner supply container, supply toner from the toner supply container to the toner storage section, and then attach the toner supply container first without removing the toner supply container according to a mounting operation of a new toner supply container. The space occupied by the toner supply container in the toner storage unit is reduced, and the new toner supply container is mounted in the resulting space in the toner storage unit. This is a method for replenishing toner to a toner storage container, characterized by replenishing toner to the toner container.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

The embodiment described below relates to a toner supply device in an electrostatic recording type image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a laser printer. Here, the toner supply device can also be used for a process cartridge.

The embodiment described below is a toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to an image forming apparatus using a toner cartridge containing toner in a cartridge container, and the space occupied by the cartridge container without removing the used cartridge container. Is a toner supply device in which a new supply toner cartridge can be inserted. Further, the plurality of cartridge containers are formed in cylindrical shapes having different sizes, and a toner cartridge in which a toner cartridge container to be used later is inserted into a previously used toner cartridge container, and an inner wall of the toner cartridge, and This is a toner supply device provided with a protrusion and a guide for determining an insertion position on an outer wall. Still further, the toner replenishing device is a toner replenishing device in which a toner cartridge container is an elastic body in a bellows state and a used cartridge container is compressed with a new replenishing toner cartridge.

 Now, description will be made with reference to the drawings.

First, a reference example will be described with reference to FIGS.

The reference embodiment is not included in the present invention because the number of containers of the toner supply container mounted first is not reduced according to the mounting operation of the toner supply container.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views of the toner cartridge. Cylindrical cartridge containers 16 and 17 made of synthetic resin are different in size, and one end face is closed by lids 16a and 17a, respectively. Openings 16 b and 17 b for sending out the toner 10 to the toner hopper 9 are provided in the lower generatrix direction of the cartridge containers 16 and 17.
Protrusions 18, 19 having a dovetail cross section are formed in the generatrix direction on the upper outside of the cartridge containers 16, 17, respectively. A ridge 16c for forming a dovetail groove 23 in the direction of the upper internal generatrix of the toner cartridge 14 is formed. The protrusion 19 of the toner cartridge 15 can be fitted into the dovetail groove 23 of the toner cartridge 14. Cartridge container 17 is a cartridge container
It is as large as possible to fit in 16.

The cartridge containers 16 and 17 are filled with the toner 10, respectively. Seals 22 and 23 are provided on the end surfaces of the respective containers where the lids 16a and 17a are not provided and on the edges of the openings 16b and 17b. Seals 22, 23 are lids 16a, 17 of cartridge containers 16, 17, respectively.
One end of each of the seals 22 and 23 is pasted from the end face without a, and the end face and the corner of the opening 16b and 17b are folded, and the lid 16 is placed along the opening 16b and 17b.
a, 17a side, where it is folded back and overlapped, and extended from the side without the lids 16a, 17a to the outside of the cartridge containers 16, 17;

4 and 5 are longitudinal sectional views of an example applied to the process cartridge 11. FIG. 3 is the same as FIG. 3 except for the toner hopper 9. On the upper wall in the toner hopper 9, there is provided a guide 21 having a dovetail groove in which the projection 18 of the toner cartridge 14 can slide. A toner supply port 20 is provided on an end surface of the toner hopper 9.

When the process cartridge 11 is supplied, the toner hopper 9 is filled with the toner 10 in advance similarly to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6 which is a perspective view of the external appearance, the lid 34 slides on the guide strip 7b provided on the end face of the cover 7 of the process cartridge, and slides on the toner cartridge provided on the cover 7 which coincides with the toner supply port 20. Open and close the insertion slot 7c. The developing device 8 is provided with an antenna 33 as a toner remaining amount detector.

With use, the antenna 33 detects that the toner 10 in the toner hopper 9 has run out, and a display (not shown) indicates this. Then, the lid 34 is moved in accordance with the guide line 7b to open the toner cartridge insertion port 7c, and the toner cartridge 14 is inserted through the toner supply port 20 and the projection 18 of the toner cartridge 14 is inserted into the guide 21 of the toner hopper 9 as shown in FIG. Then, the end of the seal 22 is pulled to drop the toner 10 into the toner hopper 9. Then, the lid 34 is returned, and the toner cartridge insertion port 7c is closed. Thus, a new image can be formed. The cartridge container 16 remains loaded in the toner hopper 9. Next, when the toner runs out again, as shown in FIG.
To open the toner cartridge insertion port 7c, insert the toner cartridge 15 from the toner supply port 20 so that the ridge 19 fits into the dovetail groove 23 provided in the cartridge container 16, and pull out the seal 23. Thus, the toner 10 is similarly supplied to the developing device 8.

In the present embodiment, a process cartridge, which has conventionally been the mainstream in a small copying machine or a laser printer or the like, can be replenished with toner by a simple method, thereby reducing running costs. The two large and small toner cartridges used for toner supply do not need to be removed again after being inserted into the toner hopper, so that toner can be supplied without scattering of toner.

When the toner cartridge 11 is used by being set in a process cartridge, the lid 34 provided on the cover 7 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is attached to the solenoid coil 37 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Compression coil spring 3 inserted into movable rod 37a
Due to the spring force of 6, the opening / closing prevention bracket 35 attached to the tip of the movable rod 37a is brought into contact with the end face of the cover 7 on the side of the door of the lid 34 with the lid 34 closed. This prevents the user from erroneously replenishing the toner while the toner cartridge 11 is sufficiently remaining in the toner cartridge 11 and scattering the remaining toner to the outside. That is, when the process cartridge 11 is used by setting it in the main body of the image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 8, the opening / closing prevention bracket 35 prevents the opening / closing of the lid 34, and the toner remaining amount becomes sufficiently small. Only when the antenna 33 detects that the amount of remaining toner is low, the spring 36 is contracted by energizing the solenoid coil 37 as shown in FIG. Open to allow toner supply. Note that the solenoid coil 37 is provided in the image forming apparatus.

 Examples of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge 24, and has a bellows-like elastic body 2 held at both ends by supports 25 and 26.
It consists of seven. Here, the supports 25 and 26 have concave portions 28 and convex portions 29 on both end surfaces on the same center of both end surfaces as shown in FIG. 11, and the toner hopper 9 has a toner supply port as shown in FIG. A projection 30 in the toner cartridge insertion direction and a guide member 31 are provided on a side surface on the back side as viewed from 20.

A seal 32 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the elastic body 27 of the toner cartridge 24. The seal 32 may be the same as in the conventional example, or the elastic body 27 may be formed such that both edges of the portion to be opened in the longitudinal direction are easily cut, and a string (not shown) is provided on the back side.
Is fixed, and the drawstring is easily attached to the toner cartridge 24 so that the end thereof is easily pulled.

The toner cartridge 24 is inserted along the guide 31 from the toner supply port 20 as shown in FIGS.
The recess 28 of the 25 is fitted with the projection 30 on the side surface of the toner hopper. Thereafter, the seal 32 is pulled out, and the toner 10 is dropped into the developing device 8. The toner cartridge 24 is used while being loaded in the toner hopper 9. When the toner runs out, a toner cartridge 24 ′ having the same configuration as the toner cartridge 24 is inserted from the toner supply port 20. At this time, as shown in FIG. 14, the bellows-like elastic body 27 of the previously used toner cartridge 24 is contracted by the insertion of the toner cartridge 24 ', and the concave portion 28 of the support 26 is
The projections 29 are fitted and held. Further, the newly inserted toner cartridge 24 'is held in such a manner that the concave portion 28 of the support 25 is fitted to the convex portion 29 of the previously used toner cartridge 24, and is used similarly. In this embodiment, the toner cartridge can be housed in the toner hopper as in the first embodiment, so that the toner can be replenished without scattering of the toner. In addition, since only one type of toner cartridge is required, reduction in manufacturing cost and improvement in user operability can be expected.

The embodiment described above is not limited to the method of replenishing the toner of the process cartridge, and it is needless to say that the present invention is effective even if it is used as a conventional means for replenishing the developing device with toner.

According to each of the above-described embodiments, a new toner cartridge can be inserted while the used toner cartridge is loaded in the toner hopper, and toner can be supplied without causing toner scattering.

Particularly, in the image forming apparatus using the image forming process cartridge, the toner capacity is limited, but according to the above-described embodiment, there is an advantage that the toner can be supplied and the running cost can be reduced.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a toner replenishing method capable of replenishing toner without causing scattering of toner and improving operability at the time of replenishing toner. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 (a) and 1 (b) are perspective views of a toner cartridge of a reference embodiment, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional developing device, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional process cartridge. FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 are longitudinal sectional views of the toner supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 6, 7 are perspective views showing the toner supply port of the process cartridge, and FIGS. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the process cartridge in which the toner supply port is full-proof, FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge in the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 (a) is a perspective view of the support, FIG.
FIG. 12B is a longitudinal sectional view of the support, FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a toner supply device in another embodiment, and FIGS. 13 and 14 are side views of the toner supply device in another embodiment. 7 cover, 8 developing device, 9 toner hopper,
10 ... toner, 11 ... process cartridge, 14, 15 ...
... toner cartridge, 16, 17 ... container, 18, 19 ... ridge, 20 ... toner supply port, 21 ... guide, 22, 23 ... seal, 24 ... toner cartridge, 25, 26 ... support Body, 2
7 ... elastic body, 28 ... concave part, 29 ... convex part, 30 ... projection, 3
1… Guide, 32 …… Seal.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Akihiko Takeuchi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takayasu Yunomiya 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inside (72) Inventor Yasumasa Otsuka 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Tetsuo Saito 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. ( 72) Inventor Toshio Takahashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (56) References JP-A-61-29870 (JP, A) JP-A-63-188171 (JP, A) JP-A-59-61861 (JP, A) JP-A-59-87464 (JP, A) JP-A-63-293572 (JP, A) JP-A-59-63364 (JP, U) (58) Int.Cl. ^6, D Name) G03G 15/08

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method for replenishing toner in a toner storage container for storing a toner used for developing a latent image formed on a photosensitive member, wherein the toner is stored in a toner storage portion of the toner storage container. The toner replenishing container is mounted, and the toner is replenished from the toner replenishing container to the toner storage unit. The capacity of the installed toner supply container in the toner storage unit is reduced, and the new toner supply container is mounted in the resulting space in the toner storage unit, and the toner storage container is removed from the new toner supply container. And supplying toner to the toner storage container. 2. The toner replenishing method according to claim 1, wherein the toner replenishing container has a volume reduced in a longitudinal direction thereof. 3. The toner supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the toner supply container supplies the toner to the toner storage unit by pulling out a toner seal while the toner supply container is mounted in the toner storage unit. How to replenish toner. 4. The toner storage container integrally includes the photoconductor and process means acting on the photoconductor,
4. The toner supply method according to claim 1, wherein the toner supply method is provided in a process cartridge detachable from the image forming apparatus.