JPH0414765Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a toner supply device used in a developing machine such as an electronic copying machine.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Some toner supply devices for supplying toner to a developing machine of an electronic copying machine include a toner supply device provided on the side of the developing machine.

As shown in FIG. 3, this toner supply device supplies a screw conveyor 33 through a relatively small opening 32 provided at the bottom of a funnel-shaped toner reservoir 31.
The toner T is dropped onto the top, and the screw conveyor 33 transports the toner T into the developing machine.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

However, the conventional toner supply device shown in FIG. 3 has a problem in that the amount of toner falling changes depending on how the toner T remains in the toner storage device 31 (inclination, remaining amount, etc.), making stable replenishment impossible. That is, since there is only one opening 32, there is a problem that when toner bridging occurs, the amount of toner falling rapidly decreases, resulting in a sudden drop in copy density. Further, there was a problem that the width was limited due to the fluidity of the toner T, and a large amount of toner T could not be stored.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a toner supply device that can stably supply a constant amount of toner into a developing machine regardless of the state of toner remaining in a toner storage device.

[Means for solving problems]

The toner supply device of the present invention includes a toner storage device in which a plurality of openings are formed at predetermined intervals in a bottom plate provided at the bottom, and a toner storage device provided at the bottom of the toner storage device along a direction in which the plurality of openings are arranged. a first screw conveyor, which has spiral blades twisted in opposite directions relative to the center thereof, and conveys the toner falling from the plurality of openings to the vicinity of the center thereof; A second screw conveyor is provided at approximately the center lower part of the screw conveyor and perpendicularly to the first screw conveyor, and conveys the toner that has fallen from the first screw conveyor into the inside of the developing machine. The plurality of openings are formed at equal positions across the second screw conveyor.

[Effect]

Since the second screw conveyor is provided approximately at the lower center of the first screw conveyor, even if the toner in the toner storage device is unevenly distributed, the toner supplied from both sides of the first screw conveyor can be removed. Even if there is a slight difference in the amount, the mixture is adjusted at the second screw conveyor, making it possible to supply a uniform amount.

Furthermore, since the plurality of openings in the bottom plate of the toner storage container are formed at positions sandwiching the second screw conveyor, even if blocking occurs in the toner storage container,
Since the supply from either opening is continued, uninterrupted supply is possible.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of the toner supply device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a sectional view taken along the line II in FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates a toner storage device that stores toner T, and a bottom plate 3 provided at the bottom 2 of the toner storage device 1 has a plurality of openings 3a and 3b formed therein at predetermined intervals, for example, two openings 3a and 3b. , along the direction in which the two openings 3a and 3b are arranged below the spiral blades 4.
A first screw conveyor 4 consisting of a, 4b and a gutter 4c is arranged. Here, the above two openings 3
a and 3b are arranged at equal positions across the second screw conveyor 5. An opening 4d is located approximately at the lower center of the gutter 4c of the first screw conveyor 4.
is formed, and furthermore, a spiral blade 5a communicating with this opening 4d and perpendicular to the first screw conveyor 4 is formed.
A second screw conveyor 5 consisting of a gutter 5b and a gutter 5b is arranged. The spiral blades 4a and 4b of the first screw conveyor 4 are twisted in opposite directions with respect to the centers of the two openings 3a and 3b, and the spiral blades 5a of the second screw conveyor 5 are twisted in one direction. Twisted.
The first and second screw conveyors 4, 5 are each rotated in the direction of the arrow by a drive device (not shown).

In addition, the toner storage device 1 is provided with a structure that prevents the toner T from blocking, and also allows the toner T to be stored in the opening 3.
A stirring rod 6 that pushes out in directions a and 3b is provided.

The operation of the toner supply device according to the present invention will be explained below.

The toner T in the toner storage device 1 is stirred by the stirring rod 6, pushed out toward the openings 3a and 3b, and falls onto the first screw conveyor 4 from each of the two openings 3a and 3b. . At this time, the load of the toner T in the toner storage device 1 is received by the bottom plate 3 of the toner storage device 1, so that no excessive load is applied to the first screw conveyor 4. In addition, the two openings 3a and 3b are
Since they are arranged at equal positions across the second screw conveyor 5, even if the amount of falling screws at one opening is reduced due to toner bridging, etc., the first screw from either opening will be The toner supply to the conveyor 4 is performed without interruption, and the minimum amount of toner necessary for development is supplied to the second screw conveyor 5, so that there is no problem with the development. Furthermore, the second screw conveyor 5
Since the first screw conveyor 4 is provided at the lower center of the first screw conveyor 4, even if the toner in the toner storage device is unevenly distributed, the amount of toner supplied from both sides of the first screw conveyor 4 may vary. Even if there is, the second
The mixture is adjusted at the screw conveyor 5, making it possible to supply a uniform amount.

The toner T falling from the openings 3a and 3b is the first
The screws are conveyed to the center by the spiral blades 4a and 4b of the screw conveyor 4, fall onto the second screw conveyor 5 from the opening 4d, and are conveyed by the spiral blades 5a into the developing machine 7 shown by the broken line. For example, toner T adheres to the developing roll 8.

Note that the amount of toner T supplied is controlled by the rotation time of the first screw conveyor 4. That is, by increasing the rotation time of the first screw conveyor 4, the amount of toner T supplied will increase.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, two openings 3a and 3b
Of course, there may be three or more.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of openings are formed in the bottom plate provided at the bottom of the toner storage device at equal positions sandwiching the second screw conveyor, so that one opening Even if the amount of falling at one opening is reduced due to toner bridging or the like, toner continues to be continuously supplied from other openings. Furthermore, since the second screw conveyor is provided approximately at the lower center of the first screw conveyor, the toner in the toner storage device is unevenly distributed, and the toner is supplied from both sides of the first screw conveyor. Even if the amount is more or less, the mixture is adjusted at the second screw conveyor, which has the effect of making it possible to supply a uniform amount.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a toner supply device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line I--I in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a conventional toner supply device. 1, 31...Toner reservoir, 2...Bottom, 3
a, 3b, 4d, 32... opening, 4... first screw conveyor, 4a, 4b, 5a... spiral blade, 4c, 5b... gutter, 5... second screw conveyor, 6 ... Stirring bar, 7... Developing machine, 8... Developing roll, 33... Screw conveyor, T... Toner.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] Toner storage device 1 in which a plurality of openings 3a and 3b are formed at predetermined intervals in a bottom plate 3 provided at the bottom.
and a spiral blade 4 provided in the lower part of the toner storage device 1 along the arrangement direction of the plurality of openings 3a and 3b and twisted in opposite directions with respect to the center thereof.
a, 4b and conveys the toner that has fallen from the plurality of openings 3a, 3b to the vicinity of its center; a second screw conveyor 5 which is provided perpendicularly to the first screw conveyor 4 and conveys the toner that has fallen from the first screw conveyor 4 into the developing machine 7; The openings 3a and 3b of the toner supply device are formed at equal positions across the second screw conveyor 5.