JPH03118572A - Toner storage container and developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To use a copying machine immediately after toner replacement by dividing the toner storage part of a container and storing an amount of toner for toner concentration necessary for image formation in one storage part at the time of the toner replacement. CONSTITUTION:A toner cartridge 1 where the toner for image formation is stored is divided by a partition plate 2 longitudinally into two to form two large and small storage parts 3 and 4. The amount of toner stored in the storage part 4 is so calculated previously as to obtain the toner concentration required for image formation when the toner is mixed with carriers to prepare a two- component developer. The toner T is supplemented directly to a developing chamber 5 by the calculated constant amount from the storage part 4 not through a supplementation roller 6b, so the toner T reaches the specific concentration when mixed with the carriers and supplied to a photosensitive drum 9 by a developing roller 8 nearly without a delay time.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a toner storage container and a developing device, and more specifically to a toner storage container that stores toner for image formation and a copying machine that replenishes the toner. The present invention relates to a developing device that uses component developers.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in general, a toner storage container 11 that stores toner T as shown in FIG. It is configured to supply 40 units.

This toner storage container 11 (hereinafter referred to as a toner cartridge) is attached to the developing device 40 via the hopper 16, and therefore the toner T is also stored in the opening 16a of the hopper 16.
Due to the rotating operation of the replenishment roller 16b provided nearby,
The developing chamber 15 of the developing device 40 is replenished little by little.

The developing chamber unit 5 includes a stirring roller 1 constituting a stirring section I7.
7a and 17b, and the stirring section 17 stirs the carrier (not shown) in the developing device and the toner T replenished little by little from the replenishment roller 16a to adjust the two-component developer with an appropriate concentration, 18 supplies toner T to the photosensitive drum 19.

There is a toner-con sensor 20 above the agitating section 17, and this toner-con sensor 20 constantly detects the toner concentration of the agitated developer and controls the replenishment roller 16b and the agitating section 17, so that the toner T runs out. and lights up an empty lamp (not shown).

Further, FIG. 5 is a time chart diagram showing the operation of the conventional example, in which the horizontal axis represents time t, and the vertical axis represents the toner sensor 20. The respective operations of the replenishment roller 16b and the stirring section 17 are shown.

When the toner T of the two-component developer is consumed and the toner density becomes thin due to use of the copying machine, the voltage of the toner concentration sensor 20 increases and turns on the replenishment roller 16b.

When the replenishment roller 16b is turned on, the toner T is supplied from the hopper 16 to the stirring chamber 5, the voltage of the toner consensor 20 becomes low, and the replenishment roller 16b is turned off.

This mutually repetitive operation between the toner sensor 20 and the replenishment roller 16b continues as long as there is toner T to be supplied, and during that time, the stirring roller of the stirring section 17 remains on, and the toner T is transferred to the photoreceptor drum. Continue to supply 19.

If the toner T to be replenished runs out, the replenishment roller 16
Even if the agitation unit 17 and the agitation unit 17 operate, the toner concentration continues to become low, and the voltage of the toner concentration sensor 20 increases, causing a toner empty lamp (not shown) to light up.

When the empty lamp lights up, the user replaces the toner cartridge 11 with a new one, and when the seal is peeled off, new toner T is replenished into the hopper 16.

The toner T supplied to the hopper 16 is gradually supplied to the developing chamber 15 by a supply roller 16b near the hopper opening portion 16a.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, since the amount of toner replenished by the replenishment roller 16b is always replenished little by little even when the toner cartridge 11 is replaced, it takes time to recover the reduced toner concentration. Therefore, the toner sensor 20 cannot rapidly lower the high voltage.

Therefore, in the conventional example, the waiting time from when the toner cartridge 11 is replaced to when the copying machine can be used becomes long, which results in a lack of work efficiency and causes problems in terms of user service, such as causing frustration and confusion when the user is busy. there were.

The present invention aims to solve such problems.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following toner storage container and developing device. That is, the present invention provides (1) a toner storage container formed by dividing a storage section for storing toner for image formation, at least one of which stores an amount of toner to achieve the toner concentration required for image formation when toner is replaced; A toner storage container characterized in that it is a storage section for storing.

and (2) a developing chamber that accommodates a developer consisting of toner and carrier, and that accommodates toner supplied from a toner storage container;
A developing device that is equipped with a toner hopper that replenishes toner to the developing chamber, and a toner concentration detecting means that detects the concentration of developer in the developing chamber, and that replaces the toner storage container in response to a toner empty signal from the toner concentration detecting means. The developing device is characterized in that when the toner storage container is replaced, an amount of toner that provides a toner concentration necessary for image formation is directly replenished into the developing chamber.

[Function] In the above configuration, when replacing toner, the amount of toner necessary for image formation is directly replenished into the developing chamber from one storage section of the toner storage container and stirred, so that the toner can quickly reach a predetermined density for copying. reach.

The toner from the other storage section is gradually replenished into the developing chamber via a replenishment roller.

[Example] Regarding an example of the present invention, how the configuration of the present invention is actually embodied will be described below with reference to the drawings, together with its operation.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, and in the figure 1
1 is a toner storage container (hereinafter referred to as a toner cartridge) that can store toner for image formation, and this toner cartridge 1 is vertically divided into two parts by a partition plate 2.
Two large and small storage sections 3 and 4 are formed.

These two storage sections 3 and 4 are sealed with a seal S, which seals the toner cartridge 1 into the developing device 3.
It is peeled off when attaching to 0.

During installation, the larger storage section 3 of the toner cartridge 1 is inserted into the hopper 6 and the smaller storage section 4 is inserted into the hopper 6.
is directly attached to the developing chamber 5 so that its openings 3a and 4a are aligned with each other.

The hopper 6 has a supply roller 6 near the lower opening 6a.
b is provided to gradually replenish the toner T supplied from the larger storage portion 3 of the toner cartridge 1 into the developing chamber 5.

Further, the smaller storage portion 4 of the toner cartridge 1
The toner T from the developer chamber 5 is supplied directly to the developing chamber 5 without passing through the hopper 6.

In the developing chamber 5, there is a stirring section 7 consisting of stirring rollers 7a and 7b, and after the toner T and a carrier (not shown) are stirred and adjusted to an appropriate density, the developing roller 8 supplies the toner to the photoreceptor drum 9. be done.

Reference numeral 10 in the figure is a toner concentration sensor that detects the concentration of toner T. When the toner concentration drops below a certain value due to toner consumption, a toner empty lamp (not shown) is turned on to remind the user to replenish toner.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the same embodiment. When the toner concentration sensor 10 detects that the toner concentration has fallen below a certain value, an empty lamp (not shown) is turned on.

When the empty lamp lights up, the toner cartridge 1 is replaced with a new toner cartridge 1, and when the sealed seal S is removed, the toner T in the larger storage section 3 is replenished into the hopper 6.

At the same time, the toner T in the smaller storage section 4 is directly replenished into the developing chamber 5.

The amount of toner stored in the storage section 4 is such that when mixed with the carrier in the two-component developer, the toner concentration is required for image formation, and is set in advance by calculation.

This calculated fixed amount of toner T is directly replenished into the developing chamber 5 from the especially provided storage section 4 without passing through the replenishment roller 6b. The toner T can be supplied to the photosensitive drum 9 by the developing roller 8 with almost no time required.

Therefore, when the user replaces the toner cartridge 1, the user can immediately use the copying machine, eliminating the inconvenience caused by the conventional waiting time such as poor workability and irritation, thereby improving user service. improves.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of the same embodiment, in which the horizontal axis represents time t, and the vertical axis represents the Tonacon sensor 10,
The respective operations of the supply roller 6b and the stirring roller of the stirring section 7 are shown.

First, when the toner of the two-component developer is consumed and the toner density becomes low, the voltage of the toner concentration sensor 10 increases and turns on the replenishment roller 6b.

By turning on the replenishing roller 6b, the developing chamber 5 is completely removed from the hopper 6.
When the toner is supplied, the voltage of the toner sensor 10 becomes low and the replenishment roller 6b is turned off.

This mutually repetitive operation between the toner container sensor 10 and the replenishment roller 6b continues as long as there is toner T to be replenished, and during that time, the stirring roller of the stirring section 7 remains on.
The toner T is continuously supplied to the photosensitive drum 9.

When the toner T to be replenished runs out, the replenishment roller 6b
Even if the toner and stirring rollers 7a and 7b operate, the concentration only becomes thinner, so the voltage of the toner sensor 10 becomes abnormally high, and an empty lamp (not shown) lights up to notify that the toner T is running out. With,
The stirring operation of the stirring rollers 7a and 7b is stopped.

Therefore, when the toner cartridge 1 is replaced with a new one, the toner T is supplied to the developing chamber 5 from the two storage sections 3 and 4 via the hopper 6 and through the developing chamber 5.

The toner supplied to the developing chamber 5 is directly replenished with a required amount of toner calculated in advance and stirred, so that the voltage of the toner sensor 10 rapidly decreases and the toner is immediately ready for copying. Become.

That is, since the copying machine can be used immediately after replacing the toner cartridge 1, the user does not have to wait, and the user service is improved.

Note that the replenishment roller 6b does not need to operate immediately when the stirring roller of the stirring section 7 operates, and the toner T is consumed.
It is sufficient to operate after the voltage of the Tonacon sensor 10 rises.

As described above with respect to the embodiments, the present invention is a toner storage container formed by dividing a storage section for storing toner for image formation, and one of the divisions has a toner concentration necessary for image formation when toner is replaced. It is characterized by being a storage section that stores a certain amount of toner.

Further, the developing device is provided with a path for replenishing toner from the toner storage container to the developing chamber 7 via a replenishment roller, as well as a path for directly replenishing toner from the toner storage container to the developing chamber 7.

Since the present invention is configured in this way, it is possible to directly replenish the amount of toner to the developing chamber to achieve the toner density required for image formation when toner is replaced, and it is possible to eliminate unnecessary waiting time until copying is possible when toner is replaced. It is.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the toner storage portion of the container is divided, and at least one of the storage portions is a storage portion that stores an amount of toner that will provide the toner concentration necessary for image formation when toner is replaced. With this configuration, the copying machine can be used immediately when replacing toner, eliminating unnecessary waiting time and improving work efficiency.

In addition, by dividing the toner replenishment path of the developing device, a certain amount of toner can be directly replenished into the agitation unit, which shortens the time it takes to reach the desired toner density for copying, and it is easier for the user when replacing toner. This has the effect of improving user service, since it is possible to immediately make copies without causing unnecessary waiting time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the same embodiment, Fig. 3 is a time chart diagram explaining the operation of the embodiment, and Fig. 4 is a diagram of the conventional example. Cross-sectional explanatory diagram, 5th
The figure is a time chart diagram explaining the operation of the conventional example. 1... Toner storage container, 4... Storage section, 5... Development chamber, 6b... Replenishment roller, 7... Stirring section , 9... Photosensitive drum, 30... Development chamber T... Toner applicant

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A toner storage container formed by dividing a storage section that stores toner for image formation, at least one of which is a storage section that stores an amount of toner that will provide the toner concentration necessary for image formation when toner is replaced. A toner storage container characterized by: (2) a development chamber that accommodates a developer consisting of toner and carrier; and a development chamber that accommodates toner supplied from a toner storage container;
A developing device that is equipped with a toner hopper that replenishes toner to the developing chamber, and a toner concentration detecting means that detects the concentration of developer in the developing chamber, and that replaces the toner storage container in response to a toner empty signal from the toner concentration detecting means. A developing device characterized in that when the toner storage container is replaced, an amount of toner that provides a toner concentration necessary for image formation is directly replenished into the developing chamber.