JPH0387865A - Powder storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent powder from flowing out or scattering when the container is closed by equipping a main body and an internal cylinder with an opening means which matches and opens the opening parts of an external cylinder and the internal cylinder against a closing means. CONSTITUTION:The magnetic force produced by an electromagnet 1b on the side of the main body 1 which is excited with a switch ON is stronger than the magnetic force of the magnet 2b of the external cylinder 2, so the magnet 3b of the internal cylinder 3 is separated from the magnet 2b of the external cylinder 2 in the attraction state. When the magnet 3b moves, the opening part 3a of the internal cylinder 3 moves down to match the opening part 2a of the external cylinder 2 and the opening part 1a of the main body 1, so that the toner T charged hermetically in the powder storage container flows in a copying machine below it through the opening parts 3a, 2a, and 1a. Then when the grip 2d of the external cylinder 2 is drawn out, contacts E1 and E2 of an electric circuit are broken and the electromagnet 1b loses its magnetic force. Consequently, the opening part 3a is put back in the original closed state immediately and when the powder storage container is taken out of the main body 1, remaining toner T is prevented from scattering to the outside.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a powder storage container, and more specifically to a powder storage container for supplying toner, which is powder for image formation, to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine. It relates to body storage containers.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, a powder storage container (hereinafter referred to as a toner cartridge) that supplies powder T for image formation to a copying machine (hereinafter referred to as a toner cartridge) has the risk of contaminating the surrounding area due to scattering of the toner T during attachment/detachment operations. Therefore, various efforts have been made.

For example, according to the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-146271, as shown in FIG. is filled with toner T.

There are two grooves 11c inside the main body 11, and the outer cylinder 1 has two grooves 11c.
2 is provided with a protrusion 12c that is slidably inserted into the groove 11c.

With the protrusion 12c inserted into this groove 11c, the outer cylinder 1
The second opening 12a faces downward and coincides with the opening 11a of the main body 11.

Further, the opening 13a of the inner cylinder 13 is the same as the opening 1 of the outer cylinder 2.
It is placed in a position that does not coincide with 2a.

In this mismatched state, that is, in the open state, the toner T cannot be dropped and supplied.

Next, when toner T is to be supplied, turn the handle (not shown) provided on the inner cylinder 13 by hand, turn the opening 13a downward as shown in FIG.
Match a.

As a result, the toner cartridge is in an open state, and the toner T filled inside is released into these openings 13a and 1.
2a as well as through the opening 11a of the main body 11.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, according to the conventional example, when removing the toner cartridge, there is a problem that if the toner cartridge is carelessly pulled out with the opening 13a left open, the toner T may scatter and contaminate the surrounding area.

Furthermore, when removing the toner cartridge, two operations are required: first to close the cartridge, and then to pull it out, making the operation cumbersome.

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 powder storage container. That is, the present invention provides a powder storage for an image forming apparatus in which (1) an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder are rotated relative to each other, and openings provided in both are aligned so that powder can flow out; In the container, the outer cylinder is formed to be removable laterally within the main body of the image forming apparatus while holding the opening downward, and the openings of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder coincide with each other when not attached. The main body and the inner cylinder are arranged so that when the main body and the inner cylinder are installed, the openings of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are aligned against the closing means, and the outer cylinder is moved against the closing means. Characteristic powder storage container.

(2) The closing means is composed of magnets of different polarity provided on the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, and the opening means is composed of a magnet of the inner cylinder and a magnet of different polarity provided on the main body side. 2. The powder storage container according to claim 1, wherein the magnet on the main body side has a larger magnet than the magnet on the outer cylinder.

(3) The powder storage container according to claim 2, wherein the magnet on the main body side is an electromagnet.

[For production]

In the above configuration, before the powder storage container is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus, the openings of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder are not aligned with each other by the closing means composed of magnets with different polarities, so that the powder storage container cannot be opened. First, the powder is in a sealed state.

In addition, when the powder storage container is inserted into the main body, the magnetic force of the magnet in the main body is strong, so the attraction force between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder is switched to the attraction between the main body and the inner cylinder, and the container becomes open. ,
The powder flows out.

In addition, at this time, the magnets of the main body and outer cylinder have the same polarity,
repel each other.

When the inserted powder storage container is removed from the main body, it returns to its original open state.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Regarding embodiments of the present invention, how the configuration of the present invention is actually embodied will be described below with reference to the drawings, along with its operation.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, and in the figure l
1 is the main body of a copying machine which is an image forming device, and this main body l has a downward opening 1a, a magnet 1b, and two components 1c and 1c.
An inner cylindrical cavity 1d having a diameter is provided.

The electromagnet 1b is magnetized and becomes a magnet when a current is passed through a coil (not shown), but when no current is passed, it loses its properties as a magnet.

The strength of the magnetic force of the electromagnet is determined by the number of turns in the coil, the magnitude of the current, the properties of the iron core, etc., and the polarity is determined by the direction of the current flowing through the coil.

A powder storage container consisting of an outer cylinder 2 and an inner cylinder 3 is inserted into the cavity ld.

The outer cylinder 2 has an opening 2a with a magnet 2b and two protrusions 2c.
Two protrusions 2C and 2C are slidably inserted into two grooves IC and lc of the main body so that the opening 2a coincides with the lower main body opening 1a.

The magnet 2b is composed of a permanent magnet.

Further, the inner cylinder 3 is provided with an opening 3a and a magnet 3b, and when the magnet 3b of the inner cylinder 3 comes to a position where it coincides with the magnet 2b of the outer cylinder 2, the opening 3a meets the opening 2a. It is set to a position that does not match, that is, to a closed state.

The magnet 3b is also a permanent magnet like the magnet 2b. These two magnets 2b and 3b constitute a closing means.

Since the magnets 3b of the inner cylinder 3 have opposite polarities to the magnets 2b of the outer cylinder 2, they operate in a direction in which they attract each other.

This inner cylinder 3 is filled with toner T, which is a powder for image formation, and in this closed state, the toner (tF9J body) T is sealed.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line X--X in FIG. 1, and two contacts E1 and E2 are provided in the main body I, which communicate with the electromagnet 1b, and are connected to a power source E. FIG.

Further, the outer cylinder 2 is provided with a connecting piece E for press-contacting the two contacts E and -E to close an electric circuit, and on the opposite side from the connecting piece E:1 there is a grip for attaching/detaching operations. 2d is attached.

Next, the operation of this powder storage container will be explained.

When the powder storage container is pushed into the main body 1 by holding the handle shown in FIG.

is brought into pressure contact with the two contacts E1 and E2 in the main body 1, turning on the switch, closing the electric circuit and allowing current to flow.

When a current flows through this circuit, it excites the electromagnet 1b on the main body I side.

When the electromagnet 1b is magnetized by this excitation, it becomes a strong magnet with a polarity opposite to that of the magnet 3b of the inner cylinder 3, and as shown in FIG. The magnet 3b of No. 3 is attracted.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the same embodiment, and while FIG. 1 shows the closed state, this FIG. 3 shows the opened state.

That is, since the magnet of the electromagnet ib excited on the main body l side by the switch-on is stronger than the magnetic force of the magnet 2b of the outer cylinder 2, the magnet 3b of the inner cylinder 3 is attracted to the magnet 2b of the outer cylinder 2 in the attracted state. It pulls away from the surface and attracts it.

When the magnet 3b of the inner cylinder 3 is attracted to the electromagnet 1b on the main body 1 side and moves, the opening 3a of the inner cylinder 3 moves downward, and the opening 2a of the outer cylinder 2 and the opening of the main body 1 move downward. It will be in a position that coincides with 1a, and will be in an open state.

The magnet 3b and the electromagnet 1b constitute an opening means, and when the electromagnet 1b is turned on and magnetized, the toner (powder) T sealed in the container is transferred to the opening 3.
a, 2a, and 1a and flows downward into the copying machine.

Next, to take out the powder storage container from the main body of the copying machine, hold the handle 2d of the outer cylinder 2 shown in FIG. 2 and pull it outward, and the connecting piece E3 of the outer cylinder 2 The two contacts E1 and E2 are separated and the electric circuit is cut off, and the electromagnet 1b on the side of the main body I is demagnetized and its magnetic force is eliminated.

When this electromagnet 1b loses its magnetic force, the magnet 3b of the inner cylinder 3
immediately loses its attraction force from the electromagnet 1b, and as a result returns to its original state, that is, the state in which it is attracted to the magnet 2b of the outer cylinder 2, as shown in FIG.

As a result, the opening 3a of the inner cylinder 3 immediately returns to its original closed state, so that even if there is residual toner T when the powder storage container is taken out from the main body 1 side, it will not scatter to the outside. There is no fear.

As described above with respect to the embodiments, the powder storage container of the present invention is composed of an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder, and has a closing means that automatically prevents the openings from aligning with each other when not attached to a copying machine. Since it has an opening means that automatically aligns the openings when worn, it is easy to operate and maintains cleanliness.

In addition, we have explained that the opening/closing operation associated with attachment/detachment is performed by a combination of two permanent magnets and one electromagnet, but in addition to this, in another embodiment (not shown), the magnet on the main body side is the same permanent magnet as the other magnets. There is also a method that can be used. This method has the advantage of an embodiment in that a power source and a contact are not required and the structure is simple.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, since the closing means is provided between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, the sealed state is automatically maintained when the powder storage container is not attached, preventing powder from flowing out or scattering, and maintaining cleanliness. Can be retained.

In addition, since an opening means is provided between the main body and the inner cylinder, when the powder storage container is inserted into the main body, it is automatically opened and the powder can be discharged and replenished, making it easy to attach and detach the container.

Furthermore, the structure of the invention according to claim 2 is simple because the opening/closing means is composed of magnets.

Furthermore, since the invention of claim 3 provides an electromagnet on the main body side, the magnet can be made strong and opening/closing can be precisely controlled.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
A clear cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X in the figure, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the same embodiment.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams of conventional examples. 1... Body of copying machine (image forming device), la.
...Opening on the main body side, 1b... Electromagnet (magnet) on the main body side, 2...
...outer cylinder, 2a...opening of the outer cylinder, 2b...magnet of the outer cylinder, 3...inner cylinder, 3a...opening of the inner cylinder Opening, 3b... Inner cylinder magnet, T... Powder. applicant

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A powder storage container for an image forming apparatus, which allows powder to flow out by rotating an outer cylinder and an inner cylinder relatively and aligning openings provided in both, The outer cylinder is formed to be removable laterally within the main body of the image forming apparatus while holding the opening downward, and the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder operate in directions in which the openings do not coincide with each other when they are not attached. A powder storage container having a closing means, and opening means for opening the main body and the inner cylinder so that the openings of the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder coincide with each other against the closing means when the main body and the inner cylinder are attached. . (2) The closing means is composed of magnets of different polarity provided on the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder, and the opening means is composed of a magnet of the inner cylinder and a magnet of different polarity provided on the main body side. 2. The powder storage container according to claim 1, wherein the magnet on the main body side has a larger magnet than the magnet on the outer cylinder. (3) The powder storage container according to claim 2, wherein the magnet on the main body side is an electromagnet.