JPH04159579A - Replenishing toner container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the staining of devices and operator's hands and clothing by providing a removable hermetic sealing member which hermetically seals an aperture for releasing a toner and a hermetic sealing member removing means which removes the hermetic sealing member. CONSTITUTION:The hermetic sealing member 114 is automatically removed from the aperture of the replenishing toner container by using the hermetic sealing member removing means 136. The replenishing toner container is thereby unsealed and the toner is replenished into the toner replenishing part of an image forming device. Namely, a sealing member 114 on the rear surface of a cartridge 112 is taken up on a take-up roller 136 and the unsealing of the cartridge 112 is started when an unsealing pinch solenoid is turned on. An operator is able to pack the cartridge into the device body in this way without unsealing the toner replenishing aperture of the replenishing toner container 112.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a replenishment toner container containing replenishment toner used in image forming apparatuses such as electrophotographic or electrostatic recording type copying machines, facsimile machines, printers, etc. It is related to.

[Conventional technology]

In this type of image forming apparatus, fine particles called toner stored in a developing unit, which is a developing device within the apparatus, are used to form a visible image on a recording medium such as a transfer paper. This toner is a consumable item, and if the amount of toner in the developing unit falls below a predetermined amount, the developing unit must be replenished each time.

Various proposals have been made regarding the method of replenishing toner to the developing unit.1. These are a method of directly replenishing f-fuu to a replenishment section such as the toner replenishment section of the developing unit (hereinafter referred to as a direct replenishment method), and a method of replenishing the toner car (a container that stores replenishment toner). ... A device is installed at the toner replenishment position such as the toner hopper opening part -4-.

In the direct replenishment method, when the toner is directly charged into the toner replenishing part, the toner scatters inside and outside the device, easily staining the device and the operator's clothing.
-・Kerr (・Ridge method) has come to be used.

[The problem that the invention aims to solve] However, in the conventional toner cartridge system, when the amount of toner in the developing unit falls below a predetermined amount, a new toner cartridge containing toner (hereinafter referred to as When installing a cartridge (referred to as a cartridge), it is necessary for the operator to remove a sealing member such as a seal that seals the opening for refilling the cartridge. There was a problem in that the toner adhering to the sealing part (1) would scatter and stain the device, the operator's hands, and clothes (2).

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art, and has the following object: to eliminate the need to open the toner/replenishment opening of the refill toner container; The operator loads the cartridge into the main body of the device. −
To provide a light-enhancing toner container that can be used.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a replenishment toner container that accommodates replenishment toner and is used by being attached to an image forming apparatus, including an opening ``■'' for discharging the toner contained therein; ``This device is characterized by being provided with a removable sealing member for sealing 1 and a sealing member removing means for removing the sealing member.

[Effect]

The present invention automatically replenishes using a sealing member removal means!・
The sealing member is removed from the opening of the toner container I-2, thereby opening the replenishing toner container and replenishing the toner replenishing section in the image forming apparatus with toner.

〔Example〕

A digital copying machine, which is an example of an image forming apparatus that can use the refill toner container according to the present invention, will be described.

In FIG. 1, this digital copying machine includes a reading device W (scanner) 10 which is a document reading means, and a copying device (printer) 90 which executes a series of printing operations for copying the read document information onto paper. It consists of

The electrical components of this digital copying machine will be outlined below with reference to FIG.

Reading device] Inside the housing of O, there is a reading control circuit 20,
A reading drive device 30, an image reading circuit 40, and an image processing circuit 50 are housed, and an image information storage device 60, which is a recording means for storing read document information, and a copying circuit are housed in the housing of the close-up device 90. 70, a system control device 61; the system control device 61 accommodates an operating device 80 which is an operating means for manually operating keys. This information storage device 60 includes an image memory section 62 and the system control device 6.
It consists of I. The reading control circuit 20, the write drive control circuit 71 included in the copying circuit 70, and the operating device 80 are connected to the system control circuit 61° and the signal lines L1 and L.
2 and C3, and perform data transmission with each other.

The reading control circuit 20 is operated from the system control circuit wI6] to the L
7 receives a signal via l and controls the rotation speed of the scanner motor 31, controls the heater of the fluorescent lamp 32, instructs to turn on the fluorescent lamp 32, controls the filter solenoid 33 for detecting the document size, controls the scanner power supply cooling fan, etc. ” Image reading circuit 40 detects the reflected light from the original by 8
CCD41, CCD that converts to 0dpi analog signal
The signal from 41 is odd number (ODD), even number (EVEN)
an amplifier 42 that amplifies the DD and EVEV signals into a serial analog signal; A variable amplifier 44 that amplifies the analog signal from the switching element 43 using amplification degree instruction data AGC from the image processing circuit 50 for correcting fluctuations in brightness of the fluorescent lamp 32. A converting the analog signal from the variable amplifier 44 into a digital signal
/D converter 45 and the like. Image processing circuit 50
includes five gate arrays 51 to 55, a clock generation circuit 56, a ROM 57, a RAM 58, etc. for processing image signals sent from the image reading circuit 40.

The gate array 51 performs light amount detection, shading correction, timing control, command control, data editing/output, COD drive clock generation, etc., the gate array 52 performs magnification in the main scanning direction, and the gate array 53 performs halftone processing and binarization processing. , document size detection, gate array 5
4 is text/middle side separation, hollow editing, gate array 55
are in charge of mark area detection. Image memory section 62
consists of a memory board and a memory control board. A system control circuit 61 controls the entire system and gives instructions for reading and writing image data. Control of the entire system includes monitoring the system readiness status, detecting the size and amount of transfer paper remaining, instructing original reading and paper feed start, controlling scanner copy mode and printer copy mode, and reading image data and writing. When instructing to load data, the remaining amount of memory is checked. The copying circuit 70 includes a line driver circuit 72 that receives image data from the image memory section 62, a laser driver circuit 73 that amplifies the image data signal from the line driver circuit 72, and a semiconductor laser ( LD) 74, read drive control circuit 75
, a write drive control circuit 71, a drive device 76, and the like. The operating device 80 includes an operating panel 81 provided with a display and a human key for displaying various information, and an operating control circuit 82.

Next, the schematic structure and operation of the mechanism section will be explained using FIG. 1, which is a front view showing the schematic structure.

First, the reading device 10 will be explained.

The reading device 10 has a contact glass 306 on which the original is placed.
, an original scale 305 provided at the edge of the contact glass, an original pressure plate 307 that can cover the entire area of the contact glass 306, a fluorescent lamp 3'01 that illuminates the original below the contact glass 306, and reflected light from the original. First to third mirrors 302, 303, 304 that reflect light, a lens 308 covered with a cover 309 through which reflected light from the third mirror enters, a CCD 41 placed at the imaging position of the lens 308, and a CCD 41 attached. , and A/D
It includes an image reading plate 311 containing a converter 45, a substrate 312 on which an image processing circuit 5o is formed, a cooling fan 313 for cooling the inside of the apparatus, and the like.

Then, when the original is set on the contact glass 306 and the copy start button on the operation panel 81 is turned on, the optical system such as the fluorescent lamp 301 is moved below the contact glass 306 to scan the original. The reflected light is imaged on the CCD 41 via the lens 308, etc., and the document information is read. The original image formed on the CCD 41 is output as an analog signal in synchronization with the clock from the image processing circuit 50, and after signal amplification, signal synthesis, and variable amplification, is converted into a digital signal by the A/D converter 45. This digital signal is processed by the image processing circuit 50 and converted into digital recorded image information, which is output to the image information storage device 60 of the copying device 90.

Next, the copying device 90 will be explained.

In FIG. 1, a photoreceptor belt 10o, which is an image carrier, is passed between upper and lower support rollers 381 and 382, which are provided with the axial direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper and vertically shifted from each other. It is being rotated. Photoreceptor belt 100
A transfer charger 352 is provided facing the portion where the transfer charger 352 is wound around the upper support roller 381 to form a transfer portion. A conveyance guide plate 3 is provided between this transfer section and a paper tray 348 which is provided horizontally at the top of the device and accommodates transfer paper.
83, first relay roller pair 327 and intermediate roller pair 349
A transport path is formed.

This body, 1/2: 348, 1 pickup;
324, a paper feed roller 32F5 and a reverse roller 326 are arranged, and a paper feed device: 390 is configured.
3 is provided. Furthermore, the transfer section of - and the right side of the device M.

A conductor separation conveyance bell (351) is provided between the paper ejection roller 330 provided in the section, and a fixing heater 366 is provided inside.
, a fixing device consisting of a constant fixing roller 335 and a pressurizing roller 334, a conveyance path consisting of a conveyance roller pair 332 and a conveyance guide plate 384. Photoreceptor bell
= 100 upper support rollers 38.1. At the wrapping portion of /\, a separating claw 337 is provided downstream from the transfer portion in the photoconductor surface movement direction (hereinafter referred to as photoconductor movement direction), and a cleaning fur brush 33 is provided further downstream.
8 and a cleaning blade 339 are provided. Then, the cleaning fur brush 338 and the cleaning blade 339 act as a waste toner hole 340 to accommodate the toner removed from the photoconductor bell surface. I'm here. 1. Below the waste toner hole 340, a static elimination lamp 341 and a charging charge 342 having a grid 343 are provided, facing the surface of the photoconductor bevel. , - charge 342 is connected to a high voltage generator of negative voltage, and the surface of the photoreceptor belt is 72 minus 800
The lower support roller 382, △, of the photoreceptor bell I-100 has a writing optical system installed horizontally at the bottom of the device. An exposure section is formed to which the laser beam from the system unit 385 is irradiated.Inside the writing optical system unit 385, there are a semiconductor 1/- laser 74 (not shown here) and a A cylinder lens, a polygon mirror 344 rotationally driven by a polygon mirror motor 345, an f-θ1 lens 355, a reflection mirror 356, a synchronization detection plate 357, etc. are provided above the writing optical system unit 385.
A developing device [386] is provided which includes a photoconductor bell (a developing tank 10 equipped with a developing roller facing an upward movement area of the surface) 02 and a toner hopper J-09. In addition to the developing roller 102, as shown with reference numerals in FIG.
A developing doctor 105 that regulates the east of the developer at 02-, a seperator 1 noteer 106 that guides the developer that is regulated by the developing doctor 1.05 and returned to the bottom, and an axial direction of the developing roller 102 in the developing tank 102. The fins J and 07 for stirring the developer, the conveying screw 108, and the developing tank 1
．． A paddle 103 that stirs the developer in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the developing roller 01 and a mixing roller 04 that mixes the toner supplied from the toner hopper 109, which is a toner replenishing section, with the developer. It is provided. The lower part of the toner hopper 109 opens into the developing tank 10.1, and a toner replenishing roller 110 is provided at one end of the toner hopper 109, and an agitator 111 for stirring the toner inside is provided. The upper part opens upward (2 holes, this opening (hereinafter referred to as the hopper opening)
124 is a toner position where the cartridge IJ, 2 containing toner is attached. This l・ner hopper 1
09, there is provided an empty cartridge storage box 133 that constitutes an empty cartridge storage section for accommodating the empty cartridge [12] that has been refilled with toner in the toner hopper 1-09. (See Figures 6 and 7)
.

Furthermore, the clay wall of the copying device 90 (secondly, there are paper trays 346° 347, pickup rollers 314° 319, paper feed rollers 3L5, 320, reverse rollers 3J, 6,321 inside)
Additional (optional) paper feed device 391, 39 with etc.
2 is placed. The third relay roller pair 317 is attached to the paper feeder N391, and the paper feeder f! A second relay roller pair 322 is provided in each of f392. Each paper tray 348°347.346 can be pulled out freely.
In addition, a sensor I/size detection sensor (not shown) is also provided, and when the set detection sensor detects the set state, a lift motor (not shown) is driven to pick up the transfer paper in the string tonnage 324, 314. The third relay sensor 31 is raised to the position where it contacts the transfer paper 7. Also, in order to detect the conveyance status of the transfer paper within the conveyance path, the third relay sensor 31
8, second relay sensor 323, first relay sensor 328, intermediate sensor 350, registration sensor 354, fixing sensor 3
31, a paper discharge sensor 329 is provided.

Furthermore, a cooling fan 359 for cooling the polygon motor 345 is provided inside the lower part of the left side exterior part of the device, and from the airflow generated by this suction force and flowing from the vicinity of the empty cartridge storage section 133 to this cooling fan 359, A dust filter 358 for removing toner is also provided.

Each of the above sensors is connected to the CPU 70 via manual gate arrays 701 and 702 of the write drive control circuit shown in FIG.
It will be incorporated into 3. Sensor groups 390a and 391a in the paper feed device 390, 391, and 392 connected to the input gate array 701.

392a includes a paper size detection sensor, a paper end detection sensor, a tray set detection sensor, and a connection detection sensor, and includes first to third relay sensors 328, 323, 3
18, the door oven sensor 704 of the paper feeder 390 is also connected. The sensor group 7o5 connected to the manual gate array 702 includes each of the above-mentioned sensors 3 for paper feeding and conveyance.
50, 354, 331, 329, each sensor 119, 130 (described later) for cartridge insertion, a main body door oven detection sensor, an optical sensor 360 which is a toner concentration sensor, and the like. Further, the actuator group 707 connected to the output gate array 706 includes a relay clutch and an intermediate clutch for feeding and conveying paper.

Registration clutch, cartridge-related actuators 120, 122, 128, 132 (described later), main motor, cleaning blade solenoid, toner replenishment solenoid, polygon motor 345, fixing heater 336,
It includes a high-voltage power supply circuit for charging, a high-voltage power supply circuit for transfer, a static elimination lamp 341, a toner concentration sensor 360, and the like. Paper feeding device 39o.

391.392 actuator group 390b, 391b
, 39Zb (pickup solenoid, paper feed clutch, tray lock solenoid, lift motor) are connected to the CPU 703 via serial parallel receivers 708 to 710.
connected to the output boat.

In the above configuration, the semiconductor laser 74 in the writing optical system unit 385 is turned on by the laser driver circuit 73 in response to digital recorded image information, which is a binary signal of 1 bit (recorded/non-recorded) per pixel. The laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 74 is reflected by the polygon mirror 344, passes through the cylinder lens, the f-theta lens 355, is reflected by the reflection mirror 356, and is irradiated onto the photoreceptor belt 100 to form an image. . polygon mirror 344
is rotated at a constant speed by a polygon motor 345, and the aforementioned laser beam is scanned in the horizontal direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the photoreceptor belt 100.

The surface of the photoreceptor belt 100 is uniformly charged to -800 volts by the charger 342. When a laser beam emitted based on digitally recorded image information is irradiated onto the uniformly charged surface of the photoreceptor, the charge on the surface of the photoreceptor is transferred to the device via the conductive layer of the photoreceptor belt 100 due to a photoconductive phenomenon. It flows to earth and disappears. Here, the laser is not turned on in areas where the original density is low (the binary signal is at a non-recording level), and the laser is turned on in areas where the original density is high (the binary signal is at the recording level). As a result, the part of the surface of the photoreceptor belt 100 corresponding to the light density part of the original has a potential of approximately minus 800 volts, and the part of the original with high original density has a potential of about -100 volts, which corresponds to the density of the original. An electrostatic latent image is formed. This electrostatic latent image is developed by a developing device 386, and the photoreceptor belt 10
A toner image is formed on the surface of 0. In addition, the developing device 386
The toner in the developing tank 10 is charged with electricity by stirring, and
The developing roller 102 in the photoreceptor belt 100 is biased to about -550 volts by a developing bias generator, and the surface potential of the photoreceptor belt 100 is attached to a place where the surface potential is higher than the developing bias, and a toner image corresponding to the original image is formed.

On the other hand, transfer paper is stored in three paper trays 348, 347.3.
The paper is selected from among the 46, fed and conveyed,
The toner image formed on the photoreceptor belt 1.degree. The transfer paper on which the toner image has been transferred is attracted by the conductor separation conveyance belt 351 and separated from the surface of the photoreceptor bell. Thereafter, the transfer paper passes between a fixing roller 335 and a pressure roller 334, toner is fixed thereon, and the paper is discharged onto a paper discharge tray (not shown) by a pair of paper discharge rollers 330.

After the toner image has been transferred to the transfer paper, residual toner is removed from the surface of the photoreceptor belt by a cleaning fur brush 338 and a cleaning blade 339, and then the surface is prepared for the next uniform charging.

Hereinafter, toner replenishment to the toner hopper (hereinafter referred to as hopper) 109 using the cartridge 112, which is a replenishment toner container, will be described.

Toner replenishment is performed by mounting the cartridge 112 on a hopper opening 124, which is a toner replenishing position within the apparatus, and replenishing the hopper 109 with toner through the hopper opening 124.

First, the cartridge 112 according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The cartridge 112 according to this embodiment has an outer circumferential shape like a square pyramid with a rectangular bottom cut by a plane parallel to the bottom, and a portion corresponding to the bottom is an opening 113, and the inside is It is a container that can store toner in a cavity. An air vent window is formed on the top wall, and a filter 153 through which toner cannot pass is provided in this window.

Further, a magnet 152 is provided approximately at the center of the inner surface of the top wall. A seal storage container 500 having a seal take-up roller (hereinafter referred to as a take-up roller) 136 is provided on the rear end side in the insertion direction of the cartridge 112 into the apparatus. This seal storage container 500 has joints 127 (described later) on the main body side on both end surfaces (see FIGS. 9 and 10).
A rotary plate 137 connectable to the rotary plate 137 is provided, and the shaft of the winding roller 136 is fixed to the center of the inner surface of the rotary plate 137. Further, the rotating plate 137 is formed with a hole into which the conical positioning projection 127a and the pair of square driving projections 127b of the joint 127 fit. An outwardly extending collar is provided at the edge of the cartridge 112 opening. Approximately at the center in the long side direction of the flange 115a provided on both long sides, there is a wing 5115b extending further outward.
The length of the cartridge 112 in the short side direction is longer than that of the left flange 115a. Both ends of the wings 5115b in the long side direction are inclined portions that are inclined upward.

A sealing member 114 is provided to cover the entire opening by gluing the flange 115a while containing toner. Seal member 1 on the bottom surface of the cartridge 112
14 is the front, rear, left and right flanges 115 after the adhesive has been applied.
Of a, the front flange 115a on the side of this seal storage container 500
The pasting is started from the beginning, and after being pasted to the rear flange 115a on the opposite side, it is folded back and the free end is attached to the seal storage container 50.
0 to the seal take-up roller 136 through a seal intake opening in the lower surface of the seal take-up roller 136, and its free end edge is glued to the seal take-up roller 136 surface.

Next, the mechanism of the main body of the apparatus relating to toner replenishment will be explained using FIGS. 6 to 14.

As shown in FIG. 6, the hopper 10 located on the back side of the device
9, a take-up roller driving means disposed on both sides of the front side of the hopper opening 124, and a hopper 10.
An empty cartridge storage section consisting of an empty cartridge storage box 133 disposed between the front exterior portion 116 and the front exterior portion 116, and a transfer means having a conveyor belt device 121 and a relay guide plate 123 are provided. As shown in FIG. 8, the main body of the apparatus includes a cartridge insertion part consisting of an insertion window 117 for inserting a cartridge 112 formed in an exterior part (hereinafter referred to as front exterior part) 116 on the front of the apparatus, and a cartridge insertion part for storing the empty cartridge. A window 116a is formed for filling the empty cartridge storage box 133 that constitutes the main body.

The insertion window 117 of the insertion portion is formed in a shape that is slightly larger than the cross-sectional shape when the cartridge 112 is cut perpendicularly to the insertion direction;
As a result, the lengths in the horizontal direction of the left and right passing portions IL7a and L17b of the wing portion 115b and the collar portion 115a of the cartridge 112 are also different in accordance with the lengths in the short side direction of the left and right side $115b. This prevents the cartridge 112 from being inserted sideways or from inserting the cartridge 112 in the wrong direction.

In FIG. 7, a door 118 is provided inside the front exterior part 116, the lower part of which is rotatably supported on a horizontal axis parallel to the exterior part, and which can cover the entire insertion window 117 when closed. This door 118 is normally in a closed state by being constantly applied with a rotational force in the closing direction by a biasing means (not shown), and by pushing the door 118 inward against this rotational force, the door 118 can be rotated around the horizontal axis. It can be rotated up to about 90 degrees. A protruding plate 118a having a protruding portion extending outward from the tip edge is provided on the upper part of the surface of the door 118 facing inward of the device (hereinafter referred to as the inner surface) in the tilted state.

Above the insertion window 117 on the inner surface of the front exterior part 116, a door sensor 119 including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, a locking mechanism including a lock release solenoid 120, and a lock plate 120a fixed to its plunger are provided. It is being The door sensor 119 is installed at a position where the protruding portion of the protruding plate 118a is interposed between the light emitting element and the light receiving element when the door 118 is closed.
18 is closed and the plunger is pulled out, the lock plate 120a is attached to the front exterior part 116 to the protruding plate 118a.
The locking plate 120a is attached to the protruding plate 118a at a position where it does not engage with the protruding plate 118a when the plunger is sucked.

The upper surface of the shoulder edge of the hopper opening 124 of the toner replenishing section is connected to the upper surface of the peripheral edge and the flange 115a of the cartridge 112.
A seal 125 is pasted on the bottom surface to prevent voids from forming. Further, from the hopper opening 124 to the front exterior part 116, there is an entry guide part 109a extending from the shoulder edge.
A vertical cartridge abutment wall 126 for positioning the cartridge 112 on the hopper opening 5124 is formed on the back side of the apparatus from the hopper opening 124. Further, above the hopper opening 124, as shown in FIG.
a spring 131b that constantly applies a swinging force in the direction of moving the roller 131 upward; and a pressing force that can apply a swinging force that moves the roller 131 downward to the support plate 131a against the swinging force of the spring 131b. solenoid 1
A pressing and impact applying means consisting of 32 is provided.

The winding roller driving means is shown in FIGS. 9 and 11.
As shown in FIGS. 13 to 13, a joint 127 connectable to the rotary plate 137, and a winding roller of the cartridge 112 whose positioning protrusion 127a and driving protrusion pair 127b are above the hopper opening 124. A moving mechanism that moves between an operating position where the rotating plate 137 fixed to both left and right ends of the shaft 136 is inserted into a hole and connected to the rotating plate 137, and an inactive position where the rotating plate 137 is retracted outward in the left-right direction from this operating position; It consists of a rotational drive mechanism that rotates the joint 127. This moving mechanism has a joint 127 fixed at its tip, is always biased outward in the left and right directions by a spring, and has an alternating shaft 501 (provided on each of the left and right sides of the device) rotatably supported by a side plate inside the device. ), its tip abuts the rear end of a rotating shaft 501 provided on the left side of the device, its lower end is connected to the plunger of the opening pinch solenoid 128, and is swingably supported by the support shaft. The tip of the left lever 134a contacts the rear end of the rotating shaft 501 provided on the right side of the device,
A right lever 134b is swingably supported by a support shaft approximately in the center, one end of which is rotatably supported above the support shaft of the left lever 134a, and the other end is supported by a support shaft of the right lever 134b. The connecting rod 135 is rotatably supported at a lower portion than the connecting rod 135. A gear 502 is fixed to substantially the center shaft of the rotating shaft 501.

The rotational drive mechanism is an unsealing motor 129 (see Figure 11).
An input gear 503 that decelerates and inputs the drive from the input gear is fixed to the left end, and the right end extends below the gear 504 fixed to the right rotation shaft 5°1, and is rotatably supported. A gear shaft 505, a left output gear 506 fixed to a portion of the gear shaft 505 facing the gear 502 fixed to the left rotation shaft 501, and a left output gear 506 fixed to the right rotation shaft 501 on the gear shaft 505. A right output gear 507 is fixed to a portion facing the gear 504. These left and right output gears 506 and 507 mesh with gears 502 and 504 on the left and right rotating shafts 501 that face each other, and the rotating shaft 501 moves the joint 127 between the operating position and the non-operating position. Even if it is displaced in the left and right direction for movement, the left and right rotating shafts 50 that face each other
The length in the left and right direction is set so that the gears 502 and 504 on the top 1 can slide relative to these and maintain a meshed state.

The empty cartridge storage box 113, which is the empty cartridge storage section, has an opening for receiving the cartridge 112 at the top and is configured to be detachable from the main body of the apparatus. Window 116 for taking out from the main body of the device shown in FIG.
A is provided with a door 116b that can be opened and closed. The second empty cartridge storage box 133 will be described in detail later.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 14, the conveyor belt device of the transfer means is composed of left and right conveyor belts 121 driven by a conveyor motor 122 that can rotate in forward and reverse directions. The shafts of the belt pulleys are provided parallel to the left and right inclined walls of the cartridge 112 so that surface contact is possible. The output shaft 122a of the conveyance motor 122 is provided parallel to the left inclined wall of the cartridge 112, and the output shaft 122a is connected to a belt sheave fixed in the middle and a belt sheave on the back side of the left conveyance belt 121. Belt 1 is passed between the belt wheel and the belt wheel installed coaxially above.
70 allows driving force to be transmitted to the left conveyor belt 121. On the other hand, the right conveyor belt 1 meshes with a bevel gear 171 provided at the lower end of the output shaft 122a of the conveyor motor 122.
The driving force can be transmitted to the right conveyor belt 121 via a bevel gear 172 coaxially provided below the belt pulley on the back side of the conveyor belt 21 . As shown in FIG. 14, the left and right conveyor belts 121 are driven so that the output shaft of the conveyor motor 122 rotates counterclockwise to convey the cartridge 12 to the rear side of the apparatus. By rotating the output shaft clockwise, the cartridge 112 is driven so as to be conveyed to the front side of the apparatus. Hereinafter, the case where the conveyor belt 121 rotates as shown in FIG. 14 to convey the cartridge 112 to the back side of the apparatus is referred to as normal conveyance, the rotation of the conveyor motor 122 at this time is referred to as forward rotation, and the opposite case is referred to as reverse rotation. This is called conveyance and reverse rotation. In addition, the left and right conveyor belts 1
The position of the belt pulley on the front side of 21 is such that when inserting the cartridge 112 through the insertion window 117, the operator does not have to forcefully reach inside the device to push the entire cartridge 112 into the device. It is desirable to set the front end of the cartridge 112 to reach the conveyor belt 121 while the rear end of the cartridge 112 is outside the apparatus, and in this embodiment, the empty cartridge storage box 13
It is set above the approximate center of the opening of No. 3 in the front-rear direction. In addition, the conveyor belt 121 and the cartridge 11
The material of the conveyor belt 121 and the inclination of the cartridge 112 are selected so that the frictional force between the empty cartridge 112 and the inclined wall 2 is such that the empty cartridge 112 would fall under its own weight if there was nothing to support the empty cartridge 112 downward. Set the contact pressure to the wall. The relay guide plate 123 of the transfer means is
A pair of guide plates 123 are provided parallel to the cartridge 112 insertion direction with an interval wider than the width between the outer edges of the left and right flanges 115a so that only the wings 115b of the cartridge 112 are placed thereon. The end of each guide plate 123 on the front side of the device extends above the opening of the empty cartridge storage box 133, and the end on the back side of the device extends from the shoulder edge of the hopper opening 124. The guide portion 109a extends to the side of the guide portion 109a. As shown in FIG. 19, the front edge of the empty cartridge storage box 133 extends above the opening.
When the cartridge 112 is reversely conveyed by the conveyor belt 121, when the end of the wing portion 115b of the cartridge 112 comes off the front edge, the cartridge 112 is positioned approximately in the center of the empty cartridge storage box 133 in the front-rear direction. It is set to . Note that when the end of the blade portion 115b of the cartridge 112 comes off the front edge during this reverse conveyance, the positional relationship in the conveyance direction between the conveyor belt 121 and the cartridge 112 itself is such that reverse conveyance is possible. , since the door 118 is retracted from above the opening of the empty cartridge storage box 133 and there is nothing to support the cartridge 112 from below, the cartridge 112 is removed from the empty cartridge storage box 133.
The object begins to fall within the confines of the object, and no further reverse transport is performed.

In addition, in order to detect the conveyance state of the cartridge 112,
On the conveyance path between the empty cartridge storage box 133 and the hopper opening 124, there is provided a cartridge passage detection fish 130a that is pushed down by the lower surface of the left flange 115a of the cartridge 112 passing therethrough. (See Figure 6). As shown in FIG. 15, this cartridge passage detection fixture 130a is attached to the tip of a swinging arm 130d fixed to a rotating shaft 130c to which a counterclockwise rotational force is applied by a spring coil or the like (not shown). There is. A light-shielding fin 130b whose lower end can be interposed between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the cartridge sensor 130 is also attached to the rotation shaft 130C. When the detection fin 130a is free, the counterclockwise rotational force is balanced with the rotational moment due to the weight of the swing arm 130d, etc., and the lower end of the light-shielding fin 130b abuts against the cartridge sensor 130. It is set to be interposed between the light emitting element and the light receiving element.

Next, the operation of the above toner replenishment mechanism will be explained.

16 to 20 are left side views showing the state of the toner replenishment mechanism in each operating state, and FIGS. 21 and 22 are timing charts.

First, the operation from inserting the cartridge 112 into the apparatus main body to toner replenishment on the hopper opening 124 will be explained.
This will be explained using FIGS. 16 to 18 and FIG. 21.

The door 118 of the insertion window 117 is normally in a locked state with the lock release solenoid 120 turned off by the lock release solenoid control described later, and the lock release solenoid 120 is turned on when it is necessary to insert the cartridge 112 such as at the near end of the toner. and becomes unlocked.

First, when the cartridge 112 is inserted with the sealing member 114 of the cartridge 112 facing downward and the longer right wing gl15b facing right, the cartridge 112 is inserted while pushing the door 118 inside the apparatus with the tip of the cartridge 112, as shown in FIG. As shown, the door 118 rotates around the horizontal axis at the bottom, and then stops after rotating approximately 90 degrees, partially covering the opening of the empty cartridge storage box 133, so that the cartridge 112 is empty. This prevents the cartridge 112 from falling into the opening of the cartridge storage box 133, and forms a transport path for the cartridge 112 onto the hopper opening 124 together with the relay guide plate 123. At the beginning of this rotation of the door 118, the door 11
The tip of the protruding plate 118a attached to the upper part of the inner side of the door sensor 119 passes through between the light emitting element and the light receiving element of the door sensor 119, and the door sensor 119 is turned on to detect the door oven state.

A transport motor 12 for transporting a cartridge 112 inserted after a certain period of time after the door oven is detected.
As a result, the cartridge 112 is subsequently drawn into the apparatus by the conveyor belt 121 without the operator pushing the cartridge 112. The cartridge 112 has a door 118 and a relay guide plate 123.
is transferred onto the hopper opening 124 while being guided by the
When the leading end (travel direction of the cartridge 112) reaches the cartridge passage detection fin 130a, the abutment cartridge sensor 130 is turned on, and the rear end passes through the cartridge passage detection fin 130a and the abutment cartridge sensor 130 is turned on. Turn it off (
■) in Figure 21).

During this time, as the rear end of the cartridge 112 passes through the door 118, the door 118 rotates upward and the insertion J111
7 to turn off the door sensor 119. When this abutment cartridge sensor 130 is turned off (second
1), the cartridge 112 has been transported to a position where its tip touches the cartridge abutting wall 126 above the hopper opening 5124, which is the toner replenishment position, but to ensure further certainty Time conveyance motor 12
2 is rotated forward (T12 in FIG. 21), thereby positioning the toner replenishment position as shown in FIG. 18.

Further, from this point on, the process shifts from the operation of transporting the cartridge 112 to the operation of unsealing the cartridge 112.

In the unsealing operation of the cartridge 112 on the hopper opening 124, first, the abutting cartridge sensor 13
At the timing when 0 is turned OFF (■ in FIG. 21), it is confirmed by the output of the door sensor 119 that the cartridge 112 insertion door 118 is closed, and the door lock release solenoid 120 is turned 0FFL. lock the opening/closing. Also, pinch solenoid 128 for opening
is turned ON, the left lever 134a rotates clockwise around the support shaft, and its tip pushes the rear end of the left rotation shaft 501 to position the joint 127 at the tip of the left rotation shaft 501 to the operating position. The entire connecting rod 135, one end of which is supported by the lever 134a, moves to the right side and moves to the right lever 134b.
Rotate the right lever 1 counterclockwise around the support shaft.
34M) Push the right rotation shaft 501 with the tip and turn the right rotation shaft 501
The joint 127 at the tip is located at the operating position, and the left and right rotating shafts 501 are connected to the winding roller 136 shaft from the left and right, respectively. Also, at the same time as turning on the opening pinch solenoid 128, the opening motor 129 is also turned on, and the manual gear 50 is turned on.
3. Gear shaft 505, left and right output gears 506, 507, gears 502, 504 on the left and right rotation shaft 501, left and right rotation shaft 50
1. Rotate the take-up roller 136 by transmitting the axis and km of the joint 127, the rotating disk 137, and the take-up roller 136, and seal the seal member 114 on the bottom surface of the cartridge 112.
is wound onto the take-up roller 136, and the cartridge 1
Start opening 12. As a result, cartridge 11
The sealing member 114 is gradually removed and the opening of No. 2 is opened. When the time required for the seal member 114 to be stored in the seal storage container 500 to the rear end (■ in FIG. 21) has elapsed, the pinch solenoid 128 for opening and the opening motor 129 are turned OFF, and the opening motor 129 is turned off. The process shifts from this operation to an operation for reliably removing the toner inside the cartridge 112.

In the operation to reliably drop the toner inside the cartridge 112, the abutment cartridge sensor 130 is turned off.
After the timing of F (■ in Fig. 21), the pressure layer solenoid 132 is operated several times at a constant cycle (5@ in this example).
Turn the cartridge 11 on and off with the roller 131.
2, thereby giving an impact to the cartridge 112 and causing the toner remaining in the cartridge 112 to fall into the hopper. After this, press solenoid 1
32 to the ON state, and the roller 131 moves the cartridge 1.
12 , thereby pressing the top surface of the cartridge 112 .
The lower surface of the cartridge 112 is brought into close contact with the upper surface of the seal 25 (shown in FIG. 6) on the peripheral edge of the hopper opening 124, so that the cartridge 112 functions as a lid for the hopper opening 124.

On the other hand, the above-mentioned abutment cartridge sensor 130 is OF
At the timing when it becomes F (■ in Figure 21), the developing device 3
86 supply roller 110 and agitator king 11 rA#
After the delay time (T14 in Figure 21) until the motor starts up, the toner supply solenoid is turned on for a predetermined time (Tl 5 in Figure 21).
) ONE, te, supply roller 110 and agitator king 11
As a result, the toner in the hopper 109 is replenished into the developing tank 101. T15 between this ONq
is determined by calculating the toner concentration from the output of the toner concentration detection sensor 360 at the time of toner end, as will be described later.

A status flag indicating the status of the above series of operations is set and reset (1 or O) L in the non-volatile RAM during and at the end of the series of operations, so that it can operate even if the power is momentarily cut off during processing. This enables continuous execution.

Next, the operation of storing the cartridge 112 on the hopper opening 124 into the empty cartridge storage box 133 will be explained using FIGS. 19, 20, and 22.

This operation starts after first storing the near-end state in the nonvolatile RAM at the toner near-end time.

It is sufficient that the evacuation of the empty cartridge 112 from above the hopper opening 124 is completed before the next cartridge is inserted due to the toner near end, but in this embodiment, the empty cartridge 112 is placed above the hopper opening 124. In order to prevent toner from scattering into the apparatus by acting as a lid, the hopper opening 12
4, the transfer to the empty cartridge storage box 133, which is the evacuation operation of the empty cartridge 112 from above, is started.

First, the pressing solenoid 132 that was pressurizing the upper part of the cartridge 112 is turned off to retract the roller 131 from the upper surface of the cartridge 112, and the unsealing pinch solenoid 1 is turned off so as not to interfere with the conveyance of the cartridge 112.
28 is also turned off, the unsealing roller 150 is also retracted, thereby securing a conveyance path, and the conveyance motor 122 is reversely rotated to start reverse conveyance of the cartridge 112. After a timing that takes into consideration the sleeve ratio between the transport section and the cartridge 112, the rear end of the cartridge 112 (the end on the insertion window 117 side)
When the cartridge 112 reaches the cartridge passage detection filler 130a, the abutment cartridge sensor 130 is turned ON, and when the entire cartridge 112 is further conveyed in the reverse direction and completely passes through the cartridge passage detection filler 130a, the abutment cartridge sensor 130 is turned OFF. At this point, the cartridge 112 is positioned so that the front end of the wings of the cartridge 112 (hopper opening 124 side), which is the falling starting position, is on the relay guide plate 124.
Although it has almost reached the position where it left the top.

Furthermore, for a certain period of time (T22 in FIG. 22), the transport motor 12
The reverse rotation of step 2 is continued to ensure that the toner falls to the starting position as shown in FIG. 19. This certain period of time T22 is set longer than the time it takes for the cartridge 112 to fall due to its own weight at the drop position and the time from the time it passes through the abutment cartridge sensor 130 until it is transported to the drop position (taking into consideration sleeve ratio, etc.). There is. When the above operation is completed, a counter for counting the number of empty cartridges 112 in the empty cartridge storage box 133 on the nonvolatile RAM is incremented (+1). Also, since it is possible to insert a new cartridge 112 from this point on, the door 118 is unlocked by turning the door lock release solenoid 120 ONL. Also, at this point, toner near end display starts.

As described above, in this embodiment, the cartridge 112 containing toner inserted by the operator through the insertion window 117 on the front side of the main body of the image forming apparatus is forwardly conveyed by the conveyor belt 121 and transferred to above the hopper opening 124. Part 124
Seal member 1 sealing cartridge 112 at the top
14 is removed and toner is replenished into the hopper 109. The cartridge 112 that is empty after toner replenishment is
The refilled toner is consumed and the next cartridge 112
Before the empty cartridge is inserted, it is reversely conveyed by the conveyor belt 121 and placed in the empty cartridge storage box 133 from above the hopper opening 124.
will be transferred to. When the empty cartridge storage box 133 is full of empty cartridges 112, the operator moves the empty cartridges 112 into the empty cartridge storage box 1.
33 out of the apparatus and discard the empty cartridge 112.

Therefore, when replenishing toner, the operator normally only has to insert the cartridge 112 containing toner into the insertion window 117 (also, when the empty cartridge storage box 133 is full, the operator only needs to insert the cartridge 112 containing toner into the insertion window 117).
You can simply take out the empty cartridge 112 and throw it away.
12 becomes easier, and the opportunity and possibility of contaminating the operator and surroundings can be drastically reduced.

Next, the empty cartridge storage box 133 of the above embodiment
An example of this will be explained using FIGS. 23 to 38.

This empty cartridge storage box 133 is directly aerodynamically operated.
A cardboard box 410 that receives the ridge 112 is detachably housed and used.

A drawer handle 421 is fixed to the front of the empty cartridge storage box 133, and a locking frame member 430 is fixed to the lower part of the back. As shown in FIG. 25, when the empty cartridge storage box 133 is set in the device main body, the device main body portion located below this frame member 430 has a plunger facing upward to release the lock. A solenoid 431 is fixedly arranged. This lock release solenoid 431 is provided with a spring that always biases the plunger in the direction of pulling it out, and when the lock release solenoid 431 is turned off, the plunger pulled out by the spring penetrates the frame of the frame member 430 of the empty cartridge 112. , when the plunger is turned on, the plunger sucked against the biasing force of this spring is empty cartridge 1.
The height of the arrangement is set so that it can be in an unlocked state that exceeds the height of 12. Further, a set detection sensor 432 consisting of a light emitting element and a light receiving element is provided at a position facing the frame member 430 when the empty cartridge storage box 133 is set in the main body of the apparatus. Aerodynamics
The ridge storage box 133 is configured such that the lid member 413 of the cardboard box 410 housed therein is aerodynamically moved so as to close the opening 411 of the cardboard box 410 in conjunction with the pulling operation of the ridge storage box 133 from the main body of the apparatus. Equipped with a moving mechanism. This post-attachment movement mechanism includes a claw 42 that engages with an upper folding member 414 fixed to the tip edge of the lid member 413 of the cardboard box 4IO.
5. A movable arm 424 to which the claw 425 is fixed, and a movable arm 424 to the empty cartridge storage box 133.
Guide members 422, 42 movably supported relative to the main body
It is composed of 3. This moving arm 424 has claws 4
25 is fixed and empty cartridge storage box 133
An upper horizontal portion 5424a that is longer than the horizontal width of the main body, left and right arms @424b extending downward at right angles from both ends of this upper horizontal portion 424a, and empty cartridge storage spaced at right angles from the lower ends of each of these left and right arm portions 424b. It consists of left and right lower horizontal portions 424c extending toward the left and right side surfaces of the box 133. The guide members 422, 423 are composed of left and right groove forming members 422, 423 fixed to the left and right side surfaces of the empty cartridge storage box 133, respectively.
It is provided with guide grooves into which the tip portions of the left and right lower horizontal #424C of No. 24 can slide. These guide grooves include upper and lower horizontal grooves 450 and 451 that are the same length as each other, with the upper horizontal groove 450 being formed closer to the back surface, and front and rear inclined grooves 453 that connect both ends of these upper and lower horizontal grooves 450 and 451 at the front and rear, respectively. It consists of 454. The upper horizontal groove 450 has a bottom portion that guides the movable arm 424 relatively to the left as shown by the solid line in the front view of FIG. As shown in the figure, it has a bottom part that guides it relatively to the right. In guiding the movable arm 424 from the front end of the upper horizontal groove 450 to the front end of the lower horizontal groove 451, the front inclined groove 453 first has a bottom portion that guides it at the same position as the upper horizontal groove 450 in the left and right direction. A first transition portion 4 having an inclined portion 453a and then a bottom portion that guides while moving to the right side.
53b and finally a second vertical portion 453C having a guiding bottom in the same position as the lower horizontal groove 451.

Then, at the corner connected to the lower horizontal groove 451 from the lower end of this second vertical part, a second
Allowing movement from the vertical portion 453c to the lower horizontal groove 451,
A first eccentric member 426a is provided to prevent movement from the opposite lower horizontal groove 451 to the second vertical groove 453c. Similarly, the rear inclined groove 454 also connects the moving arm 424 to the lower horizontal groove 451.
When guiding from the rear end to the rear end of the upper horizontal groove 450, first a third vertical portion 454a having a bottom that guides at the same position as the lower horizontal groove 451 in the left and right direction;
Next, the second part has a bottom part that guides it while moving it to the left side.
It consists of a transition part 454b and finally a fourth vertical part 454c with a guiding bottom in the same position as the upper horizontal groove 450. The upper horizontal groove 450 is connected from the upper end of the fourth vertical portion 454c to the upper horizontal groove 450 by rotation about the eccentric axis.
50 and prohibits movement from the opposite upper horizontal groove 450 to the fourth vertical portion 454c.
b is provided. Note that the upper horizontal groove 450 is provided with the claw 425 of the movable arm 424 when being guided here.
The height position is set so as to maintain a height at which the upper folding member 414 fixed to the tip edge of the lid member 413 of the cardboard box 410 in the empty cartridge storage box 133 does not engage. In addition, the lower horizontal groove 451 is conversely the movable arm 424 when guided here.
The height position is set so as to maintain a height at which the claw 425 can engage with the upper folding member 414 fixed to the tip edge of the lid member 413 of the cardboard box 410 in the empty cartridge storage box 133. There is.

A cardboard box 410 that is removably placed inside the empty cartridge storage box 133 has an opening 411 formed at the top to receive the empty cartridge 112, and has an opening 411 on the front inner surface when placed inside the empty cartridge storage box 133. For example, the lid member 413 made of a flexible sheet for covering the upper opening 411 is
As shown in the figure, the rear end is connected to a cardboard box 410.
It is glued and fixed to the inner surface, and the whole is folded in half. In the figure, 500 is an adhesive area of the lid member 413;
Reference numeral 501 indicates a guide rod when the lid member 413 is pulled out. The upper folding member 414 and the lower folding member 415 are provided at the tip of the lid member 413. In the longitudinal direction of this upper folding member 414, the movable arm 42
4 is the first transition portion 453b and the second transition portion 4 of the guide groove.
A notch 416 for starting and releasing the engagement is formed in a region that faces the claw 425 when guided by the guide 54b. Then, when the cardboard box 410 is placed in the empty cartridge storage box 133, the lower folding member 415 at the tip of the lid member 413 is locked on the upper edge of the back side with the lid member 413 covering the opening 5411. An upwardly inclined portion 412 is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 34 to 37, on both sides of the empty cartridge storage box 133 outlet 116a on the inner surface of the front exterior part 116 of the apparatus main body, moving arms 424 are attached to the front exterior 5116 while maintaining an upright position. A support member is provided that supports the device movably in parallel planes. This support member has a mounting base 440 fixed perpendicularly to the front exterior part 116, one end of which is fixed to the base 440, and the other end protrudes parallel to the front exterior part 116 to the inside of the outlet 116a. A front side support arm 443 is formed as shown in FIG.

In addition, a back side support member 442 is provided with a pair of upper and lower support rods 441 formed to protrude to the inside of the ejection opening 116a of the empty cartridge 112 in parallel with the front side support arm 443, and this back side support member 442. The back side support member 442, which normally tries to rotate upward by the rotational force of this urging means, is mounted on the base 440. The upper and lower support rods 441 are arranged in the vertical direction in contact with the stopper portions 444 . Empty cartridge 112 on the vertical support surface of this front side support arm 443 and the pair of upper and lower support rods 441
The length of the portion protruding inward of the outlet in the horizontal direction is made to correspond to the amount of displacement of the movable arm 424 in the left-right direction by the guide member.

The arm portion 4 of the movable arm 424 is located between the vertical support rods 441 arranged in the vertical direction and the vertical surface of the front side support arm 443.
24b is interposed.

In the above configuration, when the empty cartridge 112 is pulled out the most from the main body of the apparatus, as shown in FIGS. 26 to 28,
The state shown in FIGS. 36 and 37 is assumed. That is, the distal end portion of the lower horizontal portion 422C of the moving arm 424 is supported at the rear end of the upper horizontal groove 450 of the guide member by the second eccentric member 426b while being prohibited from entering the rear inclined groove 454, and the arm portion 424b is supported by a support member within the main body of the apparatus, thereby taking the highest position in the vertical direction and the position furthest to the left in the left-right direction when viewed from the front. In this state, the cardboard box 410 can be attached and detached.

When the new cardboard box 410 is set and the operation of inserting the empty cartridge storage box 133 into the device is started, the arm portion 424b of the moving arm 424 is supported by the support member inside the device and takes a fixed position in the insertion direction. , the moving arm 424 moves relative to the empty cartridge storage box 133 while being guided by the upper horizontal groove 450 of the guide member, and as shown in FIG. The front end of the upper horizontal groove 450 is reached. If you continue the insertion operation,
While the tip of the lower horizontal portion 422 of the moving arm 424 is guided by the front inclined groove 453 of the guide member, the entire moving arm 424 is pulled down, and while being guided by the first transition portion 453b of the front inclined groove 453. Moving arm 42
4 is moved to the right side, and the insertion is completed as shown in FIG. The claw 425 fixed to the upper horizontal 5424a of the moving arm 424 is fixed to the tip of the lid member 413 of the cardboard box 410 while the entire moving arm 424 is being pulled down, as shown in FIG. It passes through the notch 416 of the upper folding member 414 and comes into engagement with the upper folding member 414 while the entire moving arm 424 is further moved to the right. Also, the front inclined groove 4
53 and the lower horizontal groove 451, the first eccentric member 426a is rotated.
The eccentric member 426a prevents the front inclined groove 453 from moving backward. Furthermore, upon completion of the insertion, the frame member 430 fixed to the lower back of the empty cartridge storage box 133
When detected by the set detection sensor 432, the lock release solenoid 431 is turned off and the plunger is pulled out by the spring, passes through the inside of the frame member 430, and enters the locked state. A copy operation is performed in this state.

A predetermined number of empty cartridges 112 that can be stored are stored,
When it is necessary to replace the cardboard box 410 with a new one, the lock release solenoid 431 turns ONL under the control of a lock release solenoid 431, which will be described later. The storage box 133 can be pulled out.

When the empty cartridge storage box 133 is started to be pulled out from the main body of the apparatus in this state, the moving arm 424
Since the arm of the moving arm 4 is supported by the support member within the device and takes a fixed position in the drawing direction, the moving arm 4
24 moves relative to the empty cartridge storage box 133 while being guided by the lower horizontal groove 451 of the guide member, and as a result, the lid member 413 with the upper folding member 414 engaged with the claw 425 of the moving arm 424 They are successively pulled out from inside the cardboard box 410 and cover the opening 411 of the cardboard. After the tip of the lower horizontal portion 424c of the moving arm 424 reaches the rear end of the lower horizontal groove 451 of the guide member, the entire moving arm 424 is pushed up by being guided by the rear inclined groove 454. Here, the tip of the lower horizontal portion 424C of the moving arm 424 is connected to the rear inclined groove 45.
The entire moving arm 424 is moved to the left while being guided by the second transition portion 454b of the moving arm 424, and the claw 425 fixed to the upper horizontal portion 424a of the moving arm 424 moves as shown in FIG. As the entire arm 424 is moved to the left, the lid member 413 of the cardboard box 410
It moves to a notch 416 of the upper folding member 414 fixed to the tip of the upper folding member 414, and passes through this notch 416 upwardly by the subsequent upward movement of the entire moving arm 424.

Also, during this time, as shown in FIG. 31, a lower folding member 415 fixed to the tip of the lid member 413 is engaged with an upwardly inclined portion 412 formed on the upper edge of the back surface of the cardboard box 410. By continuing to pull out after this, the fourth vertical portion 454c of the guide groove and the upper horizontal groove 45
While rotating the second eccentric member 426b provided at the corner with 0, the second eccentric member 426b reaches the upper horizontal groove 450, and becomes the most drawn out state.

Note that when pulled with a larger force from this most pulled out state, the back side support member 442 of the support member in the device rotates as shown by magnetic lines in FIG. 35, and the moving arm 424
While the arm portion 424b changes from the standing position to the inclined position,
It is also possible to escape from the front side support arm 443 and the upper and lower support rods 441 and completely remove the entire empty cartridge storage box 133 from the apparatus.

In the above embodiment, the storage section is configured with an empty cartridge storage box 133 that is detachable from the main body of the device, but instead of this, the storage section can be operated by the operator when the door of the exterior of the device that can be opened and closed is opened. It may also consist of a box fixed at a certain position.

Furthermore, the window for loading and unloading the empty cartridge storage box 133 and the cartridge insertion window are formed in the front exterior portion 116, which is the same outer peripheral surface of the device.

Alternatively, they may be formed on exterior parts of different outer peripheral surfaces of the devices. For example, empty cartridge storage box 11
3 may be removably arranged on the back side of the device rather than the hopper opening 124, and a window for loading and unloading may be formed in the exterior portion of the back side of the device. In this case, the conveyor belt device should be connected to the hopper opening 5.
124 and the empty cartridge storage box on the rear side. Furthermore, the cartridge conveyance belt from the cartridge insertion window in the front exterior part to above the hopper opening 124 is provided to extend over the empty cartridge storage box placed on the back side of the apparatus, thereby allowing the conveyance belt to be moved from the loading section to the top of the empty cartridge storage box. It may be used for both the transfer onto the hopper opening 124 and the transfer from above the hopper opening 124 onto the empty cartridge storage box.

Further, the above embodiment is for replenishing toner in a developing device using a two-component developer using toner and a carrier, but the present invention is directed to a one-component developer whose main component is toner. The present invention can also be applied to replenishment of one-component toner, which is a developer, in a developing device using the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the sealing member removing means is used to automatically remove the sealing member from the opening of the replenishment toner container, thereby opening the replenishment toner container, and replenishing the toner in the image forming apparatus. Since the cartridge is replenished with toner, there is an excellent effect that the operator can load the cartridge into the main body of the apparatus without opening the toner replenishment opening of the replenishment toner container.

Further, by providing a storage section for storing the sealing member removed from the opening by the sealing member removing means, the removed sealing member can be disposed of together with the empty replenishment toner container. The removed sealing member can be easily handled and toner scattering can be reduced.

Furthermore, if the removing means is provided in the storing section, the unfilled application agent can be automatically stored in the storing section by the operation of the removing means, so that handling of the removed sealing member and toner can be improved. It is possible to further improve the prevention of scattering.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electrical equipment section of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of write drive control circuit 71 of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a left side view of a cartridge used in a digital copying machine. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the cartridge. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing the toner replenishment mechanism of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. No. 7 is a left side view showing the configuration near the hopper opening 124 of the same toner replenishment mechanism. FIG. 8 is a front view showing the exterior of the digital copying machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of the joint 127 of the toner replenishment mechanism. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the positional relationship between the joint 127 and the rotating disk 137 of the cartridge. FIG. 11 is a front view of the same toner replenishment mechanism. FIG. 12 is a front view showing the left side mechanism of the cartridge in the cartridge opening mechanism of the toner replenishment mechanism. FIG. 13 is a front view showing the structure of the right side of the cartridge of the cartridge opening mechanism. FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the drive structure of the conveyor belt 121 of the toner replenishment mechanism. Figure 15 shows the cartridge sensor 13 of the same toner replenishment mechanism.
0 is a perspective view showing the structure of 0. FIG. 16 is a left side view showing the toner replenishment mechanism in a state where the cartridge is not inserted. FIG. 17 is a left side view showing the toner replenishment mechanism in a state in which the cartridge has been completely inserted. FIG. 18 is a left side view showing the toner replenishing mechanism in a state where the cartridge has been conveyed onto the hopper opening 124. FIG. 19 is a left side view showing the toner replenishing mechanism in a state in which reverse transport of the cartridge is completed. FIG. 2o is a left side view showing a state in which the cartridge of the same toner replenishment mechanism is stored in the empty cartridge storage box 133. FIG. 21 is a timing chart of the operation of the toner replenishment mechanism when inserting the cartridge/refill. FIG. 22 is a timing chart of the operation of the toner replenishment mechanism when the cartridge is transported in reverse. FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the empty cartridge storage box 133 of the toner replenishment mechanism. FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the structure for moving the lid member 413 of the cardboard box 410 stored in the same empty cartridge storage box 133. FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the structure for locking the empty cartridge storage box 133 within the apparatus. FIG. 26 is a plan view of the same empty cartridge storage box 133. FIG. 27 is a front view of the empty cartridge storage box 133. FIG. 28 is a right side view of the empty cartridge storage box 133. FIG. 29 is a perspective view showing a state in which the empty cartridge storage box 133 is being pulled out from the main body of the apparatus. FIG. 30 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the tip of the lid member 413 of the cardboard box 410 housed in the empty cartridge storage box 133 in the state shown in FIG. 28. FIG. 31 shows a lid member 413 of the same cardboard box 410.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the closing configuration. FIG. 32 shows a lid member 413 of the same cardboard box 410.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the moving configuration near the end of movement. FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing the state when the empty cartridge storage box 133 starts to be inserted into the main body of the apparatus. FIG. 34 is a perspective view showing a main part of the support structure of the moving arm 424 of the empty cartridge storage box 133. FIG. 35 is a left side view showing the main parts of the support structure. FIG. 36 is a plan view of the support structure. FIG. 37 is a rear view of the support structure. FIG. 38 is a sectional view of the cardboard box 410. 101...Developing tank, 109...Hopper 112
... Cartridge, 113... Opening 114... Seal member, 115a... Flange 115b... Wing part
, 116...Front exterior part 116a...Empty cartridge storage box inlet/outlet 117...Insertion window, 118...Door 119...
...Door sensor 120...Lock release solenoid 121...Transport belt, 123...Relay guide plate. 124...Hopper opening, 125...Seal 127
... Joint 128 ... Pinch solenoid for opening 129 ... Opening motor 133 ... Empty cartridge storage box 136 ...
take-up roller

Claims (5)

[Claims] (1) A replenishment toner container that stores replenishment toner and is used by being attached to an image forming apparatus, including an opening for releasing the stored toner, a removable sealing member that seals the opening, and a removable sealing member that seals the opening. A refill toner container comprising a sealing member removing means for removing the member. (2) The refill toner container according to claim 1, further comprising a storage portion for storing the sealing member removed from the opening by the sealing member removing means. (3) The replenishment toner container according to claim 2, wherein the removing means is provided within the storage section. (4) The replenishment toner container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the removing means is provided on the outer peripheral wall thereof. (5) In a replenishment toner container containing toner, which is loaded into the replenishment toner container loading section of the image forming apparatus and then transferred to the toner replenishment section for use, the replenishment toner container containing toner is 2. The refill toner container according to claim 1, further comprising a guided portion guided by a guide member provided in at least a portion of the transfer path.