JP3239260B2 - Developing device and toner cartridge applied thereto - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to a developing device provided in an image forming machine such as an electrostatic copying machine, a printing machine and a facsimile for developing an electrostatic latent image into a toner image, and to such a developing device. It relates to a toner cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, in an image forming machine, an electrostatic latent image is formed on an electrostatic photosensitive member, the electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image, and the toner image on the photosensitive member is usually formed. The image is transferred onto a sheet member that may be paper. A developing device for developing an electrostatic latent image into a toner image employs a so-called two-component developer composed of a toner and carrier particles or a so-called one-component developer composed of only a toner on an electrostatic photoconductor. The electrostatic latent image is developed into a toner image. In such a developing device, the toner is consumed as the development is performed, and accordingly, it is necessary to appropriately supply the toner. Therefore, usually, a toner cartridge mounting portion is provided in the developing device, and the toner cartridge is removably mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion. The toner cartridge includes a container and toner contained in the container, and the toner in the container of the toner cartridge attached to the toner cartridge attachment portion substantially disappears, and the toner is supplied to the developing device. Is required, the toner cartridge mounted on the toner cartridge mounting section is replaced with a new toner cartridge.

[0003] As a toner cartridge, a type including a cylindrical container as a whole has been widely put into practical use. A typical example of such a toner cartridge includes, in addition to a generally cylindrical container, a cover member that is also generally cylindrical. The container is concentrically and rotatably incorporated into the cover member. A toner discharge opening is formed in the peripheral wall of the container, and a toner passage opening is formed in the cover member. Before the toner cartridge is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing device, the toner discharge opening of the container and the toner passage opening of the cover member are positioned so as to be displaced in the circumferential direction, and the toner discharge opening is sealed.

A typical example of a toner cartridge mounting portion in a developing device to which the above-described toner cartridge is applied has a pair of upright walls disposed at a predetermined interval, and one of the upright walls is provided on one of the upright walls. Has an insertion opening. The toner cartridge is inserted between the pair of upright walls by being moved in the longitudinal direction through the insertion opening. Thereafter, the container of the toner cartridge is rotated to align the toner discharge opening formed in the peripheral wall of the container with the toner passage opening formed in the cover member. Thus, when the toner discharge opening is opened, the toner contained in the container flows out of the container through the toner discharge opening and the toner passage opening. When detaching the toner cartridge from the toner cartridge mounting portion, first, the container is rotated, the toner discharge opening is displaced in the circumferential direction with respect to the toner passage opening of the cover member, and the toner discharge opening is resealed. Thereafter, the toner cartridge is pulled out through the insertion opening.

[0005]

However, the developing device of the above-described embodiment has the following problems. The toner cartridge mounting portion needs to be provided with guide means for appropriately guiding the toner cartridge which is moved longitudinally through the insertion opening, and such guide means extends over substantially the entire length of the elongated toner cartridge. It is necessary that they be impatient. Therefore, the toner cartridge mounting portion becomes relatively complicated and expensive. Also, the mounting and dismounting operations for moving the toner cartridge in the longitudinal direction through the insertion opening are relatively complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a main technical problem thereof is that a toner cartridge mounting portion is moved by moving the toner cartridge substantially in the diameter direction without moving the toner cartridge in the longitudinal direction. To provide a new and improved developing device that can be mounted as required.

Another technical object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved developing device in which the configuration of a toner cartridge mounting portion is relatively simple and inexpensive.

It is still another technical object of the present invention to provide a new and improved developing device in which the operation of attaching and detaching the toner cartridge to and from the toner cartridge attaching portion is sufficiently simple.

Still another technical object of the present invention is to provide a toner collecting container for collecting toner removed from the electrostatic photoconductor after transferring the toner image from the electrostatic photoconductor to the sheet member. The toner collection container is attached to and detached from the cartridge by attaching and detaching the toner cartridge, so that the exchange of the toner cartridge and the exchange of the toner collection container can be performed simultaneously. An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved developing device.

It is also a technical object of the present invention to provide a new and improved toner cartridge which is applicable to the above-described new and improved developing device.

[0011]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device including a toner cartridge mounting portion and a toner cartridge removably mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion. Is
And a pair of supporting side walls disposed on both side edges of the bottom wall and the bottom wall of the toner receiving opening is formed, on one inner surface of the support side walls, the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge mounting portion
The first angular position and the second
A rotating member is disposed so as to be rotatable between two angular positions.
Locking means are formed on the inner surface of the rotating member,
The other of the support side walls has a shaft support hole and extends from the shaft support hole to an outer edge.
Building the guide groove is formed, the toner cartridge is overall cylindrical shape and a container in which the toner discharge opening is formed in the peripheral wall, the toner contained in said container, as a whole a cylindrical shape With toner passing through the peripheral wall
A cover member having an overopening formed therein, wherein the container is
Concentrically and rotatably incorporated in the cover member
The toner discharge opening of the container and the tray of the cover member.
Is positioned displaced in the circumferential direction.
The toner discharge opening is sealed, and the toner cartridge is
On the outer surface of the side wall of the container di is disposed is engaged means for engaging the engaging means, said of the toner cartridge
The outer surface of the other side wall of the container has a shaft that protrudes outward in the longitudinal direction.
A support formed therein , and the container of the toner cartridge;
The locked means formed on the one side wall of the rotating member
Engages with the locking means formed on the
Preventing relative rotation of the rotating member and the toner;
The cover formed on the other side wall of the container of the cartridge.
A guide groove formed in the other of the support side walls with a pivot portion
Through the shaft support hole through the
-The cover part is located in the toner receiving opening of the cartridge mounting part.
Aligning the toner passage openings of the material,
Ridge is mounted to the toner cartridge mounting portion, 該回
Rotating the rolling member from the first angular position to the second angular position
When this is done , the container is rotated accordingly and the
The toner discharge opening is aligned with the toner passage opening
As a result, the toner discharge opening is opened, and the toner discharge
Through the outlet opening, the toner passage opening and the toner receiving opening.
The toner is allowed to flow and the pivoted part also rotates.
As a result, the supported portion is locked in the shaft support hole.
The bundled support portion is transferred from the shaft support hole through the guide groove.
Movement is prevented, and the rotating member is moved to the second angular position.
When the toner discharge opening is returned to the first angular position from
It is displaced in the circumferential direction with respect to the toner passage opening.
And the shaft-supported portion is inserted into the shaft support hole through the guide groove.
A developing device that can be detached from the developing device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bottom wall in which a toner receiving opening is formed, and a pair of support side walls disposed on both side edges of the bottom wall. The inner surface has a circuit extending in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge mounting portion.
The first angular position and the second angular position about the center axis of rotation
A rotation member is provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the
A locking means is formed on the inner surface of the rolling member, and
The other has a shaft support hole and a guide groove extending from the shaft support hole to the outer edge.
A toner cartridge applied to a developing device including a toner cartridge mounting portion formed with a toner container, the container having a cylindrical shape as a whole and having a toner discharge opening formed in a peripheral wall, and a toner cartridge accommodated in the container. Toner and the whole
Is cylindrical and has a toner passage opening on the peripheral wall
Wherein the container is provided with the cover member.
The container is concentrically and rotatably incorporated in the container.
And the toner passage opening of the cover member
Are displaced in the circumferential direction and the toner discharge opening
Mouth is sealed, the outer surface of the side wall of the container of the toner cartridge is disposed is engaged means for engaging the engaging means, said other side of the container of the toner cartridge
The outer surface of the wall is formed with a pivoted support projecting outward in the longitudinal direction.
On the one side wall of the container of the toner cartridge.
The locked means formed is formed on the rotating member.
The container and the rotating member.
Relative rotation of the toner cartridge and the toner cartridge.
The supported portion formed on the other side wall of the container.
The shaft passes through the guide groove formed in the other of the holding side walls.
By introducing the toner cartridge into the support hole, the toner cartridge
The toner of the cover member into the toner receiving opening of the mounting portion.
By aligning the passage openings, the toner cartridge is
And the rotating member is attached to the
When rotated from one angular position to the second angular position,
In response, the container is rotated to open the toner discharge opening.
The mouth is aligned with the toner passage opening
The toner discharge opening is opened, and the toner discharge opening and the toner
Toner flows through the toner passage opening and the toner receiving opening.
It is moved and the pivoted part is also rotated.
As a result, the supported portion is restrained in the shaft support hole, and the
The shaft support may move from the shaft support hole through the guide groove.
Blocking the rotating member from the second angular position to the first
When it is returned to the angular position, the toner discharge opening opens
While being displaced in the circumferential direction with respect to the mouth,
The shaft-supported portion is removed from the shaft support hole through the guide groove.
Rukoto is enabled, the toner cartridge is provided, characterized in that.

[0013] A gripping arm is formed on the rotating member.
It is preferred that A visible mark is attached to the peripheral surface of the rotating member.
The locked means of the container is also provided with a visible mark.
The angular position of the visible mark of the rotating member and the angle of the locked
When the angular position of the visible mark is matched, the locking means
Preferably, the locked means can be engaged
No. In a preferred embodiment, the guide groove is formed directly on the shaft support hole.
It has a width smaller than the diameter, and the supported portion has a width equal to the width of the guide groove.
Qualitatively the same or smaller thickness and larger than the width of the guide groove
A width substantially equal to or smaller than the diameter of the shaft support hole
Having. Preferably, the cover of the toner cartridge is
-The member is attached to the other side wall of the container and the toner cartridge.
Having a side wall located between the other of the support side walls of the portion;
A toner collection container mounting portion is provided on the side wall.
The toner cartridge is attached to and detached from the toner collection container mounting part.
Including a freely mounted toner collection container. Recovery of the toner
The main part of the toner collection container mounted on the container mounting part is
The toner cartridge is installed in the toner cartridge
When attached, the support side wall of the toner cartridge mounting portion
Is preferably located adjacent to the other outer surface of
is there.

[0014]

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a developing device constituted according to the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an image forming unit equipped with a developing device constructed according to the present invention. Such an image forming unit is provided with frame means indicated by reference numeral 2 as a whole. This frame means 2 can be formed from a suitable synthetic resin. A developing device 10 configured according to the present invention is mounted on the frame means 2 together with the image bearing means 4, the charging means 6 and the cleaning means 8. The image bearing means 4 comprises a rotating drum 12 having an electrostatic photoreceptor disposed on a peripheral surface thereof.
2 is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 14. The charging means 6 comprises a corona discharger for charging the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 12 to a specific polarity. The cleaning means 8 includes a cleaning housing 16 in which a cleaning blade 18 is disposed. Cleaning blade 18
Is formed of a flexible material such as synthetic rubber, and its tip is pressed against the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 12.

The developing means 10 has a developing housing 20, on which a developing roller 22, a developer regulating member 24, a developer replenishing roller 26 and a developer conveying member 28 are mounted. Further, the developing housing 20
A toner cartridge mounting portion 30 is disposed at an upper end of the toner cartridge. A toner cartridge 32 is detachably mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion 30 (the toner cartridge mounting portion 30 and the toner cartridge 32).
Will be described in more detail later). Developing means 10
May be a so-called one-component developer composed of only the toner sent from the toner cartridge 32. The developer is conveyed to the developer replenishing roller 26 by the action of a developer conveying member 28 that is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 34, and the developer replenishment roller 26 that is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 36 is a developing roller The developer is fed onto the substrate 22. The layer thickness of the developer held on the developing roller 22 that is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 38 is regulated to a required value by the developer regulating member 24. The developing roller 22 includes a metal shaft member 40 and the shaft member 4.
The developing roller 22 is elastically pressed against the rotating drum 12 by a synthetic rubber roller member 42 disposed on the peripheral surface of the developing roller 22.

The image forming unit as described above is detachably mounted at a required position of a body housing (not shown) of an image forming machine such as an electrostatic copying machine. Then, the rotating drum 12 is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 14, and in the charging area 44, the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 12 is uniformly charged to a specific polarity by the charging means 6. The rotating drum 12 corresponds to an image to be created by an optical system (not shown).
Is irradiated with light, and an electrostatic latent image is thus formed on the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 12. Next, in the developing area 48, the electrostatic latent image on the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 12 is developed into a toner image by the action of the developing roller 22 of the developing unit 10. In the transfer area 50, a transfer member (not shown), which may be plain paper, is brought into close contact with the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 12, and the toner image formed on the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 12 is transferred onto the transfer member. Is done. The transfer member onto which the toner image has been transferred is peeled off from the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 12, is conveyed to a fixing unit (not shown), and is discharged outside the machine housing after the toner image is fixed by the action of the fixing unit. . In the cleaning area 52, residual toner remaining on the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 12 after transfer is removed from the peripheral surface of the rotating drum 12 by the action of the cleaning blade 18.

The configuration and operation of the illustrated image forming unit as described above (excluding the configuration and operation of the toner cartridge mounting portion 30 in the developing device 10 and the toner cartridge 32 mounted therein) are the same as those of the present invention. Does not constitute a new feature improved in accordance with
Since their own configuration may be known to those skilled in the art,
Detailed description of these will be omitted in this specification.

Referring to FIG. 2 together with FIG. 1, the toner cartridge mounting portion 30 of the developing device 10 in the image forming unit is arranged in the direction of the center axis of the rotating drum 12 (the direction perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 1). It includes a bottom wall 54 that extends substantially horizontally and elongates, and a pair of supporting side walls 56 and 58 disposed on both side edges of the bottom wall 54. The cross-sectional shape of the bottom wall 54 is substantially semicircular. In the bottom wall 54, a plurality of toner receiving openings 60 appropriately arranged are formed. Further, on the bottom wall 54, a toner receiving opening 6 is provided.
A seal member 62 extending around 0 is attached. This seal member 62 may be made of a synthetic resin foam. The bottom wall 54 is further formed with a pair of shoulder surfaces 53 and 55 extending substantially horizontally in the longitudinal direction outside the seal member 62.
The pair of support side walls 56 and 58 extend substantially vertically upward from both side edges of the bottom wall 54.

Referring to FIG. 2, a rotating member 64 is mounted on the inner surface of the support side wall 56 of the toner cartridge mounting portion 30. This rotating member 64
It has a disk-shaped main part 66 and a substantially triangular gripping arm 68 protruding from the main part 66. A circular hole is formed at the center of the main part 66, and the tip of the mounting member 70 extending through the circular hole is screwed to the support side wall 56, thus rotating the rotating member 64 at the first angle indicated by the solid line. It is mounted to be rotatable between the position and a second angular position indicated by a two-dot chain line. The mounting member 70 extends substantially horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge mounting portion 30 (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1), and therefore, the rotating member 64 rotates substantially horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge mounting portion 30. It is mounted so as to be rotatable about a central axis (the central axis of the mounting member 70). When the rotating member 64 is moved to the first angular position, one side surface of the grip arm 68 abuts on the contact portion 72 formed on the support side wall 56, whereby the rotating member 64 exceeds the first angular position. Rotation is prevented. Similarly, when the rotating member 64 is moved to the second angular position, the other side surface of the grip arm 68 abuts on the abutting portion 74 formed on the support side wall 56, whereby the rotating member 64 is moved to the second angular position. Rotation beyond the position is prevented. An elastic tongue 76 partitioned by a substantially channel-shaped groove is formed on the main portion 66 of the rotating member 64, and a hemispherical projection (not shown) is formed on the outer surface of the elastic tongue 76. I have. On the other hand, two hemispherical concave portions (not shown) are formed on the inner surface of the support side wall 56 at a predetermined angular interval. When the rotating member 64 is positioned at the first angular position, the protrusion formed on the elastic tongue 76 elastically engages with one of the two concave portions formed on the support side wall 56, thus. The rotating member 64 is elastically held at the first angular position. When the rotating member 64 is positioned at the second angular position, the elastic tongue 76
Is elastically engaged with the other of the two concave portions formed in the support side wall 56, and thus the rotating member 64 is elastically held at the second angular position. Further, a projection constituting a locking means 78 is formed at the center of the inner surface of the main portion 66 of the rotating member 64. This projection may have a shape in which a part of a circle is cut out. Main part 6 of rotating member 64
A visible mark 80 composed of a triangular protrusion is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the light emitting element 6.

Continuing the description with reference to FIG. 2, a shaft support hole 82 and a guide groove 84 extending from the shaft support hole 82 to the outer edge are formed in the other support side wall 58. The shaft support hole 82 is substantially circular, and the guide groove 84 is 20 to 60 with respect to the horizontal.
Degree, and extend linearly at an inclination angle α, which is convenient. The width w1 of the guide groove 84 is smaller than the diameter d of the shaft support hole 82, for example, approximately １ ／ of the diameter d of the shaft support hole 82.
Conveniently.

Next, the toner cartridge 32 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. The toner cartridge 32 in the illustrated embodiment includes a container 86 having a cylindrical shape as a whole. A container 86 that can be molded from a suitable synthetic resin has a peripheral wall 88, and a toner discharge opening 90 is formed in a specific angle region of the peripheral wall 88. The toner discharge opening 90 may have a substantially rectangular shape extending in the longitudinal direction. A plurality of ribs 92 extending across the toner discharge opening 90 are formed to reinforce the container 86. A seal member 94 extending around the toner discharge opening 90 is attached to the outer surface of the peripheral wall 88. An end wall 96 is formed at one end of the container 86. A circular opening 98 is formed in the end wall 96. Also, on the outer surface of the end wall 96,
A plurality of ribs 99 extending radially outward from the periphery of the opening 98 are formed. After the toner is filled into the container 86 through the opening 98, the lid member 100 is fixed to the opening 98 by an appropriate method such as adhesion or heat fusion, thereby closing the opening 98. The peripheral wall 88 extends longitudinally outward beyond the end wall 96. A substantially disc-shaped additional member 102 is further attached to one end of the container 86. Referring to FIG. 6 together with FIG. 3, the locking means 10 is provided at the center of the additional member 102 which can be molded from an appropriate synthetic resin.
4 are formed. The cross-sectional shape of the through-opening corresponds to the cross-sectional shape of the projection constituting the above-described locking means 78. As will be described later, when the toner cartridge 32 is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion 30, The locking means 78 is received in the locked means 104 and both are engaged. On the outer peripheral surface of the additional member 102, a visible mark 106, which may be an elongated triangular protrusion, is formed. The additional member 102, further, multiple several arcuate protruding pieces that protrude from the periphery inward 1
07 and the connecting claw 108 are also formed. As will be further described later, the additional member 102 is fixed to the end wall 96 of the container 86 after the lid member 100 is fixed thereto.
7 is positioned between the ribs 99 formed on the end wall 96 of the container 86, and the connecting claw 108 is elastically engaged with the inner surface of the extended end of the peripheral wall 88, whereby the peripheral wall 8 is
8 is connected to the other end face. By positioning the arc-shaped protruding piece 107 of the additional member 102 between the ribs 99,
The relative rotation of the additional member 102 with respect to the container 86 is reliably prevented. The other end of the container 86 is closed by an end wall 110 formed integrally with the peripheral wall 88. This end wall 1
A shaft-supporting portion 112 protruding outward in the longitudinal direction from a central portion thereof is integrally formed on an outer surface of the member 10. Referring to FIG. 7 together with FIG. 3, the cross-sectional shape of the distal end of the pivoted support portion 112 has a shape corresponding to a part of a circle, more specifically, a diameter of the circle and a chord extending parallel to this diameter. Is a shape in which only the part between the two remains. The width (diameter of the circle) w2 of the shaft-supporting portion 112 is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the diameter d of the shaft-supporting hole 82, is larger than the width w1 of the guide groove 84, and the thickness of the shaft-supporting portion 112. The width t is substantially equal to or slightly smaller than the width w1 of the guide groove 84.

Continuing with FIG. 3, the toner cartridge 32 also includes a cover member 114 having a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole. The cover member 114, which can be molded from an appropriate synthetic resin, has a peripheral wall 116, and a toner passage opening 118 is formed in a specific angle region of the peripheral wall 116. The toner passage opening 118 may have a substantially rectangular shape extending in the longitudinal direction. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 120 extending across the toner passage opening 118 are formed for reinforcing the cover member 114. Two contact pieces 122 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 116 at an angular interval of about 180 degrees.
And 124 are formed. Contact pieces 122 and 124
Each project substantially horizontally from the peripheral wall 116 and extend longitudinally over substantially the entire length of the peripheral wall 116. One end of the cover member 114 is entirely open. Continuing the description with reference to FIG.
An end wall 126 formed integrally with the peripheral wall 116 is provided. An opening 128 which may be circular may be formed in the center of the end wall 126. On the outer surface of the end wall 126, a toner collecting container mounting portion 130 is formed. The toner collection container mounting portion 130 includes a lower regulation rail 132 and an upper regulation rail 134 that is disposed above the lower regulation rail 132 with an interval. Two upright regulating pieces 136 are provided on the outer edge of the lower regulating rail 132.
And 138 are formed. On the outer surface of the end wall 126,
Further, a pair of guided pieces 140 extending parallel to each other are formed. The leading edge of each guided piece 140 is the end face 1
26 has an inclined portion 142 extending inclining outward in the longitudinal direction from the central portion toward the peripheral portion, and a non-inclined portion 144 extending parallel to the end surface 126 following the inclined portion 142.

Continuing with FIG. 3, in the illustrated embodiment, a toner collection container 146 is combined with the toner cartridge 32 mounted on the toner cartridge mounting section 30. A connecting portion 148 is integrally formed at the upper end of one side surface of the toner collecting container 146 which can be molded from an appropriate synthetic resin. This connecting part 1
48 has a regulated rail 150. Regulated rail 15
The shape of the lower regulating rail 13 in the toner collecting container mounting portion 130 disposed on the cover member 150 is
It is made to correspond to the shape of the space partitioned between the second and upper regulation rails 134.

Referring to FIG. 5 together with FIG. 3, the toner cartridge 32 is assembled as follows. First, the container 86 is inserted into the cover member 114 through one open end of the cover member 114. In this case, the container 86 is positioned at an angular position where the toner discharge opening 90 opens upward, while the cover member 114 is positioned at an angular position where the toner passage opening 118 opens downward. . Accordingly, the toner discharge opening 90 and the toner passage opening 118 are positioned so as to be displaced from each other in the circumferential direction.
8 is closed by the peripheral wall 116 of the cover member 114. Seal member 9 adhered to peripheral wall 88 of container 86
4 is brought into close contact with the inner surface of the peripheral wall 116 of the cover member 114, whereby the toner discharge opening 90 is sufficiently sealed. As clearly understood by referring to FIG. 4, the pivoted support 1 formed on the end wall 110 of the container 86.
12 protrudes through an opening 128 formed in the end wall 126 of the cover member 114. Next, the container 86 is filled with a required amount of toner through the opened one end surface of the cover member 114 and the opening 98 formed in the end wall 96 of the container 86. Thereafter, the end wall 96 of the container 86 is
The cover member 100 is fixed to the cover 86, and the opening 98 is closed, so that the toner is sealed in the container 86. Then, container 8
The additional member 102 is connected to one end of No. 6. Further, the toner collecting container 146 is detachably mounted on the toner collecting container mounting portion 130 formed on the end wall 126 of the cover member 114. The toner collection container 146 is mounted on the regulated rail 150 at the connecting portion 148 of the toner collection container 146.
In the space between the lower regulation rail 132 and the upper regulation rail 134 in the toner collecting container mounting portion 130 of the cover member 114, at least one of the lower regulation rail 132, the upper regulation rail 134, and the regulated rail 150 is provided.
This is accomplished by inserting the individual with some elastic deformation.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, particularly FIGS. 2 and 5, mounting and detaching of the toner cartridge 32 from the toner cartridge mounting portion 30 will be described.
The toner cartridge 3 is attached to the toner cartridge
When mounting 2, the toner cartridge 32 is lowered not in the longitudinal direction but in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction to approach the toner cartridge mounting portion 30. Then, the toner cartridge 32 is
2 from the one end on which the pivot-supporting portion 112 is disposed to the other end on which the pivot-supporting portion 112 is disposed. 1
04 (that is, through-opening) with the toner cartridge mounting portion 3
The engaging means 78 (i.e., the protrusion) provided on the rotating member 64 of FIG. At this time, when the visible mark 80 formed on the rotating member 64 and the visible mark 106 formed on the additional member 102 are aligned, the angular position of the toner cartridge 32 with respect to the rotating member 64 is appropriately set. The locked means 106 is appropriately positioned with respect to the locking means 78. Next, the other end of the toner cartridge 32 is moved to introduce the supported portion 112 formed in the container 86 into the shaft support hole 82 through the guide groove 84. At this time, the shaft-supported portion 112 is in a state in which its width direction matches the extending direction of the guide groove 84. Shaft support 1
The guide piece 14 formed on the end wall 126 of the cover member 114 is moved when the guide 12 is moved in the guide groove 84.
0 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the support side wall 58,
Therefore, the toner cartridge 32 is guided and moved in the direction toward the support side wall 56 due to the presence of the inclined portion 142 at the leading edge of the guided piece 140, whereby the toner cartridge 3 with respect to the toner cartridge
2 is regulated in the longitudinal direction. When the toner cartridge 32 is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion 30, a pair of abutting pieces 122 and 124 formed on the cover member 114 of the toner cartridge 32 form a pair of shoulders disposed on the toner cartridge mounting portion 30. Faces 53 and 55
Contacted. In addition, the seal member 62 provided on the toner cartridge mounting portion 30 is attached to the peripheral wall 116 of the cover member 114 at the peripheral portion of the toner passage opening 118.
Close to the outer surface of the Thereafter, the gripping arm 6
8 is gripped with a finger to rotate the rotating member 64 from a first angular position shown by a solid line in FIG. 2 to a second angular position shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Since the locking means 78 provided on the rotating member 64 and the locked means 104 provided on the additional member 102 connected to the container 86 are engaged,
Along with the rotation of the rotating member 64, the container 86 is also rotated clockwise by a required angle in FIG. The cover member 114 of the toner cartridge 32 is prevented from rotating accompanying the container 86 because the pair of contact pieces 122 and 124 are in contact with the pair of shoulder surfaces 53 and 55 of the toner cartridge mounting portion 30. Is done. When the container 86 is rotated by a required angle with respect to the cover member 114, the toner discharge opening 90 formed in the container 86 is aligned with the toner passage opening 118 of the cover member 114, and thus the toner discharge opening 90 is opened. , Container 8
6, the toner discharge opening 90 and the toner passage opening 1
18 and through the toner receiving opening 60,
It is supplied into the developing housing 20. Further, when the container 86 is rotated clockwise in FIG.
As clearly understood by comparing and referencing FIG. 7 and FIG. 1, the shaft-supported portion 112 is rotated by a required angle in the shaft support hole 82, and the width direction of the shaft-supported portion 112 is aligned with the guide groove 84. It is almost right angle. Therefore, it becomes impossible to allowed to leave the target <br/> shaft support 112 from shaft supporting hole 82, Hijiku支portion 112 is constrained within the shaft supporting hole 82.

When the toner cartridge 32 is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion 30 as described above, the end wall 126 of the cover member 114 is located inside the support side wall 58 (more specifically, the end wall 110 of the container 86 and the support side wall 58). ), The toner collecting container 146 (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIGS. 1 and 7) mounted on the toner collecting container mounting portion 130 disposed on the end wall 126. It is located outside the support side wall 58. A toner introduction opening (not shown) is provided in the toner collection container 146.
A discharge opening of a toner conveying pipe (not shown) is communicated with the introduction opening.
Cleaning blade 18 in cleaning means 8
The toner removed from the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 12 by the action of (1) is transported to the toner transport pipe by an appropriate transport means, and is introduced into the toner collecting container 146 from the toner transport pipe. The relationship between the toner transport pipe and the toner collection container 146 is disclosed in the specification and the drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 192615 filed by the present applicant. The description is omitted in the specification.

When the toner cartridge 32 in which the toner in the container 86 has been consumed is detached from the toner cartridge mounting section 30, first, the gripping arm 68 is gripped with a finger to move the rotating member 64 in FIG. Are rotated from the second angle position indicated by the symbol to the first angle position indicated by the solid line in FIG. Thus, the container 86 is rotated by a required angle in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 and returned to its initial angular position (an angular position before the toner cartridge 32 is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion 30). The toner discharge opening 90 is displaced in the circumferential direction from the toner passage opening 118 of the cover member 114, and the toner discharge opening 9 is moved.
0 is sealed again. Also, by rotating the container 86 counterclockwise in FIG. 1 by a required angle, the width direction of the supported portion 112 matches the extending direction of the guide groove 84. Therefore, it becomes possible to separate the shaft support portion 112 from the shaft support hole 82 through the guide groove 84. Thereafter, the shaft support portion 112 is detached from the shaft support hole 82,
Next, the locked means 104 is released from the locking means 78, and the entire toner cartridge 32 is released from the toner cartridge mounting section 30.

[0030]

According to the developing device of the present invention, the toner cartridge can be mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion as required by moving the toner cartridge substantially in the diameter direction without moving the toner cartridge in the longitudinal direction. The configuration of the toner cartridge mounting section can be made relatively simple and inexpensive. The operation of attaching and detaching the toner cartridge to and from the toner cartridge attaching portion is sufficiently simple. A toner collection container for collecting the toner removed from the electrostatic photoconductor after transferring the toner image from the electrostatic photoconductor to the sheet member is attached to the toner cartridge, which is attached to and detached from the toner cartridge. At the very least, the toner collection container can be attached and detached, so that the replacement of the toner cartridge and the replacement of the toner collection container can be performed simultaneously.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified front view showing an image forming unit provided with a preferred embodiment of a developing device configured according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a toner cartridge mounting portion in the developing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a toner cartridge in the developing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a part of a cover member of the toner cartridge in the developing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a toner cartridge in the developing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the toner cartridge in the developing device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is another side view of the toner cartridge in the developing device of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10: Developing device 30: Toner cartridge mounting section 32: Toner cartridge 54: Bottom wall 56: Support side wall 58: Support side wall 60: Toner receiving opening 64: Rotating member 66: Main portion of rotating member 68: Grasping arm of rotating member 78 : Locking means 82: Shaft support hole 84: Guide groove 86: Container 88: Container peripheral wall 90: Toner discharge opening 100: Lid member 102: Additional member 104: Locked means 112: Supported shaft part 114: Cover member 116 : Toner peripheral wall of cover member 118: Toner passage opening 130: Toner collection container mounting part 146: Toner collection container

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (56) References JP-A-57-73770 (JP, A) JP-A-56-130776 (JP, A) JP-A-56-52779 (JP, A) 341616 (JP, A) JP-A-4-9980 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03G 15/08

Claims (12)

(57) [Claims] 1. A toner cartridge mounting part and a toner cartridge
Toner cart detachably attached to the cartridge mounting section
A developing device including a ridge and a toner receiving opening formed in the toner cartridge mounting portion.
Bottom wall and a pair of supports provided on both side edges of the bottom wall.
With a supporting side wall,  On one inner surface of the support side wall, The toner cartridge device
First around the rotation center axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the attachment part
Rotatable part between the second angular position and the second angular position
Material is disposed, and locking means is formed on the inner surface of the rotating member.
Has been established, The other of the support side walls has a shaft support hole and extends from the shaft support hole to an outer edge.
Guide groove is formed The toner cartridge has a cylindrical shape as a whole and
A container having a toner discharge opening formed in the peripheral wall;
A toner contained in a container,The overall shape is cylindrical
Cover having a toner passage opening formed in a peripheral wall thereof
And the container is concentrically and wrapped within the cover member.
The toner discharge opening of the container is rotatably incorporated.
And the toner passage opening of the cover member is displaced in the circumferential direction.
And the toner discharge opening is sealed.
And The toner cartridge On the outer surface of one side wall of the container,
Locking means for engaging the stopping means is provided,The outer surface of the other side wall of the container of the toner cartridge has a long
A pivoted support projecting outward in the hand direction is formed. ,Formed on the one side wall of the container of the toner cartridge
The locking means is formed on the rotating member.
Means for rotating the container and the rotating member relative to each other.
Rotation of the toner cartridge and the container of the toner cartridge.
The supported portion formed on the other side wall is
Introduced into the shaft support hole through the guide groove formed on the other side
The toner cartridge mounting portion.
The toner passage opening of the cover member is connected to the toner receiving opening.
After aligning, the toner cartridge is
It is attached to the ridge attachment part, Moving the rotating member from the first angular position to the second angular position
When rotated, the container is rotated accordingly.
The toner discharge opening aligns with the toner passage opening Shimesera
The toner discharge opening is opened, and the toner
-The discharge opening, the toner passage opening and the toner receiving opening
The toner is allowed to flow through the
By being rotated, the pivoted support portion is moved into the shaft support hole.
And the supported portion passes through the guide groove and is
Is prevented from moving from Moving the rotating member from the second angular position to the first angular position
When it is returned, the toner discharge opening is
The guide groove is positioned while being displaced in the circumferential direction.
Through which the supported shaft can be removed from the shaft support hole.
Become capable A developing device, characterized in that: 2. A developing device for the the rotating member gripping arms are formed, according to claim 1, wherein. 3. A visible mark is provided on a peripheral surface of said rotating member, and a visible mark is also provided on said locked means of said container, and the angular position of said visible mark of said rotating member and said cover are provided. When allowed to align the angular position of said visible mark of locking means it is possible to occupy engage the該被locking means in locking means, a developing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein. Wherein the guide groove has a width smaller than the diameter of the shaft supporting hole, said the shaft support is greater than the width of the width substantially the same or smaller than this thickness and the guide groove of the guide groove the The developing device according to claim 1, wherein the developing device has a width substantially equal to or smaller than a diameter of the shaft support hole. 5. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cover member of the toner cartridge has a side wall located between the other side wall of the container and the other of the support side walls of the toner cartridge mounting portion. The developing container according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising a mounting portion, wherein the toner cartridge includes a toner collecting container detachably mounted on the toner collecting container mounting portion. 6. The main portion of the toner collection container mounted on the toner collection container mounting portion, when the toner cartridge is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion, the main portion of the support side wall of the toner cartridge mounting portion. The developing device according to claim 5 , wherein the developing device is positioned adjacent to the other outer surface. 7. A bottom wall in which a toner receiving opening is formed.
Having a pair of support side walls arranged on both side edges of the bottom wall,
On one inner surface of the support side wall, The toner cartridge device
First around the rotation center axis extending in the longitudinal direction of the attachment part
Rotatable part between the second angular position and the second angular position
Material is disposed, and locking means is formed on the inner surface of the rotating member.
A shaft support hole and the shaft support hole in the other of the support side walls.
A guide groove is formed that extends fromThe toner car
Toner car applied to developing device including cartridge mounting part
The cartridge has a cylindrical shape as a whole and a toner discharge opening on the peripheral wall.
And a toner accommodated in the container.
When,It has a cylindrical shape as a whole, and the toner is
A cover member having a mouth formed therein, wherein the container is
Concentrically and rotatably incorporated in the bar member
And the toner discharge opening of the container and the toner of the cover member.
-The passage opening is displaced in the circumferential direction and
Outlet opening is sealed, The toner cartridge On the outer surface of one side wall of the container,
Locking means for engaging the stopping means is provided,The outer surface of the other side wall of the container of the toner cartridge has a long
A pivoted support projecting outward in the hand direction is formed. ,Formed on the one side wall of the container of the toner cartridge
The locking means is formed on the rotating member.
Means for rotating the container and the rotating member relative to each other.
Rotation of the toner cartridge and the container of the toner cartridge.
The supported portion formed on the other side wall is
Introduced into the shaft support hole through the guide groove formed on the other side
The toner cartridge mounting portion.
The toner passage opening of the cover member is connected to the toner receiving opening.
After aligning, the toner cartridge is
It is attached to the ridge attachment part, Moving the rotating member from the first angular position to the second angular position
When rotated, the container is rotated accordingly.
And the toner discharge opening is aligned with the toner passage opening.
The toner discharge opening is opened, and the toner
-The discharge opening, the toner passage opening and the toner receiving opening
As the toner flows , The pivoted support also
By being rotated, the pivoted support portion is moved into the shaft support hole.
And the supported portion passes through the guide groove and is
Is prevented from moving from Moving the rotating member from the second angular position to the first angular position
When it is returned, the toner discharge opening is
The guide groove is positioned while being displaced in the circumferential direction.
Through which the supported shaft can be removed from the shaft support hole.
Become capable A toner cartridge, characterized in that: 8. The toner cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein a gripping arm is formed on the rotating member. 9. A visible mark is provided on the peripheral surface of the rotating member, and a visible mark is also provided on the locked means of the container, and the angular position of the visible mark of the rotating member and the cover are provided. 9. The toner cartridge according to claim 7 , wherein when the locking means is aligned with the angular position of the visible mark, the locking means can be engaged with the locked means. 10. A guiding groove has a width smaller than the diameter of the shaft supporting hole, said the shaft support is greater than the width of the width substantially the same or smaller than this thickness and the guide groove of the guide groove the The toner cartridge according to any one of claims 7 to 9 , wherein the toner cartridge has a width substantially equal to or smaller than the diameter of the shaft support hole. 11. The cover member has a side wall located between the other side wall of the container and the other of the support side walls of the toner cartridge mounting portion, and the side wall is provided with a toner collecting container mounting portion. The toner cartridge according to any one of claims 7 to 10 , further comprising a toner collection container provided so as to be detachably attached to the toner collection container mounting portion. 12. The main portion of the toner collecting container mounted on the toner collecting container mounting portion, the other of the supporting side walls of the toner cartridge mounting portion when the toner cartridge is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion. The toner cartridge according to claim 11 , wherein the toner cartridge is located adjacent to an outer surface of the toner cartridge.