JPH04240876A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent an attached toner-cartridge from being dislocated from its normal position during the rotation of a spiral agitator, to prevent the erroneous loading a toner-cartridge, to simultaneously load the toner-cartridge in a normal attachment-position securely, and, in addition, to securely feed toner housed in the toner-cartridge, when the toner-cartridge is loaded in a normal attachment-position. CONSTITUTION:This image forming device main body is provided with a reverse-rotation preventing member 101. When a dispenser is loaded in its utilization position in a state that the toner-cartridge 1021 is loaded to the dispenser in a normal position, the inclined surface 101a of the reverse-rotation preventing member 101 is in contact with the surface of a stepping 1023B'' in the projection part 1023' of the side wall part 1023b of the toner-cartridge 1021. In a condition where both surfaces are in contact with each other, even when the spiral agitator 1024 is rotated in the alpha direction, the toner-cartridge 1021 is hardly rotated in the same direction by the reverse-rotation preventing member 101.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner supply device having a toner cartridge that stores toner and is used in an installed state in order to supply toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus in which blocking of toner is prevented while being transported to a toner replenishment port.

0002

2. Description of the Related 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 has become. 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 replenished into the toner box. This replenishment of toner is difficult for a user to perform since the type of toner varies depending on the model of the copying machine, and is usually performed by a service person in order to prevent erroneous toner replenishment.

0003

However, if the toner is refilled by a service person, the user must contact the service person every time the toner runs out, which is extremely troublesome. Furthermore, even if a serviceman or the like contacts the user for convenience, toner is not always replenished immediately, and not only does it take time, but during that time, copying is almost impossible, making it impossible to copy efficiently.

[0004]Furthermore, there is a problem that when toner is replenished, the toner spills onto the floor or stains clothing. To deal with this problem, we use a toner cartridge filled with toner instead of a toner bottle, and when replenishing toner, we install the toner cartridge in the toner box and then remove the cap of the toner cartridge to replenish the toner. Additionally, a toner cartridge has been proposed in which the toner cartridge is removed after replenishment is completed. According to this toner replenishment method using a toner cartridge, toner does not spill and clothes etc. are not stained by spilled toner.

However, in this toner replenishment method using a toner cartridge, three operations, ie, a toner cartridge mounting operation, a toner replenishment operation, and a toner cartridge removal operation, must be performed, making the operation cumbersome. Moreover, even with this replenishment method, service personnel must carry out the replenishment work, so the above-mentioned problems still remain unsolved.

[0006] As described above, the workability of toner replenishment is not good in any of the conventional toner replenishment methods.

[0007] Therefore, the present applicant has proposed a disposable toner cartridge in which the toner cartridge is used while attached to the copying machine, and when the toner in the toner cartridge runs out, it is replaced with a new toner cartridge. (Patent Application No. 2-14451). This toner cartridge is attached to the toner supply device of the main body of the copying machine by moving in the axial direction and rotating through a predetermined angle. This toner cartridge solves the aforementioned problems.

[0008] By the way, if toner is left in a constant state for a long time, such as when no copying operation is performed for a certain period of time with a copying machine, the toner in the toner cartridge may harden and cause blocking. . Further, it is desirable to ensure that the toner in the toner cartridge is transported to the toner supply port of the toner cartridge. Therefore, a spiral agitator is rotatably provided in the toner cartridge, and the rotation of the spiral agitator reliably transports the toner to the toner supply port and prevents toner from blocking. However, when rotating the spiral agitator, if the direction of rotation of the spiral agitator and the direction of rotation and installation of the toner cartridge are set to be opposite, a load will be applied to the toner cartridge in the direction of removal when the spiral agitator rotates. This may cause the toner cartridge to come off in the removal direction from its normal mounting position.

Furthermore, if the toner cartridge is not rotated or rotated insufficiently and is incorrectly installed, the toner cartridge will not be installed in the correct position, so that the toner in the toner cartridge will be reliably and sufficiently supplied to the toner supply device. A problem arises in that it is no longer transported.

Furthermore, if the toner in a new toner cartridge is blocked, the toner will not be reliably fed to the reserve tank even if the toner cartridge is installed in the correct position. Therefore, a problem arises in that the empty detection sensor incorrectly detects that the toner in the reserve tank is still empty even if the toner cartridge is replaced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can prevent a mounted toner cartridge from coming out of its normal position when a spiral agitator rotates. It is to be.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can prevent the toner cartridge from being incorrectly installed and that can reliably install the toner cartridge in the correct installation position.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can reliably feed the toner in the toner cartridge when the toner cartridge is installed in the correct installation position.

[0014]

[Means for Solving the Problems and Their Effects] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 provides a cylindrical agitator which is provided with a spiral agitator which is rotatably driven by a driving means inside, and which is used in a mounted state. The toner cartridge is rotatably attached to and detached from the toner supply section of the image forming apparatus. In this case, the direction of rotation of the spiral agitator and the direction of rotation of the toner cartridge are set to be opposite to each other. Further, a toner cartridge reversal prevention member is provided to prevent the toner cartridge from rotating in the removal direction when the toner cartridge is attached. This reversal prevention member reliably prevents the toner cartridge from rotating in the removal direction when the spiral agitator rotates.

Further, in the second aspect of the invention, when an attempt is made to mount the toner cartridge without rotating, the toner cartridge reversal prevention member prevents the toner cartridge from being mounted in a normal position. This makes it possible to reliably prevent the toner cartridge from being incorrectly installed, and the toner cartridge reversal prevention member also serves as an erroneous installation prevention member.

Furthermore, in the third aspect of the present invention, when the toner cartridge is not rotated to the normal position when the toner cartridge is installed, the toner cartridge reversal prevention member rotates the toner cartridge to the normal position. This ensures that the toner cartridge is installed in the correct position.

Furthermore, the invention according to claim 4 is provided with a spiral agitator rotation prevention member that prevents the spiral agitator from rotating when the toner cartridge is rotated in the mounting direction. Therefore, when the toner cartridge is rotated in the mounting direction, the spiral agitator rotates relative to the toner cartridge and breaks the blocking of toner in the new toner cartridge. As a result, when the toner cartridge is installed in the correct position, toner is reliably fed into the reserve tank, and false detection is reliably prevented by the empty detection sensor, improving reliability.

[0018]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described 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 the document;
an image forming device 5 that receives signals from the image information reading section 4 and forms a predetermined image; and a transfer section 7 that transfers the image formed on the image forming device 5 onto paper 6, which is a transfer medium. , a paper supply section 8 and a paper transport section 9 that supply and transport the paper 6, a fixing device 10 that fixes the toner image transferred to the paper 6 by the image forming device 5, and a paper 6 that receives the toner image fixed thereon. It is composed of a discharge tray 11.

The image forming apparatus 5 includes a photosensitive drum 51 and a first developing means 5 disposed adjacent to the photosensitive drum 51.
2 and a second developing means 53. First developing means 5
2 is a developing machine with a two-component developer for color;
The second developing means 53 is a developing machine having a black two-component developer and develops the second latent image. Both of these developing means 52 and 53 are connected to the photosensitive drum 5 by retract mechanisms (not shown) disposed correspondingly to each other.
It is moved in the direction toward and away from 1.

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

As shown in FIG. 2, the second developing means 53 is for developing the second latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 51 as described above, and is provided through an opening provided at one end of the housing 1001. part of the outer peripheral surface of the housing 1001
The developing roll 1002 (developer carrier) exposed to the outside, the developer stirring means 1003 disposed inside the housing 1001 on the back side of the developing roll 1002, and the developing roll 1
The trimmer plate 1004 (trimmer) is attached to the top plate of the housing 1001 above the developing roller 1002 and regulates the height of the magnetic brush of the developer formed on the developing roll 1002.

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

On the other hand, the stirring means 1003
The first auger 10 is arranged in the same axial direction as 002.
07 and a second auger 1008, and a partition plate 1009 erected on the housing 1001 to separate these two augers. 1st auger 1007
The rotating directions of the second auger 1008 and the second auger 1008 are determined so that the developer conveying directions are opposite to each other. Further, at both ends of the partition plate 1009, there is a region where the first auger 1007 is arranged (hereinafter referred to as a first stirring path 1010) and a region where the second auger 1007 is disposed.
008 (hereinafter referred to as the second stirring path 1011) is provided, so that the flow of the first stirring path 1010→second stirring path 1011→first stirring path 1010 is provided. The developer is circulated.

Furthermore, a developing roll 1002 and stirring means 10
03, a paddle wheel 1012 is provided with a plurality of blades parallel to the axial direction. As the paddle wheel 1012 rotates, the developer separated 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 transferred to the developing roll 1002. supply.

First auger 100 in housing 1001
A toner supply device 1020 of the present invention is disposed above the toner supply device 7 . As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, this toner supply device 10
20 includes a toner cartridge 1021 filled and stored with toner, and a reserve tank 1022 disposed below the toner cartridge 1021.

As shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b), the toner cartridge 1021 has a cylindrical portion 1 made of paper.
023a and both side walls 1023b made of resin, a cylindrical case body 1023, and a spiral agitator 10 formed by winding a metal wire into a coil shape.
24 and a coupling 1025a to which the 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, paper is cheap, so
The toner cartridge 1021 can be formed at a very low cost. As shown in detail in FIG. 6, a sector-shaped protrusion 1023b' that protrudes outward is formed at a predetermined position on the right side wall 1023b.

A toner supply port 1023c for supplying toner to the reserve tank 1022 is provided in the cylindrical portion 1023a at one end of the case body 1023. The toner replenishment port 1023c is connected to one toner storage section 10 of a tank section 1030 of a reserve tank 1022, which will be described later.
It opens at 30a.

In the spiral agitator 1024, an end 1024a on the toner supply port side is a free end, and an end 1024b on the opposite side to the toner supply port is a free end.
It is rotatably supported on the inner peripheral surface of 23b. A driving force transmission shaft 1 is provided at the end 1024b opposite to the toner supply port side.
024c are integrally connected, and this driving force transmission shaft 1
024c extends toward the toner supply port 1023c along the center of rotation of the spiral agitator 1024, and its end is connected to a coupling 1025a rotatably attached to the center of the right side wall 1023b. . Toner supply port 1024d of this driving force transmission shaft 1024c
A triangular protrusion-shaped toner crushing portion 10 is provided at a portion facing the
24d is formed. In this manner, spiral agitator 1024 is cantilevered.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b),
The toner cartridge 1021 is provided with a shutter 1032 that is slidable in the circumferential direction and closes the toner supply port 1023c when the toner cartridge 1021 is not installed. 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. When the shutter 1032 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 removably installed in a predetermined position of a toner cartridge installation section 1035 provided in the main body 2 of the copying machine. That is, in FIG. 4, the toner cartridge 1021
is inserted into the toner cartridge installation portion 1035 in the axial direction, and when the axial position of the toner cartridge 1021 reaches a predetermined position, the toner cartridge 1021 is rotated by a predetermined angle.
21 is locked and the toner cartridge installation section 1035
It is designed to be installed and fixed in the correct position. In that case, when the toner cartridge 1021 rotates by a predetermined angle, a portion of the shutter 1032 is attached to the reserve tank 102.
By engaging with an engaging portion (not shown) provided on the second side, rotation of the shutter 1032 is prevented. That is,
The shutter 1032 slides relative to the case body 1023 in the circumferential direction, and the sealing member is peeled off to open the toner supply port 1023c. toner cartridge 1
021 is locked and the toner cartridge installation section 103
5, the toner supply port 1023c faces downward and opens into the reserve tank 1022.

When the toner cartridge 1021 is set in the toner cartridge installation section 1035, the coupling 102 on the toner cartridge 1021 side
5a is a power transmission mechanism 102 provided on the main body 2 side.
Coupling 1 attached to the gear 1026a side of 6
025b. The rotational driving force of the driving means 1027, such as a motor, transmitted via the power transmission mechanism 1026 is transmitted to the coupling 102.
Spiral agitator 102 via 5b, 1025a
The driving force is transmitted to the driving force transmission shaft 1024c of No. 4, and is further transmitted to the end of the spiral agitator 1024 on the opposite side from the toner supply port 1023c. This results in
The spiral agitator 1024 is rotated in the α direction as power is transmitted from the left in FIG. 5(b), and the toner flows in the β direction, that is, toward the toner supply port 1023c, and is supplied from the toner supply port 1023c into the reserve tank 1022. It is now possible to do so. The rotation direction α of this spiral agitator 1024 is
The mounting rotation direction is set in the opposite direction.

[0034]Furthermore, by causing the toner to flow in this manner, the toner is prevented from solidifying. Further, as the driving force transmission shaft 1024c rotates, the toner breaking section 1024d rotates, so that the toner is similarly prevented from hardening and the already hardened toner is broken down. Further, the rotation of the spiral agitator 1024 in the α direction is such that the diameter thereof 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 7, the reserve tank 1022 has two toner storage sections 103 as described above.
A tank section 1030 consisting of toner storage sections 1030a and 1030b, and a toner supply section 103 that is disposed between these toner storage sections 1030a and 1030b and supplies toner to the developing means 53.
It is composed of 1. These toner storage portions 1030
Partition walls 1036 and 1037 are provided between a and 1030b and the toner supply section 1031, respectively. In FIG. 7, these partition walls 1036, 1037 do not extend to the left side wall 1022b of the main body 1022a of the reserve tank 1022 on the left end side.
Openings 1038 and 1039 are formed between 022b and the left ends of partition walls 1036 and 1037, respectively. Furthermore, openings 1040 and 1041 are similarly provided in the partition walls 1036 and 1037 at a predetermined distance to the left from their right ends. These openings 1038, 103
9, 1040, 1041, the toner storage section 1030
a, 1030b and the toner supply section 1031 are brought into communication with each other.

Spiral agitators 1042 and 1043 made of spirally wound metal wires, such as wires, are arranged parallel to each other in the toner storage portions 1030a and 1030b, respectively. One spiral agitator 1042
The right end 1042a is connected to a gear shaft 1044, and the left end 1042b is rotatably supported by the left side wall 1022b. The winding direction of this spiral agitator 1042 is one direction, and the opening 1038 is near the left end.
A blade 1045 is attached at a position opposite to. Both ends of the other spiral agitator 1043 are similarly supported. This spiral agitator 1043
The winding direction is reversed with the opening 1041 as a border. That is, the spiral agitator 1043 is connected to the spiral agitator 104 on the left side of the opening 1041.
2, but on the right side of the opening 1041, it is wound in the opposite direction to that of the spiral agitator 1042. A vane 1046 is attached to a position where the winding direction of the spiral agitator 1043 changes, that is, a position facing the opening 1041.

Furthermore, the opening 10 of the toner storage section 1030a
The right end side of 40 is a toner introduction section 1030c. Further, an empty detection sensor 1047 is provided on the side wall of the main body 1022a slightly to the left in FIG. 7 from the position facing the toner replenishing port 1023c of the toner cartridge 1021. This empty detection sensor 1047 detects the presence or absence of toner in the toner cartridge 1021.

On the other hand, a supply hole 10 for supplying toner to the developing means 53 is provided at a predetermined position at the bottom of the toner supply section 1031.
48 are drilled. Furthermore, in the toner supply section 1031, an auger 1049 is connected to two spiral agitators 1.
It is arranged in parallel with 042 and 1043. This auger 1049 is also rotatably supported by the main body 1022a like the spiral agitators 1042 and 1043. The spirally wound blade of the auger 1049 is connected to the supply hole 1048.
The winding direction is reversed across the border.

Reserve tank 10 configured as described above
22, when the toner cartridge 1021 is set in the toner cartridge installation section 1035,
Since the shutter 1032 slides, the toner supply port 102
Both 3c open automatically. Therefore, the toner in the toner cartridge 1021 is transferred to the toner introduction section 104 in the reserve tank 1022 through the toner supply port 1023c.
7 will be introduced. The introduced toner is sent to the left by the rotation of the spiral agitator 1042 and is detected by the empty detection sensor 1047. When the toner is sent to the left, new toner is further introduced from the toner cartridge 1021 into the toner introduction section 1047. When the toner reaches the left end of the toner storage section 1030a, the toner is sent toward the toner supply section 1031 through the opening 1038 by the blade 1045. Toner supply section 1031
A portion of the toner sent to is sent toward the supply hole 1048 by the 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, and therefore flows into the toner storage section 1030b through the opening 1039. Toner storage section 1030
The toner flowing into the spiral agitator 1043
is sent toward the opening 1041 on the right. Opening 1
The toner that has arrived at 041 is moved to the opening 10 by the blade 1046.
41, 1040 and is sent to the toner storage section 1030a. In this case, even if the toner passes through the opening 1041, the spiral agitator 1043 in the opposite direction
The toner is returned to opening 1041.

The toner that has flowed into the toner storage section 1030a is sent to the left again by the spiral agitator 1042. In that case, the spiral agitator 1042 ensures that the feed is sent to the left, so the opening 10
The toner flowing from 40 flows into the toner introduction section 103 on the right side.
It does not flow towards 0c. Therefore, toner introduction section 1
Only toner from toner cartridge 1021 is introduced into 030.

In this way, the reserve tank 1022
A predetermined amount of the toner inside is sent to the developing means 53 from the supply hole 1048, and the rest is sent to the toner storage portions 1030a and 1030a.
30b. This circulation prevents the toner in the toner storage portions 1030a and 1030b from solidifying.

[0043] Also, toner storage portions 1030a, 1030
The volume b is set to a size that allows 2000 to 3000 copies to be made even if the toner cartridge 1021 is empty, until a new toner cartridge is set.

As shown in FIG. 8, the toner cartridge 1
021, a dispenser section consisting of a toner cartridge installation section 1035, a reserve tank 1022, a power transmission mechanism 1026, and a motor drive means 1027 is located between the toner cartridge 1021 use position A in the left-right direction of the main body 2 shown by a broken line and the use position A of the main body 2 shown by a solid line. The toner cartridge 1021 protrudes outward from the main body 2 in the front-rear direction and is rotatably supported by the main body 2 between a replacement position B and a toner cartridge 1021. Therefore, to replace the toner cartridge 1021, the dispenser section 1050 is rotated to the replacement position B, the used toner cartridge 1021 is removed, and a new toner cartridge 1021 is set in the toner cartridge installation section 1035. Thereafter, the dispenser section is rotated to the use position A and fixed at the use position A.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the main body 2 is provided with a reversal prevention member 101. As shown in FIG. 10, one end of this reversal prevention member 101 has an inclined surface 101.
It is said to be a. When the dispenser section is fixed at the use position A with the toner cartridge 1021 installed in the proper position of the dispenser section, the protrusion 1023b'
The stepped portion 1023b'', which is one side edge, comes into surface contact with the inclined surface 101a of the reverse prevention member 101. Therefore, when the spiral agitator 1024 rotates in the α direction, the toner cartridge 1021 rotates in the α direction, that is, when the spiral agitator 1024 rotates in the α direction, Even if an attempt is made to rotate the toner cartridge 1021 in the removal direction, the toner cartridge 1021 cannot be rotated.In other words, the toner cartridge 1021 is prevented from being reversed.
1, the dispenser part is rotated to the replacement position B, but in this replacement position B, the side wall part 1023B and the reversal prevention member 101 are completely separated.
The toner cartridge 1021 can be rotated in the removal direction, and the toner cartridge 1021 can be easily removed.

[0046] With the dispenser section set to the replacement position B, the new toner cartridge 1021 is not rotated in any way and is not installed in the proper mounting position of the dispenser section.
When trying to rotate the dispenser part to usage position A,
As shown in FIG. 11, the tip of the reversal prevention member 101 is positioned at the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 1023b'. For this reason, the dispenser section cannot be rotated in the direction A any further, and therefore cannot be rotated and fixed at the use position A. Thereby, it is recognized that the toner cartridge 1021 is incorrectly installed.

Furthermore, a new toner cartridge 1021
If you try to rotate the dispenser part to the usage position A with the dispenser part still attached without rotating it sufficiently until it is in the normal mounting position of the dispenser part,
As shown in FIG.
The corner with the outer peripheral surface is the inclined surface 101 of the reverse rotation prevention member 101.
a. In this state, when the dispenser section is further rotated toward the usage position A, the toner cartridge 1021
begins to rotate in the mounting direction α'. When the dispenser section is fixed at the use position A, the toner cartridge 1021 is automatically installed in the proper position.

On the other hand, a new toner cartridge 1021
When the spiral agitator 1O24 is rotated in order to be installed in the correct position on the dispenser part, the spiral agitator 1O24 also tries to rotate in the same direction. However, toner cartridge 1021
When inserted into the dispenser part in the axial direction, both the couplings 1025a and 1025b are engaged and the spiral agitator 1O24 is connected to the power transmission mechanism 1026 and the drive means 1.
027, the spiral agitator 1024 cannot rotate due to the load resistance of the power transmission mechanism 1026 and the drive means 1027.

[0049] Therefore, the toner cartridge 1021
When the spiral agitator 1 is rotated in the mounting direction,
024 rotates relative to the toner cartridge 1021. This spiral agitator 102
4, the new toner cartridge 102
If the toner in 1 is causing blocking,
This blocking will be broken. This results in
When the toner cartridge 1021 is installed in the correct position, the toner is reliably fed into the reserve tank 1022, and the empty detection sensor reliably prevents false detection.
Improved reliability.

[0050] It goes without saying that various design changes can be made as the means for preventing the spiral agitator from reversing. Further, the present invention can be applied to various image forming apparatuses other than color copying machines.

[0051]

As is clear from the above description, according to the first aspect of the invention, since the toner cartridge reverse rotation prevention member is provided, the toner cartridge does not rotate in the removal direction when the spiral agitator rotates. This reliably prevents the toner cartridge from coming off the mounting position during rotation of the spiral agitator.

Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, when an attempt is made to install the toner cartridge without rotating it, the toner cartridge cannot be installed in the correct position, so that incorrect installation of the toner cartridge is prevented. can be definitely prevented.

Furthermore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the toner cartridge is not rotated to the normal position when the toner cartridge is installed, the toner cartridge is automatically rotated to the normal position. can be reliably installed in the correct position.

Furthermore, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the spiral agitator is rotated relative to the toner cartridge by not rotating the spiral agitator when the toner cartridge is rotated in the mounting direction. The agitator will break down the toner blocking. As a result, when the toner cartridge is installed in the correct position, toner is reliably fed into the reserve tank, and false detection is reliably prevented by the empty detection sensor, improving reliability.

[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 the developing means of this color copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the toner supply device.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toner supply device.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a toner cartridge, in which (a) is a right side view thereof, and (b) is a sectional view thereof.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a side wall portion of the toner cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the reserve tank.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for installing and removing a toner cartridge.

FIG. 9 is a plan view schematically showing the positional relationship between the toner cartridge and the reversal prevention member when the dispenser section is fixed at the use position with the toner cartridge installed in the normal position.

10 is a diagram seen from the X direction in FIG. 9. FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram similar to FIG. 10 showing a case where the toner cartridge is installed without rotating.

FIG. 12 is a diagram similar to FIG. 10, showing a case where the toner cartridge is installed without being sufficiently rotated.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Color copying machine, 5... Image forming device, 51... Photosensitive drum, 52... First developing means, 53... Second developing means, 101
...Toner cartridge reversal prevention member, 101a...Slanted surface, 1021...Toner cartridge, 1022...Reservation tank, 1023...Cartridge body, 1023b...Side wall portion, 1023b'...Protrusion portion, 1023b''...Step portion,
1024... Spiral agitator, 1026... Power transmission mechanism, 1027... Drive means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical toner cartridge which is provided with a spiral agitator rotationally driven by a driving means therein, and a cylindrical toner cartridge used in an attached state is rotatably attached to and detached from a toner supply section of an image forming apparatus, and the spiral agitator The rotational direction of the toner cartridge and the rotational direction of the toner cartridge installation are set to be opposite to each other, and a toner cartridge reversal prevention member is provided to prevent rotation in the toner cartridge removal direction when the toner cartridge is installed. Features of the image forming device. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge reversal prevention member also serves as an erroneous installation prevention member that prevents the toner cartridge from being installed without rotating. 3. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein when the toner cartridge is not rotated to the normal position when the toner cartridge is installed, the toner cartridge reversal prevention member rotates the toner cartridge to the normal position. 2. The image forming apparatus according to 2. 4. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a spiral agitator rotation prevention member that prevents rotation of the spiral agitator when the toner cartridge rotates in the mounting direction. Image forming device.