JPH03279983A - Developer container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the complete beating and separating of the solidified developer in a container body by easily and rapidly executing oscillation operations by the effect of the barrier plates provided in the container body. CONSTITUTION:The container body 11 has the sectional shape much larger than the sectional shape of a developer replenishing port 12A and a slope 11A recessed to a base side is formed on the side face near the lower part of the container body 11. A partition plate 111 of the barrier plate is integrally molded to the inner side wall 11B on the right side of the side wall surfaces and the inner side wall 11C on the right side of the slope 11A and is projected toward the inside of the container body 11. Further, the barrier plate 112 is integrally molded in the position nearly opposite to the barrier plate 111 and projects to the side wall 11D facing the inner side wall 11B and the inclined side wall 11E facing the inclined inner side wall 11C. Namely, at least >=1 pieces of the barrier plates are integrally molded and provided in a part of the inner side walls of the container body. The developer in the developer container is easily and surely beaten in this way as a prepn. before developer replenishment.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an improvement in a cartridge-shaped developer container filled with powdered developer. The present invention relates to an improvement in a replaceable developer container that is removably attached to a developing device of an electronic image forming apparatus for replenishing developer.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as a means of replenishing a powder receiving device with powder that is easily scattered, a powder container has been used in which the powder is stored in a container and the powder outlet opening of the container is sealed with a film-like sealing material. ing. When replenishing powder, the powder container is inverted and attached to the mounting part of the powder receiving device with the opening facing down, and the powder is flowed out from the opening by peeling off the sealing material and placed in the receiving device. Replenish into the hopper.

Powder containers as described above are widely used because the opening structure can be made simpler and sealing is more complete than containers whose openings are sealed with lids.

In an electrostatic image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image on a rotating charge carrier is developed by a developing device, and powder toner in a developer is attached to the electrostatic latent image area to form a toner image. This is then transferred and fixed onto recording paper. Since the above-mentioned powder toner is consumed together with development, it is necessary to replenish the toner to the developing device according to consumption.
Or is provided.

The developer supply section contains a large amount of toner, and before it is completely consumed, the toner container (developer container)
The developer hopper is replenished with toner.

The above description is about toner replenishment for an electrostatic recording device that uses a dry two-component developer, but similar developer replenishment is also required for an electrostatic image forming device that uses a -component developer.

In any of the above-mentioned developers, the developer is generally replenished by charging the developer into the developer hopper from a developer container containing the developer.

The above-mentioned powder developer is easily scattered, and when replenishing the developer, it may scatter or float outside from the developer container opening or hopper opening, or may leak or scatter outside, contaminating equipment, outside air, clothing, etc. Therefore, many proposals have been made to prevent this.

Among these proposals is a developer container disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 59-114572. This developer container is
A container body, a fixed camp for sealing the upper part of the container body, a cap member connected to the lower part of the container body, and a film-like seal member that allows the opening of the lower part of the container body to be peeled off. It consists of an engaging slide lid.

By setting the developer container in the developer receiving device of an electrostatic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and moving the slide lid to the right, the seal member is pulled and the replenishment port is opened and the container body is opened. The developer inside falls from the replenishment port and is replenished into the ho/bar.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

The powder developer (toner, etc.) in the developer container may solidify due to humidity, etc., so immediately before installing the stored developer container in the developer receiving device, perform the following steps as a preliminary preparation. The developer in the container is loosened, the solidification is crushed, the cavities are eliminated, and the inner wall surface is separated.

(2) Hold the developer container and tap it on the desk surface from a height of 5 to 10 cm above the desk surface to apply an impact to loosen the developer in the container.

■Turn the developer container upside down and repeat step ■.

■Grasp the developer container firmly and shake it from side to side and back and forth to hit the developer inside the container against the inner wall of the container and loosen it.

After that, the developer container is attached to the developer receiving device and opened, and after the developer is replenished and dropped, the outer wall of the developer container is opened.
The container is struck many times to knock off residual developer such as developer lumps adhering to the inner wall of the container main body, and is then accommodated in the receiving device.

In particular, in a large developer container that accommodates a large amount of developer, developer coagulation is likely to occur, so the above operation must be carried out vigorously. However, these operations require a considerable amount of effort and time since they involve handling a large and heavy developer container, and require careful operation to avoid falling due to the container being separated from the grip or being damaged by impact on the container. Moreover, there is a problem that developer dissociation is also uncertain. Similar problems also exist with general powder containers.

[Means to solve the problem]

This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem with the developer container, and the developer container is attached to a developer receiving device and the developer in the developer container is cleaved in preparation for replenishing the developer. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved developer container that can easily and reliably perform the following steps.

A developer container of the present invention that achieves the above object includes a container main body that accommodates developer and has an opening at the bottom, and a replenisher that is integral with the container main body and is provided above a developer receiving device of a developing device. A developer container comprising a cap member having a removable attachment portion on a spout, and a movable lid member slidably connected to the cap member to enable the opening to be opened and closed, It is characterized in that at least one barrier plate is integrally formed on a part of the internal side wall.

Further, the developer container according to the present invention is characterized in that the barrier plate is disposed upright with respect to the opening surface of the container body.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one embodiment of a developer container according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the developer container according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view thereof, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the container body and the cap member of the developer container, The figure is a plan view of the container body.

The developer container IO mainly includes a large container body 11 that accommodates a powdered developer, a cap member 12 that is connected to the bottom of the container body 11 and has an opening, and a cap member 12 that is connected to the bottom of the container body 11 and has an opening. A cap member 13 that closes the top opening, and a flexible seal member 1 that seals the bottom opening of the container body 11.
4, and a slide lid member 15 which is located below the seal member 14 and slidably engages with the container body 11.

The container main body 11 has a top opening and a bottom opening open,
It has a large box shape with a truncated pyramid shape near the bottom, and a base member 12 is integrally formed at the bottom. The bottom opening of the container body 11 and the opening of the cap member 12 form a connected inner wall, and form a developer supply opening]
, 2A. The outer surface of the peripheral edge of the developer supply opening 12A is a sealing surface 12B, and the sealing member 14 is releasably heat-sealed to this surface.

One end of the seal member 14 is fixed to the lower surface of the seven-lung portion 12c of the cap member 12, and the other end is fixed to the L surface of the flange portion 12c, and the slide lid 15 is wound around the seal member 14. The slide lid 15 is disposed at a position where it protects the seal member 14 that seals the developer replenishment opening +2A and closes it late before replenishing the developer.

The cap member 12 includes the developer supply opening 12A,
In addition to the flange portion 12c and the sealing surface 12B, there are rail portions 12E on both sides that allow the slide lid 15 to slide, and a lock portion 12D that locks the cap member 12 and the developer receiving device.
or is formed. That is, when the developer is filled into the container main body 11 before replenishment, the sealing member 14 is releasably heat-sealed to the sealing surface 12B, and the opening +2A is sealed.

The slide lid 15 has an H-shaped cross section. The central flat plate portion is wound around the sole member 14 to form the opening 1 of the base member 12.
2A can be opened and closed. Concave grooves at the upper portions of both left and right ends thereof fit into the rail portions 12E, 12E of the base member 12,
The slide lid 15 is made slidable.

The container body 11 and the cap member 12 may be processed separately or joined together, but it is also possible to form them integrally from the beginning.

That is, as the material for molding the container body 11 and the cap member 12, polyethylene resin, polybrokpyrene resin, high impurity styrene resin, etc. are used,
Manufactured by high-pressure heat forming such as injection molding.

The flexible sealing member 14 is made of polyethylene,
Polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyvinyl fence, polyvinylidene chloride, polycarbonate,
Plastic film materials such as nylon, metal materials such as aluminum foil, etc. are used, and these materials are single layered or laminated, and materials and film thickness that are flexible and have tensile strength and bending strength are required. . As an example of the sealing member 14, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 2
A 75 μm thick film made by laminating 50 μm of polyethylene onto 5μ111 was used.

The container body 11 has a much larger cross-sectional shape than the developer supply opening 12A (see FIG. 2).

For this reason, an inclined surface 11A that narrows toward the bottom side is formed on the side surface near the bottom of the container body 11.

Second, the substantially straight side wall surface of the container body 11 has a substantially rectangular cross section (see FIG. 2). A barrier plate (partition plate) ill is integrally molded on the right inner wall 11B of the side wall surface and the right inclined inner wall 11c of the inclined surface +1A, and protrudes inward of the container body 11. There is. Also, a side wall surface llD opposite to the inner wall 11B, and an inclined inner wall 11F opposite to the inclined inner wall 11C.
, a barrier plate (partition plate) 112 is integrally molded and protrudes at a position substantially opposite to the barrier plate ill. These barrier members 111. li2 has a lamellar knife shape.

Further, both of the barrier plates Ill and 112 are arranged upright with respect to the surface of the opening 12A of the container body 11.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the developer container according to the present invention. In this embodiment, on the inner wall of the container body II, 4
The barrier plates Ill, 112, 113, and 114 are integrally provided. In addition, these barrier plates ill.

The arrangement positions and sizes of the containers 112, 113, and 114 can be set to optimal conditions depending on the shape and dimensions of the container body 11, the developer storage capacity, and the like. It is also possible to make these barrier plates 111, 112, 113, and 114 also serve as reinforcing ribs for the container body 11.

Further, the developer container according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the positions and numbers of the four barrier plates Ill, 112, 113, and 114 shown in the plan view of FIG. 5 can be selected as appropriate. can be placed. For example, one barrier plate 114 as shown in the plan view of FIG. 6 may be integrally provided on a part of the inner wall of the container body 11.

Furthermore, two barrier plates 113 and 114 may be provided at positions as shown in the plan view of FIG.

FIG. 8(A) is a plan view showing still another embodiment of the developer container body 11 according to the present invention, and FIG. 8(CB) is a perspective view thereof. In these figures, two barrier plates 11
5.116 is arranged at a non-opposing position spaced apart from the longitudinal direction of the inner wall of the container body 11.

The position and size (length,
The height (height) is appropriately selected depending on the shape, volumetric weight, capacity and properties of the developer contained, etc. of the container body 11, and is integrally molded on the inner wall of the container body 11.

Next, a preparatory operation of the developer container, which is performed before the developer container according to the present invention is attached to a developer receiving device and supplied with developer, will be described. Container body 1 of developer container 10
Grip the side wall of 1 firmly with one or both hands and shake it left and right and back and forth many times. By this vibration operation, the developer contained in the container body 11 is moved around the container inner walls 11B, IIC, 110,
The container body 11 is struck by the IIE and other surfaces.
Barrier plates 111, 112 (113,
114) to be beaten and fluidized by striking particularly strongly and effectively.

After completing the vibration operation, the cap member 12 is mounted and locked in the mounting device of the developer receiving device with the opening 12A facing down. As a result, the developer in the container body 11 falls due to its own weight and is deposited toward the opening +2A.

Next, when the operating lever of the developer receiving device is pulled and moved, the movable lid of the receiving device is opened and the hopper inside thereof is opened. The slide lid 15 of the developer container IO is moved in conjunction with this movable lid, and the visible seal member 14 is peeled off from the sealing portion 12B, so that the opening 12A is fully opened.

During this opening process, the developer contained in the container body II falls, and the entire amount is replenished into the hopper. At this time, since the developer in the container body 11 has been sufficiently decomposed and fluidized by impact with the barrier plates 111 to 114 by the vibration operation, the developer in the container body 11 remains solidified. The entire amount falls into the hopper and is replenished.

The electrostatic image developer container described above can be used as a container for a single-component developer using magnetic toner, a developer container for a two-component developer, or a toner supply container for a two-component developer using toner and carrier. However, the present invention is not limited to any of these.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, when the developer container is attached to the developer receiving device of the developer replenishing section of the copying machine and the developer is replenished, the developer container is vibrated in advance. The developer inside the container body is thoroughly decomposed and beaten. The vibration operation is carried out easily and quickly by the action of a barrier plate installed inside the container body, and the solidified developer inside the container body is completely unbeaten and removed.
separated. That is, the developer is dispersed through easy, quick, and safe operations, and the entire amount of developer in the container body is dropped without any other troublesome operations, leaving no residual amount.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container body and a cap member of a developer container according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container body, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the developer container according to the present invention, and FIG. A perspective view of the container, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 are plan views showing other embodiments of the developer container main body according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a plan view showing still another example of the developer container main body according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view and a perspective view showing an embodiment of the invention. IO...Developer container 11...Container body JIA
... Inclined surface 11B, IID ... Inner wall 11
c, IIE... Inclined inner wall 12... Cap member 12A
...Developer supply opening 12B...Sealing surface 13...Cap member 14...Flexible seal member 15...Sliding lid member

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A container body that accommodates developer and has an opening at the bottom, and a cap member that is integral with the container body and has an attachment part that is detachable from the supply port provided above the developer receiving device of the developing device. and a movable lid member that is slidably connected to the cap member and allows the opening to be opened and closed, the developer container having at least one or more parts on a part of the inner side wall of the container body. A developer container characterized in that a barrier plate is integrally formed. (2) The developer container according to claim 1, wherein the barrier plate is arranged upright with respect to the opening surface of the container main body.