JPH03241372A - Developing device for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain reduction in cost and simultaneously to prevent the scattering of toner by forming a toner housing part with a flexible member and simultaneously, a toner replenishing part with a steel member, providing a screwed part, and screwing the screwed part on the toner replenished port of a development case after a toner container is folded at a toner housing part and opened. CONSTITUTION:In the toner container 40, a container main body 41 is formed by the flexible toner housing part 41a and the rigid toner replenishing part 41b. The bottle mouth-like screwed part 41c is integrally provided on the toner replenishing part 41b, toner 35 is housed, and a screw cap 42 is mounted on the screwed part 41b to tightly shield a toner replenishing port. When the toner 35 is replenished, the toner container 40 is folded in two, the toner 35 is confined in the toner housing part 41a, and the screw cap 42 is removed. After the screwed part 41c is screwed on the female screw 39a of the toner replenished port 39, the folded toner housing part 41a is unfolded to obtain an inverted posture. Thus, a structure is simplified, the cost is reduced, and the scattering of the toner is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention can be applied to electrophotographic apparatuses that use a laser to record on paper using an electrophotographic process, such as printers, copying machines, and facsimile machines.

More specifically, in such electrophotographic devices.

The present invention relates to a developing device that attaches toner to a photoreceptor and develops a latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor into a visible image.

Traditionally, in a developing device, when the toner runs out, the toner container is opened and the toner inside is replenished into the developing case.

Such a toner container includes, for example, the one shown in FIG. 11(A).
- As shown in the figures in (B) and (C), a bottle-shaped toner container 1, a bag-shaped toner container 2 made of an aluminum composite material, and a toner container 2 made of an aluminum composite material are placed in a paper box 3. There is a toner container 4 having a heavy structure. However, the above-mentioned toner container construction 2.4
In this case, when replenishing toner by placing the toner replenishing port against the toner replenishing port of the developing case, there was a problem in that the toner would scatter to the outside of the developing case.

Therefore, in the conventional developing device 5, as shown in FIG. By winding it up, it was opened and toner was replenished.

Problems that Akira is trying to solve However, since conventional developing devices are equipped with a winding section that winds up the sealing material around the toner container, the structure becomes complicated.
There was a problem of high costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to simplify the structure of a toner container and reduce its cost.
The purpose is to prevent toner from scattering outside the developing case.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention as set forth in claim 1 unseals the toner container and drains the toner in the toner storage section from the toner supply section through the toner supply port of the developing case. In the developing device of an electrophotographic device, which is supplied inside the developing device,
The toner storage section is made of a flexible member that can be bent, and the toner supply section is made of a rigid material and provided with a threaded section, and the toner supply section has a threaded section at the toner supply port of the developing case. It is characterized by forming a threaded part into which the part fits.

Further, the present invention according to claim 2 provides a developing device of an electrophotographic apparatus in which a toner container is opened and the toner in the toner storage section is supplied from the toner supply section through the toner supply port of the developing case. The toner storage section is made of a bendable flexible member, the toner replenishment section is suspended by a rigid member, and an elastic member is provided in which the toner replenishment section fits into the toner replenishment opening of the development case. It is characterized by being attached.

Furthermore, the present invention as set forth in claim 3 provides a developing device of an electrophotographic apparatus in which a toner container is opened and the toner in the toner storage section is supplied from the toner supply section to the inside of the container through the toner supply port of the development case. , the toner storage section is made of a bendable flexible member, the toner supply section is suspended by a rigid member, and the toner supply section and the toner supply port of the developing case into which the toner supply section fits are formed. It is characterized by having a key on one side and an L-shaped keyway on the other side.

Function: In the invention according to claim 1, the toner is folded in the toner storage part and the toner is kept in the toner storage part, and after opening,
Screw the threaded part into the toner supply port of the developing case. Return the toner storage compartment.

The internal toner is replenished into the developing case through the toner replenishment port.

Further, in the present invention as set forth in claim 2, the toner is folded at the toner storage portion to trap the toner in the toner storage portion, and after opening, the toner replenishment portion is fitted into the toner replenishment opening of the developing case via an elastic material. Return the toner storage section and replenish the toner inside into the developing case through the toner replenishment port.

Further, in the present invention as set forth in claim 3, the toner is folded in half at the toner storage portion to trap the toner in the toner storage portion, and after opening, the toner replenishment portion is fastened to the toner replenishment opening of the developing case. Return the toner storage section and replenish the toner inside into the developing case through the toner replenishment port.

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 9 schematically shows the entire internal mechanism of a laser printer equipped with the developing device of the present invention.

In the drawing, reference numeral 10 is the printer main body, and reference numerals 1 and 11 are paper feed cassettes provided in the printer main body 10. The paper 5o fed in the direction of arrow A from one of the paper feed cassettes 11 is conveyed to a drum-shaped photoreceptor 13 at the right time by a pair of registration rollers 12. The photoconductor 13 is driven to rotate one clockwise direction, and at this time, the surface is uniformly charged by the charger L4, and a laser beam from the laser optical system ↓5 is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 13. Form. This latent image is visualized by toner when passing through the developing device 6, and this visible image is transferred to the paper 50 conveyed to the photoreceptor 13 by the transfer device F, and the visible image on the transferred paper 50 is fixed. It is fixed by the container 18. Then, the paper 50 that has come out of the fixing device 18 is
For example, the paper is discharged to the paper discharge portions 19 in the direction of the arrow. On the other hand, the photoreceptor 13 after the visible image is transferred to the cleaning device 2o
Remove residual toner.

The above-mentioned developing device 16 is constructed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Reference numeral 21 in the figure is a developing case. Inside the developing case 21, a developing chamber 23 having an opening 22 on the side of the photoreceptor 13 and a toner supply chamber 25 having an opening 24 above are formed. Inside the developing chamber 23, there is a photoreceptor 13.
A developing roller 26 that applies toner to the upper latent image is housed.

Both ends of the roller shaft 27 of the developing roller 26 are supported via bearings 28 . Further, a roller-shaped thinning member 29 is housed in the developing chamber 23 and presses against the developing roller 26 to thin the toner layer on the surface of the developing roller 26 to a thickness of 10 to 20 μm.

Both ends of the roller shaft 30 of the thinning member 29 are supported through three bearings. Furthermore, inside the developing chamber 23,
A scraper 32 for cleaning the layer thinning member 29 by pressing its tip against the surface of the layer thinning member 29 to scrape off toner adhering to the layer thinning member 29 is housed. The base end of the scraper 32 is fixed to the developing case 21 with a screw 33. Toner supply chambers 2 are provided at both ends of the developing roller 26 and the thinning member 29 in the axial direction, and at both ends of the scraper 32 in the width direction.
5 side and press the sealing member 34 against it. The sealing member 34 is attached to the developing case 21 using double-sided tape or the like. In the toner supply chamber 25, a toner 35 is provided.
An agitator 36 for stirring the toner 35 and a toner replenishing roller 37 for feeding the toner 3S to the developing roller 26 are also housed. Further, an upper lid 38 is attached to the periphery of the opening 24 in the toner supply chamber 25 to close the opening 24. The upper lid 38 is provided with a female thread 39a at the center of the flap to form a toner replenishment port 39. Then, the toner container 40 is replaceably attached to the toner replenishing port 39, and by replacing the toner container 40, the toner 35 is replenished into the developing case.

Thus, the agitator 36 agitates the toner 35 in the toner supply chamber 25. The stirred toner 35 is frictionally charged between a toner replenishing roller 37 and a developing roller 26, which rotate counterclockwise with respect to each other, and adheres to the developing roller 26.

The toner 35 attached to the developing roller 26 is removed by a thinning member 29.
As the layer becomes thinner, it becomes more strongly triboelectrified. Then, toner 35 is applied to the photoreceptor 13 by the developing roller 26, and the latent image on the surface of the photoreceptor 13 is developed into a visible image.

Now, as shown in FIG. 3, the toner container 40 has a container main body 4, a flexible toner storage section 4a made of, for example, an aluminum composite material, and a rigid toner supply section 41b made of, for example, resin. Formed by heat welding. The toner replenishing portion 41b is integrally provided with a bottle opening-shaped threaded portion 41c. A male thread is provided on the outer periphery of the threaded portion 41a. Then, the toner 35 is stored in the toner storage section 41a,
A screw cap 42 is attached to the screw portion 41b to seal the toner supply port.

When replenishing the toner 35, as shown in FIG. 4, the toner container 40 is bent in two from the boundary A between the toner storage section 41a and the toner supply section 41b, and the toner 35 is placed inside the toner storage section 41a. It can be closed. Thereafter, the screw cap 42 is removed, and the screw portion 41c is screwed into the female thread 39a of the toner supply port 39 as shown in FIG.

After attaching the screws, as shown in FIG.
is supplied into the developing case 21 through the threaded portion 41c.

After toner replenishment, the toner container 40 is folded in half again and left attached. As a result, the installation space for the toner container can be reduced, and the toner container can also be used as a cap for the toner replenishment port of the developing case.

In the above-described embodiment, the screw portion 41c is provided with a thread, and the toner replenishment port 39 is provided with a female thread 39a for screwing. However, in the present invention as set forth in claim 1, a female thread may be provided on the toner replenishing portion 41b side, and a screw may be provided on the toner replenishing port 39 for screwing. This invention provides an opening 39b in the developing case 21 as shown in FIG.
A cylindrical elastic member 43 is attached inside the toner supply port 3.
9. On the other hand, the toner container 40 has a container main body 41 formed by a flexible toner storage section 41a and a rigid toner replenishment section 41b, as well as the toner container 40 according to the first aspect of the invention described above. A bottle mouth portion 41e is provided in the portion 41b. The bottle mouth portion 41e has a bottle mouth shape with a flange around the mouth portion. Then, as shown in the figure, the bottle opening 41e of the toner container 40 is fitted into the opening 39b of the toner supply port 39 via the elastic member 43. Thereby, the toner container 40 can be easily and tightly attached to the developing case 21.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, in the present invention, an opening 39c is provided in the developing case 21, and an L-shaped keyway 39d is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the opening 39c to open the toner replenishment port 39. Configure. Bottle opening 41 of toner supply section 41b
f is provided with a key 41d on the outer periphery that fits into the key groove 39d. and.

Connect the bottle opening 41c to the toner supply port 3 in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure.
9, the bottle opening 41c is rotated clockwise as shown by the arrow to fix the tightening. The container main body of the toner container, which is not shown, is the container main body 4 of the toner container 40 according to the above-mentioned inventions of claims 1 and 2.
It has the same configuration as 1. In addition, in the embodiment, the bottle opening 41
The key 41d is attached to f, and the L-shaped key groove 3 is attached to the toner supply port 39.
9d was installed. However, in the present invention, an L-shaped keyway may be provided in the bottle opening 41f and a key may be provided in the toner replenishing port 39 for tightening.

From the above, claims 1, 2, and 3
According to the developing device according to the present invention described in .

The structure of the toner container and the attachment of the toner container can be simplified and the cost can be reduced. Also,
When replenishing toner with a toner container, it prevents toner from scattering outside the developing case, and prevents dirt and grime inside the device body.
Deterioration in image quality can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the developing device of the invention according to claim 1, and FIG.
The figure shows the ■-■ line arrow diagram, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the toner container, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the folded toner container, and Figure 5 is the developing unit with the toner container attached. A perspective view of
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of essential parts of the developing device according to the second aspect of the invention. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of the developing device according to the third aspect of the invention, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the state in which the developing device is installed. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of the entire internal mechanism of a laser printer equipped with these developing units. Figures 10 and 11 (A)
- (B) and (C) are perspective views of toner containers provided in a conventional developing device. 16...Developer, 2 parts...
・Developer case, 35... Toner, 39.
......Toner supply port, 39a...
...Female thread, 39b/39c...Opening, 39d...Keyway, 40...
... Toner container, 41 ... Container body,
41a......Toner storage section, 41b...
......Toner supply section, 41c...
Thread part, 41d...Key, 43...
...Elastic material.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a developing device of an electrophotographic apparatus in which a toner container is opened and the toner in the toner storage section is supplied from a toner supply section through a toner supply port of a developing case, the toner storage section The toner replenishing portion is made of a bendable flexible member, and the toner replenishing portion is made of a rigid member and provided with a threaded portion, and the other is a toner replenishing port of the developing case. A developing device for an electrophotographic apparatus, comprising a threaded portion into which a threaded portion of the toner supply portion is fitted. 2. In a developing unit of an electrophotographic apparatus in which a toner container is opened and the toner in the toner storage section is supplied from a toner supply section through a toner replenishment port of a developing case, the toner storage section can be bent. A developing device for an electrophotographic apparatus, wherein the toner replenishing part is made of a flexible member, the toner replenishing part is made of a rigid member, and an elastic member into which the toner replenishing part fits is attached to the toner replenishing port of the developing case. . 3. In a developing device of an electrophotographic apparatus in which a toner container is opened and the toner in the toner storage section is supplied from a toner supply section through a toner supply port of a developing case, the toner storage section can be bent. The toner replenishing part is made of a flexible member, and the toner replenishing part is made of a rigid member, and a key is provided on one side of the toner replenishing part and the toner replenishing port of the developing case into which the toner replenishing part fits, and an L is provided on the other side.
A developing device for an electrophotographic device that is equipped with a shaped keyway.