JP4349615B2 - Toner supply device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device that sets a toner bottle containing toner and replenishes the toner, and an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, or a complex machine including the same. .

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a toner bank (toner replenishing device) in which a plurality of toner bottles (toner containers) are installed is known for the purpose of storing a large amount of toner and increasing an operation rate. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  Specifically, each of the plurality of toner bottles includes an opening serving as a toner discharge port, and a cap (sealing member) is installed in the opening. Then, in a state where a plurality of toner bottles are set in each bottle installation portion of the toner bank, the cap of one toner bottle for discharging the toner is removed by the cap opening / closing mechanism. The toner bottle whose cap is removed and the opening is opened is appropriately rotated by the bottle driving unit, and the toner is discharged from the toner bottle. The discharged toner accumulates on the bottom of the toner bank and is transported from the toner transport unit at the bottom to the developing unit via the toner transport path.

A toner end sensor is installed at the bottom of the toner bank. When it is determined by the toner end sensor that the toner bottle from which the toner is discharged is the toner end (the toner in the bottle is almost empty), the toner bottle is replaced with another toner bottle. The toner discharge from the toner bottle is started.
Thus, an image forming apparatus provided with a toner bank can perform a large amount of printing at a time without stopping the apparatus due to toner end.

JP 2002-287493 A

  The conventional image forming apparatus described above has a problem that a large amount of toner is discharged immediately after the cap of the toner bottle installed in the toner bank is removed.

  This is presumably due to a pressure difference inside and outside the toner bottle. In other words, the pressure inside the toner bottle that is sealed when the toner is stored and the cap is installed at the time of manufacture is almost the same as the external pressure at the time of manufacture, but is the same as the external pressure in the toner bank where the toner bottle is installed. Most cases do not. This is because the environment at the time of manufacture (mainly temperature) is different from the environment in the toner bank. When a pressure difference is generated inside and outside the toner bottle, an air flow is generated in the toner bottle immediately after the cap is removed, and a large amount of toner is ejected from the opening.

  Secondly, immediately before the toner bottle is installed in the toner bank, it is shaken back and forth by the user in order to release the toner accumulated during storage. By the operation before the installation, a part of the toner floats in the toner bottle. When the cap is removed in this state, the toner floating in the toner bottle is ejected from the opening.

As described above, when a large amount of toner is discharged from the toner bank at once, the toner amount in the toner bank becomes larger than the target amount, and toner cross-linking may occur. If the toner can be cross-linked in the bank, there is a problem that normal toner conveyance from the bank to the developing unit is hindered.
Also, if a large amount of toner is discharged from the toner bank at once and the toner scatters, the scattered toner adheres to the cap opening / closing mechanism and prevents normal operation, or the toner scatters outside the bank. Also occurs. In particular, in the configuration of a toner bank having a plurality of toner bottles, the height at which the toner discharged from the toner bottle falls is large, so that the degree to which the toner floats after dropping is increased.

  The above-described problem is not limited to the toner bank in which a plurality of toner bottles are installed, and is a common problem even in a toner replenishing device in which a single toner bottle is installed, although there is a difference in degree.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems. Even when the cap of the toner bottle installed in the toner replenishing device is just removed, the toner is not ejected and stable toner is obtained. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner replenishing device and an image forming apparatus that can replenish.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner replenishing device comprising: a toner bottle having an opening through which toner is discharged; a bottle installing portion on which the toner bottle is detachably held; In the toner replenishing device, the toner replenishing device includes: a toner discharging unit configured to open the opening while holding the toner bottle, and to apply a driving force for discharging the toner to the toner bottle to discharge the toner. The bottle has a sealing member that is detachably installed in the opening, and the toner discharging means releases the sealing member to open the opening, and the sealing member is removed from the opening. Adjusting means for adjusting the distance to be separated, and the adjusting means stops the sealing member at a specified position when the toner is discharged by applying the driving force to the toner bottle; The sealing member is stopped at a position where the discharge amount of toner is regulated from the specified position until a predetermined time elapses after the opening is opened, and the toner bottle has the predetermined time elapsed. In the meantime, the driving force for discharging the toner is not given.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the toner replenishing device according to the first aspect of the invention, wherein the toner discharging means discharges the toner by rotating the toner bottle, and the adjusting means performs the sealing. The rotation driving of the toner bottle is stopped until the predetermined time elapses after the member is detached from the opening.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the toner replenishing device according to the first aspect , wherein the toner discharging means discharges the toner by rotating the toner bottle in a predetermined direction. The toner bottle is rotationally driven in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction until the predetermined time elapses after the sealing member is removed from the opening .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the toner replenishing device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein the toner bottle and the bottle installing portion for holding the toner bottle are respectively provided. There are multiple.

An image forming apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention includes the toner replenishing device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects.

  According to the present invention, since the toner discharge force can be suppressed by the adjusting means for reducing the toner discharge force immediately after the toner bottle cap installed in the toner replenishing device is removed and until a predetermined time elapses, A toner replenishing device and an image forming apparatus that can replenish toner can be provided.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, in each figure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is the same or it corresponds, The duplication description is simplified or abbreviate | omitted suitably.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
The first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
First, the configuration and operation of the entire image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 1, 50 is a digital copying machine as an image forming apparatus, 51 is a document transport unit (ADF) that transports a set document D to a document reading unit 52, and 52 is a document that optically reads image information of the document D. A reading unit 53 is an exposure unit that irradiates the photosensitive drum 54 with exposure light L based on image information read by the document reading unit 52, 54 is a photosensitive drum as an image carrier, and 55 is a photosensitive drum 54. Charging unit 56, a toner hopper installed above the developing unit 57, 57 a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 54, and 58 formed on the photosensitive drum 54. A transfer unit for transferring the toner image to the transfer material P; 59, a cleaning unit for collecting untransferred toner on the photosensitive drum 54; and 61-63, a paper supply unit for storing the transfer material P such as transfer paper. , 64 is a material to be transferred A fixing unit for fixing the unfixed toner on the upper side, 90 is a waste toner bottle for storing waste toner collected by the cleaning unit 59 and the transfer unit 58, and 100 is a toner as a toner replenishing device in which a plurality of toner bottles 1 are installed. Indicates a bank.

With reference to FIG. 1, the operation at the time of image formation in the copying machine 1 will be described.
First, the document D is conveyed from the document table in the direction of the arrow in the drawing by the conveyance roller of the document conveyance unit 51 and passes over the document reading unit 52. At this time, the document reading unit 52 optically reads the image information of the document D passing above.
Then, the optical image information read by the document reading unit 52 is converted into an electric signal and then transmitted to the exposure unit 53 (writing unit). Then, the exposure unit 53 emits exposure light L such as laser light based on the image information of the electrical signal toward the photosensitive drum 54.

  On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 54 rotates in the clockwise direction in the figure, and first, the surface thereof is uniformly charged at a position facing the charging unit 55. Then, the surface of the photosensitive drum 54 charged by the charging unit 55 reaches the irradiation position of the exposure light L. At this position, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image information of the document D is formed.

Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 54 on which the latent image is formed reaches a portion facing the developing unit 57. Then, the developing unit 57 develops the latent image on the photosensitive drum 54.
Specifically, the toner in the developing unit 57 is mixed with the carrier by the stirring roller together with the toner supplied from the toner hopper 56. The frictionally charged toner is supplied onto the developing roller together with the carrier. Thereafter, the toner carried on the developing roller reaches the position facing the photosensitive drum 54 after passing through the position of the doctor blade. At the opposite position, the toner adheres to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 54.

The toner supplied from the toner hopper 56 is appropriately supplied into the developing unit 57 as the toner in the developing unit 57 is consumed. Consumption of the toner in the developing unit 57 is indirectly detected by an optical sensor (toner density sensor) (not shown) facing the photosensitive drum 54.
Further, the toner in the toner hopper 56 is appropriately supplied from the toner bank 100. The toner supply system from the toner bank 100 to the toner hopper 56 will be described in detail later.

  Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 54 developed by the developing unit 57 reaches a portion facing the transfer unit 58. At this position, the toner image on the photosensitive drum 54 is transferred onto the transfer material P. At this time, a small amount of untransferred toner that is not transferred onto the transfer material P remains on the photosensitive drum 54.

Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 54 having untransferred toner that has passed through the transfer portion 58 reaches a portion facing the cleaning portion 59. Then, the untransferred toner is collected in the cleaning unit 59 by the cleaning blade in contact with the photosensitive drum 54. The toner collected by the cleaning unit 59 is transported as waste toner toward the waste toner bottle 90 via a waste toner transport path (not shown).
Thereafter, the surface of the photosensitive drum 54 that has passed through the cleaning unit 59 reaches a static elimination unit (not shown). Then, the potential on the surface of the photosensitive drum 54 is eliminated, and a series of image forming processes is completed.

On the other hand, the transfer material P conveyed to the transfer unit 58 operates as follows.
First, one of the plurality of paper feeding units 61, 62, 63 of the copying machine 1 is automatically or manually selected (for example, it is assumed that the upper paper feeding unit 61 is selected). .
Then, one of the transfer materials P stored in the paper feeding unit 61 is transported toward the transport path K.

Thereafter, the transfer material P that has passed through the transport path K reaches the position of the registration roller. Then, the material P to be transferred that has reached the position of the registration roller is conveyed toward the transfer unit 58 at the same timing in order to align with the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 54.
After the transfer process, the transfer material P passes through the position of the transfer unit 58 and then reaches the fixing unit 64 through the conveyance path. At this position, the unfixed toner image on the transfer material P is fixed by heat and pressure. Thereafter, the transfer material P after the fixing process is discharged from the copying machine 1 as an output image.
Thus, a series of image forming processes is completed.

Next, a toner replenishing system from the toner bank 100 to the toner hopper 56 will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the toner replenishment system includes a toner bank 100, a toner transport coil 20, a toner supply cylinder 21, a toner transport tube 22, an air pump motor 23, an air return tube 24, a toner hopper 56, and the like.

The toner in the toner bank 100 passes through the tube from the toner transport unit 7 and reaches the toner supply cylinder 21 by the mechanical transport force of the toner transport coil 20 (movement in the direction of the arrow in the figure).
The toner that has reached the toner supply cylinder 21 passes through the toner transport tube 22 and is transported to the toner hopper 56. Here, an air pump motor 23 is installed in the conveyance path by the toner conveyance tube 22. The operation of the air pump motor 23 generates a toner conveying force due to an air current in the toner conveying tube 22. The air return tube 24 is connected to the gas phase portion of the toner hopper 56 and the gas phase portion of the toner supply cylinder 21 to maintain the pressure balance between the toner hopper 56 and the toner supply cylinder 21 by the operation of the air pump motor 23. (Airflow in the direction of the arrow in the figure.)

Next, the configuration and operation of the toner bank 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the toner bank 100 includes two toner bottles 1, two bottle setting portions 12, a cap opening / closing mechanism 3, a bottle driving portion 11, a casing 2, a toner transport portion 7, a motor 9, and the like. . Although not shown, the cap opening / closing mechanism 3 and the bottle driving unit 11 are respectively installed for the two toner bottles 1.

Each of the two toner bottles 1 includes an opening 1a serving as a toner discharge port, and a cap 1b as a sealing member is detachably installed in the opening 1a. The cap 1b of one toner bottle 1 (the lower toner bottle 1 in FIG. 3) that discharges toner in the state where the two toner bottles 1 are set in the respective bottle setting portions 12 is a cap opening / closing mechanism. Departed by 3.
Specifically, the chuck that is integrated with the rack and holds the cap 1b moves in the direction of the arrow in the drawing by the rotation of the pinion connected to the stepping motor. Thereby, the opening 1a of the toner bottle 1 is opened.

Note that the moving distance of the cap 1b by the cap opening / closing mechanism 3 (the distance to be detached) is gradually increased by a stepping motor of the cap opening / closing mechanism that functions as an adjusting means. That is, the cap 1b does not move continuously from the position of the opening 1a to the specified position, but moves intermittently.
For example, if the distance from the position of the opening 1a to the specified position is L, the cap 1b first moves by L × 1/3 and stops for t1 seconds. Then, it further moves by L × 1/3 and stops for t1 seconds. Thereafter, it further moves by L × 1/3 to reach the specified position.

  When the gap between the cap 1b and the opening 1a is narrow, the amount of toner discharged is regulated to some extent, so that a large amount of toner is ejected immediately after opening the opening 1a by removing the cap 1b stepwise. Can be deterred. Thus, the toner discharge force (capacity to discharge toner, which is proportional to the toner discharge amount per unit time) by the cap opening / closing mechanism 3 functioning as the toner discharge means is immediately after the opening 1a is opened. It is adjusted by the cap opening / closing mechanism 3 that also functions as an adjusting means.

  Next, after the cap 1b has finished moving to the specified position, the bottle driving unit 11 rotates the toner bottle 1 in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Here, a spiral protrusion is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the toner bottle 1, and the toner in the bottle 1 is conveyed toward the opening 1a when the toner bottle 1 is rotationally driven. In addition, a driven gear is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the toner bottle 1 and meshes with the drive gear of the bottle drive unit 11, whereby drive transmission from the bottle drive unit 11 to the toner bottle 1 is transmitted.

The toner discharged from the opening 1a of the toner bottle 1 falls to the bottom of the casing 2 and accumulates to a certain height as the toner amount increases. The amount of toner (toner height) in the casing 2 is regulated by a toner end sensor 4 installed on the side. Specifically, when the toner end sensor 4 detects toner, the bottle driving unit 11 is stopped and toner discharge from the toner bottle 1 is stopped. On the other hand, when the toner end sensor 4 does not detect toner, the bottle driving unit 11 is operated to discharge the toner from the toner bottle 1. The detection surface of the toner end sensor 4 is cleaned by the scraping member 5 at the rotation cycle.
The toner deposited on the bottom of the casing 2 is stirred by the rotating stirring member 6. The stirring member 6 and the scraping member 5 are driven by a motor 9.

  Further, the toner deposited on the bottom of the casing 2 is transported from the toner transport unit 7 toward the toner hopper 56 as described with reference to FIG. Here, the toner conveyance from the toner conveyance unit 7 to the toner hopper 56 is appropriately performed according to the toner consumption in the toner hopper 56. Specifically, when a toner conveyance command is issued from the control unit, the clutch 8 coupled to the conveyance coil 7 b is connected, and the driving force of the motor 9 is transmitted to the conveyance coil 7 b via the drive transmission unit 10. The As a result, the transport coil 7b is driven to rotate, and the toner is transported through the tube 7a.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, the control performed in the toner bank 100 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, first, when the toner bottle 1 is set in the bottle setting unit 12 (steps S1 and S2), it is determined whether or not the toner bottle 1 is normally set by a set detection sensor (not shown) (step S1). S3).

As a result, when it is determined that the toner bottle is set normally, the cap 1b is opened stepwise by the cap opening / closing mechanism 3 as described with reference to FIG. 3 (step S4).
On the other hand, when it is determined that the toner bottle is not set normally, the flow after step S2 is repeated.

  Thereafter, it is determined by the cap opening / closing mechanism 3 whether the cap 1b has been opened to the specified position (step S5). As a result, when it is determined that the cap 1b is not opened to the specified position, the operation of gradually increasing the separation distance of the cap 1b is repeated. On the other hand, when it is determined that the cap 1b has been opened to the specified position, the bottle driving unit 11 starts to rotate the toner bottle 1 (step S6).

Thereafter, it is determined by the toner end sensor 4 whether there is a predetermined amount of toner in the casing 2 (step S7). As a result, when it is determined that there is no predetermined amount of toner, toner discharge by the rotation driving of the toner bottle 1 is continued. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a predetermined amount of toner, the rotation of the toner bottle is stopped, the toner discharge is stopped, and this flow is ended (step S8).
Note that after the present flow after the setting of the toner bottle 1 is completed, the toner is appropriately discharged by rotating the toner bottle 1 based on the detection result of the toner end sensor 4.

  As described above, in the first exemplary embodiment, the cap 1b is removed stepwise after a predetermined time elapses immediately after the cap 1b of the toner bottle 1 installed in the toner bank 100 is removed. Yes. As a result, the toner discharging force from the toner bottle 1 is reduced, and the initial toner ejection from the toner bottle 1 can be suppressed, and the toner can be stably discharged over time. Thus, toner conveyance failure in the toner bank 100, operation failure of the gap opening / closing mechanism 3, and toner scattering are prevented.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control of the toner bank 100 installed in the image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the initial toner discharge force is adjusted by rotating the toner bottle 1 in the reverse direction.

  In the second embodiment, the bottle driving unit 11 of the toner bank 100 is configured to be able to rotationally drive the toner bottle 1 held in the bottle setting unit 12 in both forward and reverse directions. The toner discharge force when the toner bottle 1 rotates in the reverse rotation direction (the direction opposite to the arrow direction in FIG. 3) is the toner bottle 1 in the normal rotation direction (the arrow direction in FIG. 3). ) Becomes smaller than the toner discharge force when rotated to (). This is due to the spiral direction of the protrusion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the toner bottle.

  When the toner bottle 1 is driven to rotate in the reverse rotation direction, the toner discharge amount is regulated. Therefore, the bottle is reversely rotated immediately after the opening portion 1a is opened to prevent a large amount of toner from being ejected. Can do. As described above, the toner discharging force by the bottle driving unit 11 that functions as the toner discharging unit is adjusted by the bottle driving unit 11 that also functions as the adjusting unit immediately after the opening 1a is opened.

Hereinafter, the control performed in the toner bank 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, as in the first embodiment, when a toner bottle is set (steps S11 to S12), it is determined whether the toner bottle is set normally (step S13). As a result, when it is determined that the toner bottle is set normally, the cap is opened by the cap opening / closing mechanism (step S14).

Thereafter, it is determined whether the cap has been opened to the specified position by the cap opening / closing mechanism (step S15). As a result, when it is determined that the cap is not opened to the specified position, the cap detaching operation is repeated.
On the other hand, when it is determined that the cap has been opened to the specified position, the bottle driving unit 11 performs rotation driving of the toner bottle in the reverse rotation direction for a predetermined time (step S16).

Thereafter, as in the first embodiment, the bottle drive unit 11 starts to rotate the toner bottle in the forward rotation direction (step S17), and it is determined whether a predetermined amount of toner is present in the casing (step S17). S18). As a result, when it is determined that there is no predetermined amount of toner, the toner is continuously discharged by rotating the toner bottle in the forward rotation direction. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a predetermined amount of toner, the rotation driving of the toner bottle is stopped, and this flow is ended (step S19).
Note that after the main flow after the toner bottle is set, the toner is appropriately discharged by rotationally driving the toner bottle 1 in the forward rotation direction based on the detection result of the toner end sensor.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the toner bottle 1 is driven to rotate in the reverse rotation direction immediately after the cap 1b of the toner bottle 1 installed in the toner bank 100 is removed until a predetermined time elapses. is doing. As a result, the toner discharging force from the toner bottle 1 is reduced, and the initial toner ejection from the toner bottle 1 can be suppressed, and the toner can be stably discharged over time. Thus, toner conveyance failure in the toner bank 100, operation failure of the gap opening / closing mechanism 3, and toner scattering are prevented in advance.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing control of the toner bank 100 installed in the image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus according to the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the rotation driving of the toner bottle 1 is completely stopped to adjust the initial toner discharging force.

  When the rotation of the toner bottle 1 is stopped, the toner discharge amount is regulated. Therefore, a large amount of toner is ejected by stopping the rotation of the bottle until a predetermined time elapses immediately after the opening 1a is opened. Can be deterred. As described above, the toner discharging force by the bottle driving unit 11 that functions as the toner discharging unit is adjusted by the bottle driving unit 11 that also functions as the adjusting unit immediately after the opening 1a is opened.

Hereinafter, the control performed in the toner bank 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, as in the first embodiment, when a toner bottle is set (steps S21 to S22), it is determined whether the toner bottle is set normally (step S23). As a result, when it is determined that the toner bottle is set normally, the cap is opened by the cap opening / closing mechanism (step S24).

Thereafter, it is determined whether the cap has been opened to the specified position by the cap opening / closing mechanism (step S25).
As a result, when it is determined that the cap is opened to the specified position, the rotation of the toner bottle by the bottle driving unit 11 is stopped for a predetermined time (step S26). That is, a predetermined time is provided for the rotational driving of the toner bottle.

Thereafter, as in the first embodiment, the bottle driving unit 11 starts to rotate the toner bottle (step S27), and it is determined whether a predetermined amount of toner is present in the casing (step S28). As a result, when it is determined that there is no predetermined amount of toner, toner discharge by the rotation driving of the toner bottle is continued. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is a predetermined amount of toner, the rotation driving of the toner bottle is stopped, and this flow is finished (step S29).
In addition, after this flow is completed, the toner is appropriately discharged by rotating the toner bottle 1 based on the detection result of the toner end sensor.

  As described above, in the third embodiment, the rotation driving of the toner bottle 1 is stopped until a predetermined time elapses immediately after the cap 1b of the toner bottle 1 installed in the toner bank 100 is removed. . As a result, the toner discharging force from the toner bottle 1 is reduced, and the initial toner ejection from the toner bottle 1 can be suppressed, and the toner can be stably discharged over time. Thus, toner conveyance failure in the toner bank 100, operation failure of the gap opening / closing mechanism 3, and toner scattering are prevented.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing control of the toner bank 100 installed in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 4 of the first embodiment. The image forming apparatus according to the fourth embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the initial toner discharge force is adjusted by changing the rotation speed related to the rotation driving of the toner bottle 1.

  In the fourth embodiment, the bottle driving unit 11 of the toner bank 100 includes an inverter circuit, and is configured to be able to vary the number of rotations of the toner bottle 1 that is rotationally driven. The toner discharge force when the toner bottle 1 is rotationally driven at a low rotational speed is smaller than the toner discharge force when the toner bottle 1 is rotationally driven at a normal rotational speed. This is because the toner conveyance force per unit time due to the spiral protrusion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the toner bottle is reduced.

  When the toner bottle 1 is driven to rotate at a low speed, the amount of toner discharged is regulated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a large amount of toner from being ejected by rotating the bottle at a low speed immediately after opening the opening 1a. it can. As described above, the toner discharging force by the bottle driving unit 11 that functions as the toner discharging unit is adjusted by the bottle driving unit 11 that also functions as the adjusting unit immediately after the opening 1a is opened.

Hereinafter, the control performed in the above-described toner bank 100 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, as in the first embodiment, when a toner bottle is set (steps S31 to S32), it is determined whether the toner bottle is set normally (step S33). As a result, when it is determined that the toner bottle is set normally, the cap is opened by the cap opening / closing mechanism (step S34).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether the cap has been opened to the specified position by the cap opening / closing mechanism (step S35). As a result, when it is determined that the cap has been opened to the specified position, the bottle driving unit 11 starts to drive the toner bottle at a low rotational speed (step S36).

Thereafter, it is determined whether there is a predetermined amount of toner in the casing (step S37). As a result, when it is determined that there is no predetermined amount of toner, toner discharge by driving the toner bottle at a low rotational speed is continued. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is a predetermined amount of toner, the low rotation speed driving of the toner bottle is stopped, and this flow is ended (step S38).
Note that after the present flow is finished, the toner is appropriately discharged by driving the toner bottle 1 at the normal rotational speed based on the detection result of the toner end sensor.

  As described above, in the fourth embodiment, immediately after the cap 1b of the toner bottle 1 installed in the toner bank 100 is removed, the toner bottle 1 is rotated at a lower rotational speed than usual. ing. As a result, the toner discharging force from the toner bottle 1 is reduced, and the initial toner ejection from the toner bottle 1 can be suppressed, and the toner can be stably discharged over time. Thus, toner conveyance failure in the toner bank 100, operation failure of the gap opening / closing mechanism 3, and toner scattering are prevented.

  In each of the above embodiments, the present invention is applied to the toner bank 100 in which a plurality of toner bottles 1 are installed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can be applied to a toner replenishing device in which only a single toner bottle is installed. Also in this case, the same effects as those of the above embodiments can be obtained.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to each of the above-described embodiments, and it is obvious that each embodiment can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention, other than suggested in each embodiment. It is. Further, the number, position, shape, and the like of the constituent members are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the number, position, shape, and the like that are suitable for implementing the present invention can be used.

1 is an overall configuration diagram illustrating an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a toner supply system in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a toner replenishing device installed in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1. 3 is a flowchart illustrating control in the image forming apparatus in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart which shows control of the image forming apparatus in Embodiment 2 of this invention. 10 is a flowchart illustrating control of an image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows control of the image forming apparatus in Embodiment 4 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 toner bottle, 1a opening, 1b cap (sealing member),
2 casing, 3 cap opening / closing mechanism, 4 toner end sensor,
5 scraping member, 6 stirring member, 7 toner conveying portion, 7a tube,
7b Transfer coil, 8 clutch, 9 motor,
10 drive transmission unit, 11 bottle drive unit, 12 bottle installation unit,
20 toner transfer coil, 21 toner supply cylinder,
22 toner transfer tube, 23 air pump motor,
24 air return tube, 50 image forming apparatus, 56 toner hopper,
57 developer, 100 toner bank.

Claims (5)

A toner bottle having an opening through which toner is discharged;
A bottle setting section in which the toner bottle is detachably held;
A toner discharging means for discharging the toner by opening the opening and applying a driving force for discharging the toner to the toner bottle while the toner bottle is held in the bottle setting section;
In a toner replenishing device comprising:
The toner bottle has a sealing member that is detachably installed in the opening,
The toner discharging means releases the sealing member to open the opening,
Adjusting means for adjusting the distance by which the sealing member is detached from the opening;
The adjusting means stops the sealing member at a predetermined position when the toner is discharged by applying the driving force to the toner bottle, and the predetermined time is elapsed after the opening is opened until a predetermined time elapses. The sealing member is stopped at a position where the toner discharge amount is regulated more than the position,
The toner replenishing device , wherein the toner bottle is not given a driving force for discharging the toner until the predetermined time has elapsed . The toner discharge means discharges the toner by rotating the toner bottle,
2. The toner supply according to claim 1 , wherein rotation of the toner bottle is stopped until the predetermined time elapses after the sealing member is removed from the opening by the adjusting unit. apparatus. The toner discharging means discharges the toner by rotating the toner bottle in a predetermined direction;
The toner bottle is rotationally driven in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction until the predetermined time elapses after the sealing member is removed from the opening by the adjusting means. toner supply device according to 1. 4. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of the toner bottles and a plurality of the bottle setting portions for holding the toner bottles . 5. An image forming apparatus comprising the toner replenishing device according to claim 1.

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