JPH0389276A - Developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve workability in maintenance service by breaking a housing means by deforming a toner cartridge in a process to load the toner cartridge on the toner hopper of a developing device, and making toner flow out to the hopper. CONSTITUTION:The toner cartridge 29 is equipped with a deformable plate body 30 also functioning as the cover of the toner hopper 131. The toner is housed in a toner housing means 32 with thickness broken by the deformation of the plate body 30. When the cartridge 29 is inserted to a cartridge insertion rail 33 on the upper terminal part of the hopper 131, a recessed stripe 33a is positioned gradually in a horizontal direction, therefore, the plate body 30 is deformed downward. In such a way, a high magnitude of power is applied to the means 32, then it is broken, and the toner is refilled to the hopper 131. Therefore, the refilling of the toner can be performed without using a specific member, which improves the workability in the maintenance service.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a developing device used in various devices such as copying machines, printers, and facsimile machines.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in a copying machine, a developing device performs copying while sequentially supplying toner. Therefore, a toner cartridge containing toner is set on a toner hopper, and the toner is supplied from the toner cartridge to the toner hopper, and then sequentially supplied to a developing sleeve using a retrieval roller or the like for development. If you copy while consuming toner in this way, you will naturally run out of toner.

Therefore, the operator needs to replace the old toner cartridge with a new toner cartridge. Conventionally, in this case, the seal attached to the new toner cartridge is removed to allow the toner to come out, and then the new toner cartridge is placed on the hopper. However, there were many problems such as the toner staining the workers' hands.

Therefore, toner cartridges such as those disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 59-22451 have been devised. That is, this toner cartridge is sealed to prevent the operator's hands from getting dirty.Instead, a needle-like member is attached to the toner hopper to tear the toner bag of the toner cartridge, and the needle-like member is attached to the toner hopper. By using a member, the toner bag of the set toner cartridge is torn and toner is replenished into the toner hopper.

[Problem M to be Solved by the Invention] However, such a cartridge has a problem in that it is necessary to attach the needle-like member to the toner hopper. Furthermore, when discarding the remaining toner in the toner hopper, there is a risk that the needle-like member may injure a worker, resulting in a problem that the workability of maintenance and inspection is reduced.

The present invention aims to solve the problems of the prior art.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention as claimed in claim 1 provides a toner comprising a plate-like body that can be deformed by applying force, and a toner storage means that stores toner attached to one side of the plate-like body. The developing device is characterized in that an operating member is attached to the toner hopper to deform the plate-like body toward the toner storage means when the cartridge is installed in the toner hopper.

The present invention according to claim 2 is the present invention according to claim 1, wherein the action member is a portion to which an end portion of the plate-like body is attached, and when the end portion of the plate-like body is attached. This developing device is characterized in that the developing device is a guide member that deforms the plate-shaped body.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the action member is a member provided on the opposite side of the plate-shaped body to the side to which the toner storage means is attached, and the The developing device is characterized in that it is a pressing member that presses and deforms the plate-like body toward the toner storage means when the plate-like body is attached.

[Function] In the present invention, when the toner cartridge is installed in the toner hopper of the developing device, force is applied to the plate-like body and deforms as the toner cartridge is installed. Due to the deformation, the toner storage means attached to the plate-like body is deformed by the force. As a result, the toner storage means is destroyed and the toner inside flows out into the toner hopper. In particular, if the plate-shaped body is curved toward the side opposite to the side where the toner storage means is attached, when it deforms to the opposite side by attaching it, the amount of deformation becomes large, making it easy to store the toner. You can destroy the means.

[Examples] The present invention will be described below with reference to drawings showing examples thereof.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view centered on a developing device of a copying machine. A developing device 2 for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1 is arranged around the photosensitive drum 1 on which a photosensitive material such as a selenium-based material is deposited. This developing device 2 contains a developer 3. A stirrer 7 for stirring the developer 3 is disposed within the developing device 2 . Developing device 2
The toner supply device 13 includes a hopper 131, a sponge roller 132, a driving motor for the same, and the like.

In addition to the developing device 2, the area around the photosensitive drum 1 includes a charger 14 that charges the photosensitive material on the surface of the photosensitive drum 7, and a portion that is irradiated with reflected light 15 reflected from the original. (exposure section) 23; a transfer section 18 that transfers the toner image from the photoconductor drum 1 on which the toner image has been formed by the developing device 2 to the paper 20 supplied from the paper feed roller 17; Transferred paper 20 from drum L
A separating section 19 that separates the toner, a cleaning section 21 that removes residual toner adhering to the surface of the photoreceptor drum 1, and a static eliminator 22 that removes the surface charge of the photoreceptor drum 1 are provided. .

Second (!I) is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a toner hopper and a toner cartridge of a developing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2(b) is a perspective view of the toner cartridge 29 which also serves as a lid for the toner hopper 131. This toner cartridge 29 has a plate-shaped body 30ttfi that can be deformed by applying force. Either an elastic body or a plastic body may be used. For example, a brass board. Of course, a metal plate would also work.

As shown in the figure, a toner storage means 32 containing toner is attached to one side of the plate-shaped body 30, that is, the side facing into the toner hopper 131. This toner storage means 32 is made of, for example, a vinyl material.

Its strength is such that it can be broken by deformation of the plate-like body 30 as described later. The toner is packed in the sealed toner storage means 32, and the upper surface of the filled toner storage means 32 is attached to the lower surface of the plate-shaped body 30 as shown in the figure. Note that the toner storage means 32 is, for example, a bowl-shaped vinyl sheet, and its outer periphery is pasted to the lower surface of the plate-like body 30 to form a predetermined space, and even if the space is filled with toner. good. This toner storage means 32 is desirably perforated, cut out or heat treated to form a weak portion 31 in order to be easily torn.The toner storage means 32 may be made of aluminum foil or any other arbitrary material. Well, it doesn't necessarily have to be flexible. It only needs to be broken by deformation of the plate-shaped body 30. It is also desirable to determine the amount of toner to be stored in consideration of the fact that the toner storage means 32 is easily broken due to the deformation of the plate-like body 30, and the convenience of storing it in a warehouse or handling it. . For example, it is better to keep toner in the toner storage means 32 as much as possible in order to prevent it from breaking easily, but
From the viewpoint of convenience in storage, etc., it is better to reduce the amount to some extent and to not break even if it is slightly deformed. It is desirable to take these into consideration when deciding.

It is desirable that the plate-like body 30 be curved toward the side opposite to the side to which the toner storage means 32 is attached. This is to increase the amount of deformation. However, it may have a flat plate shape or be inclined toward the side to which the toner storage means 32 is attached.

FIG. 2(a) shows the upper part of the toner hopper 131 to which the toner cartridge 29 is attached. The toner hopper 131 has a rectangular shape, and cartridge insertion rails 33, which are examples of working members (guiding members), are attached to both upper edges of the toner hopper 131. The plate-shaped body 30 is fitted into the upper #1i33a. That is, this cartridge insertion rail 33 has a grooved line 33a as an example of a guide member.

This grooved line 33a is formed in the direction corresponding to the natural state of the plate-like body 30 in the artificial part where the plate-like body 30 is fitted. 1! II, Figure 3 is Figure 2(a)
It is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. As shown in the figure, the shape of the grooved line 33a is the same as the shape of both end edges of the plate-shaped body 30. On the other hand, the inner part of the groove 33a into which the plate-like body 30 is fitted is formed to be horizontal or downward, which does not correspond to the natural state of the plate-like body 30. That is, the fourth
The figure is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 2(a),
It is a sectional view of the back part. As shown in the figure, the shape of the grooved line 33a does not match the shape of both ends of the plate-shaped body 300, and is formed in the horizontal direction.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment of the present invention will be explained.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the toner cartridge 29 is inserted into the cartridge insertion rail 33 at the upper end of the toner hopper 131. At this time, since the grooves 33a have the same shape as shown in FIG. 3, no force is applied to the plate-like body 30, and the plate-like body 30 is inserted smoothly. As it is inserted in this way, as shown in the fourth factor, the concave stripes 33a gradually become horizontal, so that the plate-shaped body 30 has a tendency to deform the plate-shaped body 30 downward. The power to do so will be added. As a result, the plate-shaped body 30 deforms downward, and as shown in FIG.
A large force is applied to 2 and it breaks. As a result, the toner 36 is
The toner hopper 131 is replenished.

Note that in the embodiment described above, the toner cartridge 2
The plate-shaped body 30 of 9 also serves as a lid of the toner hopper 131, but this is not necessarily the case. After the toner 36 has been replenished, the toner cartridge 29 may be removed and the toner hopper lid may be used to cover the toner hopper 131. .

In the above embodiment, the cartridge insertion rail is used as the action member for deforming the plate-shaped body 30, but the action member is not limited to this, and the shape of the concave strip 33 of the guiding cartridge insertion rail 33 can be used as the action member. is a plate-shaped body 30
The rail 33 is aligned with the end of the rail 33 so that no deforming force is applied to the rail 33. Instead, Figure 5(a)
, As shown in (b), on the upper side where the plate-like body 30 is inserted, the artificial part does not contact the plate-like body 30 (X
), a plate-shaped or rod-shaped pressing member 40 serving as an operating member is a toner hopper 131 which is pressed and deformed downward by the portion 40a projecting downward as it is inserted deep into the toner hopper 131. It may be attached to.

Conversely, the upper surface of the plate-shaped body 30 may be shaped to gradually swell from the tip to the rear end, and the pressing member on the upper side may be flat (not shown).

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the developing device according to the present invention replenishes toner to the toner hopper without using special members such as needle members, and without staining the hands of the operator. It has the advantage of being able to

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a copying machine using an embodiment of the developing device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the same embodiment, and FIG. 3 is the same as that of FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of the embodiment, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line BB of the same embodiment shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of the same apparatus.

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A plate-like body that can be deformed by applying force;
When a toner cartridge, which is attached to one side of the toner cartridge and includes a toner storage means that stores toner, is installed in the toner hopper, an operating member that deforms the plate-like body toward the toner storage means side is attached to the toner hopper. A developing device characterized in that it is attached. (2) The action member is a portion to which the end of the plate-like body is attached, and as the end of the plate-like body is attached,
2. The developing device according to claim 1, further comprising a guide member that deforms the plate-like member. (3) The action member is a member provided on the opposite side of the plate-like body to the side to which the toner storage means is attached, and the action member 2. The developing device according to claim 1, further comprising a pressing member that presses and deforms the shaped body toward the toner storage means. (4) The developing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the plate-like body is curved toward a side opposite to the side to which the toner storage means is attached. (5) The developing device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the plate-like body can also serve as a lid of a toner hopper for temporarily storing toner.