JP6123376B2 - Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus using the toner cartridge - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner cartridge and an image forming apparatus using the toner cartridge.

  Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus, as the toner is consumed, a filling operation for replacing the toner cartridge and supplying the toner is performed. In this toner filling operation, when the toner cartridge is detached from the toner supply port, the toner may leak from the toner cartridge and scatter.

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus in which a shielding member is provided at a discharge port of a toner cartridge in order to reduce scattering of toner in the cartridge when the toner is attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus is known (for example, (See Patent Document 1). In this case, a seal member is also provided.

Further, elastic members are provided at the discharge port and the toner supply port of the toner cartridge, and the shielding member can be pulled out while being sandwiched between the two elastic members.

  However, in this type of toner cartridge, the discharge port of the used empty toner cartridge is not sealed, and when the used toner cartridge is removed from the toner supply port, the toner remaining inside the toner cartridge is surrounded by the surroundings. There is a risk of splashing.

  In the case where the toner cartridge is made of a flexible material, air due to compression deformation of the toner cartridge when the user grasps the toner cartridge by hand is discharged from the discharge port, so that there is a possibility that toner eruption may occur.

Such toner scattering may cause environmental pollution, and it is as much as possible to prevent toner remaining inside the toner cartridge from scattering from the discharge port when replacing the toner cartridge. desirable.
In addition, it is desirable that the toner is prevented from scattering even when the toner is refilled into the empty toner cartridge through the discharge port.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and relates to a toner cartridge capable of preventing toner from scattering from a discharge port as much as possible and an image forming apparatus using the toner cartridge.

A toner cartridge according to the present invention includes a toner cartridge main body having a toner storage chamber for storing toner therein and having a discharge port for discharging the toner in a body portion, and the toner cartridge main body movably provided in the toner cartridge main body. A shutter member that opens and closes a discharge port, and the shutter member has an inner peripheral surface that faces an outer peripheral surface of the body portion, and the discharge port closes the discharge port with respect to the toner cartridge body. When the shutter member is relatively moved, the shutter member is folded between the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface to seal the discharge port and open the discharge port so that the discharge port faces downward. When the shutter member is moved relatively in the direction, a toner guide port bag is provided which hangs down and guides and discharges the toner. To.

  According to the present invention, the toner cartridge is set in the image forming apparatus so that the discharge port of the toner cartridge faces downward, and the shutter member is moved relative to the toner cartridge body in the direction in which the discharge port is opened. When moved, the toner guide port bag hangs down and the toner flows out to the toner supply port while being guided by the toner guide port bag.

Further, when removing the toner cartridge from the toner supply port, if the shutter member is moved relative to the toner cartridge body in the direction in which the discharge port is closed, the discharge port is closed by the shutter member. The toner guide port bag is folded over in the gap between the inner peripheral surface of the shutter member and the outer peripheral surface of the body portion to seal the discharge port.
Therefore, when the used toner cartridge is removed from the toner supply port, the toner remaining inside the toner cartridge is also prevented from being scattered around.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an image forming apparatus using a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view of the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state in which the discharge port is opened with the discharge port facing downward, and the toner guide port bag hangs down. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 2 and shows a state where the discharge port is closed by a shutter member. FIG. 4 is an external view of the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention, and shows a state where the discharge port is closed by the shutter member. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view schematically showing a method of using the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating image formation in which the toner cartridge is inclined downward with its discharge port closed. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the toner cartridge main body illustrated in FIG. 1A is rotated relative to the shutter member and a discharge port is being opened. (C) is a sectional view showing a state in which the discharge port shown in (b) is opened and the toner guide port bag hangs down, and the toner is guided to the toner guide port bag and flows out to the toner supply port of the image forming apparatus. It is. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view schematically showing how to use the toner cartridge according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating a case where the toner in the toner storage chamber shown in FIG. FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the toner storage chamber is empty, and FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the toner cartridge body illustrated in FIG. (C) is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the discharge port shown in (a) is closed by the shutter member and the toner guide port bag is folded. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining the length relationship among the length of the toner guide port bag, the length of the shutter member, and the length of the discharge port shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory view schematically showing an example in which a crease is provided in the toner guide opening bag, and (a) is a view showing a state in which the discharge opening is opened and the toner guide opening bag is suspended. (C) is a figure which shows the state in which the toner guide opening bag is gradually folded along the crease | fold. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view schematically showing an example in which a space for preventing buckling is formed in the shutter member. FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view showing a state immediately before the shutter member abuts against the toner guide port bag. ) Is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the outer surface of the toner guide port bag is being drawn into the buckling prevention space when the shutter member hits the toner guide port bag and the discharge port is closed. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the outer surface and the inner surface of the toner guide port bag are being pulled into the buckling prevention space. FIG. 10 is an external view showing an example in which a stirring blade member is provided in the toner storage chamber of the toner cartridge body. FIG. 11 is an external view showing an example in which a plurality of discharge ports are provided in the longitudinal direction of the body portion of the toner cartridge, and a toner guide port bag is provided in each discharge port. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a toner filling operation into an empty toner cartridge.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an outline of an image forming apparatus in which a toner cartridge according to the present invention is used.
In FIG. 1, 1 is an image forming apparatus main body, 2 is a paper feeding unit, 3 is an image forming unit, 4 is a toner replenishing device, and 5 is a toner cartridge.

  Here, the image forming apparatus is used for color image formation, and the image forming unit 3 includes process cartridges 3Y, 3C, 3M, and 3BK for color image formation. The process cartridges 3Y, 3C, 3M, 3BK are constituted by, for example, photosensitive drums 3a to 3d on which electrostatic latent images are formed, developing devices 3e to 3h, and the like. Reference numeral 3 'denotes an intermediate transfer belt.

The developing devices 3e to 3f are supplied with toner from the toner replenishing device 4. A toner cartridge 5 is set in the toner supply device 4.
As shown in FIG. 2, the toner cartridge 5 includes a cylindrical toner cartridge main body 6 and a shutter member 7.

  The toner cartridge main body 6 has a toner storage chamber 6a for storing the toner 8 as shown in FIG. A discharge port 9 is formed in the body 6b of the toner cartridge body 6 as shown in FIGS.

  The shutter member 7 is movably provided in the toner cartridge body 6 and functions to open and close the discharge port 9. Here, the shutter member 7 is a fan-like plate as a pair of support plate portions that are supported by the opening / closing plate portion 7a that curves along the body portion 6b and opens and closes the discharge port 9 and the both end surface portions 6c of the toner cartridge body 6. It is comprised from the part 7b, 7b.

Guide grooves 6d and 6d extending in the circumferential direction are formed in both end surface portions 6c and 6c of the toner cartridge body 6, respectively. Engaging projections 7c and 7c that engage with the guide grooves 6d and 6d are formed on the pair of fan-shaped plate portions 7b and 7b as shown in FIG.

The shutter member 7 is rotated relative to the toner cartridge body 6 between a direction in which the discharge port 9 is closed and a direction in which the outlet 9 is opened.
The opening / closing plate 7a has an inner peripheral surface 7a 'facing the outer peripheral surface 6b' of the body 6b as shown in FIG.

The toner cartridge 5 is set in the toner replenishing device 4 with the discharge port 9 obliquely downward. 5 and 6 are partially enlarged views schematically showing an enlarged portion of the constituent wall 4b of the toner supply port 4a of the toner supply device 4. FIG.

  The constituent wall 4b is formed with an engaging projection 4c that engages with the end wall 7a ″ of the opening / closing plate 7a of the shutter member 7. The discharge port 9 is provided with a toner guide port bag 10. The toner guide opening bag 10 is made of a material that can be folded, and a material that has a smooth surface and good sliding properties, for example, polypropylene and vinyl are suitable for this material. The thickness of the toner guide port bag 10 is preferably a film body of 100 μm to 250 μm.

The toner guide port bag 10 has a cylindrical configuration with both ends opened, and one end side thereof is attached to the inner peripheral wall of the discharge port 9. For example, the one end side is attached to the inner peripheral wall of the discharge port 9 by welding. The toner guide port bag 10 may be cylindrical or square as long as it is cylindrical.
When the discharge port 9 is closed, the toner guide port bag 10 has an outer peripheral surface 6b ′ of the body portion 6b and an opening / closing plate as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5A, and 6C. Folded between the inner peripheral surface 7a 'of the portion 7a. The discharge port 9 is sealed by folding the toner guide port bag 10. The toner guide port bag 10 is located inside when the toner cartridge body 6 is rotated relative to the shutter member 7 in a direction to close the discharge port 9 when the toner 8 in the toner storage chamber 6a is empty. The surface 10 b is folded in a direction to close the discharge port 9 when the toner storage chamber 6 a is filled with the toner 8. With such a folding structure, leakage of the toner 8 during transportation of the toner cartridge can be suppressed as much as possible.
The operation of filling the toner when manufacturing the toner cartridge 5 will be described later.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a knob protrusion 11 ′ for rotating the toner cartridge body 6 is integrally provided on one end surface portion 6 c of the toner cartridge body 6.
As shown in FIG. 5A, the toner cartridge 5 is set in the toner replenishing port 4a so that the discharge port 9 is inclined downward and the shutter member 7 is engaged with the engaging protrusion 4c. Is done. Next, for example, the shutter member 7 is pinched with a finger and fixed.

When the toner cartridge main body 6 is rotated in the direction of the arrow P1 as shown in FIG. 5B, the folding of the toner guide port bag 10 is gradually released. When the toner cartridge body 6 is further rotated in the direction of arrow P1, the toner guide port bag 10 hangs down and the toner 8 stored in the toner storage chamber 6a is filled into the toner supply device 4 from the toner supply port 4a.

That is, the toner cartridge 5 to the image forming apparatus is set so that the discharge port 9 faces downward, and the shutter member 7 is moved relative to the toner cartridge body 6 in the direction in which the discharge port 9 is opened. Then, the toner guide port bag 10 hangs down and the toner 8 flows out to the toner replenishment port 4a while being guided to the toner guide port bag 10. Therefore, scattering when the toner 8 is filled is prevented.
In addition, toner scattering due to airflow in the image forming apparatus and toner scattering due to vibration of the image forming apparatus can be prevented.
In the above description, the shutter member 7 is picked and fixed with a finger and the toner cartridge body is rotated by hand. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the toner cartridge 5 is set in the image forming apparatus and mechanically fixed, and the toner cartridge body 6 is automatically rotated relative to the shutter member 7. You can also.
Further, the discharge port 9 does not necessarily have to be set to face the toner replenishing port 4a, as long as it is configured to face the toner replenishing port 4a during rotation of the toner cartridge body 6 as in this embodiment.

Next, when removing the empty toner cartridge 5 from the toner replenishing port 4a, the shutter member 7 is fixed with a finger, for example, and the toner cartridge main body 6 is fixed with an arrow P2 as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). It is rotated in the direction (the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow P1). Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, the toner guide port bag 10 is folded and overlapped, and the discharge port 9 is sealed.

Therefore, when the used toner cartridge 5 is removed from the toner replenishing port 5a, the toner 8 remaining in the toner cartridge 5 is prevented from being scattered around and the toner 8 adhering to the toner guide port bag 10 is prevented from being scattered. Is done.

(Modification 1)
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view schematically showing Modification 1 of the toner cartridge 5, wherein the length of the discharge port 9 in the rotational direction of the shutter member 7 is b, and the shutter member 7 is relative to the direction in which the discharge port 9 is closed. The length of the surface 10a that becomes the outer side of the guide port bag 10 when it is rotated is a, the length of the surface 10b that is the inner side of the guide port bag 10 when it is lowered is c, and the shutter member 7 is rotated. When the length in the direction is L, the toner cartridge 5 is formed so as to satisfy the relationship of L> a and a> b + c.

With this configuration, when the discharge port 9 is opened by the shutter member 7, the outer surface 10a is pulled out by being pulled by the inner surface 10b of the guide port bag 10 that is exposed first, so that the guide port bag 10 is pulled out. Simplification can be achieved.
Further, when the discharge port 9 is closed by the shutter member 7, it is possible to prevent the toner 8 adhering to the inner surface of the toner guide port bag 10 from protruding from the shutter member 7, and to prevent contamination due to the adhesion of the toner 8 during replacement. Can be achieved.

(Modification 2)
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view schematically showing a second modification of the toner cartridge 5. In the second modified example, a folding fold extending in a downward direction on a connecting surface 10c that connects the outer surface 10a and the inner surface 10b of the toner guide port bag 10 when the discharge port 9 is closed by the shutter member 7 is used. 11 is provided.

  If the fold line 11 is provided, the toner guide is provided when the toner cartridge body 6 is rotated relative to the shutter member 7 as shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C. The mouth bag 10 is folded at the fold line 11 and folded. Therefore, the toner guide port bag 10 can be smoothly folded when the discharge port 9 is closed.

(Modification 3)
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing Modification 3 of the toner cartridge 5. In the third modification, the shutter member 7 abuts against the surface 10 a of the toner guide port bag 10 that is outside when the discharge member 9 is closed by relatively rotating the shutter member 7 in the closing direction of the discharge port 9. A smooth slope is formed in the end wall 7a ″ of the shutter member 7. Thereby, a space 7e for preventing buckling of the toner guide port bag 10 is provided.

  With this configuration, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, when the toner cartridge body 6 is rotated in a direction to close the discharge port 9, the outer peripheral surface 6b ′ of the body 6b and the opening / closing plate The surface 10a of the toner guide port bag 10 is smoothly drawn into the space 7e between the inner peripheral surface 7a 'of the portion 7b. Therefore, the toner guide port bag 10 is prevented from buckling in the vicinity of the base 10f of the discharge port 9 being caught by the peripheral wall of the discharge port 9.

(Modification 4)
FIG. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing a fourth modification of the toner cartridge 5 in which a stirring blade member 12 for stirring the toner is provided in the toner storage chamber 6a.
The stirring blade member 12 may be connected to the knob protrusion 11 ′ and rotate in conjunction with manual rotation of the knob protrusion 11 ′. The image forming apparatus may be configured to automatically rotate via a power transmission member (not shown).

  With this configuration, when the toner cartridge 5 is replaced, the toner 8 can be agitated to fill the toner replenishing port 4a with the toner 8, so that the discharge of the toner 8 in the toner storage chamber 6a can be expedited. Can be planned.

(Modification 5)
FIG. 11 is a perspective view schematically showing Modification 4 of the toner cartridge 5. In Modification 5, a plurality of discharge ports 9 are provided at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the body 6a. The discharge port 9 is provided with a toner guide port bag 10.
According to this configuration, since a plurality of discharge ports 9 are provided, the toner 8 can be filled quickly even with the toner cartridge 5 having a large storage capacity of the toner 8.
Further, when a plurality of discharge ports 9 are arranged in the main scanning direction of the image forming apparatus (direction corresponding to the image forming area of the photosensitive drum), the toner 8 remaining in the developing device and the replenished toner 8 are provided. Can be stirred in a short time.
If the toner is abnormally charged due to uneven stirring in the developing device, there is a risk of image quality deterioration such as a change in image density or fogging of the toner, but this modification can be reduced. .

FIG. 12 is an explanatory view schematically showing Modification 5 of the toner cartridge 5 and shows an example applied to the toner filling operation method.
In the fifth modification, when the empty toner cartridge 5 is filled with toner, the toner guide port bag 10 is pulled out, and the tip of the funnel-shaped discharge tube 13 a of the toner storage container 13 for filling is inserted into the toner guide port bag 10. The toner 8 is filled in the empty toner cartridge 5. Thereby, the toner cartridge 5 can be filled with toner.

At that time, if the toner guide port bag 10 is sandwiched between the clip members 13a, the opening of the toner guide port bag 10 is closed, and the toner cartridge 5 is filled with the toner 8 from the toner storage container 13, the filling operation is performed. It is possible to prevent the toner 8 from spilling and scattering.
The shutter member 7 is then attached to the toner cartridge body 6 with the toner guide port bag 10 temporarily fixed by the clip member 13a. Thereby, the toner cartridge 5 can be manufactured.
In the case of an empty toner cartridge 5 in which the shutter member 7 is provided in the toner cartridge body 6, the toner guide port bag 10 can be used for refilling the empty toner cartridge 5.

  As described above, in the embodiment, the shutter member 7 includes the opening / closing plate portion 7a in which the toner cartridge 5 is provided with the cylindrical toner cartridge main body 6 and the inner peripheral surface 7a ′ curved along the outer peripheral surface 6a ′ of the barrel portion 6a. The toner cartridge body 6 can be rotated with respect to the shutter member 7. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, the discharge port 9 can be opened and closed by reciprocating the shutter member 7 in the extending direction of the body portion 6a.
In addition, the toner used in the present invention may be either a deformed toner or a spherical toner, and may contain silicon oil-containing silica as an external additive.
Silicon oil-containing silica is added with 2 parts of hydrophobic silica RY50 (Aerosil) to 100 parts of pulverized toner or polymerized toner, and stirred and mixed for 5 minutes at a peripheral speed of 40 m / sec using a 20 liter Henschel mixer. And then sifting with a comb having an opening of 75 μm.
In addition, in FIG. 1, the stirring blade member 12 is shown with the dashed-two dotted line for convenience of explanation.

5 ... toner cartridge 6 ... toner cartridge body 6a ... toner storage chamber 6b ... barrel 6b '... outer peripheral surface 7 ... shutter member 7a' ... inner peripheral surface 8 ... toner 9 ... discharge port 10 ... toner guide port bag

JP 2012-88609 A

Claims (15)

  A toner cartridge body having a toner storage chamber for storing toner therein and having a discharge port for discharging the toner in the body portion; and a shutter member movably provided in the toner cartridge body to open and close the discharge port; The shutter member has an inner peripheral surface facing the outer peripheral surface of the body portion, and the shutter member is disposed relative to the toner cartridge body in the direction of closing the discharge port. When moved, the shutter member is relatively folded in a direction to be folded between the outer peripheral surface and the inner peripheral surface to seal the discharge port and to open the discharge port so that the discharge port faces downward. A toner cartridge comprising a toner guide opening bag that hangs down and guides and discharges toner when moved to the position. The shutter member includes an opening / closing plate portion whose inner peripheral surface is curved along the outer peripheral surface of the body portion, and a pair of support plate portions rotatably supported on both end surface portions of the toner cartridge body. ,
2. The discharge port is sealed by the toner guide port bag when the shutter member is rotated relative to the toner cartridge main body in a direction to close the discharge port. Toner cartridge.   The toner cartridge according to claim 2, wherein the shutter member is fixed, and the discharge port is opened and closed by rotating the toner cartridge main body. When the length of the discharge port in the rotation direction of the shutter member is b, and when the shutter member is relatively rotated in the direction of closing the discharge port, the toner guide port bag hangs down on the side where the shutter member abuts. Where a is the length of the toner guide port bag when the toner bag hangs down on the side opposite to the side where the shutter abuts, and c is the length of the opening / closing plate in the rotational direction of the shutter member. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a relationship of L> a and a> b + c is satisfied.   5. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the toner guide opening bag is provided with a folding fold extending in a hanging direction. 6. In the shutter member, the toner guide port bag is disposed on an end wall of the shutter member that abuts against the toner guide port bag when the shutter member is rotated relative to the toner cartridge main body in a direction in which the discharge port is closed. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a space for preventing buckling is provided.   7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the discharge ports are provided in a longitudinal direction of the body portion, and the toner guide port bag is provided in each of the discharge ports. Toner cartridge.   The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein a stirring blade member that stirs the toner is provided inside the toner cartridge main body.   The toner cartridge according to claim 8, wherein a knob protrusion is provided on an end surface portion of the toner cartridge main body.   The toner cartridge according to claim 8, wherein the stirring blade member is connected to a power transmission member of the image forming apparatus.   11. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the toner guide opening bag is used when toner is filled into an empty toner storage chamber. 11. The toner guide port bag is formed when the toner cartridge body is rotated relative to the shutter member in a direction to close the discharge port when the toner in the toner storage chamber is empty . 2. The side that is folded in a direction that does not block the discharge port along the outer peripheral surface is folded in a direction that closes the discharge port when the toner storage chamber is filled with toner. The toner cartridge according to claim 11.   The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein silicone oil is externally added to the toner.   An image forming apparatus provided with a toner replenishing port having an engaging projection that engages with the shutter member according to claim 1.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the discharge port is opened and closed by engaging the shutter member with the engagement protrusion and rotating the toner cartridge main body.