JPH04139469A - Toner cartridge on toner supplying device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the blocking of toner and to realize stable and excellent image quality by providing a spiral agitator inside a toner cartridge. CONSTITUTION:A cylindrical toner cartridge 1021 is attachably and detachably attached to the toner supplying device of this image forming device and the spiral agitator 1024 is provided inside the toner cartridge 1021 used in this attached state. Then, the spiral agitator 1024 is rotated/driven, so that the toner is sent to a toner replenishing port. Thus, the blocking of the toner is prevented, and the toner is stably and surely replenished, so that the stable and excellent image quality is obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a toner supply device equipped with a disposable cartridge that stores toner in order to supply toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus, and particularly to a toner supply device having a spiral agitator. The present invention relates to a toner supply device equipped with a disposable cartridge.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in a copying machine, a toner box is provided in the main body of the copying machine as a toner supply device for supplying toner to a developing device. It is supposed to be done.

When the toner box runs out of toner, the toner box is pulled out to the toner replenishment position and the toner filled in the spare toner bottle is refilled into the toner box. This replenishment of toner is difficult for the user because the type of toner varies depending on the copying machine model, and is usually performed by a service person to prevent incorrect toner replenishment.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, if the service person replenishes the toner in this manner, the user must contact the service person every time the toner runs out, which is extremely troublesome. Furthermore, due to circumstances such as a service person, toner is not always replenished immediately even if you contact them, which not only takes time, but also makes it impossible to make copies during that time, making it difficult to copy efficiently. I can't.

Additionally, there is a problem that when replenishing toner, toner spills on the floor or stains clothing. To deal with this problem, we used a cartridge filled with toner instead of a toner bottle, and after installing this cartridge in the toner box when replenishing toner,
It has been proposed to replenish toner by removing the cap of the cartridge, and to remove the cartridge once replenishment is complete. According to the toner replenishment method using this cartridge, toner does not spill and clothes etc. are not stained by spilled toner.

However, this method of replenishing toner using a cartridge requires three operations: loading the cartridge, toner replenishing, and removing the cartridge, which is cumbersome to operate.

Moreover, even with this replenishment method, service personnel must carry out the replenishment work, so the above-mentioned problems still remain unsolved.

As described above, in any of the conventional toner replenishment methods, the workability of toner replenishment is not good.

Therefore, the present applicant has proposed a disposable toner cartridge in which the toner cartridge is used with the toner cartridge installed in the copying machine, and when the toner in the toner cartridge runs out, it is replaced with a new toner cartridge. Application No. 2-14451), this toner cartridge solves the aforementioned problems.

By the way, if toner is left in a constant state for a long time, such as when a copying machine does not perform a copying operation for a certain period of time, the toner in the toner cartridge may harden and cause blocking.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a toner supply device for an image forming apparatus in which the toner in a single toner cartridge does not cause blocking.

[Means for Solving the Problems and Their Effects] To solve the above-mentioned problems, the toner supply device in the image forming apparatus of the invention according to claim 1 is removably attached to the toner supply device of the image forming apparatus, A spiral agitator is provided inside the cylindrical toner cartridge that is used in the installed state. Therefore, by rotationally driving this spiral agitator, toner is sent to the toner supply port and blocking of toner is prevented. This air supplies toner in a stable and reliable manner, resulting in stable and good image quality.

The toner replenishment port of the cylindrical body of the toner cartridge is provided at one end of the cylindrical body, and the end of the spiral agitator on the side of the toner replenishment port is a free end. If the end of the spiral agitator on the toner replenishment port side is fixedly supported by the cylindrical body (only rotation is possible), the toner near the toner replenishment port is particularly prone to blocking. By making the end part a free end, toner blocking is prevented.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 3 provides that a driving force transmission shaft for transmitting the rotational driving force from the driving means is integrally disposed with the spiral agitator at an end opposite to an end on the toner supply port side of the spiral agitator. are doing. Therefore, when the spiral agitator is rotationally driven so that toner is sent toward the toner supply port, even if a portion of the spiral agitator is loaded with toner or the like, the diameter of the spiral agitator is reduced. For this reason, the spiral agitator does not lock against the inner wall of the cylindrical body, and dispenses well. Further, by integrally forming the driving force transmission shaft and the spiral agitator, not only the number of parts can be reduced, but also manufacturing is easy and costs are reduced.

Furthermore, in the invention according to claim 4, a toner scraping member is provided near the toner supply port. This toner breaking member prevents toner from blocking in the vicinity of the toner supply port, so that stable dispensing is performed.

[Example code] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a color copying machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, the color copying machine 1 includes a main body 2, a platen 3 provided on the top side of the main body 2 and on which a document (not shown) is placed, and a platen 3 provided below the platen 3.
An image information reading section 4 that reads image information of a document; an image forming device 5 that forms a predetermined image in response to signals from the image information reading section 4; a transfer unit 7 that transfers onto paper 6, which is a transfer medium;
It is comprised of a paper supply section 8 that supplies and transports paper 6 and a paper transport section 9.

The image forming apparatus 5 includes a photosensitive drum 51 and a first developing means 52 and a second developing means 53 arranged adjacent to the photosensitive drum 51.

The first developing means 52 has a two-component developer for color, and the second developing means 53 has a two-component developer for black, and uses an FX microtoning magnetic brush developing method. A second latent image is developed.

These developing means 52 and 53 are arranged in correspondence with each other and are moved in directions toward and away from the photosensitive drum 51 by means of a tract mechanism.

Next, the second developing means 53 in which the toner cartridge in the toner supply device of this embodiment is disposed will be described in more detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second developing means 53 develops the second latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 51 using an FX microtoning type magnetic brush developing method. A developing roll 1002 (developer carrier) with a part of its outer circumferential surface exposed outside the housing 1001 through an opening provided at one end inside the housing 1001, and a developing roll 1002 (developer carrier) inside the housing 1001 on the back side of the developing roll 1002. A developer stirring means 1003 and a developing roll 1002 are provided.
A trimmer plate 1004 (which regulates the height of the magnetic brush of the developer formed on the developing roll 1002)
) rimmer) and shi.

Tracking rolls (not shown) are rotatably provided outside both ends of the developing roll 1002, and the gap between the developing roll 1002 and the photosensitive drum 51 is maintained by the tracking rolls coming into contact with the photosensitive drum 51. It looks like this.

On the other hand, the stirring means 1003 includes a first auger 1007 and a second auger arranged so that the axial direction coincides with that of the developing roll 1002.
It consists of an auger 1008 and a partition plate 1009 erected on the housing 1001 to separate the two augers. The rotational directions of the first auger 1007 and the second auger 1008 are determined so that the developer conveyance directions are opposite to each other. Further, at both ends of the partition plate 1009, there are defined a region where the first auger 1007 is arranged (hereinafter referred to as the first stirring path 1010) and a region where the second auger 1008 is arranged (hereinafter referred to as the second stirring path 1011). A communicating opening is provided, whereby the first stirring path 1010 → second stirring path 1011 → first stirring! ! 1010
The developer is circulated like this.

Further, a paddle wheel 1012 having a plurality of blades parallel to the axial direction is provided between the developing roll 1002 and the stirring means 1003. This paddle wheel 101
2, the developer peeled off from the developing roll 1002 is forcibly conveyed toward the stirring means 1003, and the developer mixed and stirred by the stirring means 1003 is continuously supplied to the developing roll 1002. It has become.

A toner supply device 1020 of the present invention is disposed above the first auger 1007 in the housing 1001.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, this toner supply device 1020 includes a toner cartridge 1021 that is filled with toner, and a toner cartridge 102 that is filled with toner.
1 and a reserve tank 1o22 arranged under the tank 1.

As shown in FIGS. 5(a) to 5d), the cartridge 1021 includes a cylindrical case body 1023 consisting of a cylindrical part 1023a made of paper and a side wall part 1023b made of resin, and a metal wire. It consists of a spiral agitator 1024 formed by winding into a coil, and a coupling 1025 to which this spiral agitator 1024 is connected. When the cylindrical portion 1023a is made of paper, the paper can be freely cut to a predetermined length, so that it can be easily adapted to various models by simply changing the length of the cylindrical portion 1023a. Become. Moreover, one paper is cheap, so 10 cartridges
21 can be formed at extremely low cost.

A cylindrical portion 1023a at one end of the case body 1023 is provided with a toner supply port 1023c for supplying toner to the reserve tank 1022. The toner supply port 1023c opens into one toner storage section 1030a of a tank section 1030 of a reserve tank 1022, which will be described later.

The spiral agitator 1024 has an end 1024a on the toner replenishing port side as a free end, and an end 1024b on the opposite side to the toner replenishing port side is rotatably supported on the inner circumferential surface of the side wall 1023b. A driving force transmitting shaft 1024c is integrally connected to the end 1024b on the opposite side to the toner replenishing port, and this driving force transmitting shaft 1024c extends toward the toner replenishing port 1023c along the rotation center of the spiral agitator 1024. The right side wall section 102 is extended.
Its end is connected to a coupling 1025 rotatably attached to the center of 3b. A triangular protrusion-shaped toner crushing portion 1024tl is formed at a portion of the driving force transmission shaft 1024c that faces the toner supply port 1024d. In this manner, spiral agitator 1024 is cantilevered.

Also, as shown in Figure 5 (a), (b) and (d)
The cartridge 1021 has a toner supply port 1 when not installed.
A shutter 1032 for closing 023c is provided so as to be slidable in the circumferential direction. Further, flexible seal members (not shown) are attached to the main body 1023 to seal the toner supply port 1023c, and one end of each of the seal members is fixed to the shutter 1032. And shutter 10
32 slides in the circumferential direction, the sealing member is peeled off and the toner supply port 1023c is opened.

As shown in FIG. 4, this toner cartridge 1021
is a cartridge installation part 103 provided in the copying machine main body 2
5 is removably attached to a predetermined position. That is, the fourth
In the figure, when the toner cartridge 1021 is inserted into the cartridge installation part 1035 in the axial direction and the axial position of the toner cartridge 1021 reaches a predetermined position,
By rotating the toner cartridge 1021 by a predetermined angle, the toner cartridge 1021 is locked and fixed to the length-tridge installation part 1035. In that case, the toner cartridge 1021
When the shutter 1032 rotates by a predetermined angle, a portion of the shutter 1032 engages with an engaging portion (not shown) provided on the reserve tank 1022 side, thereby preventing the shutter 1032 from rotating. That is, the shutter 1032 is
023 in the circumferential direction, the sealing member is peeled off and the toner supply port 1023c is opened.

When the toner cartridge 1021 is locked and fixed to the cartridge installation part 1035, the toner supply port 1023c faces downward and the reserve tank 102
It will open at 2.

Then, the cartridge 1021 is installed in the cartridge installation section 1.
035, the coupling 1025 of the cartridge 1021 meshes with the coupling 1025 attached to both wheels 1026a of the power transmission mechanism 1026 provided on the main body 2 side. The rotational driving force of the driving means 1027, such as a motor, transmitted through the power transmission mechanism 1026 is transmitted to the spiral agitator 102 through the driving force transmission shaft 1024c.
4 to the end opposite to the toner supply port 1023c. Therefore, the spiral agitator 1024 is the fifth
In Figure (d), power is transmitted from the left side. Therefore, the spiral agitator 1024 rotates in the A direction, and the toner is transferred in the B direction, that is, to the toner supply port 102.
3 Flow toward c: Toner is supplied into the reserve tank 1022 from the toner supply port 1023c.

Further, by causing the toner to flow in this manner, the toner is prevented from solidifying. Furthermore, the driving force transmission shaft 102
4c rotates, the toner breaking section 1024
Since d rotates, the toner is similarly prevented from hardening, and the already hardened toner is broken up.

Furthermore, the rotation of the spiral agitator 1024 in the A direction is such that the diameter of the spiral agitator 1024 decreases when a load is applied to the spiral agitator 1024, so that the spiral agitator 1024 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 1023a and is locked. There's nothing to do. This also prevents the gear 1026a of the power transmission mechanism 1026 from disengaging.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the reserve tank 102
2 is the two toner storage portions 1030g as described above;
A toner supply section 10 is disposed between a tank section 1030 consisting of a tank section 1030b and these toner storage sections 1030a and 1030b, and supplies toner to the developing means 53.
It consists of 31. These toner storage portions 103
Between 0a, 1030b and the toner supply section 1031,
Partition walls 1036 and 1037 are provided respectively. The left end side of these partition walls 10361037 does not extend to the left wall 1022b of the main body 1022a of the reserve tank 1022 in FIG. 1039 is formed. In addition, openings 1040 and 104 are also provided in the partition walls 1036 and 1037 at a predetermined distance to the left from their right ends.
1 is similarly provided. These openings 1038.
1039.1040.1041 Ni! 'l, Toner storage 11030a, 1030b and toner supply section 1031
become connected to each other.

In the toner accommodating portions 1030a and 1030b, spiral asciutators 1042 and 1043 each made of a metal wire such as a spirally wound wire are arranged parallel to each other.

Right end 1042a of one spiral agitator 1042
is connected to the gear shaft 1044 and the left end 1042
b is rotatably supported on the left side [1022b. The spiral agitator 1042 is wound in one direction, and a blade 1045 is attached to a position facing the opening 1038 near the left end. Both ends of the other spiral agitator 1043 are similarly supported. The spiral agitator 1043 is wound in opposite directions with the opening 1041 as a boundary. That is, the spiral agitator 1043 is wound in the same winding direction as the spiral agitator 1042 to the left of the opening 1041, but is wound in the opposite winding direction to the spiral agitator 1042 to the right of the opening 1o41.

The position where the winding direction of spiral agitator 1o43 changes,
That is, the blade 10 is located at a position facing the opening 1041.
46 is attached.

Furthermore, the right end side of the opening 1040 of the toner storage section 1030a is a toner introduction section] 030c. Also,
The main body 1022a is located slightly to the left in FIG. 6 from the position where the toner supply port 1023c of the cartridge 1021 faces.
An empty detection sensor 1047 is provided on the side wall of the vehicle.

This empty detection sensor 1047 causes the cartridge 102 to
The presence or absence of toner in 1 is detected.

On the other hand, a supply hole 1048 for supplying toner to the developing means 53 is bored at a predetermined position at the bottom of the toner supply section 1031 . In addition, in the toner supply section 1o31, an auger 1049 is connected to two spiral agitators 1042.1.
It is arranged parallel to 043. This auger 1o49 is also rotatably supported by the main body 1022a like the spiral agitators 1042 and 1043. Auger 1o4
The winding direction of the spirally wound blades 9 is opposite across the supply hole 1048.

In the reserve tank 1022 configured in this way, the cartridge 1021 is located in the cartridge installation section 103.
5, the shutter 1032 slides and the toner supply port 1023c also opens automatically.

Therefore, the toner in the cartridge 1021 is introduced into the toner introduction section 1047 in the reserve tank 1022 through the toner supply port 1023c. The introduced toner is sent to the left by the rotation of the spiral agitator 1042, and is detected by the empty detection sensor l047. When the toner is sent to the left, the toner introduction section 1047
In addition, new toner is introduced from the cartridge 1021. When the toner reaches the left end of the toner storage portion 1030a, the toner is moved to the opening 1038 by the blade 1045.
The toner is sent to the toner supply section 1031 through the toner supply section 1031.

A portion of the toner sent to the toner supply section 1031 is sent toward a supply hole 1048 by an auger 1049, and is supplied toward the developing means 53 through the supply hole 1048. In that case, even if the toner passes through the supply hole 1048, the blades of the auger 1049 are in the opposite direction, so the toner that has passed is returned to the supply hole 1048, and is reliably delivered to the developing means 53 through the supply hole 1048. sent to.

On the other hand, the remaining toner sent to the toner supply section 1031 is pushed by the new toner sent by the blade 1045, so that it passes through the opening 1039 to the toner storage section 1.
030b. The toner that has flowed into the toner storage portion 1030b is sent toward the right opening 1041 by the spiral agitator 1043. The toner that has come to the opening 1041 is moved to the opening 1041, 1a by the blade 1046.
40 and is sent to the toner storage unit 1030a. In this case as well, even if the toner passes through the opening 1041, it is returned to the opening 1041 by the spiral agitator 1043 in the opposite direction.

The toner that has flowed into the toner storage portion 1030a is sent to the left again by the spiral agitator 1042.

In this case, since the toner is reliably sent to the left by the spiral agitator 1042, the toner flowing from the opening 1040 does not flow toward the right toner introduction section 030c. Therefore, only the toner from the cartridge 102I is introduced into the toner introduction section 1030.

In this way, a predetermined amount of the toner in the reserve tank 1022 is sent to the developing means 53 through the supply hole 1048. , fl are toner storage portions 1030a, 103
It will cycle between 0b. This circulation prevents the toner in the toner storage portions 1030a and 1030b from solidifying.

Furthermore, the capacity of the toner storage sections 1030a and 1030b is such that even when the toner in the cartridge 1021 is empty,
2000 until a new cartridge is installed
The size is set so that up to 3,000 copies can be made.

As shown in FIG. 7, the dispenser section consisting of the cartridge 1021, the cartridge installation part 1035, the reserve tank 1022, the power transmission mechanism 1026, and the motor drive means 1027 is located at the use position A of the cartridge 1021 in the left-right direction of the main body 2, as shown by the solid line. The cartridge 1021 is supported by the main body 2 so as to be rotatable between a replacement position B and a cartridge 1021 protruding outward from the main body 2 in the front-rear direction of the main body 2 as indicated by a two-dot chain line. Therefore, in order to replace the cartridge 1021, the dispenser section 1050 is rotated to the replacement position B, the used cartridge 1021 is removed, and the new cartridge 1021 is inserted into the cartridge installation section l.
Set to 035. Thereafter, the dispenser section is rotated to the use position A and fixed at the use position A.

8 to 12 are diagrams showing other embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that the same components as those in the above-mentioned embodiments are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
is provided at the free end 1024a of the spiral agitator 1024, facing the toner supply port 1023c. Therefore, as the spiral agitator 1024 rotates, the toner breaking section 1024d also rotates, so that the toner does not harden and the hardened toner is broken down.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG.
23d is provided at the bottom of the cylindrical portion 1023a near the toner supply port 1023c so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. The toner crushing member 1023d is constantly urged upward by a biasing means such as a spring, and is pressed downward when the spiral agitator 1024 comes into contact with it. Then, as the spiral agitator 1024 rotates, the contact portion between the toner breaking member 1023d and the spiral agitator 1024 moves to the right in the figure, so the toner breaking member 1023d rotates clockwise. When the contact portion between the toner breaking member 1023d and the spiral agitator 1024 further moves to the right and the spiral agitator 1024 comes off the toner breaking member 1023d, the toner breaking member 1023d is repelled upward by the urging means. This breaks up the hardened toner near the toner supply port 1023c.

Furthermore, the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is an example in which a toner destroying member is not provided. The embodiment shown in FIG.
The toner supply port 1023c and the coupling 1025 are
This is an example in which they are provided on opposite sides.

Therefore, in any of the embodiments described above, the toner supply port 10
23c and the coupling 1025 are provided on the same side, and the driving force transmitting shaft 1024c is disposed to pass through the inside of the spiral agitator 1024, whereas in this embodiment, the driving force transmitting shaft 1024c is a spiral agitator. The free end of the spiral agitator 1024, which does not pass through the inside of the agitator 1024, is located on the toner supply port 1023c side. The embodiment shown in FIG.
This is an example in which the toner replenishment port 1023c and the coupling 1025 are provided on the same side, and the driving force transmission shaft 1024c is also provided on the spiral agitator 10 in the 20th embodiment.
It does not penetrate inside 24. Also spiral agitator 1
024 is located on the opposite side from the toner supply port 1023c.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, since the spiral agitator is provided in the toner cartridge, toner blocking can be prevented. Thereby, toner can be stably and reliably replenished, and stable and good image quality can be obtained.

Furthermore, since the end of the spiral agitator on the side of the toner supply port is a free end, it is possible to effectively prevent toner from blocking near the toner supply port, where blocking is likely to occur.

Furthermore, since the rotational driving force of the driving means is input from the end of the spiral agitator opposite to the toner supply port, the spiral agitator becomes smaller in diameter and no longer locks, making it possible to perform dispensing well. can.

Furthermore, since the toner breaking member is provided near the toner supply port, this toner breaking member can even more effectively prevent blocking of toner near the toner supply port.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a color copying machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a developing means of this color copying machine, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a toner supply device. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toner supply device, and FIG. 5 is an example of a toner cartridge, in which (a) is a front view, (b) is a bottom view, (c) is a right side view, (d) is (a)+
, = sectional view along the 6Vd-Vd line, FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the reserve tank, FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of toner cartridge installation, and FIGS. 8 to 12 are other embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 1... Color copy a5... Image forming device, 51...
- Photosensitive drum, 52... first developing means, 53... second developing means, 1020... toner supply device, 102
1... Toner cartridge, 1022... Reserve Tankyu 1023... Cartridge book & 1023c
...Toner supply 0.1024...Spiral agitator, 1024a...Free fi1024c...Driving force transmission line 1023d, 1024d...Toner breaking member Patent applicant Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. agent
Patent Attorney Kenji Aoki (7 others) Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 7 (B) Figure 3 Figure 5 Figure 5 (c)

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A cylindrical toner cartridge that is removably attached to a toner supply device of an image forming apparatus and used while it is attached, which includes a cylindrical body having a toner supply port and a toner cartridge disposed within the body. 1. A toner cartridge for use in a toner supply device of an image forming apparatus, characterized in that the toner cartridge is provided with a spiral agitator which is rotatably driven by a driving means. (2) The toner replenishment port is provided at one end of the cylindrical body, and an end of the spiral agitator on the toner replenishment port side is a free end. A toner cartridge in a toner supply device of an image forming apparatus. (3) A driving force transmission shaft for transmitting rotational driving force from the driving means to an end of the spiral agitator opposite to the toner replenishing port side is disposed integrally with the spiral agitator. A toner cartridge in a toner supply device of an image forming apparatus according to claim 2. (4) The toner cartridge in the toner supply device of an image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a toner crushing member provided near the toner supply port.