JP4368602B2

JP4368602B2 - Toner container

Info

Publication number: JP4368602B2
Application number: JP2003074503A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 信広巻田; 良秀河村; 恒太郎小出; 雅人鈴木; 誠司寺澤; 正宏中山; 匡長谷川
Original assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-03-18
Filing date: 2003-03-18
Publication date: 2009-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-18
Also published as: JP2004279977A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、交換可能に設けられた粉体収容器を有し、該粉体収容器内の粉体を粉体補給先に補給する粉体補給装置、該粉体補給装置を備えた現像装置及び画像形成装置に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
従来のトナー容器では、ボトル口部内径と内栓にこれと嵌合する外周に設けたリブ、ボトル天面と内栓ツバ部に設けたカエリリブとでシールをすることでトナーシール性を確保していた（特許文献１参照。）。この場合シール性は非常に良いが、トナー容器の保存場所の温度変化によりボトル内圧と大気圧に差が生じ易くなってしまう。特に冷所（北海道・東北地方の冬期の倉庫）に保管されるとボトル内圧が負圧となる。これが長期間になると、トナーシール性は良いといっても完全密封ではないのでボトル内圧が大気圧になるまで冷たい空気が入り込んでしまう。冷たい空気が大気圧になるまで入ったトナー容器は、暖房の効いた室内に持ち込まれると温度上昇に伴い内圧が上昇してしまい、外栓を外した際に内栓が抜け落ちる不具合が発生してしまう。
【０００３】
また、特許文献２に記載のものは、ボトル口部への内栓固定をネジ方式としているので、内栓が外れるという不具合は発生しないが、ボトル口部、内栓の加工が難しく、電子写真装置内での内栓を外す機構も複雑になってしまう。
【０００４】
トナーボトル（ＶＡボトル）において、ボトル口部のシール性を上げた場合、温度上昇に伴うボトル内圧の上昇が発生する。内圧が上昇した状態で、外栓を外すと内栓が内圧に耐え切れずに外れる（「ポン」という音とともに内栓が飛ぶ）ことがある。これを防止するためにはボトル保管時に内圧が抜けるか又は外栓開栓時に内圧が抜ける機構を採用する必要があるが、安価でトナーシール性を有した機構とすることが要求される。
これは、特に二軸延伸ブローにて成形されたトナーボトル（ＳＲＴＣボトル）で発生し易い課題であり、これを解決するためには、外栓開栓時に内圧を調整する機構の採用が必要である。
【０００５】
【特許文献１】
特開平９−９６９５９号公報
【特許文献２】
特開平８−２２０８５７号公報
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
従って、本発明の目的は、上記従来技術に鑑みて、外栓開栓時に内圧が抜ける機構を採用しつつ、安価でトナーシール性を有したトナー容器を提供することにある。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記課題は、本発明の（１）「電子写真法を利用する画像形成装置の現像装置に着脱可能なトナー容器であって、該トナー容器は、ボトル、内栓、外栓を有するものであり、前記外栓開栓時に、容器の内圧を調整する内圧調整機構を有し、該内圧調整機構は、内栓の外周リブの間隔が非対称であることにより、内栓が斜めに開栓され、内栓と容器口部との間に通気隙間が生じるものであることを特徴とするトナー容器」、（２）「電子写真法を利用する画像形成装置の現像装置に着脱可能なトナー容器であって、該トナー容器は、ボトル、内栓、外栓を有するものであり、前記外栓開栓時に、容器の内圧を調整する内圧調整機構を有し、該内圧調整機構は、外周リブを有する内栓と容器口部との一部を接着剤で固定されたことにより、内栓が斜めに開栓され、内栓と容器口部との間に通気隙間が生じるものであることを特徴とするトナー容器」、（３）「電子写真法を利用する画像形成装置の現像装置に着脱可能なトナー容器であって、該トナー容器は、ボトル、内栓、外栓を有するものであり、前記外栓開栓時に、容器の内圧を調整する内圧調整機構を有し、該内圧調整機構は、容器のボトル口内壁に内栓外周リブ径より大きい径の凹部を有し、前記内栓外周リブが前記凹部に嵌ることにより、内栓と容器口部との間に通気隙間が生じるものであることを特徴とするトナー容器」により達成される。
【０００８】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下に、本発明において採用される外栓開栓時に内圧を調整する機構について図面を参照して詳細かつ具体的に説明する。
本発明では、トナー容器の構成は現状のままとし、各構成部材の形状変更することとする。
基本的な構成部材材料は、トナー供給口を有するボトル、ボトルのトナー供給口をシールする内栓、ボトルとネジ機構で組み合わせで内栓を押える外栓の３点である（図１参照）。
本発明の基本的な構成部材材料は、トナー供給口を有するボトル、ボトルのトナー供給口をシールする内栓、ボトルとネジ機構で組み合わせで内栓を押える外栓の３点で、各構成部材の形状変更し外栓開栓時に内圧が抜ける機構を採用している。
図２は、内栓の中央凸部に穴を設け、外栓閉栓時外栓内面でその穴を塞ぎ、開栓時開くことを特徴とするトナー容器である。
図３は、内栓の中央凸部にスリットを設け、外栓閉栓時外栓内面でスリットが押し閉じられ、開栓時開放されることを特徴とするトナー容器である。
図４は、内栓外周リブ形状が左右非対称になっていることを特徴とするトナー容器である。
図５は、内栓を接着剤で一部固定していることを特徴とするトナー容器である。
図６は、外栓開栓距離を内栓容器シール距離以上になっていることを特徴とするトナー容器である。
図７は、内栓上面にスリットが入っていることを特徴とするトナー容器である。
図８は、外栓開栓初期のみ外栓、内栓互いに係合するためのリブがあることを特徴とするトナー容器である。
図９は、容器のボトル口内壁に内栓外周リブ径より大きい径の凹を設けたことを特徴とするトナー容器である。
図１０は、凹形状がボトル口内壁全周に設けられたことを特徴とするトナー容器である。
図１１は、容器と内栓の間に通気性部材を設けたことを特徴とするトナー容器である。
図１２は、内栓外栓に凸部を設け閉栓時に凸部が一致する位置関係にあり、開栓時に外れることを特徴とするトナー容器である。
また、上記構成の内容を組み合せることで、効果を確実なものにすることができる。
【０００９】
【発明の効果】
以上、詳細かつ具体的な説明から明らかなように、本発明により、開栓途中にボトル内外との通気がなされ内圧が外気圧近くに調整されるため、外栓を外しても内圧によりボトルから外栓が飛び出すことがない。
図２の構成により、開栓途中、内栓の穴が開放されるため、ボトル内外との通気がなされ外栓が飛び出すことがない。
図３の構成により、開栓途中、内栓のスリットの押さえが開放されるため、ボトル内外との通気がなされ外栓が飛び出すことがない。
図４の構成により、開栓時内栓が内圧によって上昇する時左右にズレるため、通気が促進され外栓が飛び出すことがない。
図５の構成により、開栓時内栓が内圧によって上昇する時左右にズレるため、通気が促進され外栓が飛び出すことがない。
図６の構成により、開栓途中に内栓が内圧によって、上昇しても、外栓が開栓される前に内栓外周リブがボトルから外れるため、ボトル内外との通気がなされ外栓が飛び出すことがない。
図７の構成により、内栓上面にスリットが入っているため、開栓途中にボトル内外との通気がなされ外栓が飛び出すことがない。
図８の構成により、外栓開栓初期回転時に内栓を回転させることによって、ボトル内外との通気が促進され外栓が飛び出すことがない。
図９の構成により、開栓途中、内栓が内圧によって上昇し内栓外周リブがボトル口内壁凹部にきたとき、ボトル内外との通気がなされ外栓が飛び出すことがない。
図１０の構成により、開栓途中、内栓が内圧によって上昇し内栓外周リブがボトル口内壁凹部にきたとき、ボトル内外との通気がなされ外栓が飛び出すことがない。
図１１の構成により、開栓時に通気性部材によってボトル内外との通気がなされ、外栓が飛び出すことがない。
図１２の構成により、開栓時に凸部の一致が外れるため、外栓の凸部での内栓の押し付け外れが瞬時になされ、内栓移動が可能になり、通気が促進され、外栓が飛び出すことがない。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】従来技術に関するトナーボトルを表わした図である。
【図２】トナーボトルの内圧調整機構を表わした図である。
【図３】トナーボトルの内圧調整機構を表わした図である。
【図４】トナーボトルの内圧調整機構を表わした図である。
【図５】トナーボトルの内圧調整機構を表わした図である。
【図６】トナーボトルの内圧調整機構を表わした図である。
【図７】トナーボトルの内圧調整機構を表わした図である。
【図８】トナーボトルの内圧調整機構を表わした図である。
【図９】トナーボトルの内圧調整機構を表わした図である。
【図１０】トナーボトルの内圧調整機構を表わした図である。
【図１１】トナーボトルの内圧調整機構を表わした図である。
【図１２】トナーボトルの内圧調整機構を表わした図である。 [0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a powder container provided in a replaceable manner, a powder replenishing device that replenishes powder in the powder container to a powder replenishment destination, and a developing device including the powder replenishing device And an image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In conventional toner containers, toner sealability is ensured by sealing with the inner diameter of the bottle mouth and a rib provided on the outer periphery that fits into the inner stopper, and a bottle rib provided on the top surface of the bottle and the inner stopper collar. (See Patent Document 1). In this case, the sealing performance is very good, but a difference between the bottle internal pressure and the atmospheric pressure tends to occur due to the temperature change in the storage location of the toner container. In particular, when stored in a cold place (a winter warehouse in the Hokkaido / Tohoku region), the bottle internal pressure becomes negative. If this is a long period of time, the toner sealability is good, but it is not completely sealed, so cold air will enter until the bottle internal pressure reaches atmospheric pressure. When the toner container is filled with cold air until it reaches atmospheric pressure, the internal pressure increases as the temperature rises when the toner container is brought into a heated room, and the internal plug may come off when the external plug is removed. End up.
[0003]
Moreover, since the thing of patent document 2 uses the screw system for the inner stopper fixation to a bottle mouth part, the malfunction that an inner stopper comes off does not generate | occur | produce, but processing of a bottle mouth part and an inner stopper is difficult, and an electrophotographic The mechanism for removing the inner plug in the apparatus is also complicated.
[0004]
In the toner bottle (VA bottle), when the sealing performance of the bottle mouth is increased, the bottle internal pressure increases with the temperature rise. If the external plug is removed while the internal pressure is increased, the internal plug may come off without being able to withstand the internal pressure (the internal plug will fly with a sound of a “pong”). In order to prevent this, it is necessary to adopt a mechanism in which the internal pressure is released when the bottle is stored or the internal pressure is released when the outer plug is opened. However, a mechanism that is inexpensive and has toner sealability is required.
This is a problem that is particularly likely to occur with toner bottles (SRTC bottles) molded by biaxial stretching blow. To solve this problem, it is necessary to adopt a mechanism that adjusts the internal pressure when the outer plug is opened. is there.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-9-96959 [Patent Document 2]
JP-A-8-220857 Publication [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost toner container having a toner sealing property while adopting a mechanism in which the internal pressure is released when the outer plug is opened, in view of the above-described conventional technology.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above problem is (1) “a toner container that can be attached to and detached from a developing device of an image forming apparatus using electrophotography , and the toner container has a bottle, an inner stopper, and an outer stopper. , Having an internal pressure adjusting mechanism for adjusting the internal pressure of the container at the time of opening the external plug, the internal pressure adjusting mechanism has an asymmetrical interval between the outer peripheral ribs of the internal plug, the inner plug is opened obliquely, A toner container characterized in that a ventilation gap is formed between the inner plug and the container mouth portion; and (2) “ a toner container that can be attached to and detached from a developing device of an image forming apparatus using electrophotography. The toner container has a bottle, an inner stopper, and an outer stopper, and has an internal pressure adjusting mechanism that adjusts the internal pressure of the container when the outer stopper is opened, and the internal pressure adjusting mechanism has an outer peripheral rib. Because the inner stopper and part of the container mouth were fixed with adhesive, the inner stopper Is unplugging in order, the toner container "that characterized in that the venting gap is formed between the inner plug and the container mouth part, (3)" detach the developing device of an image forming apparatus utilizing an electrophotography A toner container having a bottle, an inner stopper, and an outer stopper, and having an inner pressure adjusting mechanism for adjusting an inner pressure of the container when the outer stopper is opened, the inner pressure adjusting mechanism Has a recess larger than the diameter of the inner stopper outer peripheral rib on the inner wall of the bottle mouth of the container, and the inner stopper outer peripheral rib fits into the recess, thereby creating a ventilation gap between the inner stopper and the container opening. This is achieved by a “toner container”.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the mechanism for adjusting the internal pressure when the outer plug used in the present invention is opened will be described in detail and specifically with reference to the drawings.
In the present invention, the configuration of the toner container is left as it is, and the shape of each component is changed.
There are three basic constituent material materials: a bottle having a toner supply port, an inner plug that seals the toner supply port of the bottle, and an outer plug that presses the inner plug by a combination of a bottle and a screw mechanism (see FIG. 1).
The basic components materials of the present invention, Uchisen to seal bottle with a toner supply opening, a toner supply opening of the bottle, at three points of the outer plug for pressing the inner plug in combination with a bottle and a screw mechanism, each component A mechanism is adopted to change the shape of the member and release the internal pressure when the outer plug is opened.
FIG. 2 shows a toner container in which a hole is formed in the central convex portion of the inner plug, the hole is closed by the inner surface of the outer plug when the outer plug is closed, and the hole is opened when the outer plug is opened.
FIG. 3 shows a toner container in which a slit is provided in the central convex portion of the inner plug, the slit is pushed and closed on the inner surface of the outer plug when the outer plug is closed, and is opened when the outer plug is opened.
FIG. 4 shows a toner container characterized in that the inner stopper outer peripheral rib shape is asymmetrical.
FIG. 5 shows a toner container in which an inner plug is partially fixed with an adhesive.
FIG. 6 is a toner container characterized in that the opening distance of the outer stopper is equal to or longer than the sealing distance of the inner stopper container.
FIG. 7 shows a toner container having a slit in the upper surface of the inner plug.
FIG. 8 shows a toner container having ribs for engaging the outer plug and the inner plug only in the initial stage of opening the outer plug.
Figure 9 is a toner container which is characterized in that a concave diameter greater than Uchisen outer peripheral rib diameter bottle mouth inner wall of the container.
Figure 10 is a toner container, wherein the concave shape is provided on the entire circumference bottle mouth inner wall.
Figure 11 is a toner container which is characterized in that a ventilation member between the container and the inner plug.
FIG. 12 shows a toner container characterized in that a convex portion is provided on the inner plug and the outer plug so that the convex portions coincide with each other when the plug is closed and the convex portion comes off when the plug is opened.
Moreover, the effect can be ensured by combining the contents of the above configuration .
[0009]
【The invention's effect】
Above, as apparent from the detailed and concrete description, and more to the onset bright, since the internal pressure is made ventilation between bottle inside and outside during unplugging is adjusted near the outside pressure, the internal pressure to remove the outer plug The outer cap does not jump out of the bottle.
With the configuration of FIG. 2, since the hole of the inner plug is opened during the opening of the bottle, the inside and outside of the bottle are ventilated and the outer plug does not pop out.
With the configuration shown in FIG. 3 , the stopper of the slit of the inner plug is released during the opening of the bottle, so that the inside and outside of the bottle are vented and the outer plug does not pop out.
With the configuration shown in FIG. 4, when the inner plug rises due to the internal pressure when it is opened, the right and left shifts, so that ventilation is promoted and the outer plug does not pop out.
With the configuration shown in FIG. 5, when the plug is opened, the inner plug shifts to the left and right when it rises due to the internal pressure. This facilitates ventilation and prevents the outer plug from popping out.
With the configuration of FIG. 6, even if the inner plug rises due to the internal pressure during the opening, the outer peripheral rib of the inner plug is removed from the bottle before the outer plug is opened. Never jump out.
With the configuration of FIG. 7, since the upper surface of the inner stopper has a slit, ventilation between the inside and outside of the bottle is made during the opening, and the outer stopper does not pop out.
With the configuration of FIG. 8, by rotating the inner plug at the initial rotation of the outer plug opening, ventilation between the bottle inside and outside is promoted and the outer plug does not pop out.
With the configuration of FIG. 9, when the inner plug rises due to the internal pressure and the inner plug outer peripheral rib comes to the concave portion of the inner wall of the bottle mouth during the opening of the bottle, the inside and outside of the bottle are ventilated and the outer plug does not pop out.
With the configuration of FIG. 10, when the inner plug rises due to the internal pressure and the inner plug outer peripheral rib comes to the concave portion of the inner wall of the bottle mouth during the opening of the bottle, the inside and outside of the bottle is vented and the outer plug does not pop out.
With the configuration of FIG. 11, when the bottle is opened, the breathable member ventilates the inside and outside of the bottle, and the outer plug does not pop out.
With the configuration of FIG. 12 , the convex portions are not matched when the plug is opened, so that the inner plug is pushed out of the convex portion of the outer plug instantaneously, the inner plug can be moved, ventilation is promoted, and the outer plug is Never jump out.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a toner bottle related to the prior art.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an internal pressure adjusting mechanism of a toner bottle.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an internal pressure adjusting mechanism of a toner bottle.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an internal pressure adjusting mechanism of a toner bottle.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an internal pressure adjusting mechanism of a toner bottle.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an internal pressure adjusting mechanism of a toner bottle.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an internal pressure adjusting mechanism of a toner bottle.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an internal pressure adjusting mechanism of a toner bottle.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an internal pressure adjusting mechanism of a toner bottle.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an internal pressure adjusting mechanism of a toner bottle.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an internal pressure adjusting mechanism of a toner bottle.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an internal pressure adjusting mechanism of a toner bottle.

Claims

A toner container that can be attached to and detached from a developing device of an image forming apparatus that uses electrophotography , the toner container having a bottle, an inner stopper, and an outer stopper, and the inner pressure of the container when the outer stopper is opened. The internal pressure adjusting mechanism has an asymmetrical spacing between the outer peripheral ribs of the inner plug, so that the inner plug is opened obliquely and air is passed between the inner plug and the container mouth. A toner container having a gap .

A toner container that can be attached to and detached from a developing device of an image forming apparatus that uses electrophotography, the toner container having a bottle, an inner stopper, and an outer stopper, and the inner pressure of the container when the outer stopper is opened. The internal pressure adjusting mechanism has an inner plug having an outer peripheral rib and a part of the container mouth portion fixed with an adhesive so that the inner plug is opened obliquely, A toner container , wherein a ventilation gap is formed between the stopper and the container opening .

A toner container that can be attached to and detached from a developing device of an image forming apparatus that uses electrophotography, the toner container having a bottle, an inner stopper, and an outer stopper, and the inner pressure of the container when the outer stopper is opened. The inner pressure adjusting mechanism has a recess having a diameter larger than the diameter of the inner stopper outer peripheral rib on the inner wall of the bottle mouth of the container, and the inner stopper outer peripheral rib is fitted into the inner recess. A toner container, wherein a ventilation gap is formed between the stopper and the container opening .