JP2954889B2 - Toner cartridge - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner cartridge mounted on a developing device such as an electrophotographic copying machine or a recording device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a conventional toner cartridge is shown in FIG.
And FIG. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 10 denotes a toner cartridge. The toner cartridge 10 has a cylindrical main body 11 for accommodating a toner, and is elongated in the axial direction formed by cutting a part of the circumference of the main body 11. A discharge port 12 and a tape-shaped sealing member 13 closing the discharge port 12 are attached to the opening edge of the discharge port 12 with a peelable adhesive. 12 is closed. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the toner cartridge 10 having the above-described configuration
Toner hopper 14 of the developing device built in the copying machine
Then, the discharge port 12 closed by the seal member 13 is turned upward, and the convex claw 15 of the toner cartridge 10 is aligned with the groove provided on the inner wall of the toner hopper 14 (not shown), and both are positioned. Outlet 1
While peeling off the sealing member 13 adhered to the edge of No. 2, it is inserted and set in the direction of arrow A shown in the figure. Next, the inserted and set toner cartridge 10 is rotated in the direction of arrow B shown in FIG. 6 to move the discharge port 12 downward, and replenishes the toner contained in the toner cartridge 10 to the developing device.

[0003]

As shown in FIG. 6, when the end of the seal member 13 is pulled by hand and peeled off to open the discharge port 12, the end of the seal member 13 is adhered to the inner surface of the seal member 13. The toner scatters at the moment of peeling or during the peeling, and contaminates the surroundings and soils the fingers grasping it, and pulls the sealing member 13 by pulling it by hand to open the discharge port 12. Must be peeled off, which makes it difficult to replace and mount the toner cartridge. Also, when the empty toner cartridge is removed from the hopper, the discharge port 12 remains open. Therefore, there is a problem that the remaining toner and the like may contaminate the periphery of the copying machine and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge which solves a problem that occurs when a toner cartridge is replaced, and which can perform work quickly and easily.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A toner cartridge for replenishing toner to a developing device, comprising a cylindrical cartridge body for containing toner, and a toner discharge formed on a part of a peripheral surface of the cartridge body. An outlet, a lid elongated in the length direction of the toner cartridge body for opening and closing the discharge port, and both ends of the lid provided on both sides of the discharge port in a circumferential direction of a peripheral surface of the cartridge body. A lid frame for slidably mounting the lid, an L-shaped key protruding from both ends of the lid in the longitudinal direction, and having a tip bent in a radial direction of the toner cartridge body; A guide groove formed in the frame and slidably fitted to the key portion, wherein when the cartridge body is mounted on the developing device, the lid is engaged with the locking portion of the developing device in a fixed position. Stopped and on When directed downward to rotate the cartridge body to move the discharge port to the toner discharge position,
The above-mentioned problem is solved by using a toner cartridge for opening the discharge port and replenishing the toner to the developing device by leaving the lid in the home position.

[0006]

By using the toner cartridge of the present invention, the toner cartridge is mounted on the toner hopper, and the discharge port is opened only by rotating the toner cartridge.
The developer is closed and toner is supplied to the developing device.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an openable / closable toner cartridge 1 has a cylindrical main body 2 for accommodating toner, a dial-shaped rotary knob 3 provided at one end of the main body 2, and another end provided at the other end. Positioning convex nail 4
a end plate 4 having an a, a discharge port 5 formed by cutting out a part of a circumferential portion of the main body 2 and being elongated in the axial direction;
A lid 6 for reciprocating a predetermined range in the circumferential direction to open and close the discharge port 5, and a main body 2 provided at both longitudinal edges of the discharge port 5 for guiding the opening and closing sliding operation of the lid 6. And a lid frame 7 provided. The lid 6 is a strip-shaped plate having a curvature such that it can be in close contact with the circumferential portion of the main body 2, and the key portions 6 projecting from both ends in the longitudinal direction thereof are provided.
a. As is apparent from FIG. 2, the key portion 6a has an L-shaped cross section whose tip is bent in the radial direction of the toner cartridge 1. The lid frame 7 is provided at each of both longitudinal edges of the discharge port 5 so as to be able to guide the lid body 6, has a U-shaped cross section, and is fitted to the key portion 6 a on the upper inner wall. Guide groove 7a for guiding the lever
Are formed.

Next, the operation of the toner cartridge 1 will be described. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 8 denotes a toner cartridge mounting portion of the toner hopper of the developing device incorporated in the copying machine.
The cartridge 1 is inserted into the toner hopper. At this time, while fitting the lid 6 projecting from the circumferential portion of the cartridge 1 into the positioning groove 9 provided on the inner wall of the toner cartridge mounting portion 8, the toner cartridge mounting portion 8 is moved in the same direction as the arrow A direction in FIG. Press Then, the toner cartridge 1 pushed into the innermost portion of the toner cartridge mounting portion 8 is rotated counterclockwise in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3, and its discharge port 5 is directed downward to open the toner cartridge mounting portion 8. The part 16 is matched. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, since the lid 6 is fitted and aligned with the positioning groove 9, the lid 6 is left in place and the discharge port 5 is opened, and the inside of the toner cartridge 1 is opened. Is supplied to the developing device. FIG.
When the toner contained in the toner cartridge 1 is exhausted, the cartridge 1 is rotated in a direction opposite to that when the cartridge 1 is mounted, that is, counterclockwise, and the discharge port 5 is replaced. After closing, the cartridge 1 is pulled out from the toner cartridge mounting portion 8.

[0009]

According to the present invention, since the lid has an L-shaped key portion and the lid frame has a guide groove that fits into the key portion, the toner is supplied to the developing device when the toner is supplied to the developing device. Preventing toner leakage from between the lid and the lid frame when replacing the cartridge without manually opening the discharge port, thus preventing contamination around the copying machine due to toner. The workability of attachment and detachment can be made quick and easy.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an openable and closable toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a mounting structure of a lid.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where an openable toner cartridge is mounted on a hopper.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a lid of the openable and closable toner cartridge is opened.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional toner cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a mounting state diagram of a conventional toner cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Openable toner cartridge 2 Cartridge main body 5 Discharge port 6 Lid 7 Lid frame 8 Toner cartridge mounting part 9 Positioning groove

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A toner cartridge for replenishing toner to a developing device, comprising: a cylindrical cartridge body for storing toner; a toner discharge port formed on a part of a peripheral surface of the cartridge body; A lid that is long in the length direction of the toner cartridge body that opens and closes the discharge port, and slides both ends of the lid provided on both sides of the discharge port along the circumferential direction of the peripheral surface of the cartridge body. A lid frame for movably mounting, an L-shaped key portion protruding from both ends in the longitudinal direction of the lid body and having a tip bent in a radial direction of the toner cartridge body, and formed on the lid frame; A guide groove slidably fitted to the key portion, wherein when the cartridge body is mounted on the developing device, the lid is locked in a fixed position by a locking portion of the developing device; Cartridge book When the roller is rotated to move the discharge port to the toner discharge position and turn downward, the cover is left in the fixed position to release the discharge port to supply toner to the developing device. Toner cartridge.