JPH0371166A - Toner cartridge for electrophotographing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To uniformly replenish toner by continuously or gradually reducing the distance between both the sides of a toner replenishing container in the peeling direction of a seal film. CONSTITUTION:When the seal film 31 is drawn in the peeling direction (X direction) and peeled from the toner replenishing container 21, a feed port 23 is opened and toner 9 is dropped from the feed port 23 and fed to a developing device body 10. The toner replenishing container 21 is formed so that its volume is continuously reduced in the peeling direction of the seal film 31. Consequently, the toner dropping quantity per unit length LO in the peeling direction can be continuously reduced and the toner 9 can be uniformly replenished to the body 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a toner cartridge for an electrophotographic apparatus.

[Prior Art] When an electrophotographic apparatus is used for a long time, the amount of toner in the developing device decreases, so it is necessary to replenish an appropriate amount of toner.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the conventional developing device is comprised of a developing device main body 10 and a toner cartridge 20 detachably attached to the main body 10.

Here, the developing device main body 10 includes a toner cartridge 20
It includes a toner storage chamber 11 that stores the toner 9 replenished from the storage chamber 11, and a developing roller that uses magnetic action or the like to attach the toner 9 in the storage chamber 11 to the photoreceptor drum on which an electrostatic latent image has been formed. In FIG. 4, the photosensitive drum, developing roller, etc. are omitted. ).

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the toner cartridge 20 is formed into a rectangular shape for convenient stacking and conveyance, and includes a toner supply container 21 forming a toner filling space 22, and a toner supply container 21 forming a toner filling space 22, as shown in FIG. There is a replenishment port 23 formed at the bottom of the l~ Luna supply container 21 as an opening that communicates the Henna filling space 22 with the outside, and this replenishment port 23 is normally closed and a predetermined opening is provided at the time of replenishment. Peeling direction (e.g. X direction)
It is composed of a sealing film 31 that is adhesively bonded so that it can be peeled off and opened. Here, the seal film 31 is folded back in the peeling direction (X direction) so that it can be easily peeled off, and one end thereof is drawn out to the outside of the toner supply container 21.

Note that the toner filling space 22 closed by the seal film 31 is filled with toner 9 which has not reached a predetermined horizontal level.

Using this toner cartridge 20, the developing device main body 10
In order to replenish toner, as shown in FIG. Peel from. Then, the supply port 23 that was blocked by this film 31 is opened,
The toner 9 in the toner filling space 22 falls from the replenishment port 23 and is replenished into the phenomenon device (*10. For example,
The sealing film 31 has a unit length of 1. Otake peeling 1lIIl
Then, the toner 9 portion shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure loses its footing and falls, and is deposited in the toner storage chamber 11 of the developing device main body 10 as shown by the solid line in the figure. Similarly, as the sealing film 31 is peeled off, portions 1 to 9 indicated by dotted lines in the figure also fall one after another and accumulate in the 1 hener storage chamber 11.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, in the double toner car I to cartridge 20, the toner 9 replenished from the cartridge 20 into the developing device main body 10 is indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure. As shown in FIG. 2, the seal film 31 swells toward the rear in the peeling direction (X direction), and the height is not uniform, which tends to cause the so-called I-henner 9 to shift.

As described above, when the toner 9 is shifted in the developing device main body 10, the left part of the 1-chie 9, which is lower than the right part in the figure, is used earlier and the left part is Toner 9 is no longer supplied to the corresponding photoreceptor drum 2, which tends to cause uneven printing. As a result, the effective number of printed sheets is reduced and the period of use is shortened, resulting in the inconvenience that the toner cartridge 1 to cartridge must be replaced frequently and the printing ability is reduced.

Also, if the toner is unevenly distributed, the developing device main body 10
For example, 60% of the internal space is
The toner 9 can only be accommodated in the storage capacity of 1,000 yen, and the accommodating capacity cannot be used effectively. Therefore, there arises a problem that it is difficult to economically miniaturize the developing device main body 10 (therefore, the electrophotographic apparatus).

Furthermore, due to the unevenness of the toner, the above-mentioned 1 hener storage chamber 1
The right end of Figure 4 of 1 (that is, the rear part in the peeling direction of the seal film 31) becomes full of replenishment toner, and due to the vibrations applied when replacing the toner cartridge 20, etc.
The toner 9 may leak out from the right end and contaminate the inside of the electrophotographic apparatus. Therefore, there is a possibility that the printing paper supplied inside the device may be contaminated by leaked toner.
The disadvantage arises that it is difficult to achieve high density printing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge for an electrophotographic apparatus that can uniformly replenish one toner.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Based on experimental data of various devices, the present invention has found that even if the amount of toner falling per unit length in the peeling direction of the seal film is constant, the amount of toner falling into the developing device main body is Due to its fluidity, the toner flows horizontally and flows to the next part where the toner falls, and new toner falls and piles up on top of the flowing toner. This phenomenon is repeated sequentially, so the further back in the direction of peeling Analyzing that the toner would be uneven when the replenishment toner is full, the toner replenishment container is formed so that the volume is non-uniform in the direction of peeling of the sealing film so that the amount of toner falling per unit length gradually decreases. be.

That is, a toner cuff supply container forming a toner filling space, and a replenishment port communicating the toner filling space with the outside in this toner replenishment container are normally closed and peeled in a predetermined peeling direction during replenishment. In a toner cartridge for an electrophotographic device comprising a sealing film releasably adhered, the dimension between both opening surfaces of the toner supply container is formed to be continuously or stepwise smaller in the direction in which the sealing film is peeled off. Features.

[Function] In the present invention, when the sealing film is peeled off and the replenishment port of the toner replenishment container is opened, the toner sequentially falls from the toner filling space toward the main body of the developing device through the opened replenishment port. Deposits inside the body. At this time, since the dimension between both openings of the toner supply container decreases continuously or stepwise in the direction of peeling of the seal film, the toner filled in the container decreases continuously or stepwise in the same direction. The volume decreases, and as a result, the amount of toner falling per unit length in the peeling direction decreases continuously or stepwise. As a result, it is possible to absorb the fluidity of one hener and uniformly replenish the toner to the main body of the developing device.

[Example] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the toner car 1 to cartridge 20 according to this embodiment includes a toner supply container 21 forming a toner filling space 22, a seal film 31, and the like.

Components that are the same as those shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 are designated by the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted or simplified.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, in the toner cartridge 20, the l.chie 9 supplied from the cartridge 20 to the developing device main body 10 is transversely in the peeling direction (X direction) of the seal film 31 due to its fluidity. Amount of sideways sliding S
), the toner replenishing container 21 is moved in the peeling direction (X direction) in consideration of the fact that the next replenishment toner 9 is stacked on top of the toner 9 that has shifted sideways.
Due to the volume non-uniformity, the amount of toner falling per unit length LO in the peeling direction is gradually reduced in accordance with the lateral slip amount S.

Specifically, the toner cartridge 20 has a dimension between both sides 28 of the toner supply container 21 or a seal film 3.
It is formed so as to be continuously or stepwise smaller in the peeling direction (X direction).

In this embodiment, the first
Both openings 2828 of the toner supply container 21 shown in the figure
The dimensions between the two layers are formed to become smaller stepwise in the peeling direction. As a result, 1 to 1 filling spaces 22
By making the volumes non-uniform, the amount of toner falling per unit length LO in the peeling direction can be reduced in stages.

Further, in this embodiment, the toner filling space 22 of the toner supply container 21 that is closed by the seal film 31 is
is filled with toner 9 until it reaches a predetermined horizontal level. The adhesive force of this sealing film 31 is adjusted to support the filled toner 9 and to make it easy to peel off.

In addition, 12 in FIG. 2 is a developing roller.

Next, the effect will be explained.

When the seal film 31 is pulled out in the peeling direction (X direction) and peeled off from the toner replenishment container 21, the replenishment port 23 is opened, and the toner 9 falls from the replenishment port 23 and is replenished into the developing device main body 10. For example, when the sealing film 31 is peeled off by a unit length L O as shown in FIG.
The parts 1 to 19 indicated by the two-dot chain line in the figure fall through the supply port 23, and the developing device main body 10 as indicated by the solid line in the figure.
1 is deposited in the henna storage chamber 11. Similarly, as the seal film 31 is peeled off, the toner 9 portion indicated by the dotted line in the figure also falls and accumulates in the toner storage chamber (1).

Here, in the developing device main body 10, the toner 9 has fluidity and may slide sideways, or because there is a wall surface 13 of the developing device main body 10 on the opposite side to the peeling direction (X direction), the toner 9 can be peeled off without horizontal sliding. The toner 9 or ■0 flows sideways in the direction (sideways sliding amount S), and then flows into the area where toner 9 or ■0 is replenished, and on top of the flowed toner 9, new replenished toner 9 falls and is piled up. . By sequentially repeating such a phenomenon, the toner 9 is deposited in the toner storage chamber 11 of the developing device main body 10.

At this time, the volume of the toner supply container 21 (therefore, the toner 9 in the container 21) decreases in stages in the direction of peeling of the seal film 31, so the amount of toner falling per unit length LO in the peeling direction is as described above. Amount of side slip of toner 9 (S)
decreases accordingly.

As a result, the fluidity of the toner is absorbed and the developing device main body 1
Toner 9 can be evenly replenished to zero.

According to this embodiment, the dimension between both sides 28 and 28 of the toner supply container 21 is made smaller stepwise in the peeling direction (X direction) of the sealing film 31, so that the unit in the peeling direction is The amount of toner falling per length LO can be reduced step by step.
It is possible to replenish evenly.

1. As a result, the toner 9 supplied to the developing device main body 10 can be used effectively, and the number of printed sheets can be increased and the toner can be used for a long period of time. Further, the storage capacity of the developing device main body 10 can be effectively utilized, and the developing device can be economically downsized. Furthermore, since the supplied toner does not shift, the I/Q 9 does not leak from the rear part of the developing device main body 10 in the peeling direction of the seal film 31 and contaminate the inside of the electrophotographic device, resulting in high definition. Printing is guaranteed.

Further, since the dimension between both side surfaces 28 and 28 of the toner supply container 21 is formed to be gradually smaller in the direction in which the seal film 31 is peeled off, the convenience of stacking and conveying the toner carts 1 to ridge 20 may be hindered. There isn't.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the dimension between both side surfaces 28 and 28 of the toner supply container 21 is formed so as to become smaller stepwise in the direction in which the seal film 31 is peeled off, or, for example, as shown in FIG. , both sides 28, 2 of the container 21
The dimensions between 8 and 8 may be formed so as to become continuously smaller in the peeling direction.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, since the dimension between both sides of the toner replenishing container is made smaller continuously or stepwise in the direction in which the seal film is peeled off, it is possible to replenish toner uniformly. can. As a result, the electrophotographic apparatus can be used for a long period of time without increasing its size, and high-definition printing can be ensured.

2... Toner filling space, 3... Supply port, 8... FlilJ surface of toner supply container, 1... Seal film.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A toner replenishment container that forms a toner filling space, and a replenishment port that communicates the toner filling space with the outside in this toner replenishment container, which is normally closed and can be opened by peeling in a predetermined peeling direction during replenishment. A toner cartridge for an electrophotographic device comprising an adhered sealing film, characterized in that the dimension between both sides of the toner supply container is formed to decrease continuously or stepwise in the peeling direction of the sealing film. Toner cartridge for photographic equipment.